Arizona's Offensive Line Gets a Face Lift

The Arizona Cardinals went on an amazing run during the playoffs last year. That is old news now. The beauty and the brutality of the NFL is this, all the glory is remembered. All the great plays and the great players, even the great season, but lets be real for a second. No one will remember the Cardinals 2008 season, or there playoff run ten years from now. All anyone will remember is that the Pittsburgh Steelers won their sixth Super Bowl.

That being said, the close fought game will be etched into the minds of every Arizona Cardinal fan forever. There is no getting around that.

All the credit has gone to the heroes of the game. Larry Fitzgerald, Kurt Warner, Darnell Dockett, Anquan Boldin, even Edgerrin James.

Did we forget someone?

The offensive line came up huge the entire playoffs. Nobody talks about these guy though. Is it because of the poor run blocking they have showed time and time again. Or is it because nobody really knows who these guys are? The highest profile name on the list is Levi Brown, that's only because he was a first rounder.

These guys deserve their fair share of the praise, but what they do in 2009 will determine if this team reaches their only goal. Another Super Bowl appearance, only this time they want to bring the Lombardi trophy home with them.

So who are the faces behind the face masks?

Starting at left tackle, Mike Gandy. Gandy has been a journey man throughout the NFL. He was drafted in the third round in the 2001 draft by Chicago. He played three seasons there before being released then signed by the Bills as a free agent. After one season in Buffalo, he signed a three year contract with the Cardinals.

Gandy hasn't quite been the solid left tackle that the Cardinals need. He's got decent size at 6'4 and 306 pounds, but that's almost small in a league full of giant left tackles. With Warner being the starter for the next two seasons he would be better suited to switch to right tackle. He can protect the blind side, but not as well as the Cardinals prefer.

At left guard, Reggie Wells. Wells stands in at 6'4 312 pounds. Wells was a sixth round selection by the Cardinals back in 2003. Wells is the versatile lineman, starting at three different positions. Left guard, left tackle and right tackle. Wells is almost the glue that holds the line together, their emotional leader. He has started every game since 2004.

Wells has been good, not great. But it's his presence that the Cardinals line needs. Are there better left guards in the league? Of course, but wells brings experience and leadership to a young and inexperienced line.

Lyle Sendlein is the starter at center. A big center at 6'3 305, Sendlein took the opportunity to seize the starting role in 2007 as an unsigned free agent rookie. Al Johnson, the then starter at center, went down in the season opener. Sendlein made two starts as a rookie and started every game at center last season.

Sendlein has great potential, his production increases with every start and he looks to be the center of the future.

Deuce Lutui controls the right guard position. The homegrown native, Lutui is the heaviest lineman of the starters. He's 6'4 338 pounds. Lutui was selected in the second round of the 2006 draft. He's been productive his entire career. He appeared in 15 games of his rookie season and started the last nine games.

Lutui started every game last season and has been a solid starter for the Cardinals. Drafted originally for his experience with Matt Leinart at USC, Lutui was still a great selection.

Finally at right tackle, Levi Brown. 6'5 324 pounds. Brown has the ideal size to be a tackle. The highest profile on the line, he was the fifth overall pick in the 2007 Draft. He appeared in 13 games and started 11 in his rookie campaign. Selected as a right tackle to protect the blindside of predicted starter Matt Leinart. Brown has had some great games and some good performances, but he hasn't stepped up the way the Cardinals wanted.

Brown has what it takes to be a dominant offensive lineman in this league. He's still very young and has been asked a lot. To carry an offensive line unit in only his third season is a lot to have on a young mans plate, is he up to the challenge?

This unit has one huge thing going for them. They are one of the best pass blocking unit in the league. That's arguable, but they gave up only 1.25 sacks per game last season and only five sacks total in the playoffs last season, two of those coming in the super bowl.

This young line showed their resilience against the ferocious pass rush of the Steelers in the Super Bowl. Giving up only two sacks to the defense of Pittsburgh is an accomplishment in itself.

This unit is young, but they are gaining experience with ever start. They work well together and should prove to be a strong spot on the team next season.

If this line can come together and bring some more run support, especially with the addiction of Chris Wells, watch out for the Cardinals. They may just shock the world again.