Arizona Cardinals: Poised to Soar or Massively Disappoint in 2008?
by cgolden on Jun 16, 2008 11:35 AM MDT
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Depending on which NFL season preview magazine you pick up or website site you read, you could see the Birds from the desert projected to be as good as 10-6 (Pro Football Weekly), maybe even 11-5, or being as bad as 5-11 (Sporting News & Mocking the Draft).
It's not hard to understand why people aren't ready to jump on the Cardinals bandwagon after their first non-losing season since 1998. The past several seasons the Cardinals have a been a 'dark horse' break out team for countless pundits only to be disappointed with another losing season. They haven't had back to back non-losing seasons since 1983 & 1984, and even those two seasons only combined for a 17-14-1 record. Many Cardinals fans, myself included, weren't even alive the last time the team won more than 10 games (1976) or won a division crown (1975). BUT, does that mean that it can't be done, of course not.
The Cardinals have an explosive offense that ranked 7th in points scored and 12th overall in 2007 and every starter is returning for 2008. There's no reason to think that with the continued development of the offensive line that the offense can't be just as dynamic. On defense, the Cardinals struggled as the year went on thanks to a rash of injuries. As a result the team spent the off season bolstering the depth of the entire front seven and should improve greatly on a unit that finished the season ranked 27th in points allowed. The mix of youth and experience has the potential to surprise opponents, not only by being once again stout against the run (ranked 9th in '07) but also by being able to attack the quarterback in order to improve one of the worst pass defenses from a year ago.
The story of the 2008 Arizona Cardinals hasn't been written yet but so far people seem to be torn between history and potential. Which group are you in, is this team ready to challenge for a playoff spot and potentially a NFC West crown or are they ready follow in the footsteps of so many other Cardinals teams of years gone by? What's your prediction: playoff spot or top 10 draft pick?
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Definitely ready...
Whether or not they do, I cannot say. I will predict a wildcard spot on the high end, or a 7-9 finish with a very dissapointed AJ Birdwatcher on the low end. (I know, I know…Very non-comittal.)
The team should be ready. Everything I’ve seen this offseason leaves me optimistic for improvement. But, like I’ve commented before a strong start is the only way I think it can happen.
by AJ BirdWatcher on Jun 16, 2008 2:04 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
completely agree
I’m thinking right around you’re same range but I’ll bump up the high end to a NFC West division crown. I can realistically imagine anywhere from 10-6 to 7-9, maybe 11-5 if they really get rolling. That all can only be accomplished with, as you said, a good start. The middle of the schedule is too brutal to come out of the gates slow.
by cgolden on Jun 16, 2008 2:43 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not ruling out a title
I guess I should set my goals for the team higher lol. There is actually a decent possibility of uprouting the seahawks this year. Their D should still be good, but I don’t think Julius Jones will quite live up to their expectations… Hmm, kind of reminds me of somebody else…Anyways, Hasselbeck doesn’t really have a whole lot of options to throw to either.
It will be interesting. I’m pretty sure it will be between SEA & AZ again with the edge going to the hawks. I see the Rams slightly behind hovering just below .500. Call me biased, but I’m not too impressed with what the niners have done this offseason including the aquisition of Martz.
Not to hijack the topic, but I seem to remember from the Card’s message board you mentioning that your brother was a SF fan. Just curious, but how optimistic is he for them this year? I personally don’t know any serious niner fans to discuss the topic. It seems that from what I do hear, they’re pretty excited about the new offense. My thoughts on this are: 1) It couldn’t get much worse, 2) Alex Smith is gonna get pounded early & often.
by AJ BirdWatcher on Jun 16, 2008 6:08 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
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My best friend is the 49er fan, not by brother. He sort of likes the Martz hiring. He is excited he’ll be the OC and thinks he can help Smith and the offense but he’s also worried that he was hired to replace Nolan if Nolan gets the axe. Other than that he’s somewhat excited about the future. He liked the draft and thinks that Rachal and Wallace could be rookie starters by years end. He is basically undecided about Balmer b/c of all the question marks around him heading into the draft. Other than that he didn’t understand the signing of Bruce and Justin Smith, two veterans who won’t be able to help the team when they’re actually decent. Anyways that’s what’s in his head right now.
by cgolden on Jun 17, 2008 10:49 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
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