2007 Rankings
Rushing: 29th (90.0)
Passing: 5th (254.1)
Total Offense: 12th (344.1)
Run Defense: 9th (97.9)
Pass Defense: 28th (232.3)
Total Defense: 17th (330.2)
What was the Cardinals’ best move during the offseason?
Clancy Pendergast’s defensive unit will move between a 4-3 and 3-4 set this year, so they brought in several players to help add some versatility. The best of those might ultimately prove to be Travis LaBoy, who has played defensive end for the Tennessee Titans since joining the league in 2004. Cardinals coaches believe LaBoy can be better utilized as a pass rusher from an upright position, and will have no trouble moving between the outside linebacker and end positions.
What needs to go right for the Cardinals to succeed this season?
First of all, the Cardinals need to settle on one signal-caller this year, and it appears the quarterback job now belongs to veteran Kurt Warner. There is a lot of potential for explosiveness from Arizona’s offense, which features a pair of dangerous receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. If they can improve a running game that ranked near the bottom of the league in 2007, they will be very hard to defend.
Defensively, the Cardinals must do a better job of getting to the quarterback and the overall play of their secondary must improve. Fortunately those two aspects feed off each other, so if they turn up the heat on the pass rush, it will make their secondary look better. Veteran pass rushers Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor must stay healthy this year, though. The addition of rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, as well as the move to safety by Antrel Rolle (assuming he stays healthy too) should help solidify the secondary as well.
Where will the Cardinals finish the 2008 NFL season?
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt, now going into his second season as head coach of the Cardinals, seems to have his squad headed in the right direction and ready to challenge the Seattle Seahawks for the division crown. A lot depends, however, on consistent play from the quarterback position. If Warner plays well, Arizona should be able to keep up with just about any team on the scoreboard. Defensively we should see some improvement this year as well, and I believe that will finally put this team over the hump and into the playoffs.
Prediction: 10-6 and first in the NFC West.
