McCown's skills set better fit for Cards

[clif]

By Michael Smith
ESPN.com


Josh McCown is what you might call a feel-good story.

Good kid. And, after what he did Sunday night, you can't help but feel good for him right now.
When Cardinals coach Dennis Green took the job in 2004, he felt good enough about his quarterbacks, particularly incumbent McCown, to pass on drafting one until the sixth round. After a 1-4 start, Arizona won three of four behind McCown, and the Cards, well, they were feeling pretty good about themselves. But, for some reason, Green felt the need for change. So he benched McCown in favor of Shaun King. Then he benched King for rookie John Navarre. After four straight losses, Green went back to McCown, and Arizona split its last four.




Alas, in the offseason Green signed two-time league MVP Kurt Warner to start, and the Cardinals, well, they were again feeling pretty good about themselves. But you felt for McCown, you know? When I spoke with him in May he was supportive of Warner, even happy for him, but he also was disappointed. McCown had struggled with the offense the season before, but he would not be the one succeeding this year behind what was supposed to be an improved offensive line, with a more effective running game.



But the new-look Cardinals started 0-3, managing just one offensive touchdown. Warner hurt his groin in the third loss. Arizona subsequently signed former Patriot prospect Rohan Davey last week.



By then most guys' feelings would have been hurt. But with Warner's not feeling well, McCown, having never felt sorry for himself, went out and helped his team get its first win, a come-from-behind 31-14 prime-time victory over the Niners in Mexico City. He threw for a career-high 385 yards and two touchdowns.



It was fun to watch McCown's connecting on 32 of 46 attempts. It was even more entertaining, though, to listen to him connect with his teammates (ESPN had him wired for sound). He has a good presence about him. In the huddle he knew exactly what to say and the right moment to say it. He's a very fiery leader. And did you hear him on the sideline? The way he gave props to Warner, telling him he continued fighting when the Cards were down 14 because he knew Warner would have done the same. After both touchdown tosses, McCown pointed to the heavens and thanked God.



You see, McCown long ago realized that it really wasn't about him.



"As a team we went out and got a win when we were 0-3 and that's what it's all about," McCown said after the game.



We could all learn from McCown.



Last year McCown picked up a few tips from Patrick Lencioni's "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable," which teaches that individualism is born of mistrust. When the Cardinals brought in Warner for a year at $4 million, McCown could read the writing on the wall -- and walk into the team's facility and see Warner's No. 13 jersey for sale in the lobby.

But McCown has bought into the concept of personal sacrifice. "I believe the Patriots have totally grasped that," he said in June, after Green had announced that Warner would be his starter. McCown didn't particularly like that the "competition" didn't continue into training camp, but he accepted his job and committed himself to doing it well.



"I believe God's in control of my situation," McCown said then. "I told Kurt, 'Let's just work together to make this team better.' I'm going to be the best doggone No. 2 in the league. I've learned that I have to remove all the selfishness and be the best teammate that I can be."



Now, San Francisco's secondary is not the best. Still, McCown is the best quarterback for this team. That's not saying he's a better quarterback than Warner. Of course he isn't. McCown is just the better fit for the Cards and what they have on offense, or, rather, don't have, like a decent offensive line or running game. Warner is going to miss a few more weeks anyway, but even when he returns, Green should stick with McCown.



Green's actions in the last year have belied his complimentary statements regarding McCown and his future as a pro. The 26-year-old has shown flashes of ability, but he's produced. There's no denying these results: Arizona's seven victories under Green have come with McCown under center. The Cards also lost two overtime games to San Francisco last year with McCown leading them.



"Josh played well," Green said Monday. "Josh played the kind of game he thinks he is capable of playing. He is able to get the ball to Fitz [Larry Fitzgerald] on the outside, which is his strength, and he is able to get the ball to Anquan [Boldin, whose] strength is working for it on the inside. He scrambled a couple of times, and I think he was instrumental in us having the poise to chop away at the lead."



Green was kind enough to give a private film session during minicamp, and we watched several games worth of Warner's throws from last season. It was clear he still could throw the football. His feel for the game hadn't gone anywhere. With the receivers he already had, Green thought that Arizona's new, more aggressive scheme could operate with the precision of St. Louis' when Warner was the Rams' QB. If the offensive line provided Warner with adequate protection, if the young receivers ran their routes properly, Warner would be able to utilize his greatest strength: anticipation.



What Green didn't anticipate was an inability to run the football and, by extension, to protect the passer. Warner played fine except for mismanaging the final seconds of the Rams game. But if everyone around him doesn't, he struggles.



McCown is a little different, as in, he can move. You saw Sunday night that when the play breaks down it doesn't necessarily mean he's going down. He can get out of the pocket and make things happen that way. McCown said last summer that while Warner's coming aboard meant a demotion, it also meant he'd get to learn from a former MVP. Looks like he paid close attention.



Imagine how Warner must feel. First off, the applause and the kind words for McCown on the sideline, those weren't contrived. Warner genuinely was happy for McCown. They're both deeply religious, and they share the same agent, Mark Bartelstein. Warner even called McCown to apologize after Green named him the starter. But this is like déjà vu all over again. Warner got hurt in St. Louis and gave way to Marc Bulger, then stepped aside for Eli Manning in New York. He signed with Arizona hoping to revive his career, not to mentor another successor.



But you can't ignore McCown's (relative) success. The wise move would be for Green to go with the kid (who looks like Guile from the Street Fighter II games -- anybody else notice that?). The Cardinals (1-3) are only a game out of first in the NFC West, but it looks like those playoff predictions by the pundits were premature. Green should let McCown grow along with this offense, with this young team. He'll be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Green always says he likes players like Bertrand Berry and Oliver Ross, guys who had to fight for everything they had. He's certainly made it hard on McCown.



Green had his reasons. But McCown might be a different player than the one he benched last year. He might be the Cardinals' quarterback of the future, after all. The only way Green will find out for sure is if he lets him play and sticks with him. Obviously Warner, 34, never was the long-term answer. The only thing Green hasn't done is draft a quarterback early. Yet.

McCown kept a good attitude from the beginning. Here's hoping he's rewarded for it in the end.

 

[CardinalLaw]

Can the whole World please just slow down a bit. McCown played great, yes. But he played great against the worst defense in the league when there healthy, with injuries to all there main stars. Calling him the feel good story of the year, and his skills better suit the team. Lets see what he does against an NFL Caliber defense.

 

[Red Hawk]

Can the whole World please just slow down a bit. McCown played great, yes. But he played great against the worst defense in the league when there healthy, with injuries to all there main stars. Calling him the feel good story of the year, and his skills better suit the team. Lets see what he does against an NFL Caliber defense.

How dare ESPN say something nice about one of our players. Don't they know how much that upsets the -break out the brown bag- fatalists. Whom seem to like nothing more than highlighting the negative,

 

[jesse]

I say we wait until McCown plays a quality team, then decide. Warner may be imobile, but he is accurate, he is calm under pressure, and he does very well, even against a good defense. If McCown can hold his own against some of the better teams, then he should start, but if his playing gets worse, Warner might be the way to go. It's just a pity that the offensive line is so wretched

I'm beginning to think that maybe Arrington is simply not even given a chance with this team

 

[JeffGollin]

McCown's skills set better fit for Cards
No doubt, Josh is the more physically gifted.

But pure athleticism can take you only just so far at QB.

Josh can outscramble (and probably outgun) Warner. But is he consistently making all the necessary reads? (Yesterday, I saw him fail to see Boldin wide open and sacrificed two gimme touchdowns). And can he throw the deep ball? (He kept overthrowing wide open receivers down the right sideline to take away 2 or 3 more easy TD's).

If McCown can overcome those two aspects of the game, you wind up with a young Brett Favre.

If.

And Warner hasn't exactly been lights-out in the red zone during the first 3 games, and all his cageiness will go for naught if he can't buy time behind a shaky, though evidently improving offensive line.

Things for all of us to watch for as Bye Week comes and goes:

- (Naturally) Is Warner fully recovered and ready to play?

- Is McCown beginning to master the deep throw and the red zone offense?

- Is the offensive line playing well enough to protect Warner?

Then the ultimate decision on our starting QB becomes a matter of trade-offs which, depending on the answers to the 3 above questions, could go either way.

Ultimate issue inevitably must be: Which guy is most likely to help us win? It all boils down to that.

 

[Big D]

I read this earlier today, and it really reads like it was written by someone that has only watched one Cards game (Sunday) in the past two seasons. First off, we didn't take a QB in the sixth, it was the seventh. Then there is this: "After four straight losses, Green went back to McCown..." it was three losses, then we went back to McCown, and lost the next game. He also glosses over the 0-3 start under McCown from last year (with 0 TD passes) yet uses the 0-3 start this year and lack of TD production to support his stance for McCown getting yet another chance this year.

Basically he goes on to say that the Cards are so bad that we should just throw in the towel, bench the better QB and give McCown the rest of the year though we are only 1 game out of 1st w/ 12 to play to see if we have anything in the guy for the future. Well, hello, didn't we try that last year? I really dont think this guy has any clue about our team.

I will say that all of the personal stuff about McCown is all true, he's a great, stand up type of guy and no one can take that away from him. Doesn't mean we should waste yet another year to try to "see what he has" though.

 

[vince56]

I read this earlier today, and it really reads like it was written by someone that has only watched one Cards game (Sunday) in the past two seasons. First off, we didn't take a QB in the sixth, it was the seventh. Then there is this: "After four straight losses, Green went back to McCown..." it was three losses, then we went back to McCown, and lost the next game. He also glosses over the 0-3 start under McCown from last year (with 0 TD passes) yet uses the 0-3 start this year and lack of TD production to support his stance for McCown getting yet another chance this year.

...proving the point that stats can be twisted by anyone to say anything.

 

[arthurracoon]

I say we wait until McCown plays a quality team, then decide.

for example, this weekend against Carolina.

 

[jstadvl]

Sorry

but Warner is far from Accurate (he did nothing the inaccurate McCown did),
he sucks under pressure and can't stand being rattled, he and McCown have done equally as well. Nope, wait a minute, McCown won one! McCown didn't throw an INT. C'mon.Will evryone give McCown the excuses they've given
Warner all year. i'm inclined to doubt it.
I agree McCown has to play better inside his head against better teams.
But that's all i'll give ya.
AND, when he does, then what?
Man, y'all need to quit your double standards.

 

[CardinalLaw]

but Warner is far from Accurate (he did nothing the inaccurate McCown did),
he sucks under pressure and can't stand being rattled, he and McCown have done equally as well. Nope, wait a minute, McCown won one! McCown didn't throw an INT. C'mon.Will evryone give McCown the excuses they've given
Warner all year. i'm inclined to doubt it.
I agree McCown has to play better inside his head against better teams.
But that's all i'll give ya.
AND, when he does, then what?
Man, y'all need to quit your double standards.

So lets get this straight, you know without a doubt Warner wouldn't have done as good or better then McCown. Keep in mind that SF gave up more touchdowns through the air, then all our other opponent's did together on the ground and air throught 3 games. I have no doubt Warner would have torched them.

 

[Russ Smith]

So lets get this straight, you know without a doubt Warner wouldn't have done as good or better then McCown. Keep in mind that SF gave up more touchdowns through the air, then all our other opponent's did together on the ground and air throught 3 games. I have no doubt Warner would have torched them.

To be honest I think Warner would have had less yardage than Josh did Sunday.

Of course the reason I think that is if he'd been playing it would have been 28-7 at the half and Green would have sat Warner and given Josh some gametime in the 2nd half.

Warner has problems, he holds the ball too long, he's a statue, he fumbles too much, I still can't believe he didn't spike the ball etc. That said, Warner absolutely sees the field better than Josh, and Warner is much more aggressive.

There's no way he throws short to BJ with Boldin wide open for a TD, there's no way he overthrows a covered player when Boldin is wide open in the middle. He'll probably get sacked more than Josh and I don't know how many games before he'd get hurt again, but I think we all saw first hand Sunday night that there's no question the 2 QB's are watching different games out there and that the one Warner sees allows him to make a lot of plays that josh doesn't see.

Hopefully Josh is learning from Warner and will start to get that stuff but eventually he's going to have to get that stuff himself if he wants to be a better player.

 

[Wild Card]

By Michael Smith
ESPN.com

...McCown is the best quarterback for this team. That's not saying he's a better quarterback than Warner. Of course he isn't. McCown is just the better fit for the Cards and what they have on offense, or, rather, don't have, like a decent offensive line or running game. Warner is going to miss a few more weeks anyway, but even when he returns, Green should stick with McCown... McCown might be a different player than the one he benched last year. He might be the Cardinals' quarterback of the future, after all. The only way Green will find out for sure is if he lets him play and sticks with him.

Clif:

I think the author of the article got this part right, or close to it. Dennis Green should stick with Josh McCown until/ unless he plays himself out of the job. As long as the Cardinals continue to win, or play competitively in losses not due primarily to miscues by the QB, what's the downside?

For now, at least, Kurt Warner's hurt, Rohan Davey's not ready, and John Navarre's shown nothing to think he'd be a vast improvement. So why not find out for sure that McCown's not the guy before cutting him loose at the end of the season? If there's one thing the Cards don't need, it's one more player going on to be productive elsewhere after being given up on in Arizona.

WC

 

[Crazy Canuck]

So lets get this straight, you know without a doubt Warner wouldn't have done as good or better then McCown. Keep in mind that SF gave up more touchdowns through the air, then all our other opponent's did together on the ground and air throught 3 games. I have no doubt Warner would have torched them.

Judging from the first play from scrimmage against SF: Warner would now be on IR...

 

[spanky1]

Russ,

That's the key really isn't it......if McCown "has learned". He does make you wonder if he really has.

But you know what, I'd take him over Harrington and probably David Carr as well. They are all from the class of '02.

 

[conraddobler]

Russ,

That's the key really isn't it......if McCown "has learned". He does make you wonder if he really has.

But you know what, I'd take him over Harrington and probably David Carr as well. They are all from the class of '02.

That's a nice perspective on it.

Josh hasn't learned enough but he's more talented by far than Harrington and Carr for that matter.

I'd say that he's an excellent backup QB and sinces he's been here in our system already we should keep him as such, don't know if that's going to be feasible salary wise but if it is, it would be smart too.

 

[Russ Smith]

Russ,

That's the key really isn't it......if McCown "has learned". He does make you wonder if he really has.

But you know what, I'd take him over Harrington and probably David Carr as well. They are all from the class of '02.

I haven't seen enough of Carr of late to be sure but I really wonder how much of his problem is that terrible OL, and how much is him?

Carr appeared to make quantum strides his first 3 years, from 79 sacks as a rookie to 15 his 2nd year, YPA jumps a full yard. 3rd year sacks go back up, but YPA again jumps nearly a full yard. Then this year 20 sacks in 93 dropbacks(73 attempts plus the 20 times he was sacked) is just staggering, their OL can't be THAT bad can it? Maybe Carr is the new Rob Johnson, all the tools in the world but freezes under a rush?

Never really liked Harrington beyond that he didn't take a ton of sacks as a young QB. He's way too comfortable dink and dunk, part of that is the WCO, part of that is just him. Carr has a much better arm than Harrington, better than Josh too and he can run but the sacks just leave you baffled? Right now I'd take josh just because of economics.

To be fair to Carr, if Josh had come into the league the way Carr did, would he still be alive let alone growing as a QB?

 

[spanky1]

Russ,

Actually, McCown is one tough hombre. I don't think that there is ever been an issue about him not "getting back up and dusting himself off again".

Our line has not been very much better than Houston's is anyway. But I agree, Carr might still have value......and so McCown, I think. Some team will take a run at him next year for sure.

 

[Russ Smith]

Russ,

Actually, McCown is one tough hombre. I don't think that there is ever been an issue about him not "getting back up and dusting himself off again".

Our line has not been very much better than Houston's is anyway. But I agree, Carr might still have value......and so McCown, I think. Some team will take a run at him next year for sure.

Not my point and even Theismann was laughing about it. Josh does not protect himself, he runs and doesn't slide. Put Josh in as the starter as a rookie like Carr was (79 sacks) and very few NFL QB's are going to survive without injury like Carr has. Remember the hit Josh took against I think the Falcons last year helmet to helmet because he didn't slide?

Its' got nothing to do with being tough, Josh just doesn't protect himself, or the ball when he's running or in the pocket. IT's great to stand in and deliver under a rush, but you have to practice a little self preservation. I completely agree Josh is tough, I just wish he'd protect himself a bit more.

 

[Rats]

but Warner is far from Accurate (he did nothing the inaccurate McCown did),
he sucks under pressure and can't stand being rattled, he and McCown have done equally as well. Nope, wait a minute, McCown won one! McCown didn't throw an INT. C'mon.Will evryone give McCown the excuses they've given
Warner all year. i'm inclined to doubt it.
I agree McCown has to play better inside his head against better teams.
But that's all i'll give ya.
AND, when he does, then what?
Man, y'all need to quit your double standards.

Heres my take on this situation. Neither are signed for next season but both are quality starters. I would offer both contracts for 2.5 mil each for the next two seasons. Warner is a great backup in this league so is Josh. They both seem to support each other and that is a plus. In this offense Josh is more suited to be on the field with the line the way it is. Warner sees the field better and can help Josh with reads. I think this is a win win for the Cards. Quality backup no matter who is in the game. Josh has more long term upside, Kurt wants to play a couple more years and this is as good a situation as any as long as egos are thrown out. If they are both the christians they say they are this should not be a problem for both of them.

 

[Rats]

To be honest I think Warner would have had less yardage than Josh did Sunday.

Of course the reason I think that is if he'd been playing it would have been 28-7 at the half and Green would have sat Warner and given Josh some gametime in the 2nd half.

Warner has problems, he holds the ball too long, he's a statue, he fumbles too much, I still can't believe he didn't spike the ball etc. That said, Warner absolutely sees the field better than Josh, and Warner is much more aggressive.

There's no way he throws short to BJ with Boldin wide open for a TD, there's no way he overthrows a covered player when Boldin is wide open in the middle. He'll probably get sacked more than Josh and I don't know how many games before he'd get hurt again, but I think we all saw first hand Sunday night that there's no question the 2 QB's are watching different games out there and that the one Warner sees allows him to make a lot of plays that josh doesn't see.

Hopefully Josh is learning from Warner and will start to get that stuff but eventually he's going to have to get that stuff himself if he wants to be a better player.

You know, I don't think that Josh will get the more intricate points of checking down or going thru progressions for one simple reason. If at the point he has to go to a 3rd read he has the ability to just take off and run with the ball. He really does not need more than two reads. If he can look off a saftey and throw undernieth to a back or take off and run then he is a better weapon than trying to go thru progressions. His problem last year is he didn't run and he paid for it. In the Mexico game he ran and it made life easier for him. Warner will always read Ds better than Josh...but Josh can do things that alot of Qbs can't with his legs and he is a tough Hombre. Thats why I have always liked his play. He needs to keep awareness when he runs but by all means run when things break down.

 

[spanky1]

You know, I don't think that Josh will get the more intricate points of checking down or going thru progressions for one simple reason. If at the point he has to go to a 3rd read he has the ability to just take off and run with the ball. He really does not need more than two reads. If he can look off a saftey and throw undernieth to a back or take off and run then he is a better weapon than trying to go thru progressions. His problem last year is he didn't run and he paid for it. In the Mexico game he ran and it made life easier for him. Warner will always read Ds better than Josh...but Josh can do things that alot of Qbs can't with his legs and he is a tough Hombre. Thats why I have always liked his play. He needs to keep awareness when he runs but by all means run when things break down.

I like this post. I think that when it is all said and done, there will be as many McCown supporters as there are Plummer fans. Ain't this the truth.......darn near every team has a QB controversy.

 

[spanky1]

That's a nice perspective on it.

Josh hasn't learned enough but he's more talented by far than Harrington and Carr for that matter.

I'd say that he's an excellent backup QB and sinces he's been here in our system already we should keep him as such, don't know if that's going to be feasible salary wise but if it is, it would be smart too.

conraddobler,

If McCown is still on this team next year, it's as our starter......pure and simple.

Talk about being in control of your own destiney.

 

[Russ Smith]

You know, I don't think that Josh will get the more intricate points of checking down or going thru progressions for one simple reason. If at the point he has to go to a 3rd read he has the ability to just take off and run with the ball. He really does not need more than two reads. If he can look off a saftey and throw undernieth to a back or take off and run then he is a better weapon than trying to go thru progressions. His problem last year is he didn't run and he paid for it. In the Mexico game he ran and it made life easier for him. Warner will always read Ds better than Josh...but Josh can do things that alot of Qbs can't with his legs and he is a tough Hombre. Thats why I have always liked his play. He needs to keep awareness when he runs but by all means run when things break down.

Oh we agree there my question is how far can you go with such a QB?

 

[conraddobler]

conraddobler,

If McCown is still on this team next year, it's as our starter......pure and simple.

Talk about being in control of your own destiney.

I have no problem with that but in order to do that he's going to have to play at a high level in several games not just one.

He may not be as smart as I'd want but if he could get used to the system enough to not miss a ton of wide open WR's I can live with it.

I still just don't see it happening though, I think management is scared of him for a good reason IMO.

He may plateu at simply above average not championship worthy. If I had to guess that's probably their opinion of him.

He's a kind of QB that makes you squirm, at least now he is, but you are right, he has a shot at least to shake off that label and it is in his own hands but he's going to have to produce superior numbers to change their minds IMO.

 

[Rats]

Oh we agree there my question is how far can you go with such a QB?

The Falcons have went to the Championship game with such a Qb...albeit a very good D. I thought we had such a D coming in this year....not yet we don;t but they played out of there mind in Mexico.