Offense: The team was simply abysmal last season in every phase of the game, ranking in the bottom of the league in most offensive categories. The offensive line could neither protect the quarterback (league-worst 58 sacks) or open up holes for their running backs (league-worst 3.4 yards per carry). The addition of #8 overall pick Jonathan Cooper was supposed to help, but will likely miss the season with a broken leg. Carson Palmer will take the helm at quarterback, and provides the team with a big-armed quarterback who is better equipped to take advantage of Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Rashard Mendenhall should give the running game a boost, and rookie Stepfan Taylor (6th round, Stanford) is a durable short-yardage back that provides depth behind Mendenhall.
Defense: Perhaps one of the most underrated defenses in the game, Arizona recorded 38 sacks while racking up more interceptions (22, 2nd in NFL) than passing touchdowns allowed (20). The team will miss Kerry Rhodes' production, but the combination of Yeremiah Bell and rookie Tyrann Mathieu (3rd round) should help. Daryl Washington (9.0 sacks) leads a very strong linebacking corps, which also added Kevin Minter (2nd round) to compete for a starting spot alongside Washington and Alex Okafor (4th round) as another edge-rusher in the team's 3-4 scheme. Defensive end Calais Campbell has been playing at a Pro Bowl level the last couple of years, but the team needs former Pro Bowler Darnell Dockett to return to form after a sub-par 2012 season (34 tackles, 1.5 sacks). Cornerback Patrick Peterson is also becoming one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL (7 interceptions), and is a very big threat in the return game.
Impact Free Agent: Running back Rashard Mendenhall. The Cardinals running game has been anemic in recent seasons, and while that could be a by-product of poor offensive line play, the addition of Mendenhall could change things. Mendenhall missed time last season after suffering a torn ACL at the end of the 2011 campaign, and didn't appear 100% when playing last season. If healthy, Mendenhall gives Arizona the best running back they've had in quite some time.
Impact Rookie: Safety/cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. While he's not currently listed as a starter, Mathieu has a knack for making plays. While he's somewhat small for a safety in run support, the Cardinals will probably use him as a center field-type safety on passing downs, and might also see time covering slot receivers. Were it not for being kicked off LSU's football team for repeated drug-related problems, Mathieu probably would have been gone long before the third round.
Player to Watch: Quarterback Carson Palmer. Ever since Kurt Warner retired, the Cardinals offense has been missing the big-play ability from the passing game. While Palmer is not quite the same player that he was in the mid-2000's, he still has a big arm, and should be able to find Larry Fitzgerald more frequently and accurately than any quarterback since Warner.
Record: 5-11 (4th in NFC West)
Showing posts with label Arizona Cardinals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arizona Cardinals. Show all posts
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Thursday, August 30, 2012
NFC West Preview: Niners should hold off rising Seahawks in 2012
San Francisco 49ers
2011 Recap: The 49ers got off to a quick start in 2011, wrapping up the division in week thirteen on their way to a 13-3 record, making it all the way to the NFC Championship game. Oft-maligned quarterback Alex Smith did a great job of game-managing for first year coach Jim Harbaugh, and Vernon Davis staked his claim as one of the better tight ends in the league. The engine that made San Francisco run was their defense, which was #1 against the run, #2 in scoring defense and #4 in total yards allowed. The pass rush was also very strong, as DE Justin Smith and OLB Aldon Smith combined for 21.5 of the teams' 42 sacks. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman are one of the best linebacking corps in the league.
Key Additions
The front office was aggressive in trying to add play-makers to an offense that largely lacked explosiveness. With Frank Gore's injury history, the team added bruising back Brandon Jacobs through free agency, as well as burner LaMichael James in the second round to help in the passing and return game. A.J. Jenkins was a bit of a reach in the first round, but adds a big-play threat when the team spreads the field. Mario Manningham came over from the Giants and projects as a very solid third receiver. Randy Moss is not the long-term answer at receiver for the 49ers, but is a potential low-risk, high-reward player with a reasonable contract.
Key Losses
WR Josh Morgan (Redskins)
G Chilo Rachal (Bears)
G Adam Snyder (Cardinals)
2012 Outlook
San Francisco is returning just about every defensive player from last season's team, and added some potential weapons to the offense that will allow Jim Harbaugh to open up more of the playbook for quarterback Alex Smith. The team will have tough road games (Patriots, Packers, Saints), and could see some challenges from visiting teams (Lions, Bills, Giants, Bears). Ultimately, I don't think the 49ers will be able to replicate their 13-3 record from a season ago, but should be a better (and more well-balanced) team this season.
Predicted Record: 11-5
2011 Recap: The 49ers got off to a quick start in 2011, wrapping up the division in week thirteen on their way to a 13-3 record, making it all the way to the NFC Championship game. Oft-maligned quarterback Alex Smith did a great job of game-managing for first year coach Jim Harbaugh, and Vernon Davis staked his claim as one of the better tight ends in the league. The engine that made San Francisco run was their defense, which was #1 against the run, #2 in scoring defense and #4 in total yards allowed. The pass rush was also very strong, as DE Justin Smith and OLB Aldon Smith combined for 21.5 of the teams' 42 sacks. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman are one of the best linebacking corps in the league.
Key Additions
The front office was aggressive in trying to add play-makers to an offense that largely lacked explosiveness. With Frank Gore's injury history, the team added bruising back Brandon Jacobs through free agency, as well as burner LaMichael James in the second round to help in the passing and return game. A.J. Jenkins was a bit of a reach in the first round, but adds a big-play threat when the team spreads the field. Mario Manningham came over from the Giants and projects as a very solid third receiver. Randy Moss is not the long-term answer at receiver for the 49ers, but is a potential low-risk, high-reward player with a reasonable contract.
Key Losses
WR Josh Morgan (Redskins)
G Chilo Rachal (Bears)
G Adam Snyder (Cardinals)
2012 Outlook
San Francisco is returning just about every defensive player from last season's team, and added some potential weapons to the offense that will allow Jim Harbaugh to open up more of the playbook for quarterback Alex Smith. The team will have tough road games (Patriots, Packers, Saints), and could see some challenges from visiting teams (Lions, Bills, Giants, Bears). Ultimately, I don't think the 49ers will be able to replicate their 13-3 record from a season ago, but should be a better (and more well-balanced) team this season.
Predicted Record: 11-5
Monday, February 13, 2012
Grading the 2008 NFL Draft: NFC West
It often takes up to four seasons in order to gauge how well an NFL team drafted. With that in mind, I'll be grading each of the 32 NFL teams drafts in an eight part, divison-by-division series. For the first installment, we'll be discussing how the teams from the NFC West fared.
Arizona Cardinals
1(16) - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
2(50) - DE Calais Campbell, Miami (FL)
3(81) - WR Early Doucet, LSU
4(116) - DE Kenny Iwebema, Iowa
5(149) - RB Tim Hightower, Richmond
6(185) - DE Chris Harrington, Texas A&M
7(225) - OT Brandon Keith, Northern Iowa
Thoughts: Calais Campbell has been one of the premiere 3-4 defensive ends in the league the last three years, and has averaged 60 tackles and 7.0 sacks per season in that span. Rodgers-Cromartie was part of the Kevin Kolb trade, and is a solid nickel cornerback for the Eagles. Doucet struggled in his first three years in the league, but had a solid season in 2011 (689 yards, 5 TD). Hightower was having a solid first year with Washington before tearing his ACL in week seven. Keith has started 20 of the 26 games he's played in, but is much better suited as a swing tackle than a starter. Iwebema played three nondescript years for the Cardinals, and was a preseason roster cut before this past season. Harrington was cut in training camp as a rookie, and last appeared in an NFL game for the Jaguars in 2009. Overall, the Cardinals found value in almost every pick, and Campbell in particular is bordering on elite.
Final Grade: B+
Arizona Cardinals
1(16) - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
2(50) - DE Calais Campbell, Miami (FL)
3(81) - WR Early Doucet, LSU
4(116) - DE Kenny Iwebema, Iowa
5(149) - RB Tim Hightower, Richmond
6(185) - DE Chris Harrington, Texas A&M
7(225) - OT Brandon Keith, Northern Iowa
Thoughts: Calais Campbell has been one of the premiere 3-4 defensive ends in the league the last three years, and has averaged 60 tackles and 7.0 sacks per season in that span. Rodgers-Cromartie was part of the Kevin Kolb trade, and is a solid nickel cornerback for the Eagles. Doucet struggled in his first three years in the league, but had a solid season in 2011 (689 yards, 5 TD). Hightower was having a solid first year with Washington before tearing his ACL in week seven. Keith has started 20 of the 26 games he's played in, but is much better suited as a swing tackle than a starter. Iwebema played three nondescript years for the Cardinals, and was a preseason roster cut before this past season. Harrington was cut in training camp as a rookie, and last appeared in an NFL game for the Jaguars in 2009. Overall, the Cardinals found value in almost every pick, and Campbell in particular is bordering on elite.
Final Grade: B+
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