It’s not even that Jake Locker is lighting the world on fire, though he’s playing pretty well (two touchdown passes and still playing).
But the Titans’ second-year quarterback is mostly highlighting the dysfunction on the other sideline.
The Cardinals started John Skelton Thursday night, but it wouldn’t matter if they started John Elway or Red Skelton. They can’t protect any quarterback as presently constructed, so arguing which quarterback is getting pummeled is fairly pointless.
On his first possession, Skelton was hammered on first down, threw an interception on second. Then came a three-and-out. He’s 3-of-8 for 38 yards at the end of the first quarter.
There are things they could do to make it easier for either quarterback, (such as get backs healthy and use them) but the injury to left tackle Levi Brown could make the Cards a hopeless case.
The Kevin Kolb deal was a desperation play for a franchise that looks increasingly like they were ill-prepared to deal with Kurt Warner’s retirement. Skelton is merely popular among a segment of Cards fans by being not Kolb. Anyone they bring in better be mobile, because he’ll be running for his life.
As Locker and other young passers are proving, the best bet now is to draft your quarterback (they don’t cost nearly as much as they used to), and either sit him a year or insulate him with playmakers and let him go.
And at their current rate, the Cardinals are going to be in good position to draft a very good one, soon.