Login

Register | Forgot Your Password? | Close
AP: 51d1d683-76ad-4880-9185-fd3f42000425
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) looks to pass against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
It's almost become a weekly ritual for Ken Whisenhunt in 2012.

On the Monday following losses this season, Whisenhunt is often bombarded with questions regarding the quarterback situation for the team's upcoming game.

Such is the life of a head coach whose team is 1-10 in its last 11 games. And after Sunday's 28-13 loss to the Chicago Bears -- one aided by poor quarterback play and costly turnovers -- Whisenhunt didn't get a free pass Monday.

Rookie Ryan Lindley went 17-of-30 for 141 yards, but despite showing signs of improvement, put the Cardinals in a deep hole to start the second half when he threw his third pick-six of the season to Charles Tillman.

Veteran Brian Hoyer, who was signed on December 10, also had some encouraging moments in his relief appearance of Lindley Sunday. The former Michigan State star completed 11 passes for 105 yards, but he wasn't immune to the turnover bug either, throwing a late fourth quarter interception.

The mixed results for both against Chicago left Whisenhunt without an answer Monday when asked who would get the nod when the team travels to play the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday.

"We haven't even watched the tape with the team yet," Whisenhunt said Monday. "I'm hesitant [to make a decision] until we go through some of those things. When we talk, there are always situations where you want to know what was going through the player's mind, what they were thinking, what causes them to do something. That all goes into the decision part of it."

If Hoyer does get the chance to start in Week 17, it would be his first career NFL start. The Cardinals would also be the only team this season to use four different starting quarterbacks.

Arizona's Week 1 starter, John Skelton, was inactive for Sunday's game against the Bears. And Kevin Kolb, who went 3-2 as a starter, has not played since suffering a season-ending rib/sternum injury in the fourth quarter of the team's Week 6 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

"It's unfortunate," said Whisenhunt of how the quarterback situation has played out this season. "With that position, you have to have stability, you have to have consistency of play, and we haven't had that.

"I think the thing that has been the hardest are the turnovers, especially the turnovers for points. You can't overcome that, not every week."

Since starting the season 4-0, the Cardinals have given up seven defensive touchdowns in their last 11 games.

5 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
  • Add A Comment 
  • Abuse
    shava wrote...
    Disaster!!
    In my opinion the QB situation started last year. With the team finishing 7-2 and knowing you whould have a QB competition in 2012,finishing 24th in rushing. Not to improve the running game was disasterous, either Kolb or Skelton with a good running game and a much improved Defense whould have made the Cardinals a playoff team.
  • Abuse
    hm wrote...
    Interesting
    The QB turn table started 3 years ago. It will be interesting to see what kind of news comes from ownership a week from today. Can't wait.
  • Abuse
    JW L. wrote...
    Whisenhunt not ready to name starting qb?
    Who cares? I am more interested in whether the Bidwill's are ready to name a new coach. They have a strong contender in Horton, but I bet he can't wait to leave this losing situation. Wonder who the retread coach will be?
  • Abuse
    OpinionH8d wrote...
    Clean House
    Hoyer is the obvious and only choice that makes any sense. Whiz should know that. This thing needs an entire overhaul from the top down. Graves, Whiz, Miller, Grimm- see ya. Beanie, Skelton, Lindley and the entire OL except Massie and Potter. Kolb's not coming back at his $9M base and you can't get a QB, RB and new OL without doing something drastic. That something drastic is trading Fitz. Sad but absolutely necessary. No other logical trading pieces.
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    AWOL
    Idk if Horton even wants to be a Head Coach for such a badly ran orginization like the Cards. I could see EVERYBODY jumping ship (asking to be released or traded) after this year. Depending on what they do with the GM and HC positions at the end of this year will determine which players will ask to be released or traded. We're about to see how "commited to winning" the Cards truly are at the end of the season.
close

Share: