As Arizona waits, Cardinals have already made the decision

Ken Whisenhunt said he is without a timetable when it comes to naming a starting quarterback for the regular season.

So, the debate rages on in Arizona where the question is whether former first-round draft pick Matt Leinart or Cleveland castoff Derek Anderson will be the man.

There need be no more discussion. It was made apparent on Thursday when Whisenhunt announced that Anderson would start Saturday night at Chicago what direction the team is headed in. Leinart lost his job that day and nothing that happened against the Bears at Soldier Field was enough to change that.

Coaching staffs, even the desperate ones, don’t change starting quarterbacks going into the third preseason game because they want to change things up and take a look at something else. They make changes going into the third preseason games because they’re making a change. No matter how Whisenhunt dresses it up, that is what happened.

Sure, Leinart was given his time with the starters too. He came in during the second quarter and led a touchdown drive early in the third quarter. It might have been two touchdown drives if Beanie Wells hadn’t fumbled at the 7-yard line in the final minute of the first half.

Anderson had a touchdown drive of his own and he didn’t turn the ball over, although he did drill middle linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer in the chest with one throw.

The final numbers?

Anderson: 7-of-12, 94 yards, 1 TD, 111.1 rating
Leinart 9-of-10, 84 yards, 1 TD, 135.0 rating

Here’s how they are through three preseason games:

Anderson 31-of-53, 287 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 70.3 rating
Leinart 19-of-23, 161 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 110.3

On the surface, Leinart’s numbers may appear more impressive. He’s taking care of the football and he’s been extremely accurate. He’s also earned the nickname that’s being thrown around for him these days – Captain Checkdown. It’s difficult to complete 19 passes for only 161 yards. Leinart is averse to throwing the ball downfield and it showed against the Bears.

The Cardinals may need to move to more of a power running game this season with Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower now that Kurt Warner is retired. But as an organization, the belief is that Arizona possesses one of the best corps of wide receivers in the league even after the departure of Anquan Boldin. Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston and Early Doucet are reduced Curly, Moe and Larry with Leinart at quarterback. Anderson will push the ball downfield. It’s his strength. If he could just become more accurate and use more touch on the other throws, he’d really have a chance to succeed. Leinart’s game of dink and dunk isn’t a formula for success. Not for a coaching staff that has been used to an explosive aerial attack.

“(Matt) continued to be efficient with the football,” Whisenhunt said Saturday night, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic, “but once again, it's not as much about stats as it is about chemistry with the team, how you handle everything that's thrown at you. Obviously, I was very pleased with his performance (Saturday).”

So, can Whisenhunt reveal his regular season starter before the Cardinals close out the preseason Thursday against the Washington Redskins?

“I couldn't tell you right now,” he said. “This evaluation covers more things than just the games. We've had a lot of practices; there are a lot of things involved in this decision.”

This decision was made last week. Anderson will be the starter.
 

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