Kevin Kolb And John Skelton To Compete For 2012 Starting Job

by Jess Root on Feb 20, 2012 1:00 PM MST in General Arizona Cardinals News

In what was perhaps something we at the site overlooked in the radio interview on Thursday that Rod Graves and Ken Whisenhunt had on Arizona Sports 620, Coach Whisenhunt discussed the impending quarterback situation in 2012.

Guess what? It is what most of us think it should be -- a competition.

Said Whisenhunt:

"Both guys are going to get opportunities because John certainly deserves it from the way that he played over the back half of the season and Kevin certainly deserves it from the reason that we went out, got him, and brought him in."

Comparing overall performance, neither one nor the other really showed they were the better candidate. For that reason, and to reward what Skelton was able to accomplish, they will get an open competition.

This is exactly what Whisenhunt's philosophy has always been -- competition raises the level of play.

The question is how each will react. Kurt Warner thrived with the competition. Matt Leinart withered.

The question yet to be seen is if one will pull ahead of the other.

Keep up with Cardinals news and opinions when you are not on the site. Follow Revenge of the Birds on Twitter at @revengeofbirds and "like" us on Facebook. You can follow me individually at @senorjessroot.

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Good decision by Coach Whiz

But I’m guessing this means an end to Manning Talk.

Joe Saunders: "They Giants played a really good game, so hats off to us"

by Skii on Feb 20, 2012 1:09 PM MST reply actions

Nope, we will find a way to keep it going

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

Leading the NFL in swagtangibles

by JoeCB1991 on Feb 20, 2012 1:22 PM MST up reply actions

I don't think so

Our team can’t say anything without tampering, other than saying they are always looking at ways to improve the roster (including QB position). I personally felt like we left the door open to that still because they didn’t say we ARE signing Kolb.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Feb 20, 2012 2:28 PM MST up reply actions

Not at all

This is what he suppose to say. When Graves talk about the QB he sound like things could change.

by MarcusJC on Feb 20, 2012 1:21 PM MST reply actions

Whiz would also say that CC, Fitz and Adub have to "compete" for their starting jobs in camp as well, if he was asked

That’s his mantra. I wouldn’t read into it very much at all.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 20, 2012 2:27 PM MST reply actions

If Manning lands in Arizona, do you really think Kolb & Skelton will be competing for anything? Of course Whiz isnt going to say anything to undermine the confidence of his quarterbacks. We already know how fragile Kolb is.

by Shaner021 on Feb 20, 2012 3:09 PM MST reply actions

IF

PM doesn’t end up a Cardinal then Kolb will pull away with the starting role. With a full off season things will click with him and he’ll do a great job, we will get a legit #2 WR for him to throw to along with Fitz, and upgrade the O line to try and keep him healthy. Along with our D, I feel we will be in the hunt for the NFC West.
Kolb will end up being a pretty good QB and a lot of people will look back and realize they didn’t give him a chance with such a different off season last year with him not getting any real work with his new team.

by defense_dad on Feb 20, 2012 3:21 PM MST via iPhone app reply actions

I hope you're right about getting the #2 WR.

I have a bad feeling they will do with the WR group as they have done with the O-line, try to make something out of nothing.

by hadrarius on Feb 20, 2012 4:33 PM MST up reply actions

I hope I am too.

Makes sense to give either QB more capable targets. Double dose in our running game will help A LOT. Play action will take stress away from the QB and help the WR’s.

by defense_dad on Feb 20, 2012 7:40 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions

This is fantastic,

one step closer to Kolb no longer being a Cardinal.

Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.

by INSOMAN1ATIC on Feb 20, 2012 3:55 PM MST reply actions

Because there was such a difference in QB play this year, right?

They had almost identical stats (Kolb even had better stats). Nobody’s leading anyone at this point.

Joe Saunders: "They Giants played a really good game, so hats off to us"

by Skii on Feb 20, 2012 5:23 PM MST up reply actions

As Inso would say... It's all about the Wins.

by Alex Mann on Feb 20, 2012 5:44 PM MST up reply actions

Indeed....

Similar stats, lopsided records.

Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.

by INSOMAN1ATIC on Feb 20, 2012 6:07 PM MST up reply actions

Similar stats, one QB got more starts with the new defense than the other

Joe Saunders: "They Giants played a really good game, so hats off to us"

by Skii on Feb 20, 2012 6:48 PM MST up reply actions 4 recs

+1!!!!

by defense_dad on Feb 20, 2012 7:40 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions

Comparing the two last season is pointless. there are to many variables

by defense_dad on Feb 20, 2012 7:42 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions

New defense?

Seriously? Let it go, one of the Qb’s didn’t get hot until the second half, and the other got ice cold in the second. Tit for Tat

Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.

by INSOMAN1ATIC on Feb 20, 2012 8:05 PM MST up reply actions

kolb only played 1 game in the second half and we won

But he did have the lead against NYG, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and our defense completely faltered it away in all 3 of those situations. Jay feely lost us the first Seattle game by missing two FGs and us losing only by a FG. I dont remember the Washington game much.

But those are 4 games Kolb put us in position to win, only to have our defense give up the leads.

by cgcardzfan on Feb 20, 2012 8:30 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

Feely missed a FG after we lost by what 2?

by Alex Mann on Feb 20, 2012 8:32 PM MST up reply actions

The losses you mentioned

the defense didn’t help matters, but the offense going completely stagnant also didn’t help either

Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.

by INSOMAN1ATIC on Feb 20, 2012 9:20 PM MST up reply actions

Okay but going against a Baltimore and Pittsburgh defense

You can’t expect our offense to dominate. They did their job by putting points on the board, our D failed us.

by cgcardzfan on Feb 20, 2012 9:51 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

I do think Skelton out played Kolb slightly

If only for the fact that he took care of the ball better. But I’m not for one and against the other, I want whichever one is truly the better QB to play. Looking forward to having them battle it out in training camp and may the better QB win! That’s how I feel about it

by cgcardzfan on Feb 20, 2012 10:02 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

14 interceptions is taking care of the ball better?

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

Leading the NFL in swagtangibles

by JoeCB1991 on Feb 20, 2012 10:17 PM MST up reply actions

I assumed he was talking about fumbles

Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.

by INSOMAN1ATIC on Feb 20, 2012 10:19 PM MST up reply actions

Yes, fumbles

Interceptions are gonna happen. No reason to fumble the ball.

by cgcardzfan on Feb 20, 2012 10:46 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

Really a turnover is a turnover

Stuff happens, and be it a fumble or an INT, we’re giving the other team the ball. both QBs need to make better decisions with the ball in hand

Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68

by GreaZzy on Feb 20, 2012 10:48 PM MST up reply actions

They both count as the same TO in my book

But whatevs

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Feb 20, 2012 11:53 PM MST up reply actions

Ill break it down easy

Skelton=INTs
Kolb=INTs+FUMs

One of those guys is making more mistakes then the other, guess who.

by cgcardzfan on Feb 21, 2012 3:30 AM MST via mobile up reply actions

The team only lost 3 of Kolb's 8 fumbles though

Skelton had two, but he only lost one of them. So…

Kolb turnovers: 11

Skelton turnovers: 15

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

Leading the NFL in swagtangibles

by JoeCB1991 on Feb 21, 2012 10:35 AM MST up reply actions

^^^^

Yeah

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Feb 21, 2012 2:43 PM MST up reply actions

luckily we only lost 3

Fumbling the ball in general is a bad trait and gets guys benched all the time. No matter if we recover the rock or not, the fact is the player lost ball security. Remember when we played the Ravens and they benches Ray Rice for most of the game for fumbling the ball a couple times even tho he recovered?

Kolbs fumbles were directly responsible for the tragedy that was AZ v MIN

by cgcardzfan on Feb 21, 2012 6:06 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

I can live with a QB throwing an INT

It comes with the job. Drew Breeze and Eli Manning have been INT machines in the past. But not fumbling the ball, just cannot happen.

by cgcardzfan on Feb 21, 2012 6:09 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

Skelton= More INTs, less fumbles
Kolb= More fumbles, less INTs

Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68

by GreaZzy on Feb 21, 2012 1:56 PM MST up reply actions

Nope Defense had nothing to do with the success of a young inexpericed mediocre QB

by defense_dad on Feb 20, 2012 8:57 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions

If you call whatever Skelton did this year getting hot

Then over 75% of the league is hot all the time. Seriously, both our QBs were not good enough

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Feb 20, 2012 9:17 PM MST up reply actions

If our massive fanpost proved anything....

It’s that both QB’s were below average and the statistical difference between the two was negligible.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 21, 2012 12:05 PM MST up reply actions

I thought it would

But some people are just HUGE homers for whoever they like. I guess some things will never change! I just want to see how they look next season already because I hope we can fill our QB hole with one of these 2 guys for the future.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Feb 21, 2012 2:45 PM MST up reply actions

and Manning for the present

Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68

by GreaZzy on Feb 21, 2012 3:21 PM MST up reply actions

That would be nice haha

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Feb 21, 2012 8:00 PM MST up reply actions

We are like the Tebow fans in Denver sometimes

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

Leading the NFL in swagtangibles

by JoeCB1991 on Feb 21, 2012 10:39 PM MST up reply actions

Graves' comments left the situation wide open still.

It’s hard to read anything into what either of these guys say. They so rarely let themselves be pinned down.

by hadrarius on Feb 20, 2012 4:36 PM MST reply actions

This is good for Skelton

But barring injury, Kolb will win hands down. Skelton is mentally unprepared to be a starter by next year

by CanadianCard on Feb 20, 2012 5:33 PM MST reply actions

Wasting precious time with Manning...

Kolb and Skelton will do well in 2012. Kolb will start several games and get hurt. Skelton will step in and get the final games he needs to push over the top and be the starter for years to come. The Cardinals will pick up another QB in the draft. Kolb will either stay as backup to Skelton or move on. Somewhat of a repeat as 2011 but with 2 more wins. 10 and 6. Playoffs maybe. If we make the playoffs we win the first game. That’s my best guess today.

by MooseTheDog on Feb 20, 2012 6:49 PM MST reply actions 1 recs