The Absurdity Continues...

[Mitch]

In an interview with Bob Mac from AZ Republic, John Skelton revealed that he's been told that he will "battle it out" with newly signed UFL backup QB Richard Bartel for the starting job this week.

This is so outrageous...and it speaks volumes to the utter incomeptency of ther coaching staff and the organization.

To state the obvious...Skelton has been in the organization since April...has played in every practice...and actually completed two of ther better looking passes of the year in his debut...and he's been told...he's in a battle with a guy who hasn't taken a single snap in practice?

A guy who has NO knowledge of the offense?

Whizenhunt is a joke.

He MUST want to get fired.

He's been coaching like it from the moment Kurt Warner retired...and this development is further proof that his handling of QBs (other than Warner whom he basically gave the car keys to) is about as egregious as is humanly imaginable.

Been conceding that he deserves another year...

But...sh%^ like this...in the aftermath of all the sh%^ he's heaped on the organization and us fans this year...this takes the cake.

 

[THESMEL]

Yea maybe DA can teach em how to get maimed and not die. I like players to compete too, but this is Johns job already, He beat out Matt Leinart as the 3rd cards QB.

Matts the luckiest sapp in the world right now.

 

[TJ]

Dont see what's wrong with him battling it out with another QB.

On the surface, it may sound absurd; however, I see the inner workings of this. It's to see if he can handle pressure and to not take this opportunity for granted. Whis admitted last week that Skelton is raw and being groomed to play down the road. Now this situation is thrown in his lap and has little choice but to play the guy. Sounds like a great opportunity to test his mental toughness. Skelton will probably start though so for us fans this should mean very little.

In addition, you harped on this all the time with Matt Leinart and approved of St. Pierre pushing him for the #2 spot last season when it seemed more than obvious he had no chance of supplanting him. What's the difference between those two situations? Very little.

 

[D-Dogg]

This is flat out stupid.

Street pickup has no idea of the playbook, but Whis can't simply say "John is starting, he's our guy right now and we'll see what we have in him."

I'm sorry, but Whis has no clue about how to handle quarterbacks. None. You have a raw rookie who is going to have to start his first NFL game and instead of building him up you put up a stupid test with a dude off the street to "earn" the starting role? Beyond stupid. I'm all for competition, but that's a training camp and game day performance thing. NOT a thing you are going to figure out in a few in-week practices with a dude off the street.

JUST NAME THE STARTER AND ****. The QB games and lunacy is mind boggling..what the hell has Whis done with his sanity?

 

[earthsci]

Here's the interview.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/car...7/20101207arizona-cardinals-john-skelton.html

 

[Assface]

I'm with Donald and Mitch on this. Competition is great and players should earn their starting spots but this is a stupid way to handle a rookie QB being thrust in to a starting spot. It's not like Skelton is a bonus baby being handed a starting job before the ink is dry on his contract. Stop with the stupid mind games already.

 

[D-Dogg]

Here's the interview.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/car...7/20101207arizona-cardinals-john-skelton.html

Thank you, I've come in off the ledge.

It doesn't really sound like Whis is as dumb as mitch made it seem...just sounds like Skelton is saying nothing it being handed to him. A far cry from the insinuation that he's going to have to battle a nobody off the street in order to start. It seems more like the kid is being humble.

Good interview.

I did leave my shoes out on the ledge though in case Bartel is the starter.

Edit: Oh, I skimmed over the QB coach saying EXACTLY that. shoes are on...ledge looks inviting...

 

[earthsci]

I did leave my shoes out on the ledge though in case Bartel is the starter.

 

[TJ]

Thank you, I've come in off the ledge.

It doesn't really sound like Whis is as dumb as mitch made it seem...just sounds like Skelton is saying nothing it being handed to him. A far cry from the insinuation that he's going to have to battle a nobody off the street in order to start. It seems more like the kid is being humble.

Good interview.

I did leave my shoes out on the ledge though in case Bartel is the starter.

I was just about to say that.....very benign. Sounds more like an "ohh by the way" thing. We needed to bring in another QB anyway as Skelton was it for next game

Mitch, gently remove your talons from Whisenhunt' shoulders, please?

 

[kerouac9]

You have to split reps with the starter in practice because Bartel just came in. Max Hall got 8 reps with the starters last week as the #2. Bartel has to be ready to play if he has to, and there are only so many reps to go around.

 

[Shane]

I have zero problem with this.

 

[D-Dogg]

You have to split reps with the starter in practice because Bartel just came in. Max Hall got 8 reps with the starters last week as the #2. Bartel has to be ready to play if he has to, and there are only so many reps to go around.

Splitting reps is not "battling it out" which the QB coach told him would happen.

Just dumb stuff. "Hey John, you are starting. We're giving the other guy reps though so he gets some familarity with the playbook" (oops, that's what was said about DA).

Forget it..."John, you are starting...the other dude is going to suck with or without a few reps this week, so if you go down (please don't) then Steve Breaston will play QB."

 

[D-Dogg]

I have zero problem with this.

Of course you don't. It's dumb and stupid, but in the end inconsequential. I don't blame you. But it's the kind of thing that boils my blood. There's no reason to not just name the dude the starter. Not one.

 

[bg7brd]

I have zero problem with this.

Me neither

 

[football karma]

reading the interview, I would say the thread is a bit of an over reaction

 

[ReddBird]

As absurd as this seems on the surface: Who would you rather see in the pocket? DA or Bartel?

 

[Shane]

Of course you don't. It's dumb and stupid, but in the end inconsequential. I don't blame you. But it's the kind of thing that boils my blood. There's no reason to not just name the dude the starter. Not one.

Sure there is. Never let the guy feel to comfortable. Its as simple as that. You have to work for everything you have. I like it. I like it a lot.

 

[TJ]

Sure there is. Never let the guy feel to comfortable. Its as simple as that. You have to work for everything you have. I like it. I like it a lot.

Even though this thread is a complete overreaction

 

[MrYeahBut]

If Bartel ends up beating him out for the starting job I will become an incarnation of Salome and ask for Whiz head on a platter


ain't gonna happen

 

[football karma]

BTW: isnt that a Whis rule -- there is always competition?

it may not be a fair competition -- and I suspect Skelton would really have to drop the ball to lose it

 

[MrYeahBut]

As absurd as this seems on the surface: Who would you rather see in the pocket? DA or Bartel?

Shane

 

[D-Dogg]

Sure there is. Never let the guy feel to comfortable. Its as simple as that. You have to work for everything you have. I like it. I like it a lot.

Sure. But I hate the lies of a battle between a guy who doesn't know the playbook, has never had any rythm with the WRs and is NOT in a position where he has even earned a shot.

I'm all for a battle. I'm not for bullsh*. This is the latter. Whis is pumping around here, and it is stupid. Setting up stupid battles for battles sake doesn't build credibility, something that Whis had which is eroding quickly. This doesn't change that pattern, only reinforces it.

If he had brought in someone who had started some games, or someone like Batch who was familiar with the system I'd be ok with a "battle." This is just silly, and we are WAAAAAAY past the point of silly motivational tactics on this team.

 

[Shane]

Sure. But I hate the lies of a battle between a guy who doesn't know the playbook, has never had any rythm with the WRs and is NOT in a position where he has even earned a shot.

I'm all for a battle. I'm not for bullsh*. This is the latter. Whis is pumping around here, and it is stupid. Setting up stupid battles for battles sake doesn't build credibility, something that Whis had which is eroding quickly. This doesn't change that pattern, only reinforces it.

If he had brought in someone who had started some games, or someone like Batch who was familiar with the system I'd be ok with a "battle." This is just silly, and we are WAAAAAAY past the point of silly motivational tactics on this team.

Nah your overreacting. Really not that big a deal unles Skelton can't hold him off. Then

 

[D-Dogg]

BTW: isnt that a Whis rule -- there is always competition?

Meh. It's less of a rule and more of a general guideline. Ask the Oline. Ask the linebackers or a certain DT.

 

[D-Dogg]

Nah your overreacting. Really not that big a deal unles Skelton can't hold him off. Then

It's pointless. Not overreacting...it is pointless.

If Skelton doesn't "hold him off" it would be more likely that Whis "saw something in him" and that he had "intangibles" and "won over the team." And I wouldn't buy it for a second. No faith in the Coach when it comes to this position...he's given us no reason to trust him there, not a bit.