Leinart announced the starter

[82CardsGrad]

It's really kind of funny that Leinart's unquestioned strongest asset - that is, mentally mastering a pro offense is now all of the sudden, in literally two weeks, is now doubtful to the fans.

We've either been fed a line of crap for oh, three years about this kid --- or something unusual has happened in Cards camp.

 

[Stout]

Leinart IS capable of reading defenses and making the right throw--on time.

Why he isn't is a mystery. But we saw what he's capable of in a few games last year, so I think we need to be patient with him; let him work through whatever it is that's holding him back.

It's no mystery; he didn't work hard enough in the offseason.

I've seen a lot of talk on this thread about franchise QBs that were never given the hook. I'm pretty sure none of them were questioned in their 2nd season because of a suspected lackadaisical (sp?) offseason attitude.

 

[Gambit]

It's really kind of funny that Leinart's unquestioned strongest asset - that is, mentally mastering a pro offense is now all of the sudden, in literally two weeks, is now doubtful to the fans.

We've either been fed a line of crap for oh, three years about this kid --- or something unusual has happened in Cards camp.

There's something rotten in the Camp of Cardinals.

 

[Shane]

It's really kind of funny that Leinart's unquestioned strongest asset - that is, mentally mastering a pro offense is now all of the sudden, in literally two weeks, is now doubtful to the fans.

We've either been fed a line of crap for oh, three years about this kid --- or something unusual has happened in Cards camp.

I dont think anything funny has happened. I dont think his football acumen has gone anywhere either. It just seems to me backed up by Whis's comments in the media that Matt isnt taking the necessary time and effort to learn what he needs to learn. He isnt taking it seriously which throws up huge red flags IMO.

You dont jus lose you football smarts. He obviously isnt dedicated enough.

 

[ajcardfan]

I dont think anything funny has happened. I dont think his football acumen has gone anywhere either. It just seems to me backed up by Whis's comments in the media that Matt isnt taking the necessary time and effort to learn what he needs to learn. He isnt taking it seriously which throws up huge red flags IMO.

You dont jus lose you football smarts. He obviously isnt dedicated enough.

Weel, then Whisenhunt lied (or exaggerated) in July when he said he was pleased with Leinart's leadership and the time he had spent at the facility. In fact, he said he had been there more than anyone.

 

[Shane]

Weel, then Whisenhunt lied (or exaggerated) in July when he said he was pleased with Leinart's leadership and the time he had spent at the facility. In fact, he said he had been there more than anyone.

It was said he was there more then anyone lifting weights, jogging, and throwing to some WR's. Didnt say he was putting the time into the playbook that he needed to.

The mere fact that our "star" QB doesnt know how to run a 2 minute offense is very telling IMO.

 

[ajcardfan]

It was said he was there more then anyone lifting weights, jogging, and throwing to some WR's. Didnt say he was putting the time into the playbook that he needed to.

The mere fact that our "star" QB doesnt know how to run a 2 minute offense is very telling IMO.

I agree. He either didn't put the study in, or it was installed late.

You know what, if he was that far behind, shouldn't Whis have known it before camp? How about a full load of two-a-days, instead of "Camp Feel Good"? How about at least extending practices, or not cutting them short?

I'm not happy with Matt, but now I'm starting to not be happy with Whisenhunt either for this situation.

 

[Gambit]

I agree. He either didn't put the study in, or it was installed late.

You know what, if he was that far behind, shouldn't Whis have known it before camp? How about a full load of two-a-days, instead of "Camp Feel Good"? How about at least extending practices, or not cutting them short?

I'm not happy with Matt, but now I'm starting to not be happy with Whisenhunt either for this situation.

I've posed it before, but I'll pose it again: I think Whis wanted Warner to be the starter since camp. If so, he should have done it then, because now it got a whole lot messier.

 

[Shane]

I agree. He either didn't put the study in, or it was installed late.

You know what, if he was that far behind, shouldn't Whis have known it before camp? How about a full load of two-a-days, instead of "Camp Feel Good"? How about at least extending practices, or not cutting them short?

I'm not happy with Matt, but now I'm starting to not be happy with Whisenhunt either for this situation.

Very very true. Does give some pause to Whis. Hmmm.....

 

[conraddobler]

Ok let's wait until we know the why.

So far all Whis has done is lift the teams play higher than frankly I've ever seen it.

We've been in every game and this last one he had the balls to do something a lot of coaches wouldn't.

I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and I honestly think he does want Warner to start, however who's to say he wasn't simply confirming it and giving Matt the chance to prove him wrong?

That whole package thing is pretty hollow, Whis is a rookie HC, it's a difficult thing to do and I expect he'll screw things like this up a bit, but the important thing is his gameplans are great, his players play hard and he plays the best player, all good and he'll learn some important leasons, rookie HC's always do things like this in a clustered way, you can't know how to deal with it just by osmosis, every situation is different.

He's pretty much botched this, but then again he erred on the side of winning the game and what's not to like about that?

 

[Duckjake]

Just to clarify, do you guys mean that Leinart doesn't know how to run the "hurry up" offense?

He sure ran the two minute offense fine last year against the Bears. And that was against one of the best defenses in the NFL plus he was dealing with a coaching staff that didn't have a clue how to get an offensive line working properly.

 

[Shane]

Just to clarify, do you guys mean that Leinart doesn't know how to run the "hurry up" offense?

He sure ran the two minute offense fine last year against the Bears. And that was against one of the best defenses in the NFL plus he was dealing with a coaching staff that didn't have a clue how to get an offensive line working properly.

Thats exactly what we are saying. Its not thesame two minute offense. Whis outright stated thatthe reason for putting Kurt in is because he knows the 2 mnute offense better and is more comfortable with it.

 

[D-Dogg]

Just to clarify, do you guys mean that Leinart doesn't know how to run the "hurry up" offense?

He sure ran the two minute offense fine last year against the Bears. And that was against one of the best defenses in the NFL plus he was dealing with a coaching staff that didn't have a clue how to get an offensive line working properly.

Whis specifically said the two minute offense and the no-huddle hurry up offense are very different, and that Matt runs the two minute offense, not Kurt. But that Matt has not practiced the no-huddle hurry up spread offense much as he's been working on the standard offensive sets.

He also said in Pittsburgh they never installed the no-huddle hurry up because Ben was too busy trying to learn the other offense and nobody backing him up could run it well enough either.

This is all from Whis' presser yesterday.

 

[D-Dogg]

I dont think anything funny has happened. I dont think his football acumen has gone anywhere either. It just seems to me backed up by Whis's comments in the media that Matt isnt taking the necessary time and effort to learn what he needs to learn. He isnt taking it seriously which throws up huge red flags IMO.

You dont jus lose you football smarts. He obviously isnt dedicated enough.

Thank you Shane...I was really worried about you. You are no longer thinking the guy is a "dummy." I can now take you seriously again.


I think it's a combo of taking the time and effort to learn the new offense, and the tweaking of his mechanics (footwork specifically) causing him to be uncomfortable in the pocket. I've never seen him throw with such bad foot placement...not last year and not at USC. He looks gangly out there, like he's grown 4 inches and doesn't know how to use his body.

My two cents on the whole "What's Wrong With Matt?" issue is thus: His mechanics are being tweaked and he's struggling with it, and overthinking. His first pass being picked doesn't help, either. He is behind in the absorbtion of the playbook. All these things together are killing his ability. He looks nothing like the guy last year who kicked ass against the Bears and Chiefs (before the playcalling turtled and went conservative). We know he can do all the things he's not doing, and like you said you don't just lose the ability to do those things or your football smarts.

 

[Wild Card]

Whis specifically said the two minute offense and the no-huddle hurry up offense are very different, and that Matt runs the two minute offense, not Kurt. But that Matt has not practiced the no-huddle hurry up spread offense much as he's been working on the standard offensive sets.

Donald:

Kurt Warner said much the same things in this morning's interview on KGME with Mike Jurecki and Dale Hellestrae. When MJ asked him to clarify for fans the difference between the no-huddle and hurry-up, Kurt said that the point of the two-minute offense is to score points as quickly as possible, while the no-huddle simply forces the defense to line up and allows the QB to call plays based on what he sees. Warner's advantages in running the no-huddle are his experience in reading defensive alignments and coverages, and his ability to call plays without input from the sidelines. (Kurt identified "getting to call my own plays" as one of the things he likes best about running the no-huddle.)

WC

 

[Skkorpion]

It's really kind of funny that Leinart's unquestioned strongest asset - that is, mentally mastering a pro offense is now all of the sudden, in literally two weeks, is now doubtful to the fans.

We've either been fed a line of crap for oh, three years about this kid --- or something unusual has happened in Cards camp.

Chris, why is it his "unquestioned strongest asset?" And by whom?

At one time, I too just accepted that as a fact, figuring it must be true, since everybody said so. Now I'm wondering if all those halftime adjustments at USC were Norm Chow's brilliance, not Matt's.

My gut tells me Matt is indeed bright but still isn't working hard enough and certainly didn't do crap all summer to get ready in a new offense.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Chris, why is it his "unquestioned strongest asset?" And by whom?

At one time, I too just accepted that as a fact, figuring it must be true, since everybody said so. Now I'm wondering if all those halftime adjustments at USC were Norm Chow's brilliance, not Matt's.

My gut tells me Matt is indeed bright but still isn't working hard enough and certainly didn't do crap all summer to get ready in a new offense.

as a man who literally almost died of shock/happiness when we got Matty, I gotta say, it certainly LOOKS (on the field) like Skkorp's got a point. I've been very disappointed in this kid this year so far. I thought for a rookie, he looked great, with a lot of upside... thing is, he's looked just as bad in the two roadies as he did in Oakland and GB. Let's hope he at least continues a pretty good run at home and starts to put it together on the road, bit by bit.

 

[Skkorpion]

Conrad, your reasoned approach to this is much appreciated. I think all of us are hoping Leinart matures into the leader we think he can be, we just handle the angst in different ways.

I happen to be thrilled with the performance of coach Whisenhunt. Every single game has been decided by three points in the last possession, despite QB problems.

Still, I'm tired of moral victories. I want to win now. If Leinart plays well and we beat the Steelers, we'll all exhale and relax a little. Never before, in Az, have we been so close to being a good team, or at least since Lomax went down.