After rewatching the game

[Shane]

I really don't believe that D. Anderson played all that horrible. Especially being his first game in a new system he has never played in before. His two Int's were as a result of dropped/tipped balls by Roberts. He was generally pretty accurate and lead a good drive capping off with a nice TD pass to Beanie.

After watching him so far I would be comfy with him as the back up.

Oh and Daryl Washington was even better the 2nd time around

 

[RedRob]

Agree other than the first INT, I'm not willing to give him a pass on that one as that was thrown into too much traffic.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

If DA didn't throw ropes all night he would have been better. He needs to put more touch on the ball. First game trying to impress the team maybe? Would like to see him make those kind of throws along with the ropes. He does have an arm though.

 

[TJ]

For me, the biggest problem was not the INTs but that his consistency and ability to complete finesse passes are limited. His performance was quite reminiscent of his career at Cleveland where he would make a few plays that were amazing yet the others were dismal. I hope you're right in that it was simply adapting to a new system or first game jitters.

 

[Sandan]

I really don't believe that D. Anderson played all that horrible. Especially being his first game in a new system he has never played in before. His two Int's were as a result of dropped/tipped balls by Roberts. He was generally pretty accurate and lead a good drive capping off with a nice TD pass to Beanie.

After watching him so far I would be comfy with him as the back up.

Oh and Daryl Washington was even better the 2nd time around

And as Wolfly said, the drops were in part due to the ball being thrown to hard, needed more touch

 

[Doc Cardinal]

For me, the biggest problem was not the INTs but that his consistency and ability to complete finesse passes are limited. His performance was quite reminiscent of his career at Cleveland where he would make a few plays that were amazing yet the others were dismal. I hope you're right in that it was simply adapting to a new system or first game jitters.

+1

 

[slanidrac16]

On the one interception he simply threw it to the wrong guy. He had a receiver wide open to the right side and never looked at him.

 

[Carddan]

Oh and Daryl Washington was even better the 2nd time around

It took me quite a while during the game before I noticed how much impact he was having. I look forward to watching the replay to see what I missed.

 

[Shane]

And as Wolfly said, the drops were in part due to the ball being thrown to hard, needed more touch

Bunk. tell that to Brett Favre and the slew of WR's that have broken/crooked fingers from catching his balls over the years. Thats just a crappy excuse.

 

[conraddobler]

Bunk. tell that to Brett Favre and the slew of WR's that have broken/crooked fingers from catching his balls over the years. Thats just a crappy excuse.

I'm going to agree with you 100% on this one.

This is like telling Elway to ease up on the throws, or do you just tell the WR's to suck it up and adapt?

I'm pretty sure since arms like that don't grow on trees it's on the WR's to just catch the dang ball.

 

[ajcardfan]

Agree other than the first INT, I'm not willing to give him a pass on that one as that was thrown into too much traffic.

He also threw that pass almost straight over Williams who was running free on an under crossing route. IMO, he had decided presnap where he was going with the ball and didn't even read coverage on that play.

 

[Buckybird]

Bunk. tell that to Brett Favre and the slew of WR's that have broken/crooked fingers from catching his balls over the years. Thats just a crappy excuse.

Easy for you to say Shane

Favre also put the ball in places that were easier to catch despite the velocity, whereas many of DA's rockets were behind, high or off target.

 

[Shane]

Easy for you to say Shane

Favre also put the ball in places that were easier to catch despite the velocity, whereas many of DA's rockets were behind, high or off target.

Like I said. I re-watched the game and he really wasn't that bad considering.

We also tend to give QB's a pass for having to learn whole new systems. He has had to and isn't going to look as comfortable in a new system with a bunch of plays that he hasen't had the luxury of knowing for 4 years.

Im not saying start the guy or that he will be the DA of 2007. But after looking at the tape again I wasn't as down on him as I was before.

Velocity should never be an issue IMO. If its in the bread basket you catch it pure and simple. Many a times I have seen Favre just gun it in there when it isnt necessary. His WR's have outright told you that you need to be ready to catch a bullet at all times.

 

[MrYeahBut]

But after looking at the tape again I wasn't as down on him as I was before.

I agree with this assessment. While his passes were no where near perfect, it seemed to me he was clearly flustered by the lack of cohesion with the entire second unit

 

[Shane]

I'm going to agree with you 100% on this one.

This is like telling Elway to ease up on the throws, or do you just tell the WR's to suck it up and adapt?

I'm pretty sure since arms like that don't grow on trees it's on the WR's to just catch the dang ball.

 

[PJ1]

If he was a rookie maybe I would agree. I thought he was awful although I have not watched the game again. No touch at all including not elevating a fade pass in the endzone. The second pick was awful.

In my opinion if he has to play we are screwed. Hopefully we aren't already.

 

[Shane]

If he was a rookie maybe I would agree. I thought he was awful although I have not watched the game again. No touch at all including not elevating a fade pass in the endzone. The second pick was awful.

In my opinion if he has to play we are screwed. Hopefully we aren't already.

The 2nd pick went right through Andre Roberts hands and into the air to the defender. Not awful in anyway.

 

[PJ1]

The 2nd pick went right through Andre Roberts hands and into the air to the defender. Not awful in anyway.

I will watch it again but I thought the pass was high. In my opinion Skelton showed far more touch than Anderson. Looked much more comfortable also.

 

[Shane]

I will watch it again but I thought the pass was high. In my opinion Skelton showed far more touch than Anderson. Looked much more comfortable also.

Skelton was perfect and played perfect. Cant argue that. Anderson just wasnt as bad as I first though on the first viewing. His comp % for the game wasnt horrible and his throws on the TD drive were really good. Not bad for your first year and game in a new system. He should get better.

 

[Buckybird]

The 2nd pick went right through Andre Roberts hands and into the air to the defender. Not awful in anyway.

thrown too hard & maybe before he was ready because Roberts looked weird when the ball arrived

 

[seesred]

I'm not an Anderson fan at this poiont. Throws to hard and has a tendancy to overthrow. Williams was open in the end zone threw high. Once agian he was wide open going down the left sideline with nobody to even talk to, Anderson hi8gh plenty of time and missed him completly. Maybe I'm being to harsh, but Matt behind a 1st string line that gave him no chance did'nt look great as well.

NOw we have a future in this Skelton he was the only QB to look in control and what an arm! Yes it's only one game and he isn't ready now, but if all falls to the ground there is hoppe ahead. I hope that Matt can play some ball this year and I think he is capable. All he has to do is convince that big front line to BLOCK!

GBR
40

 

[perivolaki]

I thought that DA looked OK, and Skelton looked good, but I couldn't help wondering how Matty would have looked if he had half the time to throw that either of those two had?

 

[JeffGollin]

I'm hoping that the rocket-balls launched by Anderson were a function of being overly geeked-up in his first appearance as a Cardinal and that, with one game and a TD pass under his belt, he'll relax and not try to throw every ball through the receiver's lungs.

Regarding whether it's on Derek or on his receivers, I vote for both.

Derek throws a hard-to-catch ball and also the kind of ball inclined to bounce off receivers into the hands of others. I believe that, unless he throws a more catchable ball, his interception totals will continue to derail his career.

That said - nearly every ball thrown at Roberts (though hard-to-catch) was "catchable." He's got to make those plays at least on a 2 to 1 ratio. Right now, among the four (Williams, OJ, Komar and Roberts) I'd rank Roberts #4 (& eventually "off the island").

 

[PJ1]

I thought that DA looked OK, and Skelton looked good, but I couldn't help wondering how Matty would have looked if he had half the time to throw that either of those two had?

Good point. The backups did a better job protecting.

 

[Chopper0080]

Derek Anderson played a decent game. The second string's are always the most difficult to play against because there is talent there, but cohesiveness is generally lacking.

As far as the touch passes. Touch passes are meant to be used for players that don't catch a ton of balls (backs and some tight ends), and to place the ball over defenders. When it come to throwing balls to wide receivers who have position in front of defenders, a ball really can't be thrown too hard. It is the receivers job to catch the ball and the quicker it gets there, the faster he can secure it in traffic. Andre Roberts flat missed that ball, probably because he is a smaller receiver with smaller hands, and hasn't had a QB throw lasers like this to him in his entire career. This was not in any way on Anderson.