Arizona Cardinals: 5 Expectations Every Fan Should Have for Week 1

For a team with a reputation of having a losing record, the Arizona Cardinals went under the radar last season as they had an 8-8 2011 season.

This was amidst a young defense with a first-year defensive coordinator in Ray Horton. 

The quarterback situation also played a role in their inconsistent season, but it seems to have finally ended with coach Ken Whisenhunt selecting John Skelton over Kevin Kolb. 

And while the team was in a transitionary phase last year, the 2012 season is a chance for the Cardinals to improve on their 8-8 record with their Week 1 game against the Seattle Seahawks. 

The Defense

The Arizona Cardinals defense went from laughable at the beginning of the season to downright intimidating as the season progressed. 

It took some time for the defense to adjust to the plays of first-year defensive coordinator Ray Horton, but the defensive unit did manage to pull off some impressive victories. 

Namely, the Cardinals’ 8-8 record can be attributed to the growth of the defense, who even defeated the red-hot San Francisco 49ers in the process, who were 10-3 at the time, according to ESPN.

Coming off such an impressive defensive tour, it should be no surprise that the team is looking to capture that same momentum heading into the 2012 regular season. 

Week 1 will show signs of this, as the Arizona Cardinals face a young offense led by rookie Russell Wilson. 

The Quarterback Competition

After one of the most drawn-out quarterback competitions in recent memory, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt decided to start John Skelton over Kevin Kolb, according to the team’s official website.

And while the competition is technically over now, both quarterbacks are still trying to prove themselves, as neither did much in the preseason to separate themselves. 

Instead, Skelton won the job because of his reputation in training camp. 

This is Skelton’s job to lose at this point.

If Skelton doesn't back up his starting role with decent numbers against the Seahawks, expect the competition to resume, possibly on a weekly basis. 

Sam Acho’s Sophomore Season

In 2011, the Cardinals selected Texas linebacker Sam Acho in the fourth round of the draft. 

He started the season on the bench, but eventually found himself atop of the depth chart by Week 8.

Acho had 40 tackles, seven sacks and four forced fumbles in his rookie stint, according to NFL.com, which is impressive considering that rookies were at a disadvantage due to the ongoing labor negotiations. 

Expect Acho to improve rookie numbers now that the starting right linebacker has an offseason under his belt. 

Patrick Peterson’s Improvement

Patrick Peterson wowed the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL as a whole with his stellar kick returns, one of which won an overtime game against division rival St. Louis Rams. 

But Peterson needs to improve on his skills at cornerback in order to live up to the hype of being the fifth-overall pick in last year’s draft. 

Having arguably the best receiver in the league in Larry Fitzgerald to cover in practice definitely helps Peterson to grow as a defender. 

Also, take into consideration that Peterson had limited opportunities to do this last season due to the labor negotiations. 

Peterson’s first test is up against an average Seattle receiving core with a rookie quarterback, so look for him to step up in Week 1. 

Running Backs

Starter Beanie Wells shined from time-to-time last season but proved to be inconsistent. 

His job was secure, for the most part, as the team traded away Tim Hightower last season, leaving rookie Ryan Williams as the second-string back. 

Unfortunately for Williams and the Cardinals, he suffered an Achilles injury in last year’s preseason which sidelined him until the beginning of the 2012 preseason. 

The Arizona Cardinals’ website has Wells listed as the starter. 

But arguably, the team is facing a running back conundrum much like with the quarterback position. 

Now that the two backs are finally healthy, the two can showcase their skills to prove who is the better back. 

Wells may lose the starting job to Williams this season, who has shown to be a worthy starter. Expect the two to share the rushes in Week 1, but don’t be surprised if one of these players outshines the other.