As teams are wrapping up their minicamps and start looking towards the big one we as fans begin to look back at our team’s off-season moves and try to judge exactly how well our franchise has done. Some teams are sure winners like the Raiders, others maintain what is theirs such as the Saints. But many seem to think that the Cardinals are stuffed. How stuffed? Let’s discuss.
They lost their amazing quaterback. Kurt Warner has retired after an astonishing career beginning with stints playing in Europe, an AFL team called the Iowa Barnstormers (ha!) and eventually for the Rams (winning a Superbowl) and Cardinals (2008 runners up). Kurt’s leadership, talent and endurance should without a doubt earn him a place in the hall of fame. While he was held in check by concussions last year he still managed 3700 yards and 26 touchdowns and led the Cardinals to some astonishing wins (who could forget that playoff win against Green Bay?). Now he is gone a big void is left in QB, Matt Leinart, a heisman tropy winner from USC is the heir apparent, but his starts do not inspire confidence and after 4 years of on and off play he has currently thrown more interceptions than TDs. One hopes after being benched for Warner he has learned something and is finally ready to step up.
Kurt Warner: One veteran QB who actually means it when he says he is retired. Nice change.
They lost one of their amazing receivers. In 2008 the Cardinals pass attack was in full swing, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald complemented each other perfectly, both putting up over 1000 yards. Last year even with injuries Boldin broke the 1000 yard mark again. Despite this he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens who were in sour need of a playmaker at WR. This means unless Steve Breaston steps up and makes some plays Larry Fizgerald is going to be double and triple teamed into obscurity. The Cardinals did draft a promising WR in the 3rd round in Andre Roberts but he will take time to develop. Truly if the Cardinals want to maintain some menace in the air Breaston needs to perform.
They took hits defensively too.While the Cardinals over the last few years have not been known for their defence they did have some sure talent. DB Antrel Rolle and LB Karlos Dansby were solid performers, making key plays and getting the ball back to their offence. Both now were lost in free agency, Antrel Rolle to the Giants and Dansby to the Dolphins. Arizona has made strides to fix the issues, trading for Kerry Rhodes and drafting Daryl Washington but will it be enough?
Hark! For not all is lost. Are the Cardinals really stuffed? Well, perhaps not as badly as you might first think. Beanie Wells had a positive rookie season as RB and will undoubatly be called on more now that the pass is not as strong. This in turn will create oppotunities for Leinart by opening up the field, not to mention the potential for play action. Don’t forget they still have Fitzgerald who, despite being on the cover of last year’s Madden still put up amazing numbers. What may come of all this infact is a more balanced Cardinals, on all accounts. Looking at the draft picks this year with the first two being big defencive players Dan Williams and Daryl Washington it seems like the Cardinals do have a plan for their future, one that places emphasis on both sides of the ball. This could make them very dangerous. Younger, sure, but still dangerous.
Finally, when you have a superbowl team, as the Saints are finding out now the hardest part of the offseason is keeping the winning formula together. For a big part of the 2009 season they did this, but missed their last shot in the playoffs. Now with all these changes in the offseason you cant help but feel like the 2010 Cardinals are going to be a vastly different team and not just reguarding the roster. How different? We’ll see, but they are not going to get any more favors from their division: Both the 49ers and Seahawks had great offseasons and will be legitimate contenders for the NFC West. There’s change in the air and the Cardinals are clear in the sights.
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