Article: It's Warner's world.

[RFIP]

Warner saves Cards from embarrassment
By Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist
September 11, 2006

So this is what the NFL is like. A sold-out stadium. An opening day win.
Satisfaction guaranteed and, for once, delivered. Arizona 34, San Francisco
27. It's a start.

"You see the potential," wide receiver Anquan Boldin said. "It's there." The
Cardinals cut the ribbon on a new era Sunday, but they still haven't put the
past behind them. Yes, they won. Yes, they're 1-0 for the first time since
1999. But holding on for dear life against the 49ers, one of the NFL's worst
teams? Still struggling to run the ball? Committing stupid penalties,
missing tackles and relying far too much on Kurt Warner?

That's not progress, even if it's packaged in a shiny new box.

"We didn't make it easy on ourselves," Warner said.

No, they didn't, and if Arizona had been playing anyone of substance, it
very likely would be 0-1 and reading ugly headlines this morning.

That's not just a cranky columnist talking, by the way. From Warner to
Dennis Green to Edgerrin James, the Cardinals lit into themselves for not
burying a lousy 49er team.

Green was particularly cranky, criticizing the offensive line, the lack of
discipline - 11 penalties for 85 yards - and their collective IQ.

"I'm not going to be very patient," he said.

Green can't afford to be. He has to win this year, and if he has to hold a
few feet to the fire even after a win, so be it.

The Cardinals' offseason was devoted to the running game, but it's already
apparent that James and his gold front teeth are of secondary importance to
Warner and his golden arm.

James had a pedestrian game - 26 carries, 73 yards - but Arizona won because
Warner harkened back to his two MVP years with the St. Louis Rams,
completing 23 of 37 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns, with no
interceptions. He did have two fumbles, losing one of them.

"It reminded me of the old days," Warner said. "It's given me a very similar
feel to what I've been in the past in St. Louis."

For all the hoopla about Matt Leinart, we were reminded again Sunday of why
it's critical that Warner remain upright and in one piece.

Warner completed passes to seven different receivers. He threw lasers, he
was accurate and he even used his creaky 35-year-old legs to avoid the 49ers
rush and connect on several big throws.

Leinart's not there yet. And it likely will be awhile before he gets there.

"Kurt's a good quarterback," James said. "That's one reason I came here."

Two plays - both on the same drive - beautifully illustrated Warner's
talent. He threw a perfect 24-yard strike to Larry Fitzgerald just as he was
decked by safety Mike Adams; two plays later he drifted left out of the
pocket, waited, waited, waited and found Boldin for a 6-yard touchdown.

"I'm not a guy who's going to beat you with my legs," Warner said, "but I've
always thought that I've got a good presence and know where the pressure is
coming from. I can make one guy miss. I can avoid a guy then make a play."

Warner ran over to the stands to kiss his wife, Brenda, before he headed to
the locker room. His teammates should have kissed him when he got inside,
for he spared them the embarrassment of losing to the 49ers.

"He played great," Boldin said. "He was poised in the pocket and made the
big throws."

The Cardinals won't like a lot of what they see when they review the tape.
If they play as unevenly on Sunday in Seattle, they'll be in for a whipping.
It's funny. For all the dramatic changes that occurred in the last six
months, one very important fact continues to stand tall and undisturbed.
This isn't the James Gang. It's Warner's World.

 

[phillycard]

yep. That about sums it up.

 

[JeffGollin]

I hated the headline (whether there might have been an element of truth to it or not).

We won the damn game. That's what's important.

Who did or didn't step up to "save the team from embarrassment" is immaterial. (On winning teams someone always will).

The Cards bought an extra week to iron out the rough spots, work out the kinks and get it together. (They may need to buy one or two more weeks, but it's a long season). If the players have the right attitude and are receptive to learning from their mistakes, we'll be more than OK.

If.

 

[PACardsFan]

I have to disagree with the premise that the Niners are as crappy as everyone makes them out to be. I watched the replay last night & came away satisfied overall with how the Cardinals played. Yes, the OL still needs to improve. Yes, they killed themselves with stupid penalties & Yes, we need to create more pressure on the opposing QB. But, give SF some credit. Smith is extremely bright & played very well. He will continue to improve & so will the Niners. Nolan has created a very physical team that's buying his philosophies. He created plays that neutralized our strengths & they worked to perfection. I really don't think Pendergast thought Smith was a far along as he actually is. I guarantee we will prepare differently the next game against the Niners. They play the Rams this week. I guarantee that game will go down to the wire. For the Cardinals, we did score 34 pts & should have scored more. Look around the league, there were some pathetic offensive outputs yesterday ( see Seahawks, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Patriots, Broncos, Rams (settled for 6 fg's), Cowboys, Chiefs). I have the NFL Ticket & watched plenty of football yesterday. The Cardinals as a WHOLE looked better than any of the teams I listed. Our D will improve as will our OL play. Once we get the penalty situation under control, I like our chances against ANYONE.

 

[mesacardsfan]

I agree PPCardsFan we have the ability to play with anyone if we erase some of the stupid penalties. Most teams that have 11 penalties are gonna lose, but we still won and still put up 34 that could have been much more. The niners played as well as they could have dreamed of and with a little help from the refs hung in the game much longer than we should have allowed. We have a very talented offense that can compete with any in the league. As far as the pedestian 73 yrds by James thats about 1200 over the course of a season and for the cards that would be freakin fantastic. Plus its his first game I am willing to give him a little time to get in his groove, think he will be just fine. And on a side note he made our red zone offense look a hell of alot better than they have in years, and thats what a quality RB will do for us.

 

[AZ Shocker]

I think that the Cardinals were just totally jacked up for the season opener in a new stadium with a full house.

Anytime you get all those going on in one game...there's gonna be a whole lot of adrenline flowing.

Just look at the types of mistakes...

1. Over-pursued on defense. 49er's did themselves good with the mis-direction.

2. Stupid penalties. That's all adreline and first game psyche there.

3. Not a mistake, but the 49ers came in totally up for the game. First game of the season wanting to get it started off right and playing the lowly "what have you done for me lately Cardinals. C'mon...you know they thought they had a chance.

All in all a game under our belts that we WON! Guys learned and will get better. What better way to learn what you did wrong, but yet still win the game. That's what good teams have had the luxury of. They will make mistakes, but still win and continue to get better every week.