I don't blame Rackers for that game either but it is a FG that Rackers could have made. A 55 isn't a "miracle" for a guy with Rackers' leg. For a guy with Rackers' head, yes. Leg, no. This game brings up an apparent lack of consideration of Warner though. Anything positive from him that day should be lauded but it seems to just be considered as any old game. Like him or not, leading the Cards to 14 fourth quarter points and the team having a chance to win the game less than two weeks after dislocating his elbow is commendable.
It certainly makes one question the mindset of Whis and the front office when they don't even have another kicker in camp.
No Q, Fitz at 60% and no running game along with all the missing starters on D set an earlier tone. That game would have truly been a miracle win considering how decimated the Cardinals were.
I thought the same thing about some of Warner's games but have been told I'm mistaken.
I know I'd have to really brace myself if I tried the same reasoning out using Warner instead of Leinart.
I just typed out a long brilliant reply and then my IE crashed, so here goes again.
Take a step back for a second and forget we're talking about Kurt Warner.
We have 2 QB's, one is currently 25, the other is currently 37. The game in question or games were 2 years ago so one was 23, the other was 35.
Can you not see why it's not out of the realm of normalcy to suggest that the impact of those games on the 23 year old rookie, his first 2 NFL starts, were significantly different than it would be on a 35 year old with the years of experience Warner had?
Matt's rookie year was off to a fairly remarkable start he played extremely well in his first 2 starts, if not for Rackers choking we likely win both starts in large part due to Leinart. But instead Rackers chokes, the team implodes and everything goes to hell which predictably takes Matt's level of play down with it(see stinkers against Raiders and Packers as exhibit 1 and 2).
Last year new coach comes in, completely remakes Leinart as a QB, new offense, new mechanics, Matt predictably is struggling, then he gets hurt.
Comes back this year, new outlook on preparation, better mechanics, healthier, in the words of his coaches much more comfortable in the system. Can you not see how a franchise would think it makes sense to play that guy now and see if they can get back to where they were in those first 2 starts before the Dennis Green implosion? Can you not see why a team would want to see if what they saw in those first 2 starts was real, rather than starting a 37 year old guy with a tendency to take too many risks and too many sacks trying to go downfield on a team with a coach who apparently doesnt' want to play that way?
Kurt did a terrific job last year under the circumstances, but NFL teams don't sit a 25 year old with talent like Leinart showed early, for a 37 year old guy with a history like Warner has since about 2001.
You keep saying this is the first good coaching Warner has had in years, guess what it's the first good coaching matt has EVER had in the NFL, if it's reasonable for you to assume Warner is improved because of gloves and coaching isn't it just as reasonable to assume Matt can improve because of that same coaching? Dont' talented young QB's usually improve year over year? and here's the kicker, those same good coaches that you think have turned Warner's career around have watched both guys and apparently decided Matt should start, and you're convinced it's a mistake. Why would it be so easy for you to believe these good coaches are that stupid?