The Arizona Cardinals are only a quarterback away from reclaiming their lofty perch atop the NFC West.
While most expected the team to address their biggest issue in the NFL draft, coach Ken Whisenhunt has seemingly set his sights on a trio of veterans -- Kevin Kolb, Marc Bulger and Kyle Orton -- to shore up the quarterback position.
Though each brings a solid skill set to the table, the decision to add the right player could come down to his fit within the Cardinals' scheme and the cost to pry each from his respective squad.
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In Whisenhunt's system, the quarterback is expected to be an efficient distributor with solid game management skills. He must possess excellent awareness and anticipation because the scheme often puts the onus on the quarterback to defeat the blitz by finding the "hot" receiver in the progression. This not only requires a great feel for coverage but also the courage to stand in and deliver under fire.
Kurt Warner was able to handle the burden of the position and the Cardinals thrived with him under center. However, his replacements last season, Derek Anderson, John Skelton and Max Hall, have failed to live up to the standard, and the team's quick demise can be attributed to their poor play.
Given the correlation between the play of the quarterback and the Cardinals' performance, it's important for Whisenhunt to find the right guy to lead the franchise for the long term.
Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
