Somers discusses the game

[red desert]

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/168128

Exactly how long is Wiz going to make excuses for Kolb?

Absent stumbling upon Kurt Warner part two, his narrow-mindedness will keep his teams from having any sort of real success.

 

[WildBB]

I liked him talking up Massie at least. There's hope there.

They didn't talk about the secondary. I thought some young guys made some plays back there. We're very deep there. Justin Bethel looks like a keeper. The young S from Texas Blake Gideon had a good game - #37. Larry Parker - #41 made a nice move on a ball. We have good competition back there. We should make a trade and get some extra picks for one or two. Maybe Toler or Jefferson or both.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I liked him talking up Massie at least. There's hope there.

Yeah, well he talked up Levi Brown last year.

 

[CardLogic]

-- Whisenhunt thought Skelton played well, but he also noted that the offensive line settled down and played better when Skelton was in than it did when Kolb was in.

The OL always seem to be more "settled" when Skelton is at QB.

Take it for what it is - Confidence.

 

[Southpaw]

I liked him talking up Massie at least. There's hope there.

Not much of a talk up on an inauspicious debut for Massie.

 

[dogpoo32]

The OL always seem to be more "settled" when Skelton is at QB.

Take it for what it is - Confidence.

I'm sure it helps knowing your QB knows to step up in the pocket and at least has a goal of getting the ball out.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

I got the definite feeling that the OL wants Skelton in there. It was quite obvious that they play with more energy and determination with Skelton. If Whiz can't see that, then he should be fired....literally.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

The OL always seem to be more "settled" when Skelton is at QB.

Take it for what it is - Confidence.

Or that Skelton doesn't drop back LITERALLY 14 yards until there is no pocket, thus the no where to block.

 

[JeffGollin]

I'm sure it helps knowing your QB knows to step up in the pocket and at least has a goal of getting the ball out.

It could just be that - given our O-line and its strengths & (mostly) weaknesses - Skelton and his skill set is a better fit.

 

[red desert]

Even Lindley knows how to operate back there. On one particular play, with the rush breaking through our line, he lowered his right shoulder and steps up in the the collapsing pocked - text book.

As to those saying Kolb's skill set not simpatico with our line - wtf? That's all on Kolb. If Skelton can have success (albeit modest) and Lindley can get out there and move the chains, why can't Kolb? Because he's done in Arizona. Mentally and physically. IMO.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

As to those saying Kolb's skill set not simpatico with our line - wtf? That's all on Kolb. If Skelton can have success (albeit modest) and Lindley can get out there and move the chains, why can't Kolb? Because he's done in Arizona. Mentally and physically. IMO.

Ditto..... he should be done, but Whiz keeps making excuses and refuses to see the obvious. You can't have a QB who is too short to step up into the pocket and see down the field. You can't fix that. Kolb will never be a pocket QB, especially with our OL and his fear of getting hit. He can only play like he did in college, as a wild west type offense. This is so obvious. One has to have blinders on not to see it constantly.

You know when a lineman is blocking, he is expecting his QB to be in a certain spot as he blocks his man. Even when a lineman gets beat, he tries to push and/or recover with the idea that his QB is still expecting a pocket to form. With Kolb, the lineman never know where the hell he is going to be after a couple seconds. I am sure they are as confused at times as Kolb looks when he is running for the hills.

 

[Catfish]

The OL always seem to be more "settled" when Skelton is at QB.

Take it for what it is - Confidence.

You are spot-on with this assessment. I really hope that Whiz actually DOES take note that, (the O-line always seems to be more settled when Skelton is the QB).

I still don't believe that we have seen the best that Kolb has to offer. I am, however, very disappointed in his first showing this year. The first game jitters, I can understand. What I can't fathom is that he appears to be just as out of shape as he was when he came here a year ago. He has done NOTHING to improve his ability to take a hit. He has not taken advantage of the opportunity to use that full year to get stronger through his core. That is unforgivable in my opinion. Given his injury history, one would think that he would have jumped at the opportunity to work very hard at getting stronger with John Lott's help. He has apparently ignored that opportunity.

This leads me to believe that he fits the mold of-----(you can't fix a problem until you first recognize that you have one). Apparently he does not recognize that he has this problem, and further more, he may not even recognize that he flushes waaaay out of the area where his O'line can protect him. I no longer believe that he will ever earn his salary-----not here; not anywhere. That is just my opinion of course, but I am entitled to it I believe. He has been here long enough now, to have worked on some of this, and has failed to improve any of it so far. That is shameful in my opinion, especially give the money he has garnered.

 

[THESMEL]

Well I finally heard something from Mcnulty....... This is your team Whiz- you are responsible for them looking and acting like a college team!

Whiz is like " look at this idiots somebody should coach them or something" doop!

--Whisenhunt had to laugh after the game. During a timeout late in the game, every Cardinal player on the field came to the sideline. That's common in college but not in the NFL.
"I was like, 'this is like a college team,'" Whisenhunt said. "John McNulty(quarterbacks coach) said, 'Well, about those six of those guys are college guys.' You have to understand a little bit what you're working with."

 

[gmabel830]

Well I finally heard something from Mcnulty....... This is your team Whiz- you are responsible for them looking and acting like a college team!

Whiz is like " look at this idiots somebody should coach them or something" doop!

--Whisenhunt had to laugh after the game. During a timeout late in the game, every Cardinal player on the field came to the sideline. That's common in college but not in the NFL.
"I was like, 'this is like a college team,'" Whisenhunt said. "John McNulty(quarterbacks coach) said, 'Well, about those six of those guys are college guys.' You have to understand a little bit what you're working with."

Yep, if there was one thing this team should have spent a lot more time on with just a week and a half of training camp before facing another team in a nationally televised game, it clearly was the timeout formation.

 

[DoTheDew]

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/168128

Exactly how long is Wiz going to make excuses for Kolb?

Absent stumbling upon Kurt Warner part two, his narrow-mindedness will keep his teams from having any sort of real success.

Rather him defend his players than throw them under the bus. The coaches job isn't to insult his players so that fans can have their opinions justified, it's to try and get the most out of their players.

Unless you think Whiz insulting Kolb in the media is a good way to improve Kolb's performance, I don't see what else he is supposed to say?

 

[Totally_Red]

Yep, if there was one thing this team should have spent a lot more time on with just a week and a half of training camp before facing another team in a nationally televised game, it clearly was the timeout formation.

Here ya go!

 

[Mainstreet]

Here ya go!

The post by gmabel830 was so good he didn't need a smilie.

 

[WildBB]

Not much of a talk up on an inauspicious debut for Massie.

He's optomistic for him though. As he should be for a rookie. He's got a long way to go to adjust, but as Wiz said, the tools are there.

 

[ryanshaug]

Rather him defend his players than throw them under the bus. The coaches job isn't to insult his players so that fans can have their opinions justified, it's to try and get the most out of their players.

Unless you think Whiz insulting Kolb in the media is a good way to improve Kolb's performance, I don't see what else he is supposed to say?

Yeah, instead he chose to throw the offensive line under the bus and then discounted Skelton's contributions.

 

[Darkside]

Yeah, instead he chose to throw the offensive line under the bus and then discounted Skelton's contributions.

Usually I dismiss most of what Whiz says to the media, but his comments about Skelton irritated me. Saying that everyone settled down and found a rhythm and that's what contributed to Skelton's success. I think what contributed to Skelton's drive was Smith racking up 40+ yards on that drive. That was nearly half of the whole drive. That also settles the Oline, letting them tee off and hit someone. When Kolb was in there he was handing off to Howling, who I personally think sucks as a back.

 

[WildBB]

Usually I dismiss most of what Whiz says to the media, but his comments about Skelton irritated me. Saying that everyone settled down and found a rhythm and that's what contributed to Skelton's success. I think what contributed to Skelton's drive was Smith racking up 40+ yards on that drive. That was nearly half of the whole drive. That also settles the Oline, letting them tee off and hit someone. When Kolb was in there he was handing off to Howling, who I personally think sucks as a back.

He'll get more chances to show something with a starting back. But the playcalling was a little weak too, right off the bat, imo.

 

[Darkside]

He'll get more chances to show something with a starting back. But the playcalling was a little weak too, right off the bat, imo.

I saved the game and will look at the tape again, but IMO they started off Kolb and Skelton basically similar: with runs. Only difference was Skelton had Smith running and Kolb had Howling. Skelton's 3rd downs were a lot shorter than Kolb's.

I didn't mind the playcalling so much because IMO they tried to emphasize the run more than in years past. What I had a problem with is personnel. Why have Howling back there? He's been here for years man, we know what he is. Is it because they're thinking about extending him and wanted to get another look? I just don't understand why you wouldn't want to get another peek out of Smith and Powell, etc. Both looked better than Howling.

I can't emphasize enough how much I dislike Howling at RB.