Cardinals, QB Derek Anderson off to 2-1 start!

[AZCardsWin]

From all the subject threads I have read you would think the Cardinals were off to a 0-3 start. Shame on all of us for becoming spoiled with Kurt Warner and Co. for putting teams away by halftime several times the past 2 seasons. Those days are over for sure. However this team excites me because nobody thinks they will do anything this year unlike the past few years when we were "supposed" to win the division, etc.

Sure QB Derek Anderson isn't lighting up the scoreboard but he made some nice redzone TD passes yesterday. Also at the end he made a potential "game clinching" throw to WR Steve Breaston that wasnt perfect but should of been caught- which would of saved all of us the heart wrenching ending we had to witness. Anderson stays in the pocket and is a tough S.O.B.

The Arizona Cardinals are 2-1, if we were having this conversation 5 years ago we would be throwing a parade for this kind of start.

Go Cardinals!
~Tim in NJ

 

[PoolBoy]

couldn't agree more. Anderson sucks IMO but he cares and is tough as hell. He's ride or die which i like. GO CARDS

 

[TopGun]

Well all the DA backers should be happy reading this. It is Whiz at his best again...
Derek Anderson-QB- Cardinals Sep. 27 - 2:46 pm et


Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt reiterated Monday that Derek Anderson remains the team's starting quarterback.
Whisenhunt did say it's "obvious" that D.A. "needs to improve," but supported the inaccurate passer based on late-game performance. "The thing I like about Derek is he seems to make plays, especially later in the game," said Whiz. Anderson's job security remains tenuous heading to Week 4 at San Diego. He'll be on the bench once the Cards start losing to better teams than the Rams and Raiders.
Source: Kent Somers on Twitter

 

[TJ]

couldn't agree more. Anderson sucks IMO but he cares and is tough as hell. He's ride or die which i like. GO CARDS

See this is my problem. He is rough, tough and takes no ****; however, the bottom line is he needs to make it happen or he can be rough and tough either on the sidelines or in his home in Cleveland (or wherever).

Cardinals fans have become results-oriented since Warner dominated and while we do not expect Warner-like production, we deserve better than what we have observed over the past three games. And if Anderson is not the guy, he can pound salt. It's as simple as that.

 

[MrYeahBut]

If his passes down the field didn't look like Shaq from the free throw line it might help. He just cannot get any arc on the ball

 

[Sunburn]

If you're excited and encouraged by what you saw yesterday, you're smoking something very potent.

 

[Doug]

From all the subject threads I have read you would think the Cardinals were off to a 0-3 start. Shame on all of us for becoming spoiled with Kurt Warner and Co. for putting teams away by halftime several times the past 2 seasons. Those days are over for sure. However this team excites me because nobody thinks they will do anything this year unlike the past few years when we were "supposed" to win the division, etc.

Sure QB Derek Anderson isn't lighting up the scoreboard but he made some nice redzone TD passes yesterday. Also at the end he made a potential "game clinching" throw to WR Steve Breaston that wasnt perfect but should of been caught- which would of saved all of us the heart wrenching ending we had to witness. Anderson stays in the pocket and is a tough S.O.B.

The Arizona Cardinals are 2-1, if we were having this conversation 5 years ago we would be throwing a parade for this kind of start.

Go Cardinals!
~Tim in NJ

That ship has sailed once this team climbed into the SB on the backs of the whole team and not just Kurt Warner as he also would throw a bad game in every once and a while.Just know he was "MONEY" in the playoffs.

Well we aren't expecting playoff DA yet.We can't get past clunker DA yet either.One quarter of playing out of (4) just won't cut it against the teams we are fixing to play.

You can't beat the GOOD teams we are playing next.No more rams&raiduhs to practice with.Plus both of those teams are improving while we are falling fast back to the "SAME OLE' CARDINALS" due to no great moves beyond Kerry Rhodes in free agency.Some will dissagree.I especially am dissapointed who we passed on and ended up with at the Quarterback position.

Our key position since we became a 50/50 pass/run ratio.Heavier on passing with Kurt Warner.Now heading to a more running yeam with Beanie,Hightower & Hyphen & Wright leading the way as we should be throwing to them also.Especially the Howler.

Don't try to sell we should be happy with an 8-8 team here anymore.Thats not why we hired coach Whiz even tho we spent like some still won't change the old patterns.Everyone here has the rights to be fully pissed off once we saw our mass Excodus coming and had time to adjust and prepare for it.

Sad to see your a happy camper right now. Yesterday was a loss that was given to us as a "W" like Rackers used to GIVE to other teams.Thats balogna.

 

[desertrat218]

I am happy with 2-1 at this point. It's rather sad so many people try to place all the blame for the struggling offense on one player, yet the pass protection remains non-existent for the most part. Nearly every pass is hurried because the defense is in the backfield by the time the QB finishes his 3-7 step drop. Joe Montana would struggle to move the ball behind that line.

P.S. You can't blame Anderson for the punt return team giving the ball up twice yesterday. Hard for the offense to do anything if they aren't even on the field.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I am happy with 2-1 at this point. It's rather sad so many people try to place all the blame for the struggling offense on one player, yet the pass protection remains non-existent for the most part. Nearly every pass is hurried because the defense is in the backfield by the time the QB finishes his 3-7 step drop. Joe Montana would struggle to move the ball behind that line.

It's so twisted that many are actually praising the o-line for their job in pass protection!

And, add in the fact that both Fitz and Breaston are not 100% (I think Fitz is hurting way more than he'll admit), leaving UDFA's like Williams and Komar as options, it's ridiculous to place all of the blame on the QB.
Beanie is ailing... We still don't throw to our TE's for reasons I'll never understand...
Way more to the story than just DA being DA...

 

[Covert Rain]

I just don't agree with this post. Our expectations should be higher for this orgnization. We have a new stadium, supposedly a better front office and coaches that have a good pedigree. Not to mention some good young talent to go along with it.

This shouldn't to be the old Cards backing into wins and finding ways to shoot themselves in the foot. Sorry. That is unacceptable. Am I happy we are 2-1? DAMN STRAIGHT. However, that is completely a different topic all together.

Spoiled? Why? Because we still have a bunch of talent, the same Coaches and expect the Cards to still be solid playoff material? That is not spoiled IMO. Spoiled is when I have a team like the Cowboys, Giants, Patriots or some other storied franchise that wins the Superbowl every so many years and expect that out of my team year in and year out.

We couldn't work things out to keep Dansby or Boldin and the team is paying for it on both ends of the field IMO. We didn't have a good lock on a QB to replace Warner. So, what I expected was the team to struggle from time to time but still be a force. When your team is backing into wins and relying on luck (dropped picks by other teams, missed field goals), that is not what I expect.

I guess my expectations are too high if that is being spoiled.

 

[conraddobler]

Ok the thing is and this is what's criminal.

If I told you that you get one shot, of incredible distance, to reach your goal of hitting x target, I'm going to give you some of the finest equipment ever, the finest ammunition, the finest rifle and then you get to pick your shooter and you go get a guy who's at the bottom end of his shooting class to do the shooting?

How smart is this?

Our WR firepower with DA as the QB is like handing the finest sniper rifle and ammunition ever made to a questionable shot.

It's just frustrating and it's not going to go anywhere.

You can't leverage the best of what we have with DA, like ever, you can muddle through, you can win some games but you're just fooling yourself if this is ever going anywhere minus a huge DA break through.

I'm tired of the caretaker role at QB, we've had two good QB's in my life, well three if you count Lomax, other teams get a Peyton Manning, or a Tom Brady, I think we're due for our drafted or undrafted, first owner QBOTF.

 

[conraddobler]

It's so twisted that many are actually praising the o-line for their job in pass protection!

And, add in the fact that both Fitz and Breaston are not 100% (I think Fitz is hurting way more than he'll admit), leaving UDFA's like Williams and Komar as options, it's ridiculous to place all of the blame on the QB.
Beanie is ailing... We still don't throw to our TE's for reasons I'll never understand...
Way more to the story than just DA being DA...

We've played two bad teams and one good team, the one good team rolled us.

I look at our schedule and I have trouble finding 7 wins total, including the two we already have.

I get about 6.

DA is not the only problem we have by a long shot but anyone who thinks it's ok to field a team with our WR firepower and DA as the QB is IMO not thinking the issue through logically.

However we got here we should not be here.

 

[desertdawg]

He threw the first "shuffle" pass and it got picked. Then he tried it again when he panicked and it almost got picked. You can't fix that. Not to mention his inaccuracy on the long ball. The only time he can throw a TD pass is when we are within 10 yards, then he throws the *****'n laser at a very close target. I could go on but I'm done posting about DA. (until next game)

 

[82CardsGrad]

We've played two bad teams and one good team, the one good team rolled us.

I look at our schedule and I have trouble finding 7 wins total, including the two we already have.

I get about 6.

DA is not the only problem we have by a long shot but anyone who thinks it's ok to field a team with our WR firepower and DA as the QB is IMO not thinking the issue through logically.

However we got here we should not be here.

To be clear, I am not at all attempting to suggest that DA is our permanent, long-term solution. Lord I hope not!! However, has he played any worse than you anticipated?? Of course not. He's simply an average at best QB who has played average to this point, while we have somehow grabbed 2 W's.
DA is DA and he's been nothing more or less during the first 3 games. What should be the topic of discussion is what the rest of the team has not been... THAT is what is so surprising and frustrating! The O-line, D-line, Fitz and Breaston hurt, along with Beanie. Penalties up the wazoo... Stupid mistakes like the two muffed Punt Returns yesterday...

Again, IMO, DA has performed exactly like I expected. And based upon the hundreds of threads that mauled and abused the guy, it would appear that his performance thus far is exactly what everyone else expected. Why hammer the guy for performing exactly like you thought he would?? Particularly when there are so many other aspects of this team that are so stunningly bad... By name: Levi Brown, Brandon Keith, Calais Campbell, B-Rob, Dockett (except yesterday), Porter, Haggans, DRC, Toler, penalties, stupid mistakes...
We can't pass block. We can barely run block. We don't pass to the TE. We can't stop the run. We continue to give up key 3rd and 4th down conversions to the opponent.

I dunno... just seems like a waste of time to hammer a guy for being who/what he's always been while not calling out others who were supposed to be much better than what we've seen, or the coaches for not being able to stem the penalties and stupid mistakes, as well as the scheming on both offense (why even bother running a TE out into the pattern if we aren't ever gonna throw to them?) and defense (wasn't until the 2nd half yesterday when Davis finally conceded that the only way to get pressure on Gradkowski was to bring the house...).

 

[D-Dogg]

However, has he played any worse than you anticipated??

YES! He has absolutely been worse than I anticipated. With Larry and Steve on the field, I expected him to be slightly better than his average completions. I expected him to move the ball, since that's what won him the job in the preseason.

I expected mistakes, and misses. I have seen more of both than I bargained for. I see a veteran QB making rookie mistakes, and if we are going to go that route, we might as well start the rookie. We will likely be 2-3 going into the bye week. If DA doesn't look like a light is coming on (I can't believe I'm saing that about a veteran QB who has a pro bowl appearance) by the bye, we will be going to Hall not to give up on the season, but as a last ditch effort to save it.

Yes sir, he has been worse than I expected.

 

[82CardsGrad]

YES! He has absolutely been worse than I anticipated. With Larry and Steve on the field, I expected him to be slightly better than his average completions. I expected him to move the ball, since that's what won him the job in the preseason.

I expected mistakes, and misses. I have seen more of both than I bargained for. I see a veteran QB making rookie mistakes, and if we are going to go that route, we might as well start the rookie. We will likely be 2-3 going into the bye week. If DA doesn't look like a light is coming on (I can't believe I'm saing that about a veteran QB who has a pro bowl appearance) by the bye, we will be going to Hall not to give up on the season, but as a last ditch effort to save it.

Yes sir, he has been worse than I expected.

Nonsense... the guy was named the starter of this team - a team with whom he has never played before - after the first preseason game. Fitz gets injured and remains far less than 100%. Stevie is gimpy. Beanie is out. Our o-line remains league-worst, and yet, somehow you expected something more than what he's put up??
Ok - it's nice to set the bar high and all, but, seriously Donald?? Really??

 

[dogpoo32]

I understand the offensive line has been trash, but even when they give good protection, and DA has time, he still misses passes. When he has to step up in the pocket, he practically stops looking downfield and goes all tin-man. I just do not see this team getting better with him at the helm. Whiz and Urban can make all the excuses for him they want, he is what he is and the sooner Whiz admits he screwed up the better.

 

[dogpoo32]

Nonsense... the guy was named the starter of this team - a team with whom he has never played before - after the first preseason game. Fitz gets injured and remains far less than 100%. Stevie is gimpy. Beanie is out. Our o-line remains league-worst, and yet, somehow you expected something more than what he's put up??
Ok - it's nice to set the bar high and all, but, seriously Donald?? Really??

He misses open receivers. He throws the ball into the ground and yells at Fitz. He makes bad decisions. He completes half his passes on a good day, and most of these are checkdowns.

People are making too many excuses for him. It's the NFL, he needs to perform. Look how bad Matt was ripped for mop-up duty last year, when he wasn't the starter. I realize the situation is slightly different, but Anderson's had enough time to learn to throw in front of receivers.

 

[desertrat218]

I understand the offensive line has been trash, but even when they give good protection, and DA has time, he still misses passes. When he has to step up in the pocket, he practically stops looking downfield and goes all tin-man. I just do not see this team getting better with him at the helm. Whiz and Urban can make all the excuses for him they want, he is what he is and the sooner Whiz admits he screwed up the better.

Can't you see what Whiz is really doing? He is buying time until one of the rookies(Max Hall?) is ready to step in. At least that's what I think he's doing, and in the meantime, after tonight there will only be 3 teams in the entire NFL with a better record than the Cardinals.

 

[D-Dogg]

Nonsense... the guy was named the starter of this team - a team with whom he has never played before - after the first preseason game. Fitz gets injured and remains far less than 100%. Stevie is gimpy. Beanie is out. Our o-line remains league-worst, and yet, somehow you expected something more than what he's put up??
Ok - it's nice to set the bar high and all, but, seriously Donald?? Really??

That's not a very high bar, man. It's a bar that Money Mike and LSH don't have to jump to reach.

As mentioned above and by others, even when he gets time, he sucks and isn't accurate. When he doesn't get time, he tries to go Favre, TWICE. He's tough and he's likeable. But he better figure out, in a hurry, how to deliver a ball to our all-world wide receiver when he's wide open. Fitz isn't "far less than 100%" so please stop using that excuse for DA. Fitz was WIDE open a few times, and Scud didn't see it.

It isn't a high bar for me to expect a QB throwing to Fitz and Breaston to look like he's played at this level before. Again, he's making rookie mistakes, and he's not a rookie.

 

[dogpoo32]

Can't you see what Whiz is really doing? He is buying time until one of the rookies(Max Hall?) is ready to step in. At least that's what I think he's doing, and in the meantime, after tonight there will only be 3 teams in the entire NFL with a better record than the Cardinals.

I hope you're right.

 

[Covert Rain]

Nonsense... the guy was named the starter of this team - a team with whom he has never played before - after the first preseason game. Fitz gets injured and remains far less than 100%. Stevie is gimpy. Beanie is out. Our o-line remains league-worst, and yet, somehow you expected something more than what he's put up??
Ok - it's nice to set the bar high and all, but, seriously Donald?? Really??

I know what your trying to say but it doesn't apply in this case IMO. It would be one thing if he was throwing picks and missing receivers while constantly being under pressure. However, Anderson has been misssing wide open receivers, overthrowing receivers, throwing picks and misreading defenses when he has had time to throw. If this was a case of him just making bad decisions when under presure I wouldn't have a problem. It's all the other times that is driving me crazy.

When Kurt was having problems with the o-line when he first got here people were ripping him. I was one of the few that defended him because to me most of his mistakes were coming when he was running for his life. I defended him when people said put Matt in there. As I said above, if this was simply a line issue I would defend Anderson just like I did Kurt.

Anderson sucks...plain and simple. I think for the most part people thought he might be average. Considering he has not been, I think it's safe to say the dude has done worse then expectations.

 

[Chopper0080]

Can't you see what Whiz is really doing? He is buying time until one of the rookies(Max Hall?) is ready to step in. At least that's what I think he's doing, and in the meantime, after tonight there will only be 3 teams in the entire NFL with a better record than the Cardinals.

I don't think that it makes much sense switching DA with Max Hall until after the bye. I just can't see exposing Hall to the Chargers and Saints in back to back weeks. I would rather see Anderson take those hits and give Hall two weeks before his first start.

 

[desertrat218]

I don't think that it makes much sense switching DA with Max Hall until after the bye. I just can't see exposing Hall to the Chargers and Saints in back to back weeks. I would rather see Anderson take those hits and give Hall two weeks before his first start.

My thinking exactly. In the meantime Hall is learning more of the playbook while the line is becoming more accustomed to playing together as a unit. I really do think Hall has the potential to be a pretty good QB for this team.

 

[82CardsGrad]

He misses open receivers. He throws the ball into the ground and yells at Fitz. He makes bad decisions. He completes half his passes on a good day, and most of these are checkdowns.

People are making too many excuses for him. It's the NFL, he needs to perform. Look how bad Matt was ripped for mop-up duty last year, when he wasn't the starter. I realize the situation is slightly different, but Anderson's had enough time to learn to throw in front of receivers.

That's not a very high bar, man. It's a bar that Money Mike and LSH don't have to jump to reach.

As mentioned above and by others, even when he gets time, he sucks and isn't accurate. When he doesn't get time, he tries to go Favre, TWICE. He's tough and he's likeable. But he better figure out, in a hurry, how to deliver a ball to our all-world wide receiver when he's wide open. Fitz isn't "far less than 100%" so please stop using that excuse for DA. Fitz was WIDE open a few times, and Scud didn't see it.

It isn't a high bar for me to expect a QB throwing to Fitz and Breaston to look like he's played at this level before. Again, he's making rookie mistakes, and he's not a rookie.

Again, what part of all that is a surprise to you guys?? What is he doing that is un-DA like?
I find it funny actually to see you guys rant and rant and rant about a guy who is simply doing what each and every one of you said he would do.