It's easy when your team was minutes away from winning the Super Bowl to get complacent. That's really how I've felt since Super Bowl XLIII ended in the Cardinals' defeat. That, and emotionally numb.
The offseason is usually Christmastime for Cardinals fans. The opening of free agency represented a bonanza that would help the team climb from 5-11 to 7-9. But the last couple years I've been under the philosophy that I'd rather my favorite team make headlines in January than in February and March. But the NFL Draft is coming up, and I'm beginning to get excited again.
So today I'm going to give an overview of the Cards' offseason so far, and hopefully in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft (April 25 & 26) I'll begin giving some position rankings for the Cards and a mock draft of at least the first round.
THE OFFSEASON SO FAR
The Arizona Cardinals entered the offseason focusing on keeping the core of its team together. This would seem to be a good idea considering the great success in the offseason. But all was not well for the Cards. They finished the regular season with a 9-7 record and a relatively terrible end to the season featuring embarrassing losses to Philadelphia, New England, and Minnesota. This is a team that isn't a finished product, and needed to get better.
As with many successful teams, the Cards had some attrition to their coaching staff. Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley departed to become head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast was judged to be too inconsistent and was fired (he later took a coaching position with KC, as well). Haley's departure will be felt, but it's difficult to imagine that Pendergast will be missed. While the Cards' defensive rankings have varied based on yardage, they've always been near the bottom of the league in scoring. The Cards replaced Haley and Pendergast from within, hopefully maintaining some continuity in the program.
The Cardinals had two priority free agents on their own roster in quarterback Kurt Warner and linebacker Karlos Dansby. For the second year in a row, the Cardinals placed the Franchise tag on Dansby, ensuring that he'll remain a Cardinal in 2009, although that comes at a cost of $9.678 million against the salary cap. After a week as an unrestricted free agent, Kurt Warner re-signed with the Arizona Cardinals for two years, $23 million. Dansby remains a work in progress, but he is one of the two best players on the Cardinals' defense. It will be difficult to label the 2009 offseason a success if Dansby and the Cards don't agree to a long-term contract before the deadline sometime in July.
The Cardinals also re-signed third-string quarterback Brian St. Pierre to a two-year contract. St. Pierre will reportedly be allowed to compete with former franchise savior Matt Leinart for the backup job.
The Cards have had some other significant free agent departures. Starting defensive end Antonio Smith signed a big deal with the Houston Texans, and backup running back J.J. Arrington elected to join the Denver Broncos' crowded backfield. The Cards have a plan in place to fill in for Antonio Smith, but Arrington's defection has left the Cardinals' running back situation in dire straits.
The Cards did a good job bolstering their depth at the cornerback position by adding Bryant McFadden from the Pittsburgh Steelers. They've also added long snapper Mike Leach after cutting former long snapper Nate Hodel on the eve of free agency.
There are several other Cardinal free agents who remain on the open market. Linebackers Monty Beisel and Clark Haggans, defensive end Bertrand Berry, offensive lineman Elton Brown, and defensive back Ralph Brown are all players that the Cards will likely lure back into the fold as the draft approaches. These are all solid depth players who had an impact last season and whose services will be appreciated (at the right price) in 2009.
Finally, running back Edgerrin James remains on the Arizona Cardinals' roster, even though there's no chance of him returning to the team for next season. The Cards are reluctant to release James when they don't need salary cap relief and they don't have a clear replacement already on the roster. It's shameful that the Cardinals aren't allowing James to shop his wares around the NFL in the possibility of finding a starting job somewhere.
According to a source I trust, the Cardinals are currently sitting on over $9 million in salary cap space, and there's not much left out there for them to shop with. When Edgerrin James is released (which will happen), the Cards will get another $5 million in cap relief. The entire Arizona draft class will be fit under James' current cap number alone.
The Cardinals would like to use that remaining money to upgrade the contracts of a number of the players already on their roster. I've already talked about Karlos Dansby. Should Dansby and the Cardinals agree to terms on a long-term contract, his salary cap number would likely decrease. The Cards would also like to upgrade the contracts of Pro Bowl players safety Adrian Wilson and wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Adrian Wilson has been a tremendous leader for the Cardinals' defense and has been a loyal member of the Franchise. He is entering the final year of his contract and should be re-signed to a contract equivalent to his status as one of the three best safties in the National Football league.
Anquan Boldin is a stickier issue. He has been complaining about his contract si
nce last offseason, when his teammate and fellow wideout Larry Fitzgerald signed a 4-year, $40 million contract extension. Boldin will turn 29 during the season, and has not completed a full 16-game schedule since 2006 (only the second time in his six-year career). Anquan Boldin has been to three Pro Bowls and is without question one of the top 10 wideouts in the NFL. But he has two years remaining on his current contract. With the amount of money the Cardinals have invested in Larry Fitzgerald, it's unlikely that they'll be willing to make a similar investment in another receiver. Boldin has requested to be traded, but it's unlikely that the Cards can find compensation to what Boldin means to the franchise and the fan base. The Cardinals would likely have to offer Boldin a contract that averages between $7 and $8 million per season; the Cards would have to receive at least first- and third-round draft picks as well as a starting-caliber player from a team that wants to acquire #81. A new deal may be struck, but not until the season starts.ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Quarterbacks: This position is one of the two or three strongest units on the team. Pro Bowl and Super Bowl starter Kurt Warner returns, with still-young backup Matt Leinart behind him. It's easy to forget that Warner and Leinart were involved in a position battle deep into the preseason last year. There have been some rumors that head coach Ken Whisenhunt has soured on the young Leinart, but his future with the Arizona Cardinals remains strong, as Kurt Warner turns 38 in June. It's possible that Warner will not be able to stay healthy through another 16-plus games. St. Pierre returns as a solid third option. Position Grade: A
Running Backs: This is the weakest position overall for the Arizona Cardinals. With Edgerrin James' time as an Arizona Cardinal over, only Tim Hightower returns at the tailback spot. Hightower entered the league with a bang, gaining 109 yards in his first start against the St. Louis Rams and setting a team record for touchdowns by a rookie, but for the season he averaged only 2.8 yards per carry. It remains unclear whether Hightower can be the primary runner for the Arizona Cardinals. At fullback, the Cardinals allowed starter Terrelle Smith to test the free agent waters. While it's possible that he will return, it's more likely that the Cards will turn to Tim Castille to man the position on the rare occasions when the Cardinals decide to use a fullback. Position Grade: D-
Wide Receivers: The strongest unit on the team. The Cardinals dressed two starters in the 2009 Pro Bowl at the position in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. In the three-wide receiver set, the Cards deploy Steve Breaston to the outside, where he accumulated over 1000 yards. The Cards also have impressive depth at the position between veteran Jerheme Urban and 2008 third-round pick Early Doucet, whose season was limited by a hamstring injury. This is the current focus of the Cards' offensive attack. Position Grade: A+
Tight End: Tight end has been a trouble spot for Ken Whisenhunt since he arrived in the Valley of the Sun. Leonard Pope was a third round pick three years ago, but injuries and a philosophy change have prevented him from realizing his talent. Ben Patrick also suffered injuries and continues to develop, but is not the kind of in-line blocker that Whisenhunt prefers. Stephen Spach was signed mid-season off the street and worked his way into the starting lineup before suffering a knee injury in the playoffs. This remains a sore spot for the Cardinals, but the tight end is rarely used in the Cardinals' offense. Position Grade: C-
Offensive Line: The Cardinals were able to protect the quarterback adequately in 2008, and were able to muster some kind of running game once the playoffs began. The left side of the offensive line, anchored by tackle Mike Gandy and guard Reggie Wells, is the strong point of this unit. The right side of the line features Deuce Lutui and Levi Brown. Both players remain inconsistent, and Brown has done nothing to make fans forget that the franchise passed on Adrian Peterson to draft him. Lyle Sendlein starts at center. He is undersized and can be pushed around by big, physical nose tackles. The depth in the unit needs to be addressed, as only 2008 7th round pick Brandon Keith and 2008 undrafted free agent Elliot Vallejo serve as backups. Position Grade: B-
Defensive Line: The Cardinals have good depth at the defensive tackle position. Darnell Dockett is a borderline Pro Bowl player and a core player. Bryan Robinson was impressive filling in at nose tackle in the Cards' hybrid 3-4 alignment and more than justified his value as a late-term free agent signing. Gabe Watson suffered an offseason knee injury and was just beginning to round into form. He has the great size (6'3", 332 lbs) that is coveted at the nose tackle position, and he has exhibited an above-average motor when he's healthy. 2007 second-round DT Alan Branch has been a tremendous bust so far for the Cardinals. He maintains a tenuous hold on a roster spot being deactivated for 12 of 16 possible games. At defensive end, the Cards were prepared for the departure of Antonio Smith by drafting DEs Calais Campbell (2nd round) and Kenny Iwebema (4th round) in the 2008 draft. Campbell played sparingly in 2008, but possesses great size should he be able to put on weight in the offseason. Iwebema can be a good rotational player. The problem is, though, that besides Dockett, the team lacks a real pass rushing threat in this unit. Position Grade: B-
Linebackers: The Cardinals look to generate much of the pass rush from their outside linebackers. Bertrand Berry lead the team in sacks from the Cards' hybrid DE/OLB position, but that number was a disappointing 5. Berry is an unrestricted free agent, and will be 34 years old when the 2009 season kicks off. The Cardinals hoped to take some pressure off Berry when they signed Travis LaBoy from the Tennessee Titans, but LaBoy battled injuries throughout the season and didn't have much of an impact. On the strongside of the formation, Chike Okeafor returned from a torn pectoral injury in 2007 looking to make the impact that many expected of him. He was solid, but not spectacular. He is also going to be 33 when the 2009 season kicks off. The Arizona Cardinals desperately need to get younger at the outside linebacker position. The inside linebackers are one of the best units in the NFC West division. Karlos Dansby is a playmaker and unit captain, leading the team in tackles in 2008. Next to Dansby is Gerald Hayes, who is an above-average run defender and solid team player. Until Monty Beisel (ILB) and Clark Haggans (OLB) re-sign, the depth in this unit is going to be a concern. The Cards have undrafted free agent Ali Highsmith returning from a knee injury, but not much beyond that. Position Grade: B
Secondary: The key player in Clancy Pendergast's defense was strong safety Adrian Wilson. Wilson is a disruptive influence when he's allowed to play near the line of scrimmage, possessing rare size, strength, and speed for the position. Wilson isn't a great player against the pass, although his play has improved. He does possess below-average ball awareness and would prefer to go for the big hit than the interception. Wilson is a cornerstone of the defense, and should continue to produce at a high level. Next to Wilson is free safety Antrel Rolle. Rolle was drafted as a cornerback, but last season was asked to change positions last offseason. Rolle had some coverage breakdowns early in the season but became more consistent as the year wore on. Rolle is especially dangerous when the ball gets into his hands, and I expect a breakout season from Antrel Rolle in 2009. At cornerback, the Cardinals enjoyed an early payoff from first-round draft pick Dominique Rogers-Cromartie. DRC started the final 9 games of the season and quickly developed into a lockdown cornerback. He posted 9 passes defensed and 2 interceptions during the Cardinals' playoff run. He has a bright future should he continue to improve his game. On the other side of the field, returning starter Roderick Hood will compete with free agent acquisition Bryant McFadden for the starting job. Hood was picked on consistently by opponents last season, when he suffered through a chest injury. The Cardinals now boast three starting-caliber cornerbacks. Depth is also solid in the secondary, with Aaron Francisco as the primary backup and sixth defensive back and Mike Adams as a fourth cornerback. If the Cards can manufacture a consistent pass rush, the secondary will be free to make more plays. Position Grade: B+
Special Teams: Kicker Neil Rackers enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2008, although he was not asked to kick in the clutch situations where he let the team down in 2007. The Cardinals signed punter Ben Graham halfway through the season, and while there were some inconsistencies, the Cards feel confident bringing him back this year. The Cardinals have some good players on their special teams units, such as Aaron Francisco and Pro Bowl special teams player Sean Morey (whom I saw at the gym last summer), but the Cards ranked 30th in the NFL in net punting average and return average. The Cards also have some room to improve in their own return game. The Cards lost their primary kick returner in J.J. Arrington and Steve Breason may choose to focus more on his receiving duties. The Cards ranked 25th in the NFL in kick returns and 27th in the NFL in punt return average. Position Grade: C-
DRAFT PRIORITIES
If the Arizona Cardinals are going to improve upon their remarkable 2008 season, they're going to have to locate a pass rushing defensive end/outside linebacker and a starting-caliber running back. They would also like to get a blocking tight end who has some receiving skills. They also would like to upgrade their center position and their return units. Along with this, they would like to add depth at defensive end, offensive tackle, offensive guard. Future posts will suggest some possible players for these positions.
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