The Progression of the Cardinals: Quarterbacks Part 1

1988: The Cardinals were no longer in St. Louis, instead coming to Arizona and being named the Phoenix Cardinals. In 1988 we saw Neil Lomax take the Cardinals to a 7-7 record after being 7-4 at one point. He sustained an injury and Cliff Stoudt would fill in going 0-2.

Name	Completions	Attempts	Completion %	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
Neil Lomax	255	443	58	3395	20	11
Cliff Stoudt	63	113	56	747	6	8

Gene Stallings, the then Cardinals HC, did not pursue a Quarterback in free-agency following a Neil Lomax injury, leaving Cliff Stoudt, and rookie Tom Tupa at Quarterback. The Cardinals finish '88 with a 7-9 record for 3rd in the NFC East.

1989: Neil Lomax left the team, leaving the Cardinals with a mess at the position... Gary Hogeboom, Tom Tupa, and Timm Rosenbach.

Name	Completions	Attempts	Completion %	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
Gary Hogeboom	204	364	56	2591	14	19
Tom Tupa	65	134	49	973	3	9
Timm Rosenbach	9	22	41	95	0	1

This reminds me of 2013 a little bit. Just less ugly as we went 5-11 but not the 4-0 start to give us hope. We wrap up '89 with a 5-11 record for 4th in the NFC East.

1990: Timm Rosenbach would remain on the roster from 1989 and be the only QB during that season carrying us to a 5-11 season.

Name	Completions	Attempts	Completion %	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
Timm Rosbenach	237	437	54.2	3098	16	17

Not a horrible stat line, but only enough for a 5-11 record, and dead last in the NFC East at 5th.

1991: Tom Tupa finally takes over, and it is ugly.

Name	Completions	Attempts	Completion %	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
Tom Tupa	165	315	52	2053	6	13
Stan Gelbaugh	61	118	52	674	3	10
Chris Chandler	25	50	50	289	1	2

Yet again our season is horrible as we go 4-12, putting them dead last in the NFC East.

1992: For the fourth straight season we have a different quarterback to start the season.

Name	Completions	Attempts	Completions %	Yards	Touchdown	Interceptions
Chris Chandler	245	413	59	2832	15	15
Timm Rosenbach	49	92	53	483	0	6

Cardinals went 4-12 in the NFC East dropping them to 5th in the division.

1993:

Name	Completions	Attempts	Completion %	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
Steve Beuerlein	258	418	62	3164	18	17
Chris Chandler	52	130	51	471	3	2

The Cardinals had a 7-9 record that season, coming in fourth in the NFC East, but lost 8 games by seven points or less. Sound familiar?

1994:

Name	Completions	Attempts	Completion %	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
Steve Beuerlein	130	255	51	1545	5	9
Jay Schroeder	133	238	56	1510	4	7
Jim McMahon	23	43	54	219	1	3

Steve Beuerlein becomes the first quarterback since Neil Lomax to start back to back seasons. Cardinals had an 8-8 record in 1994, for 3rd best in the NFC East. Buddy Ryan begins his stint as Cardinals HC.

1995:

Name	Completions	Attempts	Completion %	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions
Dave Krieg	304	521	58	3554	16	21

I see where Rex Ryan picks up his "stick with the worst quarterback" syndrome. This is the year I was born and it didn't help the Cardinals chances. Cardinals finished with 17 points per game, 27th out of 30 in the league, while finishing dead last giving up 422 points.

I plan to split this portion of the series into two, because there is a lot of back story with these quarterbacks. I became a Cardinal fan in 2002, when I was but a wee seven-year old so I ask those of you... elder individuals within the community to give your feedback on these guys from 1988-1995. The only guy I know of is Neil Lomax and that's due to his successes and failures in the desert.

I'll be sure to have Part 2 up by no later than Friday.