Bickley's Article on Whisenhunt

[john h]

Basically Bickley's point is how Michael Bidwill is in full support of Ken Whisenhunt's decisions regarding his staff and personnel---and how in contrast the Rooneys (Steelers) just hired Todd Haley as OC against the wishes of HC Mike Tomlin---and that the Rooneys wanted to make sure that their new OC would keep Big Ben challenged and accountable.

However, Bickley, despite tabbing Haley as a "polarizing figure", equivocates several times as he questions which team will be better off this year---Arizona without Haley or Pittsburgh with Haley.

Bickley avers that Haley really wanted to return to Arizona.

Is there really clear evidence of that?

One would imagine that the second Haley learned he would not be given the OC job---whatever interest he may have had was dashed.

One thing seems clear: Whisenhunt prefers Mike Miller as his OC, otherwise Haley would have been offered the job.

Yet---with the decision to retain John McNulty---is the OC job going to be manned by the trio of Whisenhunt, Miller and McNulty?

The potential irony is that if the Cardinals somehow manage to sign Peyton Manning---who becomes the real OC then? One would imagine the real OCs in that scenario would be Peyton manning himself with an assist from newly hired WR coach Frank Reich.

Thus---the most intriguing questions are:

1. Would Whisenhunt, Miller and McNulty take a back seat to Peyton Manning and Frank Reich?

2. Would Manning/Reich become the new Warner/Haley?

3. Would the re-hiring of Todd Haley have been moot in this scenario anyway?

For some reason I continue to think that Ken Whisenhunt would rather control the shots himself than give Peyton Manning the keys---especially now that he had an 8-8 season without the Warner/Haley dynamic.

My hope is that Ken Whisenhunt wants to win badly enough that he will gladly hand the keys of the offense over to another Hall of Fame Super Bowl MVP QB.

One thing would seem certain for sure---Peyton Manning would not come to Arizona to run Whisenhunt's version of the "Dink and Dunk."

Interesting too that Bickley concluded his article with the notion that what the Cardinals really need regardless of Haley or any of the coaches is a quarterback.

One thing you can be sure of and that Peyton is smart enough to ask the right questions about what authority he has on the field when calling plays. Clearly a QB with his experience who is looking at the defense at the moment of decision is in a better position to change a call than any coach we have. So was Warner. This does not apply to many QB's but in the case of Peyton it would be a no-brainer to restrict his ability to change plays at line of scrimmage. He would not even consider a team that would restrict him in ths area. My thoughts remain I just cannot get my mind around the Bidwills spending the kin of money an injured Peyton Manning would want and that he would consider coming to AZ unless he has reasons other than contending for a ring.

 

[john h]

I'm not sure why, but I cannot get excited about this topic - maybe it has to do with speculation based on conjecture influenced by fantasy & leading to an irrelevant anticipated result.

I am with you on this Jeff. I am more concerned about Kolb and Skelton and how they will pan out as these are the two QBs who will fight for the starting job. My money is still on Skelton but only the Shadow knows.

 

[john h]

I have a hard time believing any coach on any team is going to let Manning, or any player, tell them what to do. Manning and Reich aren't going to come in take over. They will have input, much like Kurt Warner did, and they'll work together with the staff but it will still be running Whiz's offense. Even Tom Bady got put in his place by O'brien in NE. Players play and the coaches coach.

I would guess Warner changed more plays at the LOS than he did not. Manning is much the same way only more so. When you go into the huddle with Manning or Warner you know who is calling the play when it comes down to it. Hopefully the OC and these two QBs were on the same page but what OC is going to chew out Manning for changing the call at the LOS

 

[RugbyMuffin]

it would be like Steve Jobs agreeing to be a puppet to a second-rate MP3 manufacturer.

Apple ?

 

[Chopper0080]

I would guess Warner changed more plays at the LOS than he did not. Manning is much the same way only more so. When you go into the huddle with Manning or Warner you know who is calling the play when it comes down to it. Hopefully the OC and these two QBs were on the same page but what OC is going to chew out Manning for changing the call at the LOS

Audibles are installed during the week when the game plan is established. Manning is a veteran QB so he will be involved in the game plan development, and there would not be any reason that the OC would be upset by Manning using the audibles. This is a moot point.

It is a glaring misconception that Manning (or other vet QBs) just do what they want. They are given the freedom help develop the offensive game plan each week which consists of plans and areas of the defense to attack. The OC does this to ensure Manning can identify the matchups they want to exploit and take advantage of them on the fly. This all happens within the offensive scheme, and it in no way steps on anyone's toes.