One of the beautiful things about football is that there are seemingly endless ways to build a team -- on offense or defense, big plays or ball control, passing or running the ball, and the list goes on. Despite this variety, there is really only one meaningful distinction to be made: There are teams with a solution at quarterback and teams with a problem at quarterback. The Arizona Cardinals have sat in the latter group since Kurt Warner’s retirement, making it unsurprising that they haven't sniffed the playoffs in that time period.
The Cardinals are hoping that their long-term solution at quarterback will emerge from the position battle between John Skelton and last year’s prized acquisition Kevin Kolb. Neither player has looked like a world-beater thus far, but Friday’s 7 p.m. preseason tilt at University of Phoenix Stadium against Oakland Raiders could be an opportunity for Kolb or Skelton to show what they're made of. If neither player can exploit the Raiders weak passing defense on August 17, then it could be another long season for the birds.
Fri., Aug. 17, 7 p.m., 2012
