Login

Register | Forgot Your Password? | Close
Could the solution to the Arizona Cardinals' quarterback woes be as simple as fixing the offensive line?

While no one can be 100 percent certain, new Cardinals coach Bruce Arians told ESPN's Mike Sando he believes Kevin Kolb, who would appear to be the favorite for the job if he remains on the roster, can be solid if kept upright.

Said Arians:

I'm looking forward to meeting with Kevin and we'll cross that bridge as soon as we have to. I've seen enough film to know that he is good enough, but we have to protect him a lot better. When he is healthy, he has had some good moments. He has had some not-so-good moments. We have to protect him better, run the ball better.

Cardinals quarterbacks were sacked an NFL-high 58 times last season, with Kolb being taken down 27 times in just six games.

And that number doesn't include the number of times he was pressured or hit after releasing the ball, so suffice to say he took quite a beating before being lost for the season to injury.

Prior to going down in Week 6 against the Bills, Kolb was putting together a productive season, completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 1,169 yards and eight touchdowns. He had only been picked off three times, and had a QB Rating of 86.1.

However, Kolb has played in just 15 of a possible 32 games over the last two seasons, making his durability a looming and very real question mark.

Which is why Arians knows, should he deem Kolb worthy of the starting job, protection up front is of the utmost importance.

Adam Green, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

7 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
  • Add A Comment 
  • Abuse
    STEVE88 wrote...
    offensive line is truly offensive
    welcome to the DRAMA that is the 2013 NFL draft.......playing the part of perennial ALL PRO joe thomas of the cleveland browns is Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M AND playing the part of penn state's Levi Brown is none other than Eric Fisher of Central Michigan..........PLEASE!!! DO NOT go down the same road again AND DRAFT the 2nd best offensive lineman available. TRADE a draft pick AND move up to #4(philadelphia) and get joe thom.....errr, i mean Luke Joeckel. Left tackle for the next 10 years??.......PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!
  • Abuse
    shava wrote...
    Cardinals as usual?
    Is Arians going with simply because of his contract status or is he the best QB the Cardinals have?. It will be intresting to see how Arians see's this ongoing QB situation, It appears the Cardinals will have another QB competition. Un-proven rookies or the current QB's. Remember what happend last year...! "we could have a repeat." I personally don't think Kolb is your answer.
  • Abuse
    AzSportsFan71 wrote...
    Cards QB
    I'm hoping the Cardinals are able to restructure Kolb's deal and resign Hoyer. Arians and his staff can work with these 2.
  • Abuse
    CoachK wrote...
    Response to Steve 88
    Steve, I have news for you. There are many scouts that rank Eric Fisher ABOVE Luke. They say he is quicker and a little nastier. Longer arms and better knee bend. So I would trust the scouts more than some pencil pushers writing blogs on the draft. All will be known after the combine. After watching film on both, I tend to agree. Eric Fisher is an butt-kicker. Nobody gets around him! When he gets his long arms on you.....it's over.
  • Abuse
    theuglytruth wrote...
    Steve88
    Fisher is a solid Tackle and he will push Joeckel for the top spot. This draft has some solid options on the oline like Chance Warmack, Jonathan Cooper and Lane Johnson. This is one of the best drafts for the linemen we've seen in awhile. Plenty of options for the Cards, even if they trade down.
  • Abuse
    StubbyJ23 wrote...
    Common Consensus
    I think the consensus throughout the fan base, and some NFL/ESPN analysts, is that if Kolb had stayed healthy and not taken a record setting beating this season the Cardinals would have won more games. Games like the one against Atlanta and the Jets, and possibly the home game against the Rams. Not saying we would have been playoff caliber, but we wouldn't have screwed the D so much by keeping them on the field.
  • Abuse
    Joe1013e wrote...
    The opening question
    The answer is unequivocally - YES! We've been screaming for an O-Line for, it seems like the 30 year life of the franchise in Arizona. Maybe we do have decent players that were never coached but for God sake, YES! It's the Offensive line. That's like Congress arguing over two plus two equals four. It's just stupid and unnecessary.
close

Share: