SB Nation - Oliver Ross

Arizona Cardinals Top Ten Irreplaceable Players

Hawkwind — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:03:04 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Kurt Warner and Tim Hightower are both among the top ten irreplaceable Arizona Cardinals but who else makes the cut? (AP Photo/ David Zalubowski )

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The Arizona Cardinals are on the door step of the most important season in franchise history. Just nine months removed from the their first ever Super Bowl berth the team must deal with unprecedented pressure from expectations and the pressure that comes with playing as the hunted instead of the hunter. The Cardinals will no longer fly under the radar or be an overlooked opponent. Every week the opposing team will know that the reigning NFC Champion will be on the opposite sideline and every week that opponent will bring their 'A' game because of that fact. Another major challenge for the Cardinals will be staying healthy. The Red Birds were one of the healthier teams in the league in 2008 and the "law of averages" will tell you that they'll have a hard time repeating that for a second consecutive season. With all of that in mind, we'll take a look at the most irreplaceable players on the Arizona Cardinals roster. Factoring in depth and the dropoff in performance from starter to backup will help us put them in order from ten to one.

#10 - Lyle Sendlein: Sendlein struggled mightily at times during his first year as a starter but the third year player has looked quite impressive during the preseason despite facing three dominating nose tackles in Casey Hampton, Jamal Williams and B.J. Raji. Sendlein's value not only lies in his improved play but also in the value of the depth at center. Ben Claxton is expected to be his backup but Claxton is a 29 year old player with a grand total of two games worth of experience.

#9 -Tim Hightower or Chris Wells: Hightower and Wells are 'one in the same' for this exercise because losing either one for a significant period of time would put too much pressure on the other to shoulder the load by himself. The Cardinals want to run the ball more this year and they'll need both backs healthy and productive in order for them to accomplish their goal. Jason Wright and LaRod Stephens-Howling may find their way onto the field in third down situations but either one of them getting a significant number of carries will not a be a good sign.

#8 -Gerald Hayes - Hayes doesn't get the attention or praise that he should but when he's on the field all he does it make play after play. He won't lead Sportcenter's Top 10 on Sunday nights or earn a trip to the Pro Bowl but he's one of the quiet, dedicated, reliable 'worker ants' that every winning team needs. Over the past three seasons he hasn't missed a game and has averaged 93 tackles per year. His veteran leadership combined with the fact that the Cardinals have very little depth at inside linebacker make his presence irreplaceable.

#7 -Steve Breaston - You might be wondering why a third wide receiver is irreplaceable but it's Breaston's total package that the Cards would miss. First, Breaston the only receiver who can simply run by a corner on any given play and beat a defense with the deep ball. Second and more importantly is Breaston's role on special teams. As the primary punt returner and most likely the primary kick returner, his value to the team can not be measured. If he were to go down you'd have to bump up Jerheme Urban, who's a talented receiver but not near the threat that Breaston is, to the slot receiver and you'd probably see Antrel Rolle get the first crack at punt returner.

#6 -Kurt Warner - It goes without saying that Warner is vitally important to what the Cardinals do offensively and they simply wouldn't be the same team if he were to go down. He'd be higher on this list though if Matt Leinart hadn't have had such an impressive preseason. Still though Leinart is a different type of quarterback and the offense would have to become more ground-oriented if he was the starting quarterback. Simply put, the way this team is currently constructed Kurt Warner is the guy that we need under center.

#5 -Darnell Dockett - Nine-0, as he prefers to be called now, is not only the team's best defensive lineman but he's the only one capable of shooting through the offensive line and wreaking havoc in an opponents backfield on any given play. If he were to go down, Kenny Iwebema would have to step in and they are completely different types of players. Dockett is essential to what the Cardinals hope to accomplish up front and the Cardinals need him to not only pressure the quarterback and penetrate the line of scrimmage but also to stay healthy.

#4 - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie or Bryant McFadden - The combo of DRC and McFadden are essential not so much because of their talents, although neither of them is too shabby, but instead because of the lack of quality depth behind them. If either of the Cards starting corners were to go down they'd be forced to push Ralph Brown into the starting lineup and talented but extremely raw rookie Greg Toler into the nickel slot. Brown has plenty of veteran savvy that's allowed him to survive in the NFL for nine seasons but he's not starting material at this point and Toler has proven that he's not ready for significant snaps yet either.

#3 - Mike Gandy - By now you've probably looked down this list and you're wondering (or maybe screaming) how Gandy can make the list but Larry Fitzgerald's name is no where to be found. Gandy's status as an irreplaceable player has more to do with the lack of depth behind him than the actual quality of his play. His primary backup, Elliot Vallejo, has already be injured and subsequently cut. As a result the Cards are left with shuffling their offensive line completely if Gandy goes down. Coach Whiz has said that Levi Brown would move to left tackle and either Brandon Keith or Herman Johnson would step in at RT. Either way that plays out you'd have one player taking his first ever NFL snap at LT and one guy taking his first ever starting NFL snap. Any way that you slice it, the loss of Gandy would constitute a significant drop (at two positions) off from an already not spectacular quality of play.

#2 -Adrian Wilson - This one is pretty self explanatory, no one on this roster can do what Adrian Wilson does when he's on the football field. Against the pass he's capable of covering tight ends, backs and most receivers and also know for making game changing picks. Against the run he's basically another linebacker and his speed and instincts allow him to diagnose plays in a instant. Oh and he's quite possibly the most devastating blitzer on the team as well. If A-dub went down there would be some scrambling to fill his shoes and there are several possibilities. The Cards could move Matt Ware into the starting lineup or they could move Antrel Rolle over to strong safety and insert rookie Rashad Johnson in at free safety. Neither of those scenarios is particularly favorable.

#1 - Karlos Dansby - With the lack of depth at linebacker, Dansby had to headline this list. He's the leading tackler, the defensive signal caller and he's capable of punishing an offense in every way imaginable. He's strong enough to stuff a run up the middle, quick enough to shut down an outside sweep, fluid enough to drop into coverage and explosive enough to blow by opposing offensive lineman and pressure the quarterback. If Dansby were to go down the Cards would probably move Hayes into his spot and try to fill Hayes' spot with either Ali Highsmith or undrafted rookie Reggie Walker. Needless to say the Red Birds need Dansby to be healthy and productive in 2009.

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Ok, now it's your turn. Am I crazy for not listing Fitz or Anquan Boldin? Who else did I leave off?

53 Man Roster Predictions After the Arizona Cardinals Shutout Loss to the Broncos

Hawkwind — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:49:49 -0000

by David Zalubowski - AP

Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt will have harder time cutting 22 players today than he did finding an offensive play that would work this preseason. (AP Photo/ David Zalubowski)

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Truth be told we won't dwell on another lackluster effort in the preseason. The Arizona Cardinals finished the preseason without a win but that doesn't even begin to tell the story of how ugly the past three and a half weeks have been. To give you a quick taste of how the past four games have gone, the Cardinals have been outscored 71-16 in the first half, Cardinals' quarterbacks have combined to throw twice as many interceptions as touchdowns (9 to 4) and the Cardinals' defenders have forced just one turnover. In conclusion this Cardinals team has looked like the one that played in December of 2008 instead of the team that took the field in January of 2009. Just for the record, historically teams that finish the preseason winless, also struggle in the regular season. Going back to 1989, 35 teams have finished the preseason without a win and 31 of those teams failed to make the playoff. To make matters worse, 21 of them finished with a losing record.

But we said we weren't going to dwell so we're moving on to the news that should come down today. Tomorrow is the deadline to cut down the rosters to 53 players, but most expect Ken Whisenhunt to break the news in an afternoon press conference. With that in mind, here's ROTB's last shot at nailing down the 53 man roster.

QB (3): Kurt Warner, Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre - Tyler Palko played his way out of any shot of making the roster with a poor performance last night. BSP hasn't shown much this preseason but Whiz is familiar enough with his abilities for him to stick.
RB (4): Tim Hightower, Chris Wells, Jason Wright, LaRod Stephens-Howling - No one did much to either help or hurt their case for a roster spot last night.
FB (1): Dan Kreider - After the recent discussion about Kreider vs. Tim Castille, I kept a close eye on both players last night. To be honest neither did much to impress me and at this point I think Whiz would chose a veteran that he's familiar with over a younger player.
WR (6): Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban, Early Doucet and Sean Morey - I, like most Cardinals fans I suspect, have been pulling for Lance Long but he's played a great deal in the past two preseason games and he hasn't done much with his opportunity (2 catches for 21 yards). I think it's fair to say that he's not ready and I'd be wiling to risk cutting him. The Chiefs may or may not claim him before we can stash him on the practice squad but he can't help this team right now.

TE (3): Stephen Spach, Anthony Becht and Dominique Byrd - Truth to be told, I still don't know what we have at this position but I'm confident that Leonard Pope will be cut. He was the last tight end to take the field last night and that says enough about his future. I went back and forth on Byrd but his versatility in the H-back role won me over. The interesting thing about this spot is who gets released after week four when Ben Patrick comes back.

OL (9): Mike Gandy, Reggie Wells, Lyle Sendlein, Deuce Lutui, Levi Brown, Herman Johnson, Brandon Keith and Elton Brown and Melvin Fowler - It's overkill keeping so many offensive lineman and I went back and forth on Elton Brown but his ability to play LT made the difference. Oliver Ross is a possibility but he just didn't impress me during the preseason. Elton Brown wasn't all that impressive either but at least this coaching staff has seen him step in at LT and play decently.

DL (6): Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell, Bryan Robinson, Kenny Iwebema, Gabe Watson and Alan Branch - No real surprises here. Branch hasn't done much to warrant a spot but neither has anyone behind him. At least he can line up at DE now as well as DT, although his effectiveness remains about the same. Keilen Dykes doesn't make the cut but hopefully they can keep him on the practice squad thanks to another leg injury that cost him nearly the entire preseason.
LB (8): Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Clark Haggans, Chike Okeafor, Will Davis, Victor Hobson, Reggie Walker and Ali Highsmith - Bertrand Berry is the surprise cut on the roster after pulling a disappearing act during the preseason that would make David Copperfield jealous. Considering that the backups consist of two rookies, one sophomore UDFA and a guy that was signed off the streets before the regular season finale last year, I fully expect the Cardinals to scour the waiver wire for a veteran linebacker (inside or out).
CB (5): Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Bryant McFadden, Ralph Brown, Greg Toler and Michael Adams - I don't know what to make of this unit but these are the top five guys. DRC has struggled mightily the past two games, McFadden can't even get on the field and Brown is looking awful old and slow. Toler and Adams are two guys that we should all hope spend much more time on special teams than the regular defense.
S (5): Adrian Wilson, Antrel Rolle, Rashad Johnson, Aaron Francisco and Matt Ware - Basically this is the same unit as last year, plus a third round pick. Francisco is still Francisco although Ware has caught my eye several times this preseason.
Specialists (3): Neil Rackers, Ben Graham and Mike Leach - No surprises.

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To be honest, when I first wrote all this down I ended up with 54 players and after scouring the two deep I ended up cutting a veteran, Bertrand Berry. I'm not sure why but I keep getting the feeling that some of the veterans who've been around this team throughout all of the bad times cause some apathy in the locker room sometimes that lead to performances like we've seen the past couple of weeks. Berry's absence over the course of OTA's and his indifferent excuse once training camp started is just a microcosm of how this team has played over the course of the preseason. Maybe it's a knee jerk reaction on my part for thinking that someone's head has to roll but so be it. Thoughts? Who makes your 53?

Arizona Cardinals Fight For 53: Examining the Bubble Players by Position

Hawkwind — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:52:26 -0000

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

3 months ago: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson, right, picks up an eight-yard gain as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Ralph Brown pulls him down during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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It's simply the nature of the NFL that 22 players who currently call themselves Arizona Cardinals, will be unemployed by the end of this coming weekend. The bad news will be given to hundreds of players across the NFL within the next week and many will be left hoping for a place on some team's practice squad or maybe the newly formed UFL. Before anyone has to worry about their new football home though, the bubble players will have one last shot to impress the coaching staff this Thursday when the Cardinals travel to Denver to take on the Broncos. Here's a quick list at the battles at various positions.

Kreider vs. Castille: With four running backs expected to make the final roster, thanks to LaRod Stephens-Howling's impressive play over the past month, the Cardinals are expected to carry just one fullback. That leaves three guys, Dan Kreider, Tim Castille and Reagan Maui'a, fighting for one spot, although truth be told it's really just a battle between Krieder and Castille. No one has really established themselves and each guy brings something different to the table. Krieder is hands down the better blocker and he's a "Whiz-guy" but Castille's versatility out of the backfield and prowess on special teams gives him a shot.

Long versus the Unknown: The only real question for the Cardinals to answer at wide receiver is how many they want to carry. Assuming that Early Doucet's recent rib injury won't effect his roster status, the teams top six wide outs are virtually set in stone (Fitz, Q, Breaston, Urban, Doucet and Morey). That leaves fan favorite Lance Long fighting for a spot that simply might not be there, but the team has carried seven wide receivers before. The injury risk of a couple of those guys and Long's ability to contribute on special teams leaves the door open. At this point Orea Jones, who's been impressive during the preseason, is simply showcasing himself to other teams or hoping for a practice squad job.

Brown vs. Ross: The offensive line is sort of the in the same predicament as the wide receiver spot considering that they've got quite a few semi-capable bodies but not enough roster spots for everyone. What we know is that Gandy, Wells, Sendlein, Lutui, Levi Brown, Keith and Johnson are all locks make the final 53. If you're counting that's seven bodies and most squads carry eight or nine (although the Cards have kept ten before). That leaves two or maybe three spots up for grabs. One of the spots will undoubtedly be filled by a center and that battle seems to have boiled down to Ben Claxton versus Melvin Fowler. Fowler has a huge edge in experience and would seem to be the front runner but don't count out Claxton's familiarity with the offense. Assuming that the backup center spot is filled by one of these two (but not both), that leaves eight guys with Elton Brown, Trevor Canfield, Carlton Medder and Oliver Ross on the outside looking with one or two spots to fill. Of these remaining four, I'd have to say the top two are Brown and Ross and they'd be battling for the final spot or could be the final two in, if the team decides to keep 10 offensive lineman.

Unknown at Tight End: As we stated yesterday the only thing we really know about the tight end spot is that we really don't know anything. The best bet right now is that Ben Patrick is essentially assured of the roster spot to start the season but that's only because he won't count against the 53 until his four game suspension is over. With that in mind, we'll set him aside and just look at the remainder. The Cardinals in the past have carried as few as two tight ends and as many as four so it's possible that Stephen Spach, Leonard Pope, Anthony Becht and Dominique Byrd could all make the opening day roster, but that's probably a stretch considering how little the tight end is used in the passing game. Our best bet is that three with make the opening day 53 (not counting Patrick remember) with either Pope or Byrd getting cut.

Branch vs. Dykes: This much we know on the defensive line, Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell, Bryan Robinson, Kenny Iwebema and Gabe Watson are all locks, even though Watson looked terrible against the Packers. It's tough to look at the Caridnals historically to see how many defensive lineman they kept because the 3-4 defense requires less lineman and more linebackers, but we can be sure that Keilen Dykes, Alan Branch, Alex Field, Rodney Leisle are all at the very least on the bubble. I don't think there would be any debate to say that Dykes and Branch are the best of those four but it could come down to whether the Cardinals want to keep six or seven defensive lineman. If they chose to go with six DL, I think Branch would be the choice considering that Dykes has had serious problems stay healthy over the past two training camps. His inability to stay on the field probably means that the Cards could stash him on the practice squad for an eventful call up when someone gets hurt.

Linebackers Help: Outside of the starters at linebacker, Dansby, Hayes, Haggans and Okeafor, I'm not sure that anyone is assured of a roster spot. Bertrand Berry would seem like a lock but he's done a complete disappearing act so far during the preseason. Victor Hobson, Will Davis and perhaps even Reggie Walker would seem like the next closest thing to locks. Hobson has experience in a 3-4 and can play inside and out while Davis and Walker have been impressive over the past couple of games. There's also Ali Highsmith who's failed to produce the same kind of buzz that he did last year. Chase Bullock and David Holloway round out the rest of the roster but neither of them have done much to warrant a roster spot. If the Cards had to decide today, I'm thinking that they'd keep the starters plus Berry, Hobson, Davis and Walker although this could be one position that gets an upgrade once other teams make their cuts.

Ware vs. Adams: There will be some tough decisions made in the secondary where it would seem that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Bryant McFadden, Adrian Wilson, Antrel Rolle, Rashad Johnson and Ralph Brown are all locks to make the squad. Brown has struggled in the preseason but so has the depth behind him so it's highly doubtful that his spot is in jeopardy. With six locks that leaves Aaron Francisco, Greg Toler, Matt Ware, Michael Adams, Jameel Dowling and Wilrey Fontenot fighting for what will probably end up being eight or nine spots. Francisco and Toler are certainly the front-runners of the bubble group so the real battle comes down to Ware versus Adams. It's possible that the team could keep all ten members of the secondary, they've done it before, but nine is a more manageable number. Ware has much more experience with the regular defense and is probably the more talented player but Adams' standout performances on special teams give him a shot.

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Thoughts? Who wins these battles and who makes your final 53?

Arizona Cardinals versus the Pittsburgh Steelers: Examining the Initial Depth Chart

Hawkwind — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:41:06 -0000

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

Arizona Cardinals' Bill Davis, left, talks with Darnell Dockett during morning practice at Cardinals training camp Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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The first preseason game of the year doesn't mean very much to the football world outside of a select few of crazed fans who have been salivating over the thought of real football for going on six months. One of the things that the first preseason game of the year does provide though is the first look at an 'official' depth chart and the Arizona Cardinals put out their first chart yesterday. Now word to the wise, Whisenhunt doesn't like to tweak the chart prior to the first game so he basically inserts each rookie's name at the bottom and leaves most of the rest unchanged. Thanks to a change in defensive philosophy though (or at least a continued shift towards a 3-4), there are some changes on the defensive side of the ball. With a quick look at how this current roster plays out on paper, here's a quick analysis of the depth chart.

Offense

QB -- Kurt Warner, Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre, Tyler Palko

RB -- Tim Hightower, Chris Wells, Jason Wright, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Chris Vincent

FB -- Dan Kreider, Tim Castille, Reagan Maui'a

WR -- Larry Fitzgerald, Jerheme Urban, Sean Morey, Onrea Jones, Ed Gant

WR -- Anquan Boldin. Steve Breaston, Early Doucet, Lance Long, Michael Ray Garvin

TE -- Leonard Pope, Ben Patrick, Stephen Spach, Anthony Becht, Dominique Byrd

LT -- Mike Gandy, Elliot Vallejo, Brandon Pearce

LG -- Reggie Wells, Elton Brown, Carlton Medder

C -- Lyle Sendlein, Ben Claxton, Melvin Fowler

RG -- Deuce Lutui, Brandon Keith, Trevor Canfield

RT -- Levi Brown, Oliver Ross, Herman Johnson

Overall there aren't really any surprises on the offensive side of the ball, unless you didn't think Pope would be listed atop the tight end spot. There has been some shake-up on the offensive line with the injury to Vallejo though with Oliver Ross swinging over to left tackle and Brandon Keith taking snaps at right tackle.

Defense

DE -- Calais Campbell, Kenny Iwebema, Alex Field

NT -- Bryan Robinson, Gabe Watson, Alan Branch

DT -- Darnell Dockett, Keilen Dykes, Rodney Leisle

ROLB -- Chike Okeafor, Bertrand Berry, Will Davis

ILB -- Karlos Dansby, Victor Hobson, Pago Togafau

ILB -- Gerald Hayes, Ali Highsmith, Reggie Walker

LOLB -- Clark Haggans, Cody Brown, Chase Bullock

RCB -- Bryant McFadden, Ralph Brown, Wilrey Fontenot, Jameel Dowling

LCB -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Michael Adams, Greg Toler

SS -- Adrian Wilson, Aaron Francisco, Keith Lewis

FS -- Antrel Rolle, Matt Ware, Dennis Keyes, Rashad Johnson

The interesting thing about the defensive chart is how they chose to describe their defensive line (yes that's not a typo). They've chosen to list only one defensive end, a nose tackle and a defensive tackle for some unknown reason. This is nothing more than a conspiracy theory on my part but if the organization cares at all about "NINE-O" (Dockett) making the Pro Bowl, it would make sense to list him as a tackle instead of an end. There aren't any major surprises at linebacker but it's interesting to see that Hobson is listed on the inside and Bullock is listed on the outside (after he worked primarily on the inside during OTA's). In the secondary, I wouldn't get worried about Toler and Rashad Johnson being listed at the bottom of the depth chart. As we said above, this is the "Whiz way" of handling rookies and we'll see how the chart get's tweaked as the preseason plays out.

Specialists

KR -- Steve Breaston, Michael Ray Garvin, LaRod Stephens-Howling

PR -- Steve Breaston, Antrel Rolle, Michael Ray Garvin

K -- Neil Rackers

P -- Ben Graham

LS -- Mike Leach

H -- Ben Graham, Sean Morey

There aren't really any suprises in the specialist department either. Garvin is clearly a return specialist and if he ends up on the final squad it'll be because he won the kick and/or punt return job.

Arizona Cardinals Pre-Training Camp Roster Projections: Offensive Tackle

Hawkwind — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:41:30 -0000

After breaking down the centers and guards, we finally finish off the offensive line with a look at the Arizona Cardinals offensive tackles. These big uglies take the brunt of criticism from fans because they are the most visible on game days but it's also a very demanding position. The tackles are most often matched up against a team's best pass rushers and the Cardinals wide-open offense normally leaves these guys facing one on one battles. The Cardinals projected starters at offensive tackle have started 31 of the last 36 games, including the playoffs, but their flirtation with free agent Levi Jones has raised some eye brows. There is quite a bit of young talent in the mix here and we'll try to straighten all of the guard/tackle combos on this current squad.

Locks

Levi Brown, Elliot Vallejo, Herman Johnson

On the Bubble

Mike Gandy, Oliver Ross

No Chance

Brandon Pearce

For anyone that's wondering, Brandon Keith and Elton Brown were both included in our discussion at guard, so that's why they're not included in this breakdown even though they are both likely to figure into the mix. The biggest head scratcher here though is Mike Gandy's status, which we'll explain below. We also listed Johnson as a tackle because that's where he currently practicing although it's quite possible that he could end up at guard before the dust settles. Also Pearce is the only guy on this list who is eligible for the practice squad.

Mike Gandy: A week and a half ago Gandy would have been an unquestioned lock, but the teams recent interest in Levi Jones changes that considerably. When healthy Jones has more talent then Gandy and he's younger, not to mention that there's a good chance he'd be cheaper. If by some crazy turn of events, Jones were to come into camp and win the starting job, the Cardinals would not be able to keep Gandy as a backup at his price tag (roughly $5 million). All of this in contigent on Jones being signed though which is still a long shot. If he isn't signed, Gandy would jump back into the lock section and be the starter coming out of training camp.

Oliver Ross: My gut says that Ross has no chance of making the roster but the coaching staff had to have some reason for signing the soon to be 35 year old tackle. He hasn't played in the league since 2006, when started five games for the Cardinals, but an injury kept him on IR for the 2007 and he spent part of the 2008 season with the Patriots although he never appeared in a game. He has ties to Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm from his days as a Steeler (2000-2004) and he's versatile enough to play either guard or tackle so maybe that helps his chances.

Brandon Pearce: Most of what we've heard about Pearce so far has been promising, but there's just too much depth at the position for him to make a serious play at the roster. With a year or two of develop though he could be a name to remember. Pearce is an undersized tackle (6-6, 290) but he played in a pass happy system at Memphis and he rarely gave up sacks. There are reports that he's added as much as 20 pounds but a year on the practice squad to add some strength and improve as an in-line blocker should be beneficial.

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Regardless of whether the Cardinals sign Levi Jones or just roll with the guys they've got right now, the team has depth and youth at offensive tackle. Guys like Vallejo, Keith and Johnson ensure that the Cardinals should have success keeping thier quarterbacks clean for years to come. What do you think about the talent at tackle? Should the Cardinals sign Jones, if the price is right, and does that make Gandy expendable?

The 2009 Arizona Cardinals Offensive Line

Andrew602 — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:39:02 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

7 months ago: Arizona Cardinals' Deuce Lutui (76) throws a weighted ball during drills at football minicamp, Friday, May 1, 2009 at the team's training facility in Tempe, Ariz. . At rear from left; Cardinals' Herman Johnson (67), Ben Claxton (62), Carlton Medder (66) and Mike Gandy (69). (AP Photo/Matt York)

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Over the last couple of decades, the Arizona Cardinals have rarely had a great offensive line. And for few years prior to '08, it's been a large area for concern. Things changed in 2008 though, as the Cardinals offensive line gelled for a second straight season. They were also fortunate enough to not receive many injuries or miss any games. There has been some speculation however, as to whether or not the Cardinals offensive line should be shuffled. Former first round pick Levi Brown struggled at times throughout the season, and other tackle Mike Gandy played poorly in the Super Bowl. Their starting center was an undrafted free agent. Deuce Lutui seemed to commit a penalty or bonehead play in every game till he cleaned up his ways. It also doesn't help their case that the running game finished last in the league in '08. As you can see from the depth chart, the most obvious note is the return of the starting five. You can also see that depth has improved after the draft as the Cardinals have some solid lineman even at the 3rd string unit. There are some lineman that have the potential to be inserted into the starting line up as well. Lets take a look at the offensive line.

Keeping the Line the Same:

The Cardinals offensive line will be going into their 3rd year together, aside for Al Johnson being lost due to injuries. One of the key factors to any team's success is consistency. Keeping the line together another year would only improve their play. They played especially well towards the end of last season headed into the playoffs. To put it in perspective, the Cardinals line only gave up 28 sacks

Warner	2007	2008
QB Rate	89.8	96.9
Comp %	62.3	67.1
TDs	27	30
INTs	17	14
Yards	3417	4583

throughout the season, which was tied for 11th in the league with the Giants. They only allowed 5 sacks throughout the playoffs, 2 being in the Super Bowl. To put that in a better perspective, the offensive line gave up 1.75 sacks per game during the regular season, and 1.25 during the playoffs. One has to wonder if that same play and momentum through the playoffs, will continue on in 2009

Shuffling the Offensive Line:

There have been many opinions thrown around, especially here at ROTB as to whether or not the Cardinals should adjust the offensive line. This all started stemming after the Super Bowl. Many wondered if the Cardinals should have taken center, Alex Mack out of Cal, in the 1st round of the draft, which we broke down here and here. Others were frustrated with Mike Gandy's performance in the Super Bowl, as he was manhandled by James Harrison. Obviously a center wasn't drafted and there wasn't a significant pick up in free agency to replace Gandy. But that still doesn't stop the shuffle talk. One of the most common structures that I have seen was moving Levi Brown to guard. But how would this affect the rest of the line? Brown would likely take Wells place, as Lutui found his grove in the second half of the season. Putting Brown at guard would essentially help him utilize his skills in the running game, and avoid his weakness in pass protection. That move however, would leave a hole at tackle that would be tough to replace. Gandy could slide over to right tackle, and Wells could take the left tackle position. Wells has experience at tackle, but can he handle the speed of edge rushers? Another scenario out there is taking Gandy completely out of the equation, and inserting Hermon Johnson, Brandon Keith, or Elliot Vallejo. Johnson and Keith are massive lineman that could definitely improve the rushing game, but they're still young, overweight to play tackle, and may not have the speed for some defenses. Vallejo is also young but many want to see how he would handle the pressure of starting. Could we see this line up one day?

Bottom Line:

The Cardinals line will surely develop even more in '09 and we should see that improvement in their play. The coaching staff had enough confidence in Sendlein to keep him as our starting center, so we may see an improved Lyle as well this year. Although Brown struggled at times last year, he was still young and developing, and we can only hope that he has improved his technique. Wells and Lutui seem to be locks at guard as Wells is always consistent, and Lutui seemed to change his bonehead ways in the middle of last year. The final member and the dark horse of the line, Mike Gandy, showed at times last year that he was a solid tackle. If he's able to improve against speed rushers, then we may see fewer sacks given up by him. After looking at the line, there are certainly more pieces in the mix and a lot better depth then ever before. It seems as though you could insert any of the young players but how much of an improvement would it be over the current starters? Should the Cardinals continue adding pieces to the line or shuffling anybody around? What would your line up be if you shuffled the line?

Wrapping Up the Arizona Cardinals Weekend Mini-Camp

Hawkwind — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:34:47 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

7 months ago: Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt watches his team run drills during football minicamp, Friday, May 1, 2009 at the team's training facility in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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The first Arizona Cardinals mini-camp of 2009 is officially in the rear view mirror. The weekend was eventful with a Fan Fest that attracted record crowds (that even required security?) and some 'seasonal injuries' that raised some eye brows. Here's a wrap-up of the weekend (with audio, thanks to KTAR) and a look ahead.

The biggest story line of the weekend centered around the 'injured' hamstrings of Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett, but Whiz isn't worried about them. He said that he hasn't reviewed their MRI's but called the injuries, seasonal injuries. It's very likely that we won't see either Q or DD at any OTA's over the summer and we'll start the countdown clock to see if they report to training camp on time (Boldin says it's too early to know what he'll do).
Chris "Beanie" Wells was certainly a head-liner at practice this weekend not only because he's the first round pick and possible future at running back, but also because he'll miss most, if not all, of the team's OTA's. The challenge for him won't be maintaining his physical conditioning, but instead learning the plays and mental side of the game.
Kurt Warner surprised some by being able to work in 7-on-7 drills over the weekend. He's ahead of the recovery schedule but the coaches have had to work to hold him back from over doing it too early. It sounds like he should have no problem being 100% by training camp.
One of most wide open position battles of the summer will be the tight end spot and although there was no word on who was actually running with the first group this weekend, I'm sure we'll see quite a rotation throughout OTA's and training camp. Despite being one of the newest guys on the block, Anthony Becht thinks that his prowess as a blocker might give him a leg up on the starting job.
There were some surprises on the offensive line where Herman Johnson (who tipped the scales at 370 this weekend) was lining up at right tackle with the third team. The coaches still say they'll work him at both guard and tackle but they wanted to try him at tackle first because he looked 'natural' at the position. His eventual home could possibly depend a great deal on his weight as I highly doubt he can handle speed rushers on the outside if he's anywhere north of 350.
Last year's promising seventh round pick, Brandon Keith, spent the weekend lining up at right guard with the second team. Most still expect him to move to tackle at some point in the future but I wouldn't be surprised if he's at guard to challenge Lutui for a starting spot this season.
Oliver Ross, who was signed right before the weekend started was running with the second team at right tackle which could very well be a serious indictment of the Cardinals depth at tackle. Elliot Vallejo was the second team left tackle.
On the defensive line, Gabe Watson is still recovering from a second surgery on his knee, although he's expected to recover much quicker this time, so he watched from the sidelines. That left Bryan Robinson as the starting nose tackle with Branch running with the second team. The rest of the defensive line was Docket and Campbell as the starters at defensive end with Iwebema and Keilen Dykes (keep an eye on him) backing them up, respectively.

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The Cardinals won't take the field again until May 19-21st, which kicks off 14 days of OTA's, and those practices should have much less drama, since we don't expect to see Boldin or Dockett. It'll be interesting to see if some other 'fringe contract' guys like Karlos Dansby and Adrian Wilson miss any days. Until then we'll continue to look ahead and cover every last, little detail. Anyone make it out to Fan Fest this weekend? Anyone surprised about the two deep on the offensive and defensive lines?

Wrapping Up Day One of Arizona Cardinals Mini Camp

Hawkwind — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:28:04 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

7 months ago: Arizona Cardinals first-round draft pick Chris "Beanie" Wells runs drills during the football minicamp, on Friday, May 1, 2009, at the Cardinals' training facility in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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What would the Arizona Cardinals first 'practice' of the 2009 season be without some drama? With a handful of players wanting new contracts and another handful rehabbing injuries, the NFC Champion, Cardinals ran through a quick 85 minute practice that marked the first time the team had been together on a field since the Super Bowl. As for the drama, here goes:

Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett both had "hamstring" issues that they informed the team about during their physicals yesterday. Instead of practicing the team sent both of them to get an MRI. Whisenhunt, who happens to be no fool, responded with:

"Hey, we know what's going on, I'm really not going to have much to say about that."

Karlos Dansby missed all but the final minutes of practice because he thought practice was later and he had to take a physical before he could join the team (apparently his agent isn't as creative as Drew Rosenhaus).
Oliver Ross, the latest addition, was at practice but we did learn that he's just there on a 'tryout' basis, much like Dominique Byrd. Also in the 'tryout' category is linebaker Rian Wallace. Wallace is another former Steeler who played in 16 games between '05 & '06. He spent the '07 season on IR with the Steelers and was cut by the Redskins last year during camp. The soon to be 27 year old has nine career tackles and one interception (that he returned for a TD).
Ben Claxton was manning the backup center spot.
As we'd expect, Clark Haggans and Chike Okeafor were manning the starting spots at outside linebacker and their backups were Victor Hobson and Cody Brown. Bertrand Berry didn't practice.
The list of walking wounded (at practice but didn't particpate) included Ali Highsmith, Tim Castille, Stephen Spach and Gabe Watson. Kurt Warner participated in some of practice but was 'limited' at best.

Arizona Cardinals Add Veteran Offensive Lineman Oliver Ross

Hawkwind — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:09:22 -0000

The Arizona Cardinals aren't letting the fact that they've already got well over 80 players on the roster slow them down from acquiring more players. Just one day after adding Carlton Medder and inviting Dominique Byrd to mini-camp, they've signed 35 year old offensive tackle/guard, Oliver Ross. Ross hasn't played in the NFL since 2006 but he's got numerous ties to the Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm after playing with the Steelers (2000 to 2004) and Cardinals (2005 & 2006). He spent the 2007 season on the injured reserve and spent part of the 2008 season with the Patriots, although he didn't appear in a game.

The signing of Ross means the Cardinals currently have 14 offensive linemen on the roster. Needless to say they've got the 'quantity' aspect covered, but we'll see how many of them end up having an 'quality' to their game.

Arizona Cardinals Previous 1st-Round Picks

Andrew602 — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:11 -0000

As a change of pace, and to shy away from all of the mock drafts, here at Revenge of the Birds, is a breakdown of the last 10 Arizona Cardinals 1st round draft picks. Many never lived up to expectations, and if you want the definition of a draft bust, just check out who's first on the list.

Andre Wadsworth (DE) Florida State - 3rd Pick, 1998 Draft

Draft Analysis: Wadsworth was regarded as one of the most sure-things heading into the 1998 draft and was one of the reasons the Cardinals decided to draft him. He was taken after Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf, who both received hefty rookie contracts. As a result, he ended up holding out the entire training camp before the Cardinals signed him to a 6-year $42 million contract, the day before the season opener. Wadsworth played all 16 games and recorded 5 sacks with 57 tackles that year. He followed up his rookie season with an injury-riddled next two years. He required 3 knee surgeries in that span and 4 in his career. He only managed 3 more sacks and played in only 22 games as well.

Where he is now: Wadsworth was actually looked at by the Bucs and Jets in 2007 and was signed by the Jets to a vets minimum. He only managed to play on the practice squad and he was released before playing at all.

David Boston (WR) Ohio State - 8th Pick, 1999 Draft

Draft Analysis: When the Cardinals drafted Boston in 1999, they were hoping to get a franchise wide receiver. He was productive for the time that he was in Arizona, but wasn't exactly what the Cardinals wanted. He didn't show a strong work ethic and tended to show-boat too much. He made the pro bowl once in 2001 when he caught 98 receptions for 1,598 yards and 8 touchdowns. Boston only played in 8 games the next year and was released following the 2002 season. He bounced around to the Chargers, Dolphins, and Bucs for the remainder of his career in the NFL, and was never productive again. After several injuries, a DUI arrest, and accusations of steroid usage, Boston spent his last year in the NFL in 2007.

Where he is now: David Boston was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in 2008, where a foot injury held him to two catches for 16 yards. He required surgery following the season, and hasn't returned to Toronto since then.

Thomas Jones (RB) Virginia - 7th Pick, 2000 Draft

Draft Analysis: Jones was taken very early in the 2000 draft with the hope of establishing a dominant running attack. The Cardinals didn't get what they wanted as Jones was injury-prone and only started a full season once, in 2001. It didn't help that he split carries with Michael Pittman either. For his time in Arizona, Jones ran for 1,264 yards and 9 touchdowns total. He spent his last season with the Cardinals in 2002, and was traded to the Bucs the next year. In Tampa, Jones didn't have stand-out numbers, but he was solid and had a 4.6 yard average. That led to him to a contract with the Chicago Bears, where he had his best season at the time, in 2005, rushing for 1,335 yards and 9 touchdowns. The next year he led the Bears to the Super Bowl, only to fall short.

Where he is now: Thomas Jones was traded to the New York Jets for a 2nd round pick, and he is currently their starting running back. He had the best season of his career in 2008, as he led the AFC with 1,312 yards and 15 total touchdowns. He also made his Pro Bowl last year.

L.J. Shelton (T) Eastern Michigan -21st Pick, 2000 Draft

Draft Analysis: L.J. Shelton began his career as a Cardinal by holding out until the 2nd game of the regular season. Although he started 77 out of 96 games as a Cardinal, he never had a high motor, and tended to look lazy at times. He encountered several ankle and knee injuries, and was eventually released by the Cardinals in 2005. He was signed by the Browns that year, then played the next two years for the Miami Dolphins, where he struggled heavily. He was released by the Dolphins in 2008.

Where he is now: Shelton is currently in a 2-year contract with the San Diego Chargers. He is a back-up offensive tackle.

Leonard Davis (T) Texas - 2nd Pick, 2001 Draft

Draft Analysis: When the Cardinals drafted Leonard Davis with the second overall pick in 2001, they were hoping to solidify their offensive line, and make him the cornerstone of it. He was their second tackle taken in the last 2 years and never lived up to any hype. He was drafted as a tackle and played that position for the first three years. After that didn't work out, in 2004 he was moved to play guard. He was supposed to be the best lineman in the draft, but his time as a Cardinal could be summed up as a "bust". He gave up 34.75 sacks, committed 44 penalties for 276 yards as Cardinal. Whenever the whistle would blow before the snap, most Cardinal fans knew it was big Davis committing a false start. In 2007, Davis received news that he wouldn't receive a franchise tag, and later became a free agent.

Where he is now: Davis had his breakout year when he signed with the Cowboys in 2007. He made the pro bowl that year and established himself as one of the best guards in the league. He is still currently under roster with the Cowboys and is going on his 3rd year with the team.

Wendell Bryant (DT) University of Wisconsin-Madison - 12th Pick, 2002 Draft

Draft Analysis: Wendell Bryant was another lineman that had a lot of hype heading into the draft. He was regarded as a lineman with a lot of potential that could play both defensive end and defensive tackle. Wendell's career didn't last long as a Cardinals as he was released after three years. He recorded 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 3 years.

Where he is now: Bryant never signed with another team and his current status is unknown.

Bryant Johnson (WR) Penn State - 17th Pick, 2003 Draft

Draft Analysis: Johnson was a star receiver at Penn State and was one of the best leading up to the draft. He was picked 17th overall by the Cardinals and was part of a rebuilding project. Another wide receiver, Anquan Boldin, was drafted in the 2nd round and out-shined Johnson his entire career. Johnson however, was productive and served well as dependable 3rd-string receiver. The Cardinals released him last year and he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers to a 1-year deal. Being in Boldin and Fitzgerald's shadow was no excuse, as he only caught 45 receptions for 546 yards and 3 touchdowns for the 49ers. Johnson was not resigned and wound up as a free agent this year.

Where he is now: Bryant was signed by the Detroit Lions to a 3-year $9 million deal, and will be part of another rebuilding project. Times will be tough for Johnson again, as he will now be in Calvin Johnson's shadow.

Calvin Pace (DE) Wake Forest - 18th Pick, 2003 Draft

Draft Analysis: With the very next pick, the Cardinals took linebacker, Calvin Pace. There was much speculation going into the draft if whether or not the Cardinals would draft hometown player, Terrell Suggs. They proved many wrong when they drafted Pace instead. Pace was used as a defensive end for the first 4 years of his career. In that span, he was highly considered a draft bust, as he only recorded 84 tackles and 7.5 sacks. In 2007, he was switched to outside linebacker and flourished. He had career highs in all categories and recorded 106 tackles and 6.5 sacks. The Cardinals failed to sign him after that year and he ended up a free agent.

Where he is now: After 2007, Pace signed a six-year, $42 million deal with the New York Jets. In his first year, Pace had 80 tackles with 7 sacks.

Larry Fitzgerald (WR) Pittsburgh - 3rd Pick, 2004 Draft

Draft Analysis: The Cardinals scored huge when they drafted Larry Fitzgerald with the 3rd overall pick in 2004. Many weren't sure if the Cardinals needed a receiver with new-found talent, Anquan Boldin. The move, however, paid big dividends when Fitzgerald showed his worth. He became an instant threat with his superb hands and leaping abilities. Five years later, Fitzgerald is a 3-time pro bowl selection, with All Pro Honors once, and now owns the best performance by a receiver in the playoffs.

Where he is now: Fitzgerald is currently still playing for the Cardinals and it looks as if he will remain one for a long time. He is now considered the best wide receiver in the NFL.

Antrel Rolle (CB) University of Miami - 8th Pick, 2005 Draft

Draft Analysis: Rolle was an All-American college corner and was highly regarded as a shut-down corner going into the draft. He was know for his press coverage and actually shut down Larry Fitzgerald when they played each other in college. When he was picked 8th overall, there was a hope he would become one of the premiere shut-down corners in the league. He become anything but that. His first year, he required knee surgery, and was unable to play the full year. He struggled the next two years until he found his groove as a nickel cornerback. Last year, Coach Ken Whisenhunt felt that Rolle could perform more to his ability at the free safety position, and that's exactly where he ended up.

Where he is now: Rolle is currently the starting free safety for the Arizona Cardinals defense. He struggled in the first half of last season, but came around as the playoffs approached. It seems now that Rolle is living up to his pre-draft expectations.

Matt Leinart (QB) USC - 10th Pick, 2006 Draft

Draft Analysis: In 2006, Matt Leinart was considered the top quarterback in the draft class. When he fell to the Cardinals and the 10th overall pick, most felt it was a steal. In his first year, he eventually took the starting job from quarterback Kurt Warner, and performed considerably well for a rookie quarterback. In Matt's second year, he shared snaps with Warner, and grew unhappy with his role. He made public statements that the Cardinals should "ride or die with him". Eventually, he "died", while receiving a brutal hit from Ram's linebacker, Will Witherspoon. Leinart's season was over at that point, and that's the last we've seen from him.

Where he is now: Leinart is currently the back up to veteran Kurt Warner. He has 2 years left on his contract, and from what's been said, Leinart is willing to wait until it's his chance to take over as the Cardinals starting quarterback.

Levi Brown (OT) Penn State - 5th Pick, 2007 Draft

Draft Analysis: Brown was a second team All-Amercian throughout college and was an anchor on the offensive line. Before the draft, most mock drafts had the Cardinals taking some sort of lineman. Most thought the Cardinals would draft other tackle, Joe Thomas, but he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns before the Cardinals had a chance. They ended up drafting Brown with hope his college skills would carry over to the NFL. In his first year, he was supposed to learn and develop as a back up. That didn't last long, as Oliver Ross went down early in the season. Brown was forced to start earlier then expected, and struggled with play and injuries his first year. Brown did struggle at times last year protecting Warner, as he gave up more then 11 sacks on the year.

Where he is now: Brown is currently with the Cardinals and will be the starting right tackle next year. Brown has improved in the running game but needs to develop better pass protection to stay a starter in the NFL.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (CB) Tennessee State - 16th Pick, 2008 Draft

Draft Analysis: Rodgers-Cromartie was considered one of the best cornerbacks available in the 2008 draft. Most mock drafts had the Cardinals taking him in the first round. It was said that he had a "high learning curve", and it showed in his rookie year. He didn't start a game till halfway through the season. In his time as a rookie, he showed he could learn from mistakes, and make up for any lost ground. DRC transformed into a shut-down corner towards the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. He lived up to being a 1st round pick.

Where he is now: DRC is the starting cornerback for the Cardinals and is now one of the top corners in the league in just his second year. Playing in the Super Bowl should surely benefit and add to his growing confidence.