Since we're at the quarter pole of the NFL season, what better time to project the Arizona Cardinals stats over the course of a full season? Obviously some of the offensive numbers are inflated after Sunday's second half shootout, but there's no way to work around an entire game and who's the say we won't be involved in several shoot outs this season. You can check these against our community projections and see if we're on track or already looking pretty bad.

Check out all the stats, after the jump.....

Continue reading this post »

We took a look at the prolific offense yesterday but today we swith gears and look at how the stingy Arizona Cardinals defense did against the Dolphins. They only allowed 10 points (lowest since 11/19/06) and all of the points came well after the game was decided. The defense wasn't as disruptive as it was in week one but once they jumped ahead by three scores the blitzes were dialed down and the plan become more about not allowing a big play or a cheap score.

Defensive Line: The DL got a boost with Alan Branch returning to the rotation and the front line played a big role in shutting down Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. The Dolphins running game totaled just 72 yards and had three rushes that resulted in negative yardage. Darnell Dockett and Antonio Smith spent much of the day trying to cover backs out of the backfield instead of rushing the passer and they did a good job of limiting Brown and Williams to just 3 receptions for 20 yards. Calais Campbell continues to impress (led the DL with 3 tackles) and he should continue to see an increased role as the season progresses. Bryan Robinson continues to prove why he was a great free agent signing as he logged one of two sacks on the day. Grade: A

Line Backers: Karlos Dansby showed again why he's a man that deserves to be paid as he led the defense in tackles, with eight, for the second consecutive game. Hayes, Haggans and Okeafor were each solid with multiple tackles and played a big role in limiting Chad Pennington's favorite targets (tight ends and RBs). Travis LaBoy didn't follow up his two sack performance from last week but he missed 10-15 plays after his face mask broke. Bertrand Berry chipped in with four tackles and his second sack in as many games. Grade: B+

Corner Backs: The corners were solid once again allowing Dolphin receivers just 10 receptions for 122 yards total and half of those stats (5 for 60) came on the Phins final touchdown drive, long after the game had been decided. Roderick Hood made plays all over the field, finishing second on the team with six tackles and his first pass defended on a deep pass to Ernest Wilford. Eric Green had a good game and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie saw some extended playing time later in the game and finished with two tackles and his first pass defended. Ralph Brown got on the field and his was tackle was a one yard loss on Ricky Williams. Grade: B+

Safeties: Adrian Wilson is still stud of the secondary and he proved it again on Sunday as he finished with four tackles, including stopping Ronnie Brown for a four yard loss in the on the Phins opening drive to force a three and out. Wilson played a big role is shutting down the running game as three of his tackles were on running plays (two were one yard gains and the four yard loss). Antrel Rolle played his part as well and his two tackles were also on running plays, including one for no gain. Aaron Francisco made his mark on the game stopping Ricky Williams for a seven yard loss and causing a fumble. He finished with three tackles and a pass defended. Grade: A

------------------------------------------------------

Overall it's hard not to love a defensive performance where they only allowed ten points and 4.1 yards per play. The defense wasn't as oportunistic as they were against the Niners but they were still dominant. There stats are likely inflated by playing against the offensively challenged Dolphins but if the defense can continue to stiffle opposing offenses and limit the big play, this team will be in every game. Thoughts? Agree/Disagree? What would your grades have been?

The Cardinals released their team captains for the 2008 season today and they're quite a bit different from last season. The 2007 captains were Anquan Boldin, Adrian Wilson, Gerald Hayes, Neil Rackers and Aaron Francisco. Well the only repeat player will be Aaron Francisco as a special teams captain. Joining him will be offensive captains Kurt Warner and Reggie Wells, defensive captain Karlos Dansby and one more special teams captain Sean Morey. Here's what Whiz had to say about the players selections:

"The team voted, it's how they feel," Whisenhunt said. "It's interesting to see their perception of it. But I am hoping we have a number of veteran leaders on this team that weren't necessarily captains and I expect those guys to give their leadership ability."

After taking a look at how the offensive depth hart might look, here's a glance at the depth on the defensive side of the ball:

Left DE - Antonio Smith, Kenny Iwebema, Calais Campbell

Iwebema has been playing the left side but an extended absence by Smith could see Campbell move over.

NT - Bryan Robinson, Alan Branch, Gabe Watson (injured)

Robinson will most likely be the starter against the Niners but he might be the last guy that they want to start as well. Branch might be the best on any given play but you just never know whether you're going to get 100% or 50%. Watson will be the starter as soon he's healthy.

Right DE/UT - Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell, Kenny Iwebema

Dockett is the stud and and Campbell is the young man in waiting.

Left OLB - Chike Okeafor, Clark Haggans

As long as Okeafor stays healthy he's the man. Haggans has performed well in preseason and he's an experienced veteran, but he's at his best with limited snaps.

Right OLB - Travis LaBoy, Bertrand Berry

LaBoy had a good preseason and won the starting job. He's younger and more explosive but Berry will still see his fair share of snaps when he's healthy.

MILB - Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Monty Beisel, Ali Highsmith

Beisel's probably the first guy to step in whether Dansby or Hayes goes down and Highsmith's role will likely be special teams unless a couple of injuries strike.

Left CB - Roderick Hood, DRC, Ralph Brown, Matt Ware

The top two spots are pretty set in stone but if somehow they both get injured, it would be a big mess. They would probably decide to move Rolle back down to corner depending on the depth left at safety. Brown is a good special teamer but he's not a starting corner. Ware can play both safety and corner but he's not a starting corner either. 

Right CB - Eric Green, DRC, Ralph Brown, Matt Ware

Pretty much the same as above.

SS - Adrian Wilson, Aaron Francisco, Oliver Celestin

Wilson is the obvious starter and there's a big drop off to #2. Francisco's got some experience but he lacks the playmaking ability of A-dub.

FS - Antrell Rolle, Aaron Francisco, Matt Ware, Oliver Celestin

Most depth charts list Ware as the primary backup to Rolle but I still think Francisco would be the first name called if Rolle went down. Ware's younger but still a good, developing player. Celestin is best on special teams but he's a big hitter who will look decent in limited snaps.

Thoughts? Agree/Disagree?

With half of the preseason behind us and just one more week in Flagstaff, the Cardinals coaching staff doesn't have much more time to make decisions concerning position battles. This weeks game is often considered the 'dress rehearsal' for starters and most of them will play into the second half meaning that playing time for those further down the depth chart will be limited. This will also be the final week of practice and game for a handful of players because teams must cut their roster down to 75 players next week (Aug 26th). Here's how the position battles are shaping up heading into the final week of training camp:

Quarterback: Before last week, I probably wouldn't even have listed this as a battle and I'm still not convinced that it is a legitimate competition, but last week put it back on the radar screen. Warner and Leinart looked awful close in terms of performance Saturday night, but if I had to give an edge to one guy it would probably be Warner. Leinart looked very sharp in the first game and if he continues to perform he should be the starter on September 7th. It'll be very interesting to see who takes the field first this week and how long they play. If one guy plays the entire first half or a little more then the battle is over, but if they both play in the first half, that's an indication that the coaching staff is still undecided.

Fullback: Terrelle Smith started the first preseason game and had a couple of very good plays including a nice catch and run. Tim Castille started the second game and also had a couple of good plays including a touchdown reception. It's possible that both could make the final 53, but teams don't normally carry two fullbacks. Smith is the better blocker but Castille is younger, cheaper and more versatile. Just like with the quarterbacks, keep an eye on who starts this week and how long they play.

3rd Wide Receiver: Steve Breaston has grabbed a hold of this job and he doesn't look like he'll relinquish it anytime soon. He hasn't had much competition because Doucet has been out with a hamstring injury but Breaston has looked explosive and elusive out of the slot and could end up being the perfect compliment to Fitz and Q.

Free Safety: We weren't sure how much competition there would be between Rolle and Francisco, but it looks like the Rolle is entrenched as the starter. Francisco will get on the field quite a bit though in nickel and dime situations. Instead of bringing in a nickel back the Cardinals are going to bring in Francisco and move Rolle into the third corner position. DRC's development throughout the season could change that but for now Rolle and Fransisco will each see significant playing time.

Outside Linebacker: Before Saturday's game, this didn't really register as a competition and truth be told both Bertrand Berry and Travis LaBoy will see plenty of snaps regardless of who starts. LaBoy made a case for himself on Saturday though with six tackles and two sacks. Berry doesn't have much to show for in the preseason yet but his playing time has been pretty limited. LaBoy is still learning the position but if he can continue to rush the passer like he did Saturday, they'll have to find a way to get him on the field early and often.

-----------------------------------------------

That's just about every position battle that I can think of but did I miss any? How do you see these playing out and how will they impact the Cardinals in 2008?

Last night was another lively practice as the team moved over the Lumberjack Stadium to practice under the lights. These practices are always capped off by a live goal line or 11-on-11 drill and this practice was no different. The red zone 11-on-11 produced a couple of scrums and was the hardest hitting part of training camp to date.

Round One: The first 'dust-up' of the night was a smaller one and was a result of Travis LaBoy putting a hit on Brian St. Pierre. Since hitting any quarterback in practice is a definite no-no, Whisenhunt was quick to pull LaBoy aside. Kurt Warner though took exception to the hit though and looked visibly aggravated and tried to talk to LaBoy himself, to no avail.

Round Two: Towards the end of practice, emotions ran even higher. During a Hightower run, he and Aaron Francisco got tied up and A-dub came in and knocked Hightower to the ground. Levi Brown instantly shoved Wilson back and within seconds most of the team was in the middle of a scuffle.

In the end coaches may say that they don't like seeing fights or skirmishes during practice but I look it as a good sign and I'd be surprised if most coaches didn't secretly like them as well. These guys are ultra-competitive and practicing against the same guys for a couple of weeks often wears on your patience.

Injury Update: The good news is that DRC returned to practice yesterday but didn't do much in the night session. That's a good sign considering that nearly every news outlet was reporting that he was carted off the field earlier in the week.  Roderick Hood and Brandon Keith also returned to practice but Darnell Dockett (shoulder) was held out. Antrel Rolle (ankle) was also held out of practice again and he's probably not going to play in Saturday's game.

Tuesday's evening practice was a light one as the team gears up for today's two a day. One of the highlights of the week will come tonight as the team practices under the lights at Lumberjack stadium. The highlight of that practice will be a full-on goal line session. As for Tuesday afternoon's practice though it started off very slowly with a helmet-less walk through followed some positional drills. The only session that generated anything noteworthy was the 11-on-11 drills.

Running Back Rotation: Tim Hightower continues to get his share of reps with the
second team and he had an impressive carry that included running through Karlos Dansby. The big surprise so far though has been Steve Baylark who's been taking reps ahead of JJ Arrington. Baylark spent last year on the practice squad but if he continues to outplay Arrington, he might just find his way onto the roster this year. Arrington's job will be in serious jeopardy if he doesn't start moving up the depth chart.

Projecting the Secondary: While it doesn't appear that Aaron Francisco will get any real shot at challenging Antrel Rolle for the starting free safety spot, that doesn't mean that he won't get his share of playing time. So far during camp, he's been the free safety when the defense switches into the nickel or dime, with Rolle moving down to play the 3rd corner. Considering that the NFL is more 'pass happy' than ever before, it could lead to significant playing time. The bad news in that scenerio though is that first round pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie would be the fourth corner at best.

Special Teams Outlook: Yesterday's practice had a session dedicated to punt return and an interesting addition to the returner rotation was DRC. He, of course, looked incredibly fast as he took reps with Breaston. The unimpressive part of the session though was new punter, Dirk Johnson. Most of his punts were short and the hang time wasn't anything great either. He's still got several weeks to get game ready but if he's still kicking like that in the regular season it won't be good.

Injuries: The injuries remain the same with Boldin (hamstring), Marcus Brown (hamstring), Beisel (back), Watson (knee), Dykes (quad) and Al Johnson (knee). It's somewhat discouraging that Johnson is still out, it was first reported that he would only miss the morning practice on Monday.

The 'centerfielders' of the defense are critical for not only preventing big plays for opposing offenses but this season they'll also be expected to produce big plays for the defense. Like most positions on the defense, the safeties look to be more talented and deeper than they were not only last season, but any season in quite some time. One position in set in stone and the other position is still in flux but either way the starter looks to be solid. The only question seems to be, just how good can this unit be?

Adrian Wilson: A-dub finished the season on the IR for the first time in his career in  2007 and the defense suffered almost immediately. The defense allowed 21.6 points per game in the 9 games that he played and 29.1 in the 7 games that he didn't. When he's healthy, Wilson can wreak havoc on opposing offenses by supporting the run, rushing the QB and defending the pass. The fact that he's only been to one Pro Bowl is proof that the system simply doesn't work. He'll turn 29 years old during the season but he's keeps himself in tremendous shape so there's no reason to think that he'll slow down anytime soon. He's also playing for a new contract this season since his contract ends after the 2009 season and it's believed that the club wants to extend him before he's allowed to hit free agency.

Antrel Rolle: The former first round pick is being moved to free safety after several up and down years at cornerback. He still has to win the job during camp but for now he's believed to be the front runner. Most scouts believe that Rolle's skill set and size (6'0 208) was always better suited to play safety and that he'll thrive at the new position. One thing is for sure, he's a play-maker and he instantly upgrades the athleticism in the secondary. If he can pick up the finer points of the position fast enough, he should be able to hold off Aaron Francisco. Having a quality safety beside Wilson should allow A-dub to free wheel more often and create even more problems for opposing offenses.

Aaron Francisco: Francisco has opened some eyes during his limited playing time the past couple of years and looks to be Wilson's main competition at free safety. He filled in for Wilson last year and averaged over 6 tackles a start. He's a big hitter who's still young (just turned 25) but already has some experience (5 starts in 3 seasons). Whether or not he wins the starting job, he'll continue to be a force on special teams. If he does win the starting job it'll be because of his physical style of play and his familiarity with the position. Francisco is signed through 2010.

Oliver Celestin: Celestin started the first four games of his career in 2007 after three seasons of playing primarily on special teams. He's not particularly athletic but he's been around long enough to play intelligent football and get by on veteran savvy. He's best suited as a backup though as he got exposed at time last year while filling in for Wilson. He's a solid special teams player and has the size (6'0 207) to deliver a big hit at times. He signed a one year contract in April of this year.

Matt Ware: Ware is versatile enough that he'll probably compete as a backup safety and at corner. He's built like a safety (6'2 214) and has already been in the league for 4 seasons despite being only 25 years old. Up until now he's played mostly on special teams but he did start a game in 2006 and recorded a career high 4 tackles. He signed a two year contract after the 2007 season.

Dennis Keyes: An undrafted free agent out of UCLA, Keyes is most likely headed to the practice squad if the Cardinals want to keep him. He's a physical player who made a name for himself in the PAC-10 as a big hitter. He's doesn't have great timed speed but he makes plays all over the field and has good instincts. Keyes was a free safety in college but I wouldn't be surprised if the coaching staff took advantage of his tackling prowess by moving him to strong safety.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The safety position is the only unit on the defensive side of the ball that didn't have at least one addition either through the draft or free agency this offseason. Rolle moved into the position from cornerback and unless injuries ravage the position again, it should be much improved in 2008. A-dub is one of, if not the best, safety in the NFC and after a season lost to injury he should be out to prove that to the league. Is the safety position ready to dominate? Does Fransisco give Rolle a serious run for his money at free safety?

To continue an ongoing series focusing on the Cardinals undrafted free agents, today let's look at a guy who was a three year starter in the PAC-10. Dennis Keyes started over 35 games at UCLA and finished his senior season with as the team leader in tackles.  He had an up and down career as a Bruin but he always had a reputation as a big hitter. Keyes never hesitated to lay the big hit either in the passing game or at the line of scrimmage in support of the run. With Rolle moving to free safety to compete for the job, there are several safeties in the mix but what does Keyes have to do in order to make an impact in 2008 and beyond? 

Why the deck is stacked against him: First and foremost, the Cardinals have plenty of depth at the safety position. Keyes played at free safety during college meaning that he's got to contend with Aaron Francisco,  Antrel Rolle and Matt Ware as well at FS and Oliver Celestin (another backup safety). Having five established safeties ahead of him will make it tough to make an impression, much less get on the field. Keyes also doesn't have great timed speed and will miss tackles when trying to go for the big hit. His lack of top end speed and stiff hips make it hard for him to keep up with receivers down the field and he struggles when matched up man-to-man.

Why he's got a chance: Keyes is has plenty of experience at a high level of competition meaning that his transition to the NFL won't be as drastic as other rookies. He plays fearless and makes plays all over the field, even against bigger, stronger players. He led his team in tackles and was fourth in the conference (8.83 per game) in 2007. Keyes' has good instincts and plays faster than he times, especially when closing on the ball. For as much as he struggles in man-to-man situations, he is solid in zone coverage when he can back pedal and react when the ball is in the air. At the start of his career, Keyes will have to make an impact on special teams and most importantly coverage units.

Bottom line: If Keyes wants to make the opening day roster, he'll have to be a special teams terror during the preseason. He's got the 'football' speed and demeanor to make an impact kickoff and punt coverage units. As far as the regular defensive group, I wouldn't be surprised if he moves to strong safety where his tackling ability can be used to support the run and his lack of coverage ability can be disguised a bit. He'll also have add some weight to his slender frame (6'1 205).  If he can get up to about 220 or so without losing any athleticism, I could see him being a capable backup at strong safety.

The secondary took plenty of heat in 2007 and by the end of the season, it was criticism well deserved. They finished the season ranked 27th in pass defense and ranked near the bottom of the league in touchdowns allowed. The secondary, as well as defense as a whole faltered terribly down the stretch. After playing the Buccaneers in week 9 the Cardinals were allowing, on average, 194.6 passing yards per game. Had they finished the season with that average, they'd have had the 8th best pass defense in the league. Instead though they tanked the next eight games allowing over 250 yards passing 6 times and over 300 yards three times (CIN, NO, ATL). They would finish the season allowing an average of 232.3 passing yards per game.

Much like the rest of the defense, the secondary suffered their share of injuries last season. The biggest loss was strong safety and leader of the defense,  Adrian Wilson, who missed missed the final seven games. He was joined on IR by starting corner back, Eric Green, who missed the final 5 games. They also lost top backup safety Aaron Francisco for five games in the middle of the season. The one good thing that came out of the 2007 injury riddled season though was the idea to move former first round pick Antrel Rolle to free safety. Here's how the secondary should shake out in 2008:

Corner Back: The starters should remain the same with Roderick Hood and Eric Green getting the nod for the second consecutive season. Hood had a decent season, his first in Arizona, starting all 16 games and recording five interceptions and 21 passes defended. He signed a 5 year, 15 million dollar deal to come to Arizona and if he can continue to be that productive, he'll be a great free agent addition. Green struggled though in first season as a starter breaking up just eight passes and failing to record an interception for the second consecutive season.
Green is back on a one year tender and unless his production improves dramatically they'll let him walk after 2008, although there is some hope that he'll be an adequate #3 corner when DRC is ready to step up. First round pick, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, isn't going to be pressured into starting from day one but it he'll likely be expected to win the job sometime during the season. His second-to-none athleticism should be an instant upgrade once he's able to add 10-15 pounds. The depth chart should be filled out by some combination of veterans Ralph Brown and Matt Ware and second year player Michael Adams. Only two of these guys will be able to make the cut though. Undrafted free agent Marcus Brown will have to make some noise in training camp in order to snag a roster spot.

Safety: Again the starting safeties are set. Adrian Wilson will be returning as the incumbent starter for the 6th consecutive season, but it will be his first season to prove that he's fully recovered for an injury that caused him to miss significant time. He be joined by Antrel Rolle, who'll be starting his first season as free safety. Prior to the 2007 season, the Cardinals added free agent Terrence Holt with a significant salary but a disappointing season has since seem him leave town for Carolina. Depth will come from Aaron Francisco and Oliver Celestin, both of whom are younger players who are stand outs on special teams. Dennis Keyes, another undrafted free agent, will likely get a spot on the practice squad.

The secondary as a whole looks like it should be improved and if they can stay healthy, they should be well above average. The wild-card will be how quickly DRC becomes a starter. Once he's firmly entrenched, the Cards will have three explosive play makers in the defensive backfield. So how good do you think the pass defense will be? Can Rolle succeed in his first season as a safety?