Week 9 QB projections • ARI Stats

QB Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals

HT: 6-2, WT: 220, Born: 6-22-1971, College: Northern Iowa, Drafted: ---

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Stats and Week 9 Projection

WK	OPP	RES	CMP	ATT	PYD	Y/A	PTD	INT	RSH	YD	Y/R	FPT
6	at SEA	W, 27-3	32	41	276	6.7	2	1	0	0		22
7	at NYG	W, 24-17	20	36	231	6.4	1	1	3	-3	-1.0	14
8	vs CAR	L, 21-34	27	46	242	5.3	2	5	1	8	8.0	13
SEASON TOTAL			185	283	1914	6.8	11	11	9	0	0.0	129
9	at CHI	PROJ	22	36	235	6.5	1.7	1.5	1	3	3.0	18

Week 9 Injury Status and Other News

He was not listed on Friday's official injury report.

Opinion (from The Upgrade/Downgrade/Waiver Report): Carolina's front-four pressured Warner all game, frustrating the Arizona QB, forcing inaccurate throws because Warner had to pass on the run. The Cardinals found themselves trailing early, which only heightened the need to pass. Although the Panthers didn't blitz much at all, they still managed to keep good pressure on Warner thanks to an outstanding game by Julius Peppers. As a result, Warner threw five interceptions and lost a fumble. He managed to save face with some fantasy owners by throwing two TD passes and totaling 242 yards passing, but he couldn't solve Carolina's pressuring defense. Warner has trouble when a team can generate a good pass rush with four down linemen, because that means seven defenders are in coverage. If he is flushed from the pocket, the field is reduced and he has fewer targets. As a result, the defense can swarm on the only open receivers in his throwing lanes and most of the time this forces an incompletion, if not an interception. Carolina did exactly that against Warner on Sunday. Next week the Cardinals go back on the road (to Chicago) where they have won all season. If Warner's troubles continue, don't be surprised to see a Matt Leinart sighting.

Week 9 Matchup Info

at Chicago Bears (Good matchup) - Kurt Warner had a nightmare game last week, throwing 27/46 for 242 yards, with two TDs - but an embarrassing five interceptions also flew from his fingers. 'It's one of those games where it just seemed like every time the ball was bouncing somewhere, it went into their hands,' Warner said. 'It's to their credit. They were hustling.' Anquan Boldin aggravated his high ankle sprain during the game and ultimately only managed 3/23/0 out of six chances. Larry Fitzgerald (10 targets for 6/66/0) led the team in receiving as usual, while Tim Hightowers was second (10 for 8/57/0) and Steve Breaston checked tied for second with six targets for 6/57/0. Little-known LaRod Stephens-Howling checked in with a 14-yard TD catch during the game, while little-used TE Ben Patrick also had a score (2/18/1). All told, it was a lack-luster effort from the team that defeated the Giants 24-17 two weeks ago.

The Bears' pass D has been pretty stubborn of late, with only 492 net passing yards given up in the past three contests. However, they have just one sack during that time span, with four interceptions generated. Part of the rosy picture is due to picking on the Browns last week (7/20 for 74 net yards, zero TDs and two interceptions thrown), though - two weeks ago Carson Palmer torched this unit for 20/24 yielding 233 net yards and five TDs with zero interceptions. Over the entire season, the Bears rank 12th in the NFL averaging 199.4 net passing yards allowed per game, with 11 passing TDs handed over vs. seven interceptions generated. They are 21st in the NFL with 15 sacks to date, while the Cardinals rank 11th in the NFL with 14 sacks allowed so far.

Both of these teams have been up and down in recent weeks - but Arizona's offense is too potent to stay down for long. Against the average Bears, this looks like a good matchup for the Cardinals (whether or not Boldin plays, Breaston is a capable stand-in at the #2 WR position for the Cardinals).

Game Summaries

Week 1 vs SF - Yup, Warner looked his age. He had trouble eluding pressure, and when he did, he took a hit and threw an INT. He failed to read Patrick Willis dropping into coverage on his other INT - and Willis made a WR-line leaping catch on the INT. He had trouble with downfield accuracy, only really getting locked in on Tim Hightower as a checkdown and short range target out of the backfield. He didn't get Anquan Boldin very involved, and generally lacked the sharpness that he had on the Super Bowl run last year. We can chalk some of this up to his hip, but the whole Cards offense looked limp in the preseason (Super Bowl loser hangover?). We wouldn't get too worried about Warner yet, because as he showed, he can still get numbers playing catch up to make him worth starting no matter how poor does out of the blocks.

Week 2 at JAX - Warner was back to his precise execution and hyperaccuracy on Sunday vs. the Jags. He didn't take any big shots downfield, but he didn't have to. It obviously made a big difference for him to Steve Breaston and Anquan Boldin back, as Warner leaned on this combo to find soft spots and get open on short routes. Warner set the NFL single game completion percentage record in the game, and he threw the ball well enough to earn it. Receivers only had to adjust to two or three of his 24 completions, and he created Larry Fitzgerald's TD reception with a perfectly timed pump fake to freeze the defense while Fitz broke free behind them. Warner even moved a little in the pocket to make one completion, and took a hit to make another, but he was mostly comfortable in the pocket in a much better day for the Cardinals offensive line.

Week 3 vs IND - You can't really blame Warner for how things went on Sunday night. He was constantly harassed and doing the best he could to escape the pressure and make plays. Still, his early sack and lost fumble set the tone for the night, and he never seemed completely comfortable after that. The Colts got a ton of pressure on him on third and long, which was a frequent situation because the Cards had no success running the ball. Warner's first interception came under pressure late in the first half when he tried to force it to Fitzgerald and the ball popped up in the air, and the second was on a 3rd and 15 capitulation play. When he had time, he surveyed the field well, and Warner was also very effective in the hurry-up offense, but if he keeps taking this many hits, he won't hold up much longer.

Week 5 vs HOU - Kurt Warner had another fantastic game, throwing for two touchdowns to Larry Fitzgerald in the 2nd quarter. Warner also had another first half toss to Anquan Boldin to inside the Texans 5, but Boldin fumbled the ball. On Warner's second touchdown toss to Fitzgerald, he showed magnificent touch -- Fitzgerald ran a deep post to the right pylon from the Houston 26. Warner tossed the ball over two defenders, leading Fitzgerald straight to paydirt. Warner was a very efficient 26/38 spreading the ball to four different receivers all over the field. In the first half, Warner favored deep tosses to Steve Breaston, Fitzgerald, and Boldin before the Cardinals went to an extremely conservative passing game in the 2nd half, trying only three passes more then 8 yards down the field (one of which was caught for 24 yards but overturned due to a penalty). The Texans' defense tried a variety of looks against the Cardinals but were largely unable to pressure the quarterback and cover all three receivers at the same time. Only when Warner began focusing on shorter routes did the Texans begin to have success in stopping the Cardinals' drives.

Week 6 at SEA - Warner was 9-for-9 on the opening drive, which ended with a short touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald. It didn't matter which receiver he threw to; he placed the ball perfectly every time. The offensive line gave him great protection in the opening quarter, giving Warner plenty of time to find an open man and leading to a 17-0 lead. The Seahawks put a bit more pressure on before the half, causing him to fumble once, but it was a minor setback on a day when the Cardinals absolutely dominated the time of possession battle. Warner was able to spread the ball around, finding eight different receivers on the day. His interception was on a Hail Mary pass to end the half, and is only a blemish on the stat sheet, not in his game. And this was with the Cardinals playing conservatively, with a comfortable lead the entire game.

Week 7 at NYG - Warner never really got comfortable in week 7 due to constant pressure from the NY front four, however he managed to lead his team to victory and turn in a solid, but not spectacular stat line. Early in the game, Warner faced intense pressure and caused him to look very unsettled in the pocket, his accuracy suffered as a result. Ultimately, the Giants pressure led to a tipped pass that resulted in an INT on the first series of the 2nd quarter. As the game progressed the Arizona running game showed some life and Warner started to check down to his RB's a bit more. This resulted in Warner having some extra time to make some downfield throws to Larry Fitzgerald later in the game. Warner actually rolled out of the pocket on a couple of occasions in order to buy himself some extra time, at this point in his career that is a rarity. Later in the game he took advantage of a NY turnover for a quick TD strike to backup RB Jason Wright inside the 10 yd line. This was Warner's quietest game of the season thus far, but he was still relevant and effective.

Week 8 vs CAR - Warner equalled his career worst total of 5 interceptions. Throughout the game, he was unable to get the ball in the hands of his most dangerous weapon -- Larry Fitzgerald -- and when he was able to, it was most often for a short gain. Warner was able to move the ball effectively at times, but had the most success with the most unlikely receivers. It was when he went downfield for more yardage, to his more explosive receivers, that he got into trouble. Not all the picks were his fault, but he did get frustrated and began forcing throws into coverage, even when he had good protection. Playing from behind in the second half, Warner moved the ball well, but not easily.