Well, we’ve covered offense and defense. That’s it.
What’s that? I forgot special teams?
Oh yeah, I suppose I did.
In this last segment of our three-part series, we’ll take a look at Arizona’s special teams and coaching staff.
(Please note: Barring any shocking developments, this will likely be my last post until after the game. As I said before, we’ll definitely be hitting up our Twitter page before and during the game, so make sure to head there.)
Special teams
In somewhat limited duty this season, 10th-year veteran kicker Neil Rackers has been very good. He’s hit on 16-of-17 field goal attempts and hasn’t missed a kick since week two. Interesting stat: Rackers has not even attempted a field goal of 50 yards or more this season. That likely means the Cards aren’t too trusting of his leg.
Arizona has a very good punter in seventh-year veteran Ben Graham. He finished third in average punt distance (47 yards) and had the most punts inside the 20 (42) and the 10 (17). If field position is a factor in the game, Graham could be a weapon for Arizona.
LaRod Stephens-Howling is the Cardinals’ main kick returner and he’s decent. He finished 17th in average kick return (24.2 per – Green Bay’s Jordy Nelson was 11th with 25.4 per) and had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Tennessee in late November.
Steve Breaston is the primary punt returner. While that was an area of strength for him in college at Michigan, Breaston hasn’t done much there in the past two seasons. This year, for example, he averaged just 6.7 yards per return, with a long of 64 yards.
In terms of coverage units, Arizona has the sixth-best kick coverage unit, allowing just 20.5 yards per return. Green Bay’s is 18th, allowing 22.8 yards per. The Packers have a slight edge in covering punts, although neither team is particularly good at it. Arizona is 27th in punt return average allowed at 10.5 per. Green Bay is 24th at 10.1 per.
Coaching
In just three short years, head coach Ken Whisenhunt has done a phenomenal job in resurrecting the Cardinals’ franchise. He’s implemented a winner’s mentality (long absent from the franchise) and, while he can be tough, the players there seem to love playing for him. As he was Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator before coming to Arizona, Whisenhunt is more focused on that side of the ball. After Todd Haley became Kansas City’s head coach, Whisenhunt took over the playcalling duties and has done a great job for the most part. He has a knack for calling trick plays, especially in big games where momentum is key, and there’s a good chance he’ll do so again Sunday.
There is no real offensive coordinator for the Cardinals. Russ Grimm, Whisenhunt’s pal from their days in Pittsburgh, is the assistant head coach/run game coordinator. Mike Miller is the passing game coordinator.
Billy Davis is in his first season as defensive coordinator. Davis calls an aggressive game and will likely try to bring pressure from mulitple angles at Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.
-Chris Lempesis
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