Kurt Warner: Kevin Kolb will start, but he needs to learn the offense

[BullheadCardFan]

The problem with Kolb last season, Warner says, is that Kolb never really grasped Whisenhunt’s offense.

“I think this is going to play out with Kevin Kolb becoming the starter for the Arizona Cardinals,” Warner said. “When I talk to people in the organization and what I’ve seen, everybody believes that Kevin has everything you need to be a starter in the NFL. He’s smart, he works hard, he’s got accuracy, he’s got mobility to run around and make plays, which we saw him do a number of times last year. The biggest problem was, the offense in Arizona was completely different than what he ran in Philly, and it was tough for him to pick up that offense, and the nuances of that offense, and he really struggled with that last year, never got fully comfortable.”

Kolb is now getting a full offseason in Arizona, and Warner said he should beat out John Skelton in training camp and become the starter.

“Although John Skelton played well, especially down the stretch in games, I don’t think he offers them the consistency that Kevin Kolb can — if he learns that offense,” Warner said.

Warner is probably right: Kolb appears to be the strong favorite in the quarterback competition. Still, “if he learns that offense” is a pretty big “if.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...will-start-but-he-needs-to-learn-the-offense/

 

[kerouac9]

This QB competition is like having to choose between drinking Thunderbird and Mad Dog 20/20. You really wish that you had better options, and you're probably going to end up sick by the time you're done.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Thanks for stating the obvious, Kurt. :fireball:

 

[TJ]

Thanks for stating the obvious, Kurt. :fireball:

This has been the growing sentiment amongst the NFL pundits, except it carries more validity coming from Kurt, who has a better understanding of how the coaching staff works than anyone else.

Personally, I don't think learning the offense will be his biggest problem. After a year with the play book,he should know it by TC. I just don't want him to sense pressure in the pocket that doesn't exist. Resolve these two problems and I think he'll be successful.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[RugbyMuffin]

At what point did Kolb run around AND make plays ?

Just asking. I saw plenty of running around.


Warner is now 3 years removed, so whatever Kurt. Double Deuce don't care about Kurt Warner.

 

[Russ Smith]

My biggest concern with Kolb is still the concussions. I do believe if he can stay healthy he'll pick up the offense and win the job, I'm just really not sure he can stay healthy after last season.

 

[TJ]

At what point did Kolb run around AND make plays ?

.

The game winning TD pass against Dallas and the pass to Jeff King against Carolina immediately come to mind.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Krangodnzr]

At what point did Kolb run around AND make plays ?

Just asking. I saw plenty of running around.


Warner is now 3 years removed, so whatever Kurt. Double Deuce don't care about Kurt Warner.

Give me a call when John Skelton can post better than a 70 QB Rating. Thanks!

Seriously though, Kevin Kolb did run around and make a few plays, but not frequently enough or we would've been better obviously. The play that jumps out to me would be King's long TD in the Panthers game. That was a play made by Kolb buying time and the Panthers completely selling out on the blitz.

 

[Shane]

The game winning TD pass against Dallas and the pass to Jeff King against Carolina immediately come to mind.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

A great TD pass to Fitz in the end zone of the first Seattle game IIRC too after being flushed. Threw off back foot into end zone.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

A great TD pass to Fitz in the end zone of the first Seattle game IIRC too after being flushed. Threw off back foot into end zone.

Throwing a blind duck in the back of the endzone with double coverage isn't my idea of a great TD. If that was any other WR besides Fitz, and maybe Calvin, that ball would've been picked off 10/10 times.

Kolb has been in the league for 5+ years, yet he couldn't digest a playbook better/faster than Newton or Dalton? Something tells me he can't adjust to any other offense besides the Spread/WCO.

 

[Shane]

Throwing a blind duck in the back of the endzone with double coverage isn't my idea of a great TD. If that was any other WR besides Fitz, and maybe Calvin, that ball would've been picked off 10/10 times.

Kolb has been in the league for 5+ years, yet he couldn't digest a playbook better/faster than Newton or Dalton? Something tells me he can't adjust to any other offense besides the Spread/WCO.

It was a fantastic play that he deserved credit for.

 

[TJ]

Throwing a blind duck in the back of the endzone with double coverage isn't my idea of a great TD. If that was any other WR besides Fitz, and maybe Calvin, that ball would've been picked off 10/10 times.

Kolb has been in the league for 5+ years, yet he couldn't digest a playbook better/faster than Newton or Dalton? Something tells me he can't adjust to any other offense besides the Spread/WCO.

You only make that throw to Fitz or Calvin. He wouldn't have lobbed that one up to Doucet or Robets.

As for digesting play books, Newton and Dalton had theirs in April (Kolb was still practicing informally with Philly at the time). Kolb got his new play book late July/early August. Saying he can't or won't be able to digest Whiz's system or be able to convert from the WCO is baseless until we see him perform in 2012, after he's had enough time in the system and with the team. Warner has insinuated that the offense is complicated and, in effect, can't be learned on the fly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cardsfanmd]

Throwing a blind duck in the back of the endzone with double coverage isn't my idea of a great TD. If that was any other WR besides Fitz, and maybe Calvin, that ball would've been picked off 10/10 times.

Kolb has been in the league for 5+ years, yet he couldn't digest a playbook better/faster than Newton or Dalton? Something tells me he can't adjust to any other offense besides the Spread/WCO.

How about when he destroyed the blitz against (I think?) the panthers and hit doucet for like a 60-70yd td.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

You only make that throw to Fitz or Calvin. He wouldn't have lobbed that one up to Doucet or Robets.

As for digesting play books, Newton and Dalton had theirs in April (Kolb was still practicing informally with Philly at the time). Kolb got his new play book late July/early August. Saying he can't or won't be able to digest Whiz's system or be able to convert from the WCO is baseless until we see him perform in 2012, after he's had enough time in the system and with the team. Warner has insinuated that the offense is complicated and, in effect, can't be learned on the fly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's a possibility -- and Fitz is the type to tell his QB to just throw it up regardless of coverage, but that was a better play by Fitz than it was Kolb.

As of right now, you can easily make the assessment that he can't adjust to a non WCO system, because he hasn't proven otherwise. One thing is certain --even during college -- he has yet to grasp the concept of a pocket. Watching film of him at Houston is eerily similar to what he's doing in the pro's; rolling out of the pocket when there is no pressure, not stepping up, running into the rush, etc... This leads me to believe he has a hard time adjusting.

 

[Bodha]

The Oracle from OSCO's srtikes again. Love Kurt, but this dude is the worlds greatest stater of obviousness.


Yes, If Kolb does learn the offense, I suppose he would do better. That applies to every QB whos ever graced the NFL.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

The Oracle from OSCO's srtikes again. Love Kurt, but this dude is the worlds greatest stater of obviousness.


Yes, If Kolb does learn the offense, I suppose he would do better. That applies to every QB who's ever graced the NFL.

stater of the obvious.

 

[kerouac9]

Give me a call when John Skelton can post better than a 70 QB Rating. Thanks!

Seriously though, Kevin Kolb did run around and make a few plays, but not frequently enough or we would've been better obviously. The play that jumps out to me would be King's long TD in the Panthers game. That was a play made by Kolb buying time and the Panthers completely selling out on the blitz.

I'll go back and look at the highlight on NFL.com when I'm on a better computer and apologize if I'm wrong, but this isn't how I remember the play at all.

I remember Dan Connor falling down in coverage and what blitz there was (I'm assuming there was at least one safety, because there was NO ONE backing up Connor) was adequately picked up by the offensive line. This was not Kolb standing strong in the pocket and delivering the ball in the face of pressure--something he did well on a long TD pass against the Redskins.

I was at that Panthers game, and while this has gone down as a great performance by Kolb, the Panthers D was awful all season long.

 

[Phrazbit]

Throwing a blind duck in the back of the endzone with double coverage isn't my idea of a great TD. If that was any other WR besides Fitz, and maybe Calvin, that ball would've been picked off 10/10 times.

Kolb has been in the league for 5+ years, yet he couldn't digest a playbook better/faster than Newton or Dalton? Something tells me he can't adjust to any other offense besides the Spread/WCO.

It was a fantastic play that he deserved credit for.

I know I'll get reamed for this because I am mean ol Phrazbit... but seriously...

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/09000d5d8228c9f5/Fitzgerald-All-time-TD-leader

Kolb showed as little poise as ever. I remember watching this play live and being terrified. For those that give grief to Skelton for some of his iffy throws that Larry bailed him out on, to list this as an example of Kevin playing well is insane. If not for Larry being Larry that throw is a very ugly and stupid INT. Kolb displayed just about all of his bad qualities on that play, slow reads, dumb dumb scramble, lofted ball... he just got REALLY lucky.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I'll go back and look at the highlight on NFL.com when I'm on a better computer and apologize if I'm wrong, but this isn't how I remember the play at all.

I remember Dan Connor falling down in coverage and what blitz there was (I'm assuming there was at least one safety, because there was NO ONE backing up Connor) was adequately picked up by the offensive line. This was not Kolb standing strong in the pocket and delivering the ball in the face of pressure--something he did well on a long TD pass against the Redskins.

I was at that Panthers game, and while this has gone down as a great performance by Kolb, the Panthers D was awful all season long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnXj...aynext=1&list=PL4B4EC07194837C34&noredirect=1

Well there were two extra blitzers on the play (if not 3 I don't care enough to count more than the two )

And it wasn't Connor falling down, it was Beason and King was already going to score pretty much.

 

[kerouac9]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnXj...aynext=1&list=PL4B4EC07194837C34&noredirect=1

Well there were two extra blitzers on the play (if not 3 I don't care enough to count more than the two )

And it wasn't Connor falling down, it was Beason and King was already going to score pretty much.

Good gracious. Seven rushers and four back, at least two of whom were doubling Fitz.

Six in to block, and there's a jailbreak on Kolb after three seconds. To be fair, Kolb isn't "running around" in the sense that--say--Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers move in the pocket. He ran straight backward, which worked out because there was nothing to step up into.

2 RB 2TE 1 WR. Love that formation.

 

[Phrazbit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnXj...aynext=1&list=PL4B4EC07194837C34&noredirect=1

Well there were two extra blitzers on the play (if not 3 I don't care enough to count more than the two )

And it wasn't Connor falling down, it was Beason and King was already going to score pretty much.

Yes, that is more along the lines of a very good play on the move.

 

[Mainstreet]

All I remember is Kolb running backwards with no sense of poise. Critics may fault Skelton for his accuracy but he steps into the pocket and plays like a QB who has been there before. This is what Kolb should be doing. Also Skelton does another thing better than Kolb... win.

 

[TJ]

Also Skelton does another thing better than Kolb... win.

So Skelton plays defense, as well?

That's how we averaged allowing 10 ppg less over the last 9 games while scoring 1.5 ppg less.

Seriously, when is Ray Horton and the defense going to get the credit they deserve for shutting teams down the second half of the season? If I were the type who liked to divide and give credit based on their contributions, I'd give 75% of it to the defense, 15% to special teams (blocked FGs and PP21 TDs) and 10% to the offense. That's how irrelevant I think the offense was in the about face of the entire team.

Regardless of who the quarterback is, we are 8-8 to end 2011. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

 

[Darkside]

All I remember is Kolb running backwards with no sense of poise. Critics may fault Skelton for his accuracy but he steps into the pocket and plays like a QB who has been there before. This is what Kolb should be doing. Also Skelton does another thing better than Kolb... win.

I also remember Skelton's poise and command in the pocket, nobody can deny that. But I think to be fair we have to also recognize that our defense came into their own during that late-year run and Skelton was the main benefactor of that. He was allowed to win a game while giving up 2 safeties in one game. In just about every other game he was allowed to totally suck for 3 quarters while our D took care of business until he found a groove. And until he found that groove he had the complete luxury of handing it off to Beanie, who happened to break a Cardinals record in the process.

Skelton had tons of help, and he was allowed the luxury of sucking in many games which Kolb did not. When Kolb was in and our defense was learning we were getting down in games and had to pass and dudes were pinning their ears back and beating his ass. Later in the year, even if Skelton had 3 and outs and had to punt or threw INT's, our D was able to hold and give him yet another chance to suck. Kolb didn't have those opportunities, he had to pass. Skelton could coast and find a rhythm, hand it off to Beanie, throw some incompletions (he had his share of INT's), punt, and it didn't result in a score.

It's not like Skelton was dominating these teams later in the year and we were getting a good lead. That never happened. He was afforded a chance to win by our defense, which somehow managed to keep the game close.

I like Skelton, but it's not like he's the answer (or at least an obvious one over Kolb). If he were his QB rating wouldn't suck so incredibly bad, and it certainly wouldn't be so much lower than Kolb's. Even under tremendous pressure, even under constant duress, even under obvious passing situations with a paper defense, Kolb still put up a better QB rating than Skelton, who had all the benefits one could ask for. Hell, Skelton even played when everyone had half a season to get to know each other and learn some playbook. Kolb played mainly the first half when nobody knew what the f*ck was going on, and he still put up a better QB rating.

Those are just facts, I don't intend them to impede anyone's perception of events.

 

[Jersey Girl]

This QB competition is like having to choose between drinking Thunderbird and Mad Dog 20/20. You really wish that you had better options, and you're probably going to end up sick by the time you're done.

Sad, but true.

I'm in the K9 camp. Hope I am proven wrong this season and, personally, I don't care if it is Kolb or Skelton that makes me say "mea culpa."