Cards' playoff chances ride on Warner

[clif]

Cards' playoff chances ride on Warner
July 12, 2006

In this week's Sporting News, you can read about the optimism surrounding the Arizona Cardinals, who believe they finally have assembled a legitimate playoff roster. And of all the Cards, no one is more bubbly than Mr. Sunshine himself, Kurt Warner.
Give Warner credit. He isn't promising too much for an organization that has long specialized in mediocrity. But about himself? There's no question in his mind he still can be an effective NFL passer.
Warner never has given in to injuries or the wear of aging and the grind of all those sacks and hits over the years. Even when tape showed otherwise, he defended his abilities and his leadership qualities.
But this year, he needs to be right about his self-optimism. The Cardinals likely will make rookie Matt Leinart his backup. They don't want him to have to start this season -- "we expect to make the playoffs with Kurt Warner as our quarterback," coach Dennis Green says -- and with good reason. More than not, inexperienced quarterbacks and playoff teams don't go together.
The problem is Warner has not been able to stay healthy an entire season as the full-time starter. He couldn't do it last year, but Green thinks the addition of Edgerrin James and an improved offensive line will: 1) Take pressure off Warner because the Cardinals will run it better than last season, when they were last in the league; 2) Protect him better so he is not exposed to so much battering.
"I just feel really good about myself and how I feel," Warner says. "They call me the Old Man in the locker room and give me a hard time, but they know I show up everyday and work hard. I want to be part of what is happening here. We have a chance, but we can't just talk about it -- we have to prove it." The same can be said about him. Green says everything he sees on the practice field that indicates Warner still can make the right throws and has a strong enough arm to provide the quality of quarterback play the Cards need. So much of what the Cardinals hope to accomplish rides on Green being right.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=108025

 

[Bobcat]

You don't become a 2 time MVP witout having talent, and he still has the arm and mind to still play like one. He now has the tools around him and the entire
team and ownership bend him and around Kurt.

Bobcat

 

[RugbyMuffin]

With all the offensive weapons the Cardinals offense has I think Leinart would still be able to lead this team into the playoffs.

That being said I still think Warner should start for at least one year, maybe two. Let Leinart enter the league ala Carson Palmer.

 

[Redheart]

You don't become a 2 time MVP witout having talent, and he still has the arm and mind to still play like one. He now has the tools around him and the entire
team and ownership bend him and around Kurt.

Bobcat

We all know ownership will bend you every chance they get...but Kurt really is in the position of his dreams. He has the tools. He is the guy. Praying doesn't hurt.

 

[Redrage]

Hope springs eternal!

 

[Jay Cardinal]

With the way the salary cap is increasing each year, Warner might even get to finish out his contract.

 

[CardLogic]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=108025

Reading the posted comments following the article was more entertaining than the article! Check 'em out.

 

[Nasser22]

Kurt can do a good job. After a bad start last season he did pretty well and like you all said he does have the tools to be successful this season. I also don't think Leinart is ready to start. Watching and learning from Warner will help him. Hopefully he will get some playing time in a few games this season so he gets the experience. I'd like for Leinart to start next season.

 

[slanidrac16]

Playoffs hinge on more than just Warner or any 1 thing. Good fortune will play a role also. One thing will not put this team over the top.
O-line, special teams, play calling, run offense, red zone offense, and run defense will all need to improve. The units that did play well( passing offense) will have to play as good as last year.
We need to go into this season with the mindset of 1 game at a time.

 

[Duckjake]

Here's what the Cards must REALLY stop doing to make the playoffs:

 

[CardShark]

Reading the posted comments following the article was more entertaining than the article! Check 'em out.

You mean like this one?

Cards Questions
Posted by Mental1 on Fri Jul 14, 2006 01:25 pm

Warner is not a question mark here. He clearly has the ability and the weopons to be a ProBowl caliber QB this year and next. He put up big numbers last year even when every team knew the Cards were going to throw it. If he has the protection he will be lethal this year.

The biggest question mark, as others have pointed out, is the O-Line. It should improve tremendously this year. For starters, Steve Loney is a REAL O-Line coach as opposed to Lindsey who had never coached and failed to make the team prior to becoming the coach. Injuries were another major factor in 2005. The Cards opened the season with a 3rd string rookie at center who had never played center. The Cards were still very much in the game against the Giants until their special teams gave up 2 TDs in the 2nd half. Alot of miscues by the O-Line cost the Cards scoring opportunities. Alot of those miscues can be eliminated with proper coaching. Not only will the starters be better, but the Cards may actually have alot of depth this year.

For anyone questioning the Cards defense, you watched the wrong year. The majority of the defense of '05 was out with injuries. In '04, when they were healthy, they were one of the leading teams in takeaways and they have more talent now. '05 just shows how ingenious Clancy Pendergast is to get them to where they were with who he had. Having Berry and Rolle back is huge in itself. They also got better on the interior of the line by stealing Kendrick Clancy from the Giants and added depth with Gabe Watson in the draft.

Special teams was another weak spot last year and that might be corrected with the new coach.

 

[Jersey Girl]

With all the offensive weapons the Cardinals offense has I think Leinart would still be able to lead this team into the playoffs.

That being said I still think Warner should start for at least one year, maybe two. Let Leinart enter the league ala Carson Palmer.

That would be the ideal situation. My fear is that Warner will go down the first half of the season. I would fully expect the Cardinals coaching staff to prepare for this.

We all know ownership will bend you every chance they get...but Kurt really is in the position of his dreams. He has the tools. He is the guy. Praying doesn't hurt.

Praying never hurts! History tells us that it would be wise to prepare Kurt for the starting position, but to make damned sure that Matt is ready to step in come week 8.

 

[CardLogic]

You mean like this one?

No it's more the statements such the following which make me smirk:

Pendergast made the most out of what he had but the Cards give up way too many points. That is why I think Clancy is over-rated.

Well which is it???

The experts picked the Cardinals to win their division. Instead, they barely played all 16 games, much less win many of them.

I've got to wonder, how many Cardinals games this guy actually saw!! I would guess maybe two at the most... vs. Giants and Seahawks!
His screen name is appropriate!

and about Warner:

Remember this, the last team he collapsed under was the one that Eli lead to the playoffs with not that different of a roster.

this guy has it so wrong...

that a Seahawks fan had to set him straight!

As a Seattle fan I hope Leinart is starting soon. He may be great in the future but not now. As for Warner's collapse in NY he was winning with a so so team when they pulled him for Eli. Then the collapse started 0-5 for Eli.

for aubbie!

Then there is this Lambs fan:

and as i do like the fitz, and anquan, there no bruce and holt!

He needs to face reality, it has long since passed the time when the Lambs had the best recieving duo in the league!

In additon the thread contains some good posts by some knowledgable fans which actually get it right... it's going to be an entertaining year!!!

GBR!!!