Big reason Matt is gone...

[Jetstream Green]

his average seemed to be under 4 yards in preseason per pass. When you have a WR group like ours, well that just won't cut it. I supported Leinart over Anderson but Whis got this right if one considers this and I could hardly have lead the Cards to a Superbowl, so I will agree with coach LOL. Matt does not have the strongest arm for sure, but strong enough to throw a few down the seam for 10 or 15 yards and he would just not do it. He was conservative to the extreme and that cost him. Even our young version of Jeff Garcia in Max Hall pushed the ball more down field.

 

[DeAnna]

By all accounts it was his pretty boy image and that he was basically a wuss. Not to mention his sense of entitlement and not wanting to work hard at anything.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I think Matt did work hard the last two year, and Whis to some extent even mentioned that. Was he a wuss, possibly. But he did not form a connection with his teammates, which was evident when you saw players like Hightower grouping around Anderson on the sidelines compared to Leinart who seemed to stand alone next to soon to be cut players like LB Monty

 

[nathan]

Last season KW only completed three 40+ yard passes. I don't think there was much of a chance of Leinart improving much on that. Anderson at least has the arm strength to go deep.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Last season KW only completed three 40+ yard passes. I don't think there was much of a chance of Leinart improving much on that. Anderson at least has the arm strength to go deep.

Problem is DA can't go short. Therefore, we likely face more 3 and outs, and more pressure on our "D".

 

[Jetstream Green]

Oh, he can go short and he goes short in a hurry, much the same way Michael Vick goes short...he winds up and throws a bullet when the guy is just 5 yards away, Anderson does not have the touch so to speak LOL

 

[Dayman]

After re-watching the Titans game from last year, I'm not so sure about this. Matt hit multiple passes down field and was able to thread some passes into tight coverage. He also missed his deep throws long instead of the woefully short versions we watched in preseason.

I still think Matt looked like the QBOTF in that game. The offense only scored ten points, but they moved the ball pretty well throughout the game, he scanned the whole field, he lined up the receivers when they were in the wrong place and seemed to play with some fire at the end. Matt was also able to make a lot of touch passes that I simply don't see Anderson being able to duplicate. He looked completely different than he did in the preseason.

Something happened this summer that severed this relationship. None of us know what it is, but the announcers frequently mentioned Matt's poise under pressure and how much confidence Whis seemed to have in him. Watching that game made his demotion and release even more baffling.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I was impressed with the Titan game as well but this preseason was so dinky dunky with his passes that it seemed he had zero confidence in his ability. Leinart does not have a weak arm, he has a average arm and can make most of the throws required to play in the NFL. Colt McCoy in comparison has a very weak arm. It is what it is. Anderson is the QB and I think he has more chances at success than failure with the players he has around him

 

[Dayman]

I was impressed with the Titan game as well but this preseason was so dinky dunky with his passes that it seemed he had zero confidence in his ability. Leinart does not have a weak arm, he has a average arm and can make most of the throws required to play in the NFL. Colt McCoy in comparison has a very weak arm. It is what it is. Anderson is the QB and I think he has more chances at success than failure with the players he has around him

I agree with all of this.

The other thing I noticed is that of all the receivers in that game, Matt seemed to have the weakest rapport with Fitz. I'm not saying that's why he's gone, but it was noticeable. The good part is that I think DA and Fitz will get along really well. Braylon Edwards made a lot of money off catching jump balls from DA. Imagine what Fitz can do.

 

[Jetstream Green]

you know Dayman, I have friends who are not Cardinal fans but they all seem to think that Anderson is going to have a good season with our WRs. The media is loving this because it includes a high profile name in Leinart being cut and to sweeten their words they are going as far as calling Anderson a journeyman on a franchise they do not particulary love...uh, and journeymen do not have that kind of arm strength and do not have a pro-bowl on their resume

 

[Dayman]

you know Dayman, I have friends who are not Cardinal fans but they all seem to think that Anderson is going to have a good season with our WRs. The media is loving this because it includes a high profile name in Leinart being cut and to sweeten their words they are going as far as calling Anderson a journeyman on a franchise they do not particulary love...uh, and journeymen do not have that kind of arm strength and do not have a pro-bowl on their resume

I hope your friends are right. He's definitely in the right situation.

On the opposite end of that spectrum, I met a girl the other night who's been a Browns fan her whole life. She just laughed when I mentioned DA. For about two minutes straight, actually. It wasn't a good sign. I hope your friends have a better read on the situation.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Well my friend is a arrogant Cowboy fan, the other is a close friend who plays high dollar fantasy football and wins...they like Anderson. Who knows? But we will find out, Whis believes and that is good enough for me

 

[lobo]

Well my friend is a arrogant Cowboy fan, the other is a close friend who plays high dollar fantasy football and wins...they like Anderson. Who knows? But we will find out, Whis believes and that is good enough for me

Agree...with that last line for sure. Does he make mistake yeah, but on the whole I'd say he probably can evaluate talent awfully well. Look for a 50/50 balance of run/pass...look for a whole lot of play action after the opponents load up the box with 7/8 and look for most of the passes between the hash marks...I could be wrong but based on what I have seen that's what I see.

 

[Big Deal]

After re-watching the Titans game from last year, I'm not so sure about this. Matt hit multiple passes down field and was able to thread some passes into tight coverage. He also missed his deep throws long instead of the woefully short versions we watched in preseason.

I still think Matt looked like the QBOTF in that game. The offense only scored ten points, but they moved the ball pretty well throughout the game, he scanned the whole field, he lined up the receivers when they were in the wrong place and seemed to play with some fire at the end. Matt was also able to make a lot of touch passes that I simply don't see Anderson being able to duplicate. He looked completely different than he did in the preseason.

Something happened this summer that severed this relationship. None of us know what it is, but the announcers frequently mentioned Matt's poise under pressure and how much confidence Whis seemed to have in him. Watching that game made his demotion and release even more baffling.

Maybe a case of trying not to lose the job instead of trying to win the job. I don't know, but whatever it was, he looked like he was at a snails pace and had zero pocket presence.

 

[LarryStalling]

Agree...with that last line for sure. Does he make mistake yeah, but on the whole I'd say he probably can evaluate talent awfully well. Look for a 50/50 balance of run/pass...look for a whole lot of play action after the opponents load up the box with 7/8 and look for most of the passes between the hash marks...I could be wrong but based on what I have seen that's what I see.

if the passes are over the middle to Fitzgerald, DA will have forgotten the Fitzgerald rule that got Leinart let go. Do not pass the ball to me over the middle.