Quote:
Originally Posted by GTripp0012
It could be seen as nitpicking, but it's not: Leinart didn't play on a good Cardinals team. He was the backup QB on a good Cardinals team, who started just one game on two teams that went to the playoffs. Leinart played on a Cardinals team every bit as bad as the worst Browns teams in the last decade, and a lot worse than the 2007 Browns offense, which was pretty good independent of it's quarterback, if only for ten games. Boldin was already a very good receiver when Leinart got in (and his stats reflect that), but Fitzgerald became an elite player in the 2008 playoffs, well after Leinart was buried, and certainly not because of Leinart.
I also really don't like the argument about quarterbacks seeing the field or not. Didn't like it with Campbell, and don't like it with Leinart because it assumes far too much. Even if there is a field vision problem, the only thing that fans can do (and game tape does not help with this) is presuppose that it's correct. And that's fallacious thinking.
For example, I can say from game tape that Mark Sanchez absolutely can't throw to his left. He's terrible there, both on film and on the stat sheet. There's nothing, however, to suggest that he has a vision problem to the left side. That's possible, but assuming as much would be wrong.
With that said, Leinart likely is who he is. He's a very good backup in this league, and probably a marginal starter. He may just be Jason Campbell, without the running ability to extend drives when you have coverages that can take away your best targets on third down. And ultimately, the Cards are going to have to try to improve on that.
But I disagree with Ken Whisenhunt (who has certainly earned the right to guess wrong at least once with his QB) that this decision can be made independent of Derek Anderson. Because that's who you have. I don't think he's necessarily wrong on Leinart, but this is how you take the revenue gained from at least making the playoffs in an absolute gimme division, and cost your franchise that revenue: by making decisions like this one.
And I think your points here are good ones: the best QBs take their shots at the deeper plays when they need to. But while it's safe to assume that Larry Fitzgerald is going to get open downfield a couple times a game no matter what coverage the other teams play, it's not going to be Derek Anderson's added ability to find him that makes the difference in the Cards season. It's going to be the negative plays that Anderson routinely makes on plays where Fitzgerald is well-covered that will have them losing a game for every one they win.
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I really like and agree with your assessment of Leinart above and comparing him to Campbell.
However, I used the word vision for lack of a better word when trying to describe my dislike of Leinart's throwing decisions and mental progression in the passing game. I feel like there was a noticeable difference between Leinart and Kurt Warner. I don't really care or have a preference between Leinart or Anderson. I just see Anderson as a slightly more confidant Qb and it reflects in his play, even when he f's up. Leinart looks like he playing not to F-up.
Then to top it off Leinart acted out when he was demoted. To the press no less. His ego is bigger than the team.