NFC West Preview: The Arizona Cardinals
by smileyman on Sep 9, 2010 10:00 AM PDT
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Other than the 49ers the Arizona Cardinals are the team most likely to end up with a winning season. Right after the season ended Kurt Warner retired and the big question mark was if Matt Leinart could resurrect his career this season. We know the answer to that one--the Cardinals organization cut him and moved undrafted free agent rookie Max Hall into the backup role and made Derek Anderson the starter.
Draft:
Round 1: Dan Williams, NT
Round 2: Daryl Washington, LB
Round 3: Andre Roberts, WR
Round 4: O'Brien Schofield, LB
Round 5: John Skelton, QB
Round 6: Jorrick Calvin, DB
Round 7: Jim Dray, TE
Free Agent Signings:
Derek Anderson, QB
Alan Faneca, G
Joey Porter, LB
Kerry Rhodes, FS
Key Losses:
Karlos Dansby, LB
Anquan Boldin, WR
Kurt Warner, QB
Offense Preview:
Offensively the Cardinals really struggled during the pre-season. The quarterback carousel didn't help matters any, and now that Anderson is the starter things should settle down for them a bit. Their offensive line needs help in the worst way. They drafted Andre Roberts in the 3rd round but the new WR that's most likely to make an impact soonest is undrafted free agent Stephen Williams. Williams tore it up during the pre-season and was a favorite target of just about everybody. Look for him to get some good work in 4 WR sets and to try to move into that third WR spot behind Fitzgerald and Doucet.
This won't be a high scoring offensive like we're used to seeing, at least not at first. That could possibly develop over time, but the offensive line has to gel first and the QB situation has to be sorted out. Derek Anderson was unspectacular in pre-season work and Cardinal fans need to pray that he's going to perform better this year than his track record indicates, otherwise they may end up with an undrafted rookie starting at QB for them.
Defense Preview:
The Cardinals defense has some high and low. The secondary could be scary good--Greg Toler is an underrated corner and Kerry Rhodes and Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie will roam the safety spots. Daryl Washington will be starting at LB, but overall I think their linebackers are going to be quiet this year. The loss of Dansby is going to hurt them. Up front the defensive line can hold stout against the run but has trouble getting to opposing quarterbacks. An improved pass rush will make the secondary even more dangerous.
Special Teams
On special teams I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. No unit looked worse or better than the other--both were solid. LaRod Stephens-Howling has the potential to break a few big ones, but he's too inconsistent a returner right now.
Schedule:
Week 1 AZ @ St.Louis--I think that this could be an upset in favor of the Rams.
Week 2 AZ @ ATL--This should be an interesting one. AZ's secondary is good enough to defend against Atlanta's passing game. Close game in favor of the Cardinals.
Week 3 Oak @ AZ--Upset for the Raiders who have a pretty decent pass rush that will beat up on D.A. all day
Week 4 AZ @ SD--Win for the Cardinals. San Diego takes awhile to find it's groove.
Week 5 NO @ AZ--Loss. I don't think that Arizona's defense is well-rounded enough to stop the Saints.
Week 6 BYE
Week 7 AZ @ Sea--Win for Seattle. I think we'll be seeing the beginnings of a QB controversy by this point in the season.
Week 8 TB @ AZ--Win for Arizona. TB is making some right moves but they won't be able to compete with the Cardinals.
Week 9 AZ @ Min--The Cardinals couldn't beat Minnesota with Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin. No way they do it with Derek Anderson or Max Hall
Week 10 Sea @ AZ--Win for Arizona. Playing on their home turf and well into the swing of things.
Week 11 AZ @ KC--Win for Arizona. I think that KC won't have a good enough defense to stop the Cardinals, and the Chief's offense is suspect.
Week 12 SF @ AZ--We swept the Cardinals with Warner and Boldin. There's no reason to think we can't do it again.
Week 13 STL @ AZ--Cardinals win this one. Rams are improving but I don't think they'll win on the road here.
Week 14 DEN @ AZ--Right now I think the odds favor Denver but I'm picking the upset for AZ. I have no confidence in Kyle Orton and I think the Cardinals secondary will have a good day.
Week 15 AZ @ CAR--I think the Cardinals win this one. I think it's going to be a long year for the Panthers.
Week 16 DAL @ AZ--Dallas has too many offensive weapons for the Cardinals to handle. Easy win for them.
Week 17 AZ @ SF--Playing at Candlestick, last regular season game of the year? Cardinals don't stand a chance.
So that's a 9-7 record for the Cardinals (I think the 49ers go 10-6 or 11-5) and a second place finish in the West. My final rankings in the NFC West are:
1. 49ers 11-5
2. Cardinals 9-7
3. Rams 7-9
4. Seahawks 6-10
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I got the Cards as a Wild Card team
Dont forget they also have an easy schedule and talent wise they are about the same as we are.
With all the talk about "its all up to Alex Smith" this year for the 49ers
which I completely don’t understand. Seriously the stats don’t match that conclusion. The truth is if ‘10 Smith = ’09 Smith we are 10-6 due to the other improvements on the team. Oh I don’t know, how about a 3 headed monster in the backfield and two quality lineman to block for them?
Why aren’t the Cardinals a QB driven Team, unlike the 49ers, an “its all up to the QB” team?
I don’t think that at all… and of course this is all speculation on your behalf
by Drew K on Apr 14, 2010 2:05 PM PDT
Because
It IS up to Alex to get the offense running well enough to not mess up what the defense does.
Alex is seen by every expert around the Country and the locals as the only thing that can hold this very talented team back.
I am not saying Alex WILL hold the team back,it’s just that he is the weak link and if you go by the past(even 2009) ,he is obviously the weak link.
If Alex improves himself and plays much better in 2010,like we hope,then there will not be a weak link and the Niners will easily win the West and maybe do some damage in the playoffs.
But all eyes are on Alex,even his coaches are not sure he will even be on the team in 2011,so it’s 100% up to Alex if the team will reach it’s potential and 100% up to alex on what HIS future is going to be.
That is the obvious answer to your question.
you seem to have missed the point
I don’t think that at all… and of course this is all speculation on your behalf
by Drew K on Apr 14, 2010 2:05 PM PDT
I kind of find it funny
some of the predictions I have seen have the Cardinals winning the division because Matt Leinart will have a better year than Alex Smith.
I hate how people make predictions based only on one thing. “Jets will win the AFC East because Rex Ryan and that defense won’t allow anyone to score.” No one talks about the Jets situation at QB or how poor the offense has looked in the preseason.
by ZeroOneInfinity on Sep 9, 2010 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
There are those whom don't realize it's a (Team ) game ...!!
I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's juz my game ...!!
Smiley
Adrian WIlson is their other Safety. Also, you didn’t mention the running game or Steve Breaston. And what do you think of their pass rush?
by ZeroOneInfinity on Sep 9, 2010 10:41 AM PDT reply actions
running game should improve this year if healthy, especailly if derek anderson goes interception happy like i suspect forcing them to run more.
defense takes a step back i think but i still expect them to put up around 35 sacks
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
im gonna be all up on you like a spider monkey!
i can just see delonte west winning a game of poker against lebron, throwing down the cards he yells, "who's your daddy!"...."oh, sorry man"
by remembering9ergods on Sep 9, 2010 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions
derek anderson is their achillies heal
how could they possibly let him start? he had one good year and a bunch of bad years. last year was absolutely terrible and brady quinn made him look like a HS QB.
fitzgerald will get doubled all year long which will force doucet and breaston to step it up and lets face it they are not even close to as good as boldin.
their best RB is their backup and is always injured.
im not sold on their LB’s and they didnt replace the guys they lost well. the only good pickups they had were joey porter, kerry rhodes and alan faneca.
going to be a mediocre season for teh cards 7-9
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
im gonna be all up on you like a spider monkey!
i can just see delonte west winning a game of poker against lebron, throwing down the cards he yells, "who's your daddy!"...."oh, sorry man"
by remembering9ergods on Sep 9, 2010 12:53 PM PDT reply actions
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