Arizona Cardinals Week 5 Report Card: Grading Every Position

All I had to do was watch the first quarter again. 

Ugh. 

If the grades were based on the quarter, every position except the running backs and secondary would get an F. 

Either way, this was not an article I wanted to write. 

But there is hope: Arizona cannot lose this week!

Okay, but seriously, we all knew, or should have known, it would take quarterback Kevin Kolb time to adjust to the offense.

Still, losing three games by eight points and then getting blown out by an 0-4 team wasn't what anyone in Arizona feared even in the worst-case scenario.

Bring on the second half of the season, I say: it couldn't be any worse than this one.  

Quarterback: D-

I was tempted to give Kolb a straight F (after all, he had three turnovers), but the loss was not totally on him and was extremely unlucky on his first two possessions, which set the tone for the game. 

Many times when a defensive lineman tips a pass, it is skill. You have to know the QB is going to throw in that lane, for example. But a good bit of luck is involved as well.

Either way, if the Cardinals didn't have those two tipped passes, maybe it's a different game. 

But, nonetheless, Kolb has to play better based on what the Cardinals paid in the offseason to get him. 

He's got the receivers. He's got a better running game than any of the previous quarterbacks had. 

He's got to step up. 

And he hasn't. 

Running Back: C

Not a whole lot that Beanie Wells could do about this game. 

He's still running very hard and turned in yet another TD. That's impressive enough to me. 

Honestly, it's not his fault that he still doesn't get enough carries, or that Kevin Kolb isn't getting the job done at QB. 

Or that he blinked and the Cardinals were down by four scores. 

Receivers: D+

Larry Fitzgerald didn't set the tone very well when he dropped the first pass from scrimmage.

It's not your fault when the quarterback doesn't get you the ball, but there were a couple of bad drops.

Still, Kolb missed a wide open Rob Housler at the end of the half that would've cut the game to 28-10.

The good news is that Early Doucet looks to be connecting well with Kolb, as he led all receivers in catches and yards against Minnesota.

Offensive Line: D

The fumble that Kolb had? Partly his fault, but also a lack of protection. 

Now, granted, the Vikings have a good pair of ends that are hard to block; but to allow both of them two sacks is not acceptable.

The Cardinals really needed to address the tackle position this offseason, and they didn't. 

Now, it's really coming back to bite them. 

By the way, I really, really hope Daryn Colledge's injury isn't serious. 

Defensive Line: C

I can't really blame the defensive front for lack of pressure this season—it's mostly the outside linebackers. 

So for me, this was a fairly normal game for them. 

Sure, AP ran all over, but is there a team that has really slowed him down yet this season? 

Not really. 

Linebackers: F

About the only good thing the linebacking unit had all day was a sack by Daryl Washington. 

And actually, Washington seems to be the only one with any talent left in the group. 

In fact, Arizona, why don't you do yourself a favor? Start Shaun Bradley, Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield the rest of the season. 

You're not winning with your current group, and the playoffs are a long shot. Let's see what these other guys have. 

Secondary: C+

The secondary, surprisingly enough, played their best game of the season.

They nearly picked off Donovan McNabb a couple times and held him to just 10-of-21 passing for 169 yards. 

Unfortunately, tackling is not their strong suit, as Adrian Peterson ran over them time and time again. 

As if things could get any worse, free safety Kerry Rhodes is out a few weeks with a broken foot. 

Ugh.