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ef="/pittsburgh-steelers">Steelers' defense honest.
Tim Hightower and rookie running back Chris Wells really need to step up this year so that the Cardinals can improve their running attack. However, like I said above, this is also true of the offensive line, because if they don’t get better, then it doesn’t matter who is in the backfield carrying the ball.
Another loss was Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley. It helps when you have Warner, Fitzgerald, and Boldin, but given that for all intents and purposes they had no running game, Todd did a great job game planning, calling plays, and making in game adjustments.
Another loss was Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley. It helps when you have Warner, Fitzgerald, and Boldin, but given that for all intents and purposes they had no running game, Todd did a great job game planning, calling plays, and making in game adjustments.
It will be interesting to see how the splitting up of the offensive coordinator position works out. Russ Grimm (who I have great respect for) will be the run-game coordinator, and Wide Receivers Coach Mike Miller the passing game coordinator.
Another coaching change is the firing of Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast, and the promotion of Bill Davis from within.
Another coaching change is the firing of Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast, and the promotion of Bill Davis from within.
The Cardinals' defense ranked 19th during the regular season in ’08 and sixth in the postseason. There is no question that the defense stepped up when it came to playoff time. However, Graves and Whisenhunt obviously felt a change was necessary.
I think that the Cardinals have made some good moves defensively by getting SS Adrian Wilson re-signed, as well as putting the franchise tag on Dansby.
Hopefully, a long term deal can be worked out with Dansby because he is the leader of a solid line-backing core.
Another positive on defense is CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
I think if the new defensive coordinator can get better play out of a young defensive line, then the chances of the Cardinals going back to the Super Bowl will be greatly increased.
Draft Analysis
Overall, the Cardinals did pretty well in the draft. Picking up RB Chris Wells in the first round of the draft was a great selection. Most scouting reports had him as the top RB in this year’s draft. If Wells can stay healthy, he should be able to give the Cardinals a more balanced attack on offense, and will be an important factor if they want to make it to the Super Bowl again.
I am not so crazy about their selection of DE Cody Brown in the second round. They probably should have traded up and gotten a better player for a position of need, instead of reaching for a guy who they could have taken in the third round. They need to improve their pass rush, and I’m not sure Brown will be the answer.
As far as picks three through seven go, they were, for the most part, all solid choices and positions of need. I would liked to have seen the Cardinals do something to improve their defensive line in this draft, but it didn’t happen.
Sure, Brown is a DE, but he will be used as an OLB in their 3-4 scheme. Whether he will be a big-time pass rusher remains to be seen. Their draft was good, even if they did reach a little on some players. I would probably give them a B or a B+.
Divisional Opponents
I’m not going to spend too much time on this section because, as I stated above, I think this division is a joke. Currently, the Cardinals are the only good team in it. Unless something weird happens (like last year’s Dolphins), and one of the other teams makes a miraculous turnaround, I expect the Cardinals to easily win the division.
If I had to pick a team that might surprise people, and give Arizona a run for its money, then it would be Seattle. I think Jim Mora is a great coach, and I love the pickup of T. J. Houshmandzadeh for Matt Hasselback. When healthy, he is a very good quarterback. Also, the Seahawks have a great linebacking core.
The 49ers might be better under Singletary but they’re at least a year away from making the playoffs (of course now that I’ve said that, watch them go 12-4 just to spite me.)
I’m not even going into the Rams
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