Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Ex-teammate: Derek Anderson not a mentor


Razeyfingers

Recommended Posts

ESPN National blogs

Ex-teammate: Derek Anderson not a mentor

August, 4, 2011

Aug 4

12:16

AM ET

Email

Print

Comments

By Pat Yasinskas

It’s kind of ironic that right after the Carolina Panthers brought in Derek Anderson partly to serve as a mentor for Cam Newton and Jimmy Clausen, a former teammate said the quarterback refused to take on that role last year.

In a radio interview with KTAR Radio in Phoenix, Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton said he got no help from Anderson or Matt Leinart when he was a rookie last year. Skelton was asked if Anderson and Leinart reached out to help him last season.

“To be honest, no they didn’t,’’ Skelton said.

Skelton wound up starting late last season after Anderson and Leinart both struggled.

“Derek and Matt in camp kind of did their own thing," Skelton said. "They were established guys. They'd been around. They knew the ropes. They kind of had their own agendas.’’

With Anderson and Leinart both out of Arizona and Kevin Kolb on board, Skelton said things are better this year.

“I think the chemistry in the quarterback room alone is 10 times better than it was last year,’’ Skelton said.

Woh Im blown away by that. :cuss:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think most of us had that concern when we heard the Panthers were interested in him.

We don't know the expectations of him while in Az, but my understanding is that he was told, very clearly, that his role here is to be a mentor.

I'm sure his familiarity with Chud was a huge deciding factor, but this is why I wanted Jake back, this is a role he'd be perfect for at this stage of his career.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It isn't difficult. It's Arizona. Derek Anderson isn't the greatest thing ever, but he's better than Leinart and Skelton and he knew it. They all sucked, don't get me wrong, but Anderson just has something about him I like. And I think he was just bitter. Or he's a total dick. Not sure.

Either way, I want him in a mentor role here or to play better than Cam and Jimmy combined (given his track record, that is impossible).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What did you guys expect him to teach Cam & Jimmy? How to overthrow wide open receivers by 10 yards? How to rocket a ball over the middle a few feet over the head of an exposed receiver, getting him rocked by a safety/LB? How to remain calm when asked questions in press conferences?

I'm pretty mad they signed him to be honest. I'd 1000% prefer to have Matt Moore here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pro tip: Anderson was there to win his job last year. And he's here to push both Clausen and Cam. You don't have to sit down with someone and talk things through to be a mentor, you just have to be somebody to push someone forward.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think most of us had that concern when we heard the Panthers were interested in him.

We don't know the expectations of him while in Az, but my understanding is that he was told, very clearly, that his role here is to be a mentor.

I'm sure his familiarity with Chud was a huge deciding factor, but this is why I wanted Jake back, this is a role he'd be perfect for at this stage of his career.

This is the big difference here to me. He went into Arizona's season as starter. Hes coming to Carolina in a completely different role. That is his purpose. If the team didn't think he understood his role, then he wouldn't have been signed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • There's some big assumptions in here - first, I think Canales HAS helped Bryce a poo ton. To pretend he hasn't is asinine. Has he fixed him?  I mean, the dude looks like he could perhaps be a backup or low-end starter now, whereas he looked like he didn't belong in the NFL a year ago. You're talking about a coach that brought one of the worst NFL QBs of all time to a point where he may actually be a low-end starter. That IS impressive. Second, the bolded. Come on - given the offense, the dude is far from "trending towards bust." He definitely needs work but he's shown an impressive ability to get open. He's contributing to an anemic offense. The dude is our leading receiver (though he'll be #2 in yardage by end of season by a little, as Thielen does better per game).  As to his coaching, he had this team competing and believing against 3 of the better teams in the NFL, despite the lack of talent, and despite our QB situation.  Yes, things fell apart vs DAL, and he was outcoached. But that will happen with young coaches IMO.  I don't think it indicates he cant' be better. The idea of "pulling off the bandage" is ridiculous. Who would want to coach here if we fired this guy after one season? 
    • Whatever they are in totality the cowboys are beat up all to hell on both sides of the ball and even that was too much for lil Bryce to overcome.  Bryce defenders have to hype up every other team and trash every other part of the panthers just because of the situation they’ve put themselves in. 
    • JB had a first round grade in the eyes of a lot scouts based on HIS TALENT LEVEL. If not for the injury he would have gone higher in the draft, possibly between the middle and the end of round 1. To get him just before the 50th pick is a steal. He'd be on a 4 year deal. You can't even renegotiate until the end of the season 3. You're basically paying him nothing for 3 seasons. I don't buy into all back are interchangeable. No they're not. You have average backs, good backs, then your great-exceptional backs. The latter category doesn't grow on trees. If a back is special it pays to keep them. The key is knowing the difference between the first two categories and the third one.
×
×
  • Create New...