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

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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?

Well there is more news than normal about the 2-0 Arizona Cardinals and I've even got something brand new for the ROTB community:

• I joined fellow-Cardinal blogger, Eli Wahlstrom of The Cardinals Report, in his weekly podcast (check it out, right here). We talked about the impressive win over the Dolphins, the state of the team and a quick look ahead to the Skins. We're not professionals and this was our first time to talk so we stumbled over each other a couple of times, but if you consider we're just two fans talking about our team, it's not a bad listen. His site is great also for those searching for more Cardinals talk so check him out for more content.
  
• Despite being 2-0 for just the second time since all but two players (Kurt
  Warner & Bryan Robinson) were alive, the team isn't ready to pat themselves on the back just yet. The focus is on what is in front of them instead of what they already accomplished. It's way too early to talk about the "P" word but I'll throw this little stat out there: Since 1978, 66% of teams that started 2-0 made the....well you know. 
• There's also those that are ready to stand up and say, these Cardinals are not the same old Cardinals. Call it beating up on the kids with pocket protectors but good teams beat the teams that they're supposed to beat. I won't as far as to say that "if this isn't their year, they'll never will be a year," but I do agree that this team is talented, hungry and mature. 
• The team isn't the only group of people who are hoping this 2-0 start is a sign of things to come instead of just another mirage in the desert. The valley of the sun has been waiting 20 years to wrap their arms around the Cardinals scream from the mountain tops that we own the best team in a division. Sure the Niners and Dolphins will be scouting the top college players before the season gets warmed up but lets not forget the 1996 Jets (1-15 with their only win over the Cards) and the 2004 and 2007 Niners (both swept the Cards despite just 2 & 5 wins on the season). Is this the year? We won't know for another several months, but for now I waiting on the edge of my seat. 
• The offense has looked like two different animals through two games and Whisenhunt said he's made an attempt show different personnel packages, formations and even gameplans in an effort to give opposing defenses more to prepare to face. We've seen DRC line up at reciever in both games so far, Adrian Wilson lined up at tight end against the Dolphins and it seems as if Whiz has embraced the 'trickeration' that gave his otherwise vanilla offenses in Pittsburgh some flavor. So what's next? Well Boldin told Whisenhunt that he wanted line up at safety......wait....I thought they weren't talking.

• The biggest concern heading into this Sunday for the Arizona Cardinals has to be the injury situation, especially at the nose. Gabe Watson is already out, although he did practice for the first time this offseason, yesterday (on a limited basis). Alan Branch hasn't practiced this week at all and his status for the game isn't looking good. If he can't go on Sunday, Bryan Robinson will start and Kenny Iwebema will be the backup. That's not a great combination at nose tackle and if that's the case, I'd expect to see more four-man fronts than normal this week. Ben Patrick and Jerame Tuman are both listed on the injury report and both have been limited in practice recently. They should still play in the game but Pope will likely be the focal point of the tight end passing game.
  
• Kurt Warner's been working on ball security in an effort to cut down on his fumbling problem. Turnovers has always been a problem for the prolific veteran and while wearing gloves have helped cut down on fumbles, the coaching staff would like him to continue to improve on his fumbles and cut down on interceptions. Say what you want about the 37 year old vet but if he's putting up the same numbers without turning the ball over as much, it's a scary proposition for opposing teams. The coaching staff is also working with Darnell Dockett in a effort cut down on the useless penalties that he tends to collect. He's acknowledged that he needs to play 'smarter' but he also plays with a lot of aggression and emotion so it's a delicate balance.
• The Cardinals defense is facing some unfamiliar faces considering they're playing such a familiar opponent. No I'm not talking about Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson or Mike Martz, all of whom the Cardinals are very familiar with, but starting quarterback JT O'Sullivan is a different story. He's playing for his eighth team in just six seasons but he's in the same offense for the second consecutive season and will be making the first start of his NFL career. The Cardinals have seen Mike Martz turn no-name quarterbacks into NFL stars before and they'll be the first test for 29 year old JT O'Sullivan.
  
• Last but certainly not least, the Cardinals seem anxious to take the field and get the bitter taste of last season out of their mouth. Considering that they finished the season 8-8 but lost twice to the 5-11 Niners, who can blame them? With a new season and expectations at an all-time high, they need to get out of the gates quickly and they should have every opportunity against a team with a first time starter and a new offensive system. It's also worth remembering that these teams have swept each other each of the past four seasons so a win this Sunday could also be an indication of another win down the road.

After getting the ball rolling with four key match-ups yesterday, Fooch, at Niners Nation, and myself sit down and look at the final four match-ups facing the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. These were a bit tougher for me but let me know what you think:

Matchup #5: 49ers Defensive front 7 vs. Cardinals OL (rushing)

Fooch: Advantage: 49ers - While the Cardinals performed well in rushing against the 49ers, the 49ers front 7 has been dramatically improved.  The addition of Justin Smith at OLB and defensive end gives the team a nasty presence now that Bryant Young is retired.  Manny Lawson played in the opener, but was out for the second SF-AZ matchup and he is an integral part of their run defense.  Patrick Willis has a full year under his belt and should only improve.  The one drawback is that Aubrayo Franklin is consistently getting pushed around at the nose tackle position, making it more difficult for the linebackers to make plays.  However, the 49ers will be able to rotate enough guys into the defensive line to cover for that deficiency.  While Michael Lewis plays strong safety, he is excellent in the running game and provides some second level support to the linebackers if they miss a tackle.

CG: Advantage: Cardinals - The Cardinals actually ran the ball decently against the Niners last year totaling 257 yards on 62 carries last year just over 4.1 yards per carry, which is better than they did against the rest of the league. They've also worked tirelessly this offseason to improve the running game and are even going to incorporate some zone blocking schemes to better suit Edgerrin James' running style. The Niners run defense took some shots last year and ended up ranking 22nd in the league but they only allowed 3.8 yards per attempt. With the Niners front seven being fresh and the Cardinals offensive line looking solid so far, I'd really like to call this match-up a 'push,' but I won't take the easy way out. I'll give the Cardinals a slight edge with the one-two punch of James and Hightower.

Match-up #6: Cardinals defensive front 7 vs. 49ers OL (rushing)

Fooch: Advantage: 49ers - I will be honest and admit I don't know a whole heck of a lot about the Cardinals.  The injuries to the defensive line are certainly not something you want when you're facing a running back like Frank Gore.  Gore has slimmed down as he expects to carry a Marshall Faulk type of rushing/receiving role.  The 49ers offensive line was a weakness for much of last year, but Gore was still able to surpass 1,100 rushing yards.  The line has gotten younger and healthier and while Gore may not reach his 2007 goal of 2,000 yards, he will be the engine of this offense.  I'd expect the 2007 offensive line issues to be an anomaly and the 2006 excellence to return.

CG: Advantage: 49ers - The Cardinals defense might have had some faults in 2007 but the front seven was solid against the run. They gave up less than 100 yards per game and finished 9th in league in run defense, but they do have some question marks heading into Sunday. The biggest question mark is at the biggest position in a 3-4 defense, nose tackle. Gabe Watson, last years starter, has already been ruled out for the game and primary backup Alan Branch is questionable at best right now. He hasn't practiced since injuring his ankle in the final preseason game and he'll have to get healthier if he wants to suit up against the Niners. That leaves the nose tackle position to veteran Bryan Robinson, who was signed in the offseason to backup the nose and defensive end positions. He's a consummate professional but he's not a true nose tackle and if he has to play the entire game, he could get pushed around pretty badly by the fourth quarter. If he's the only nose tackle that's available, I'd expect them to go with more four man fronts to try and give him some help. I'd love to take the Cardinals here but there are too many question marks at this point to vote against Frank Gore, who's averaged 4.5 yards per carry against the Cardinals throughout his career.

The final two match-ups after the jump.....

Continue reading this post »

We all know that the regular season is looming and that the Arizona Cardinals will travel to San Francisco to clash with a familiar foe this Sunday. In an effort to preview the game, I've worked with Fooch, the administrator at Niners Nation, to look at several key match-ups. We chose eight match-ups to break down and we'll be looking at half of them today and the other half tomorrow. Will be previewing the game over the course of the next four days and Fooch will be posting the same match-ups and also previewing the game from a Niners' perspective at Niners Nation. For now here's the first four to chew on:

Match-Up #1: Clements/Harris vs. Fitzgerald/Boldin

Fooch: Advantage: 49ers - Last season's two matchups were a tale of two extremes.  The 49ers shut down Fitzgerald and Boldin in week 1 and then were torched by them in Week 12.  The difference between the two games was Leinart started Week 1 and Warner started Week 12.  That would indicate the 2008 Cardinals would have the edge with Warner getting the nod.  However, the 49ers overall defense has improved and the secondary should be a strength this season.  I'd expect FS Mark Roman, backup safety Dashon Goldson and nickel back Shawntae Spencer to provide help in this matchup.  Clements is likely to get Fitzgerald by himself, but as Harris is getting up there in years, a little help is necessary.  The depth of the 49ers secondary should be the difference-maker.

CG: Advantage: Cardinals - With Kurt Warner at the helm, I won't rank any two corners over Fitzgerald and Boldin. Even with two very good corners like Clements and Harris, not secondary is safe with this receiving duo. I would expect the rest of the Niner secondary to give the corners some help but it'll take a conglomerate effort to shut down both Fitz and Q. 

Match-Up #2: 49ers pass rush vs. Cardinals offensive line

Fooch: Advantage: Cardinals - The pass rush is the 49ers biggest question mark on the defensive side of the ball heading into 2008.  They added Justin Smith and get a returning Manny Lawson, but neither is a traditional pass rusher.  If the 49ers are going to generate a pass rush, second year defensive end Ray McDonald will need to be that guy.  If the 49ers pass rush resembles the 2007 pass rush, Kurt Warner will have all day to make things happen.  The pass rush is the major x-factor for whether this defense can step up from decent to very good.

CG: Advantage: Cardinals - There isn't much doubt that the Cardinals' pass game is explosive and should put points on the board. Whether or not the front line can keep Warner upright is another question though. Warner is about as immobile as they get but the offensive line is some what accomplished in keeping the quarterback clean. The offensive line is bringing back four of the same five from last season and they should be able to be pick up any kind of blitzes that the Niners throw at them.

The final two match-ups are after the jump.......

Continue reading this post »

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?

Well the Arizona Cardinals players, coaches and staff have left Flagstaff meaning that another training camp is officially in our rear view mirror. This will ultimately go down as a training camp that was dominated by the Boldin's trade demands but for now we can't forget that many other things were accomplished and some questions still need to be answered.

Compliment to Edge: Edgerrin James hasn't been the elite back that the Cardinals thought they were getting when the signed him as a free agent but he hasn't had much help either. His first year in the desert he ran behind a horrible offensive line and he's never had a legitimate backup to give him a break and share the load. The Cardinals seem to have given him some help this year though with rookie Tim Hightower. At the very least Hightower should take over the short yardage and goal line carries and he could be on the fast track to a future starting role. Hightower's shown quick feet, good vision and an unexpected burst that that has caused quite the stir among coaches and fans alike.

Defensive Depth: We all know that the defense fell of a cliff last year after injuries to several key players robbed the unit of their explosive play makers. They didn't have the depth to be competitive last year but things have changed in 2008. The front seven looks to have solid players two deep at nearly every position. The offseason acquisitions of Travis LaBoy, Clark Haggans, Bryan Robinson and Matt Stewart have infused quality depth in to a front seven that desperately needed it. All four of them have starting experience in the this league and their mix of youth and veteran leadership could help vault this defense into the upper half of the league.

BJ's Replacement: Heading into the offseason we weren't quite sure who would replace Bryant Johnson as the third receiver and the options included as many as five names. By the first preseason game though, the competition was all but over. Steve Breaston followed up an impressive mini-camp with an equally, if not more impressive training camp and preseason. He brings the kind of speed and quickness to the wide receiver corps that they haven't had in a while. He looks like he's poised for a great sophomore season and provide a unique compliment to the Pro Bowl duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

Where's the Tight Ends?: Before camp the tight end group looked deep, talented and poise for a breakout, but with camp over and the pre-season halfway over we've seen very little the group. Leonard Pope was recovering from an ankle injury and even though he hasn't missed any practices, he hasn't shown much in game time to convince anyone that he's truly 100%. Ben Patrick looked like he was ready to challenge Pope for the starting job but a high ankle sprain against the Chiefs will keep him out until at least the opener. They even had to sign a tight end of the streets after Troy Bienemann couldn't get healthy. Through two games the tight ends have combined for 3 receptions for 23 yards and that kind of production won't get the job done.

Are the Special Teams really special?: The Cardinals lost four games by less than a touchdown and in those games Neil Rackers missed 3 field goals, including losses to Baltimore, Washington, and San Francisco. When the season ended the Cardinals were 31st in the league in field goal percentage and one of only ten teams to miss an extra point. There was some thought that Rackers would have a better year in 2008 because he likes Dirk Johnson as his holder and he's finally recovered from a sports hernia that plagued him in 2007, but Rackers hasn't been terribly good in the preseason with a missed extra point and kickoff that ended up out of bounds. The Cardinals need Rackers to return to the kicker who made over 93% of his field goals (including 6 of 7 from over 50) in 2005.

Who's on the Nose?: We knew going in that Gabe Watson would probably miss most of camp and we thought that Alan Branch would come into camp and perform well enough to stake some claim to keeping the job permanently. Much to our surprise though free agent veteran Bryan Robinson opened camp as the starter at nose tackle and he's been good enough to keep Alan Branch running with the second string. Robinson is not exactly to type of player that the coaching staff would want as the center of the defense so him starting is more of a result of what Branch has not done than what Robinson has done. Hopefully Watson will be ready to go by the start of the regular season because if he isn't the center of the defense could end up being a weakness for opposing offenses to exploit. Branch also needs to step up and show the ability that made the Cardinals trade up to snag him just one year ago.

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What do you guys think? Did camp make your expectations higher or lower heading into September 7th? Who else exceeded or fell below your expectations?

The first weekend of camp is in the books and the best news is that there isn't any bad news to report. No significant injuries and every single player is present and practicing when healthy. The upcoming week should be fun with eight practices in the next 5 days. I'll do my best to wrap up each day of practice but don't forget to add any news/tidbits that I miss. I know some of you guys are lucky enough to be able to make it too a few practices so enlighten the rest of us with you reviews of camp. 

• The best news of the weekend was the signing of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a six year deal, although according to Darren Urban it's 'really' a five year deal. The sixth year is voidable by the player, similar to the rookie contract of Larry Fitzgerald, so in reality it's a five year deal but the structure helps them spread out the bonus money. I'm sure we'll be getting a daily update on how DRC looks in practice, but for now he passed his conditioning test and is ready to learn and grow as a player over the next several weeks.
  
• In order to make room on the roster for DRC, the Cardinals released Chris Vincent. Vincent spent part of last season on the practice squad after his senior season at Oregon. As I stated in the breakdown of the running backs, he didn't really have a defined position and was a long shot for even the practice squad.
  
• The biggest surprising news of the weekend, at least in my mind, is that Bryan Robinson has been running with the first team at nose tackle. With Gabe Watson out it was assumed that Alan Branch would step in and make a push to keep the starting job. This could be Whiz playing head games with a guy who had an 'underachiever' label heading into the draft, but only time will tell. Branch has the physical tools to play this game very well but he's got to get his head wrapped around football.
  
• Chike Okeafor seems pumped about being back on the football field but he got an ear full from Coach Whiz after a tackle of Early Doucet. Not only was in during a non-tackle drill but it also could have been flagged as a 'horse-collar.' With an emphasis on playing smarter football and minimizing penalties, I'd imagine we'll hear about instances like this pretty regularly.
  
• A bit of a downer is that Boldin tweaked a hamstring during the Saturday afternoon practice. It's not serious and if you're looking for a silver-lining, at least it'll mean more reps for younger guys like Breaston and Doucet. Darren Urban also has some tid-bits about Adrian Wilson blowing up JJ Arrington and Tim Hightower ending practice with an impressive run.
• Urban also has an interesting analysis of Kurt Warner's contract situation and it's starting to sound like it won't be as cut-and-dry as originally thought. Maybe I'm just reading too much into his comments but he just sounds like a guy who isn't interested in doing anything other than being a starting quarterback.

A new week brings a shift to the defensive side of the ball as we continue to break down roster, position by position. We've already look at the entire offensive side of the ball and if you missed any of them you still have time to catch up (TE, WR, RB, FB, QB, OT, OG & C). In a 3-4 defense it all starts up front so we'll do the same and look at the defensive/nose tackle first. The nose tackle doesn't have to be a dynamic player to be successful but he does have to be able to absorb a double team and keep blockers off of his linebackers. The Cardinals have stocked their defensive tackle position by selecting a couple of former Michigan Wolverines the past two drafts but are they ready to step up and dominate the middle?

Gabe Watson: A fourth round pick in 2006, Watson is outplaying his draft status so far. He's entering his third season and coming off his first season as a starter. He's already started over 20 games and he's yet to turn 25. Watson is currently rehabbing a broken kneecap suffered from a accident on a treadmill earlier in the offseason. He won't be ready to go by the start of training camp but he should be 100% by the beginning of the season. He's not much of a threat in pass rush situations but he's a force against the run. He's big enough (6'3 332) to demand a double team and has the strength to fight through some of them. Watson has greatly improved from his rookie season to his sophomore season by doubling his tackles and he knocked down a couple of passes as well. Only time will tell if Watson will be able to hold off Branch in the next couple of seasons but either way he'll be a solid member of the defensive line rotation.

Alan Branch: Branch, a second round pick in 2007, didn't have a stellar rookie
season but that doesn't mean that the coaching staff wasn't impressed. The Cards traded up to pick him and even though a broken bone in his hand slowed his progression he's still rumored to give Watson some serious competition for the starter's job. He's nearly the exact same size (6'5 332) as Watson, but he's stronger and more athletic. Branch has benefited from Watson's injury so far by getting reps with the first team and he may remain in that spot if Watson isn't in 'game shape' quick enough. If he doesn't win the job by the start of the season he'll still get considerable playing time especially in passing situations, considering he's a better pass rusher. He'll eventually take over for Watson and he's got the tools to be one of the best nose tackles in the league if he can continue to grow as a player and stay healthy.

Bryan Robinson: Robinson was signed in the offseason to provide depth and veteran leadership to the defensive line. He's versatile enough to play either tackle or end and can be productive in a limited role. His contributions to the defense probably won't be measured by his stat lines but instead by his presence in the locker room. He's an eleven year veteran who has experience in the 3-4 and should be able to help Watson and Branch pick up the finer points of the game. His previous stops in this league have included Cincinnati, Miami, Chicago and St. Louis.

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The anchors of the defensive line are largely forgotten when the praise gets handed out but a 3-4 defense will fail if there isn't a nose tackle who can stand his ground and occupy multiple blockers. While Watson and Branch may never be Jamal Williams or Casey Hampton, they both have the potential to become solid and productive tackles. Having both guys and Robinson in the mix should ensure that everyone stays fresh throughout games, which is always a problem for guys with that much size.

We looked at Ali Highsmith's future a couple of weeks ago and I figured we'd take a look at each undrafted free agent and their chances of making the squad this year or sometime in the future. First up today is West Virginia's Keilen Dykes, who was a four year starter for the Mountaineers and was the definition of consistency. During his four seasons he played in 50 games and averaged 32 1/2 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks per season. He was not only a team captain and first team All-Big East team but also received the 2007 Iron Mountaineer Award as the top performer in their winter workout program and a NSCA Strength All-American first team. Dykes was a defensive tackle at West Virginia but his size (6'3 306) is better suited to play on the end in a  3-4. Dykes wasn't invited to the Combine but he had an impressive Pro Day (which can be seen below) running 5.08 forty and performing 33 bench reps. So, does Keilen Dykes make the Arizona Cardinals roster?

Why He has a Chance in 2008: He's got several things working in his favor including his versatility, a solid work ethic and a non-stop motor. He should come into camp with a huge chip on his shoulder and his 'blue collar'  work ethic will earn him some praise during camp and the preseason. His versatility will allow him to slide inside to defensive tackle when the Cardinals shift to a four-man line in pass rush situations (something to keep an eye on in the preseason). His best chance to make the roster this year is to prove to the coaching staff he's a younger, cheaper version of Bryan Robinson. Robinson was signed to back up both defensive end and tackle but he's never been an particulary dynamic player and they're virtually the exact same size. Dykes could also see more playing time at tackle during camp since Watson will be limited in practice until the start of the season.

Why He Doesn't have a Chance in 2008: First of all, it's worth stating that's is very hard for an undrafted free agent to make the squad as a rookie, especially for a defensive linemen because they normally can't contribute on special teams coverage. That's where most late round picks and undrafted free agents make their mark for the first couple of seasons. The depth chart at defensive end is also stacked right now with Dockett, Smith, Campbell, Iwebema and the veteran Bryan Robinson ahead of him at the moment. Dykes would have to be amazing in camp to unseat any of these guys and it would likely take an injury to give him a legitimate chance. At nose tackle the top two spots are nearly set in stone with Gabe Watson and Alan Branch, but the injury to Watson is worth keeping an eye on.

In the end, Dykes will face an uphill battle to make the 53 man roster in 2008 and will likely have to spend at least a season on the practice squad.  He's a player though and if he's patient and continues to work and improve his game, he'll be a decent defender in the near future. His future could be on the 2009 squad as Antonio Smith will be an unrestricted free agent and Bryan Robinson will be a 35 year old, in the final year of his deal. Either way, it'll be worth keeping an eye on him during the preseason. So what do you think, does he have a shot and how do you see his career playing out? Any West Virginia fans out there that have seen his abilities first hand?