Arizona Cardinals Pass on Big Name Help

The Arizona Cardinals' second ranked passing attack carried the team to a 12-8 record, including a Super Bowl run in 2008.  With the league’s worst rushing offense last year, it was no secret the Cardinals were going to throw the football early and throw it often.

Between the inexperience of rookie running back Beanie Wells and second year man Tim Hightower, the Cardinals will be forced to rely on the air once again this season.  The offense returns all 11 starters from last year, that’s the good news. 

The bad news is, with Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin still upset about his current contract situation, the Cardinals need to prepare for life without the play-maker just in case.

Assuming Boldin and the Cardinals are past any reconciliation at this point, the Cardinals options are limited.  Best case scenario, the Cardinals make a trade and make it fast. 

The Cardinals already blew their chance to trade the disgruntled Boldin for high round picks before this year’s draft, so this may be the only way to restock the wide out position this off-season.

Second year wide receiver Steve Breaston proved he could handle the load in Boldin’s absence last season, hauling in 21 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns in the four games Boldin missed. 

Breaston finished the year with 77 grabs, just over 1,000 yards receiving, and three touchdowns.  With the emergence of  Breaston as a legitimate deep threat in 2008, the Cardinals have reason to be confident in life after Boldin.

Last year there were questions about Breaston’s ability to be a successful third option in the NFL.  Breaston exceeded expectations, showing the speed, hands, and toughness needed to make an impact on Sundays. 

No doubt the expectations will be even higher for Breaston this year but there is no reason to believe he can’t handle the pressure. 

The real question is, if Boldin is traded or decides to hold out, who will replace the 89 grabs, 1,038 yards, and 11 touchdowns he put up in just 12 games last season?  Only two other wide receivers even caught a pass for the Cardinals last year.

Jerheme Urban caught 34 balls for 448 and four scores while rookie Early Doucet grabbed 14 passes for 90 yards.  Urban has four years of experience and at 6’3”, 207 lbs., he is built for the red zone.  He uses his body well and knows how to take advantage of the single coverage provided by lining up opposite Pro Bowl wide out Larry Fitzgerald. 

Doucet was drafted in the third round last year in hopes of being molded into the next Boldin, but injuries hampered his development.  When healthy, he’s shown flashes of the Boldin-like play he was known for at LSU. 

Urban or Doucet must step up in 2009.  If not defenses will be able to focus on stopping Fitzgerald and shutting down the fresh legs of the Cardinals rushing attack.  

The Cardinals passing offense isn’t the only unit asking where the help is going to come from.  On defense, the big question mark for the Cardinals will again be their unproven secondary.  Last year’s 22nd ranked passing defense made several adjustments in the offseason, but will it be enough? 

The Cardinals will have two new opening day starters at cornerback after cutting Roderick Hood, who was due to make $3 million this season, and choosing not to resign Eric Green who lost his position late in the season to last year’s first round draft pick, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. 

Rodgers-Cromartie played in all 20 games in 2008, racking up 42 tackles, four interceptions, and a touchdown.  He showed the size, speed, and ball hawking ability to justify taking him in the first round.   

Playing along side Rodgers-Cromartie in 2009 will be free agent cornerback Bryant McFadden.  McFadden is no stranger to success, winning two Super Bowls in four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The young Cardinal’s secondary will be counting on his leadership and physical play immediately.

With ten years in the NFL, cornerback Ralph Brown has the most experience of anyone in the Cardinal’s secondary, and he is going to be counted on in three and four defensive back sets. 

He came up big late in the season, intercepting passes three weeks in a row, including one in each of the first two playoff games against the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.   

Michael Adams was the only other cornerback to see any real time for the Cardinals last season.  He played in the last five regular season games and every game during the playoffs. 

Also in the mix this season will be this year’s fourth round pick, Gregory Toler out of St. Paul’s College.  Much like Rodgers-Cromartie last year, Toler was drafted for his big play at a small school.

Rodgers-Cromartie and McFadden have proven they can make plays in the NFL, but it takes more than two corners to lock down some of the NFC’s more potent passing attacks.  After the projected starters, there is a noticeable drop in talent and plenty of questions.

Will Toler’s skills and Division II domination translate to NFL success?  At the age of 30, will Brown continue to stay healthy and produce under pressure?  At 5’8”, is Adams big enough to meet the physical demands of playing a full NFL season?

Safety Antrel Rolle now has a full season under his belt which should give the coaching staff more time to work with the corners.

Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson is always ready to go, but with so many unknowns on the outside if the Cardinals have miscalculated their cornerback depth, it could be a very long season for head coach Ken Whisenhunt and the rest of Cardinal Nation.