Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Many times over the past year and especially over the past few weeks we've heard pundits and fans claim: "Matt Leinart was never Whiz's guy."
While at the urging and possible insistence from team management Whiz tried to warm up to Leinart---but yesterday's news of Leinart's release confirms the aforementioned speculation.
This is another classic case of team owners and GMs trying to dictate to their head coaches what players they want the coach to play. It's these type of conflicts that create sizeable rifts within an organzation. When Bill Parcells abruptly left the New England Patriots his now infamous Parthian shot was: "If they are going to ask me to cook the meal, they'd better let me shop for the groceries."
Just in the past day there have been two cases that smack of the same scenario: (1) Al Davis vetoed his coaches' unanimous decision to cut 2009 2nd round draft super reach S Mike Mitchell, forcing them to cut Stevie Brown, a rookie whom the coaches and players became immediately enamored with. (2) While Seattle OL guru Alex Gibbs' resignation remains somewhat of a mystery and some are saying Gibbs must be burned out---there has been speculation that Gibbs was not happy with the way personnel decisions were being made. Curious too that on the day he resigned the Seahawks acquired T/G Stacey Andrews.
For those of you who have been watching HBO's Hard Knocks...there was one segment where the Jets' Chairman and CEO, Woody Johnson, is at practice and he asks ST coach Mike Westhoff about a player Woody is very high on and Westhoff in his surly, matter-of-fact no b.s. style says, "he's got all the world of talent, but he can't do sh-- as an NFL player."
The thing is---Woody did not look satisfied with that answer and seemed to practically beg Westhoff to give the kid another look. "OK," Westhoff acquiesced...while turning away with a "I'm wasting my time" look in his eyes.
Another interesting case in point regarding the Jets...there is a segment where Rex Ryan informs the viewers that the Jets' GM Mike Tannenbaum allows him to make one pick in the draft and Ryan proceeds to gloat---and deservedly so---over the the 5th round gem he discovered in FB John "The Terminator" Conner. Ryan says he was watching the film of another player and Connor just jumped off the film at him. "Here was this guy knocking the ever-livin' snot out of people," Ryan exclaims. And then they show footage of Connor doing just that in the Jets' practices and pre-season games. In fact, Ryan and Westhoff designed a little "Terminator" play on the kickoff team where Conner fakes one way and takes an angle to an opponent sprinting down the right hash mark and what you see is Conner hitting the player so hard that he gets airlifted five yards backward right on his keister. The coaches are all yelling and screaming in delight.
It makes you wonder...if Ryan can spot a fifth rounder like this...why don't they have Ryan make every or at least most of the picks? You know, the groceries???!
So how do we really KNOW that Leinart was being forced on Whiz by team management? We don't really know that...do we? Or do we?
The most compelling argument is how on two separate occasions---three years apart---Whiz announces in February that Leinart is the starting QB.
If we know anything about Ken Whisenhunt---we know that he is adamant about creating competition at all positions and that noone is ever "handed a job."
Three years ago, it made little sense to simply appoint Leinart as the starter after Kurt Warner had led the team to a 5-3 record the second half of the season while amassing a gaudy 28 points per game. Putting Leinart in competition with Warner made sense.
This year, based on what we all saw from Leinart last year, there HAD to be considerable doubt as to whether Leinart could cut it as the starting QB in Whiz' system. To simply appoint Leinart as the starting QB---in light of those doubts and Leinart's precarious contract situation (one exacerbated by what had just happen in the similar Antrel Rolle contract situation)---seemed conspicuously pre-mature and frankly unwarranted. Sure Leinart deserved his shot at the job---but to claim he was the clear frontrunner before any other moves were made was very odd---especially from Whiz. Whiz doesn't work that way.
So why did Whiz say all those great things about Leinart? What would you expect him to say about a player that he knows team management has $17M reasons to want to succeed?
It was very meaningful that yesterday Whiz said the decision to release Leinart was not one that was made quickly, but through considerable time. It was no wonder therefore why Whiz seemed very anxious to get something positive out of Derek Anderson in that first pre-season game---which is why Whiz subbed Anderson in as quickly as he could and then stayed with him as long as it took for Anderson to move the team.
Fortunately for Whiz and the team, since that first pre-season game Anderson has been showing signs of being able to move the team.
Yet---the most fortuitous result of what's evolved with the Cardinals' QB situation---and the cause for new-found optimism and excitement---is that Whiz (and Steve Keim) found what looks to be a real gem in 25 year old rookie Max Hall. Isn't it remarkable that Hall is about as opposite of Matt Leinart as one could get. Hall was not a top 10 draft pick, nor was he a Heisman Trophy winner. Hall wasn't even drafted. At the sign of pressure, Hall reacts quickly and decisively. When he passes the ball there is a crisp snap on his throws. When he enters the game the energy level magnifies and even jumps...as does the level of surprise...an lelemnt to Leinart's pro game that has been greatly lacking. Want to bet a "buffalo nickel" on that?
And let's not forget the rookie who is currently the #3. Because of his prototypical size and arm strength, John Skelton looks to have a promising future if and when he can adjust his sizeable skills to the NFL game.
The big difference now is...Whiz doesn't have to worry about team management anymore. Obviously, he was able to convince them that Leinart was not "his guy" and therefore should not be "their guy."
Kudos to team management---this is a very good sign on their part.
Which also means that Whiz can go ahead and play whomever he wants---even if it means turning the keys over to the rookie who apparently was, according to Whiz, "the best QB in camp."
Whiz did a pretty decent job with the last rookie QB he coached---and has a ring to prove it.
While at the urging and possible insistence from team management Whiz tried to warm up to Leinart---but yesterday's news of Leinart's release confirms the aforementioned speculation.
This is another classic case of team owners and GMs trying to dictate to their head coaches what players they want the coach to play. It's these type of conflicts that create sizeable rifts within an organzation. When Bill Parcells abruptly left the New England Patriots his now infamous Parthian shot was: "If they are going to ask me to cook the meal, they'd better let me shop for the groceries."
Just in the past day there have been two cases that smack of the same scenario: (1) Al Davis vetoed his coaches' unanimous decision to cut 2009 2nd round draft super reach S Mike Mitchell, forcing them to cut Stevie Brown, a rookie whom the coaches and players became immediately enamored with. (2) While Seattle OL guru Alex Gibbs' resignation remains somewhat of a mystery and some are saying Gibbs must be burned out---there has been speculation that Gibbs was not happy with the way personnel decisions were being made. Curious too that on the day he resigned the Seahawks acquired T/G Stacey Andrews.
For those of you who have been watching HBO's Hard Knocks...there was one segment where the Jets' Chairman and CEO, Woody Johnson, is at practice and he asks ST coach Mike Westhoff about a player Woody is very high on and Westhoff in his surly, matter-of-fact no b.s. style says, "he's got all the world of talent, but he can't do sh-- as an NFL player."
The thing is---Woody did not look satisfied with that answer and seemed to practically beg Westhoff to give the kid another look. "OK," Westhoff acquiesced...while turning away with a "I'm wasting my time" look in his eyes.
Another interesting case in point regarding the Jets...there is a segment where Rex Ryan informs the viewers that the Jets' GM Mike Tannenbaum allows him to make one pick in the draft and Ryan proceeds to gloat---and deservedly so---over the the 5th round gem he discovered in FB John "The Terminator" Conner. Ryan says he was watching the film of another player and Connor just jumped off the film at him. "Here was this guy knocking the ever-livin' snot out of people," Ryan exclaims. And then they show footage of Connor doing just that in the Jets' practices and pre-season games. In fact, Ryan and Westhoff designed a little "Terminator" play on the kickoff team where Conner fakes one way and takes an angle to an opponent sprinting down the right hash mark and what you see is Conner hitting the player so hard that he gets airlifted five yards backward right on his keister. The coaches are all yelling and screaming in delight.
It makes you wonder...if Ryan can spot a fifth rounder like this...why don't they have Ryan make every or at least most of the picks? You know, the groceries???!
So how do we really KNOW that Leinart was being forced on Whiz by team management? We don't really know that...do we? Or do we?
The most compelling argument is how on two separate occasions---three years apart---Whiz announces in February that Leinart is the starting QB.
If we know anything about Ken Whisenhunt---we know that he is adamant about creating competition at all positions and that noone is ever "handed a job."
Three years ago, it made little sense to simply appoint Leinart as the starter after Kurt Warner had led the team to a 5-3 record the second half of the season while amassing a gaudy 28 points per game. Putting Leinart in competition with Warner made sense.
This year, based on what we all saw from Leinart last year, there HAD to be considerable doubt as to whether Leinart could cut it as the starting QB in Whiz' system. To simply appoint Leinart as the starting QB---in light of those doubts and Leinart's precarious contract situation (one exacerbated by what had just happen in the similar Antrel Rolle contract situation)---seemed conspicuously pre-mature and frankly unwarranted. Sure Leinart deserved his shot at the job---but to claim he was the clear frontrunner before any other moves were made was very odd---especially from Whiz. Whiz doesn't work that way.
So why did Whiz say all those great things about Leinart? What would you expect him to say about a player that he knows team management has $17M reasons to want to succeed?
It was very meaningful that yesterday Whiz said the decision to release Leinart was not one that was made quickly, but through considerable time. It was no wonder therefore why Whiz seemed very anxious to get something positive out of Derek Anderson in that first pre-season game---which is why Whiz subbed Anderson in as quickly as he could and then stayed with him as long as it took for Anderson to move the team.
Fortunately for Whiz and the team, since that first pre-season game Anderson has been showing signs of being able to move the team.
Yet---the most fortuitous result of what's evolved with the Cardinals' QB situation---and the cause for new-found optimism and excitement---is that Whiz (and Steve Keim) found what looks to be a real gem in 25 year old rookie Max Hall. Isn't it remarkable that Hall is about as opposite of Matt Leinart as one could get. Hall was not a top 10 draft pick, nor was he a Heisman Trophy winner. Hall wasn't even drafted. At the sign of pressure, Hall reacts quickly and decisively. When he passes the ball there is a crisp snap on his throws. When he enters the game the energy level magnifies and even jumps...as does the level of surprise...an lelemnt to Leinart's pro game that has been greatly lacking. Want to bet a "buffalo nickel" on that?
And let's not forget the rookie who is currently the #3. Because of his prototypical size and arm strength, John Skelton looks to have a promising future if and when he can adjust his sizeable skills to the NFL game.
The big difference now is...Whiz doesn't have to worry about team management anymore. Obviously, he was able to convince them that Leinart was not "his guy" and therefore should not be "their guy."
Kudos to team management---this is a very good sign on their part.
Which also means that Whiz can go ahead and play whomever he wants---even if it means turning the keys over to the rookie who apparently was, according to Whiz, "the best QB in camp."
Whiz did a pretty decent job with the last rookie QB he coached---and has a ring to prove it.
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