YOU make the call: 2004 Quarterback?

[BIGDADDY_REDBIRD]

I agree with AZ240zz. I would love for us to make a strong attempt to signed Peyton Manning. (Provided he's not franchised of course) Then we still have our 1st round pick to give him 1 more offensive weapon, Fiztgerald, Roy Williams (etc). Even selecting Defense would be good (Sean Taylor). Probably won't happen though, So to answer the poll :anybody but Jeff Blake would be fine with me. I think we were all so frustrated with Plummer's play that we viewed anyone that came here as a upgrade. Wow were we wrong. (BLAKE) He's terrible. I really like that Ben Rothlisberger, saw him vs Colorado State this year. He reminded me of a young "Johnny Ball Game" John Elway..Very impressive.

 

[DieHardFromMO]

Russ,

Do you think there is any possibility of Dennis Green bringing in Jeff George to play QB for the Cardinals next season?

He had a pretty good year in his (1) season with the Vikings in 1999.

I know everybody hates Jeff George, but he has played under Dennis Green's system and he should be a UFA since he only signed the 1-year deal with the Seahawks.

 

[Southpaw]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
Because I believe in an open competition between McCown and either Manning or Ben, Blake would win the job in camp. Not to say he'd keep it all year, but I think he'd win the job in camp. Remember nobody EVER said Josh started the last 3 because he beat out Jeff, they all conceded he was starting to take a look at him. mac said it wasn't anything Blake did, Sullivan said it, Graves said it, even Josh said it. When you are 0-0 coming out of the preseason, it's going to be a lot harder for Josh to be the starter than we're you're 3-10.

Blake struggled mightily before being benched this past year, he's not as "exciting" as Josh, he doesn't move around as much, doesn't improvise as much. That said, he also dealt with a lot more adversity than Josh did since he started 13 games instead of 3 and he started the FIRST 13 games. When Sullivan was going through his on the job learning curve as OC, it was Blake who had to deal with it. Sure he takes part of the blame, but all the nonsense of getting plays in on time, plays that the defense knew from formation, WR's lined up incorrectly, injuries to WR's who were supposed to be starters, Shipp not playing etc. All of that impacted Blake alot more than it did josh because by the end of the year we'd sorted through most of that.

First 4 games Blake played fairly well, just had crucial mistakes at the worst possible times. He even played well in November statistically but realistically he wasn't moving the team or making big plays, he was playing like a QB who was afraid of making mistakes, and inevitably made them anyways. I think he simply had no faith in the system we were running, something he basically said when openly questioning the lack of deep balls etc.

That said I think with an experienced guy like Denny Green running the offense you'll see a lot better Jeff Blake this year, the guy that had a good TD to INT ratio most of his career before last year.

Josh certainly has the talent I just don't think he's experienced enough yet to run an offense for Denny Green when he has a veteran option like Blake. I do think ultimately Josh or the QB we draft if we do, will take the job, I've said all along Blake is the bridge to the next QB, I just don't think he'll lose the job in camp this year.

About the only way I see him NOT opening the season as the starter is if we're able to get good trade value for him. I think dumping him would be silly we'd take a caphit, get nothing in return, and the way the NFL is odds are someone this year is going to get a QB injured and having a guy like Blake to trade later would be valuable.

Oh my gosh. I think you are defending the indefensible by your statements about Blake.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by wallyburger
Oh my gosh. I think you are defending the indefensible by your statements about Blake.

Please elaborate.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by DieHardFromMO
Russ,

Do you think there is any possibility of Dennis Green bringing in Jeff George to play QB for the Cardinals next season?

He had a pretty good year in his (1) season with the Vikings in 1999.

I know everybody hates Jeff George, but he has played under Dennis Green's system and he should be a UFA since he only signed the 1-year deal with the Seahawks.

Don't know, he left Minnesota because they didn't want to commit big money to him with Culpepper on the bench. The thing is there's not alot of financial incentive to dump Blake, so to do it you have to be getting a CLEARLY better player. I'm not sure George is as long as he's been without playing.

Wouldn't shock me but I assume if Blake's not the starter it's because he's been beaten out by Josh or Eli or Ben etc, I don't really see us pursuing another starter in FA unless we're just convinced Eli and Ben will be gone on draft day.

You gotta remember, Green likes Jeff Blake for the same reason a lot of us did BEFORE this season, over his career he's been a solid QB, not a great one but one who has helped teams in Cincy, New Orleans and Baltimore turn around their offenses. He clearly didn't play well for Sullivan, but that doesn't mean he won't for Green. Just look at how much better Jake played this year for Shanahan and remember that Green has been somewhat close to Shanahan in terms of getting the most out of QB's. Nobody is saying keep Blake and make no attempt to upgrade at QB for the future, I just think right now Green probably feels like Blake is the best QB on his roster.

 

[Southpaw]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
Please elaborate.

I can't go through this again, besides saying there is so little
upside to Blake. He looked like a mummy out there. There may be 8 good QBs in the league and he isn't one of them. He is 34 years old and what you see is what you get. A recycled QB. This club needs to do something drastic about the offense and he isn't that. The attendance to Cards games is embarassingly low and Blake won't put fannies in the seats. If Green comes in here and keeps status quo with Blake as QB, then he has his scapegoat.

If the Cards don't keep Blake, then he will be out of the NFL.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by wallyburger
I can't go through this again, besides saying there is so little
upside to Blake. He looked like a mummy out there. There may be 8 good QBs in the league and he isn't one of them. He is 34 years old and what you see is what you get. A recycled QB. This club needs to do something drastic about the offense and he isn't that. The attendance to Cards games is embarassingly low and Blake won't put fannies in the seats. If Green comes in here and keeps status quo with Blake as QB, then he has his scapegoat.

If the Cards don't keep Blake, then he will be out of the NFL.

I doubt it, 34 years old just isn't that old in the NFL when you have a good arm. he probably won't have STARTING offers lined up if we let him go but other teams would want him, like Pittsburgh did this past year. Hell Billick might go after him again.

You asked me to elaborate on why I thought he'd win the starting job, I did, I asked you to elaborate on your comment and you "can't go through this again?" Isn't that a wee bit hypocritical?

I have never said he's the best QB in the NFL just that he's the best Qb on our roster and probably will be going into camp this year. The point is another coach might get much better play out of him than Jerry Sullivan did, you know the level of play they got from him in Cincy, New Orleans and Baltimore for example.

By the end of the year Josh was playing fairly well but can you even imagine how ugly it would have been this year if he'd started the first 13 games while Sullivan was reading "Offensive Coordinator for Dummies" and trying to decide if we were the Rams, the Ravens, or something in between? Watch the first Seattle game if you want an idea of how bad it would have been wiht a young Qb in such a screwed up offensive system.

 

[Southpaw]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
I doubt it, 34 years old just isn't that old in the NFL when you have a good arm. he probably won't have STARTING offers lined up if we let him go but other teams would want him, like Pittsburgh did this past year. Hell Billick might go after him again.

You asked me to elaborate on why I thought he'd win the starting job, I did, I asked you to elaborate on your comment and you "can't go through this again?" Isn't that a wee bit hypocritical?

I have never said he's the best QB in the NFL just that he's the best Qb on our roster and probably will be going into camp this year. The point is another coach might get much better play out of him than Jerry Sullivan did, you know the level of play they got from him in Cincy, New Orleans and Baltimore for example.

By the end of the year Josh was playing fairly well but can you even imagine how ugly it would have been this year if he'd started the first 13 games while Sullivan was reading "Offensive Coordinator for Dummies" and trying to decide if we were the Rams, the Ravens, or something in between? Watch the first Seattle game if you want an idea of how bad it would have been wiht a young Qb in such a screwed up offensive system.

No , I don't think it is hypocritical at all. I think talking about Blake is like beating a dead horse. He isn't going to get any better. If McCown had started the beginning of the year, MAYBE half way through the year, like Leftwich and other young QBS, he would have made some sort of breakthrough. MAYBE, he would have flopped. You like Blake, I don't. Blake is an old and tired subject in my estimation. He isn't with Cincinnatti or Baltimore for reasons. Call it salary, talent or attitude. He is working his way down and through the league. He is one of the many journeyman QBs in the league and the reason an infusion of young talent is needed at the position league wide. On top of that, if the Cards see nothing in McCown or Parsons they had better grab a QB with their top pick and grab Brunell or somebody with a better attitude and mentoring skills. Blake has huge warts.

The season is over and it sucked. I don't care to review games from last year, other than to say most of them were duds. Oh, by the way, one of our astute Pro Football commentators on WQAM, the Dolphin station, namely Jim Mandich broached the subject of The Cardinals , Greene and the team in general. In his estimation, the Cards decision was lame beyond belief and Green was a terrible choice.

P.S. You may be right that Blake will be chosen by Green , and that is one of the reasons why, I despise the Green choice. The safe choice for a guy with a 5 year contract.