Cardinals, Seahawks battling for pride
Dec 29, 2011, 12:12 AM | Updated: 12:19 am
With a playoff spot no longer up for grabs for either team, the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks will be battling for pride this Sunday.
The similarities between the Cards and Seahawks are evident. Both teams have defeated tough opponents and played fiercely on their home turf.
While both teams have had success as the season progressed, head coach Ken Whisenhunt points out some key differences to each team’s winning strategy.
“They’ve had more success running the football lately, we’ve had a little bit more success throwing the football lately, especially in the fourth quarter,” Whisenhunt said.
“It’s a good matchup against two teams in a division that have played good football over the back half of the season.”
While the Cardinals are pushing for an 8-8 finish and a .500 season, a lot of that depends on quarterback John Skelton’s ability to limit his early struggles.
Whisenhunt believes Skelton has the makeup and talent to succeed in this league. The key for the youngster will be making the necessary adjustments to the more elite talent that the NFL possesses.
“In the NFL, it’s different,” Whisenhunt stated. “The athletes are different. You have to trust more what you see, know where you go with the ball and get it out of your hands.”
It’s only a matter of time before Skelton can add experience to his repertoire.
“John obviously has the ability to make some plays in this league,” Whisenhunt added. “He has the physical talents to play this position. As he gets more reps, as he gets older, the mental part of it catches up – he’s going to be a very good quarterback.”
The Cardinals hope Skelton can lead them to a victory in the season’s final game. For Whisenhunt and his staff, the chance to end this season on a high note is something they relish.
