Colledge: Cardinals want to see QB competition settled

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — It’s been talked about ad nauseum since last fall.

In fact, in just the last two days, ArizonaSports.com has had seven stories on the same subject — the battle for the Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback spot.

OK, make that eight.

The competition continued during Tuesday afternoon’s practice on the practice fields at Northern Arizona University, and once again neither John Skelton nor Kevin Kolb made any significant push toward claiming the job.

While fans and media are waiting for the position to be settled, so are Cardinals players, including one who will block for whomever wins the job.

Offensive guard Daryn Colledge, who is entering his second season in Arizona, was vocal following Tuesday’s practice concerning his thoughts on the quarterback position.

“It’s a competition that everyone wants to see come to an end because — even those guys — they want to know who the starter’s going to be and they want to get into a rhythm with the offensive line and their receivers,” Colledge said. “But it’s one of those things that if we’re not all doing our job perfect, it gives them no opportunity to show what they can get done.

“So, we’re not helping ourselves out there.”

Of course, Kolb and Skelton have been under a microscope since they play the most glamorous position in sports and have failed to produce this preseason, but Colledge sees blame to pin on every member of the offense.

“It’s everybody’s problem. The receivers have got to run better routes, the offensive line’s got to block better, the running backs have got to block better,” he said. “It’s not just on the quarterbacks.”

Colledge, despite the realism in his comments, did sound optimistic when talking about improving the offensive production moving forward.

“I think everybody on the team, we’re committed to getting this thing right,” he said. “Preseason is preseason, I don’t think anybody’s going to deny that, but there are certain things that need to get done before you can move on to the next game.”

That next game is Friday, when the Cardinals host the Oakland Raiders at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. Kolb will start and both he and Skelton should see increased playing time.

Arizona Sports’ Kyndra de St. Aubin contributed to this report

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