Broncos Need To Respect Leinart's Arm
by Don Schwartz, DenverBroncos.com
(CBS4/DenverBroncos.com) ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Quarterback in the NFL is a marquee position on most weekends.
However, extra attention will be directed towards the signal callers on both sides when the Broncos take on the Cardinals this Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.
With Denver (7-6) trading up in this summer's NFL Draft to take Jay Cutler with the 11th selection and Arizona (4-9) selecting Matt Leinart with the 10th pick, the clubs took two of the premier quarterback prospects in the draft in consecutive selections.
"I think it's a new era," Cardinals head coach Dennis Geen said. "It's all about sports and entertainment now and what you like is that they're competitors. It really helps if guys who bring a higher profile and play big-time football -- they make a lot of money, but also they're very competitive. So I think that's what's been exciting for the National Football League.
"They're a lot higher profile than some of the starting quarterbacks in the National Football League right now, regardless of what school they came from. They know a lot more about the National Football League than guys knew coming into the league five or six years ago. So it's a new league and they have a lot more pressure on them. They play earlier, they're expected to win earlier, they have more media attention earlier, but I think they know how to handle it better, too."
While Cutler will be making his third professional start, Leinart has been under center for the Cardinals since Week 5.
The former USC Trojan and Heisman Trophy winner has improved with each game and has his team on a role. After dropping eight of their first nine games, Arizona has won three of their past four.
"He actually had pretty good games the first games," Cardinals head coach Dennis Green said. "He had Kansas City and Chicago where he did pretty well. I think he had a couple other games that were a little rocky maybe, but I think he's played pretty consistent. He's got a lot of starts in now, he's very competitive, has a good handle on what we are trying to do offensively and I think he'll just keep getting better."
For Leinart, part of his quick success can be attributed to the pro-style system he ran under former NFL head coach Pete Carroll.
"I think it's getting easier week in and week out," Leinart said. "There are differences, but I think my preparation and my coaching that I got in college has helped me, obviously, make the transition a lot easier.
"Just with the play calling we had, the system we ran -- the pro-style system like you're talking about -- seeing a lot of defenses in practice. All sorts of variables go into that. I definitely think it's helped me out. I had a few games here this season where I struggled and now I'm starting to feel real comfortable with just the offensive system. It takes time even when you change systems and terminology and stuff like that, but I feel good."
Leinart's transition to the NFL has also been helped by the many offensive weapons at his disposal.
Arizona possesses arguably the league's top receiving trio with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson.
"They've got the finest receiving corps -- between them and Indianapolis -- in this league," Defensive Coordinator Larry Coyer said. "Big, strong, fast - all No. 1s. So they're really talented. You put his ability to check, and then the running game opens up all of a sudden, and they've done a great job with it, too."
Not to be forgotten, the Cardinals also made the biggest splash in this off-season's free agency pool when they acquired former Colts running back Edgerrin James. Though he struggled to find his groove early in the season, James -- who had more than 1,500 yards in each of the previous two seasons and has more than 10,000 for his career -- is on pace for his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season.
"Week in and week out we play against extraordinary backs; we understand the challenge ahead of us," Al Wilson said. "Arizona is playing great football right now, they are very confident in what they are doing and they are feeling about where they are at. For us going out to Arizona, we are definitely going to have to stop the running game, first and foremost and try to put the game in (Matt) Leinart's hands. We definitely want to make them a one-dimensional team."
With the Cardinals coming off a win against Seattle in which James recorded his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game, the offensive line did not allow a sack and Leinart completed 21 of 34 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, the Denver defense knows they'll be facing a team better than their record shows.
"They have all the weapons in place to be a very explosive, if not the most explosive offense in the NFL," Wilson said. "That says a lot because there are a lot of great players out there. The nucleus of guys that they have, they can be great. I think they are starting to show that now as far as how they are moving the ball and how they are scoring points. Defensively we are going to have to be very sound in what we do, try to play mistake free football and everybody get to the football and hope for the best."
Though the Cardinals statistically rank towards the bottom in most defensive categories, the numbers hide talented players such as defensive end Chike Okeafor, defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, cornerback Antrel Rolle and safety Adrian Wilson.
Wilson's eight sacks last season were the most in NFL history by a defensive back since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. This season, the 2005 Pro Bowl alternate is tied for second place among the league's defensive backs with 146 interception yards to go along with his four picks, one touchdown and three forced fumbles.
Arizona's defense took a major blow when it lost defensive end and former Bronco Bertrand Berry for the season. Berry suffered two torn muscles in his right triceps following a 17-10 win over the Lions on Nov. 19. The 2004 Pro Bowler had six sacks, 20 tackles, three forced fumbles, and three pass deflections prior to his injury.
