New QB Coach on Bickley and MJ Yesterday

[Stout]

This makes me feel much better about McNulty as the QB coach. It does worry me greatly about Kolb, of course. People get all defensive about Kolb, talking about how he had to change everything he's ever done as a pro when he changed systems, blah blah blah...and we find out now that that's utterly untrue. It boiled down to verbiage and pressure. That he couldn't handle the pressure is bad enough, but that he wasn't good enough at picking up the verbiage is chillingly bad. ROOKIES were able to do it and excel.

Hopefully McNulty takes a broomstick over Skelton's head every time his feet go flat in practice, and he can straighten out the youngster's footwork. It also sounds like he'll make a concerted effort to break him of his incessant reliance on his arm strength. I would be really excited to see how much progress Skelton makes by next season.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

If he could turn Skelton or Kolb into a average/solid backup QB / QBOF for Peyton then I would be thrilled.

FIFY

 

[D-Dogg]

Sheeeeeeeiiiiiiit, McNutty sounds like a smart mothereffer.

 

[Pariah]

Sheeeeeeeiiiiiiit, McNutty sounds like a smart mothereffer.

I just finished season one.

"You're an a - hole McNulty. But you're a damn good quarterbacks coach. And the guy telling you this hates your guts; so if you weren't, you know he'd damn well be the first to tell you."

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Yes but as each new draft approaches always remember.

 

[Shane]

Good stuff K9! Thanks!

 

[Duckjake]

Sheeeeeeeiiiiiiit, McNutty sounds like a smart mothereffer.

Too smart. Couldn't stay in Jacksonville or Dallas. Had to go to the college ranks at Rutgers to find someone as smart as he is.

A castoff NFL coach from Rutgers is our new QB coach. Kevin Kolb is our starting QB.

 

[WildBB]

What McNulty noticed on the tape with Kolb was that after the first read wasn't there, his feet would go flat and "when you see that, the play is over." Has been sending notes to Kolb about what to look for in reads. Believes that the coaching staff understands what Kolb's "best plays" are now, and can do a couple of things (hard play action, naked bootlegs, etc.) that would play to his strengths. Needs to learn to go through his progressions and if options 1, 2, 3 aren't there then throw it away or run.

Run FORWARD Kevin....RUN FORWARD!!!

 

[Darkside]

To be fair, McNulty said that he'd be able to tell you before and after the game where his progression was and where he was supposed to go with the ball. The game hasn't slowed down for him completely yet.

That's actually more disconcerting to me frankly. I figured the reason he broke down after the 1st or 2nd read was because of the short offseason and being new to the system. Just the uncertainty alone (not knowing) will cause a dude's feet to go flat like that, because that's what his brain is doing. If we're saying that he knew his reads and it still happens then that's a mechanical thing and IMO it shouldn't be happening as long as he's been in the league. I would expect that from Skelton (the mechanical problems) but not with Kolb. I figured it was a lack of offseason and lack of playbook and lack of knowing his teammates. This doesn't instill confidence for me, and I want Kolb to succeed (I think we all should).

 

[Darkside]

So who were these "people"? The fans sure aren't going to stop mentioning Warner until another QB steps up and starts producing.

I agree, the fans will never stop about KW (and I love the guy) until we make another SB. They still talk about Elway in Denver, Montana in SF, Aikman in Dallas, to name a few. Fans don't forget, as much as coaches or management wish we could.

And people got on me a little bit for being so flippant about getting over our SB loss because people still harp about blocks in the back (on the Harrison play before halftime), but my point is: in Seattle they still complain about the officiating in their SB against Pittsburgh. At some point we need to move on. I don't want to be like Seattle man. It's the has-been's and coulda-been's that whine about stuff like that for a decade.

The good or great teams move on and get back there to change the conversation.

 

[Darkside]

McNulty was on Bickley and MJ yesterday at 3:30-ish. Caught the whole thing, and I feel a lot better about the QB coaching situation after listening to him than I did before the hire.

Started off by saying that Kurt Warner's name has been mentioned for the last time. That too often people would said "Well, Kurt did it like this" and "Kurt was able to do" that. The time for replacing Kurt Warner is over.

McNulty dismissed the idea that the offense needs to be retooled for Kolb and noted that there wasn't much difference between the Cards' system and the "so-called" West Coast offense that they ran in Philly. What was different was the verbiage. Thinks part of Kolb's struggles was the pressure he was under as the #1 acquisition not only for the Cards but maybe across the league. Felt under pressure in the first home preseason game.

What McNulty noticed on the tape with Kolb was that after the first read wasn't there, his feet would go flat and "when you see that, the play is over." Has been sending notes to Kolb about what to look for in reads. Believes that the coaching staff understands what Kolb's "best plays" are now, and can do a couple of things (hard play action, naked bootlegs, etc.) that would play to his strengths. Needs to learn to go through his progressions and if options 1, 2, 3 aren't there then throw it away or run.

McNulty noted multiple times that Skelton was a "big guy." Said that he had as good an arm as anyone else in the league, but that got him in trouble some times. Would look at Fitz and if Fitz was covered he'd see Skelton's feet go flat and then huck the ball downfield. Reminded Bick and MJ that two years ago Skelton was playing in the Patriot League and made some vague reference to Tim Tebow for some reason. Said that Skelton had too much faith in his arm to make plays instead of running the system.

It's easy to see why McNulty is a coach in demand. He's confident and knowledgeable. He sounds like a future head coach.

Great write up btw, appreciate it.

 

[Darkside]

It's not just the Cardinal coaches - if you listen to guys like Gruden and Jaws, one aspect of "better mechanics" & therefore more consistent accuracy is better footwork.

Just for fun, watch an entire football game by focusing on a QB's footwork. It's amazing how many times, when a QB throws off his back foot, it ends up in an interception.

That's why they harp so much on footwork.

Agreed, hip rotation as well as footwork. When Ben Rothlesburger was injured (high ankle sprain) I did nothing but watch his feet and hips and it becomes so obvious. When Brady returned from his knee injury I did the same thing and watched only the lower half of his body and for 2 or 3 games after coming back he wouldn't step into throws, had no rotation, was making nothing but arm throws.

Almost all of them had similar mechanics to Skelton.

I wish I was joking.

But at least that's fixable and coachable.

 

[Duckjake]

I agree, the fans will never stop about KW (and I love the guy) until we make another SB. They still talk about Elway in Denver, Montana in SF, Aikman in Dallas, to name a few. Fans don't forget, as much as coaches or management wish we could.

And people got on me a little bit for being so flippant about getting over our SB loss because people still harp about blocks in the back (on the Harrison play before halftime), but my point is: in Seattle they still complain about the officiating in their SB against Pittsburgh. At some point we need to move on. I don't want to be like Seattle man. It's the has-been's and coulda-been's that whine about stuff like that for a decade.

The good or great teams move on and get back there to change the conversation.

I disagree. Fans move on while staying back. Have you been to Arizona for a SF game? Their fans still rant about their Super Bowls in the '90s. Steeler fans still revel in the SB titles from the 70's. The Jets and their fans have gotten tremendous mileage out of a SB win 43 years ago. The Patriots last SB win was 7 years ago but to hear their fans you would think it was 7 weeks.

The Cardinals are my hobby just like some guys are into Gardening or Hunting or Model Trains. Their history is just as integral a part of being a fan to me as what is happening now. I look forward to 2012 while looking back at 1964.

 

[Darkside]

I disagree. Fans move on while staying back. Have you been to Arizona for a SF game? Their fans still rant about their Super Bowls in the '90s. Steeler fans still revel in the SB titles from the 70's. The Jets and their fans have gotten tremendous mileage out of a SB win 43 years ago. The Patriots last SB win was 7 years ago but to hear their fans you would think it was 7 weeks.

The Cardinals are my hobby just like some guys are into Gardening or Hunting or Model Trains. Their history is just as integral a part of being a fan to me as what is happening now. I look forward to 2012 while looking back at 1964.

But there's a difference between Lore and regret. Those teams you mentioned are lore teams, teams that won SB's and had HOF players (a great many), while also having other great SB teams after that.

I've been a fan since before they moved here in 87-88. So I know what you're talking about with the SF's, the Jets, the Steelers, but like I said that is lore, that is history. When you're a kid and look up football in the little kids library, they show those teams, those players. For a Cardinal fan you have to go way back, and I mean WAY WAY back to get the lore. Especially when you're talking championships.

What I'm talking about is whining and complaining about something that didn't happen. As in our SB in 08. That isn't lore, that is regret. That is whining about sh*t that didn't happen. I used Seattle as my example, and that's what it is, total regret. I don't want to be like them, as I said, the has-been's, the coulda-been's. Go find me Seattle in an NFL book for a kid. Let's not be Seattle, that's what I'm saying. We have to get past that and move on. No doubt about that.

 

[Duckjake]

But there's a difference between Lore and regret. Those teams you mentioned are lore teams, teams that won SB's and had HOF players (a great many), while also having other great SB teams after that.

I've been a fan since before they moved here in 87-88. So I know what you're talking about with the SF's, the Jets, the Steelers, but like I said that is lore, that is history. When you're a kid and look up football in the little kids library, they show those teams, those players. For a Cardinal fan you have to go way back, and I mean WAY WAY back to get the lore. Especially when you're talking championships.

What I'm talking about is whining and complaining about something that didn't happen. As in our SB in 08. That isn't lore, that is regret. That is whining about sh*t that didn't happen. I used Seattle as my example, and that's what it is, total regret. I don't want to be like them, as I said, the has-been's, the coulda-been's. Go find me Seattle in an NFL book for a kid. Let's not be Seattle, that's what I'm saying. We have to get past that and move on. No doubt about that.

OK now I agree. I don't look back at the 60s (and 1970) and moan about the Cards not getting the opportunities at a title they would have had with similarly successful seasons today. I don't look at the Coryell years and bitch about the playoff losses.

I remember winning 9 of 14 games and ticking off Vince Lombardi by kicking his rear in the Playoff Bowl or going 11-5 with the Cardiac Cards and how great that offensive line was. Or Charley WINNER who led the Cardinals to 5 ties while Cardinal head coach.

And in 1970 beating Dallas, at the time our most hated rival, 38-0 on Monday Night Football capping a 3 game stretch where the Cards allowed ZERO points!

It was sad to have to go back 30-40 years to find positive Cardinal lore. Thank you Warner and Fitz and Dansby and Dockett, and Rolle and Boldin and Berry and all the other players on the 2008-'09 teams... for giving us something recent to be proud of as Cardinal fans.

 

[Darkside]

OK now I agree. I don't look back at the 60s (and 1970) and moan about the Cards not getting the opportunities at a title they would have had with similarly successful seasons today. I don't look at the Coryell years and bitch about the playoff losses.

I remember winning 9 of 14 games and ticking off Vince Lombardi by kicking his rear in the Playoff Bowl or going 11-5 with the Cardiac Cards and how great that offensive line was. Or Charley WINNER who led the Cardinals to 5 ties while Cardinal head coach.

And in 1970 beating Dallas, at the time our most hated rival, 38-0 on Monday Night Football capping a 3 game stretch where the Cards allowed ZERO points!

It was sad to have to go back 30-40 years to find positive Cardinal lore. Thank you Warner and Fitz and Dansby and Dockett, and Rolle and Boldin and Berry and all the other players on the 2008-'09 teams... for giving us something recent to be proud of as Cardinal fans.

That is lore, everything you talk about in this post, and I love it. Even those great moments--you mention Don Coryell--some people don't even know he coached the Cards man, they remember him coaching a San Diego team with Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, Kellen Winslow (Sr, and really the only). That is another type of lore.

It's like talking Tom Landry with Dallas fans, they barely even realize he had a whole other coaching career (Landry had like 2 or 3 total careers for most people) in Indy coaching the great Johnny U baby. Speaking of which, it's ridiculous saying Peyton is equal, in any way, to Johnny Unitas for the Colts. Johnny U threw a TD in 47 consecutive games, which will never be broken, in an era when they didn't throw alot. That's another type of lore, but we crown Peyton because he's current.

Like you mentioned, we have our own lore now, but we have to build on it, we can't stay in the past, in 08, whining and complaining. This franchise been around a long time, it'll probably be around long after we're all dead, we gotta move forward and embrace what we have.

But I agree with what you said about embracing the past and enjoying the present. Wise words.

Regret is a whole 'nother thing. Regret is for losers.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Validates what Wiz said about being "blown away" when McNulty asked for and interviewed for the role.

I'm happy they blocked him. If he's really good his time will come and in the mean time it sounds like he's one of the better coaches on the entire staff.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I just finished season one.

"You're an a - hole McNulty. But you're a damn good quarterbacks coach. And the guy telling you this hates your guts; so if you weren't, you know he'd damn well be the first to tell you."

You got work to do bud.

Season 1 = Great
Season 2 = Ok
Season 3 = Awesome
Season 4 = Unexpectedly Epic
Season 5 = Pretty good

Best character development and interaction you'll ever see.

 

[Darkside]

Validates what Wiz said about being "blown away" when McNulty asked for and interviewed for the role.

I'm happy they blocked him. If he's really good his time will come and in the mean time it sounds like he's one of the better coaches on the entire staff.

That's actually the first thing I thought when kerouac9 posted this, and he was paraphrasing. Very impressive.

 

[Duckjake]

Originally Posted by Arizona's Finest
Validates what Wiz said about being "blown away" when McNulty asked for and interviewed for the role.

That's actually the first thing I thought when kerouac9 posted this, and he was paraphrasing. Very impressive.

McNulty's been with the team since 2009 and they just now realized this?

Who's running this show?

 

[Darkside]

McNulty's been with the team since 2009 and they just now realized this?

Who's running this show?

Pretty sure Whisenhunt's running the show. And I doubt they just realized it, I think it's just the first time they've interviewed him extensively for this position. These interviews span hours and hours and days, and it's probably the first time he's actually interviewed for this particular position in depth.

 

[Duckjake]

Pretty sure Whisenhunt's running the show. And I doubt they just realized it, I think it's just the first time they've interviewed him extensively for this position. These interviews span hours and hours and days, and it's probably the first time he's actually interviewed for this particular position in depth.

So they spend hours and hours together for 3 years and they don't know each other very well? Are the duties of the various coaches that separated? If the Cards brass is just now realizing that McNulty is impressive, a guy they probably spent more time with over the last 3 seasons than their own families, then I also have to wonder about their evaluation of players and everything else associated with the team.

Like Tom Hanks says in BIG. I don't get it.

 

[kerouac9]

You got work to do bud.

Season 1 = Great
Season 2 = Ok
Season 3 = Awesome
Season 4 = Unexpectedly Epic
Season 5 = Pretty good

Best character development and interaction you'll ever see.

I started watching the series two years ago, and got mired 3 episodes into Season 5 and never came back to it. I got some spoilers about what was going to happen, and part of me didn't want to find out exactly how/why (although people tell me it's blindsiding even if I know, but whatever), but the central story goes SO off the rails that I couldn't forgive it.

The Wire ends in Season 4 for this guy.

 

[Darkside]

So they spend hours and hours together for 3 years and they don't know each other very well? Are the duties of the various coaches that separated? If the Cards brass is just now realizing that McNulty is impressive, a guy they probably spent more time with over the last 3 seasons than their own families, then I also have to wonder about their evaluation of players and everything else associated with the team.

Like Tom Hanks says in BIG. I don't get it.

Well, I think that's simplifying it a bit, but in general I think things are compartmentalized. They'd have to be. It's a multi-million dollar organization. Aside from that though, McNutty had other responsibilities at the time and I'd assume that's what he was focused on. I'd also have to assume they had at least some inkling or they wouldn't have interviewed him, so yes, things probably leaked from compartment to compartment, but in general, no I think you do your job and what you're assigned to do and you focus on that and do your job.

These dudes are professional. There aren't very many of them in the world. But if you're asking me if I know what goes on in house, I really have no clue. I think it's obvious though if they'd have known he was so kickass they'd have hired him earlier, but I also think it didn't catch them by surprise.

I don't know why they have to be mutually exclusive.

 

[Catfish]

Well, I think that's simplifying it a bit, but in general I think things are compartmentalized. They'd have to be. It's a multi-million dollar organization. Aside from that though, McNutty had other responsibilities at the time and I'd assume that's what he was focused on. I'd also have to assume they had at least some inkling or they wouldn't have interviewed him, so yes, things probably leaked from compartment to compartment, but in general, no I think you do your job and what you're assigned to do and you focus on that and do your job.

These dudes are professional. There aren't very many of them in the world. But if you're asking me if I know what goes on in house, I really have no clue. I think it's obvious though if they'd have known he was so kickass they'd have hired him earlier, but I also think it didn't catch them by surprise.

I don't know why they have to be mutually exclusive.

It might also be that McNulty is one of those guys who does his job very well, but does not go talking much about it, or poking his nose outside his own responsibilities. Because his job is done well, no one comes poking around much, because God knows, there are enough problems elsewhere to deal with. Meanwhile he is a private kind of guy who doesn't garner or demand a lot of attention. Therefore few really know just how talented the guy really is, until his knowledge is brought to the forefront, as in with the request to interview for the St. Louis job. It may only be then that someone like Whiz discovers just how talented the guy really is.