Arizona Cardinals Offseason State of the Union
The Arizona Cardinals have had a busy offseason to this point, but now the team finds itself in a bit of a holding pattern.
With minicamps and organized team activities (OTAs) over and more than a month to go before training camp (veterans report July 31), there isn't a whole lot going on with the Cardinals—at least on the football field.
This lull in the action give us a perfect opportunity to take a long look at the state of the team before training camp arrives.
Over the next 11 pages, we'll examine every individual area of the Cardinals organization and identify the strengths, weaknesses and recent changes for each.
The Rookies
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The Cardinals have an intriguing crop of first-year players, including offensive tackle D.J. Humphries, pass-rusher Markus Golden, running back David Johnson and tight end Gerald Christian.
As of right now, it doesn't appear that any of the rookies are going to head into camp with a starting job on the table. Instead, the new guys will be working to provide depth to this playoff-caliber roster.
"It's come in, find a role, [contribute on] special teams, add depth in cases of injuries and if guys have a special skill set, it's our job as coaches to get them on the field," head coach Bruce Arians said of his rookies, per Bob McManaman of AZCentral.com.
This doesn't mean that Arizona won't see an impact from its rookie class. Guys like Johnson and Golden can certainly make their marks as rotational players, and a strong training camp could propel Humphries into a position battle.
The Front Office
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The current front office in Arizona has done a wonderful job of bringing the organization into the spotlight and making the team a contender.
General manager Steve Keim has been with the franchise since 1999 but did not enter his current position until two years ago. The team has posted a regular-season record of 21-11 since Keim became general manager and Arians was hired as head coach.
Though Arians receives most of the credit for Arizona's recent turnaround (he was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press last season), Keim and his staff have been the ones assembling the roster.
It is difficult to argue with the product that Keim and Co. have put on the field. It is also fairly safe to say that the Cardinals' decision-making will be in capable hands for the foreseeable future.
The Offensive Line
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The offensive line was one of the biggest weaknesses on this team a season ago, but there is room for optimism heading into camp.
The Cardinals were rated just 23rd overall in pass blocking and 29th overall in run blocking by Pro Football Focus for the 2014 season. The line only surrendered 28 sacks last year but also allowed the battering and injuries of quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton.
The good news is that the Cardinals added Pro Bowl guard Mike Iupati to the lineup via free agency and may finally get to a look at what 2013 first-round pick Jonathan Cooper can do.
A broken leg cost Cooper his rookie season, and the guard made just two starts in 2014. If he can provide an upgrade at guard across from Iupati, the running game should improve.
There could also be an improvement coming at center, where A.Q. Shipley and Ted Larsen are currently battling. Last year's starter, Lyle Sendlein, was rated 40th overall among centers by Pro Football Focus.
Arizona is in a fairly good spot with Jared Veldheer at left tackle. There will likely be competition at the right-tackle position between incumbent starter Bobby Massie, Bradley Sowell and the rookie Humphries.
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The Backfield
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Andre Ellington's time as an every-down back did not produce the results Arizona was looking for. A year after averaging 5.5 yards per carry, his average plummeted to 3.3 yards per rush in 2014, and injuries limited him to just 12 appearances.
The Cardinals are most likely to take a committee approach to their ground game in 2015. Ellington will be back, as will Stepfan Taylor and Kerwynn Williams.
Of the three backs, only Williams (4.6 yards per carry) showed any real burst on the field last year.
Arizona definitely has some cause for concern with their running game, as the team averaged a paltry 81.8 yards per game in 2014 (31st in the NFL).
Poor run blocking was definitely part of the problem, however, and this group should look better in the coming season. A healthy Ellington and the addition of rookie David Johnson should also help.
There isn't reason to panic here. If the run game doesn't show improvement in camp and preseason, though, the Cardinals might want to start checking the waiver wire and trade market for outside options.
The Receiving Corps
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Veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald may be approaching age 32 and nearing the back end of his NFL career, but he is still one of the more reliable targets in the game. According to Pro Football Focus, he caught 63 percent of the passes thrown his way with only one drop to his credit.
Fitzgerald headlines a receiving corps that also features three-year veteran Michael Floyd, Jaron Brown and John Brown, who exploded onto the scene (48 receptions, 696 yards) as a rookie. This group should be solid.
However, the Cardinals do not have a proven answer at tight end. Last year's starter, John Carlson, retired, and then-rookie Troy Niklas caught just three passes in 2014.
Niklas will likely compete with Ted Bolser, Darren Fells and rookie Gerald Christian for the starting job at tight end.
Arizona looks good at wideout, but the team will need to figure out a plan at tight end in training camp.
The Quarterbacks
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The Cardinals are just fine at quarterback, provided Carson Palmer can prove he is 100 percent healthy and stay that way.
Injuries limited Palmer to just six games in 2014, and he finished the season on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Palmer was fantastic in his six games, however, throwing for 1,626 yards with 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His passer rating of 95.6 was the second-highest of his career.
Backup Drew Stanton started eight games before injuries also ended his season prematurely. He performed admirably on the field (78.7 passer rating, 5-3 as a starter), though he certainly won't be challenging for the starting gig this year.
Stanton is back and provides a nearly ideal backup plan.
Also back is 2014 fourth-round pick Logan Thomas. The team added Chandler Harnish and rookie Phillip Sims during the offseason, though making the team will be extremely difficult for each of them.
The big concern heading into training camp here is how healthy Palmer is and how long it will take him to regain his pre-injury form.
The Defensive Line
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The defensive line in Arizona is going to look very similar to the group that took the field last season. Nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu is back, as are defensive ends Calais Campbell and Frostee Rucker. Ed Stinson and Josh Mauro are also back, and the team signed Cory Redding and Corey Peters in free agency.
Arizona also drafted Rodney Gunter and Shaquille Riddick.
According to Fox Sports, the Cardinals are also going to try linebacker Matt Shaughnessy at defensive end.
With defensive coordinator James Bettcher employing a 3-4 base defense, there isn't going to be room for everyone in the final rotation. However, the added depth and competition along the defensive line should make for a more productive unit. It will also give Arizona some creative freedom along the front.
"Now I got a group of guys that can play left and right and two of them can play end and nose tackle," defensive line coach Brentson Buckner recently told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (h/t Fox Sports). "So I can just match up."
The Cardinals ranked 13th in the NFL against the run last season (108.7 yards per game allowed) and should be even better with a new line rotation in 2015.
The Linebacking Corps
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Even though the Arizona linebacking corps didn't feature a consistent star in 2014, the group played very well together and helped anchor the defense throughout the season.
Strong-side linebacker Alex Okafor probably gained the most individual attention, as he led the team with 8.0 sacks last season. He returns to the defense this year, as does fellow outside linebacker Matt Shaughnessy (though he will may see more time at end). Kevin Minter is back on the inside, and the team added free agent Sean Weatherspoon
Former Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders veteran LaMarr Woodley was brought in to provide depth and leadership to the group.
Rookie Markus Golden is expected to see significant time as a situational pass-rusher. Golden produced 10.0 sacks last season with the Missouri Tigers, which is nearly one third of what Arizona (35 sacks) produced in 2014 as a team. Rookie Shaquille Riddick is likely to be part of the linebacker rotation as well.
Arizona has adequate talent and depth at linebacker. The next two months will likely be spent trying to figure out the right rotation for the group.
Defensive Backs
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The secondary was a weakness for the Cardinals in 2014, and the team lost starting cornerback Antonio Cromartie in free agency.
Arizona surrendered an average of 259.5 yards per game through the air last season, the fourth-highest average in the NFL. There is, however, talent to work with.
Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson is back to handle one cornerback position, and we are likely to see some combination of Tony Jefferson, Tyrann Mathieu, Rashad Johnson and Deone Bucannon at the two safety spots once again.
The challenge in training camp will be finding the right player or combination of players to fill the hole left by Cromartie. There is a solid group of corners to choose from that includes Jerraud Powers, Justin Bethel and Damond Smith.
Finding the right starting lineup for the secondary will be critical over the next two months. As of now, this might be the team's biggest defensive flaw.
Special Teams
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Arizona should feel good about its special teams unit heading into training camp. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro was rated fifth overall among kickers by Pro Football Focus last season. Punter Dave Zastudil should be back and ready to compete with Drew Butler after missing most of last season with a groin injury.
The big change here is in the return game. With Ted Ginn gone, the Cardinals will have to find a new return specialist. Fifth-round pick J.J. Nelson, second-year receiver John Brown and Pro Bowl cornerback Peterson could all be in the mix.
Peterson, you may remember, was sent to the Pro Bowl as a return specialist after his rookie season.
Mike Leach will return at long snapper.
The Coaching Staff
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The Cardinals should have no issues with their coaching staff in 2015. Arians is the reigning Coach of the Year, and offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin is back for his third season.
There was a change at the defensive coordinator position after Todd Bowles was hired as head coach of the New York Jets. He has been replaced by outside linebackers coach James Bettcher. Bettcher, though, is not expected to shake things up.
"I did not want our players to walk in and not know what they were doing the first day," Arians said upon hiring Bettcher, via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. "No new language. It's the same defense, the same philosophy."
Expect the coaching staff to operate very much like it did during last year's 11-5 campaign.
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