Cardinals Patient with Anderson Somers

[40yearfan]

Please read this as it gives an explanation of why we are in the QB situation and what happened to cause it. It will answer a lot of questions asked on this board.

A chronology:

At this time last year, the Cardinals believed Kurt Warner would play through his two-year deal, which was to end after the 2010 season. They were confident that Warner loved the game so much he couldn't walk away while he was playing well. Plus, he was due to make $11.5 million in the final year.


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/car...a-cardinals-extra-anderson.html#ixzz10GcVwBwj

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Please read this as it gives an explanation of why we are in the QB situation and what happened to cause it. It will answer a lot of questions asked on this board.

Not buying what he is selling.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Great summation of Derek Anderson as a QB:

The Cardinals are betting heavily on the ability of Whisenhunt and his offensive staff to smooth Anderson's roughest edge: his inaccuracy.

A career 53 percent passer, Anderson possesses a strong arm that lacks touch. He can make throws few NFL quarterbacks can make, and misses some that nearly every NFL quarterback can make.

Two games into the season, Anderson has displayed that powerful arm, a nagging tendency to miss open receivers and a toughness that has won over coaches and teammates.



Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/car...a-cardinals-extra-anderson.html#ixzz10Gf34rdE

 

[Pariah]

I don't buy that as an excuse whatsoever. Everyone on the board knew that it was likely he'd walk away, and even if it was a surprise why is a career 50% passer an okay guy to bring on board...ever?

 

[Hollywood]

I don't buy that as an excuse whatsoever. Everyone on the board knew that it was likely he'd walk away, and even if it was a surprise why is a career 50% passer an okay guy to bring on board...ever?

That is what I was thinking. If this story is true then it is a fail for the front office for not recognising a VERY likely scenario and planning for it.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I don't buy that as an excuse whatsoever. Everyone on the board knew that it was likely he'd walk away, and even if it was a surprise why is a career 50% passer an okay guy to bring on board...ever?

+1

 

[chickenhead]

I appreciate a lot of what he has to say in the article. However, really all it does is tell us why Leinart is gone, and why Anderson is starting instead of Bulger. No mention of the reason why McNabb wasn't pursued. I know, move on, but I am curious. I know not everyone agrees with me--and he'd have games that would blow up the board--but I honestly think McNabb + our division = playoffs.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

I don't buy that as an excuse whatsoever. Everyone on the board knew that it was likely he'd walk away, and even if it was a surprise why is a career 50% passer an okay guy to bring on board...ever?

+1

+1

In all seriousness. here's the frustrating thing for me:

The people who are entrusted, and paid, to react to, and account for, these kind of roster changes were not only caught with their pants down (so to speak) with Warner's retirement, but didn't act appropriately, or quickly enough, in averting what could be a catastrophe (returning to cellar dweller status).

The improvements over the course of the past 3 years have been stellar, and I don't want to go back to the good ol' days of Cardinal suckatude.

But, being that as it may, I'll enjoy the ride.

Being a Cardinals fan=never a dull moment.

 

[BigRedMO]

I appreciate a lot of what he has to say in the article. However, really all it does is tell us why Leinart is gone, and why Anderson is starting instead of Bulger. No mention of the reason why McNabb wasn't pursued. I know, move on, but I am curious. I know not everyone agrees with me--and he'd have games that would blow up the board--but I honestly think McNabb + our division = playoffs.

I am with you. The conclusion I have to reach is the Cards went cheap. Maybe it was preparing financially for the lockout. Warner retiring "unexpectedly" is no excuse to not purse McNabb. I dont believe it was totally unexpected. He talked retirement after the Jets game. I find it hard to believe he said nothing about his thoughts. Why wouldnt Whiz quiz him if he wasnt talking? QB situation is pathetic. There are colleges with better QBs.

 

[Cardiac]

Not buying what he is selling.

I agree. The explanation just screams excuses about how things unfolded and us not having a plan.

Thanks 40 for posting this because I was going to start a thread about this topic but this is a good place share my thoughts / questions.

The biggest issue we have at this time is at QB. How did we get ourselves into this mess. It can't be as simple as Whiz is an idiot or hates ML.

ML is on the team through Whiz's entire tenure with the team and he doesn't know until training camp that he doesn't want his as his starter? This is so unwhiz like that it can't be the answer.

Whiz gives more opportunities to DA during preseason just because he knows what we have in ML and wants DA to get up to speed asap. Whiz is spinning or outright lying at this point.

Whiz announces he is shaking things up and starts DA for the 3rd preseason game. Again spinning or lying. He has made up his mind at this point (IMHO) and wants to confirm DA can run his offense.

Whiz had to play the same game with FO with Clancy P.

I think the same thing happened with ML. When something like this occurs and their is no logical explanation then I always fall back to Dollar Bill. If anyone truly believes he doesn't have any say so and has become totally hands off is fooling themselves. I don't have video proof or DNA or CSI findings; I do however have a smoking gun.

Many of us were frustrated with how Fitz's and ML's rookie contracts were constructed. Buckybird found the info that this was Dollar Bills doing. He just has crazy and outdated thoughts on how to run an NFL team. Michael and RG and Whiz are getting more control and impacting DB's actions but he still has the final say so.

Why did Dollar Bill force Whiz to hang onto ML and limit his options in FA for getting a QB? It usually comes down to money and his whacky thought process.

The man who helped resurect KW's career and took us to the Super Bowl can't be the same man who has us in this current QB situation.

Many of us went crazy when Hood was released and then a year later McFadden was traded. No they weren't shut down corners but they are both still in the NFL and contributing. So is it our FO is clueless about CB talent or were both these moves about $.

To make a long post even longer I will add that Whiz does believe he can turn DA into a solid (at least) starting QB. It takes time to undo bad habits that have been cemented into his muscle memory. Throw in that the Oline has not been very good at this point and when under pressure DA will regress to his old bad habits for awhile.

 

[Stout]

What? This is supposed to make us feel BETTER? It only outlines the FO's stupidity and makes Whis look bad. What this article glosses over without even a mention is the effing DRAFT. Ya know, you can actually draft a QB if you don't feel like you have 'the guy'. You don't just look at the FA market and say, 'well, we aren't in love with DA, but he's the best of the junk heap' and go with him!!!

But, all right, we signed Anderson AND failed to get a top QB in the draft. Move on and do what we can, right? WRONG!!! Instead of simply pushing Matt Leinart to the bench and letting Whis's 'guy' practice all offseason as the starting QB, we stubbornly start the guy we now know was never 'the guy'? Idiocy! Why, why, why would we DO that?

This article doesn't make me feel better at all. Quite the opposite, it makes me feel that this team is utterly incompetent! Argh!

Help...me...I...see...the...edge...walking...towards...it...ugh

 

[CaptTurbo]

Anderson possesses a strong arm that lacks touch. He can make throws few NFL quarterbacks can make, and misses some that nearly every NFL quarterback can make..[/I]

Ive seen DA miss throws every other QB can make but I am yet to witness a throw few NFL quarterbacks can make.

 

[BigRedMO]

+1

In all seriousness. here's the frustrating thing for me:

The people who are entrusted, and paid, to react to, and account for, these kind of roster changes were not only caught with their pants down (so to speak) with Warner's retirement, but didn't act appropriately, or quickly enough, in averting what could be a catastrophe (returning to cellar dweller status).

The improvements over the course of the past 3 years have been stellar, and I don't want to go back to the good ol' days of Cardinal suckatude.

But, being that as it may, I'll enjoy the ride.

Being a Cardinals fan=never a dull moment.

NFL team without a top QB = suckatude.


Cards went from Lomax to Warner without a good QB in between. It is hard to find a good QB. Say hello old Cardinals. I enjoyed the 2 year hiatus. At the very least a lockout next year wont bother me. If we still had Warner or another top QB it would have killed me.

 

[JeffGollin]

Some Thoughts -

- If it's true that the Cardinal FO believed Kurt would return, then they were naiive. They should have covered their bets better than they did.

- I don't believe that, in any way, Bulger would have been the answer - an experienced version of John Navarre.

- We really botched it with Leinart - (1) by picking him that high and not having him pan out, (2) not successfully developing him and (3) evaluating his progress so badly that he went from starter to being cut in roughly 24 hours.

- It's looking more and more as though the FO may have botched the decision to go with Anderson as well - (1) not accurately assessing his strong and weak points, (2) overestimating his capacity to eliminate his glaring weaknesses (& the coaching staff's ability to help him improve).

- Our Plan B (i.e. Hall and/or Skelton) has been pretty weak and more along the lines of a Plan C.

- The things I want to see from Anderson are (1) that he consistently throws "lower in the zone" so that his rocket-balls stop bouncing off the outstretched hands of his receivers into the arms of defenders and (2) he gains command of his throws instead of every passing attempt seeming like an adventure - i.e. (a) he knows what he wants to do, (b) he feels confident that it will work and (c) it works.

- Finally (as much as I like Hall's potential), Anderson is the only QB we've got, and I'm continuing to hope he & his receivers finally get their act together. (But hope is one thing/confidence is another).

 

[dogpoo32]

Ive seen DA miss throws every other QB can make but I am yet to witness a throw few NFL quarterbacks can make.

Spot on. There have been no impressive moments. Other than his ability to take a hit, which apparently, is all you need to start in the NFL.

 

[Russ Smith]

I agree. The explanation just screams excuses about how things unfolded and us not having a plan.

Thanks 40 for posting this because I was going to start a thread about this topic but this is a good place share my thoughts / questions.

The biggest issue we have at this time is at QB. How did we get ourselves into this mess. It can't be as simple as Whiz is an idiot or hates ML.

ML is on the team through Whiz's entire tenure with the team and he doesn't know until training camp that he doesn't want his as his starter? This is so unwhiz like that it can't be the answer.

My theory on that point is that it wasn't obvious to Whiz until Warner was gone. I think the team reacted a certain way to Matt when Kurt was here because they knew Kurt was there to take over. That is they were comfortable with Matt because they knew they had Kurt to fall back on. Even after Kurt beat out Matt, they were still confident in Matt playing if he had to, because they knew it was temporary until Kurt got back.

But Kurt retired and they went through OTA's without Kurt and Whiz notices something is different. Then they get into camp and preseason without Kurt and Whiz continues to notice that the team doesn't believe in Matt. Now that they know there is no Kurt, they see Matt in a different light?

ALso someone posted here at the time(k9?) an article from Football Outsiders
about the magic handshake or something like that explaining how anderson looks like a QB, comes off as a QB, and fools people into believing he's better than he really is. He's the guy we all know at work who isn't very good at what his actual job is, but he's so good with people, he gets ahead anyways. That seems to be the case with Anderson, players like him and pull for him, so do coaches, even though he's not very good.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

That article cements my frustration and anger over getting DA and making him "the man."

Somers states Whisenhunt was never comfortable with Leinart and continues to say McNabb was never a serious option.

Why? DA was a serious option though? McNabb has a big arm too and is a proven winner.

The coach and FO knew Whis had little appetite for ML...

ARRRGGGG!

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I . I know not everyone agrees with me--and he'd have games that would blow up the board--but I honestly think McNabb + our division = playoffs.

Him + almost any team = Playoffs too... NFC EAST most overrated division in NFL btw.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Ive seen DA miss throws every other QB can make but I am yet to witness a throw few NFL quarterbacks can make.

Agreed.

I think he (Somers) is talking about his arm strength. Again he has to hit his target regardless of how hard/fast he gets the ball there.

 

[az jam]

The article basically is a "CYA" spin by the Cards. It reflects on the front office along with Whis on not having a good plan in place when Kurt retired.
They rolled the dice and lost. They hoped ML could take over but looking how poorly he did last year in mop up games, they should have known he wasn't the answer. Film on DA would also show that he wasn't accurate. Finally, they knew the draft was not an answer as Bradford was the really only highly rated qb and he wasn't going to be there when they picked.

Its easy to second guess but McNabb was the one to go after but I think they felt that ML or DA with coaching would work.

I for one don't believe that money was an issue as the FO has spent when needed since Michael Bidwill has taken over along with the positive revenue stream they have gotten from UoP Stadium.

The sad thing is that there really is a shortage of quality qbs in the NFL and the Cards are not the only team weak at qb. The Browns, Bills, Panthers, Jaguars, Raiders, Chiefs and Vikings all need a qb for the future.

It's going to be a long season for Cardinal fans.

 

[Fitz Rulz]

It's too late now
and we all have to be patient with DA
there's no other solution atm

 

[az jam]

It's too late now
and we all have to be patient with DA
there's no other solution atm

That is called "reality".

 

[Arizona's Finest]

And keep in mind we are a bunch of reactionary fanboys who are ready to jump ship at the first sign of trouble.

I know DA sucks, you know DA sucks, and likley so does the staff. But Somers is right in that knowing when to change QB's is what seperates the good coaches from the bad ones.

I happen to think we have a good one so I'll wait to see where we are come Game 8 or so before calling for heads.

 

[Cardiac]

My theory on that point is that it wasn't obvious to Whiz until Warner was gone. I think the team reacted a certain way to Matt when Kurt was here because they knew Kurt was there to take over. That is they were comfortable with Matt because they knew they had Kurt to fall back on. Even after Kurt beat out Matt, they were still confident in Matt playing if he had to, because they knew it was temporary until Kurt got back.

But Kurt retired and they went through OTA's without Kurt and Whiz notices something is different. Then they get into camp and preseason without Kurt and Whiz continues to notice that the team doesn't believe in Matt. Now that they know there is no Kurt, they see Matt in a different light?

Anything is possible but this would mean that Whiz is human and make a mistake and I can't wrap my mind around that

Just take a minute (or 20) and think about how Dollar Bill has run this franchise. How many playoff appearances and wins? His best decision was hiring Coryell and he negated that by firing him. So on one hand we have Whiz not having the pulse of the team and 3 years with ML with little effect or Dollar Bill getting involved. On one hand we have a serial winner and on the other a serial killer. HHMMM.

ALso someone posted here at the time(k9?) an article from Football Outsiders
about the magic handshake or something like that explaining how anderson looks like a QB, comes off as a QB, and fools people into believing he's better than he really is. He's the guy we all know at work who isn't very good at what his actual job is, but he's so good with people, he gets ahead anyways. That seems to be the case with Anderson, players like him and pull for him, so do coaches, even though he's not very good.

Whiz has explained that he watched DA during his years in Pittsburgh, played against him twice a year. He also prepared for/scouted DA when the Cards played the Browns 3 years ago. It's not just his smile and way with people, Whiz believes he can fix DA.

 

[Cheesebeef]

"In the meantime, the Eagles had let it be known that Donovan McNabb could be had in a trade. But the Cardinals only briefly discussed the possibility before dismissing it. McNabb never was a serious option and ended up with the Redskins."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/car...a-cardinals-extra-anderson.html#ixzz10HFRl9WC

still waiting for answer as to WHY he was never an option.