Everyone, including me, is expecting big things from Matt Leinart this upcoming season. Here’s an excerpt from an article written by ESPN.com’s John Clayton about the QBs in 2007.
Defenses might win championships, but not without a top-level quarterback.
For the past several years, the quarterback completion percentage has been a figure I’ve been clinging to in evaluating teams. In looking for potential sleeper teams or teams that could improve into championship contenders, I start with the quarterback who can improve the franchise’s completion percentage……..
The Bengals, Seahawks, Cardinals, Steelers, 49ers and Panthers are prime candidates for making completion percentage jumps of 4 percentage points…….. The Cardinals and 49ers are trendy playoff picks this year for good reason. Both teams have talented young quarterbacks who are ready to blossom…..
Smith should turn into a 60-plus percent throwers, as should Matt Leinart of the Cardinals. Leinart completed 56.8 percent of his passes as a rookie, which is exceptional. Rookies normally complete 53.3 percent of his passes. If Leinart can get his percentage into the 60s, Arizona scoring should vault into the 20s and the Cardinals should be an eight- or nine-win team.
That shouldn’t be too difficult I would think with: improved blocking up front, more time working with great receivers, and the fact that in 7 out of the 11 games he started last season he threw for over 60% pass completion. Now to take this club to the postseason for only the second time in 19 years while just coming into his first full year as the starter is alot of weight for this 24 year old to carry, but you gotta know that Leinart relishes the hype. He has been living in it since he was the starter in the top college football program in the nation at USC and wouldn’t have it any other way. And I think he’d be the first to tell you that things are going change out here in the desert.