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The Progression of the Cardinals: Quarterbacks Part 1

Thanks to fellow ROTB'er, D4, ROTB is launching a new series. For the next few weeks, we will look at the progression of the positions from 1988 to 2012. This week we start with the Quarterbacks.

USA TODAY Sports

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.