2006 Cardinals preview
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Coaching a projected sleeper team that never woke up last year, Dennis Green had to keep pinching himself this offseason as things went unbelievably well for the Cardinals. They got a new stadium. They sold out all their tickets. A spike in the salary cap enabled them to sign halfback Edgerrin James. Quarterback Matt Leinart fell to them with the 10th pick in the first round and he was good enough to win the backup job despite having the longest holdout among first-round choices.
To vault from a 5-11 team into contention, the Cardinals will need their good luck to continue. As long as the Cardinals stay away from injuries, they should score a lot of touchdowns instead of relying on Neil Rackers' field goals. But the Cardinals are thin. They probably will have more undrafted backups than any other team in football, so they have to keep their starters healthy to make the jump as a team. They can't afford any injuries along the offensive line. Kurt Warner has the ability to put 30 points on the scoreboard each week with the talent he now has in the backfield and at wide receiver. The line, however, must keep him from taking too many hits.
The defense may have a hard time repeating as the No. 8-ranked unit a year ago. Karlos Dansby, the team's best linebacker, missed the entire training camp because of injuries, forcing defensive end Calvin Pace to become an outside linebacker. Each injury has a ripple effect on the Cardinals' roster.
The pressure is on in Arizona. After 17 years of fighting for a stadium to call their own, the Cardinals have no more excuses for not competing at a high level. In the offseason, the team signed All-Pro RB Edgerrin James, re-signed All-Pro QB Kurt Warner, and matched an offer sheet from the Bills for guard Reggie Wells. And don't forget about the six-year, $51 million contract of rookie QB Matt Leinart. With this abundance of money and high-caliber players, the Cardinals have every reason to put up outstanding numbers in the NFC West.
The defense has good depth along the interior defensive line, but an injury or two at cornerback or linebacker will force the Cardinals to use players who are either in the twilight or early stages of their careers. Look for defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast to be very creative in an attempt to keep his defensive players fresh and reduce the risks of injury. DE Bertrand Berry should return to form, safety Adrian Wilson should finally make his Pro Bowl debut, and standout CB Antrel Rolle should see no ill effects of his disappointing rookie season that was marred by a chronic knee injury.
Prediction: Second in NFC West.
It is very hard to improve upon a group of defensive linemen that includes Bertrand Berry, Chike Okeafor, Russell Davis, and Darnell Dockett, but Arizona may have done it with the free-agent addition of Kendrick Clancy.
Clancy allowed the fewest yards per point-of-attack run attempt of any defensive tackle in the NFL last year. He also had the second-highest success percentage, as he beat over 40 percent of the point-of-attack blocks directed at him last year. Clancy may have been motivated in part by being in a contract year, but if he can play even at just 75 percent of his 2005 level, he would likely be a Pro Bowl candidate. Add it all up, and the Arizona defensive line could be the most dominating defensive line in the NFL.
Few teams have as many people with good hands as the Cards. You
already know about Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin (left), whose physical gifts make them fine short and intermediate targets, and also big-play threats. But there's also James, sticky-fingered TE Adam Bergen and 6-foot-8 rookie TE Leonard Pope, who makes Antonio Gates look like a point guard.
Go ahead, Cards fans, soak up the familiar preseason buzz. There are plenty of reasons to get pumped: the signing of James, the drafting of USC golden boy Matt Leinart (left), the opening of posh Cardinals Stadium, the return of a team that finished in the top 10 in both offense and defense. Yes, Denny Green has quickly put his mark on the Cardinals -- only 14 players remain from the Dave McGinnis era. But here's a reality check: Arizona is coming off a five-win season, with a suspect offensive line. It will rely heavily on Kurt Warner, who hasn't played a full season since 2001, and a bevy of undrafted players for depth. Sure, the Cards are better. Maybe even a 9-7 team. That makes them buzz worthy, not playoff worthy.
| Team Preview Centers |
| Key Stretch: Weeks 14-17 |
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Dec. 10: Seattle Dec. 17: Denver Dec. 24: at San Francisco Dec. 31: at San Diego |
| Comings & Goings |
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Key Acquisitions: RB Edgerrin James; DT Kendrick Clancy; WR Troy Walters; OG Milford Brown; OT Brandon Gorin. Key Departures: |
| Offensive Starters (as of 8/30) |
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RB Edgerrin James FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo QB Kurt Warner WR Anquan Boldin RT Oliver Ross RG Milford Brown C Alex Stepanovich LG Reggie Wells LT Leonard Davis TE Eric Edwards WR Larry Fitzgerald |
| Defensive Starters (as of 8/30) |
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LDE Chike Okeafor NT Kendrick Clancy DT Darnell Dockett RDE Bertrand Berry SLB Karlos Dansby MLB James Darling WLB Orlando Huff LCB Antrel Rolle FS Robert Griffith SS Adrian Wilson RCB David Macklin • Complete roster |
