Bickley: If Green Departs, He Won't Leave Cupboards Bare

[Evil Ash]

A suprizingly positive article from Bickley

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/1127bickley1127.html

If Green departs, he won't leave cupboards bare

Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 27, 2006 12:00 AM

MINNEAPOLIS

It's been a tough year for football coaches in Arizona.

But one man's loss is another coach's gain, and assuming that Dennis Green joins Dirk Koetter on the scrap heap, this much is certain

Somebody is going to inherit a very talented Cardinals team in 2007.

"They are going to be good," Vikings safety Darren Sharper said. "Especially when (Matt) Leinart gets more experience. They are going to be a team to be reckoned with."

This is not a joke.

Sift through the rubbish of a 31-26 loss to the mediocre Vikings, one that guaranteed the Cardinals' 17th losing season in 19 years in Arizona, and there is much for beleaguered fans to feel good about.

J.J. Arrington returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, and maybe he found a heart along that yellow brick road to the end zone. Adrian Wilson returned a fumble 99 yards for a touchdown, and that should lock down a Pro Bowl berth for the defense's best asset. Incredibly, the offensive line is showing improvement.

But if you're wondering where all this optimism is coming from, it's mostly the stunning growth of Leinart, who merely threw for 405 yards against the Vikings.

After a short slump that coincided with the firing of his first offensive coordinator, Leinart has made quantum leaps in the past two games. This kid has got superstar written all over him, and it's happening sooner than anyone dared to dream. And just as he's finding his NFL legs, he's finding his voice, too.

In his postgame news conference, Leinart chided himself for a "dumb" interception. He said that everyone should be proud of a comeback that fell short, but they really shouldn't be struggling to beat a team like the Vikings. You don't need a telescope to see a true leader emerging from the abyss.

"He has great poise," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "That's the thing that he always exudes. Whether you're interviewing him or watching him play, he's never in a frenzy. (He's) a master at the piano."

Of course, none of this is cause for crazy celebration. That is reserved for Arizona State fans. In one weekend, they watched their football team smoke their bitter rivals in Tucson, learned their up-and-coming basketball team upset Iowa and then got news that Koetter had been fired - all of which amounted to an early Christmas present.

But when the Cardinals get around to hiring a new set of coaches, things should improve dramatically, too.

Not to pile on Green, but Sunday's loss featured another buffet of questionable tactics. After cutting the deficit to 31-19 with nearly 11 minutes left, Green went for the two-point conversion. It was far too early for such a decision, and it cost his team a chance to tie the game with a two-point conversion later in the fourth quarter. And then there's the mysterious tale of Edgerrin James, who spent most of the second half on the sidelines.

"I don't know what to say, man," James said. "We were passing the ball on every down, I guess."

Once again, James chose diplomacy over revealing his true feelings. Whatever, it's yet another stupid maneuver by a coaching staff that has underperformed all season.

After all, James is a very good receiver. He's very good at picking up the blitz. And when he was signed for $30 million, one of his best traits was that he never had to leave the field.

Making matters murkier, Green said earlier in the week that you can't just abandon the run when playing against the Vikings.

"I changed my mind during the course of the game," Green said.

As head coach, that's his prerogative. But just like Koetter, Green's time is running out. And, hopefully, the next regime can nurture a budding superstar quarterback, molding a great collection of individual talent into a real football team.



Reach Bickley at [email protected] or (602) 444-8253. Check out his blog at azcentral.com

 

[Buckybird]

an actual semi-positive article from the Repulsive. WOW!

 

[bigredjane]

Bickley--

A suprizingly positive article from Bickley

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/1127bickley1127.html

Must be drinking our cool aid!! I was even pleased to read his article yesterday,WOW!

 

[Scott MS]

Bickely is actually right . . . or has he been largely right all along?

I personally don't care for the guy, but it's not like his negative articles were necessary off base, just not what we wanted to hear when he had all the hope and expectations of this last offseason.

 

[nurnay]

That's not Bickley. Can't be!

 

[RugbyMuffin]

WHY WAS EDGE ON THE SIDELINE?

Are you kidding me?

Because he fumbled AGAIN! I can care less about circumstance. Edge coughed up the ball, yet again.

Then the article goes to say Edge is a good receiver?

Not since he has come to Arizona! Multiple dropped passes, and passes caught that amounted to nothing.

Edge is a good pass blocker?

Once again, not since he has come to Arizona. Blown assignment after blown assignment gives Edge a F in his pass blocking.

Edge was riding the bench because he has been coughing up the football, been uneffective in the passing game, and because he doesn't know his assignments.

Mystery solved.

Good thing Edge didn't care about preseason so he could be ready for the season itself!