DutchmanAZ
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This lays things out a little clearer (for me, anyway)....
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 24, 2007 11:12 PM
The great thing about the no-huddle offense is that it keeps the opposition guessing and seldom gives it enough time to figure out what's truly coming next.
In that respect, Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt ran his own version of the "no-huddle" with reporters Monday while attempting to explain his team's quarterback situation after using both Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner in Sunday's 26-23 loss at Baltimore.
All that is known for certain is that, for now, Leinart will start Sunday in the most anticipated game on the schedule when Whisenhunt's former team, the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0), roll into Glendale.
Warner, who entered the Ravens' game to run the no-huddle offense in the second quarter and eventually took over for Leinart in the second halfalmost surely will see some action if, for no other reason, to try to confuse the Steelers' defense with a different look.
The first-year coach took his time to try to answer every tough question that came his way. Although he did his best to defuse any talk of a potential quarterback controversy, questions remain:
• Is this a controversy or an innovative young coach unafraid to take chances and ruffle some Cardinals' feathers?
• Can Leinart be properly developed if he constantly has to look over his shoulder, or is the second-year pro simply not yet ready for full-time duty in the NFL?
• Does Arizona's best chance to win rest with Warner, a former NFL and Super Bowl MVP who has more experience and a better ability to react on the fly? Is he being groomed for an eventual full-time hold on the starting job?
"Well, I think if Matt continues to work on his game and makes some of the plays like he did against Seattle, like he did in some situations in this (last) game . . . then I don't think there becomes a controversy," Whisenhunt said.
"If Matt does not play well and continues not to play well, then that's something you have to look at. And I think what we've said - not just with the quarterback position, but with this team - is that if you're not playing well and someone else is playing better, they're going to play.
"But that's not that case here. That's not what happened (Sunday) with Matt and Kurt."
The decision to script the no-huddle with Warner running it was made well in advance. Whisenhunt thought it would catch a stout, innovative Ravens defense by surprise. And it did.
Warner has that moxie about him, and he immediately moved the Cardinals' offense downfield.
But Whisenhunt was quick to point out that, had the rest of the offense performed as well for Leinart as it did for Warner, things might look different today.
"To me, as far as fairly evaluating the two guys, it's kind of like apples and oranges," Whisenhunt said. "I don't think you can."
Leinart completed 9 of 20 pass attempts for 53 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, but receivers droppedat least four passes. Warner completed 15 of 20 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, and had a quarterback rating of 150.0 - his highest in a game since 2001.
Whisenhunt acknowledged "there are going to be some growing pains" with Leinart, for whom he scaled back the playbook after the Week 1 loss at San Francisco. But Whisenhunt added that he also would be "naive as a coach" if he didn't rely on Warner, whom he called "an outstanding football player," whowas "very good at a portion of what he did in a situation where Matt was not as good because he doesn't have the experience."
But shouldn't Leinart, who ran one of the most dominant offenses in the country while at USC, be able to run a no-huddle offense in the pros by now?
Whisenhunt bristled at the question Monday, asking, "How many starts has he had? And how many in this offense?"
Leinart has started 14 games for the Cardinals, three under Whisenhunt He'll get another one Sunday against a Steelers team favored by 5 points.
But Warner is going to play, too. How is that going to work?
"It's a little bit weird," Warner said Monday, "but at the same time to be in a backup role and have somebody say, 'Here's an opportunity for you to play weekly,' that excites me as well. In this position, you usually don't play unless something happens to the guy in front of you."
Added Whisenhunt: "So for us not to use it, I think would not be smart. If you're a team preparing for us and you know you have to prepare for two quarterbacks, to me, it makes it a little more difficult."
Whisenhunt answered the next question before it could even be asked.
"How is that going to affect Matt if he's going to come in or come out? It's not maybe the perfect scenario, but out of respect for Kurt and what he's done and also because Matt has worked hard and done what we've asked him to do, that's the best approach for us right now."
We want to know what you think. Post your two cents below or click here to send us an e-mail. Give us your name and hometown and we may feature your opinion in Tuesday's edition of The Arizona Republic.
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 24, 2007 11:12 PM
The great thing about the no-huddle offense is that it keeps the opposition guessing and seldom gives it enough time to figure out what's truly coming next.
In that respect, Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt ran his own version of the "no-huddle" with reporters Monday while attempting to explain his team's quarterback situation after using both Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner in Sunday's 26-23 loss at Baltimore.
All that is known for certain is that, for now, Leinart will start Sunday in the most anticipated game on the schedule when Whisenhunt's former team, the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0), roll into Glendale.
Warner, who entered the Ravens' game to run the no-huddle offense in the second quarter and eventually took over for Leinart in the second halfalmost surely will see some action if, for no other reason, to try to confuse the Steelers' defense with a different look.
The first-year coach took his time to try to answer every tough question that came his way. Although he did his best to defuse any talk of a potential quarterback controversy, questions remain:
• Is this a controversy or an innovative young coach unafraid to take chances and ruffle some Cardinals' feathers?
• Can Leinart be properly developed if he constantly has to look over his shoulder, or is the second-year pro simply not yet ready for full-time duty in the NFL?
• Does Arizona's best chance to win rest with Warner, a former NFL and Super Bowl MVP who has more experience and a better ability to react on the fly? Is he being groomed for an eventual full-time hold on the starting job?
"Well, I think if Matt continues to work on his game and makes some of the plays like he did against Seattle, like he did in some situations in this (last) game . . . then I don't think there becomes a controversy," Whisenhunt said.
"If Matt does not play well and continues not to play well, then that's something you have to look at. And I think what we've said - not just with the quarterback position, but with this team - is that if you're not playing well and someone else is playing better, they're going to play.
"But that's not that case here. That's not what happened (Sunday) with Matt and Kurt."
The decision to script the no-huddle with Warner running it was made well in advance. Whisenhunt thought it would catch a stout, innovative Ravens defense by surprise. And it did.
Warner has that moxie about him, and he immediately moved the Cardinals' offense downfield.
But Whisenhunt was quick to point out that, had the rest of the offense performed as well for Leinart as it did for Warner, things might look different today.
"To me, as far as fairly evaluating the two guys, it's kind of like apples and oranges," Whisenhunt said. "I don't think you can."
Leinart completed 9 of 20 pass attempts for 53 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, but receivers droppedat least four passes. Warner completed 15 of 20 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, and had a quarterback rating of 150.0 - his highest in a game since 2001.
Whisenhunt acknowledged "there are going to be some growing pains" with Leinart, for whom he scaled back the playbook after the Week 1 loss at San Francisco. But Whisenhunt added that he also would be "naive as a coach" if he didn't rely on Warner, whom he called "an outstanding football player," whowas "very good at a portion of what he did in a situation where Matt was not as good because he doesn't have the experience."
But shouldn't Leinart, who ran one of the most dominant offenses in the country while at USC, be able to run a no-huddle offense in the pros by now?
Whisenhunt bristled at the question Monday, asking, "How many starts has he had? And how many in this offense?"
Leinart has started 14 games for the Cardinals, three under Whisenhunt He'll get another one Sunday against a Steelers team favored by 5 points.
But Warner is going to play, too. How is that going to work?
"It's a little bit weird," Warner said Monday, "but at the same time to be in a backup role and have somebody say, 'Here's an opportunity for you to play weekly,' that excites me as well. In this position, you usually don't play unless something happens to the guy in front of you."
Added Whisenhunt: "So for us not to use it, I think would not be smart. If you're a team preparing for us and you know you have to prepare for two quarterbacks, to me, it makes it a little more difficult."
Whisenhunt answered the next question before it could even be asked.
"How is that going to affect Matt if he's going to come in or come out? It's not maybe the perfect scenario, but out of respect for Kurt and what he's done and also because Matt has worked hard and done what we've asked him to do, that's the best approach for us right now."
We want to know what you think. Post your two cents below or click here to send us an e-mail. Give us your name and hometown and we may feature your opinion in Tuesday's edition of The Arizona Republic.
