Discussing the best (and worst) of Arizona sports.
How can Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt go from praising Matt Leinart's progress as a leader just weeks before camp to dumping the heir apparent just a few weeks later?
Whisenhunt has yet to fully explain this decision, which is his right -- unless it blows up in his face.
To paraphrase what Mark Asher on Sports 620 KTAR said yesterday afternoon, the path of least resistance for the coach would have been to play Leinart as planned. His numbers this preseason were solid (his 82.6 completion percentage is the best in the NFL), but, as Whiz said many times, it's not about the stats. Obviously, it's not.
By playing Leinart in the regular season -- which, as Kurt Warner said yesterday, is the only true test -- Whisenhunt would not be criticized if Leinart failed. At that point, he could have replaced Leinart with Derek Anderson and no one would blink an eye. Bye bye, Matt.
Instead, by pulling the plug on Leinart before giving him an opportunity to succeed or fail, the results are squarely on Whisenhunt's shoulders. Should Anderson revert to form and toss the ball away and fail to improve his accuracy, there is no one the coach can hide behind.
It's a ballsy move for sure, and he had better be right ... or Jared Dudley will be all over him.
Twitter / Jared Dudley: Maybe it's just me but I'm ...
Maybe it's just me but I'm a Matt Lineart believer!!!! No he's know @kurt13warner, but he's had a solid pre season..19-23 with 1 TD no int
Twitter / Jared Dudley: He's has to be the starter ...
He's has to be the starter of the cards..They've invested to much money..having Anderson start in the pre season sends the wrong message
Twitter / Jared Dudley: I remember when Kerry Coll ...
I remember when Kerry Collins!!!! Was starting over Vince Young.. It took them goin 0-6 and the owner for him to get a 2nd chance
5 comments
Comments
The wisdom of Jared.
He speaks the truth.
I don’t think Whisenhunt is anywhere near a hot seat, but he is the one who will ultimately be held responsible.
by psknapp on Sep 1, 2010 9:22 AM MST reply actions
This was always going to be a tentative year at QB, as soon as Warner announced his retirement
I don’t think Whiz will experience any lasting flack for this move, regardless of the outcome, as long as it gets corrected next season.
Bloggin' 'bout AZ sports ... SB Nation Arizona
by Justin Burning on Sep 1, 2010 10:48 AM MST up reply actions
and as long
as Leinart doesn’t go somewhere else and play well and/or Anderson sucks
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Sep 1, 2010 4:19 PM MST up reply actions
wise words
the most likely scenario. I don’t think that guy will be good.
Blogging Suns Basketball at Bright Side of the Sun
by Alex Laugan on Sep 1, 2010 5:03 PM MST up reply actions
I still don't think Anderson sucking will result in lasting flack
If Leinart goes on to be a star, maybe. But chances of that happening … not so much.
Bloggin' 'bout AZ sports ... SB Nation Arizona
by Justin Burning on Sep 2, 2010 6:24 AM MST up reply actions
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