At Odds (Not Oz) With Whiz

[Mitch]

He was once my Wonderful Whiz...

I mean...this is the head coach who brought me and Cardinal fans more joy than any other previously....by far. He stands alone in that regard, for no other Cardinals' head coach in my lifetime ever won one single playoff game, let alone had the laughing-stock Cardinals contending for a Lombardi Trophy.

Whiz has won two NFC West Championships...has won 4 playoff games, all of which were stunning victories and came within 2:37 of winning the Super Bowl.

After watching yesterday's press conference...

Did Toto just do what I think he did?

Has the real Whiz suddenly been exposed from behind the curtain?

I mean...honestly...what has happened that, as I sat there watching, I felt a wave of distrust and disdain come over me, regarding the coach that I swore I would love and appreciate forever?

It always made me curious as to why Big Ben was so disdainful of Whiz...which is probably the main reason why Whiz didn't get the Steelers' job. I always chalked that up to Big Ben being an incorrible jerk.

It also confused me to no end as to why Anquan Boldin manifested similar disdain. I chalked that one up to the player's selfishness...but maybe I should have been considering other thoughts.

I chalked it up to selfishness and avarice as the reasons why Dansby and Rolle flew the coop. But...they both said they wanted to be "shown the love." I was sure that love in this case simply meant money. Yet, could Whiz have had something to do with the reasons why they didn't feel the love in Arizona?

Kurt Warner left saying he had "lost the love of the game."

How much did that have to do with losing his X's and O's buddy in Todd Haley?

How much did that have to do with having to carry the team and a thoroughly incompetent defense on his shoulders week after week?

How much did that have to do with playing for a head coach/offensive coordinator who surrounded him with inferior offensive tackles and at the same time refused to create a comfort zone for him by chipping the best DEs, or at times offering maximum protection?

Right there...if I am an NFL QB and you give me two porous tackles and my head coach/offensive coordinator refuses to help them and me out by simply chipping the DEs...let alone making sure that at times the DEs aren't given a STRAIGHT UNIMPEDED SHOTS at me...I am not sure how much love for the game I could retain.

If I am a QB and my head coach tells the media that the next opponent certainly isn't in fear of whatever QB my team throws out there---how much confidence is that going to give me playing for this coach?

If my head coach bills my signing as essentially one of desperation because no one else was out there---how does that make me feel?

Better yet, if my head coach tells me and the local and national media that it's my time---that I've "earned" the starting job---and goes as far as to say he's confident in my abilities and that I am the number one---and then he plays me token minutes in the pre-season to give the backups extended time---and then suddenly I am no longer the starter and even worse, no longer in competition for the starting job---and worse than that, he strings me out to dry for over a week as a lame duck---how does that make me feel?

If my head coach tells the whole team that the best players play...and then he tells a national reporter that I played the best of any QB in camp, but I am not playing---how does that make me feel?

If my head coach goes on to say that "it's never a good opportunity to play a rookie"---when I have been one snap away from playing this whole time and he's lauded me as the best QB in camp---how does that make me feel?

He was also talking about me when he said to the media that the Saints aren't going to fear whatever QB we put out there---how does that make me feel?

When he says to the media---ha ha ha---that "no one" will be playing QB this week---it will be all Wildcat---being flip a day after one of the most humiliating, one-sided trouncings my team has suffered---how does that make me feel?

Do I really want to play for this guy?

I ask you---you tell me---

 

[Jersey Girl]

I hated his comment about no one playing QB. It's not a laughing matter. Fix the problem, Coach.

 

[Matt L]

He was once my Wonderful Whiz...

I mean...this is the head coach who brought me and Cardinal fans more joy than any other previously....by far. He stands alone in that regard, for no other Cardinals' head coach in my lifetime ever won one single playoff game, let alone had the laughing-stock Cardinals contending for a Lombardi Trophy.

Whiz has won two NFC West Championships...has won 4 playoff games, all of which were stunning victories and came within 2:37 of winning the Super Bowl.

After watching yesterday's press conference...

Did Toto just do what I think he did?

Has the real Whiz suddenly been exposed from behind the curtain?

I mean...honestly...what has happened that, as I sat there watching, I felt a wave of distrust and disdain come over me, regarding the coach that I swore I would love and appreciate forever?

It always made me curious as to why Big Ben was so disdainful of Whiz...which is probably the main reason why Whiz didn't get the Steelers' job. I always chalked that up to Big Ben being an incorrible jerk.

Make no mistake, Big Ben is still a jerk

It also confused me to no end as to why Anquan Boldin manifested similar disdain. I chalked that one up to the player's selfishness...but maybe I should have been considering other thoughts.

I chalked it up to selfishness and avarice as the reasons why Dansby and Rolle flew the coop. But...they both said they wanted to be "shown the love." I was sure that love in this case simply meant money. Yet, could Whiz have had something to do with the reasons why they didn't feel the love in Arizona?

Kurt Warner left saying he had "lost the love of the game."

How much did that have to do with losing his X's and O's buddy in Todd Haley?

How much did that have to do with having to carry the team and a thoroughly incompetent defense on his shoulders week after week?

Before we sacrifice Whiz at the altar of Kurt Warner, let's remember that there were definitely some games that he murdered our chances at winning. And additionally, there were some games last season that the defense did play well (they had a great game against Minnesota last season) and there were other games where they were at least average. I thought that our run defense was pretty decent at the beginning of last season too.

How much did that have to do with playing for a head coach/offensive coordinator who surrounded him with inferior offensive tackles and at the same time refused to create a comfort zone for him by chipping the best DEs, or at times offering maximum protection?

I just heard Warner on Dan Patrick tell DP that he always preferred all of the receivers to be placed into routes so that he could make a quick read and deliver the ball before getting hit.

Right there...if I am an NFL QB and you give me two porous tackles and my head coach/offensive coordinator refuses to help them and me out by simply chipping the DEs...let alone making sure that at times the DEs aren't given a STRAIGHT UNIMPEDED SHOTS at me...I am not sure how much love for the game I could retain.

If I am a QB and my head coach tells the media that the next opponent certainly isn't in fear of whatever QB my team throws out there---how much confidence is that going to give me playing for this coach?

Coaches speak out of both sides of their mouth EVERY WEEK. I have no problem if he is going to crack a joke to the media during a press conference

If my head coach bills my signing as essentially one of desperation because no one else was out there---how does that make me feel?

Better yet, if my head coach tells me and the local and national media that it's my time---that I've "earned" the starting job---and goes as far as to say he's confident in my abilities and that I am the number one---and then he plays me token minutes in the pre-season to give the backups extended time---and then suddenly I am no longer the starter and even worse, no longer in competition for the starting job---and worse than that, he strings me out to dry for over a week as a lame duck---how does that make me feel?

You basically predicted Leinart to be dropped and applauded the decision all preseason and now you are coming back and saying that it was handled poorly?

If my head coach tells the whole team that the best players play...and then he tells a national reporter that I played the best of any QB in camp, but I am not playing---how does that make me feel?

I agree with you here

If my head coach goes on to say that "it's never a good opportunity to play a rookie"---when I have been one snap away from playing this whole time and he's lauded me as the best QB in camp---how does that make me feel?

He was also talking about me when he said to the media that the Saints aren't going to fear whatever QB we put out there---how does that make me feel?

When he says to the media---ha ha ha---that "no one" will be playing QB this week---it will be all Wildcat---being flip a day after one of the most humiliating, one-sided trouncings my team has suffered---how does that make me feel?

Do I really want to play for this guy?

I ask you---you tell me---

I generally don't like the sideline psychology that goes into watching professional sports, I think that you make some good points but I still think that Whiz is going to do what he feels gives the team the best chance at winning.

 

[Shane]

I hated his comment about no one playing QB. It's not a laughing matter. Fix the problem, Coach.

I found it to be quite funny.

 

[dogpoo32]

All good points. I used to think you were crazy, but you're making a lot of sense lately. Not sure what to make of that...

 

[RonF]

Mitch, is this your way of telling us that the wheels under our beloved Coach Whiz are starting to come off? I would warn Whiz, however, when you find your self deep in a hole, stop digging. Some changes are obviously needed and he has to make them or step aside.

 

[MrYeahBut]

because because because because because, because of the wonderful things he does....

Seriously, many here have stated similiar thoughts. I, myself had posted sometime back about Bolden, Dansby etc leaving was not so much the FO, but maybe they were at odds with Whiz. Didn't like his philosophy, rotations, game plans and so on, so they really chose to go somewhere else for basically the same money. You can't tell me Dansby liked getting his ass handed to him last night by NE. The Giants haven't been world beaters either, Rolle was whining, so it's not like they left knowing they were going to the Super Bowl.

Are those players just malcontents or is the larger problem with the coaching staff. Appearently the FO doesn't think so as Whiz just got an extension.

I mean I love the guy, but crimoiny this stuff looks bad right now. I've seen some of this on NFL channel and I just sit there dumbfounded. My wife has even commented to me about it. sheesh, I hope this is all just some short phase and it's over soon

 

[joeshmo]

Didn't like his philosophy, rotations, game plans and so on, so they really chose to go somewhere else for basically the same money.

They did not leave for basically the same money. Don't get me wrong both got great offers from the Cardinals and both players said as much. But when you consider no state taxes for Dansby his was easily a much bigger contract then our offer. Rolle also got a better deal, not giant discrepancy, but more then just basically, it was an easy choice to make for him, especially for a guy who craves the limelight of NYC.

 

[Rats]

Well written piece as usual Mitch. Anyone that has been a FanBoy of this Headcoach is forced to re-evaluate and discover some inconvienant truths as you pointed out. It has been there all along but masked by the inheritence of NFL talented players and winning NFC titles despite not preparing for life after the "NFL talent leaves" Whis is not good at x and o, he is not good at talent evaluation, he is not good at bringing in competent Coaches on both sides of the ball. We expected we would transition to a run first team to setup the pass and it has never happened. He fell in love with his press clippings and has not replenished the talent to stay at the top on Offense. Without that our D (which has never been topshelf) is exposed. ML would have managed the game better and had an impact. He would have made the transition year easier but Whiz for some reason( temporary insanity perhaps?) changed the gameplan 2 weeks before the season and now we see the curtain has been pulled back to expose a fraud.

 

[Shane]

They did not leave for basically the same money. Don't get me wrong both got great offers from the Cardinals and both players said as much. But when you consider no state taxes for Dansby his was easily a much bigger contract then our offer. Rolle also got a better deal, not giant discrepancy, but more then just basically, it was an easy choice to make for him, especially for a guy who craves the limelight of NYC.

What you say in relation too Dansby's contract. you could say the exact opposite for Rolle. While his offer may have been better. According to my buddies from NY they have some of the highest taxes in the nation. He could have ended up with less. Would like to see it broken down.

 

[joeshmo]

What you say in relation too Dansby's contract. you could say the exact opposite for Rolle. While his offer may have been better. According to my buddies from NY they have some of the highest taxes in the nation. He could have ended up with less. Would like to see it broken down.

Could be. It is also good to note that he also got more money up front faster then the Cards offered, which is usually a big deal for the players these days then actual overall total.

 

[DoTheDew]

I think that ultimately what is going on right now is that the ownership, anticipating a lockout next year, told Whiz "Look, we'll give you this big extension, but we're going to have a low budget team this year. Make the most of it and plan for the future."

That is ultimately why we didn't pursue McNabb and why we went with DA and cut Matt. That is why we cut Rolle. That is why we wouldn't "overpay" for Dansby in order to keep our D strong. Why we traded Boldin.

Whiz looked at the dollar signs. He thought to himself, "Ok. I can be a yes man to ownership for one year. Have a nice draft. When the labor dispute is resolved it will finally be my team with my players. In the mean time, since I'm being forced to go with scrub QBs and a gutted defense, I'll cash my paycheck and try to find some diamonds in the rough."

The last 3 years ownership actually spent the money to keep this team deep. Warner retired and we cleared the books. It's really no surprise that we suck. Whiz is simply playing the cards he's been dealt.

 

[Mitch]

I generally don't like the sideline psychology that goes into watching professional sports, I think that you make some good points but I still think that Whiz is going to do what he feels gives the team the best chance at winning.

I forgot to add a couple more:

If I lead the team to an unprecedented 5-3 record over the second half of the year, lighting up the scorebaord to the tune of 28 ppg...playing injured with one arm tied behind my back, no less---and the first week after the season I am told that Matt Leinart will be the starting QB going into the next season---how does that make me feel?

If I lead the team to within 2:37 of winning the Lomardi Trophy and the team tries to nickel and dime me on a new contract (after I did this on a mere $5M a year and having to endure the embarrassment of not even being considered the team's styarting QB going into the season), so much so I have to go parade my skills to a division rival to get any serious action---how does that make me feel?

Whiz sucks the life out of these guys---he does---it's not sports psychology to understand this.

I will tell you right niow what Whiz is going to do this week:

1. He will re-appoint Anderson as the starter.

2. He will pound Beanie Wells ad nauseum into a Saints' defense that will be stacked in the box, to where Wells will probably re-injure his knee.

He will just want to take the drubbing versus the Saints and then spend the bye week trying to figure it all out from there.

What he did to Beanie Wells this pre-season was unconscionable. He has very little regard for Wells and it shows.

The irony is...Whiz will say that "it's what I would expect from a competitor" when asked about Wells' complaints.

The reality is...Whiz has serious issues with Wells...just as he has serious issue with this year's first rounder, inactive NT Dan Williams, at 329 pounds no less???

These coaches are having a hard time coaching up talent.

BTW...yes, I was opposed to naming Leinart the starter in the first place...but I was one of the first to say that the way Whiz handled ML's situation was egregious. And it was. It was shameful.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Great post Mitch. Now that the vail has been lifted, the focus will be on how the team reacts moving forward. This will be the Bidiwlls' greatest challenge to date. It is easy to get rid of a losing, unpopular coach, but what do you do when the coach has brought you to your highest moment, is popular, and then you realize that he has sent you down a bad path that will damage your team for years to come? If this team continues to lose, there will be consquences because a lot of this was preventable. It did not need to be this bad, and the future is anything but clear. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I hope we don't take too many lumps in the process.

 

[DoTheDew]

What you say in relation too Dansby's contract. you could say the exact opposite for Rolle. While his offer may have been better. According to my buddies from NY they have some of the highest taxes in the nation. He could have ended up with less. Would like to see it broken down.

Except that playing in NYC creates so many extra endorsement opportunities that players make back all that money. That was NYCs pitch to LeBron this off-season. Granted Rolle is not a superstar but he will get more in endorsements than even possible in Arizona.

 

[azsouthendzone]

I think that ultimately what is going on right now is that the ownership, anticipating a lockout next year, told Whiz "Look, we'll give you this big extension, but we're going to have a low budget team this year. Make the most of it and plan for the future."

That is ultimately why we didn't pursue McNabb and why we went with DA and cut Matt. That is why we cut Rolle. That is why we wouldn't "overpay" for Dansby in order to keep our D strong. Why we traded Boldin.

Whiz looked at the dollar signs. He thought to himself, "Ok. I can be a yes man to ownership for one year. Have a nice draft. When the labor dispute is resolved it will finally be my team with my players. In the mean time, since I'm being forced to go with scrub QBs and a gutted defense, I'll cash my paycheck and try to find some diamonds in the rough."

The last 3 years ownership actually spent the money to keep this team deep. Warner retired and we cleared the books. It's really no surprise that we suck. Whiz is simply playing the cards he's been dealt.

If there is a lockout, wouldn't you want to field your best team possible to leave the fans with the best feelings possible leading into the work stoppage instead of feeling that the team is a joke? If that is their strategy it is severley flawed. This year's Lombardi looks the same as the next one.

 

[MrYeahBut]

They did not leave for basically the same money. Don't get me wrong both got great offers from the Cardinals and both players said as much. But when you consider no state taxes for Dansby his was easily a much bigger contract then our offer. Rolle also got a better deal, not giant discrepancy, but more then just basically, it was an easy choice to make for him, especially for a guy who craves the limelight of NYC.

Right as usual on the contract stuff, I just phrased it wrong. My intent was to say that they were given reasonable offers...poor choice of words on my part.

 

[Matt L]

I still think that he is at least competent on the offensive side for the "x's an o's"

It would seem that in each of the 4 games this season, there has been a play or two that have been wide open and with just a little execution out of the QB position, a long touchdown would have ensued...perfect example is that deep post that was drawn up perfectly and called at the right time, however, QB overthrows the ball and we are quickly punting...

I will admit that the management of the personnel has definitely been dissappointing, but his offensive calls have been pretty good.

 

[azsouthendzone]

I still think that he is at least competent on the offensive side for the "x's an o's"


I will admit that the management of the personnel has definitely been dissappointing, but his offensive calls have been pretty good.

The run to pass ratio doesn't make sense given the personnel . Maybe it is due to the score, maybe not. I do think he is a capable playcaller which is frustrating.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Reading this board, you'd think we're 0-4... Sure, we've had two terrible losses, but we've also won two games so far, and have done exactly what has been expected so far in terms of W/L in a transition year.

It's funny that certain people here are willing to place all the blame on Whis, but fail to place any of the blame on the front office.

Further, it seems ridiculous to use Warner in an example criticizing Whiz, considering Warner himself is telling everyone to take a deep breath, and to trust Whis.

"I no Cards nation is in a panic, but based on what I no of Coach Wiz, I have complete confidence he will make RIGHT decisions & rally troops"

Obviously we're going to lose this week, and the usual suspects will rail against Whis, and bitch and moan, but let's try to keep the whining to a minimum until we lose a game we shouldn't.

 

[crisper57]

The run to pass ratio doesn't make sense given the personnel . Maybe it is due to the score, maybe not. I do think he is a capable playcaller which is frustrating.

I'll give him a pass on this for now. When the score gets that bad, you really can't afford to have a balanced attack anymore.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I do think he is a capable playcaller

It's really hard to respond to this ridiculousness in a polite way. Think whatever you want, the guy has been the OC on a super bowl winning team, and has been a major part of another offense that made it to the super bowl and past the first round of the playoffs last year. You clearly are pretty objective about the matter though.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I found it to be quite funny.

It's funny because it's true. (Where is that from? The Simpsons? Tommy Boy? Can't remember.)

Guess we just have different senses of humor. I wonder if you would have felt the same way if he made a crack about the defense.

 

[chickenhead]

He was once my Wonderful Whiz...

I mean...this is the head coach who brought me and Cardinal fans more joy than any other previously....by far. He stands alone in that regard, for no other Cardinals' head coach in my lifetime ever won one single playoff game, let alone had the laughing-stock Cardinals contending for a Lombardi Trophy.

It wasn't much in the grand scheme of things, but Tobin's victory over the Cowboys in 1998 was pretty big for us Cards fans And it got better as the years went on and Dallas kept failing to win in the postseason...

 

[Mitch]

Mitch, is this your way of telling us that the wheels under our beloved Coach Whiz are starting to come off? I would warn Whiz, however, when you find your self deep in a hole, stop digging. Some changes are obviously needed and he has to make them or step aside.

Sadly, Ron, Whiz is doing very little to expunge the perceptions that this team was carried by Kurt Warner.

I will tell you this...whom does Whiz think he's really speaking to in his Monday pressers?

It's the fans...who want to know how in the world you can play the Chargers and lay an egg so foul that Antonio Gates is virtually NEVER covered in the game...and that a sub-par, injury depleted defense can sack you 9 times and hold you to 3 points and what, 120 yards?

I find myself wishing today that Whiz was not extended.

He did not act the way a head coach should after yet another inexcusable debacle, follwing a home game where the team did far more to lose than win.

He should have been ripped and visibly so.

Instead he played it cute and flip.

This is why his team decides not to show up when they don't want to.

It's a disgrace.

If it were up to me I would ask him to go after the Georgia Tech job and let us hire a truly competent head coach who can actually motivate rather than alientate players.

Sorry...this is what I feel.

I do not like this guy anymore.