Showing posts with label Arizona Cardinals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arizona Cardinals. Show all posts

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Warner Probably Retiring On Friday


Possibly the biggest surprise story of rags to riches in NFL history is about to come to a close. Sure there have been stories about a kicker picked up from bartending and making a field goal the same week.
But never has there been a story about a quarterback stocking shelves in a grocery store, playing some Arena Football and then becoming the NFL MVP, Super Bowl winner and basically dominating the NFL for more than a decade!
Well, the Kurt Warner charmed-life story is about to close the book on his football glory days after leading the once sad-sack Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl last year and back to the playoffs again this year before falling to the Super Bowl bound New Orleans Saints.
If and when Warner says goodbye, don't expect a Brett Favre-like return by fall. Kurt Warner has a lot more than football in his life to keep him off the field for good and feel good about walking away still playing great football.
The Arizona Cardinals will miss him greatly, as they will have to turn to the QB they thought would have been leading them a couple of years ago, but Kurt Warner's play and leadership would not let him on the field. The NFL will also miss what he brought on the field and off!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Matt Leinart Takes on Mixed Martial Arts


Former Heiman Trophy winning QB Matt Leinart has been struggling to find playing time with the Arizona Cardinals after being drafted in the first round. Just saw where he has been working with Jay Glazer in mixed martial arts. This may just be an effort to get into better shape and get a little bit tougher. This is absolutely the best thing he could have ever done for his career!
I recently started teaching QB's to understand their balance and athleticism through being in a fighting posture. It also shows how the football should be thrown in a similar way to a punch. You should not lead your throw with your elbow! The elbow should be above the shoulder at release and stay up as the football goes to the target like your fist would be tracking for an overhand right to the jaw. It also helps you to control your wrist. If you keep your wrist cocked back, your punch would be sissy-like, hitting with your palm area. You should be hitting with the big knuckles of your hand and you must keep your wrist straight to make that happen.
Another thing about the balance in fighting (and Leinart's video shows he still lacks any power being generated through his hips) is you keep your head back and turn your hips to generate power, similarly in throwing the football. Too many players push off of their back foot and lean their face forward, straightening out their back leg too early. An equal bend in the knees as you turn your hips to your target and stayiing balanced between your legs will improve your overall balance considerably.
I am happy to see Matt working hard, but he needs to understand the relation to his "real" craft as he "paints the fence and sands the floor" in his version of the "Karate Kid".