High Noon: The Coaches Are Responsible

[Mitch]

Welcome to the daily media, coaching and fan scrutiny that comes from having a bona fide QB competition in Arizona.

Let's face it---every time Kevin Kolb or John Skelton makes a mistake, the mistake is magnified, discussed and broadcasted, ad nauseum.

It's a classic scenario---one that is made to order for the most intense scrutiny.

You have the Kevin Kolb saga---the centerpiece of last year's big trade with the Eagles that cost the Cardinals CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 2nd round draft pick (Mychael Kendricks, LB, California).

You also have at stake the much-discussed and hotly-debated $65M contract the Cardinals lavished on Kolb---a player who had started a mere 9 games in 4 years.

You have the history of Eagle QB trade heists/laughers.

Then you have the sudden ascent of a 2010 5th round draft pick (#155) John Skelton----the most highly discussed Fordham University football alum since a guy named Vince Lombardi---who just happens to have a little trophy named after him.

You have the widely accepted perception that in today's NFL you don't draft QBs in the 5th round to be starters----you draft them as #3 QB candidates that you hope will one day emerge as respectable #2s.

It doesn't matter that this 5th rounder has already gotten off to a much more successful start of his career than the Heisman Trophy winner the Cardinals selected at #10 in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft....because....

Perceptions are perceptions.

Yet---what the Heisman Trophy winner did not have going for him after his first year in the NFL was playing for a head coach and coaching staff that had drafted him.

OK---some people get that.

However---this same Head Coach and most of the same coaching staff drafted John Skelton and traded for Kevin Kolb.

This means that when the coaches and scouts evaluated the tapes and workouts of John Skelton they were impressed enough to trade CB Bryant McFadden and their 6th round pick to move up to the 5th round in order to select Skelton.

This means that the same head coach, scouts and staff, with little else to concentrate on during a lockout period, evaluated the tapes and profile of Kevin Kolb, not only to become convinced they should trade their 2008 1st Rounder and 2012 2nd rounder for---but to feel so supremely confident in that decision as to award the inexperienced Kolb with a $65M contract.

So---if Kolb gets beat out by the 5th rounder who was already on the roster and had won 2 games as a rookie when the Cardinals traded for Kolb---what does this mean with regard to the coaches?

It means one of two things: (1) either they did a lousy job evaluating Kolb; (2) or, they couldn't coach him to be effective and successful in their system.

And what if---after all of this---the Cardinals will be shopping for a new starting QB in 2013?

It will mean that they didn't evaluate and/or coach Skelton to be effective and successful in their system, unless you once again want to thrust him into a 2013 QB Competition with your new 1st round QB....and we all know what's expected of first round QB draft picks--especially in this day and age where some of them arrive as starters from day one.

Sure, many will say that finding a franchise QB is a crapshoot. Some will laud the Cardinals for making the effort. Some will continue to question why they threw top starters' money at an unproven commodity.

But, there comes a time when coaches have to stand up and make a full-bore commitment to the player.

Charlie Weis recently said that if was still an NFL head coach or offensive coordinator, that he could win with Brady Quinn as his QB.

Quinn is now with his third organization after being drafted in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.

After getting traded to the Denver Broncos in 2010, it has now been more than two years since Quinn has played in a regular season game.

The word around the NFL is Quinn is a #2 at best. In fact, in one insider scouting report says of Quinn: "Just not good enough in any area to be an NFL starter."

Yet, Weis, who coached and groomed Quinn at Notre Dame, says Quinn could thrive in his system...the same system where once a 6th round pick named Tom Brady found a stunning and long-lasting ALL-Pro type niche.

Can you believe Weis?

You can if you believe in Weis' system and his conviction---it's a proven QB friendly system, both in the NFL and in college.

But can you simply believe in believing and in the exquisite power of suggestion?

When a coach selects a QB and suggests to that QB that he is going to thrive in the system and the coach remains resolute in his support of that QB---the chances of the QB's success are so much greater than the chances of QBs who are constantly being scrutinized by their coaches. The scrutiny rubs off on other players---the scrutiny rubs off on the media---the scrutiny rubs off on the fans.

Brady Quinn has been through the scrutiny wringer---and we all know for sure---he stands for, as Jerry Glanville says, NFL---as in---"not for long."

But---how about Jay Cutler. The way he played in Chicago his first year was horrendous at times. It was painful watching the guy. He looked harried---he was throwing the ball repeatedly up for grabs---and his body language suggested he was a beaten man. At times, as well, he looked like he could give two figs. Try passing that "I could give a rat's arse" attitude on to rabid fans.

Most head coaches would have tried to trade him back from where he came or anywhere else. But, Lovie Smith prevailed.

The next year Cutler played much better and led the Bears to the playoffs---and despite having a good year, he became the center of controversy when he was injured in the playoff game and did not come back into the game. Most pundits, fans and analysts were disgusted...at least at that moment.

The man who diffused it all after the game and the next day was Lovie Smith.

This is what QBs need---some Lovie.

The point is this---we in Arizona are seeing why a QB competition/controversy can be a real detriment to a football team because the scrutiny is so intense it affects everyone, and eventually will cause the QB to play so tentatively that he renders himself ineffective.

Ken Whisenhunt is adamant that he has the whole pre-season to decide on whether Kolb or Skelton wins the job.

The last time Whisenhunt waited until High Noon he hadn't even called the QB situation a competition and decided on Tuesday of the first real game week to appoint Kurt Warner as the starting QB.

The problem is---the choice was Kurt Warner, a savvy veteran who had already won Super Bowls and NFL MVP awards (and gone 5-3 down the stretch the year before).

The winner of the Kolb/Skelton duel at High Noon on Tuesday September 4th will have yet to start one full season at QB in the NFL.

So then what happens every time the High Noon winner makes a mistake?

Sure, the fans and media will want the loser to rise back up from his dusty sagebrush and take a new hold of the situation.

That is...until the new guy makes a mistake and it should have been the old guy all along.

Meanwhile the team is being held hostage----

They want to hear from the sheriff---

So they can be untethered from this chain of indecision...and all the talk talk talk about the QB situation.

Can you stand up for one of these QBs, Coach Whisenhunt?

Can you tell the team with confidence who your man is?

And, most of all, can you stick with your man and coach him to be effective in your system?

Or by casting doubt and indecision---will it always be their fault?

 

[red desert]

 

[seesred]

I totaly agree with your write up. Waiting for the last second hurts the team and all the players that count ona field general. Why is the decision so hard. Call out the guys name,live with it and let him work everyday with his team.

GBR
40

 

[Duckjake]

The last time Whisenhunt waited until High Noon he hadn't even called the QB situation a competition and decided on Tuesday of the first real game week to appoint Kurt Warner as the starting QB.

That's because Whiz knew all along he was going with Warner unless there was some drastic development during the pre season.

What you say seems to apply more to Leinart and Anderson when the Cards released Matt on Sept 5th 2010 than Warner and Leinart. And we found out what happened when the High Noon selection started making mistakes. We got Max Hall and a horrific 5-11 season!

 

[chickenhead]

All fair points, especially about the detrimental effect--but the fact is that a starting QB needs to have won the job through preseason play or through a body of work. Neither of these QBs has done so in either category.

It's on the coaches anyway, since they're responsible for the roster. But given that we're probably going to see a fair bit of both QBs in the regular season anyway, I'm not as worried about not having a #1 now. Wish it weren't the case, but these guys have this season to demonstrate whether they will be off the roster next year or competing with a yet-unknown alternative.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

One thing Mitch. I'm fully confident that Whiz and Co would have kept Matty had he produced. I'll never buy the argument he was let go because Whiz didn't draft him. I don't think Whiz is that type of coach or person.

Had Matty gone out there, led the team, and lit things up... he'd still be here. Nothing will convince me otherwise. He's gone because he didn't play worth shucks when it counted and wasn't The Man in the locker room or the huddle.

And, personally, I WANT Whiz to take the pre-season to decide between QB's. That's one of the reasons there IS a pre-season. "It's a situation" as Gilda Radner used to say. So let them hit the field and compete and show the world who the better QB is. (Or who is built a little tougher and isn't going to go out with a toe injury if he drops the ball when it's hiked to him.)

 

[Mitch]

One thing Mitch. I'm fully confident that Whiz and Co would have kept Matty had he produced. I'll never buy the argument he was let go because Whiz didn't draft him. I don't think Whiz is that type of coach or person.

Had Matty gone out there, led the team, and lit things up... he's still be here. Nothing will convince me otherwise. He's gone because he didn't play worth shucks when it counted and wasn't The Man in the locker room or the huddle.

Fair enough, Dems. However, it makes one question why Whisenhunt declared Leinart the starter in 3 of Whisenhunt's first 4 seasons. It makes one wonder whether Whisenhunt really knows what he is looking for in a QB, or whether his system is too difficult for anyone other than Warner to manage...and in Warner's case how much of his success was the result of Warner's and Haley's own adaptations of the offense?

 

[BigRedRage]

One thing Mitch. I'm fully confident that Whiz and Co would have kept Matty had he produced. I'll never buy the argument he was let go because Whiz didn't draft him. I don't think Whiz is that type of coach or person.

Had Matty gone out there, led the team, and lit things up... he'd still be here. Nothing will convince me otherwise. He's gone because he didn't play worth shucks when it counted and wasn't The Man in the locker room or the huddle.

And, personally, I WANT Whiz to take the pre-season to decide between QB's. That's one of the reasons there IS a pre-season. "It's a situation" as Gilda Radner used to say. So let them hit the field and compete and show the world who the better QB is. (Or who is built a little tougher and isn't going to go out with a toe injury if he drops the ball when it's hiked to him.)

to think otherwise is silly. If Matt left and started or did ANYTHING anywhere else, it may be a discussion.

He has held clipboards since he left.

 

[BigRedRage]

Fair enough, Dems. However, it makes one question why Whisenhunt declared Leinart the starter in 3 of Whisenhunt's first 4 seasons. It makes one wonder whether Whisenhunt really knows what he is looking for in a QB, or whether his system is too difficult for anyone other than Warner to manage...and in Warner's case how much of his success was the result of Warner's and Haley's own adaptations of the offense?

pressure from management? weak psyche of said QB who needs to be propped up to be motivated?

Matt sucks, the one time he sniffed a playing field since he left he got injured.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Fair enough, Dems. However, it makes one question why Whisenhunt declared Leinart the starter in 3 of Whisenhunt's first 4 seasons. It makes one wonder whether Whisenhunt really knows what he is looking for in a QB, or whether his system is too difficult for anyone other than Warner to manage...and in Warner's case how much of his success was the result of Warner's and Haley's own adaptations of the offense?

I've always thought much of that had to do with Mr. B wanting to get his money's worth. (I've posted my He's a Child of the Depression Theory a couple of times.)

I think Whiz knows just what he wants. It's a matter now, I think, of Michael taking more and more control. It's going to be real interesting to see how he handles the Kolb $ituation if Kolb doesn't produce.)

(I looked for Mr. B at practice last week up in Flag, BTW. Never saw him, though Michael was out on the field talking with Whiz quite a bit.)

 

[Catfish]

Nice workup Mitch. What I wonder is, whether or not CKW even has the ability to first, identify an NFL QB; Then whether or not he can actually match that talent to a scheme that fits that QB.

Thus far, he has not shown the propensity to be able to do either, save with Warner who, (as you pointed out), was already an established SB winner.

In Pittsburgh he had Big Ben with his strong arm and strong body who could dispatch would be tacklers and still deliver a strike. He tried to bench him, (yet Big Ben has a couple of SB titles under his belt now).

CKW has time after time favored big, strong armed QB's, (somehow believing he could coach them up to accuracy). (See Brian St.Pierre, The Skud, The Skeletor, and now Lindley). So far, only the Skeletor has shown he can win, yet he is constantly being benched for an accurate, but injury prone weakling who is being paid handsomely.

The really sad thing is, that despite the fact that he has had a reasonably good W/L record here, CKW can't seem to get out of his own way when it comes to handling a QB, OR an offensive scheme.

This has shown up all through his tenure here. It is almost as though he lacks the patience to select a player at QB, then match an offensive scheme to that player that works. He is full of contradictions. Drafting O-linemen who run-block, but can't pass protect, (then calling for a pass first offense). Instead, he seems to try to pound square pegs into round holes, by trying to fit the player into a scheme that doesn't favor that player's strengths, and exposes his weaknesses. When failure follows, Whiz is quick to demote the player, and try one that he has on the bench, (who also exhibits characteristics that don't work with the scheme).

I know that Whiz has been moderately successful here. Let's not forget that much of that success has been the result of new money from the stadium, and from Michael B. having taken over football operations. It seems to me, that Whiz should be far more successful here and now, given the talent he has had.

It has not taken Horton long to become extremely successful here. (But he has studied his players, and used them in a scheme wherein they can excell). The offense, on the other hand, continues to be disjointed, with far too much blame falling on the QB, (no matter who was the one under Center at the time).

Whiz seems to be a really decent organizer, (which is necessary for a HC). He does not seem to be a really good offensive co-ordinator however, and (with the exception of Warner's time at QB), has had only mediocre to poor success with his offense.

I am almost to the point of feeling that Whiz should be relegated to staying out of the offensive scheme, and away from the individual coaching of players. In fact, his handling of players is almost caustic.

Our defense did not excell until he was removed from the necessity of coaching and selecting starters there. Horton has been far more successful. The same thing should happen with our offense. Michael should bring in a strong Offensive Co-ordinator who can manage the offense just as Horton manages the Defense. Whiz should be kept away from handling ANY players on the offense so far as teaching and scheme is concerned. He has had more than enough time to fix this problem, yet it still plagues us.

Despite our moderately successful record under Whiz, ask yourself; 'how much better could it be if we had an Offensive Coordinator who has the success of our Defense, and Special teams'?

 

[Shane]

In Pittsburgh he had Big Ben with his strong arm and strong body who could dispatch would be tacklers and still deliver a strike. He tried to bench him, (yet Big Ben has a couple of SB titles under his belt now).

You are the 2nd person I have read this from this week. I specifically remember reading Ben and Whiz didn't have the best relationship and that Whiz didn't think Ben took the job seriously. But I don't ever remember reading that he tried to bench him?? Can you please find proof of this before it becomes an internet "fact"

 

[john h]

Welcome to the daily media, coaching and fan scrutiny that comes from having a bona fide QB competition in Arizona.

Let's face it---every time Kevin Kolb or John Skelton makes a mistake, the mistake is magnified, discussed and broadcasted, ad nauseum.

It's a classic scenario---one that is made to order for the most intense scrutiny.

You have the Kevin Kolb saga---the centerpiece of last year's big trade with the Eagles that cost the Cardinals CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 2nd round draft pick (Mychael Kendricks, LB, California).

You also have at stake the much-discussed and hotly-debated $65M contract the Cardinals lavished on Kolb---a player who had started a mere 9 games in 4 years.

You have the history of Eagle QB trade heists/laughers.

Then you have the sudden ascent of a 2010 5th round draft pick (#155) John Skelton----the most highly discussed Fordham University football alum since a guy named Vince Lombardi---who just happens to have a little trophy named after him.

You have the widely accepted perception that in today's NFL you don't draft QBs in the 5th round to be starters----you draft them as #3 QB candidates that you hope will one day emerge as respectable #2s.

It doesn't matter that this 5th rounder has already gotten off to a much more successful start of his career than the Heisman Trophy winner the Cardinals selected at #10 in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft....because....

Perceptions are perceptions.

Yet---what the Heisman Trophy winner did not have going for him after his first year in the NFL was playing for a head coach and coaching staff that had drafted him.

OK---some people get that.

However---this same Head Coach and most of the same coaching staff drafted John Skelton and traded for Kevin Kolb.

This means that when the coaches and scouts evaluated the tapes and workouts of John Skelton they were impressed enough to trade CB Bryant McFadden and their 6th round pick to move up to the 5th round in order to select Skelton.

This means that the same head coach, scouts and staff, with little else to concentrate on during a lockout period, evaluated the tapes and profile of Kevin Kolb, not only to become convinced they should trade their 2008 1st Rounder and 2012 2nd rounder for---but to feel so supremely confident in that decision as to award the inexperienced Kolb with a $65M contract.

So---if Kolb gets beat out by the 5th rounder who was already on the roster and had won 2 games as a rookie when the Cardinals traded for Kolb---what does this mean with regard to the coaches?

It means one of two things: (1) either they did a lousy job evaluating Kolb; (2) or, they couldn't coach him to be effective and successful in their system.

And what if---after all of this---the Cardinals will be shopping for a new starting QB in 2013?

It will mean that they didn't evaluate and/or coach Skelton to be effective and successful in their system, unless you once again want to thrust him into a 2013 QB Competition with your new 1st round QB....and we all know what's expected of first round QB draft picks--especially in this day and age where some of them arrive as starters from day one.

Sure, many will say that finding a franchise QB is a crapshoot. Some will laud the Cardinals for making the effort. Some will continue to question why they threw top starters' money at an unproven commodity.

But, there comes a time when coaches have to stand up and make a full-bore commitment to the player.

Charlie Weis recently said that if was still an NFL head coach or offensive coordinator, that he could win with Brady Quinn as his QB.

Quinn is now with his third organization after being drafted in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.

After getting traded to the Denver Broncos in 2010, it has now been more than two years since Quinn has played in a regular season game.

The word around the NFL is Quinn is a #2 at best. In fact, in one insider scouting report says of Quinn: "Just not good enough in any area to be an NFL starter."

Yet, Weis, who coached and groomed Quinn at Notre Dame, says Quinn could thrive in his system...the same system where once a 6th round pick named Tom Brady found a stunning and long-lasting ALL-Pro type niche.

Can you believe Weis?

You can if you believe in Weis' system and his conviction---it's a proven QB friendly system, both in the NFL and in college.

But can you simply believe in believing and in the exquisite power of suggestion?

When a coach selects a QB and suggests to that QB that he is going to thrive in the system and the coach remains resolute in his support of that QB---the chances of the QB's success are so much greater than the chances of QBs who are constantly being scrutinized by their coaches. The scrutiny rubs off on other players---the scrutiny rubs off on the media---the scrutiny rubs off on the fans.

Brady Quinn has been through the scrutiny wringer---and we all know for sure---he stands for, as Jerry Glanville says, NFL---as in---"not for long."

But---how about Jay Cutler. The way he played in Chicago his first year was horrendous at times. It was painful watching the guy. He looked harried---he was throwing the ball repeatedly up for grabs---and his body language suggested he was a beaten man. At times, as well, he looked like he could give two figs. Try passing that "I could give a rat's arse" attitude on to rabid fans.

Most head coaches would have tried to trade him back from where he came or anywhere else. But, Lovie Smith prevailed.

The next year Cutler played much better and led the Bears to the playoffs---and despite having a good year, he became the center of controversy when he was injured in the playoff game and did not come back into the game. Most pundits, fans and analysts were disgusted...at least at that moment.

The man who diffused it all after the game and the next day was Lovie Smith.

This is what QBs need---some Lovie.

The point is this---we in Arizona are seeing why a QB competition/controversy can be a real detriment to a football team because the scrutiny is so intense it affects everyone, and eventually will cause the QB to play so tentatively that he renders himself ineffective.

Ken Whisenhunt is adamant that he has the whole pre-season to decide on whether Kolb or Skelton wins the job.

The last time Whisenhunt waited until High Noon he hadn't even called the QB situation a competition and decided on Tuesday of the first real game week to appoint Kurt Warner as the starting QB.

The problem is---the choice was Kurt Warner, a savvy veteran who had already won Super Bowls and NFL MVP awards (and gone 5-3 down the stretch the year before).

The winner of the Kolb/Skelton duel at High Noon on Tuesday September 4th will have yet to start one full season at QB in the NFL.

So then what happens every time the High Noon winner makes a mistake?

Sure, the fans and media will want the loser to rise back up from his dusty sagebrush and take a new hold of the situation.

That is...until the new guy makes a mistake and it should have been the old guy all along.

Meanwhile the team is being held hostage----

They want to hear from the sheriff---

So they can be untethered from this chain of indecision...and all the talk talk talk about the QB situation.

Can you stand up for one of these QBs, Coach Whisenhunt?

Can you tell the team with confidence who your man is?

And, most of all, can you stick with your man and coach him to be effective in your system?

Or by casting doubt and indecision---will it always be their fault?

I think the one thing that the Coach cannot see at the start is the courage/heart one of these QBs has. Is Kolb past the point where he is willing to take some big hits in order to win? He now has enough money to live on comfortable for the rest of his life. He is probably asking himself is the risk of more concussions worth it? I certainly would ask myself that question after reading his account of his last concussion. He did not put that into words until the Cards had to pay him $20 million which I would also have done. I think when he put his medical condition and experience into words he was telling us something either unconsciously or by accident. I think the courage that Kolb once had is now gone. He took one to many hits. He could be out of the organization by next year due to conditions brought on by health. He may not be the same Kevin Kolb that was drafted some years ago. Players in major pro sports are very reluctant to admit to injuries for obvious reasons. Money. I hope I am 100% wrong about Kolb but these are my thoughts.

This will be a telling year for Skelton. He finished with a good record backed by some good luck and a great defensive effort. He has all he tools you look for in an NFL QB and has heart. I think the coaches are going to find out just how good Kolb is by the end of the pre-season as many of those rookies we play against are going to be trying their best to knock him out of the stadium so they can make the team. We need to play Kolb enough so that we have a good handle on just where he is come the start of the season. We do not need to wait for 4 or 5 quick losses by Kolb to decide he is not a starting NFL QB.

 

[Duckjake]

to think otherwise is silly. If Matt left and started or did ANYTHING anywhere else, it may be a discussion.

He has held clipboards since he left.

Sadly the guys they've brought in have been as bad or worse than Leinart.

Brian St.Pierre did nothing but hold a clipboard in the AZ and was terrible at Carolina and is out of the NFL last I heard.
DeWreck Anderson was terrible in Arizona and held a clipboard at Carolina.
Max Hall was terrible in Arizona and is out of the NFL last I heard.
Richard Bartel has been terrible in Arizona and will likely be released this fall.
Kevin Kolb has done nothing but visit area hospitals since coming to Arizona.
John Skelton, according to some on this board, is too dumb and too inaccurate to be our QBOF.

Our high first round draft pick QBOF Face of the Franchise Hollywood QB was a failure.

And yet the Cards won 7 of their last 9 games last season.

There just isn't anything that can compare to being an Arizona Cardinal football fan.

 

[Mitch]

Good points, Birdgang!

If you are of the mind that the player should be the one who builds and generates his own confidence, then you can condone CKW for the way he handles QBs.

As a coach for 21 years, I learned that building confidence in a QB is a shared responsibility. There's only so much confidence a player can give himself, because if all the players on the team sense that the head coach lacks confidence in a player, sure enough the players are apt feel the same.

But---building confidence doesn't happens just by telling your QB you believe in him. It happens through diligent repetitions at practice, where you work a play over and over until you get it right.

What I used to do was put two extra defenders on defense to where I could play man under with deep help over the top on all 5 eligible receivers.

What this did is it forced the QB to have the patience and presence to allow the play to develop---it also forced the WRs, TEs and RBs to run highly effective routes with head-fake and misdirection moves.

Then, the QB would often have to slide step in the pocket to buy that extra second or two of time to then throw into the small windows.

This was such a challenge and often a very frustrating one---BUT---what we were able to preach is going through the progressions (I always put three reads on every passing play---option A, option B, and check down C) and it allowed us to emphasize not forcing the ball into coverage.

Plus at the same time we could practice our man under/deep zone over techniques---a win-win for both sides of the ball.

You wouldn't believe how much easier it seemed in games to pass the football. My QBs would often come smiling off the field after a score---because the windows seemed so much larger.

So what I learned is that preparation is the key to confidence and that there is nothing better for building confidence than challenging the players to perform at a high level in practice under far more difficult situations than what they would see in the game.

I don't remember ever benching one of my starting QBs either. When they struggled---I felt like it was best to have them work through the struggles---because when they do---that's when confidence really soars.

What I see in John Skelton is a young man who has more confidence in himself than the coaches do.

Let's talk about the preparation the coaches have given him>

Year 1:

0 snaps with the first team until Week 14.

To be a key part of breaking a seven game losing streak by beating the Broncos 43-13 in his first start, with four practices of prep and a walkthrough, is incredible.

To lead the team to the come from behind 27-26 win versus the Cowboys two weeks later on Christmas---especially in the way the defense gave up the lead in that game---was the greatest joy of that miserable season.

Year 2:

No off-season. Very little first team snaps and reps because of the new starting QB trying to learn and get in sync with the system. Plus, his ankle sprain in pre-season kept him out for a couple of weeks. And when he was getting snaps he was sharing them with Bartel.

Again---without anywhere near the amount of preparation he needed---to be turned to in Week 9 after a 1-6 start, to go 6-2, break the six game losing streak and the losing streaks to the Eagles on the road and the Niners, and Seahawks in addition to leading 5 4th quarter comebacks often on drives of 80-90 yards---was WAY beyond what one would expect from any young QB who has had very limited preparation.

We hear he struggles many times in practice. Um, yeah. That's what practice is all about---it's about trying to get things right. It doesn't happen overnight.

Experience is the greatest teacher.

If you notice one thing about Skelton is---just when he's made the mistake that you think will ruin the game or his confidence, he comes right back with a long scoring drive answer.

This indicates to me that when everyone else around him may be doubting---he isn't.

For those of you who are completion percentage obsessed (and I think it's a very over-rated stat, because some of the best throws a QB can make in a game are the ones he throws away), look at how Skelton improved in that regard at Fordham:

2007 (Freshman) 5.7 ypa, 44.3%, 6 TD/ 8 INT

2008 (Sophomore) 6.9 ypa, 56.4%, 22/11

2009 (Junior) 7.0 ypa, 61.3%, 15/7

2010 (Senior) 8.4 ypa, 64.4%, 26/10

As confidence improves---so do stats.

The thing about Skelton is---he's used to being over-looked---he's a classic Cinderella. None of the major college programs asked him to the dance.

He has the Cinderella mentality---and he has had to dig deep into himself to summon up the self-confidence to seize the day and the moment.

Part of that is---patience.

Part of that is---self-poise under pressure.

He's got it.

In some ways, because of the lack of prep, one could argue he has done more on his own to have the success (8-4) he's had than Whisenhunt or Miller have.

One thing we know ---he still doesn't have KCW's confidence in him as the QB.

 

[desertdawg]

Good stuff Mitch, but isn't Skelton the only Fordham player ever talked about since Lombardi.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?abbr=F&collegeName=Fordham&abbrFlag=0&type=school

 

[seesred]

Skelton should be our QB period! All he does is win. I like that in my QB. His first and only series in the hall game was a 80+ yard drive. 4/6 and a jaked up offensive line who played hard for him.

Skelton or bust. Don't pull him if he has a bad game. Let him play!

GBR
40

 

[Mitch]

What I love about Skelton as much as anything is---he plays the game with a smile on his face---he's loving it---he's not fighting it---he has never once looked afraid---he keeps his head up----and when he makes mistakes he bounces back.

In many ways he plays offense with a defensive players' mentality---defensive players are the ones who typically look like they love what they are doing out there because they get to do the hitting. Skelton plays that way---he's loving it out there. I will never forget the way he punished that Cowboy DB on the sideline when he lowered his shoulder on him instead of running out of bounds. He won a lot of respect from his teammates that night. Those are things teammates don't forget.

As Pat Tillman would say---"he's balling it!"

 

[BigRedRage]

Sadly the guys they've brought in have been as bad or worse than Leinart.

Brian St.Pierre did nothing but hold a clipboard in the AZ and was terrible at Carolina and is out of the NFL last I heard.
DeWreck Anderson was terrible in Arizona and held a clipboard at Carolina.
Max Hall was terrible in Arizona and is out of the NFL last I heard.
Richard Bartel has been terrible in Arizona and will likely be released this fall.
Kevin Kolb has done nothing but visit area hospitals since coming to Arizona.
John Skelton, according to some on this board, is too dumb and too inaccurate to be our QBOF.

Our high first round draft pick QBOF Face of the Franchise Hollywood QB was a failure.

And yet the Cards won 7 of their last 9 games last season.

There just isn't anything that can compare to being an Arizona Cardinal football fan.

"people on the board think hes dumb" holds no weight. Noone here knows anything about the guys intelligence. Same stuff was said about mccown.

"as bad or worse" sure, backups or no longer in NFL. I still hold out hope for Skelton. Not so much for Kolb. Anderson is #2 on carolinas depth chart still.

Matt was a straight up bust, no buts about it.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Love your posts Mitch but I have two points. Almost every team has big bucks on the starter position at QB, so to me it does not matter if it is Skelton or Kolb starting because it would still look the same on cap space in time to come. Skelton would hardly have his contract at its current mark if he succeeds and it is doubtful the team would keep Kolb in that event. Lastly, if you make your point that Skelton being a 5th round pick is the spot a team looks for a good number 2, why say the coaching staff did wrong if that number 2 does not perform like a number 1. The loss of DRC (though I really do not see DRC as being capable of excelling in Horton's type of defense) and the second round pick is what hurts, not the contract given Kolb if he fails.

 

[redheat]

I think its obvious in what Whiz said this week about playing inj and praising Williams. If Kolb chooses to sit this next game he is done.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I think Skelton has this now, and Whisenhunt is just doing PR moves. I agree with Mitch, Skelton has a mentality that just meshes well with the players and the way the game has to be approached. Is Skelton the answer? Well he will have to improve over the horrific early quarters he played last season but he does find a way to win and for being a rookie for the most part last year, you cannot overlook something that important.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I think its obvious in what Whiz said this week about playing inj and praising Williams. If Kolb chooses to sit this next game he is done.

I agree

 

[JeffGollin]

Here's what I think - albeit without the certainty many fans seem to have re the QB situation.

- I never was sold on Kolb - even before he was drafted (high floor/low ceiling QB).

- Though Skelton seemed physically big and strong-armed, he was unproven and raw as rain.

- Kolb seemed more NFL-ready but with not much of an upside.

- The hope of the coaches seemed to be that the Cards were good enough at all the other positions to be able to win with an efficient game-manager at QB.

- Meanwhile they had a raw guy with a much higher upside waiting in the wings and maybe they'd get lucky and capture lightning in a bottle.

- As it turns out, the efficiency guy hasn't been that efficient and the high upside dude will need to become more consistent for that upside to be realized. (If the decision had to be made today, I believe Skelton will give us a better chance to win than will Kolb (but that could all change and the coaches can afford to wait & see).

- Lost in all this is the role of the QB coach. McNulty's too new to evaluate, but I've felt for a long time that the Cards have lacked a "QB Whisperer." (Makes you wonder how Leinert might have developed under the watchful eye of a QB guru like Norm Chow). Bottom line - whatever the reason, since Don Coryell, we haven't been very good at developing QB's.

That's what I'm thinking; but without much certitude - I'm ready to be proved wrong.

 

[Russ Smith]

Side question Mitch. I get the why it helped the QB playing against 2 extra defenders but didn't it hurt your defense?

We used to do that in basketball if we played a really quick pressing team we'd play against 6 in practice to simulate their speed. But we didn't press ourselves so it didn't impact our defense. That is you didn't start to rely on having an extra defender because in games we weren't actually pressing.

seems to me if your offense is playign against 13 guys enough that they actually benefit, that would mean your defense should be getting used to playing with 2 extra guys too and it would really harm them in real games?