Lane Kiffin was asked tonight why former USC quarterback Matt Leinart’s struggled in the NFL.
“I have no idea. We’ve got a lot of problems ourselves to figure out,” he said. “Last time I spoke to him during training camp, things were going great for him. Sometimes a change of scenery is good to people.”
Already, there is speculation that Caesar might want Leinart.
Inside USC with Scott Wolf
USC football, Trojans basketball and other sports news
If Leinart hadn’t taken those Ballet classes as a Trogan, he wouldn’t be throwing off his tippy toes…oh well, more time in Daddy’s hot tub, comin’ up!
Meanwhile Alex Smith is starting for the San Francisco 49ers.
Leinart’s done if he doesn’t bring it on Saturday. Perception is that he checks down to quickly, and doesn’t have the arm strength to pass the ball long. 20 yards and in he’s very accurate, but anything longer and he’s in trouble.
after reviewing old usc games lately my conclusion is that leinart was overrated and a certain so-called ineligible player was much much more important to usc’s success. barkley will be a better pro than leinart. barkley needs to shut his trap and read some schopenhauer. how many times can one read the bible?
Matt Leinart has never been given a chance in the NFL. Drafted by Denny Green, Leinart took over for a wholly ineffective Kurt Warner and had the Cardinals playing well, almost beating the then undefeated Chicago Bears before his kicker, Neil “the choking dog” Rackers blew the game. Later in the year, Leinart led the Cardinals offense down the field for a late game winning field goal, which the choking dog also missed (see last year’s first round playoff game versus Green Bay for more evidence of his choking dog prowess). As a result of the subpar year, helped along greatly by those two defeats, Denny Green was summarily fired at the conclusion of the season. In came Ken Whisenhunt, who for some reason (perhaps some of the blame for his dislike falls at the feet of Matt) does not like Leinart. Matt then separated his shoulder the following year versus the Rams and has started a grand total of one game since (versus the Titans last year – a game he had won for the Cards until the defense gave up a 99 yard touchdown drive to Vince Young).
Now, after getting a total of 6 pass attempts in his last game, he has been demoted in favor of Derek Anderson. You could make a case that Anderson has outplayed Leinart in the preseason, only that would be false. Derek Anderson, despite playing against the second and third string defense, has not performed well. In fact, Anderson’s highest rated game is worse than Leinart’s lowest rated game. Grounds for a Leinart benching? Only because that is what Whisenhunt wanted in the first place.
Besides, everyone knows that Matt Leinart is a much better in-game player than a practice player. He turns it on when the whistle blows. Just look at his bowl performances. Even in the NC game which we lost to the sometimes suicidal and always functionally illiterate Vince Young, Leinart had an excellent game. His only mistake was an INT that Michael Huff somehow came down with (I’ve still yet to see him make a play even remotely that good with my Raiders).
No, Matt Leinart has never been given a chance to succeed, and as long as he has Whisenhunt as his coach, I doubt he ever will.
@sureshot: Hmm, something about the phrase “choking dog” sounded familiar, so I activated the internets and used the google, and what did I find but a post from “UCLA Dynasty” back on August 23 which read in part: “Of course I’m sure they turned him down because they want to play for a national championship in their career and not be chocking dogs in the El Paso Bowl.”
Just coincidence?
Whisenhunt said that they were rotating other positions for the same game. I wouldn’t read too much into his decision to start Anderson:
“Whisenhunt said Anderson will play approximately the first quarter in a flip of how they played the quarterbacks against Tennessee. The coach said it was an opportunity to see players in different roles as they also switch up at linebacker, cornerback and on the offensive line to evaluate personnel.”
Believe it or not Pizza, neither Dynasty nor I invented the term “choking dog”.
See:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=choking+dog
Choking Dog
Common sports expression to describe a team/person that falls on it’s face under pressure. These teams or people collapse like a house of card when the turkey is on the table, because they are weak and have no spines.
Coincidence? I’d say so.
sureshot, your denial that you are the one posting as “UCLA Dynasty” is only further evidence that you are indeed UCLA Dynasty — just like a witch in Salem, a Communist testifying before HUAC, or a Muslim in the White House, a denial is exactly how a guilty person would respond!
Okay. Even if that were true (it’s not) – what’s your point? Or are you just bored at work?
sureshot…..good points, but Leinart’s body language and attitude hasn’t given anybody any confidence. His whining about the Titans blitzing was really weak. I’ve watched every game, I live in Arizona, and he needs to step it up or he’s gone. I think his not starting is a good thing. The last 2 games he’s played only the first quarter, and then Anderson has come in and played longer. I expect Matt to get the second and third quarters.
@scinsc5…..DAILY!
Amen and Fight On!
AMEN, Brother Torpedoman! You speak the truth. You must have gone to UCLA. Or at least your folks did.
sureshot, I am entertaining myself by trying to figure out which of the “regulars” on this board is also posting as “UCLA Dynasty,” a character who is clearly a parody of a troll.
Not that this is an attack — I am enjoying Dynasty’s goofy comments. If you’re the one writing them, keep it up.
Sureshot I’m with you on this. I think he at least deserves one year to see what he haves. As an SC fan I would have no problem with criticizing Matt but lets be real he has to be given a clear shot, and I would add that the “QB” controversy is what Ken Whisenhut wants. It’s covering up the defense that has no identity and an “O-Line” that looks like crap.