Three Reasons To Stop Reading

Last year I was given an amazing opportunity to write about the Cardinals as part of an internship.  I covered the Cardinals from the opening whistle of training camp in Flagstaff, AZ to the final whistle at the Super Bowl in Tampa, FL.   

Just like everyone else I watched in amazement as head coach Ken Whisenhunt circled the stadium, high-fiving fans after each big game the Cardinals won at home.  Mostly because I couldn’t believe the game didn’t get blacked out. 

As spectacular as the Super Bowl run was there is just something about a clean slate and buzz of the off-season that gets this Cardinals fan excited.  I was there everyday in 2008 for disgruntled Boldin part one, the soap opera that was Matt Leinart trying to hold off Kurt Warner, and ninth pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie living up the hype of being a top draft pick. 

I made plenty of predictions during daily training camp write ups and I’d like to take this opportunity to pat myself on the back.  Not really.  I had my ups and unfortunately for readers, my downs.  Here’s a list of the good and bad from 2008.  I think you’ll enjoy. 

Things I was wrong about…

1.          Matt Leinart as the Starting QB

This one hurts the most.  It haunts me to this day.  The last words I wrote before Whisenhunt made his decision went something like this. 

Baring any freak injury over night, Leinart should be named the starter.  He had a rocky pre-season but he beginning to look like an NFL quarterback, plus he makes way too much money to sit. 

Good thing I was wrong.  Although who knows.  Maybe he wouldn’t have thrown that interception before the end of the half in the Super Bowl.    

In retrospect I was wrong to be a Warner-hater but I had my reasons.  The two were neck-and-neck the duration of training camp, rotating daily with the first team.  Fans were on the edge of their seats during every pass and the season hadn’t even started.

Target practice with trash cans drew cheers louder than some of the touchdowns scored at old Sun Devil Stadium.  They had polarized Cardinals fans everywhere.   

 2.         Ben Patrick Would Have a Big Year at TE

This one I don’t feel too bad about.  I pretty sure even Whisenhunt expected big things out of his second year tight end, especially after seeing what he did in training camp. 

Patrick was constantly showing off his athletic ability.  He had no problem elevating above the defense and catching balls with his hands.  Two traits you love to see in a tight end.  Unfortunately he couldn’t stay healthy.  He missed eight of the 20 games the Cardinals played in.        

Patrick missed weeks 5-11 with an ankle injury.  He also missed two games during the middle of the playoffs.  He made up for it in the Super Bowl with a touchdown but it was his lone visit to the end zone in 2008.

Including the playoffs Patrick finished the season with 13 catches 113 yards and a touchdown.  Not really the big year I was talking about.  He did have more catches than any other tight end so I’m not completely crazy.        

3.         Cardinals Would Get the Run Game Turned Around

In 2007 the Cardinals ranked 29^th   in rushing yards.  It was safe to assume that they could improve on that so I went with it.  Sure enough, the Cardinals managed to finish dead last in 2008.      

Every week during Monday’s press conference Whisenhunt would talk about the rushing attack and this could be the week they have a breakout game.  Every week they just passed the ball more and more until the run game was non-existent.  Luckily a postseason resurgence towards a balanced offense helped me save face.       

Now the reasons to listen to me in the future…

1.         Tim Hightower’s Takeover at RB

I called it early and it feels good.  I remember bringing Hightower up to a friend also covering camp and with no hesitation he agreed that Hightower gave the Cardinals that special something that Edgerrin James lacked.  Mainly speed.      

There was just something about Hightower from day one.  He ran like a fifth round pick, from a small school, who wasn’t invited to the combine and had a chip on his shoulder because of it.

While the rest of the veterans were doing walk-throughs at half speed, Hightower was hitting holes at three quarters speed.  He was stepping on toes and throwing stiff arms without remorse.  His aggressive running style and nose for the end zone got him noticed quickly by both coaches and fans. 

2.         CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Living Up to the Hype        

Whisenhunt knows how to evaluate young talent almost as good as I do.  Any draft pick with the Whisenhunt stamp on it is a pick that should give Cardinal’s Nation comfort.

Size, speed and a nose for the ball were just a few of the traits rookie DRC showed up with on day one of training camp.  It was only a matter of time before he learned the system and over took veteran Eric Green.

Too start there were questions about DRC’s physicality, but just ask New Orleans Saints tight end Mark Campbell if DRC can hit.  His ears are still ringing form a pre-season helmet-to-grill shot DRC hit him with during a pass across the middle.  I know I’ll never question him again.       

3.         Larry Fitzgerald’s Rise to Top WR in the NFL 

Let’s be honest who didn’t see this coming?  Most opposing defenses that for one and even if they did see it coming there was nothing they could do about it.

Think watching Larry Franchise make insane grabs on T.V. is fun?  You should go watch him at practice. 

It seems like every other ball thrown his way has him diving to make a one handed grab or out jump the entire defense to rip it away in the back of the end zone.  Practice like you play is an understatement for this guy.

He won’t be under the fantasy radar this year, that’s for sure.       

Check back for 2009-2010 predictions later this week