Leinart is Toast

[Doc Cardinal]

with John Skelton playing so well in Game 1, that Skelton wins the #2, with Max Hall as #3, and Leinart is sent packing.

Could sorta live with that...if Skeleton is #1 and Anderson #2.....using the human excretory scale it's only fitting and proper that he is #2.

If Matt sucks that bad then he is not the QB of the future.

If Skeleton is that good he is the QB of the future.

The future may then start now.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I cant agree with you here Mitch... 1st off ML is the best QB on the roster right now, secondly, he did not lead Fitz into the teeth of the lion, Fitz ran his route in the middle of the field and Leinart threw him a dart. Luckliy Fitz left his feet a little bit, for if his foot were planted it would've EJ Henderson ugly.

If Whis was really that down on ML there is no doubt in my mind the team would've acquired McNabb...

 

[Renz]

Since that magical year of 2007 that Mith alluded to (a year in which Anderson threw 19 picks, BTW) Anderson has completed 47% of his passes while throwing 12 TD's and 19 INT's. You think Whiz really wants to give Anderson the keys to this team?

To quote Ouchie, "Wow!"

 

[TJ]

I still cannot believe people still think Graves is pushing stuff on Wiz anymore. They truly have a symbiotic relationship, or Graves wouldn't allow Wiz to be in high profile contract negotiations as of late.

This is true. Whiz has been here for 4 years now. Since then, he has purged all of the Denny Green non-impact players. If he truly had no faith in Leinart, he would not be here. Plain and simple.

 

[Buckybird]

If Whis was really that down on ML there is no doubt in my mind the team would've acquired McNabb...

+1,000,000,000

 

[Doc Cardinal]

Anderson sucks.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Ah, good. We haven't had a nice Mitch insanity rant for quite some time.

.... but all of us who've been around long enough knew it was coming.

I always love the parts where he intimately knows what the owners, management, coaches, players are thinking.

Rabbit ears and tinfoil!

Let's not forget that a year ago, he knew that Whiz would turn to BSP if anything ever happened to Kurt. And more recently, that Whiz would be insane to start Matt in 2010.

But, lest we forget: Mitch really, really, really wants Matt to succeed.

 

[Dayman]

I know stats don't mean everything, but Leinart had a 95.8 passer rating this week. He did this behind an offensive line that clearly struggled to protect him. What did people expect?

If he would have checked down to Hightower instead of throwing to Fitz, people would have complained that he doesn't look down the field. When he throws to Fitz, people question him for leading his receiver too much. I'm fully convinced the guy can't win in the eyes of some folks. He was the most highly scrutinized backup QB I can remember, and it's only going to be worse for him as a starter.

I think some people (not necessarily you, Mitch) still view Matt as the silver-spooned popular kid they love to root against for reasons stemming well outside of football. Now they're waiting for another underdog to come in and show him what a little blue collar work ethic can do. It's not going to happen. At least not now. Matt has started 17 games in his career and showed flashes of being a solid QB at times. Even Jamarcus Russell had 25 starts to prove himself. I still don't know if Leinart is the future or not, but I realize giving up on a guy after one fairly strong preseason game and some sub-par backup performances is extremely short-sighted. Especially when Derrick Anderson is the next available option.

 

[kerouac9]

We have zero reason so far to believe Leinart will prove us wrong.

I'll give you eight reasons why Matt Leinart will prove you wrong:

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2006101600/2006/REG6/bears@cardinals
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2006111912/2006/REG11/lions@cardinals
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2006112605/2006/REG12/cardinals@vikings
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2006120307/2006/REG13/cardinals@rams
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2006121011/2006/REG14/seahawks@cardinals
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2006122409/2006/REG16/cardinals@49ers
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2007091608/2007/REG2/seahawks@cardinals#tab:analyze

And finally this drive:

# 1-10-ARI 18 (11:33) 7-M.Leinart pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald to PIT 44 for 38 yards (24-I.Taylor).
# 1-10-PIT 44 (10:45) 32-E.James left tackle to PIT 42 for 2 yards (26-D.Townsend).
# 2-8-PIT 42 (10:07) 7-M.Leinart pass short left to 32-E.James to PIT 35 for 7 yards (99-B.Keisel).
# 3-1-PIT 35 (9:18) 32-E.James left tackle to PIT 33 for 2 yards (50-L.Foote).
# 1-10-PIT 33 (8:32) 32-E.James left tackle to PIT 35 for -2 yards (76-C.Hoke, 26-D.Townsend).
# 2-12-PIT 35 (7:56) 7-M.Leinart pass short left to 83-T.Bienemann to PIT 29 for 6 yards (25-R.Clark) [92-J.Harrison]. PENALTY on PIT-53-C.Haggans, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at PIT 35 - No Play.
# 2-7-PIT 30 (7:32) 13-K.Warner pass incomplete (99-B.Keisel).
# 3-7-PIT 30 (7:29) 32-E.James left tackle to PIT 24 for 6 yards (25-R.Clark, 22-W.Gay).
# 4-1-PIT 24 (7:04) 7-M.Leinart up the middle to PIT 23 for 1 yard (91-AA.Smith).
# 1-10-PIT 23 (6:35) 7-M.Leinart pass short left to 80-Bry.Johnson to PIT 12 for 11 yards (26-D.Townsend).
# 1-10-PIT 12 (5:50) 32-E.James up the middle to PIT 10 for 2 yards (25-R.Clark).
# 2-8-PIT 10 (5:05) 7-M.Leinart pass incomplete short left to 11-L.Fitzgerald. Penalty on ARZ-61-E.Brown, Ineligible Downfield Pass, declined.
# 3-8-PIT 10 (5:05) 32-E.James left end to PIT 2 for 8 yards (25-R.Clark).
# 1-2-PIT 2 (4:18) 32-E.James left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
# 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-M.Barr.
# PIT 7 ARZ 21 Plays: 13 Possession: 7:19

 

[Mitch]

I know stats don't mean everything, but Leinart had a 95.8 passer rating this week. He did this behind an offensive line that clearly struggled to protect him. What did people expect?

If he would have checked down to Hightower instead of throwing to Fitz, people would have complained that he doesn't look down the field. When he throws to Fitz, people question him for leading his receiver too much. I'm fully convinced the guy can't win in the eyes of some folks. He was the most highly scrutinized backup QB I can remember, and it's only going to be worse for him as a starter.

I think some people (not necessarily you, Mitch) still view Matt as the silver-spooned popular kid they love to root against for reasons stemming well outside of football. Now they're waiting for another underdog to come in and show him what a little blue collar work ethic can do. It's not going to happen. At least not now. Matt has started 17 games in his career and showed flashes of being a solid QB at times. Even Jamarcus Russell had 25 starts to prove himself. I still don't know if Leinart is the future or not, but I realize giving up on a guy after one fairly strong preseason game and some sub-par backup performances is extremely short-sighted. Especially when Derrick Anderson is the next available option.

Good rebuttal, Dayman! Kudos!

As we write Antrel Rolle just had a 57 yd. int. return to the 1 yard line in his debut with the Giants. Wow. Right place right time.

 

[ajcardfan]

Nothing on television is as entertaining as reading Mitch's posts every preseason. Keep up the good work Mitch! Funny stuff!

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I can always count on ASFN for fair and objective posting.

 

[Mitch]

I can always count on ASFN for fair and objective posting.

Yup and you would show your feminine side...if you had one!

Stay thirsty my friend!

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Matt was asked about being toast and had this to say:

 

[Cards_Campos]

It is officially football season! We should have signed McNabb

 

[Chris_Sanders]

It is officially football season! We should have signed McNabb

He is signed to a one year deal. Always next year..should there even be a next year.

 

[Cards_Campos]

He is signed to a one year deal. Always next year..should there even be a next year.

Good Point...And IF Leinart does struggle....I bet we go hard after him.

 

[Redheart]

So good to have football going again. Mitch, this is just too early to even start to judge Matt.

I will tell you that I enjoyed being at camp all last week leading into this game. I noticed a lot of things.

One of the interesting things I noticed was the quarterback rotation. There were four quarterbacks in rotation for all the practices I saw last week. Each would get a couple of reps and then the next one would go.

Let me say that diferently; for evey eight plays, Matt got two; the only thing special about Matt was that he started the rotation.

If you asked me who our best QB was based on all the (six) practices I saw; it was easily No. 7. By the way, Skelton was so, so bad...it was hard to watch; I did not recognize the kid I saw finish the 1st preseason game.

Whiz has not even started to give Matt the Starter's rep's yet; it might be a little early to start ordering toast.

 

[Cards_Campos]

I think Leinart will be successful 1 day...Just not with us. He has to many things going against him. Denny drafted him and unless you are Fitz...Whiz doesn't feel he is his Man. And...He had everything handed to him in college. And now with the Bush allegations coming true...Matt had to know....It makes him look bad too. The major blow is that Warner showed what hard work and giving it your all will do....Leinart has a HUGE void to fill...And his every move will be dissected. And not many can handle that.

 

[Solar7]

I understand scrutinizing Leinart's past game. It certainly wasn't spectacular, but it was better than Derek Anderson's performance. DA looked absolutely atrocious. Matt might not ultimately be Whiz's guy, but if we traded him and went with Anderson, Skelton, and Hall, I'd throw up in my shoes and wear them to the game.

This is a knee jerk reaction to a mediocre performance that might have been a lot better if the offensive line had held up whatsoever. Mitch, I don't get you sometimes.

 

[Chopper0080]

After his similarly lackluster performance in the same extremely meaningful game, I know Mitch isn't giving Dockett an extension.

 

[TJ]

I think Leinart will be successful 1 day...Just not with us. He has to many things going against him. Denny drafted him and unless you are Fitz...Whiz doesn't feel he is his Man. And...He had everything handed to him in college. And now with the Bush allegations coming true...Matt had to know....It makes him look bad too. The major blow is that Warner showed what hard work and giving it your all will do....Leinart has a HUGE void to fill...And his every move will be dissected. And not many can handle that.

Please cite your source as to when Whis said Leinart isnt the man, cuz I remember distinctly a report when he said he WAS the man (according to Urban).

Additionally, what do the USC allegations have to do with the price of tea in China? Bush was the one that violated NCAA rules, not Matty. Your are make allegations with zero facts. And this is what bothers me about the average Cardinal fan.

 

[Mitch]

This is coming from the same guy who hated Warner and wanted BSP instead. Mitch thank you so much for the confidence boost in Matt.

I and Red Desert were the ONLY ones on the board screaming for Warner over Leinart the year of the Super Bowl. Resorting to hyperbole is a desperate measure.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The good thing is there is diversity of opinion on here and I always respect Mitch's insights wether I agree with them or not. Mitch is a valued poster here IMO and always gives us something to discuss with detailed thoughts than many of us either dont want to take the time to post or lack the detail.

I certainly do not agree with this post, but I am not going to trash Mitch either...

 

[TJ]

I and Red Desert were the ONLY ones on the board screaming for Warner over Leinart the year of the Super Bowl. Resorting to hyperbole is a desperate measure.

Ill help you out here a little Mitch. There were more than just you two. Molker was on the 2008 KW bandwagon and many others. IIRC the board was split 60/40 matt/kurt