Cardinals still don't have an answer about their starting QB.
Aug 19, 2010 - After the first Arizona Cardinals preseason game, more questions were thrust upon the Cards roster than answers.
Awesome, the Cardinals beat the Texans (sarcasm), but that clearly was not the story of the game. Only one thing came clear from the Cardinals quarterback situation and that was that Derek Anderson is not very good.
The former Brown was 13-for-22 with two interceptions. Some will say that I am overreacting; it was just a meaningless game. I tell those people to get a clue and stop drinking the Kool Aid.
Derek Anderson had three touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. Derek Anderson had a game he went 2-for-17. 2-for-freaking-17. I think you have to intentionally throw incomplete passes to pull that off.
Anderson is still living off his 2007 season when he threw 29 TDs and 18 INTs and led the Browns to a surprising 10-6 record.
When you look at the season more closely, it wasn't really as impressive as it seems. In week two, he threw five TDs and one INT against the Cincinnati Bengals. Take that game away and the rest of the season, he threw 24 touchdowns to 17 interceptions. In the last seven games of the 2007 season, he had nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
We know what Derek Anderson is, but we still don't have any idea what Matt Leinart can be.
Coach Whisenhunt challenged Matt Leinart this week by bringing up Kurt Warner's name on multiple occasions.
I understand what Whiz is trying to do, but I think it is unfair.
Leinart was a tackling dummy for Mario Williams and friends as the Cardinals offensive line couldn't have blocked a D-line that consisted of my sister, mom, dad, and me.
When Leinart was given time to throw the ball, he made a couple solid throws.
This doesn't mean Leinart is going to be the answer at QB, but it also doesn't mean he is going to be a bust. The former Heisman Trophy winner needs to be given a chance to succeed and if his offensive line doesn't give him time to stand tall in the pocket, there is nothing he can do. God gave Matt good looks and the ability to pull hot chicks, not Vince Young's legs and elusiveness.
The question the Cardinals got an answer for in preseason Game One was not a good one.
The question they are still waiting to be answered will decide whether they can get back to the playoffs for a third straight year.
3 comments
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I can never tell whether you're a complete pessimist, or whether you actually have a little hope buried deep down inside.
No doubt, if Derek Anderson ever starts a game, it’s a bad sign. Not only because Derek Anderson has not proven himself a consistently good quarterback, but because it will mean Matt Leinart failed.
That said, numbers aside, I thought Leinart did fine considering the scant time he had in the pocket. And Anderson got better as the game went on. There wasn’t a lot about the offense’s play that was terribly reassuring, but it’s so hard to judge based on preseason games. The offense was pretty terrible in the preseason last year, too.
by Vaegrin on Aug 19, 2010 9:52 AM MST reply actions
Try and be fair
I just try and look at things objectively. I think I was fair towards Leinart. It was impossible to judge him based on the couple series he played because of the offensive line play. Anderson just reaffirmed to me what we have seen in previous seasons.
Your right about the Cards in the preseason last year. If I remember correctly the 1st team didn’t score a TD till the 3rd game.
by Bryan Gibberman on Aug 19, 2010 5:30 PM MST reply actions
Are you forgetting Round 5 Pick?
Matt Leinart has proven he plays the short yards with his eye on midfield.
Derek Anerson has shown he has the power in his arms to rocket the ball but at best he is inconsistant.
Arizona’s hope is actually right there ready for a tryout i’m talking about John Skelton from Fordham while his only playtime has been 4th quarter against Houston, his rally was the reaon the Cards won with great presence in the pocket a beautiful spiral and the ability to rocket that ball up in the air i have no doubt that once he starts Fitzgerald will be back to record breaking as we all watch with amazement. And if you’re saying its too soon to tell i tell you this these past years Arizona has proven to pick up great talent late in the draft, 2009 gave us 7th round pick Larod Stephens-Howling , who had a great last seaon on special teams and the year before that Tim Hightower come on have faith in our late round picks, we may have a future Tom Brady in Skelton to lead the Cards to a Superbowl Win…
by Ezethrell on Aug 27, 2010 10:33 AM MST reply actions
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