Cardinals will have a battle for starting QB job

For Kevin Kolb, the 2011 season will be one to pretty much
throw away.

Traded to Arizona shortly before the games began, the QB
had little time to learn the playbook before being asked
to lead the team, and when the games started he battled
ineffectiveness along with injuries. He played in just
nine games – finishing eight – and could only watch as
backup John Skelton made a play for his starting job.

So, it should come as no surprise that the 27-year-old
views 2012 as somewhat of a defining year in his career.

“I don’t know that I want to put that kind of pressure on
myself, but that’s kind of how it feels,” he said Monday.
“That’s my mentality.”

Kolb said he’s looking forward to next season, adding that
he thinks big things are in store for the Cardinals.

He may be right, but any real success the team has next
season will hinge largely on getting improved play from
the quarterback, be it Kolb or Skelton. The two combined
to throw 20 touchdowns and 22 interceptions this season,
and took 53 sacks. That, simply, will not get it done,
though the offseason should do wonders for both signal
callers.

“I think first of all, you become totally comfortable in
the system, you become comfortable with your players,”
Kolb said of what can be gained over the next few months.
Kolb’s competition for the job, Skelton, also stands to
gain from the time.

Rather than learning his teammates, though, the former
Fordham product needs to work on his accuracy, among other
things.

“Probably just better decision-making,” he said of what
can improve. “There’s a lot of balls that shouldn’t’ be
thrown; forced balls, obviously turnovers are killing us.

“You learn from your mistakes, you move forward and you
try to correct them for next season.”

We all knew the Cardinals would learn something about
their quarterback position this season, though the hope
was it would have something to do with who the guy would
be going forward. That didn’t happen, though, and the team
will now have an entire offseason to determine who the
best man for the job is.

Will it be the veteran, Kolb, or the upstart Skelton?

“Life’s a competition and this league’s about
competition,” Kolb said of possibly having to battle for
the job. “If you’re scared of that you’re in the wrong
league.

“John did a great job this year and he should come in with
that same mentality, just like I will.”

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