Last week we charted the Arizona Cardinals running game and I had planned to have cumulative totals for the running game this week, but since the running game was virtually non-existant we'll swith gears. I may still post the cumulative totals tomorrow, but for now I was more interested in when and where Warner was throwing the ball on Sunday. Warner's mistakes will (and should) overshadow the gaudy numbers that he was able to put up, but it's still pretty interesting to see where he went with the ball and the success of the receivers. Here is Warner's final line from Sunday's game:

Check out the complete breakdown after the jump.....

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With the roster finalized, it's time to figure out exactly where everyone fits into the mix. With the first game just six days away, here's how I see the offensive depth chart playing out:

QB - Kurt Warner, Matt Leinart, Brian S. Pierre

We all know the situation at quarterback. Warner's the guy but no one expects him to play all 16 games. Leinart will get on the field at some point.

RB - Edgerrin James, Tim Hightower, JJ Arrington

Edge is still the workhorse but Hightower will see his share of work, especially in short yardage situations and around the goal line. If Arrington continues to impress he'll warrant some carries as well.

FB - Tim Castille, Terrelle Smith

This is the first position that isn't clear yet. Whiz hasn't named a starter but I'd imagine that both would play in different situations.

WR - Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban, Early Doucet, Sean Morey

The top two are set but the next three are all somewhat close and should see the field. Breaston will start the season as the #3, but given the injury status of both Fitzgerald and Boldin, Urban and Doucet will see playing time.

TE - Leonard Pope, Ben Patrick, Jerame Tuman

Pope won the job by default but when Patrick gets healthy, he could still push him for the job. Either way, they'll both see the field and are decent pass catching options. Tuman's a blocking specailist but could snag some goal line catches on play action passes.

RT - Levi Brown, Elton Brown, Brandon Keith/Elliot Vallejo

Elton Brown is the primary backup at almost every position on the line, but if Brown is already playing a guard position then either Keith or Vallejo would step into the spot.

RG - Deuce Lutui, Elton Brown, Brandon Keith

Lutui's on the hot seat but it's still his job for now. Brown was close to winning the job but he'll up on the field at some position. Keith's a promising rookie who's show the versatiilty to play multiple positions.

C - Lyle Sendlein, Al Johnson, Reggie Wells, Elton Brown

Sendlein stepped in when Johnson went down and he may not give the job back when AJ is back. Reggie Wells is the emergency center and primary backup until AJ returns but Brown is also taking snaps at center this week.

LG - Reggie Wells, Elton Brown, Brandon Keith

The top three are pretty much set in stone. The only wild card here would be if Elton Brown beats out Lutui, then Lutui would be the primary backup.

LT - Mike Gandy, Elton Brown, Brandon Keith

The top three are pretty much the same as left guard. Elliot Vallejo could also figure into the mix if multiple injuries occur.

Thoughts? Agree/Disagree? 

The first round of cuts is less than a week away and in ten days the rosters will be trimmed all the way down to the final 53 players. With that in mind here's a look at some of the 'bubble' players and how whether they've helped or hurt they're chances of making the team:

Ali Highsmith: The undrafted rookie has played very well through to this point and he's proving that his forty time at the combine was more of a farce than an inability to play this game. He's got nine tackles through two games and it seems like no matter where the play ends up, he's around the ball. An even better indication that he'll have a chance to stick has been his prowess on special teams. He'll have to continue to impress because of the depth at inside line backer.

Michael Adams: The second year pro has looked much better than last year. Adams is vastly undersized but he makes up for his lack of stature with pure determination. He's been a terror on special teams, especially as a gunner on the punt team. He just missed out a "pick-six" against the Chiefs when he read a route perfectly but let an easy pick bounce off of his hands. He might not ever become a solid backup corner back but right now he's an asset on special teams and his coverage skills have improved.

Joe Tafoya: Tafoya's entering his seventh season and his biggest problem is that he doesn't fit into the new 'hybrid 3-4' defense that Clancy Pendergast is running. That hasn't stopped Tafoya from recording a sack in both preseason games and racking up seven tackles. In the end, he's still likely to get caught in a numbers game at defensive end but he's making a solid case for the team to find room for him somewhere.

J.J. Arrington: Everyone's favorite whipping boy has shown a new drive this year, that frankly I haven't seen from him before. He's not only running with the speed and quickness that he's always had, but he's also showing some new toughness. He hasn't gotten any extensive snaps in the regular offense but when he does have the ball he doesn't seem to be shying away from contact as in years past. He likely still won't live up to his second round draft status but at least through two games, he looks like a guy that can help this team win.

Jerheme Urban: If the regular season started today, Urban would be the number five receiver, if not the number four. He's certainly outperformed the likes of Morey and Rector and if Doucet can't get healthy he might just slip into the number four slot. Urban has kept the momentum going from last season and he's shown the ability to fill in as a kick returner.

Sean Morey: Morey's a 'Whiz guy' and he's made a career out of being a standout on special teams. So far though he's yet to record a single tackle on the coverage units and his two catches for ten yards won't be enough to keep him from getting cut. I'm sure that Whiz will give him every chance to make the squad he really needs to make an impact on special teams in the next two games because he's not much of a receiver.

Jamaica Rector: Rector had a pretty good opening game against the Saints (4 receptions for 34 yards), but he looked completely lost and overwhelmed against the Chiefs. He had a drop and was the cause of confusion when he went in motion before a play causing the team to take a timeout. There was some hope that Rector's speed could become an asset for a Cardinals offense that lacks 'game-changing speed' but so far he hasn't shown any signs of becoming a consistent player.

Anthony Morelli: Morrelli hasn't gotten many snaps so far but when he dropped back to pass against the Saints it was obvious that he didn't have what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. He lacks the ability to feel pressure or the ability to get rid of the ball quickly. He might not get any snaps this week but if he survives the initial cuts, he could see much more playing time in the final preseason game. The best case scenario for him is the practice squad but he needs to play better.

Monty Beisel: Beisel's slide isn't related to his play on the field because he hasn't been able to get on the field yet. He finally returned to practice this week, on a limited basis, and it's not clear whether or not he'll play against the Raiders. He's a solid veteran backup but the competition at inside linebacker is fierce and he'll have to prove that he's healthy before opening day.

Its seems that with the preseason creeping up on us everyone else is cleaning out their offseason notebook so there are a ton of Cardinals related stories out there. With thoughts of an actual game so close, I'm having a hard time doing much more than day-dreaming so here's what everyone else is talking about:

• Kent Somers lays out the depth chart according to today's walk through but there aren't any major surprises. The only positions of note are the second string wide receivers (with Boldin and Doucet out) Jerheme Urban and Jamaica Rector. The makeshift second unit offensive line will consist of (from right to left) Elliot Vallejo, Brandon Keith, Pat Ross, Elton Brown and Kelly Butler. If you're counting, only Brown and Butler have taken a snap in the NFL and less than a week ago Ross and Butler didn't even have a job.
  
• Somers also talks about how Larry Fitzgerald can improve his game. That almost sounds like blasphemy for a guy with two Pro Bowls, multiple 1,000 yards seasons and 34 touchdowns in four seasons until you consider the fact that he's still only 24 years old (he'll turn 25 at the end of this month). It's hard to believe that a guy with so much on his resume is still not old enough to rent a car.
  
• The East Valley Tribune says that if you liked Calvin Pace last year, just wait until you see Chike Okeafor this year. Even an average season for Okeafor would be an upgrade over Pace's 6.5 sacks from last season and there are some who think that Okeafor should reach double digit sacks in the 3-4.
• Lyle Sendlein was an undrafted rookie this time last year but he could be preparing to open the season as the starting center this year, depending on how Al Johnson bounces back from knee surgery. His limited playing time as a rookie could have him in a position for a breakout season if he's given the chance, says the Tribune.
  
• Just in case you haven't gotten enough talk about the potential QB controversy/battle/competition, Scout breaks it down again. I, for one, am just ready to see it play out on the field instead of reading about it. 
• We haven't covered the special teams unit very much, although with the questions surrounding Neil Rackers and Dirk Johnson, we probably should in the near future. The official site gives you a preview of how the two are working together to improve one of the weakest units on the team.
  
• The wide receiver position might be the deepest unit on the team, especially considering that the top four spots are seemingly set in stone. Coach Whisenhunt is still calling it a free-for-all competition with as many as six players vying for the final three or four rosters spots and it'll likely take all of the preseason to sort it all out.

That's it folks. Tomorrow is gameday meaning that the oh-so-long offseason is nearing an end and we'll finally be able to relax on a Sunday afternoon and watch the greatest game on earth. All that being said, I've only got one question for you: Are you ready for some football?

Just think Cardinals fans, this time next week we'll be gearing up for an actual game instead of over analyzing a practice. The NFL off season is far too long but it's almost over. One week from today the New Orleans Saints come to town and we finally get to see how the rookies and new additions look in Cardinals uniforms. For now though here's what people are saying about the Arizona Cardinals.

• Everyone wants to talk to and/or about Adrian Wilson so if you're looking for
  some A-dub info, you're in luck. The Cards official site covers Wilson's comeback and what will drive him to return to greatness this year. The East Valley Tribune is ready to see A-dub to get back to the physical, hard hitting style we've seen for the past handful of seasons. And last but certainly not least AZ Central says that Wilson is out to prove he's the best safety in the league. I understand the fever pitch that A-dub is generating right now considering that the defense is shaping up very nicely and the table could be set for him to have a career year.
• Consistency is often a precursor to success and the Cardinals are banking on a consistent coaching staff, something rare in the desert, to bring a winning culture to a franchise that desperately needs it. For the first time in quite a while, the Cardinals coaching staff returns intact, right down in position coaches and assistants. To put that in perspective, AZ Central points out that former head coach Dennis Green made seven coaching changes in three years. The East Valley Tribune says that Whisenhunt is confident that not only are the players more comfortable with the consistency but the coaching staff knows each other and the players strengths and weaknesses better now.
  
• With a year under his belt, Whisenhunt obviously feels comfortable enough now to call out players who are not playing up to their potential. Two of the guys that he's been focused on so far during camp are Deuce Lutui and Alan Branch. Lutui is a returning starter at guard but Whiz isn't happy with his lack of consistency, especially considering his veteran status. While he hasn' t lost his job yet, Whiz is quick to point out that Elton Brown is having a great camp and is capable of starting. Branch is also under fire at the moment although, at times Whiz can see the player that they traded up to draft just one year ago. He described him as a 'flickering light' but that when the light is on, he's a really good player. It was thought that Branch would push for the starting nose tackle job with Gabe Watson not healthy, but instead Branch is taking reps behind veteran Bryan Robinson. Hopefully this is just a case of two young guys who are on the verge of becoming consistent, reliable starters.
  
• While most fans, myself included, have reduced the #3 WR battle to Steve Breaston and Early Doucet, Coach Whisenhunt still calls it a 'free-for-all.' He says it'll ultimately come down to how they look in actual games. Whether or not that's really believable, it's encouraging that youngsters like Jamaica Rector, Lance Long and Jerheme Urban are doing enough to keep their name in the running.

This mornings practice was a light one that consisted of shoulder pads and shorts. Special teams seemed to be the focus of the practice although there was a 7-on-7 session towards the end. If you're looking for a continuous QB update, it looks like Warner is the sharper QB right now. Leinart is still missing some open receivers but hopefully his accuracy will come as camp progresses. He's still miles ahead of where he was last year though, both in terms of accuracy and decision making. As for St. Pierre and Morelli, both took snaps in practice and neither was overly impressive although Morelli has plenty of zip on his passes (although he always had, it's the mental part of the game that is questioned).

Other quicks hits: Tim Hightower may not have top end speed but he certainly flashes a burst heading through the hole. Jerheme Urban and Ralph Brown each had an great play during practice. Al Johnson also sat out the practice after having his knee drained but there is still a chance that he could be ready to go for the afternoon practice. Lyle Sendlein took reps with the first team in his absence. I'd imagine that this afternoon's practice will in full pads and thus far more entertaining.

With training camp looming we'll continue to break down position by position. Last week we looked the tight ends and today brings us the wide recievers. The top two spots are as solid as they can be in this league in Fitzgerald and Boldin, but behind them is plenty of unproven talent. The Cardinals have made it a point to solidify themselves at the position by drafting seven wide receivers in the draft since 2003. The picks have experienced varying levels of success but one thing is for sure, this group is dangerous, deep and talented.

 Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin: I won't waste our time breaking down either of these guys, simply because they're two of the most talented young recievers in the game today. When they're both on the field and healthy, they're truly a special duo.

Steve Breaston: Outside of the 'QB question,' the second biggest story has been the surprising progress that Breaston has made since his rookie season. He only caught eight passes last season and spent most of his time staring on the return units. He's made it clear though that he isn't content with just being a returner. By all accounts he spent the offseason adding weight to his slender frame and working on all of the finer points of recieving (route running, hands, film study). His speed and ability to stretch a defense could end up giving him an edge over Early Doucet in the battle for the #3 job.

Early Doucet: The rookie brings even more toughness to a position that is already more physical than most recieving units. He's polished for a rookie and should contribute early on, especially with Boldin tutoring him. Doucet's game should flourish in the slot where he can make the tough catches over the middle and made a defender miss. He won't run by many corners but if he can run precise, sharp routes, he'll be able to seperate with his quickness and could become another set of reliable hands. Docuet's also a decent, willing blocker who could become an asset in three wide sets when the Cardinals try to run.

The rest of the group has more questions and less upside but still a good mix of experience and potential:

  Jamaica Rector: He's not exactly young (26) for a guy still waiting to make his NFL reception, but he's still still got some intirguing aspects to his game. First, Todd Haley likes him enough that he brought him with him from Dallas. He might also be fastest receiver on the roster but he's still got to develop quite a bit to become a NFL receiver. He could have an outside shot as a kickoff returner teaming with Breaston.

Sean Morey: The veteran (32) was never much of a reciever but he's stuck around in this league by being a tremendous team leader and a stand out special teams player. He's only missed two games in the past five seasons but even that consistency has only led to 11 receptions in his career (8 of which came in 2007). He's a Whisenhunt guy and a veteran leader on an otherwise young recieving corps.

Jerheme Urban: Urban's first season in Arizona was his third team in three years and his 2007 totals were more than his previous four seasons combined. He, like Rector, followed Haley from Dallas and Haley rewarded him with 22 receptions for 329 yards and two touchdowns. Urban's never going to be a starting reciever but he's a quality depth guy and also happens to be one of the tallest wide outs (6'3) on the team.

Ahmad Merritt: Merritt is another former Cowboy who made the move with Haley but his stay in the NFL could be in danger this season. He'll have to prove that his age (31) and inability to stay healthy  won't keep him from being productive. He hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2003 and even then was used mainly as a kickoff returner and on special teams coverage units. He's got superior athleticism but he'll have to make a significant impact on special teams in order to stick around in 2008.

Lance Long: The undrafted rookie is a long shot to make the roster but his athleticism and heart could open some eyes in camp. He'll likely have to spend a year or two on the practice squad before he makes the roster but he's got the tools to be a special teams ace in the future (think Sean Morey).

Jemalle Cornelius: Cornelius is an interesting prospect who spent time on the Bills and Colts practice squads in 2007. He was undrafted last season after three years  at Florida. He's another small receiver (5'11 185) with above average speed and agility, but he seems destined for another season on the practice squad. He could make a name for himself in the near future though either on special teams or as a legitimate wide receiver.

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Overall it's hard not to be excited with the mix of proven talent (Q and Fitz) and untapped potential (Breaston and Doucet) and as the season progresses the top four receivers could prove to be a lethal combination for opposing secondaries. The biggest battle in camp will be between Breaston and Doucet for the third spot but the bottom of the depth chart could be one of the most interesting battles in camp. Merritt, Urban, Morey and Rector should all be battling for the final one or two spots on the roster and it'll be a tug-of-war between proven veterans and younger potential. Thoughts/observations? Where would you rank this receiving corps amongst others in the NFL? For what it's worth, ESPN ranks the Cardinals group as the 2nd best in the NFL, but if you factor in age I might have to give the edge to Arizona. Agree/Disagree?

• Receiver Jerheme Urban is glad he can finally give back to his home community as he's returning to Victoria, Texas to hold his first annual football camp. The camp will be for high school age players and is free of charge. Urban was born is Victoria and attended college at nearby Trinity University where he holds school records for career touchdowns, season touchdowns and kickoff return yards in a career and a season as well as several track and field records. Urban is in group of receivers fighting for the #3 job.
• CBS Sports makes their case for why Warner should be the starter instead of Leinart. According to Clark Judge, the Cardinals have a legitimate shot to win the NFC West and Warner is more capable of leading to them to that goal. He also makes a case that if their caliber of play is close in the preseason, that Warner should get the nod over Leinart. 

  

• ESPN is also covering the QB battle situation but they're sticking to the middle  ground and not naming their choice, at least not yet. They do seem to notice that Warner doesn't seem content standing on the sidelines. They also cover the battle for the #3 receiver, injury concerns and Rolle moving to free safety.
  
• SI.com covers the JJ Arrington arrest and has a bit of extra news. Arrington was held for 24 hours in contempt of court after he was charged with contempt of court but the other four who were arrested were charged with lesser crimes. Reportedly the team is still gathering details. 
• According to Pro Football Weekly, early reports out of the Cardinals are that Ali Highsmith has a good shot at making the final roster. So far, according to them, he's shown an impressive blend of strength and quickness. 
• Scout.com 
  takes a look at the expectations facing the Cardinals this season and if they can live up them.

OTAs kicked off all around the yesterday so if you've been craving any form of football news, you're in luck today. All the news is of course nothing more than premature speculation since it is based on practices that prohibit contact but it is still football talk (and I've been dying for some of that). We mentioned yesterday the Q and Dockett were no shows yesterday and a handful of players were present but couldn't practice. If Boldin and DD weren't veterans who've been with the team for a number of seasons, I'd think this was a bigger deal, but the way it's working out right now is that younger guys are getting more reps. In practices like these I'd rather see youngsters like Doucet, Lance Long, Ahmad Merritt, Jerheme Urban, Jamaica Rector and all of the young defensive ends get as many snaps as possible. Merritt practiced for the first time since breaking his leg and ankle in the third pre-season game last year and according to Coach Whisenhunt was "rusty." So until they start missing mandatory meetings or practices, I'm not pushing any panic buttons.

Here are some quick hits from the Cardinals OTAs, as well as the other NFC West teams.

Cardinals

The word on Cardinals rookie DE Kenny Iwebema at the team’s early-May minicamp was that the fourth-round pick looked deceptively strong. Team insiders are already speculating that the presence of both Iwebema, who was coached by Cardinals D-line coach Ron Aiken at the University of Iowa, and fellow rookie DE Calais Campbell, who is also capable of moving inside, has increased the likelihood that Antonio Smith, who’ll be a free agent at the end of the 2008 season, could be playing elsewhere in ’09.

It appears that Tim Castille, who has put on 20 pounds and is a big favorite of Cardinals RB coach Maurice Carthon, could be positioned to take over the starting FB job from veteran Terrelle Smith. It wouldn’t be a shock to team insiders if Smith, who hasn’t been a regular at the Cardinals’ offseason conditioning workouts, were released — a move that would save the team a cool $1 million.

Rams

There are plenty of interesting rumblings regarding the Rams’ offensive line, which was a mess much of the time last season. Team insiders tell us that both rookies John Greco (third round) and Roy Schuening (fifth round) are considered future starters and could respectively push ORT Alex Barron and ORG Richie Incognito for playing time sooner than later. Speaking of Incognito, we hear he’s not being ruled out of the battle for the starting center job. Incognito played the position at Nebraska, and the only problem sources envision with him in that role is his shotgun snaps, which might need some work.

Regular Rams observers seem to unanimously agree that Scott Linehan has never looked more relaxed in his role as head coach. And word is the presence of new executive V.P. of player personnel Billy Devaney, who has removed the burden of worrying about personnel matters, and new offensive coordinator Al Saunders, who has an ironclad grip on the offense, has a lot to do with it.

Niners

Our Niners sources tell us that OLB Tully Banta-Cain appears to be in much better shape than he was a year ago, when he reported to the first minicamp tipping the scales at 290 pounds.

Niners minicamp observers say veteran Jeff Ulbrich appears to have the early edge on Brandon Moore and newcomer Dontarrious Thomas for the starting “Ted” LB role, based on the fact he was getting the majority of reps.

Seahawks

We hear Seahawks top draft pick Lawrence Jackson looked instantly comfortable at the team’s early-May minicamp, filling a number of roles on the defensive line (right end, left end, tackle in the nickel) with equal effectiveness.

Word is Seahawks sixth-round rookie LS Tyler Schmitt was right on the money with all his snaps in the team’s early-May minicamp. At 231 pounds, Schmitt is 15 pounds lighter than former LS J.P. Darche, who was let go, we hear, because he was too small. The upside, however, is that the lighter Schmitt might be more of a factor getting downfield to cover punts.

No major surprises here as Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett were among the notable absences from today's opening day of organized team activities. Neither was really expected to show since they've both voiced complaints about their contract situation. Chike Okeafor was also absent but, according to Coach Whisenhunt, his absence was for a personal matter, of which the staff knew about ahead of time. Whis was very careful to throw the key word voluntary into his statement about Q and Dockett, even though everyone knows that every player if fully expected to be in attendance.

"I'm excited about the guys who are, (here)," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "I would be less than honest if I said if I wasn't disappointed that Anquan and Darnell weren't here. But once again, these are voluntary."

Of the players who were in attendance receiver Jerheme Urban (right foot), safety Adrian Wilson (heel), linebacker Monty Beisel (back), tight end Leonard Pope (ankle),  cornerback DeMario Minter (sports hernia), DE/OLB Bertrand Berry (triceps), and center Al Johnson (knee) did not practice. The only real surprise of the group is Johnson who recently had surgery to clear up some pain and swelling that he experienced during the off season. He will likely not practice during OTAs but should be back to 100% by training camp. Johnson's absence isn't a monumental loss in OTAs considering offensive and defensive linemen can't do much more than learn the play book since contact is prohibited.

Perhaps the surprise of the first day was that Edgerrin James was actually in attendance. He said that he's planning to attend the first and third weeks of organized team activities (there are four total).