NFC East

Sporting News, The, Dec 20, 1999

Plummer needs to master pocket to be complete QB

Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer built his NFL reputation on his uncanny ability to scramble out of trouble, create on the run and engineer fourth-quarter comebacks. But to become the kind of elite player who can lead his team to a championship, he must learn to read defenses better while standing in the pocket. With 18 interceptions in nine games, he has committed far too many removers as a pocket passer this season.

The Cardinals think time will take care of that. They point out that this is Plummer's third year in the league, only his second as a full-time starter. And this season may not be a good one to judge his talents. A string of injuries limited Plummer to 13 practices from the middle of August until he broke the ring finger on his throwing hand in late October. By the time he returned after a five-game layoff, he had missed the better part of three critical months of growth.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, rebounded from a 2-6 start with four straight victories before last week's 28-3 loss at Washington. It was Plummer's fourth-quarter magic that gave them their fourth win, against Philadelphia, renewing the team's hopes for a second straight playoff appearance.

But now, Plummer is just as scary to his own team throwing off-balance interceptions into a crowd early in the game as he is to opposing defenses in the fourth quarter. He threw three interceptions against the Redskins, one in the end zone.

"What Jake has to realize is that there are 10 other guys out there who can help him, but when things aren't there he has the ability to turn to that 11th guy and make it happen," Arizona G.M. Bob Ferguson says. "We have encouraged him to do that." -- Lee Shappell

Arizona

6-7: 4th

Makeshift line shackles an already weak running game

The play of the offensive line has been as responsible as anything for the team's substandard season. With two more backups moving onto the line for the must-win dosing games, it probably will keep the team out of the playoffs. Matt Joyce is me jack-of-all-positions but master of none. After a stint as Chris Dishman's replacement at left guard, Joyce will step in at left tackle for rookie L.J. Shelton. Joyce is large but doesn't have the quickness to thwart the speedy pass rushers he will encounter trying to protect QB Jake Plummer's blindside. If the sputtering offense puts the team into catch-up passing situations, it could be a rough finish for Joyce and Plummer. Dishman, the club's best run-blocker last season, moves into the right guard spot after Lester Holmes suffered a knee injury. Earlier, Dishman lost his left guard spot first to Joyce and now to James Dexter.... The club has had little rushing threat beyond a 133-yard spurt by Michael Pittman against Detroit. Running back, no doubt, will be a high priority in the draft. Adrian Murrell is in his contract year and probably headed elsewhere, and Pittman is injury-prone.... The dub is in a quandary as to what to do at cornerback opposite Aeneas Williams--again. It thought it solved the problem when Corey Chavous stepped up late in his rookie season. But Chavous has had difficulty running with receivers when playing off them. Tom Knight has been injured, torched, injured and torched again. He does not appear to be the answer, either.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rookie FB Joel Makovicka has started every game, but he has shown there is a considerable distance between being a good college fullback and being one in the pros. He has fumbled and struggled at picking up blitzes and hasn't shown the receiving ability he had at Nebraska. He just doesn't appear fast enough or big enough. Fellow rookie Dennis McKinley is bigger and has established himself as the better blocker. If McKinley can improve as a receiver, Makovicka might not survive next training camp.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The emergence of the vertical passing game pulled the club out of a 2-6 malaise and contributed to a four-game win streak. But in the two games since Plummer returned as the starter, there have been fewer attempts downfield and even fewer catches. Plummer can't get the ball to talented WRs Rob Moore, Frank Sanders and David Boston because he has no running-game support and because the line has given him virtually no protection. -- Lee Shappell

GRADING OUT vs. Washington

OFFENSE F

Only a field goal against a defense that surrendered 30-plus points six times.

DEFENSE F

You just can't let an opponent out of third-and-long all day.

SPECIAL ITEMS A-

Kickoff returner Bates is getting too many chances to show how good he is.

COACHING D

Coaches can be blamed for an uninspired effort in a high-stakes game.

CARDINALS

PASSING        Att.   Comp.   Pct.   Yds.   Long

Plummer        268      140   52.2   1379     47
Da. Brown      169       84   49.7    944     71

PASSING        TD   Int.   Rate   Sacks

Plummer         6     18   46.5     21
Da. Brown       2      6   55.9     18

RUSHING        Att.   Yds.    Avg.    TD

Murrell         173    483    2.8      0
Pittman          64    289    4.5      2
Plummer          30     98    3.3      2

RECEIVING      Att.   Yds.    Avg.    TD

Sanders          58    673    11.6     0
Murrell          43    293     6.8     0
Boston          32     376    11.8     2

SCORING        XPM     XPA    FGM    FGA   Pts.

Jacke           18      18     18     25     72

PUNTING        No.    Yds.    Avg.   Blk.

Player          82    3431    41.8     0

KO RETURNS     No.    Yds.    Avg.    TD

Bates           36     917    22.5     0

PUNT RETURNS   No.    Yds.    Avg.    TD

Cody            28     311    11.1     0