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?

In a continued effort to look at each undrafted rookie, today brings up the unlikely story of Mississippi State wide receiver, Lance Long. We looked at Anthony Morelli, Ali Highsmith and Keilen Dykes in the past but Long is a name that many fans had never heard of entering the draft. Long's numbers at Mississippi State aren't anything that will turn heads considering he totaled 46 receptions for 321 yards (7 yard average) and one touchdown (yea that's a total of three seasons not just one). Long was so far down on most draft lists that Pro Football Weekly profiled 127 receivers and long wasn't one of them. NFL draft scout ranked 300 potential wide receivers and Lance Long still wasn't one of them. So why were the Cardinals interested enough to sign him?

 
Long has always been as his name would suggest, a long shot (yea I know that's a very cheap play on words, but I just couldn't resist). He walked onto Mississippi State after a year at the University of Toledo and eventually was awarded a scholarship by his junior season. Long never stared at Mississippi State and never started more than 3 games in any single season but he did a little bit of everything including punt and kicks returns as well as playing on both coverage units. Long did turn some heads at Mississippi State's pro day though when he reeled off a 4.38 forty and had the fastest shuttle time of anyone in the country. That performance combined with some in-house familiarity (Arizona tight end coach was a coach of Long's in 2005) was enough for the Cardinals to take a look at the 5'11 186 pound receiver.

If Long hopes to stick around at the NFL level, he'll have to continue to be a versatile player who's willing to whatever a team asks of him. With the depth at wide receiver, it seems nearly impossible that he'll make the roster in 2008 but he is definitely a candidate for the practice squad because he's got the kind of athleticism that makes coaches drool. It should be very interesting to see how he's used in the preseason as well. Who's seen this kid play and what do you think of his chances to become an NFL player? Does he have a chance to stick around in the desert?

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.