Way To Screw The Pooch There, Arizona

The Cardinals forced 6 turnovers yesterday. They still lost 23-19, because they totaled less than 200 yards of offense and 7 first downs. Keep in mind, that's less than 200 yards even with LaRod Stephens-Howling rushing for 122 yards on 22 carries. Everyone keeps saying he can't hold up indefinitely as the primary back, but I'm certainly impressed with his attempt.

The passing game was abominable. Skelton started 2 of 7 for 6 yards, and when he missed Fitzgerald in the end zone, Whisenhunt benched him. For rookie Ryan Lindley. Who promptly went 9 of 20 for 64 yards. Oh, and he lost a fumble Atlanta returned for a touchdown. But you know what? It isn't his fault. It's Whisenhunt's.

Why put a rookie QB in, one who has never taken a snap in a regular season game? Against an 8-1 team, in said 8-1 team's stadium? When you're leading 13-0?!

I could understand if this had been like the last meeting between Atlanta and Arizona, when the Falcons lead by 3 TDs at the half. No reason not to try a rookie there (except you'll have to pass, and the Falcons' D will be bringing the house, and perhaps you want the rookie to survive the game). But they were actually winning. The defense was holding. Yes, it might be just a matter of time until Ryan and the Falcons broke through. But they'd have to do it twice to take the lead. While there was still plenty of time (it was the 2nd quarter) for them to do that, there was also plenty of time for Skelton to get it together. He's done this before. Played lousy for 3 quarters, then found his rhythm in the 4th quarter. Look at all the 4th quarter comebacks last year.

Now sometimes he doesn't find a groove. He's just terrible the entire game. But there was at least a chance, based on past history, he'd get it together. What chance was there Lindley wasn't going to be awful? Not much.

But Whisenhunt was making a point about accountability. Skelton played poorly, so he got benched. Swell. Where's Whisenhunt's accountability? Do I, as a Cardinals' fan of 20 years, one who has been willing to show patience with Skelton, get to punch Whisenhunt in groin for his poor decision making? Because it sure seems to me like he cost the team a win because he wanted to make some p.r. move of showing he's as frustrated as the fans are. You know what would make me less frustrated, Whiz? If the team stopped losing.

I have no idea if Skelton will ever amount to anything. I know his interception rate is down considerably from last year, but so is his TD rate, and his completion percentage is basically the same. I also know this was only his 17th NFL start, and the third he hasn't finished, whether because of injury or Whiz yanking him. Is that enough time to know what he's really capable of? I don't know. Skelton was a project when he was drafted, 2 to 3 years away from being ready, according to Whisenhunt himself. Well, this is year 3, so maybe Whisenhunt figures he ought to be "ready" now, whatever that means. I know QBs take time to develop. Sure, some of them, you know almost instantly they're good to go, or conversely, that they aren't. But not all.

Look at Cam Newton. #1 overall pick, he's made a half-season more starts than Skelton, and even after his tremendous rookie year, there are questions. Does he take too many sacks, is he self-centered, is he accurate, do losses bother him too much (which seems like a ridiculous complaint, but some people are ridiculous). Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, Christian Ponder, all young QBs, all with more starts than Skelton, all of whom have their good games and their bad. We don't know yet whether any of them will ever be top-flight QBs (though the evidence leans strongly towards "No" on Sanchez).

Maybe that's the answer right there. If they were top-flight QBs, we'd know by now, and since we don't, they aren't. It seems like more of a consistency issue, which feels like something solved with time. I remember years ago, when Marty was still coaching the Chargers, there were complaints he was starting Doug Flutie over Drew Brees (I was annoyed by these at the time, because I'ma Flutie fan, but they're valid complaints). Not because Brees was a super-awesome, all world QB. Because people knew what Flutie was after 70+ starts, but after roughly 30 starts, we weren't sure what Brees was. Seems kind of silly now, to doubt whether Brees could hack it as a starting QB, but there were questions at the time.

I'm not saying Skelton is Brees. There's very little chance of that, though I suppose the possibility exists. The point is, Whisenhunt told us Skelton would need time. I've seen enough flashes out of him I'm willing to give him time. It doesn't mean I don't get frustrated. If you've read these weekly reviews, you know I do. But I don't think we're far enough in his career yet to issue the final verdict. And I don't think there was any need to bench him in a game the Cardinals were still winning.