With two first-round picks invested in this position the last two years, this has to be one of the strongest positions on the team. Arizona used the third-overall pick in the draft to select former Vikings ball boy (and Dennis Green favorite) Larry Fitzgerald, whom Green coveted draft day. Fitzgerald will immediately occupy a starting role and will form a dangerous tandem with Offensive Rookie of the Year Anquan Boldin.
Boldin put up extraordinary numbers in his rookie campaign, breaking the rookie reception record and had the highest yardage total by a rookie in 43 years. His 101 receptions and 1377 yards ranked third among NFL wide receivers and he gave the Cardinals a downfield target that is extremely dangerous after the catch.
Last year’s No. 1 pick Bryant Johnson will be lined up in the slot this season and should see plenty of balls come his way as Green plans on using many three-receiver sets this yaer. This group of receivers will need to mature quickly if Arizona wants to be competitive this season as their running game won’t scare anyone, allowing defenders to sag back into the secondary.
Offensive Line:
Nowhere has Green’s presence been felt more than on the offensive line. The entire left side was re-done this off-season and one of their most reliable lineman, Pete Kendall, was cut to make room for fourth-round draft pick Alex Stepanovich. Green believes that Stepanovich is ready to step in as a rookie and give the line the mean streak that it has lacked.
The challenge of the offensive line has been placed on 2001 second-overall draft pick Leonard Davis, after being moved from RG to LT. Green told Davis to become the best offensive tackle in the game, and wants to see him flourish there after playing the position in college. His performance is crucial to the development of Josh McCown and protecting his blind side is critical.
In a move Green hopes will motivate tackle L.J. Shelton, he has been benched and told to earn his spot at the RT position over starter Anthony Clement, who is coming off a dismal season. Cameron Spikes is expected to start again at the right guard spot and will be accompanied by Reggie Wells at left guard. Don’t be surprised if Nick Leckey edges out Wells or Spikes for a starting spot.
Defensive Line:
Whenever the Cardinals seem to use a high draft pick at this position in hope for a long term fix, the player frequently busts out on them. Management hopes that this doesn’t happen to 2002 first rounder Wendell Bryant and 2003 first rounder Calvin Pace. Pace had a disappointing rookie campaign recording only one sack, and in his two years in the NFL, Bryant only has tallied just two sacks, including none last season.
Making it their No. 1 priority in the off-season, the Cardinals went shopping and got pass-rush specialist Bertrand Berry from the Denver Broncos. Berry is expected to come in immediately and help out the woeful Cardinals line, which finished 30th in sacks last season. Berry hopefully is the long-term solution at DE and should provide the Cardinals with an end they can depend on.
Starting opposite Berry should be Kyle Vanden Bosch, who hasn’t lived up to his expectations coming out of Nebraska. Veteran Fred Wakefield and Calvin Pace will also be fighting for a starting job.
The defensive tackle position should be improved and Dennis Green will try to rejuvenate Wendell Bryant’s career at defensive tackle alongside starter Russell Davis. A rookie to watch out for is Darnell Dockett, a third-round pick out of Florida State; a school that Green says produces “NFL-ready players”. If Green can get him to work hard on the field, he could be the steal of the draft, but right now, this is a huge problem area for the Cardinals.
Linebackers:
Ronald McKinnon deserves better than this. One of the most steady and consistent playmakers on the Cardinals defense, McKinnon has averaged 123 tackles while recording 34 tackles for loss the last seven seasons. McKinnon has been a staple in the Cardinals starting lineup over the years, and, at middle linebacker, is the only sure thing on the defense.
The outside isn’t so pretty though. Green has taken a liking to Raynoch Thompson and with good reason. When healthy, Thompson does a great job on the outside and is the projected starter there. The starting ROLB currently is second-year player Gerald Hayes out of Pittsburgh. Although Hayes has been given the job, there should be an open competition in training camp including disappointing Levar Fisher, who is coming off surgery on both of his knees, and second-round draft choice Karlos Dansby. Dansby is an athletic, speedy linebacker who lacks some bulk, and may actually have the best chance of starting coming opening day.
