The next team up on our Gridiron Blitz is the Arizona Cardinals
Music to listen to: Sweetness by Jimmy Eats World
Current State: When you waive the starting quarterback you have been grooming for years to replace him with Derek Anderson two weeks before the opening week of the regular season, you have problems. When you lose a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback that led you to your best three-year period in our franchise history, you have problems. When you lose your starting wide receiver, safety and middle linebacker to free agency, all top-ten players on your roster the past few years, you have problems.
Biggest Offseason Change: The retirement of quarterback Kurt Warner in January started a domino effect of many of the top players leaving the squad. First it was the release of safety Antrel Rolle to avoid paying a roster bonus, who eventually signed with the New York Giants. Next was inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, who was allowed to sign a free agent deal with Miami instead of being franchise tagged by the Cardinals again. Finally, there was the trade of disgruntled wide receiver Anquan Boldin to Baltimore for draft picks. The last move has been in the works for the last two years but its still a tough loss.
The Cardinals have replaced those guys and even continued its effort to become the Pittsburgh Steelers of the west with the signings of former Steeler linebacker Joey Porter and offensive lineman Alan Faneca. Both of those players along with Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm were all together with the Steelers years ago.
Uniform Grade: The Cards have an excellent combination of red and white that is enjoyable to the eyes. However, they have jumped on the trend of having a black jersey and debuted it in the preseason. You know my rule of not liking black being introduced into your uniforms unless it is a primary team or school color. The Cards did a good job with it though because it’s a clear contrast to the normal red jerseys. Grade: B
Best Player: The good news for Arizona is despite all of the losses this past offseason, it still has wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, arguably the top wide receiver in the NFL.
He will have to work without Boldin this year but Fitzgerald has done it in the past and dealt with it well. Furthermore, I have high hopes for under-valued receiver Steve Breaston as well as Early Doucet filling in Boldin’s role for the Cardinals.
Now only if they had a competent quarterback to throw the ball to them…
Most important player: I’ll acknowledge the defense here because there are some talented Pro Bowl-caliber players such as defensive end Darnell Dockett, strong safety Adrian Wilson and cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, the Cards weren’t exactly an elite defense before the departures and won’t be now.
Arizona will win the majority of its game by outscoring the opponents and trying to hid its defense with a commitment to the running game lead by running back Beanie Wells.
The former Ohio State product is the most important player on the Cardinals because the passing game is unreliable with Anderson starting under center. Wells has shown the potential to be a 1,500-yard rushing back and has the physical skills to not only run between the tackles but bounce the runs outside with surprising speed. However instead of being an afterthought to the offense to keep the opposing defenses honest with a run or two, Wells will be looked at to be a primary contributor to the offense.
Best Case: The Cardinals continue its dominance of the NFC West by gaining the rushing attack and Anderson finds another good year. The defense isn’t great but solid enough to keep them in games. First place in the NFC West
Worst Case: The run is over and the Cards can’t score enough points to compensate for the poor defense. Second place in the NFC West and no playoffs.
Coaching: When you win two division titles, take the Cardinals to their first-ever Super Bowl and break numerous losing-related streaks and records, your job should be 100% safe and for Whisenhunt, this is most likely the case. It is the NFL and any head coach can be fired at anytime. However, now that he is one of the top paid coaches in the league and make a youth movement like this, than you have to produce results.
The good news is that Whisenhunt has proven to be a successful offensive coach and has underrated defensive coordinator Billy Davis on his staff as well. If they can coach up the young players, than good things can happen for Arizona.
First memory of team: The Cardinals used to be in the NFC East when I was a child and I found it strange that this was considered the norm. I know that they used to be located in St. Louis but when they went west, they should have just traded with the Atlanta Falcons who were in the NFC West. At least things are correct now.
Schedule: The Cardinals will have to deal with San Francisco, St. Louis and Seattle in the division.
The home games are against Oakland, Tampa, New Orleans, Denver and Dallas. The away games are at Atlanta, San Diego, Minnesota, Kansas City and Carolina.
City Nicknames: I like The Valley of the Sun
Fantasy Focus: Fitzgerald will be an interesting case study of whether the quarterback makes the receiver or does the receiver make the quarterback.
Overall Outlook: The Cardinals aren’t going to be terrible but will obviously take a step back. Only one team from the NFC West will make the playoffs, meaning that there will be no postseason for the Cards if they don’t win the division. I don’t see it happening. The losses were too massive and you can’t trust Derek Anderson as your starting quarterback if you plan to make a run for the playoffs.
Final Record: 7-9
Gridiron Blitz 2010 Season Previews:
AFC East:
AFC North:
AFC South:
AFC West
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
The Sports Inquirer 
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