ProFootballCentral.com

By PFC Cardinals Writer Kelley Smelser

Seems the QB competition is the focus but not the problem in Arizona .  Our Quarterbacks are on track for a fantastic season in the NFCW. The entire offense seems on track to be ready to compete on opening day. I would not be surprised to see both starting QB’s playing in games this year but, for different reasons than last year. Simply we could be better as a team with 2 QB’s executing tailored packages, and Ken Whisenhunt is just the coach to direct it.

Thank you ESPN Monday Night Football for a better production in the Monday night game. The game seemed to be more the focus than the personality and interviews.

Kurt Warner got the start Matt Leinart got to play. Kurt was 6-9 for 54 net yards and had a QB rating of 82.6. Matt was 7-11 for 62 net yards and 1 TD pass and had a QB rating of 108.9 for the game. St. Pierre was 4-4 for 40 net yards and 1 TD pass and had a QB rating of 147.9 Morelli was 1-1 for 7 net yards and had a QB rating of 95.8.

Kurt did get to start and I believe Coach was right by him. He got to start the game with the first team offense as promised in the spirit of competition. It is not the same as throwing Kurt in after Matt started. Matt got that pleasure after Kurt started.

Kurt is graded as a starting QB in the NFL there is no doubt about that. Kurt hung in and found timing and game management on the next series. This is preseason at its best preparing all for the season opener. Kurt would start as QB for half the teams in the NFL right now and is better than starting QB’S for 3/4 of the teams in the NFL right now. Cards just may not be 1 of theses teams! My friends that is beautiful! The whole team looked solid but just good no greatness showing up in first 2 preseason games except maybe at rookie RB and FB, Tim Castille won the job if he can block consistently.

Tim Hightower is earning a back up job to Edge the hard way. A one cut and charge for the end zone or bust approach. JJ Arrington put up a nice return but he is filling a role as a 3rd down back. Everybody asking for speed from the Cards running back and Arrington has it. Is he an every down back like Edge for sure and Hightower wants to be? Nope but he can fill a role and make the offense better as a whole. Edge looks to be in better shape every year in Arizona against the odds and the Naysayers. He’ll get his 20-25 carries a game and he is not as pedestrian as some would like to chant. He knows exactly what to do in every situation and knows whether to dive or knock the snot out of the defense appropriately. I expect more carries, yards, td’s and respect than last year  in 08.

TE’S Pope and Ben Patrick are having a classic camp battle but once again they both have different styles and are improving at blocker. They will both see a lot of playing time and makes for a versatile offense. Lyle Sendlein is trying to keep the job that Al Johnson surrendered to injury. I can very well see Al backing up again if not this year next for sure. Deuce is struggling with the new power zone scheme  put did pull a couple times and was devastating. Levi and Wells are solid both run and pass and Gandy is showing good effectiveness and consistency. Look out for Keith he’s been an animal in camp and Grimm knows just how to tame him. a Thank God for preseason it is why the NFL is so fantastic opening day.

Brandon Moore still may not make our team much less start. Hayes looked inconsistent in the KC game which is not normal. Hayes is one of the best players on our team quietly. Dansby talked about the confusion with the green dot in his helmet. We are loaded with talent but the scheme is still to fancy Clancy for me most of the time even in the base. These Lb’s are out of position and asked to do things that sacrifice the integrity of there position 1/2 the time. KC ran and short passed us to smithereens again we tightened up in the red zone but rarely slowed their 1st team down. It seems like everybody is doggin Branch. Does it take 2 to move him? I seen him in the saints game hold position with 2 blockers and thought it was good work to occupy 2 blockers and let the LB/DL clean up from the outside in! Last year he had 1 arm but still clogged the middle and made plays quite far away from the line for a NT. That is fairly good for a 2nd year NT that was hurt as a rookie. It is not an easy position in the 3-4 in fact it is the key position. I guess some are expecting a lot more from the young NT?

Q has his shoulders squared and is burning bridges with the Cardinals with the same tenacity he plays with. I love his play but the Miami is coming out in him! He’s talking about a slap in the face, when he is doing the slapping. The 10 million signing bonus seemed pretty good at the time. To attack the coach like this is a sure way to get what he wants and his character grade took an overnight beating. This is a business works both ways and he is the 2nd best receiver on this team.

“At this point we have no relationship, and I don’t see that changing,” Boldin told NFL Network. “It’s just gotten to a point where I think lines were crossed. “If you ask me, coaches should be coaches, management should be management, and I don’t think those lines should be crossed. But when you cross those lines, you put yourself in position for things like this to happen.” “They made different promises saying they would take care of me,” Boldin said. “It all goes back to last year, even before camp. I sat in on a meeting with Whisenhunt and the (team owners) Bidwills, and their exact words were they wouldn’t let me go into this season without a new deal. “Well, here we are a year later and still no new deal. The deals they put on the table were slaps in the face as opposed to deals that would take care of me. For me, it’s an uncomfortable situation. I feel lied to by the organization. It’s hard for them to ask me to give me my all when it hasn’t been reciprocated.” “As long as I’m here, I can’t see myself as a happy member of this organization at all, not with this situation being what it is. I don’t see it being rectified, either. The relationship with me and the organization is done. I’m here to uphold my contract, that’s it.”

I heard on 620 radio, They said Q said he has played his last game as a Cardinal! I don’t know if they were confused about him saying he would not sign a new contract at the end of this contract. I love Q but the Cards can not tie up over 20% of the cap on 2 receivers and expect to win. Q was offered a fair contract with 3 years left on his current and turned it down. It’s not just more but how much more does he feel he deserves. Fitz is 24 and Q is 28 I believe.

If he would have signed before, Fitz would have been the odd man out. Q played these cards “all in” nobody else has. 30 million guaranteed to him and Fitz is not feasible I have been saying this for years and thought the last time he signed a contract put us in great salary cap place. But nope all the reasons we were in great cap shape for years to come was DREW Rosenhaused out of us.

We should have signed BJ for 4 years 20 million before he left and then we would be in better bargaining position. It was a huge gamble to let BJ go to the Niners for 2 million for 1 year. None of the other receivers can take the pressure off Fitz for the long haul.

Bill will make Q sit that is just the way it is, he will sit down in his prime or honor his contract. Mr. B will be blamed but unless another team offers something worth Q’s value like a pro bowl player in his prime or a #1 and #2 draft picks. Q may see old school because Bill Bidwill will take the heat again, For the good of the NFL.

I seem the loan Cardinal fan that grades BJ as a Pro Bowl receiver in 08. Q and Fitz have really missed him clearing the field with the sprints. He did as more good for the team without the ball in his hands. My talent grades stay the same as last 2 years BJ OVERALL will challenge Q and Fitz for the pro bowl IF THE QB plays decent.

HOW I get there
These are all big receivers only Randy Moss and perhaps TO grade higher as BIG receivers. There are smaller WR’S that compete with speed and quickness but do not have elite qualities with this size.
BJ is faster and quicker than Q and Fitz
BJ is more physical than Fitz much less than Q.
BJ is more acrobatic than Q less than Fitz
BJ hands are average but Q and Fitz’s hands are elite.
BJ has the highest character grade of the 3 receivers.
The character was nullified at the Cards but will be a huge asset in the Niners locker room. He will make others around him including whichever QB better.  BJ dropped 4 balls a year in AZ and was dogged for it! He was running deeper difficult routes within the deep threat role. Even if he doubles his numbers by mere opportunity to be a 1 or a 2, he challenges for pro bowl. Opposing defenses had to game plan for BJ as the Cards 3 WR. It lighten up the load on WR’S, TE’S and in the box on running plays. I expect him to catch at least 80-100 for over 1300 yards and 8 TD’S for a so so 49ers offense and get a huge contract and compete for the pro bowl for the next 5 years.

Kelley Smelser