Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Let me first say that I have a profound respect for the direction Whiz is taking the Cardinals. There's so much to feel optimistic about (what a wonderful reprieve for us much beleaguered Cardinals fans!)...the deepest roster in the modern era...creative utilizations of the personnel...and exemplary organization...so, it pains me to criticize him in this case...but, from this vantage point, it appears he deserves it.
Cases in Point:
1. Last year, for right or for wrong, Whiz decided to bring Leinart along slowly...so slowly in fact, Leinart was being replaced in the middle of the second quarters by Kurt Warner, as Warner was assigned the team's "two-minute" QB.
What was a little curious about this was the fact that at USC and with the Cardinals (as in the Bears game on National TV), Leinart was pretty darned good in the two minute drill.
Whiz said it was too much too soon for Leinart to learn...which is why he gave the role to Warner.
Now...seeing as Warner showed he was particularly effective at the role, Whiz made a good call tabbing Warner for that role. No fault there...but Whiz was bucking NFL tradition by regularly playing and alternating two QBs. Colleges do this, not NFL teams.
But...what was this doing to Leinart's psyche when the same script was being rolled out in the first five games???...the offense would struggle early (no first drive TDs and very few first quarter points) with Leinart under center...in comes Warner, he moves the offense in a manner that looked so strikingly easy in comparison to what Leinart was doing...
Then...how many times did we as fans beg for Whiz to start Warner in the second halfs, especially after he was the one moving the team? Raise your hand. I did every time.
The raise your hand if you were upset to see Leinart trot out to start the second half?
Imagine how hard that was for Leinart? It was hard enough for us, the fans.
Leinart had to know that his teammates most likely wanted Warner themselves. Warner, after all, was moving the team.
Then, in the Pittsburgh game, when Warner led the team to a lead, Whiz sends Leinart back in and Leinart leads the team down and scores an insurance TD...and the TEAM thing was on...and we all went WOW...how gutsy...way to lift Leinart's spirits back up.
The next game versus the Rams, Leinart starts and is struggling again and then suffers his season-endidng injury.
Warner comes in and leads the team to a 34-31 victory.
But, Warner gets hurt himself..misses the Carolina game, yet amazingly returns for the Washington game, donning a Michelin man cast on his left elbow...and almost pulls out the game in a 19-21 loss.
Warner starts the rest of the way, and under his leadership the Cardinals average over 30 points a game for the second half of the season.
Yes, it wasn't all pretty...Warner's fumbling propensity remained an issue and an Achilles' heel...and in one game Warner and offensive coach Todd Haley were screaming at each other on the sidelines after Warner made a bonehead throw trying to escape a pass rush.
But...the season ended on quite a high note...Warner looked at the top of his game...and the usually low scoring Cardinals scored 78 points in their last two games, both victories.
2. With the off-season, it would have seemed appropriate that Whiz treat the QB situation the same way he tends to treat the situations at the other positions: put the job up for competition.
With no pressing urgency to do so, Whiz announces to the media that Matt Leinart is the team's starter and mentions that his policy is that injured starters don't lose their jobs.
The insider question is in this case: was Whiz prompted by the front office to make this move?
Let's examine the alternatives: (A) What if Whiz named Warner the starter? Would Warner therefore have been entitled to a new contract that paid him starter's money? In a year where the team was trying to solve the Fitz, Pace, Dansby, Boldin contract dilemmas, could they afford to reopen discussions with Warner? Why not name Leinart the starter, which would diffuse the Warner contract situation, and then if Leinart fails and Warner wins the job later, the new contract is a moot point then. (B) What if Whiz called for an open competition? Would Warner have still wanted a reworked contract? Would this be the vote of confidence that some may have felt Matt Leinart needed? What shadow of doubt would this place on the Cardinals' using a #10 draft pick to select the Heisman Trophy winner?
3. Heading into camp the word is the starting QB's job is Leinart's and it's his "his job to lose." Leinart has worked hard and studied film diligently, we are told by Whiz...we are also told not to over-react to Leinart's off-field beer bong party debacle...
Regardless...all indications were that Leinart was to be the starter.
4. Leinart starts game one---a nationally televised game on ESPN---and plays well. Kurt Warner is not even played in the game...and is his usual class act on the sidelines during an in-game ESPN interview. Warner states his desire to start, but says he understands how the Cardinals could be looking to the present and future with Leinart.
5. The next week...with all the reason now in the world to start Leinart again, seeing as Leinart played well, (note: and if the coach really wanted to diffuse any possible QB controversy, he could easily do so now)...BUT...Whiz elects to start Warner and then have Leinart play second fiddle.
This is how and why pundits like ESPN's Chris Mortenson sit up and take notice.
Warner plays well...not great...but well...Leinart comes in and steadies himself after a shaky start...the Cards win their first pre-season game under Whiz...and the now talk of the burgeoning QB controversy is overshadowed by a disgruntled Anquan Boldin who has gone to the media to insist the Cardinals trade him.
6. Now it's on to the Oakland game and Leinart is back starting. The initial plan was to have him and all the starters play into the third quarter...only, Leinart plays about as poorly as a QB can play, tossing up three ill-advised interceptions.
Whiz looks understandably perturbed on the sidelines...and yanks Leinart after the third interception...Warner comes in moves the team briefly on the first drive but the drive fizzles, the Cards lead 3-0 at halftime, and after Warner's first two drives of trhe second half--which featured an inspired running attack--the score is 17-0 Cardinals.
7. After the game, Whiz is attributing a couple of Leinart's interceptions to receivers being in the wrong place...which smacks more like a pitch to sell 50 acres of swampland in the Everglades.
8. After the game, Leinart has bolted from the lockeroom and does not stick around for interviews.
9. That very evening, there's a report coming out of ESPN from Chris Mortenson that the Cardinals are "expected to name Kurt Warner the starting QB." Supposedly this is from an inside source.
10. Two days later...Whiz states that "no decision has been made on the QB situation." Is he being disingenuous? Is he smarting from the ESPN report and feeling like "Chris Mortenson" made the decision?
While Whiz is likely trying to further protect Leinart's feelings...and not do anything more to pour salt in his wounds...the uncertainty continues...Whiz previously hinted that it may be a good thing to keep the decision unknown right up until game time: "to keep the 49ers guessing."
Maybe, too, even though it might sting Leinart a little----which may be good for him in the long run---maybe Whiz should be as critical to the media of Leinart as he has of Deuce Lutui or Alan Branch. Whiz admits he was sending them "messages." One didn't hear him making excuses for them.
But..it seems as if Whiz is holding a double standard here...he protects Leinart and he throws jabs at others like Lutui and Branch. Of course, the whole naming the starter BEFORE training camp was another double standard, as Whiz's preaches competition everywhere else.
And if Whiz truly has made "no decision"...maybe that's the real problem right there. Why not perpetuate this controversy?
Cases in Point:
1. Last year, for right or for wrong, Whiz decided to bring Leinart along slowly...so slowly in fact, Leinart was being replaced in the middle of the second quarters by Kurt Warner, as Warner was assigned the team's "two-minute" QB.
What was a little curious about this was the fact that at USC and with the Cardinals (as in the Bears game on National TV), Leinart was pretty darned good in the two minute drill.
Whiz said it was too much too soon for Leinart to learn...which is why he gave the role to Warner.
Now...seeing as Warner showed he was particularly effective at the role, Whiz made a good call tabbing Warner for that role. No fault there...but Whiz was bucking NFL tradition by regularly playing and alternating two QBs. Colleges do this, not NFL teams.
But...what was this doing to Leinart's psyche when the same script was being rolled out in the first five games???...the offense would struggle early (no first drive TDs and very few first quarter points) with Leinart under center...in comes Warner, he moves the offense in a manner that looked so strikingly easy in comparison to what Leinart was doing...
Then...how many times did we as fans beg for Whiz to start Warner in the second halfs, especially after he was the one moving the team? Raise your hand. I did every time.
The raise your hand if you were upset to see Leinart trot out to start the second half?
Imagine how hard that was for Leinart? It was hard enough for us, the fans.
Leinart had to know that his teammates most likely wanted Warner themselves. Warner, after all, was moving the team.
Then, in the Pittsburgh game, when Warner led the team to a lead, Whiz sends Leinart back in and Leinart leads the team down and scores an insurance TD...and the TEAM thing was on...and we all went WOW...how gutsy...way to lift Leinart's spirits back up.
The next game versus the Rams, Leinart starts and is struggling again and then suffers his season-endidng injury.
Warner comes in and leads the team to a 34-31 victory.
But, Warner gets hurt himself..misses the Carolina game, yet amazingly returns for the Washington game, donning a Michelin man cast on his left elbow...and almost pulls out the game in a 19-21 loss.
Warner starts the rest of the way, and under his leadership the Cardinals average over 30 points a game for the second half of the season.
Yes, it wasn't all pretty...Warner's fumbling propensity remained an issue and an Achilles' heel...and in one game Warner and offensive coach Todd Haley were screaming at each other on the sidelines after Warner made a bonehead throw trying to escape a pass rush.
But...the season ended on quite a high note...Warner looked at the top of his game...and the usually low scoring Cardinals scored 78 points in their last two games, both victories.
2. With the off-season, it would have seemed appropriate that Whiz treat the QB situation the same way he tends to treat the situations at the other positions: put the job up for competition.
With no pressing urgency to do so, Whiz announces to the media that Matt Leinart is the team's starter and mentions that his policy is that injured starters don't lose their jobs.
The insider question is in this case: was Whiz prompted by the front office to make this move?
Let's examine the alternatives: (A) What if Whiz named Warner the starter? Would Warner therefore have been entitled to a new contract that paid him starter's money? In a year where the team was trying to solve the Fitz, Pace, Dansby, Boldin contract dilemmas, could they afford to reopen discussions with Warner? Why not name Leinart the starter, which would diffuse the Warner contract situation, and then if Leinart fails and Warner wins the job later, the new contract is a moot point then. (B) What if Whiz called for an open competition? Would Warner have still wanted a reworked contract? Would this be the vote of confidence that some may have felt Matt Leinart needed? What shadow of doubt would this place on the Cardinals' using a #10 draft pick to select the Heisman Trophy winner?
3. Heading into camp the word is the starting QB's job is Leinart's and it's his "his job to lose." Leinart has worked hard and studied film diligently, we are told by Whiz...we are also told not to over-react to Leinart's off-field beer bong party debacle...
Regardless...all indications were that Leinart was to be the starter.
4. Leinart starts game one---a nationally televised game on ESPN---and plays well. Kurt Warner is not even played in the game...and is his usual class act on the sidelines during an in-game ESPN interview. Warner states his desire to start, but says he understands how the Cardinals could be looking to the present and future with Leinart.
5. The next week...with all the reason now in the world to start Leinart again, seeing as Leinart played well, (note: and if the coach really wanted to diffuse any possible QB controversy, he could easily do so now)...BUT...Whiz elects to start Warner and then have Leinart play second fiddle.
This is how and why pundits like ESPN's Chris Mortenson sit up and take notice.
Warner plays well...not great...but well...Leinart comes in and steadies himself after a shaky start...the Cards win their first pre-season game under Whiz...and the now talk of the burgeoning QB controversy is overshadowed by a disgruntled Anquan Boldin who has gone to the media to insist the Cardinals trade him.
6. Now it's on to the Oakland game and Leinart is back starting. The initial plan was to have him and all the starters play into the third quarter...only, Leinart plays about as poorly as a QB can play, tossing up three ill-advised interceptions.
Whiz looks understandably perturbed on the sidelines...and yanks Leinart after the third interception...Warner comes in moves the team briefly on the first drive but the drive fizzles, the Cards lead 3-0 at halftime, and after Warner's first two drives of trhe second half--which featured an inspired running attack--the score is 17-0 Cardinals.
7. After the game, Whiz is attributing a couple of Leinart's interceptions to receivers being in the wrong place...which smacks more like a pitch to sell 50 acres of swampland in the Everglades.
8. After the game, Leinart has bolted from the lockeroom and does not stick around for interviews.
9. That very evening, there's a report coming out of ESPN from Chris Mortenson that the Cardinals are "expected to name Kurt Warner the starting QB." Supposedly this is from an inside source.
10. Two days later...Whiz states that "no decision has been made on the QB situation." Is he being disingenuous? Is he smarting from the ESPN report and feeling like "Chris Mortenson" made the decision?
While Whiz is likely trying to further protect Leinart's feelings...and not do anything more to pour salt in his wounds...the uncertainty continues...Whiz previously hinted that it may be a good thing to keep the decision unknown right up until game time: "to keep the 49ers guessing."
Maybe, too, even though it might sting Leinart a little----which may be good for him in the long run---maybe Whiz should be as critical to the media of Leinart as he has of Deuce Lutui or Alan Branch. Whiz admits he was sending them "messages." One didn't hear him making excuses for them.
But..it seems as if Whiz is holding a double standard here...he protects Leinart and he throws jabs at others like Lutui and Branch. Of course, the whole naming the starter BEFORE training camp was another double standard, as Whiz's preaches competition everywhere else.
And if Whiz truly has made "no decision"...maybe that's the real problem right there. Why not perpetuate this controversy?
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