The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams—including why you should or shouldn’t be rooting for them this season—in the month leading up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 10. Today, the Arizona Cardinals.
Last year’s record: 11-5
Head coach: Bruce Arians
Core players: Carson Palmer (QB), Larry Fitzgerald (WR), Michael Floyd (WR), Andre Ellington (RB), Calais Campbell (DE), Patrick Peterson (CB)
2015 is about… Building on the momentum of a surprise 2014. What was for all intents and purposes a great year for the Cardinals fell off the rails when both Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton went down for the season. But if the Cardinals’ quarterbacks can stay healthy in 2015, it’s a season ripe for the pickin’. With plenty of question marks surrounding the Seattle Seahawks, the St. Louis Rams still somewhat of a wild card, and the San Francisco 49ers a shell of their former selves, the NFC West
appears to be up for grabs. Arians will continue to guide this team along the right path, meaning we could see Arizona atop the division at the end of December.
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They lost… Some big names on defence whose absence shouldn’t make much of a difference in 2015. The biggest loss is most definitely Antonio Cromartie, who comprised one half of the league’s most dominant cornerback pairing last season. However, Cromartie is now 31 and the Cardinals are confident in the guys who will line up opposite Patrick Peterson.
Defensive end Tommy Kelly is gone, but only had one sack last season. Darnell Dockett and John Abraham are also no longer in Arizona, but the two had zero impact in 2014, appearing in one game between the two of them.
Offensively, starting lineman Paul Fanaika signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, while Ted Ginn Jr. is back in Carolina.
Yeah, but they got… One of the more intriguing late pre-season signings was the Cardinals’ decision to bring in former 2,000-yard rusher Chris Johnson, who made the 53-man roster and will back up Andre Ellington. Johnson played in just one exhibition game as a Cardinal, and he looked good.
Bruce Arians had nothing but good things to say about Johnson’s performance: “He was sharp.… He looked explosive again.”
To help fill in the holes on the offensive line, the Cardinals brought in former San Francisco 49ers lineman Mike Iupati along with journeyman centre A.Q. Shipley. But with Iupati out for the beginning of the season and Bobby Massie out due to a suspension, protection was a pre-season problem and could be an early issue for Arizona—not the best situation considering they’ve got a quarterback returning from knee surgery.
The Cardinals also signed former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham in July, who will be a reliable target for Palmer when he’s healthy. In a surprise move, Arizona brought in quarterback Matt Barkley in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, which could be a move made with the future in mind.
On defence, Sean Weatherspoon and LaMarr Woodley will be key additions to the linebacking corps if they can stay off the injury list, while tackle Cory Redding brings experience to the defensive line.
Growing from within: Look for sophomore receiver John Brown to have a big second season and speedy rookie J.J. Nelson to make big plays in the passing game and on special teams.
Offensive lineman Jonathan Cooper and D.J. Humphries are another young tandem that could also make an impact on offence if they step it up in 2015 and are the future for the Cardinals at offensive tackle.
On defence, Tyrann Mathieu (a.k.a. “The Honey Badger”) looked good in the pre-season and is capable of making big plays all over the field. Third-year linebacker Kevin Minter is turning into the type of leader the Cardinals were hoping for when they drafted him in the second round in 2013, while Alex Okafor, another linebacker drafted that year who racked up eight sacks in 2014, is looking to pick up where he left off last season.
Why this team? Bruce Arians. The two-time coach of the year was faced with extreme adversity last season with more injuries and suspensions than one team should be able to handle. Not only did Arians will his team through all that, he coached them to an 11-5 record and a playoff spot. Any team with Arians on the sideline has a chance to win every game.
Why not? There are plenty of long-term questions at key positions. Carson Palmer is coming off his second major knee injury and isn’t getting any younger. Larry Fitzgerald is still a difference-maker on offence, but, like Palmer, is in the twilight of his NFL career. And, as mentioned above, there are serious depth issues at running back, a problem accentuated by the constant injury concerns that surround Andre Ellington.
Perfect for fans of… Flying under the radar. Last season’s version of the Cardinals may have been the least-talked-about 11-5 team in recent memory. Maybe that was due to the fact Arizona is viewed as the baby brother in the NFC West, often overlooked for the Seahawks or 49ers. Maybe it was because no one truly believed the Cards were for real. Whatever the reason, if you’re looking for a team on the rise that no one’s really talking about, Arizona’s for you.
How much hope? 7/10. The Cardinals led the NFC West late into December last season, and have made the moves to improve on 2014’s success. Another trip to the post-season is expected in 2015, and a deep run in the playoffs is entirely plausible.
Will you be mocked for front-running? Not likely, mostly because of the “flying under the radar” factor. Also, Larry Fitzgerald is such a nice guy and Bruce Arians is just so damn cool.
A Meme to Remember:
