2005 NFL Preview: Arizona Cardinals

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Last Year

Like Jessica Simpson's newest music video, the Arizona Cardinals were a hot topic heading into the 2004 season because of the arrival of Dennis Green. The freshly-hired head coach claimed that his team's boots were made for walking and that they were going to walk all over opponents to a 10-6 record. That's not exactly what happened as the Cards were once again the girl who didn't mean any harm in the NFC West, finishing with a 6-10 record. With Green on board and a young talent-laced core of athletes with him, the Cardinals are poised for a winning season in 2005.

What We Learned From Last Year

If you only used wins and losses as a barometer to measure Dennis Green's impact in his first season as the Cardinals' head coach, then you were probably not impressed.

In 2003, Arizona won four games. In 2004, Arizona won six.

But his impact seeped much further than just the final outcome as his young team learned how to become competitive.

In 2003, the Cardinals' average margin of defeat was an embarrassing 20 points per game, which included stompings at the hands of Seattle (38-0), Chicago (28-3), and San Francisco (50-14).

In Green's first season in the desert, he managed to cut that appalling margin in half (10 ppg) while experiencing only two 20+ point losses.

The Red Birds also scored 3.7 more points per game, allowed 8.1 less points per game, their total defense improved 15 rankings, their turnover ratio was +1 (compared -13 in 2003), and they even boasted a winning record at home.

While Green did an excellent job on the field, teach his team to consistently exert effort, he also excelled off the field in his first draft.

His first four selections, WR Larry Fitzgerald, DT Darnell Dockett, LB Karlos Dansby, and C Alex Stepanovich all developed into crucial starters. Each rookie started 16 games except for Dansby, who started 15.

The defensive additions of Dansby and Dockett through the draft and Bertrand Berry through free agency, were critical to the team's success as they backboned the defense. The three players combined for 23 of the 38 sacks that this defense produced.

While the defense finished with an overall ranking of 12th, the offense was not as constructive.

They struggled to find any sort of rhythm offensively, especially after Green decided to play musical chairs at quarterback.

Josh McCown led the team to a respectable 4-3 record as a starter in the first seven weeks, but was immediately benched afterwards. Although the team still finished 6-7 in games that he started, it was obvious that Green saw very little future potential in him.

The running game also labored with a 3.5 yards per carry average, as the tandem of Emmitt Smith and Troy Hambrick was often ineffective. aThat placed a burden square on the shoulders of the youthful receiving corps.

Nonetheless, Bryant Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin responded, as well, and were all impressive at different times. This group is the base of the Cardinals' optimism as they head into 2005.

This Year

Minnie Driver, Shannen Doherty, and Kelly Rippa are all sexy 34-year-olds who would look good in an Arizona Cardinals jersey, but to an organization that now cares about winning, it will be a different 34-year-old who will look more attractive in the fashionable red and white jersey.

With so much instability and inadequacy at the quarterback position since the departure of Jake Plummer, the Cardinals' signing of Kurt Warner figures to provide steadiness.

Although Kurt Warner is not the same quarterback who led St. Louis to Super Bowls in 2000 and 2002, he will still be a veteran leader for a young team. He also presented better numbers than Josh McCown in completion percentage, TD/INT ratio, and yards per game behind a much worse offensive line in New York last season.

Warner played in only 10 games last season, starting nine, and was sacked 39 times. The Cardinals' offensive line only permitted a total of 39 sacks throughout the whole 2004 season.

The Cardinals do not necessarily need a league MVP to run their offense, but they are in desperate search of a quarterback who can make accurate throws and connect with the talented wide receivers. Considering Kurt Warner ranked 11th in completion percentage last season, he should be a vast upgrade over Josh McCown.

The running game will also be revamped as Emmitt Smith is out of the picture and Troy Hambrick is quickly fading. Marcel Shipp and rookie J.J. Arrington remain and should give the Cardinals everything that they need.

Shipp missed all of last season with a fractured leg, but has displayed keen skills to run between tackles in the past. Arrington, this year's second-round pick, is a home run threat with explosive speed and should gather the starter's role heading into the season. New offensive coordinator Keith Rowen has preached the ground game, so expect both of these backs to be emphasized.

If the running backs are functional, expect Warner to get acquainted with one of the premiere receiving corps in the league. Rowen plans on using much more motion this time around, which should create more matchup difficulties. With Bryant Johnson, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald, the Cards have three very different receivers who cover all the bases. Johnson is the deep threat, Boldin blends speed and power, and Fitzgerald has excellent hands.

This offense has been in a coma the past few seasons with no effective ball carriers and no competent quarterbacks. The trio of receivers had to work with Josh McCown, Shaun King, and John Navarre last year, so an accurate Kurt Warner parlayed with a half decent running game should amplify the output.

All of this, of course, banks on the play of the offensive line. Alex Stepanovich, Leonard Davis, and Oliver Ross anchor 60% of the line, but the other two spots, left and right guard, remain to be had. Elton Brown, the Cardinals' fourth-round selection, will likely step into one of those vacancies. He slipped in the draft and Green once again found good value.

Green has been a wizard drafting for the Cardinals as he nabbed four starters in the first four rounds last year and quite possibly added another three or four in this year's draft.

Arrington and Brown will play primary roles for the offense and first-round selection Antrel Rolle is a definite starter. The Miami Hurricane standout is a stud and could easily become the diamond in the secondary for Arizona. He will be joined by David Macklin, an underrated, scrappy cornerback, strong safety Robert Griffith, who played under Green in Minnesota, and Ifeanyi Ohalete, a decent free safety. Adrian Wilson will also be lurking in the background, likely in nickel packages, but should have a factoring role among the defensive backs given his excellent season last year.

A secondary’s best friend is always a confident defensive line and the Cardinals definitely have some studs on that end. Berry and Dockett will have some company as Chike Okeafor comes over from Seattle to start at the left defensive end position. Okeafor was the leading sacker for the Seahawks last year and his influence will likely diminish the number of double-teams Berry will see.

Arizona has had an excellent offseason, pinpointing team deficiencies and addressing them — something the Toronto Raptors are not familiar with. Kurt Warner will ameliorate the air game and the duo of Arrington and Shipp can revitalize a dormant rush attack. The 12th-ranked defense from a year a go subbed out a stagnant Duane Starks for Antrel Rolle, and added experience with Robert Griffith and Chike Okeafor.

What does all this mean? While Seattle and St. Louis have declined from their giant status and San Francisco is rebuilding, Arizona has grown up and should be your NFC West champion this year.

All I'm saying is don't be surprised.

Over/Under: 7.5

Arizona has only had one winning season in the past 20 years, but the past does not equal the future. Green aimed for 10-6 last year, but that result seems more feasible this year. The Cards' homefield advantage is underestimated as very few teams can deal with the sweltering heat at Cardinals Stadium.

Five wins in the division is attainable considering they defeated Seattle and St. Louis at home last year, and lost by a combined 10 points when they were the visitor, so they will only need another three wins from the following to go over: @NYG, CAR, TEN, @DAL, @DET, JAX, WAS, @HOU, PHI, and @IND.

Fantasy Sleepers

From head-to-toe, this team is loaded with fantasy gems such as the defense, J.J. Arrington, and my personal favorite, Kurt Warner. The fact that every team looking for a quarterback inquired about his services this offseason shows that he still has it in him to produce and given the weapons that he has at his disposal, he should be a fantasy stud.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.