Cold Hard Football Facts: Warner is the clear choice for 2008 NFL MVP (from SI)..

[imaCafan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/11/05/chff/index.html

"He's fresh off a classic Warner performance in Arizona's 34-13 win over St. Louis, a team that, in a tender bit of irony, probably prays for a QB of his caliber each Sunday. Warner completed 23 of 34 passes for 342 yards, two TDs, zero INTs and a 120.0 passer rating.

He's on pace to pass for 4,862 yards, and if he maintains that clip it would be second only to Dan Marino's 5,048-yard season in 1984. Interestingly, Warner currently holds the No. 2 spot, with his 4,830 yards in 2001. (We should note that Saints QB Drew Brees is on pace for 5,126 passing yards this year.)

Warner is also:

• Second in the NFL in TD passes (16)

• Second in passer rating (104.2)

• First in completion percentage (69.9), a mark that puts him in position to challenge the single-season record set by Ken Anderson in 1982 (70.6 percent)."

 

[Jttsaz]

Make it so number 1!

 

[Cheesebeef]

I can't believe it, but if he continues anywhere even close to that pace and we win 10 games, the dude's absolutely the MVP.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I can't believe it, but if he continues anywhere even close to that pace and we win 10 games, the dude's absolutely the MVP.

Don't forget though, if Warner were injured and Leinart started, he would be just as good if not better in the offense.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Don't forget though, if Warner were injured and Leinart started, he would be just as good if not better in the offense.

No, I think we'd be just as good in the win total.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

No, I think we'd be just as good in the win total.

Debatable. I see Warner as the Steve Nash of the offense, the straw that stirs the drink. The entire offense right now is tailored to Warner's strengths and is built around him...if Kurt goes down, who knows what happens?

 

[Pariah]

The amazing thing about Warner's performance this year isn't that he's accurate and putting up big yards, it's that (save for the Jets game) he isn't turning the ball over.

Those of us that wanted Leinart to start never doubted Warner could still throw the football, but rather that he could hang on to it and not throw costly interceptions.

Kudos to Warner!

 

[Arizona's Finest]

The amazing thing about Warner's performance this year isn't that he's accurate and putting up big yards, it's that (save for the Jets game) he isn't turning the ball over.

Those of us that wanted Leinart to start never doubted Warner could still throw the football, but rather that he could hang on to it and not throw costly interceptions.

Kudos to Warner!

Ding Ding Ding!

Credit goes to Warner and Wiz/Haley as well!

 

[Totally_Red]

The amazing thing about Warner's performance this year isn't that he's accurate and putting up big yards, it's that (save for the Jets game) he isn't turning the ball over.

Those of us that wanted Leinart to start never doubted Warner could still throw the football, but rather that he could hang on to it and not throw costly interceptions.

Kudos to Warner!

On the 4th and goal sneak at St.Louis you could see the Rams desperately trying to jerk the ball out of Kurt's grasp with him hanging on for dear life. I know it was 4th down and the ball goes over, but all it would have taken was the ball being jerked out and some defender going 99 yards for a Ram touchdown.

He'll get blindsided and fumble at some point this season, but the thing I've noticed most in the past few weeks is his improved pocket presence. When the pressure gets close, he has been sliding in the pocket to buy time to get the pass off.

 

[Cards232]

Frankly folks, I think his lack of fumbles have more to do w/ the play of the o-line than anything else. His first couple of years here, he was getting pummeled on a regular basis. He had no where near the time to throw that he does now. When you are getting shellacked by 300+ lb lineman, often coming in untouched, one is bound to cough up the ball frequently.

Remember, one of the things that makes Kurt so great is his focus down the field to find the open receiver. That makes for a lot of great plays, but it also opens substantial possibilities for fumbles when protection breaks down early. Rushers can swat at the ball at chest level just as well as a ball at your waist. Warner has the ability to play w/ hornets swarming around him. The difference this year is that he has that split second longer to get rid of the ball before the hornets land.

BTW, on a side note, if you look at photos you'll notice that Kurt is always in perfect balance. That's a far bigger deal than what most people would think. You'll also notice that he takes very short steps so that he can keep that balance at all times.

 

[Pariah]

Frankly folks, I think his lack of fumbles have more to do w/ the play of the o-line than anything else. His first couple of years here, he was getting pummeled on a regular basis. He had no where near the time to throw that he does now. When you are getting shellacked by 300+ lb lineman, often coming in untouched, one is bound to cough up the ball frequently.

The stats tell a different story. He wasn't getting hit more than a lot of other QBs, but was putting the ball on the ground at a MUCH higher rate.

Credit to Warner for successfully addressing this shortcoming in his game. He's hanging on to the ball better.

 

[Russ Smith]

Debatable. I see Warner as the Steve Nash of the offense, the straw that stirs the drink. The entire offense right now is tailored to Warner's strengths and is built around him...if Kurt goes down, who knows what happens?

Yes but Nash hurts the defense, and in the past Warner did too with all the turnovers. This year save the Jets game he's not doing that, so it's like Nash suddenly learned to guard his man.

 

[bratwurst]

OK getting WAY TOO FAR ahead of ourselves here, IF Warner wins the MVP and we win a superbowl, does he enter the hall of fame as a Ram or a Card?

 

[Goldfield]

OK getting WAY TOO FAR ahead of ourselves here, IF Warner wins the MVP and we win a superbowl, does he enter the hall of fame as a Ram or a Card?

Lets decide after the SB win!

 

[Treefiddy]

OK getting WAY TOO FAR ahead of ourselves here, IF Warner wins the MVP and we win a superbowl, does he enter the hall of fame as a Ram or a Card?

I thought it was already discussed on the board that NFL players don't enter the HoF as a member of any team. Either way, his performance in St.Louis and Arizona would be the ones that get him into the HoF, so no matter what, his time here will always be remembered.

As for the topic of his stats. I don't see him keeping up in the stat department. I think we'll see a major drop off with the move from Edge to Hightower. The running game will see more yardage come their way, and as a result, there will be less yardage and gametime for Warner to keep his stats on the same pace.

As long as the team is still winning, that's all I care about. Give Brees the MVP. I'm content in knowing that the Cardinals would kick the Saints asses if we had to play them.

 

[Cards232]

I thought it was already discussed on the board that NFL players don't enter the HoF as a member of any team. Either way, his performance in St.Louis and Arizona would be the ones that get him into the HoF, so no matter what, his time here will always be remembered.

As for the topic of his stats. I don't see him keeping up in the stat department. I think we'll see a major drop off with the move from Edge to Hightower. The running game will see more yardage come their way, and as a result, there will be less yardage and gametime for Warner to keep his stats on the same pace.

As long as the team is still winning, that's all I care about. Give Brees the MVP. I'm content in knowing that the Cardinals would kick the Saints asses if we had to play them.

Actually, I see it quite differently. W/ the advance of the running game, teams won't be keep their lb's & safties as deep which will further open up the passing game & the YPC. Much like in St. Louis. Think of what Kurt has been able to do w/o a running game. He might end up w/ 5000 yards this season w/ one.

 

[cardsfanmd]

The stats tell a different story. He wasn't getting hit more than a lot of other QBs, but was putting the ball on the ground at a MUCH higher rate.

Credit to Warner for successfully addressing this shortcoming in his game. He's hanging on to the ball better.

IIRC though, Leinart has a higher fumble rating than Warner.

 

[ajcardfan]

I thought it was already discussed on the board that NFL players don't enter the HoF as a member of any team. Either way, his performance in St.Louis and Arizona would be the ones that get him into the HoF, so no matter what, his time here will always be remembered.

Agreed. The biggest decision for an NFL player is who will introduce them. For Warner, I'm certain Dick Vermiel would be that guy.

The interesting question is, who would Aeneas Williams pick to talk about him?

 

[CardLogic]

Agreed. The biggest decision for an NFL player is who will introduce them. For Warner, I'm certain Dick Vermiel would be that guy.

The interesting question is, who would Aeneas Williams pick to talk about him?

The person doing the introduction does not have to have any affiliation with the NFL. As I recall, there have been some players have their sons introduce them...

 

[Pariah]

IIRC though, Leinart has a higher fumble rating than Warner.

I thought Warner's was far an away higher than anyone else's.

EDIT: I looked up the thread in which there was a lengthy discussion of TOs at the start of the year. The TO discussion begins in earnest at post #87.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/quarterback-decision-looms-117167-10.html?highlight=%22warner+fumbles%22

In 2006 and 2007 -

Warner threw the ball 619 times and got sacked at a rate of 5.49% (34 sacks / 619 attempts). He fumbled the ball at a rate of 64.71% (22 fumbles / 34 sacks).

Compare that to Matt who threw the ball 489 times and got sacked at a rate of 5.11% (25 sacks / 489 attempts). He fumbled the ball at a rate of 32% (8 fumbles / 25 sacks).

 

[Spielman]

Actually, I see it quite differently. W/ the advance of the running game, teams won't be keep their lb's & safties as deep which will further open up the passing game & the YPC. Much like in St. Louis. Think of what Kurt has been able to do w/o a running game. He might end up w/ 5000 yards this season w/ one.

Incredibly tough to do, even though he's on pace for 4800+. Also, the more they run, the more the game shortens, since the clock stops on incompletes.

Of course, considering Warner's completion percentage, that may not matter all that much.

Still, I doubt Warner or Brees makes it to 5000 this year. In all likelihood, neither one of those guys will be quite as prolific in the second half, even assuming they both stay healthy.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The amazing thing about Warner's performance this year isn't that he's accurate and putting up big yards, it's that (save for the Jets game) he isn't turning the ball over.

Those of us that wanted Leinart to start never doubted Warner could still throw the football, but rather that he could hang on to it and not throw costly interceptions.

Kudos to Warner!

BINGO!

Go Kurt, go kurt, go-go, go kurt!

 

[cardsfanmd]

I thought Warner's was far an away higher than anyone else's.

EDIT: I looked up the thread in which there was a lengthy discussion of TOs at the start of the year. The TO discussion begins in earnest at post #87.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/quarterback-decision-looms-117167-10.html?highlight=%22warner+fumbles%22

Oops, maybe mokler's been destroying my brain with subliminal messages.

 

[Cards232]

Incredibly tough to do, even though he's on pace for 4800+. Also, the more they run, the more the game shortens, since the clock stops on incompletes.

Of course, considering Warner's completion percentage, that may not matter all that much.

Still, I doubt Warner or Brees makes it to 5000 this year. In all likelihood, neither one of those guys will be quite as prolific in the second half, even assuming they both stay healthy.

Good points, but remember what Warner did the second half of last year. Also, some feel that the new found ground game w/ Hightower may effect Kurt's #'s, well, if I'm not mistaken, Warner threw 34 times last game, while they ran 33 times, & he still threw for 342 yards after a poor start in the 1st q.

If the running game improves, so will Warner's. Mark my words.