2006 NFL Season Preview: Arizona Cardinals
For Head Coach Dennis Green and his Arizona Cardinals, the expectations are once again so high for them to be successful in the NFC and the league. They bring back a highly powered offense and a defense that is young and improving with game experience. This could very well be the season that they finally turn the corner from a team with potential to a team with legitimate postseason prospects. There are a number of things that have to happens still in order for that to be the case, but you have to be incredibly pleased with the direction that they are heading. Can then meet and eventually surpass those expectation this season remains the most important question down in the desert.
Offense
Last season, first year Offensive Coordinator Keith Rowen led the Cardinals to the top ranked passing offense in the NFL. That task wasn’t too hard considering that they have two of the most dynamic young receivers in the NFL and a young quarterback who had developed a good working relationship with both. They not only led the NFL in passing but they also broke several team passing records in the process. With their return, as well as the new addition in the running back position, they are poised to break out much like Rowen’s previous stops in Minnesota with Dennis Green and with the Raiders in the early 90’s. He is poised to continue their commitment to moving the ball downfield in large spurts, but with the added running game they look to be stronger in controling the clock and limiting the time that the young defense is on the field. Sometimes eating up the clock is just as effective as a stout defense.
QB: At the helm is former league and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner. Last season he was plagued with a few nagging injuries and split time with Josh McNown, who has since left Arizona for Detroit. This time he enters the season as the unquestioned number one, although he is left with a few doubters who call for Matt Leinart to get his opportunity in the offense sooner rather than later. For his part, Warner is still an above average quarterback who can make the tough throws and shred defenses with his precision. He can place the ball anywhere on the field that he wants to, and with those two receivers making it easy for him, he could very well be poised to have an incredible “comeback” season in Arizona. One concern that I do have is tied into the offensive line. Warner is a Arena League veteran who is used to running timing routes and making quick decisions, but at the same time the timing is crucial. His sense of time in the NFL depends on the offensive line, which let him down at various times last season. In order for Warner to be effective, he needs to remain on his feet more often than not, which he can do now with the line imrpoving and the addition of Pro-Bowler Edgerrin James at running back. Of course, if he is injured or falters, then rookie Matt Leinart for USC is waiting. A Heisman Trophy winner and two-time National Champion at USC, Leinart is a very cerebral quarterback who is in the Warner mold. Has good timing with his receivers and can make tough throws. However, he doesn’t have the deep range that Warner has and can be very inaccurate with the long passes. Should Warner struggle, they could decide that the future is now, allowing the newly appointed “Golden Boy” his time to start running the Cardinal offense.
RB: J.J. Arrington was considered to have been a steal in the early parts of the second round as the leading rusher in Division I NCAA during his last season with the California Bears in the Pac 10. However, Arrington struggled mightily in his first season, only managing a measly 370 yards and 2 scores. I still believe that he can be a solid NFL running back, but that development will go on the backburner again as the Cardinals dug deep and pulled off one of the biggest moves in the history of their franchise, snagging Edgerrin James away from the Colts. James is an All-Pro running back who can punish defenders in many ways, physically or with his agility and deceptive speed. James will be just as likely to make a slippery move as he would be lowering his shoulders and running right through you. James has rushed for over 1,000 yards in 6 of his first 8 NFL seasons and give the Cardinals a running back that defenses have to respect and force them to lay off the receivers in the offense. This will give them the added bonus of opening up Warner for the dump off passing and relieve him of some of the pressure that he’s likely to face. Fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo will be relied on to block in certain pro sets, but James played a lot of downs in single back in Indy and might see more of those formations in the upcoming season to spread out corners and safeties on the receivers.
WR/TE: The Cardinals are incredibly blessed in having two 100+ catch receivers. Both Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald eclipsed the mark in 2005 despite the team’s lack of overall success. They were integral parts of the top rated passing attack in the NFL. The catch is that although they are both legitimate 1,000 yard receivers, they both give you different looks, as if complementing as a 1-2 receiving corp. Although I would have to say that Boldin and Fitzgerald qualify as more of a number 1 and a number 1a. Boldin is physical and strong, punishing the smaller safeties and corners, while still having the elusiveness and agility to make plays against the bigger defenders. He’s a smart receiver who runs precise routes. For those of you remember the 54 yard touchdown he scored last season against the San Francisco 49ers in turning a short pass into a long run by breaking tackle after tackle, Boldin is capable of turning those short plays into scores. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald isn’t as strong and won’t use his physicality to bully people. But he’s a master at positioning his body for catches and at 6’5″ can outjump most people for balls once they are within the red zone. He provides a better target inside the red zone for the quarterback, but both are lethal. Veteran receivers Troy Walters and Bryant Johnson provide them with above average receiving options in the slot or in multiple receiver sets. Eric Edwards will most likely return as the starting tight end for the Cards, a guy who only had 12 receptions and is more counted on by the team in the blocking schemes and as extra protection.You can’t sleep on him though cause he averages over 8 yards a catch and is a threat to pick up random first downs when you focus on other receivers. Watch out for rookie Leonard Pope from Georgia, who wasn’t as highly touted as San Francisco’s Vernon Davis or Jacksonville’s Marcedes Lewis, but can be a factor in an offense.
OL: The offensive line might be the X-factor for the Cards this year. Many experts expect that their progress will continue on the upward this season and could make them a very confident and solid bunch by the end of the season. For sure the running game will depend on their ability to open up those defenses. Edgerrin James has the luxury of a very stout offensive line in Indy and expects the same around the desert. The left side of the line is considered to be a strength with Leonard Davis and Reggie Wells holding down the fort for James. Expect them, much like Seattle, to be strong to a particular side of the ball… that side. The center is Alex Stepanovich, although he is only going into his third season in the NFL and is still learning the blocking schemes and picking up on defenses. He’s adjusting well to the speed and showed glimpses last season of finally settling into the position. They are also banking on the health of right tackle Oliver Ross, who is battling through an injury as of right now (August 16th) and looks like he could miss months. They will be fine and help out should they improve on their co-hesiveness.
Overall Grade: A-/B+ (depending on Warner’s health and O-line’s effectiveness)
Defense
The growth of the defense in Arizona can be directly associated with the addition of Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast, who will now be entering his third season as their Defensive Coordinator. His turnaround was almost instant, turning a defense which was ranked 26th the year before he came to 12th the season after. They further improved last year, moving into 8th overall and having the team’s first top-10 ranked defense since 1994. A big theme for the Cardinals in 2006 will be the returning veterans. Four regular defensive starters missed significant time in 2005, including Pro-Bowl DE Betrand Berry and rookie CB Antrel Rolle. They finished 10th against the run and 12th against the pass, showing that their defense can be relied on to carry the load for the team if totally necessary. They play a base 4-3 defense which plays a lot of different looks. They don’t play too much man, relying on zone, but I would expect that to come differently now that they are a bit more healthy on the field.
DL: The return of Pro-Bowler Bertrand Berry is huge for the development of the team. He’s a players who benefitted from the defense and had an NFC high 14.5 sacks in 2004. While injuries limited him last season, he will be back to anchor that line. He’ll most likely be joined on the opposite end by Chike Okeafor, a speedy apsh rusher. With some addded depth, they should be able to get more rst for some of the starters. Okeafor had 8 sacks last yeara nd with Berry back they should force the offense into some tough decisions in protection. Two average defensive tackles in Kendrick Clancy and Darnell Dockett will split time in a rotation with Langston Moore and perhaps rookie Gabe Watson. They aren’t especially dynamic but they can get the job done for the Cardinals in the running defense and will provide some push on the line during passing situations.
LB: They aren’t really spectacular at any one of the linebacking positions, but they have three solid defenders in the corp. They are led by Karlos Dansby, who was third on the team with 103 tackles in 2005. He’s also one of only 6 players in the NFL in 2005 to have at least 3 sacks and 3 interceptions. He’s a agile athlete who knows how to position himself and has a nose for the ball. He’s fighting injury right now, but should be okay for the Cards going into the season. Although the question is whether or not the thumb injury is the only problem. Certain reports have Dansby falling out of favor with the coaching staff in Arizona and he’s also now sporting a sore toe which might need surgery. This has brought upon former defensive end Calvin Pace’s move from end to outside linebacker. The coaches have been impressed with him abilty and his work ethic, something that Head Coach Dennis Green questioned his first season in Arizona. Orlando Huff and James Darling will be there and they provide the Cardinals with solid defenders who can play within their limits and hold their own against the offensive sets that they are likely to see. Expect Huff to be important as a blitzing linebacker off the weakside.
DB: The big news is that after missing 11 games last season due to a torn meniscus, Antrel Rolle has rehabbed and even after needing a second surgery to remove scaring tissue in the spring looks to be in full health for the Cardinals. He’s a true cover corner who will improve the Cardinals’ ability to get out of the zone and maybe commit some extra rushers to pressur ethe quarterback. Rolle is such a dominating physical presence and can dominate and blanket an opponent’s top receiver, something they lacked in having 5 different players try and fill in for Rolle during his injury last season. David Macklin is the satarter, though the coaching staff is looking at Eric Green to challenge. Macklin had two picks last season and is solid, although has lapses that the Cardinals can’t afford to have happen too often. They have a Pro-Bowler at strong safety with Adrian Wilson, who is a great athlete. He led the team in tackles and can cover out in the field but can come up and stop the run. He also had 8 sacks last season, which put him at the team lead. That was the first time in Cardinals’ history that a defensive back led the team in sacks. He will be opposite veteran free safety Robert Griffith, who is in his 13th NFL season.
Overall Grade: B-
Special Teams
K: Neil Rackers was easily the best kicker in the league last season, although that had more to do with an early inability for the Cardinals to get the ball into the end zone. But I’m not sure which Rackers to expect, the inconsistent kicker who had only hit more than 80 percent of his field goals before last season, or the 95 percent kicker that hit 40 field goals last season. He hit 7 field goals from beyond 50 yards last season and hit 9 the year before, so we know he’s got the long boot. With Arizona’s new stadium, he will have to get accustomed to new turf and wind settings, but I believe that we’ll see a Neil Rackers somewhere in the middle of his career performances and last season’s breakout. Expect the Cardinal offense to get more touchdowns, limiting his FG opportunities.
P: Scott Player comes into his 10th season in the NFL with no competition for the punter position. He’s actually one of the longest tenured Cardinals still on the team, a rookie the last time that the Cardinals made the playoffs in 1998. Player is solid with his kicks, averaging a better than average hangtime while not having the long boot that other punters have. He’s still averaging well over 43 yards a punt and does well for the Cardinals in the field position game. No worries for them here.
Overall Grade: A
Coaching Staff
Although Head Coach Dennis Green has been given quite a bit of leniency because of his history the past couple of years in Arizona, the expectations have never been higher. The pressure is on Green to finally produce a winner in Arizona and anything less than a playoff birth will be unacceptable. Some are saying that his job may very well be in jeopardy if they don’t do well. To his credit, he’s changed the attitude in Arizona and he does seem to work his best under pressure, so we’ll have to see. Keith Rowen has a history of revamping offenses and the beginning of those changes could be seen last season. He could very well catapult the offense into higher places in 2006. Meanwhile, Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast has the chance to do something special with the young defense. He can build on the progress and continue to lead the Cardinals’ rise.
Overall Grade: B+
Position Battles to Watch
QB: I hate to say it, because Matt Leinart is only a rookie, but if Warner somehow falters beyond repair, the chants will grow long and loud for Leinart to come it. Granted, Warner might not have too much time left in his NFL career, but the Cardinals have been waiting longer for some success than most teams. Jake Plummer’s miracle 1998 playoff team aside, thy haven’t had much to cheer about in Arizona for a while.
3rd WR: Troy Walters and Bryant Johnson will be battling for who should be alongside the dynamic two for the Cardinals. I think the edge goes to Johnson, who has been in the system longer and does have first round talent, albeit not very evident in his NFL career. Either guy should be servicable for the Cardinals when you consider that Boldin and Fitzgerald take a lot of pressure off a third receiver.
OLB (Strongside): Karlos Dansby had a great season, but with the reported troubles he’s been having and the nagging injuries, as well as the escalating stock of Calvin Pace, you have to wonder who will exactly be lined up on the strong side for the Cardinals once the season gets underway. I have to believe that they stick with Dansby because of his impact on the defense as long as he’s healthy. But Pace could be a more than adaquate option for them.
Player to Watch
Leonard Pope, TE: The Cardinals aren’t exactly dependent on the tight end position, but you have to believe that if they an upgrade from Eric Edwards they would be more than happy to. Pope is a good pass catcher who will give the Cardinals a person who can challenge some of the smaller linebackers and safeties in the league and the division. The Rams and 49ers especially have smaller linebackers who may be athletic but could be punished by a big body like Pope.
Bold Preditions
Record: 10-6, NFC Wildcard
Offensive MVP: Larry Fitzgerald
Defensive MVP: Adrian Wilson
