Derek Anderson Has Teammates Rallying Behind Starting Quarterback

by John Hickey

Filed under: Arizona Cardinals, NFC West

The Cardinals ended 2009 with Kurt Warner as their quarterback, started training camp with Matt Leinart at the helm, started the season with Derek Anderson behind center, moved to Max Hall and are back with Anderson.

So to say the rest of the Arizona offense has had to be flexible is something of an understatement.

"It's an adjustment, not only for me but for everybody,'' wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said Wednesday. "I mean, when a Hall of Famer walks away from the game, it's a lot more difficult to replace those players.

"We're not going to harp on that, but we've got to find a way to make this thing go, regardless of who's back there.''

Anderson has been up and down as the QB, but he had a nice showing against the Vikings last weekend, hitting on 15 of 26 passes for 179 yards and was a driving force in building the Cardinals a 24-10 fourth quarter lead. The game got away from the defense after that, in part because the Cardinal offense couldn't move the ball, but Fitzgerald said the team is united behind Anderson.

The first time the Cardinals met the Seahawks in Seattle, Hall started. This weekend in Glendale, Ariz., Anderson will start.

"Derek has experience. He's played in the league, he's played in a lot of games, going back to Cleveland,'' the veteran receiver said. "He played at an all-pro level before, so I think he has a good understanding of the game of football and reading defenses and deciding where the football should go. I think that's the one advantage he has over Max at this point.''

Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt, who has to have his group regroup after the 27-24 overtime loss to the Vikings, seems more than content to have his troops rallying behind Anderson.

Back in Week 7 Hall was the starter in Seattle, but was 4-of-16 when he was knocked out of the game, moving Anderson into the game. He led two scoring drives, but it wasn't enough in a 22-10 Seattle win at Qwest Field.

 

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