How do the Arizona Cardinals Offensive Star Players Rank Amongst Their Peers?
by Hawkwind on May 18, 2009 6:21 AM MDT
in General Arizona Cardinals News
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PrintThe Sporting News is putting together some interesting 'Top 20' rankings of each position in the NFL and as always, it's interesting to see how many Arizona Cardinals make the cut. As you'd probably expect, no one from the offensive line made the top 20 at their respective position (although they only ranked the top 10 centers). I'd be interested to know how far down the list Levi Brown was at tackle, but it's not that surprising that he was left outside of the '20.' No Cardinal tight end made the list either, but I'd imagine they could expand their list well into the 30's before Stephen Spach's name shows up (assuming he'd be ranked as Arizona's best TE) as I'm sure there are a handful of teams who have two tight ends who could start for the Cards. The Cardinals were well represented at the skill positions though, especially at receiver where Fitzgerald and Boldin were both ranked in the top five. Kurt Warner and even a Cardinals' running back made an appearance at their respective positions:
- #1 - Larry Fitzgerald: If there were any questions about Fitzgerald's place at the top of this list, his incredible postseason run should have been enough to convince doubters. He had an incredible 30 catches for 546 yards and seven touchdowns in four games while averaging 18.2 yards per catch despite constant double-teams. He has outstanding physical tools and the skills to dictate coverage and control a game.
- #4 - Anquan Boldin: Boldin is big and physical working the underneath routes and the middle of the field, and he makes plays after the catch. He might be the No. 2 on the Cardinals, but he'd be No. 1 for almost every other NFL team. And that's what he wants. Expect the trio of Boldin, Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston to be catching passes from Kurt Warner again this season.
- #8 - Kurt Warner: Warner got paid in the off season, and now he can focus on putting his quick release back to work in the Cardinals' explosive attack. It looks as though all the pieces will be back in '09, and as long as he stays healthy -- a bigger concern as he turns 38 in June -- another 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown season is within reach.
- #20 - Chris "Beanie" Wells: Wells is big and powerful, in the Jacobs mold. Wells is only a rookie but should overtake Tim Hightower as the first- and second-down back and get the call in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Wells must improve as a pass blocker and receiver, but that will come in time.
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As you'd expect the Cardinals skill position are well represented but the big uglies up front are no where to be found. What do you guys think? Would you have rated anyone higher?
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Context & Perspective
All we know is that at least one writer from the Sporting News compiled a list of rankings as he saw it. Actually, we don’t know (a) if it was only one writer, (b) how qualified that writer happened to be, © whether it was an “article by committee” and/or (d) how qualified members of that committee happened to be.
(Note – We do know that the Sporting News does tend to rely a lot on local beat writers, so quite possibly, Kent S may have had some influence on which Cardinals did or didn’t receive mention).
Not that the opinions stated in the article aren’t well-founded, but that’s all they are – someone’s opinion.
Sometimes we accept stuff like that as fact, because we happen to see it written down on paper (or on a website). That somehow is supposed to make it true.
Makes no difference to me whether or not the big uglies receive mention. What’s more important is how you and I feel about them.
For that reason, I don’t tend to get very involved in some dude’s ratings or get especially excited or outraged over who did or did not receive recognition. In the end, the best rating system involves W’s & L’s anyway.
CHICKEN LITTLE WAS RIGHT!
Nice ratings
I have to disagree, it’s always interesting to get a perspective from the National Media about our team… if we stick to what we feel, I can say that we have the best eleven on offense, and the beste eleven on deffense, and we all know that is not true… I’ve bought the sporting news NFL preview for many seasons and their player rankings are very objective, so this time I have to agree with most of what they have done, including Beanie being the only rookie RB in that list… GO CARDINALS
paco cabrera
Q's solid and all...
but does anybody really think that he’s the 4th best receiver in the league? I would have thought that Drew Rosenhaus had written this list if it weren’t for Ochenta y cinco’s lower rating.
Of course Q is
He led the league in receiving touchdowns for about the first half of the season last year and managed similar numbers to Fitzgerald even though he missed 2 games. Most of Q’s big numbers came earlier in the season it seems and Larry Fitzgerald’s post-season and all just clouded Q’s prestige and talent is why he seems out of place in the rankings, but he’s not, he’s that good imo.
by Fitz Jizzle on May 19, 2009 12:50 PM MDT up reply actions
+1
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
Agreed
I liked that they recognized Boldin at #4 because I don’t think the average fan has any idea how good he really is. No knock on Fitz, because to me he’s undoubtedly the #1 but our own Antrel Rolle has said that Boldin is the most difficult guy he ever had to cover.
Ranking the Best WR's
Longbeach, you’re absolutely right about the average fan not having a clue about how great Q is. Boldin can run all the routes on the route tree. He is not asked to do this in the current offensive system. There are two players in the league that I have absolute confidence in going across the middle consistently, Boldin and Andre Johnson. Great hands, great strength and power. Very good blocker in the run game. Tremendous courage and willingness to go get the football makes him a great WR. After the catch, DB’s do not want to tackle Boldin. I think he is the best pure football at the WR position in the league. Not the best WR but definitely the best pure football player at the position.
Big Question Mark
I haven’t read the article so I won’t comment on most of it, but on the surface I’d like to know who the seven QB’s are that are listed ahead of Warner.
in order
The obvious…Manning, Brady, Brees……the most overrated QB in the league IMO Palmer, Big Ben, Rivers and Donavon.
Ha........ Palmer is rated above Warner!?!
The war on drugs isn’t working because these guys can aquire crack way to easily.
by CardsDefense on May 19, 2009 3:04 PM MDT up reply actions
Agreed
Just to stir the pot (either figuratively or literally) a little I’ll give everyone a chance to accuse me of being on something mind altering. How many of you think that Warner should be somewhere in the top 2? The first time I heard that argument I thought it was little overdone but when comparing Warner’s playoff numbers to Manning’s I think it’s a more valid claim than I had realized. I don’t know that I’d put Brees over him either. Granted, he’s a yardage machine but he hasn’t seemed to have elevated the bad teams he’s been with the way Warner has.
At the very least I think he ranks top 4 with Brady (no arguments with him as #1 in my mind), Big Ben, and Manning. When he’s on, like he’s been since he became our starter (and with the Rams) his accuracy is second only to Montana out of the QB’s I’ve seen, and his release ranks only behind Marino’s. New QB coach Chris Miller made the comment that his football IQ may be the best he’s ever seen (keeping in mind he was a starting QB himself for about a decade in the NFL). With Whisenhunt and his staff correcting his flaws in ball protection I think he is truly an elite, not an above average, QB again.
If he had two timely defensive stops, he’s be a three time Super Bowl champion, still with more SB passing yards than anyone in history. How might we be judging him then?
# 13 is elite
I’d put him at # 3 behing Brady and Manning. Big Ben is close, but he has always had such a great team around him. Warner has made more happen with less.
by CardsDefense on May 20, 2009 3:07 PM MDT up reply actions
Warner's Ranking
With all due respect, Warner is not the third best QB in the league. Manning (Peyton), Brady, Brees, Rivers and possibly Palmer rank ahead of Warner IMO.
1. Brady has won with lesser talented players at the skill position minus Moss and
Dillion all of his career. Elevates those around him.
2. Manning is the ultimate student of the game. Coach on the field. Tremendous duribility
and a real winner.( Mostly regular season.)
3. Brees is a great leader, can make all the throws and is very good in the vertical
game. Does more with less than any QB in the league not named Warner.
4. Rivers is the youngster of this group. Tremendously tough. High pain tolerance. Sure
he throws a ugly ball and his mechanics are poor but he gets the job done
with some not so great WR talent. On the way up.
5. Palmer has all the prototype skill one looks for at the position. Great size and arm
strength . Pocket presence and command of the field. Injuries and Chad Johnson
have hurt his stats the last two season. Still a TOP 5 QB.
6. Warner is a physical marvel. He posseses all the attributes of the above mention QB’s
and some. Warner processes defensive schemes probably better than all the QB’s
listed above him except Brady. All though, Warner doesn’t have a cannon for an arm,
his confidence, touch, timing and anticipation give him the ability to fit the
football into windows that only the top 8/9 QB’s would dare try. Warner also helps the
Cards OL look better because he gets rid of the ball on time most every time.
+ 1
How many playoff games has Carson Palmer won?
by CardsDefense on May 21, 2009 11:50 AM MDT up reply actions
+2
I love how Palmer gets all this love yet he’s never won a playoff game and only won more then eight games once in his entire career despite having one of the best receiving corps in the entire league and a decent running game.
+3
He is about as good a Romo, not that good. He throws are flashy, but not always on target. You take away Ocho-Cinco and he is seen as sub average.
A man from Dallas who bleeds red, not silver and blue.
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