Paging John Skelton fans...

[Duckjake]

Because their run defense was good and outside of the sacks, there were guys open. AS they told us Whiz was mad that Skelton wasn't seeing the open guys, they told us that several times.

He finally made some plays but too late.

That makes two weeks in a row that the other team forced the Cards to pass and one of those teams had the 2nd worst run defense in the NFL. 90 attempts in the last two games. That's 720 over 16 games!!!! Against teams in Pittsburgh's Division. So much for Steelers West. Instead we get Cardinals Worst.

3-13 on the road. Way to go Cardinals.

 

[desertdawg]

The running game wasn't working. Two yards and a cloud of dust ain't gonna cut it. If Beanies knee is still bothering him, he needs to sit out and let it heal.

BTW, how come LSH wasn't returning kicks today? I noticed he was in on a couple of plays and even caught a pass, so he wasn't on the injury list.

The running game helps out even when we aren't gaining 8 yards a tick, it keeps the defense honest...to keep us from gaining 8 yards a carry, which opens up our passing game via play action. We really did go away from this today, even though it has been helping us as of late.

 

[Phrazbit]

@MIN with us, and @TEN in 2010 with the Eagles. Both of those games were worse than what Skelton was able to put together today, because at least the game was close at the end, and we were reasonably within it.

Unsurprisingly, that was the last game that Kolb was the starter for in Philly, and he was immediately benched:

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/20101...ans#menu=highlights&tab=recap&recap=fullstory



It's shocking (shocking!) that Kolb has struggled so much while he's been here.

Exactly. The idea that he just needs time and it will all get worked out is unfounded. He is the same guy so far in Arizona that he was in Philly.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Skelton is still the horse I am backing.

Even after such a nightmarishly poor performance as I saw today. To call that ugly would be an insult to ugly people.

But I am still 100% in Double Deuce's Corner.

 

[kerouac9]

Because their run defense was good and outside of the sacks, there were guys open. AS they told us Whiz was mad that Skelton wasn't seeing the open guys, they told us that several times.

He finally made some plays but too late.

But that happens every game. They're working with essentially a rookie quarterback, but a running game that IS working. What's the point of asking your QB to drop back 30+ times? Does that REALLY improve your chances of winning the game?

It's not like this is the first time that Skelton has failed to locate open targets. You can find a way to work with the player that Skelton is, or you can continue to assert that the system works, but the players you've chosen are unable to operate it.

 

[kerouac9]

The running game wasn't working. Two yards and a cloud of dust ain't gonna cut it. If Beanies knee is still bothering him, he needs to sit out and let it heal.

BTW, how come LSH wasn't returning kicks today? I noticed he was in on a couple of plays and even caught a pass, so he wasn't on the injury list.

1-10-ARI 12 (14:56) 26-C.Wells left guard to ARI 18 for 6 yards (99-M.Lawson).

1-10-ARI 17 (10:50) (Shotgun) 26-C.Wells left tackle to ARI 21 for 4 yards (53-T.Howard; 94-D.Peko).
2-6-ARI 21 (10:18) 26-C.Wells right tackle to ARI 22 for 1 yard (97-G.Atkins; 92-F.Rucker).

1-10-ARI 20 (6:24) 26-C.Wells right tackle to ARI 21 for 1 yard (42-C.Crocker; 58-R.Maualuga).

1-10-ARI 43 (5:08) 26-C.Wells left tackle to ARI 45 for 2 yards (58-R.Maualuga).

The run game was productive enough. More productive than the offense was with Skelton hucking and ducking. We didn't run the ball from 12:53 in the second quarter to 12:53 in the third quarter. Apparently, Skelton was playing that good.

 

[CFLredzoned]

Neither Kolb or Skelton are good, they both infact stink. But Skelton at least has some tools to work with, is younger and cheaper. The Cards should look for a real QB of the future this offseason and waive Kolb.

But they wont. Next season will likely be a replay of this season. Kolb sucking and getting hurt. Skelton being wildly inconsistent and a lot of defensive efforts wasted. I really hope Im wrong.

Nope. Unfortunately, you are are abosultely correct. Next year will be a carbon copy of this year.

 

[az1965]

I'm willing to bet Kolb will be the starter going into the next season. They have invested too much into him and most believe he will benefit from a full offseason. I don't believe that but this is how this organization functions so I'm pretty sure that's how it is going to go.

 

[BigRedArk]

Of course all of that great coaching of our QB's by Quarterback coach Chris Miller have nothing to do with the inept play of them all!

He'll be back next year for sure! Along with our great OL Coach and our dominating Offensive Line!

 

[Jetstream Green]

Yeah, Kolb is tearing it up with the clipboard.
That knee brush to his head is keeping him out??

that was hardly a knee brush, it was a knee straight to the back of the head...most people who are not professional athletes would still be in traction from that hit

 

[Stout]

Stay classy, Arizona's Finest. Not even good enough to be a backup? Nah, you aren't biased at ALL. What a screwy statement.

 

[WisconsinCard]

I don't care what happens the rest of this game or if he goes 15/15 with 3 TDs in the second half. You just can't forget what happens during the game because you were happy with the outcome. The whole Tim Tebow corollary if you win you must be good is so annoying.

I've been charting his plays. 3 bad sacks taken. 5 easy missed throws. 2 WTF INTs.

I don't even think this guy is backup material let alone should be starting over Kolb when he is healthy. If he ever gets healthy I guess.

But man Skelton sucks. Like practice squad bad.

And no matter what happens in the 2nd half is going to change that. They'll win in spite of him, if they come back, not because of him.

All I have to say about this is take off your #4 jersey the next time you watch a game and tell me anything you said in this quote was unbiased.

 

[dylanbw]

Yeah but it should never have come to taht. The one drive Roberts wide open for a tD he underthrows it Pacman knocks it away. Next play FItz wide open he underthrows that Fitz is literally standing on the sideline and gets tackled short and then we don't score the TD.

Skelton made enough plays to get it close but Doucet's mistake was just the last one, Skelton lost this game.

Despite the Christmas season, Russ has been drinking some haterade. Skelton made plenty of bad plays, but the underthrow to Roberts? Yeah if Roberts simply attacks the ball at its highest point (like you are taught in high school), Pacman never has time to recover. Not every deep ball is going to be perfect.

There's plenty of blame to go around.....Heap's pathetic whiff block cost us an easy TD, Doucet's inexplicable pattern/crumble, Colledge/Skelton collision at the 1, can't put it all on Skelton....

 

[LarryStalling]

3 things that I think:

1. 1st and goal at the one and not scoring a touchdown is inexcusable. Period. Don't know why it failed, but that is intolerable.

2. I think that some of the problems with Skelton early in the games is still the game plan. I have said it before that it is not until the coaching staff feels a sense of urgency that they go into Cardiac mode.

3. Not all of the interceptions were Skelton's fault. The one to Roberts was certainly questionable and the one to Doucet should have been caught. The one that was entirely on Skelton was the one where he threw it right to the guy like he had a target painted on him. How you can say that a passer with a 300 yard game was horrible is not due diligence. Now if you wanted to say that Heap or Doucet had horrible games that would be worth considering.

 

[Russ Smith]

Despite the Christmas season, Russ has been drinking some haterade. Skelton made plenty of bad plays, but the underthrow to Roberts? Yeah if Roberts simply attacks the ball at its highest point (like you are taught in high school), Pacman never has time to recover. Not every deep ball is going to be perfect.

There's plenty of blame to go around.....Heap's pathetic whiff block cost us an easy TD, Doucet's inexplicable pattern/crumble, Colledge/Skelton collision at the 1, can't put it all on Skelton....

Huh? Roberts was out in front and PacMan cut in front of him and hit the ball at its highest point. The reason he was able to do that is it was underthrown. If Pacmans's not there the ball gets to Roberts but it wasn't out in front of him so it allowed Pacman to make that play. Roberts was running fullspeed, maybe he could have come back and tried to get the ball but that doesn't mean it wasn't underthrown, it was.

Yes Heap's block was bad, totally agree but the primary reason we lost the game was 3 INT's by Skelton and that fumble, that's why we were so far behind.

Skelton played a terrific 4th quarter but the whole game counts.

 

[Russ Smith]

3 things that I think:

1. 1st and goal at the one and not scoring a touchdown is inexcusable. Period. Don't know why it failed, but that is intolerable.

2. I think that some of the problems with Skelton early in the games is still the game plan. I have said it before that it is not until the coaching staff feels a sense of urgency that they go into Cardiac mode.

3. Not all of the interceptions were Skelton's fault. The one to Roberts was certainly questionable and the one to Doucet should have been caught. The one that was entirely on Skelton was the one where he threw it right to the guy like he had a target painted on him. How you can say that a passer with a 300 yard game was horrible is not due diligence. Now if you wanted to say that Heap or Doucet had horrible games that would be worth considering.

OK if we're going to blame WR's for INT's then what about teh one he forced to Fitz that was thrown right at a DB and Fitz broke it up in the endzone, that's a pick if Fitz doesn't break it up, and in the endzone. there was another one almost exactly like that.

That's my biggest issue with Skelton he will throw the ball RIGHT AT a defender assuming the guy won't get his hands up something. ALl the high throws are maddening but throwing the ball TO a defender is ridiculous.

 

[LarryStalling]

The receiver is supposed to do what Fitz did on that throw. Russ, you and I must not have been watching the same play with Roberts. The throw was clearly in front of him and the defensive back just beat him to the ball on what appeared to be a crossing pattern. I even went back and watched the highlight of the play again and the announcer clearly said Roberts.

 

[Russ Smith]

The receiver is supposed to do what Fitz did on that throw. Russ, you and I must not have been watching the same play with Roberts. The throw was clearly in front of him and the defensive back just beat him to the ball on what appeared to be a crossing pattern. I even went back and watched the highlight of the play again and the announcer clearly said Roberts.

We're not talking the same play I'm talking about the deep throw where Roberts was 2 strides behind Pacman but the ball was thrown short allowing Pacman to recover leap and bat the ball away in the endzone. If it's out in front Pacman has no play it's either a TD or incomplete.

Yes the WR is supposed to do what Fitz did but if you paid attention to the game there were at least 2 shots of Fitz looking like what in the hell is wrong with this kid after he hung Fitz out to dry with another high throw or threw the ball right at teh defender. He gets away with it sometimes like the first throw of the game that went right by a startled defenders hands, but he's been doing it all season.

He seems to either not see the defenders or assume they're moving laterally so he throws right at them. The one in the endzone was ridiculous if you're going to try and give Fitz a chance to make a play throw it up high, don't try to throw it through a defender to him.

Skelton does enough things well to tease us, 200 yards in the 4th quarter is impressive he IS getting better. The problem is the downside is enormous, he has 11 picks in his last 5 games and probably has gotten away with another 7-10 in that timeframe that could have easily been caught.

As the announcer said on the Pacman play that's why he's a DB, if he could catch, he'd be a WR.

 

[sportznutt]

If we're arguing over which one is worse, than our QB position isn't even close to being set to begin with.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Stay classy, Arizona's Finest. Not even good enough to be a backup? Nah, you aren't biased at ALL. What a screwy statement.

I don't know about you guys but I was ROYALLY pissed watching that game. He was playing worse then even the dreaded Derek Anderson last year missing throws that half the peopl on this board could make.

And of course he came back to play well and i knoew he would as i stated in the OP. But that doesn't disqualify the wreck before that. I mean damn he was single handledly the reason the Bengals had 10 points and the defense was on the field the whole first half.

This thread was posted during the ga,e for a reason. And there's also a reason it was quiet during the game. Because NO ONE could justify an NFL QB playing that way. Now of course after the fact all the fans only remember the 4th quarter and look at the overall numbers and say " hey he didn't play THAT bad"

He single handledly lost us the most important game of the season. No way around it.

Through 3 quarters did he look like an NFL backup to you Stout?

 

[Arizona's Finest]

All I have to say about this is take off your #4 jersey the next time you watch a game and tell me anything you said in this quote was unbiased.

Man I'm not even backing Kolb at this point. I'm too pissed that daisy can't even stay on the field. Doesn't matter if I think he's the greatest QB in the world if he can't play in the games.

At this point I DON'T think he is tough enough. He lost his shot in Phily because he got hurt, and if Skeleton was halfway decent he would have lost here too.

People will bemoan " Oh it's a head injury" ....okay I'm not talking about this specifically. I'm talking about how he got hut last year and for half the season this year. Unequivically the two biggest of his career.

No cojones simple. As bad and as inaccurate as I think Skelton is, at least he's playing. I have no confidence Kolb cares as much about his play as I do so I'm done defending him till proven otherwise.

 

[JeffGollin]

This reminds me of the old comedy question & answer: "How's your wife?" (Compared to who)?

Skelton, Kolb and Bartell are our guys. There's no guarantee that anyone better will be available via the draft or open market.

That plus the fact of life that our guys appear to have less tiime to get rid of the ball than any new guys we might bring in have had in their previous lives.

It may sound like a cop-out, but I'd rather spend money and personnel rebuilding our offensive line & using a complete off-season developing our three current guys than I would rolling the dice on any QB not deemed "a sure thing."

 

[Arizona's Finest]

@MIN with us, and @TEN in 2010 with the Eagles. Both of those games were worse than what Skelton was able to put together today, because at least the game was close at the end, and we were reasonably within it.

Unsurprisingly, that was the last game that Kolb was the starter for in Philly, and he was immediately benched:

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/20101...ans#menu=highlights&tab=recap&recap=fullstory



It's shocking (shocking!) that Kolb has struggled so much while he's been here.

Shocking. K9 took a post out of context.

That was posted right around the 3rd quarter. You show me a game where Kolb is 5-19 for 3 INTs and 60 yards through three quarters and you have a winner.

Skeleton does what he always does. I KNEW he would play well in what was mostly garbage time (and would have been if not for two divinely blessed fumbles) and bring his numbers back closer to average taking the entire point of this thread out of context for most reading after the game.

The point is you CAN'T play like a fan in the stands for 3 quarters and then beckome Superman and expect to win in the NFL consistently. He screwed the pooch and his worst is unequivocally much worse then Kolbs and that's on a throw by throw, drive by drive, quarter by quarter basis.

Now I know you didn't actually watch the game and just read the box score so you'll have to take my word for it...

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Then Whis lost the game. Even in a 3/4 full Paul Brown stadium, the note at the beginning of the game said that the Browns plan was to put the game in the hands of John Skelton. If that were the case, then Whis played right into their hands, calling pass after pass apparently to "get John in a rhythm". Whatever.

Run the damn ball to keep it close the first three quarters. You don't want Skelton passing the ball 2/3rds of the time if you expect to win.

Ughh why do you think they were passing the ball in the first place?

Two man reasons: Beanies hurt. That much is obvious.

And much more importantly they were stacking the box and we were getting 2 yards a pop.

It's never just as simple as "Run the ball more"

See thats what a smart coach does K9. They take what you give them. Like any moron with a headset will tell you JOHN SKELTON is a one read chump. So stack the box, blitz him, and nothing will happen. He won't make you pay. Go watch the tape. They were daring JS to even make a accurate 8 yard throw and he was sailing it over people's head like a drunk Keystone cop. I haven't been that frustrated since.....well last year.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Donald called it. Skelton is Plummer Part Two. People praise him for his awesome comebacks, forgetting that he was the reason we were behind in the first place.

Send his a$$ packing, along with Doucet.

Post of the thread.