Discussing the best (and worst) of Arizona sports.
Question the plan all you want. Ken Whisenhunt has everything under control, whether you believe it or not.
When the Cardinals' coach decided to name Derek Anderson his starter for Saturday's preseason game against the Chicago Bears, many viewed it as the end of Matt Leinart and the beginning of the Derek Anderson era.
It wasn't. Rather, it proved to be motivation for both of Arizona's quarterbacks, and that may have just been Whisenhunt's plan all along.
Both Leinart and Anderson answered the bell with impressive performances.
Anderson went 7-for-12 for 94 yards and a touchdown. Leinart matched that with an equally impressive 9-for-10 for 84 yards and a touchdown (which probably should have been two touchdowns if not for a Beanie Wells redzone fumble).
A first team offense that struggled to pick up first downs in its first three preseason games managed to pile them up against the Chicago defense, and two quarterbacks in search of rhythm hit their stride.
Instead of the mess he was faced with last week, Whisenhunt now has a new kind of problem. The best kind of problem. He now has "too many" options (if that is ever possible).
It was the best result anyone could have asked for and the one the head coach was setting the stage for all preseason.
Like Brad Pitt having to choose between Angelina and Jen, he has to choose between two options with baggage, but very attractive in their own right.
So question the plan all you want. Like Pitt, Whisenhunt has two qualified options while others are struggling to find one.
6 comments
Comments
Leinart is the guy who can be more consistent IMO
Going with him.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.
by JoeCB1991 on Aug 28, 2010 11:22 PM MST reply actions
I agree
Leinart has done everything that could be asked of him and hasn’t turned over the ball. Not quite sure how he could lose a job that was his in the first place based on his performances. That said, we don’t know how he’s truly looked in practice which will be taken into consideration.
I once tried to quit a job using a dry erase board. Unfortunately I wrote the first part in Sharpie so I couldn't finish.
by Greg Esposito on Aug 29, 2010 11:44 AM MST up reply actions
Agreed.
This team is good enough to win as long as they don’t have mistakes from the QB….DA will make mistakes….Leinart probably won’t.
RIP Seasons of Discontent
by Scott Howard on Aug 29, 2010 3:17 PM MST up reply actions
Well's fumble shouldn't have been one.
His knee was down. Replays showed it clearly, but apparently the refs didn’t have access to the same viewpoint. Good game from both Leinert and Anderson.
by psknapp on Aug 29, 2010 11:27 AM MST reply actions
It shouldn't have been a fumble, but bottom line is it was ruled one and cost Leinart a scoring opportunity.
I once tried to quit a job using a dry erase board. Unfortunately I wrote the first part in Sharpie so I couldn't finish.
by Greg Esposito on Aug 29, 2010 11:45 AM MST up reply actions
+1
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.
by JoeCB1991 on Aug 29, 2010 12:58 PM MST up reply actions
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