The Arizona Cardinals went 5-11 in 2012 for a reason; make that a myriad of reasons. The offense suffered through injuries, inconsistency, lack of anything near a strong identity on offense, youth on offense, and a bad defense. Below is a look at what they have and what they need to do on both sides of the ball to have a better 2013.
JAY FEELY was one of the better kickers in the league last year, but no one cared or knew about it because he played in Arizona. Feely is under contact until 2014 so this coming season should be more of a continuation of what he did last year. KEVIN KOLB was forced out of Philadelphia and if he can’t stay healthy, or the new head coach, BRUCE ARIANS (who is an offense oriented coach), isn’t happy with his production he could be jettisoned out of Arizona too. The Cards need Kolb to stay healthy and be worthy of that 6-year $62.1 million contract that he was given back in 2011. Kolb hasn’t played a full season in his entire six-year career thus far, so the Cards are in a dicey situation with him.
BRIAN HOYER is the type of quarterback who has talent but he’ll always be looking over his shoulder because a better quarterback may be lurking around. He was pressed into action due to injuries at this position, youth and season long C-plus or worse play at quarterback. He is also a free agent and very cheap, making around $620K last year. There is a good chance he may be brought back to challenge for the starting job, especially since a new head coach is around. DAVE ZASTUDIL punted a little too often last year (112 times or an average of 7 punts per game) due to Arizona’s bad offense. Zastudil gets lot of his punts inside the 20 yard line or near there and that is helpful to a team have didn’t have that good of a defense in the first place.
Just one look at LARRY FITZGERALD’S face in many Cards games last year indicated that the 2012 season was a bad year to be a quarterback or receiver in the Arizona offense. There were passes aimed his way that were too short, intercepted, or overthrown. He caught 71 passes for 798 yards and 4 scores in 2012, numbers that he could get in his sleep. ANDRE ROBERTS was a heck of a complimentary receiver when he got his hands on the ball with 64 catches for 759 yards and 5 scores. Roberts used his speed, long legs and stride, and ability to aggravate defenses in short or deep zones to be the Cards second leading receiver in 2012. Roberts could be one of the better receivers in the league and the fact that he had the season he had amid the Cards quarterback problems in 2012 shows that he could be one of the next names to blow up at receiver.
Quarterback RYAN LINDLEY had one of the worst games of his football playing life in Week 12 versus St. Louis. That week he threw four interceptions with two of them returned for scores by JANORIS JENKINS. That gave the Rams the impetus to beat the Cards 31-17. One of those thefts was thrown right into the hands of Jenkins after Lindley didn’t wait for Fitzgerald to finish his route; Fitzgerald was still running his route past Jenkins but Lindley decided to throw the pass short and into the hands of a breaking down Jenkins. It was games like that in which it was clear that Lindley had a lot to learn and reminded everyone he was a rookie. Lindley has a strong arm, the size, the drive, and talent to make it in this league but he must do well at training camp to get into the starting quarterback sweepstakes. If it weren’t for Fitzgerald, it could be said that young receiver MICHAEL FLOYD is the most talented receiver on the team. Floyd is an acrobatic big play talent waiting to happen and he was third on the team as a rookie in receiving with 45 grabs for 562 yards and 2 scores.
LARON BYRD is a solid option at receiver. He may never get much press on this team because of Fitzgerald, Floyd, and Roberts but Byrd can do some things in this offense and he must prove it in 2013. He is at best a No. 4 or No.5 receiver but he is well-built at 6’4″ and 220lbs. JOHN SKELTON in some ways is of the same vein as Lindley, in that both have very strong arms. The problem with them is that neither one of them have distinguished themselves as the signal callers that can lead the passing offense of this team. Lindley has a bit of an excuse in that he will only be in his second year in 2013 and he’ll have to learn some new language in Arians and new offensive coordinator TOM MOORE’s offense. Skelton has had two years to earn the starting job and either injuries or lack of consistency has done him in. On the surface the Cards do not have a franchise quarterback on their roster.
PATRICK PETERSON is to Arizona’s defense what Fitzgerald is to their offense. He is already one of the better cover corners in the NFL and he is dynamic on punt returns; even 10 yard or less returns of his are fun to watch. There are a couple of veterans at cornerback that are keeping the seat warm for second year corner JAMELL FLEMING, and some of those veterans are up for free agency. This means Fleming better get ready because his time is nearing. KERRY RHODES is one of the best kept secrets in the league and now that veteran stud safety ADRIAN WILSON was just released, it is up to Rhodes to be the secondary’s enforcer. Rhodes has always been a solid run defender and as of now he is the best and most experienced safety that Arizona has.
BEANIE WELLS has one more year left on his contract and 2013 will be a pivotal year for him, not only in Arizona but in this league. He only played in eight games last year and he didn’t even gain anywhere near 300 yards rushing. MICHAEL ADAMS is one those cornerbacks who has entered the free agency portion of his career. Adams is a solid if unspectacular player who the Cards need as far as experience and an extra body in coverage. GREG TOLER is a confident cornerback who is also a free agent. New coaches, defensive coordinator TODD BOWLES and cornerback coach KEVIN ROSS need to really evaluate tape on Toler and Adams to see if they warrant keeping around. The Cards don’t have a lot of depth at corner, and both of them can help the defense. However, neither one of them were anything special in 2012.
JUSTIN BETHEL was strictly a special teams guy last year and occasional alternate at one of the safety spots. But Bethel may not be ready to start opposite Rhodes and he may get competition from veteran safeties RASHAD JOHNSON and JAMES SANDERS. Those two are also up for free agency and it’s doubtful the Cards will keep both of them. WILLIAM POWELL can help the Cardinals as a two-tool running back (pass catcher and runner). He is also a free agent and there is a good chance that he may not be resigned due to the flux of running backs they already have. Some of those other backs can do the same things Powell can do equally or much better. RYAN WILLIAMS needs a better line to work behind and he needs to stay healthy. ANTHONY SHERMAN is a hardnosed, blue-collar and unselfish fullback. He may need some work on pass protection but otherwise he is needed in this offense. LAROD STEPHENS-HOWLING is up for free agency and if he stays with the team, he will have to be more than a kick return dynamo. FOZZY WHITTAKER was just brought in and he may take Stephens-Howling’s place on this team, but that is a big probably.
James Sanders will be in his ninth year in 2013 and the Cardinals may be his last chance in this league to be a starter or key contributor at safety in this league. Sanders needs to hope he can sign a contract this free agency period that is of his liking and the Cardinals’ liking. In 2013 and in this free agency period, Rashad Johnson needs to show that he can do more for Arizona than play on special teams. He has competition to stay on this roster and the Cardinals have new secondary coaches who may jettison him and/or Sanders even before they play a down in 2013. O’BRIEN SCHOFIELD quietly had a solid season last year as an alternate starter in just nine games of action. If the Cards let Schofield be what he was at Wisconsin within their defensive scheme, this kid could be one of their best pass rushers and one of their key players on defense. PARIS LENON is a feisty inside linebacker who detests being blocked or not around the action. He needs better play at defensive tackle to let him be who he is capable of being. Lenon is also up for free agency but the way he played last year warrants him being brought back.
QUENTIN GROVES is one of those type of players that coaches can’t wait to see break out. He had 4 sacks last year but he is better than that and he needs to evince that in 2013. His performance from last year may not have been enough to keep him in Arizona. Groves needs time and should be resigned for at least one more year. REGGIE WALKER can play inside or outside linebacker. He is a work in progress, but he is a heck of a competitor, athlete, and he appears to really want to start for Arizona. If the Cardinals think Walker is ready to start opposite fellow inside linebacker DARYL WASHINGTON, then Lenon may be on his way out. Washington is a playmaker who can be effective as a rusher, run defender, or in pass coverage. He is the best inside linebacker the Cards have and he needs a solid inside backer next to him to take his game to the next level. LYLE SENDLEIN is a hard working center who was one of the better players on the offensive line last year. The offensive line play wasn’t that good last year but Sendlein wasn’t part of the problem. He doesn’t wow anyone in any area but he is an effective center who doesn’t get enough due for what he does. Once he gets his hands on a defender and gets good body positioning, it’s usually over for that defender.
SENIO KELEMETE gained attention for his 10 yard reception that he had versus San Francisco in the 2012 season finale. Of course he wasn’t the intended target on the play but a tipped pass into his direction sent him rumbling with his long hair flowing up the field for a nice gain. Aside from that, Kelemete is a player who has the ability to start for this team but he will have to do it in a hurry because there are around five other guys on this team who can claim a starting job at guard too. Kelemete can also play center and that may be his best position but he is not going to beat out Sendlein for that job. SCOTT WEDIGE, a former participant in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in 2012, is also a work in progress but he has the ability to start in this league at center. PAT MCQUISTAN is a free agent and one wonders if the Cards think he can claim a starting tackle job in 2013 over four other players. He played in just six games last year with three of them starts. ADAM SNYDER alternated between center, left guard, and right guard last year and he did a commendable job. He should be one of the Cards starting guards for the next four years and is signed through spring 2017. Snyder is a movement based guard that is at his best as a pass blocker. He needs more work in his run blocking.
BOBBY MASSIE was a rookie starting right tackle last year. He went through his growing pains in the form of having trouble with speed rushers, anchoring, and bull rushers. But in 2013 he should work on his weaknesses and take his game to the next level. D’ANTHONY BATISTE will be in his eight year in 2013 and he may be counted on to protect Arizona’s next quarterback’s blindside. He is athletic, big, and improving. But his 2012 season wasn’t anything special and he is a free agent. Neither he nor Massie have their starting jobs as tackles locked up.
LEVI BROWN is Arizona’s most talented offensive tackle but he has to knock off the rust in 2013 after sitting out the entire 2012 season due to a torn triceps injury he suffered in summer 2012. NATE POTTER has the talent to start on this team but he will be just in his second year in 2013; he may be a year or two away from being a starter on this team. DAVID CARTER is a hard working and movement based defensive tackle that needs more time to prove he can be a key in this defense. He needs to improve his separation skills and move better laterally in order to force running backs coming near his gap into the arms of inside backers or near the sideline.
ROB HOUSLER was a pass catching talent at Florida Atlantic, but as a rookie in 2011 and a second-year man in 2012 he was used mainly for blocking. Potentially he is the best pass receiver of the tight ends on the roster. JEFF KING can block and he is a decent pass catcher and he will be in his contact year during the 2013 regular season. Arizona may be his last chance to start in this league and be used extensively as a blocker and pass catcher. He was used right in Carolina but Arizona has taken his pass catching abilities for granted. He has never been an elite pass catcher but he can hurt defenses in that vein.
DARNELL DOCKETT is an unselfish and staunch run defender and pass rusher, but nine years of NFL violence in the trenches has helped him lose a step and some of his effectiveness. He needs a standout 4-3 defensive tackle next him to keep his career alive for the next three seasons. VONNIE HOLLIDAY is very old as far as defensive tackle shelf life is concerned, and he may be on his way out of Arizona unless he takes a pay cut or can show that he has enough gas in his tank to be a two-down 3-4 or 4-3 defensive tackle. The 2013 season has got to be the year that DAN WILLIAMS takes his game to the next level and warrant that first-round pick the Cards spent on him three years ago. The Cardinals run defense stunk last year and he was part of the problem. The underachievement has to stop and Dockett can’t do everything.
CALAIS CAMPBELL is on his way to more league wide respect. Campbell is by far Arizona’s best established pass rusher. But he needs more help at defensive end/tackle to help him approach double digits sacks. The other defensive ends need to provide more sacks and pass rush so double teams aren’t as frequent to him. SAM ACHO is a budding pass rushing threat and he has double digit sack potential, but that is a little far down the line. Right now he is trying to break away from just making plays because of his superior athleticism. RONALD TALLEY has been a tease for so long and he is a free agent, so there is a good chance that the new defensive staff and the Cards front office may have grown tired of his teasing and may release him. He is in a 50-50 situation right now. NICK EASON is getting up there in age but he still can be a 1-3 down defensive tackle with the occasional big play.
