How good is Kurt Warner?

[azdad1978]

By Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist
August 4, 2005

PRESCOTT - Cardinals coach Dennis Green is a man of strong opinions, so it was interesting to hear him talk about quarterback Kurt Warner Wednesday.

The context: Green was asked why he believes Warner can still be an effective starting quarterback at the age of 34, with three straight injury-plagued or ineffective seasons in his wake.

You expected fire and brimstone, Green as the impassioned advocate. Instead, you heard this:

“When Kurt was at his best in St. Louis, it was a team that didn't expect him to make all the plays. It was a team that expected everybody to do their job.. . . When you play football, it's 11 guys counting on each other.”

Wait a minute. Did the Cardinals sign Kurt Warner or Trent Dilfer?

For all the improvements Arizona made in the offseason, for all the talk nationally about an NFC West title, one nagging question looms over training camp like a storm cloud:

Does Warner still have it?

He hasn't played a full season since 2001. He's thrown 10 touchdowns and 16 interceptions over the last three years. He's had thumb problems, numerous concussions, and like Emmitt Smith before him, the Cardinals were the only team willing to hand him a starting job.

Which should tell you something.

Warner's supporters insist he can get the job done — if he has quality receivers at his disposal and an offensive line that will give him time to throw.

“The whole thing when he was the starting quarterback during our Super Bowl run was keep No. 13 on his feet, and we're going to score points,” said Cardinals coaching intern D’Marco Farr, Warner's teammate in St. Louis from 1998 to 2000. “It's the same now. Keep him on his feet and he'll cut you to pieces.”

I'd like to see Warner succeed, if for no other reason than he's a class act and a faithful man in a world of phonies. But count me among the doubters.

Warner simply has not been the same quarterback since the 2001 season, when he led the Rams to the Super Bowl.

He's lost some zip on his throws because of the multiple hand injuries he's suffered. More importantly, he's become a sitting duck in the pocket.

Warner never was Michael Vick, but in 10 games with the New York Giants last year he was sacked 39 times. By comparison, rookie Eli Manning was sacked 13 times in seven games after replacing Warner.

“When he gets time to throw the ball and set up and look downfield, he's one of the best in the business,” Cardinals defensive end Bertrand Berry said.

And when that time isn't there, the immobile Warner ducks his head and holds onto the ball, all but serving himself up on a plate.

Berry might have earned his Pro Bowl bid last season when he sacked Warner four times in Arizona's 17-14 victory last November.

Green believes Warner will succeed in part because he's motivated to prove his critics wrong. It's a bromide you often hear in sports, but it has as much value as Congressional testimony from Rafael Palmeiro.

Motivation won't help Warner elude a defensive lineman or stay healthy for 16 games. In the end, it's about talent and timing, and while they were Warner's best friends in St. Louis, you wonder if they're not strangers now.

“I feel like I'm a better quarterback,” Warner said. “My arm feels as strong as it ever has and I feel like I'm as accurate as I've ever been.”

Maybe he's right and the skeptics — including myself — are wrong.

But the burden of proof is on Warner.

And the Cardinals' season hinges on his answer.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=45602

 

[john h]

We will know how good Warner is once the season starts. At this point history is meaningless. He is the QB and he will be what he will be. Great,Good,Average or bad. Much has to do with the players around him.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

Forgive me if I am wrong. But during the "greatest show on turf" didn't Warner throw the ball within a second or two? Alot?

How much time does he need. Throw dinks and then BAM!! BJ goes 75 yrds for TD!!

It all about setting up the Bomb. Right?

 

[duckfallas]

That Giants O line during Warner's starts was pathetic. They must have gotten better when Manning took over because he really isn't that much more mobile than Warner. Or maybe boy wonder panicked quicker and got rid of the ball.

 

[stewdog1]

Forgive me if I am wrong. But during the "greatest show on turf" didn't Warner throw the ball within a second or two? Alot?

How much time does he need. Throw dinks and then BAM!! BJ goes 75 yrds for TD!!

It all about setting up the Bomb. Right?

You are correct. During those seasons there were a lot of big plays where the slot receiver would make a slant over the d-line, w/ only a one or two step drop from Warner. That would then open up the outside receivers and Faulk coming out of the backfield.

That was a big problem with NY last year, was that every time he went back it was almost always a 5 -7 step drop and the D could sit on that all day long.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

You are correct. During those seasons there were a lot of big plays where the slot receiver would make a slant over the d-line, w/ only a one or two step drop from Warner. That would then open up the outside receivers and Faulk coming out of the backfield.

That was a big problem with NY last year, was that every time he went back it was almost always a 5 -7 step drop and the D could sit on that all day long.

I thought so. Warner dumping off to Boldin on a one or two step drop is gonna be a huge headache for opponents D's. Which in turn is gonna open up the running game (and vice versa) and the deep threat (if we have one which I think we will with BJ :crossesfingers).

I really think this O is gonna kick some serious bootie!!!

 

[chickenhead]

Warner has a lot to prove, but consider his situations:

In NY he was a caretaker QB with WRs who caught no TDs, a poor offenseive line, and a team that was still dsgruntled with its new head coach. In AZ he is the chosen starter with better and younger WRs, a system more like his St. Louis days, and a coach who is visibly turning things around. It's all bound to make a difference.

I'm more concerned with Warner's last season in St. Louis than with his performance in NY. However, he was just so rattled by the end of his Rams days that it's hard to make a clear judgment based on it.

 

[Cardinal Red]

I havn't seen the long ball in a while

 

[ActingWild]

That Giants O line during Warner's starts was pathetic. They must have gotten better when Manning took over because he really isn't that much more mobile than Warner. Or maybe boy wonder panicked quicker and got rid of the ball.

Absolutely correct. Warner hung in there looking for an open receiver. Manning would get rid of it without having an open receiver to avoid the sack....resulting in over twice as many interceptions than Warner (9 compared to Warner's 4). Manning's "quicker release" resulted in a 55.4 QB rating with a 48.2% completion rating. Warner, on the other hand had a 86.5 rating and completed 62.8% of his passes. This while under constant pressure.

I dunno, I'll take a guy who still manages those numbers while having very little time to throw the ball.

Warner still has "it" and a lot of National writers will be eating crow while he compiles some gaudy numbers.

(Sluuuuuuuuuuuurp, the Kool-aid is mighty tasty today).

 

[Reddog]

For what its worth the things I observed from Warner during the first couple days of camp were;
1. He had good velocity and great touch on the ball.
2. He had no problem throwing the long ball
3. He throws quickly so the WRs are just coming out of their breaks so timing is critical and Fitz and Boldin are very diciplined receivers.

This said, theoretically if they do play that short ball timing game given Fitz and Boldin's ability to run after the catch that will really open up the running lanes which will also eventually keep the rush a little more tentative which will open up longer routs as Warner will have more time.

 

[conraddobler]

Warner only got to start originally because his own teammate Trent Green got hurt.

In that offense he "Green" was unreal in preseason better actually than Warner ended up being and he's not that good.

He went on to have pro bowl numbers with the Chiefs "in and offense very similar in design with no where near the WR's", and again he's not that good.

We have different types of WR's than the Rams, better by far than the Chiefs no TE like Gonzales no Priest Holmes either at least as of yet. We have no Marshal Faulk or maybe JJ is close enough that it will work for us but the sleeper candidate to me is Shipp.

I've seen Priest Holmes up close and he's very similar to Shipp in fact if you watched both run the main thing you'd notice is Holmes runs through highways and Shipp is running down dirt alleys or into brick walls.

I have no idea how that will play out there are too many different factors to tally up to know what will happen but I do know this.

It's not that much about the QB and even Josh would look better than you expect in it.

Some on here expect nothing of Josh so that isn't saying much but still all in all Warner going down wouldn't suprise me nor make me change my opinion on our playoff hopes all that much.

Our strength is our defense, we just need an adequate workmanlike QB and we have at least two of those. We will be fine.

 

[gamebird98]

That Giants O line during Warner's starts was pathetic. They must have gotten better when Manning took over because he really isn't that much more mobile than Warner. Or maybe boy wonder panicked quicker and got rid of the ball.

And our "O" line should do what for him?