Reps reps reps reps reps reps reps (Leinart Thread)

[kerouac9]

I totally understand those that don't think that Matt Leinart is going to replace Kurt Warner. I don't think that Matt Leinart is going to replace Kurt Warner, either. I don't think anyone except the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks can replace Kurt Warner.

But I don't understand those who are already convinced that Matt Leinart is a bust as the 10th overall pick and the Cards oughtn't have any faith in Matt going into 2010. The cold fact of the matter is that the Cards aren't going to trade their first and third-round picks for Donnie McNabb or Kyle Orton, and Matt's a better option than all of the QBs that are going to be out on the free agent market. But there's hopes.

A quarterback is only as good as the reps that they're able to get. The fact of the matter is that while Matt has been in the league for four years, he hasn't gotten enough reps to have any understanding of his potential. He's shown flashes of being a steady starter in the NFL. And I think that he has the potential to be better than that. But it's going to take time.

Matt Leinart has fewer than 600 pass attempts in his career in the NFL. Mark Sanchez had 452 in his rookie season.

Matt is going to get the chance to grow as a quarterback and game manager behind a mauling offensive line (featuring Brandon Keith at LT) and with a power running game supporting the offense. In Tom Brady's 2nd season (when they won the Super Bowl), the Pats rushed 473 times and passed 482 times. Those years were when Tom Brady mostly handed off and used play action. In Drew Brees's first season as a starter, the San Diego Chargers rushed 466 times and passed 538 times. That's when Brees first started to learn the speed of the NFL. In Phillip Rivers's first season in the NFL, the Chargers rushed 522 times while passing 466 times(!). In 1998, the Colts passed 576 times and only rushed 384 times, but they protected Peyton Manning by tossing the ball to Marshall Faulk more than 86 times that year.

Leinart's coming into a good situation. This is what the Cards planned for since Whis came on board. This has been their drafting strategy since he came to town with Russ Grimm in tow. So many people here write "In Whis I Trust." Coach Whis obviously believes in Leinart. Matt completed 2/3rds of his passes against Tennessee when he was playing with the Kurt Warner gameplan.

Don't expect the Cards to be the high-flying offense that we've seen the past two years. That's not going to happen. But with the Seahawks and Rams in full-on rebuilding mode, Matt Leinart can lead this team to a third consecutive NFC West championship behind this offensive line and an upgraded defense.

All he needs are the reps.

 

[imaCafan]

Don't expect the Cards to be the high-flying offense that we've seen the past two years. That's not going to happen. But with the Seahawks and Rams in full-on rebuilding mode, Matt Leinart can lead this team to a third consecutive NFC West championship behind this offensive line and an upgraded defense.

All he needs are the reps.

This +1

 

[cardsfanmd]

Damn Skippy!!!!!!!!

I used to beef with you all day, but you've really been missed and I for one am ecstatic to see you back K-9. Well said.

 

[Mitch]

I think you are brutally wrong. Limited skills, very little leadership and NO heart.

Whiz is smart enough to know this.

Matt Leinart WILL NOT be the QB this year. Period.

 

[red desert]

I think you are brutally wrong. Limited skills, very little leadership and NO heart.

Whiz is smart enough to know this.

Matt Leinart WILL NOT be the QB this year. Period.

Wow. Strong words Mitch.

thinking... thinking.. thinking... thinking...

okay, done thinking.

Gotta agree with K9. Although I don't think Leinart is Warner nor even Sanchez, he has shown something. What that something is, don't know. But I do believe he may have what it takes. He just may.

And about his arm...

I've often heard folks knock his lack of arm strength, but my eyes tell me his arm is plenty strong. Thoughts?

 

[Mitch]

Wow. Strong words Mitch.

thinking... thinking.. thinking... thinking...

okay, done thinking.

Gotta agree with K9. Although I don't think Leinart is Warner nor even Sanchez, he has shown something. What that something is, don't know. But I do believe he may have what it takes. He just may.

And about his arm...

I've often heard folks knock his lack of arm strength, but my eyes tell me his arm is plenty strong. Thoughts?

C'mon, red desert. Tell me what you've seen of Leinart's arm that impresses you? He's habitually late...has a slow release and if his feet aren't right, which is usually the case, because he is freeked out of his mind, his ball is going to soar beyond open receivers. This kid has NO sack. Nada.

 

[PoolBoy]

you can hate him all you want Mitch, but IF warner retires, matt gets one year.

 

[daytripper]

you can hate him all you want Mitch, but IF warner retires, matt gets one year.

That.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

K9's Football IQ > Walter "Mitch" Mitchell's Football IQ

nice to have you back K9 BTW. Look , I'm a Leinart-doubter, but the poor rap he's gotten on this board is pretty ridiculous. He's looked pretty bad in some games and good in others just like every young QB. People forget the excellent games he had in his rookie campaign and even against Tennessee this season.

FYI - Leinart has roughly the same career quarterback rating as Alex Smith (the QB everyone is predicting to lord over us next regular season) with half the career snaps. Let's see what the kid can do. If he blows, then we don't re-sign him and the experiment ends quickly.

 

[Mitch]

And we're staring at 3rd place in the NFC West.

Whiz won't let this happen, I promise you.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Whiz won't let this happen, I promise you.

Of course, because you've been so accurate with your roster predictions in the past.

 

[Mitch]

you can hate him all you want Mitch, but IF warner retires, matt gets one year.

No way, 'Cuse, really. And I love your b-ball team for the Final 4. But, there's no way Leinart is the starter this year. Get used to this thought.

 

[TJ]

I think you are brutally wrong. Limited skills, very little leadership and NO heart.

Whiz is smart enough to know this.

Matt Leinart WILL NOT be the QB this year. Period.

Sounds like Leinart pissed in your cheerios this morning.

Whiz has backed Leinart each and every time he has gone out there. Although his performance this season was lackluster, coach and others on this board have made good points

1) Lack of reps (the title of this thread). Matt has never had more than 20% of the 1st string snaps at all this season. In a timing and rythm offense, it is crucial to get those reps.

2) The fact that Leinart has never been the best QB on this team. Warner has been there every year that Leinart has. It's hard to play well when a HoFer is always there breathing down your neck. Further, pressing so hard to play to level of a Warner. Nearly impossible, even if we had an Aaron Rodgers on this team.

3) Take this FWIW, but Leinart was the best QB in the preseason. I watched him carefully in all preseason games and he performed rather well. I was at training camp this year watching Warner and your boy St. Pierre struggle in basic passing drills like hitting targets on the big net. Leinart was dead on almost every time. Overall, he was lights out

4) He went out on a good and promising note in the Saints game.

If you truly are a die hard, you have no other choice but to get behind Leinart. He will be this team's 2010 starter. Aside from Warner, he has more experience in this rather meticulous offense. There would be a learning curve for any QB, unless you get a big name. And the only big name rumored to come here is McNabb, which has already been shot down.

 

[cardpa]

I think you are brutally wrong. Limited skills, very little leadership and NO heart.

Whiz is smart enough to know this.

Matt Leinart WILL NOT be the QB this year. Period.

Mitch,

I think you are way out there this time buddy. I think you are severely underestimating Leinart's abilities. Your comments are usually well thought out but I just don't see that in this post of yours. I think you are passing judgment way too quick here.

I think we need to see a full season of Leinart before dropping the axe. If he fails then I am in your camp completely.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

It won't be the same offense. We're going to lean heavy on Beanie and Hightower and should see a lot more of LSH (Whiz loves that kid's potential) coming out of the backfield. I'm guessing we try to trade one of the WR's for defensive help too.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch,

I think you are way out there this time buddy. I think you are severely underestimating Leinart's abilities. Your comments are usually well thought out but I just don't see that in this post of yours. I think you are passing judgment way too quick here.

I think we need to see a full season of Leinart before dropping the axe. If he fails then I am in your camp completely.

Just give me a sense from what you've seen from Leinart the past 4 years, cardpa, that tells you he will get it done this year, or any year?

 

[nashman]

Way to early to be predicting Leinart won't be the QB! Thats way out there!

 

[red desert]

C'mon, red desert. Tell me what you've seen of Leinart's arm that impresses you? He's habitually late...has a slow release and if his feet aren't right, which is usually the case, because he is freeked out of his mind, his ball is going to soar beyond open receivers. This kid has NO sack. Nada.

That's funny.

You may very well be right. In fact, probably.

While I am not a Leinart homer, i do think the has enough God-given talent where if he gets his head on straight, he can have success. I mean, lessor qbs have had success, haven't they?

Look at Gannon's early years vs. his late years.
Look at Vince Young.
Look at Jim Harbaugh.
Look at, heck, Warner.

All I'm saying is that I don't believe Lenart is the second coming of Warner, but I also don't believe he is a lost cause. I really don't.

As far as his arm, well, okay... it's pretty freaking weird all the way around. Hey, he's a lefty for crying out loud.

Bottom line, I'm trying to be positive. And I do think there is enough there to render hope.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

I like the way Matt hands the ball off better than Kurt, That's really the only positive thing I can say about him.

 

[cardpa]

Just give me a sense from what you've seen from Leinart the past 4 years, cardpa, that tells you he will get it done this year, or any year?

His starts 3 years ago he was playing pretty good before he was hurt for an inexperienced QB and he looked quite sharp in the pre-season this year. This is what I am banking my statements on. I know it's not a lot but he has shown the ability.

I just believe we need to see if he is the answer or not. I also think the offense will look nothing like it did this year if Warner hangs it up. I can see it being totally revamped to fit Leinart's strengths which are not Warner's strengths. I think we will see a heavy dose of running with more play action mixed in.

 

[Mitch]

That's funny.

You may very well be right. In fact, probably.

While I am not a Leinart homer, i do think the has enough God-given talent where if he gets his head on straight, he can have success. I mean, lessor qbs have had success, haven't they?

Look at Gannon's early years vs. his late years.
Look at Vince Young.
Look at Jim Harbaugh.
Look at, heck, Warner.

All I'm saying is that I don't believe Lenart is the second coming of Warner, but I also don't believe he is a lost cause. I really don't.

As far as his arm, well, okay... it's pretty freaking weird all the way around. Hey, he's a lefty for crying out loud.

Bottom line, I'm trying to be positive. And I do think there is enough there to render hope.

I hear you, RD. I do. I want to be positive too. But, really, you look at Leinart and you ask yourself, does he do one thing special? And it's very hard to name it, other than beer bonging. He has a slow release, his feet are often bad, which exacerbates his less than average arm strength, which leads to chucks and overthrows. His command of the huddle looks as if he could take tips from Jay Spicolli. Maybe if he ordered a Dominos Pizza delivery into the huddle and a six pack of Heineys, he'd make some believers.

Kent Somers reported it well. The Cardinal WRs don't have confidence in him, because he's so erratic. Ask Q.

 

[daytripper]

In reply to whether Matt Leinart can lead a team to the Super Bowl 2 words, Trent Dilfer

 

[Dback Jon]

So what would you do, Mitch, if Warner retires?

 

[BullheadCardFan]

All he needs are the reps.

1) He can not read a defense.
2) He does not know where his receivers are supposed to be at.
3) After looking off his primary target he is lost.
4) Has been backing up one of the great QB's and has been watching Kurt on his reads and knowledge, yet he is still lost.
5) I don't see the light just turning on just because he gets more reps.
6) He does not deserve to have the job handed to him. He needs to earn it. Even Kurt had to compete to start.
7) I watch other backup QB's play and show so much more in limited playing time.

IMO. Matt should be allowed to compete for the starting QB job, but we need to bring in someone to challenge him or to start. Drafting a QB in middle rounds is something to consider.

 

[kerouac9]

I think you are brutally wrong. Limited skills, very little leadership and NO heart.

Whiz is smart enough to know this.

Matt Leinart WILL NOT be the QB this year. Period.

Wow. How quickly we forget, I guess.

Don't forget how Matt Leinart, as a rookie, put this team in a position to win or tie against Kansas City and Chicago, only to have Neil (C)Rackers choke those games away.

In his second season, it was the retiring hall of famer who lead the game-winning drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On that game-winning drive, #7 went 4 for 5 and moved the team 82 yards in over 7 minutes, leaving just 4 minutes on the clock for the Steelers to attempt a comeback.

This season against Tennessee, who was one of the hottest teams in the NFL, Matt Leinart had this team in a position to win on the road in one of the toughest stadiums to play in if the defense could've gotten stops on a succession of fourth downs. This on limited practice reps and a game plan for a very different quarterback. Leinart also went 21/31 passing on that day and averaged a very respectable 7.1 YPA. He completed passes of 24, 20, 28, 23, and 21 yards in that contest. He connected with 9 different receivers in that game.

Criticize him for poor mechanics and for not making the fastest reads (after only 590 career attempts), but look at what's there.