Why I am a DOPE!!!!

by toolman234 on Sep 5, 2010 8:52 PM MDT

Well the Matt Leinart era has come and gone, and I for one hope this is something that never has to be revisited again, because if it does, it can only mean bad things for our beloved Cardinals. Now, onto the reason we are all here:

Why I am a DOPE!!!

1) I didn't take Whiz at his word

Since 'W' has been here he has always stressed that he would put the best person at any given position as a starter at that position. EVERYTHING had to be earned. But, hey, all coaches say that. Only difference is Whiz means it and that is why I know this team will never fall to the depths of the league again as long as he is the coach. He is a 'win now' coach that also has both eyes looking 'down the road' at the same time, a rarity in the NFL, and we are lucky to have him.

But I knew in my heart that there was no way ML would accept being a back-up again on our team, at least not to start the season, and that would mean cutting him. Would Whiz cut the only QB left over from last year's squad? and go with 2 rookies as backups?? Yes and yes. It is a gamble, make no mistake. I mean what if DA gets hurt? Can anyone name me the last team the started an 'undrafted' rookie QB to start a game? Quick, someone look that up. But if it pays off and DA can put up even 55% TD's to 45% INT's we should have another successful year and repeat as division champs and have TWO QB's to build our future around, which is a real good thing....until the next QB controversy.

2) I put waaaaaay too much positive emphasis on the Tenn game last year

All the talk about how ML did in this game or that when the games were blowouts or meaningless were just that to me. Meaningless. The mindset of your team and the team you are playing against is completely different in a blowout then when you are starting from scratch with a full 60 mins to go. So to me, there was only one game to judge ML on and that was the Tenn game last year.

I've watched that game(mostly just the offense) at least 4X and I still think that ML had a very good game. He was told about an hour before gametime that he would be the starter, and for a guy who hadn't played much, did very well. I know the numbers don't look great, but in looking at the game, once he got going he was smooth as silk(finished the game on an 18-22 run and 197 yards), throwing pinpoint passes into tight coverage with a couple of drops thrown in. And they weren't just check-downs. There was a beautiful 30 yard pass to Ben Patrick in the 4th Q when they were backed up on their own 5 and nursing the 4 point lead, and I still say if not for the terrible holding penalty on Reggie Wells late in the 4th we would have run the clock out and won that game, which would have put ML in a whole nother light since Tenn was one of the hottest teams in the league coming into that game.

But, we didn't win the game. And for as well as I thought ML looked, the offense only scored 10 points, tied for our lowest output of the season, save the last game of the season vs GB. The most important thing for a team to do is win and the most important thing for an offense to do is score points, and with ML at the helm, we didn't do either. And in going back and looking at the 2007 games with Whiz as coach, we really didn't do much scoring in ML's injury-shortened season. In the 5 games ML played the offense produced a total of 56 pts while he was on the field. And even though they won 3 of his 5 starts, except for the Seattle game, ML wasn't very good.

3) Because I had the audacity to question the wisdom of guys like LB, BoogieMan and Walter M.

Yes, that's right...THE AUDACITY!!! I really thought you guys were just ML bashers and just running with the media herd. But you guys were right on the money. BTW, I want to give a hearty pat on the back to Walter. I went back and read his 53 man roster and he was almost perfect, even calling the trade of Reggie Wells. Well done, my friend.

4) Because I actually bought a Matt Leinart jersey in 2006

And for that reason alone, I am the most egregiously DOPEY bastard who has ever had the privilege to grace this fine website.

Well there you have it gentlemen. Anyone with anymore reasons, please fell free to add them on, I totally deserve it. Now let's get the season started and kick some 49er tail

SWAGGER LIVES!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Revenge of the Birds' (ROTB) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of ROTB's editors.

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You're a man of your word sir. I applaud you.

You weren’t the only one who was fooled. I too thought Leinart was going to come into this season as the undisputed leader of the team. I was under the misapprehension that he learned something from Warner’s mentorship. I also dismissed much of the negative press about him as b.s. written for the sake of ratings. How were we to know the depth to which his teammates disdained the man? All through the spring and summer every player backed Leinart in the media.

I can’t say I fell into the trap of putting too much faith in his performance against the Titans last season. He played okay for a guy who didn’t expect to start but didn’t move the offense well enough to score. I did think he played pretty well in his rookie season. As well as could be expected from a rookie anyway.

Bringing in Derek Anderson didn’t give any reason to think Leinart would be seriously challenged either. Not after the last 2 seasons he had in Cleveland. However, in having looked at their stats side by side I’m more inclined to believe that Whis made the right choice. My comfort level with DA is improved. I pulled these stats off a story at Bleacher Report. They compare Leinart’s rookie season with Anderson’s ’07 season.

Completion % ML 56.8, DA 56.5
% of passes intercepted ML 3.2, DA 3.6
QB rating ML 74, DA 82.5
Interception % Index (How the QB compared to the league, 100 is average, Over 100 is better than). ML 99, DA 91

These were put up to argue Leinart’s superior play. Not much difference it you ask me.
Here are some more stats from those 2 respective years that weren’t included in that story.

Games played/ Games started ML 12/11, DA 16/15
TD/INT/SCK ML 11/12/21 DA 29/19/14
Comp/Att/Yards ML 214/377/2,547 DA 298/527/3,787
TD % ML 2.9 DA 5.5
Yards per game ML 212.3 DA 236.7
Yards/Att, Yards/Comp ML 6.8/11.9 DL 7.2/12.7
Sack % (% of times sacked when attempting to pass) ML 5.3, DA 2.6
Sack % Index (Again 100 is avg, over 100 better than) ML 107, DA 123
TD % Index ML 88, DA 117
Comp % Index ML 88, DA 85

These stats all came from nfl.com and profootball reference.com.

I’m not too into stats but when you’re going to use them I think you should be comprehensive. Anyone can cherry pick numbers to suit their intent. I don’t think you can put too much stock in comparing 2 random years either, but for what it’s worth these are each the best year for both QBs.

To me Anderson looks favorable. Add to this the fact that he has a stronger arm, by far, than Leinart. Add to this that the team has confidence in him, confidence they clearly didn’t have in Leinart. Add to this the higher quality of offense Anderson is surrounded by here, especially in the quality of receivers we have. Niner fans can talk all the trash they want. I believe Anderson can flourish in Arizona (and for me that’s a big turn around).

Oh and by the way, in comparing Kurt Warner’s stats to Anderson’s ‘07 stats they are not far apart. If Anderson can get his completion percentage up they would fall in line with Warner’s. Now let’s just hope that 2007 wasn’t the aberration but rather that 2008-2009 was.

by hadrarius on Sep 5, 2010 10:46 PM MDT reply actions

+1

In your defense questioning my knowledge is usually the percentage play…

Agree with hadrarius, you’re a man of your word and I thought you did a great job on the article. I enjoyed the bet, it broke up a lot of the monotony waiting for the season to begin. Here’s to kicking the 49’ers ass this season!

by Long Beach on Sep 5, 2010 11:46 PM MDT up reply actions

+INFINITY

I’ve got to get a post together soon about a helluva tailgate before monday night….Wanna get ROTB banners and everything

by Cardsfan928 on Sep 6, 2010 1:10 AM MDT up reply actions

His rookie year showed a ton of promise

Like I said before, if Whiz used an offensive system like the one Denny Green used, Leinart probably would have been better. He just didn’t seem to fit Whiz’s offense very well.

I thought that he played very well in the Titans game for someone who only found out he would play a couple of hours before the game. After he got settled in he played well.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on Sep 5, 2010 10:57 PM MDT reply actions

I really don't think the O style had anything to do with it.

I think it had to do with his approach to the game.

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that." - Bill Shankly

by Jesse Reynolds on Sep 6, 2010 12:07 AM MDT up reply actions

I wil say....

He seemed a bit more gunshy after the injury

by Cardsfan928 on Sep 6, 2010 1:17 AM MDT reply actions

the truth will set you free

nice article man

by quid pro quo on Sep 6, 2010 8:26 AM MDT reply actions

On one of the earlier posts LB asked where the Leinart lackeys were.

As a reformed Leinart lackey I’m with Toolman. I was a dope, should always trust the Whiz, and am know an Anderson lackey.
Let’s get this thing started!

by Birdman from Mesa on Sep 6, 2010 10:52 AM MDT reply actions

*now

by Birdman from Mesa on Sep 6, 2010 2:11 PM MDT up reply actions

Seconded

Thanks for taking the heat for all the ML dopes!

by tw3kr on Sep 8, 2010 2:56 AM MDT up reply actions

Nice posting

But I don’t think your a dope.
Like many of us..your just a passionate Cards fan in the unheard of position of EXPECTING a playoff season. Changing our undisputed starting QB in the 3rd preseason game was a shock.
Whiz has so far, proven that he know’s what he’s doing.
BTW—I have 2 Leinart jersey’s (Home and Away)—thank god my wife never bought it in the new alternate as well.

by Cuckoo for Coco Puffs on Sep 6, 2010 1:42 PM MDT reply actions

Very nice post toolman

Hey maybe something to schedule at a future game, an “ROTB HEY IM A DOPE, TAILGATE/LEINART JERSEY BONFIRE” I would definately be there.

by Dem_Cardz on Sep 6, 2010 2:59 PM MDT reply actions

My internet is out so I have been MIA for a fews days...

I did want to check in though and was pleasantly surprised to read this article. It’s always nice to reaffirm how kick ass I am!

That’s sarcasm BTW

Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!

by boogatt66 on Sep 6, 2010 7:06 PM MDT reply actions