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By Bryan McGovern, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - Frustrated by a lack of success, the Arizona Cardinals have turned over a new leaf. But it remains to be seen if the moves were the right ones. Just about everything in Arizona is new, including the quarterback, running back, wide receivers and several key positions on defense.
The biggest changes came when the Cardinals made the decision to allow Jake Plummer and David Boston, the team’s former offensive cornerstones, to sign elsewhere. Plummer moved to Denver, while Boston found a new home in San Diego. At least the tandem is now in the AFC where they won’t come back to haunt their old team.
Head coach Dave McGinnis has enough worries coming off a miserable 5-11 campaign, and he hopes the quarterback and running back positions aren’t two of them. Veteran journeyman Jeff Blake replaces Plummer, while all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith will attempt to extend his career beyond the Dallas years. At least things are looking good for old No. 22 heading into the new season.
Only time will tell if the future Hall of Famer’s presence will enhance the Cards’ chances in the tough NFC West, but at least the Arizona loyalists will have a new toy to admire in 2003.
OFFENSE
Plummer led the Cardinals to just one winning season in more than five years as the team’s starting quarterback. It was clearly time for the club to get the "The Snake" out of Arizona. The team didn’t have many options when it came to replacing Plummer, and the best it could come up with was Blake, a 32-year- old East Carolina product playing for his fifth NFL team. But the one thing Blake is not short on is confidence.
"This is my team now," Blake said. "These guys have given me their respect and attention, and that’s very important if we are going to turn this thing around."
No one is going to question Blake’s passing ability, as he possesses one of the strongest arms in the game. His decision-making is another story, but at least he limits his turnovers better than Plummer. Blake has a solid 42-32 TD- to-INT ratio since 1999.
"Of course we like Jeff. We wouldn’t have brought him here if we didn’t like him as a player and as a person," stated McGinnis. "He can do a lot of things for our offense, especially getting our receivers more involved downfield. He’s a steady player with a good feel for the game. I always felt he was one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the league over the last decade."
While Blake is the quarterback of the present, the club is hoping Josh McCown, a third-round pick last year, is the QB of the future. McCown played sparingly as a rookie last year, completing 7-of-18 passes in two games. The coaching staff does not believe it is taking a risk by going with a second-year player as its backup to Blake. In fact, the Cardinals are so high on McCown that there has been speculation about him taking over in midseason if Blake struggles or if the team is out of the playoff race.
Offensive coordinator Jerry Sullivan has simplified the team’s playbook to take advantage of the strengths of Blake and Smith. Signing the 34-year-old Smith is a risk, but at least he’ll be a drawing card in a stadium that counts the flies as tickets sold.
Smith failed to reach the 1,000-yard plateau last year for the first time since his rookie season of 1990. However, he was able to pass Walter Payton as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. With the record behind him, Smith needs to concentrate on making the Cardinals a better team; something that could be difficult considering his past accomplishments and current state of mind. Emmitt’s presence also means less work for Marcel Shipp, a 25-year-old dynamo who burst onto the scene last year by averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Shipp has future star written all over him. So much so that the Cards parted ways with former first-round pick Thomas Jones in the offseason.
Arizona will have a good chance of improving its 15th-ranked rush offense in 2003. Smith and Shipp will be running behind a better-than-average offensive line and blocking back James Hodgins, who left St. Louis in the offseason. The 26-year-old Hodgins is a load out of the backfield. While he doesn’t catch the ball well or specialize in short-yardage situations, his isolation blocking is almost as good as it gets.
The offensive line has the potential to be one of the better units in the game. RT Anthony Clement missed virtually all of last season with a torn triceps but returns to anchor one of the line’s most crucial positions. The 6- foot-7, 350-pound Clement is a monster with outstanding strength and the ability to be one of the best tackles in the game. It also helps that he plays next to a rising star in RG Leonard Davis, the second overall pick in the 2001 draft. Davis is much more at home playing guard rather than tackle and should punch his ticket to Hawaii with a strong third-year performance.
Line coach Pete Hoener has a few options at center and left guard. The coaching staff wants to get Cameron Spikes more playing time at LG, and that could shift veteran Pete Kendall to center and Frank Garcia to the bench. Garcia will miss the first four games of the season because of a league- imposed suspension for ephedra use. Spikes’ athleticism has never been in doubt and he’s finally showing the coaches more consistency. Kendall, one of the more underrated players in the league, would be fine at guard or center. The Boston College product is extremely efficient with his movements and takes good angles on his targets. He finished the last two seasons on the sidelines with foot injuries, but he’ll be a contributor if healthy. The 31-year-old Garcia, who also needs to stay healthy, is a sound player with good instincts but may not be more than a key backup when he returns.
Talent is abundant on the offensive line, as L.J. Shelton, the 21st overall pick in ’99, rounds out the unit at left tackle. Shelton is effective as a pass or run blocker thanks to great strength, long arms and a fierce attitude. However, he misses his target at times and falls out of plays.
The Cardinals are hoping first-round pick Bryant Johnson can fill the void in the receiving corps left by Boston’s departure. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Johnson could be the type of possession receiver the Cards need to be successful. He has tremendous leaping ability and should be an immediate factor in the red zone. Fellow rookie Anquan Boldin provides hope for the team’s future. He could be the next Peter Warrick or the next Hines Ward, only time will tell. The converted QB is a great athlete and needs to be on the field. However, he needs to refine his ability to play receiver at the NFL level and could be better suited to play the slot early in his career. Marquise Walker, who was acquired in the Thomas Jones trade with Tampa Bay, has good size and could develop into a nice third receiver for this developing offense.
While Johnson and Boldin headline Arizona’s crop of receivers, neither rookie is expected to start on opening day. That honor will fall to unheralded veterans like Larry Foster, Bryan Gilmore and Jason McAddley. The ex-Lion Foster heads to Arizona with dreams of becoming a standout receiver and shaking the special-teams ace label. The Cards gave up a seventh-round pick to get Foster and hope he can contribute as a wideout. Gilmore is the most intriguing of the three veterans. He has the speed to make big plays, but needs to shake off the injury bug. McAddley played well last year in place of Boston and will likely start opposite Gilmore. He averaged 14.5 yards per catch last season in limited playing time and could find himself as Blake’s go-to guy.
TE Freddie Jones has been a career underachiever. Once thought to be a rising star, Jones has panned out to be an inconsistent receiver and weekly enigma. His conditioning has prevented him from finishing games, and he lacks the fire needed to excel. Backup Steve Bush is far less talented than his colleague, but he gets the most out of his talents. He has dependable hands and takes good angles on blocks.
DEFENSE
The Cardinals aren’t going anywhere unless their defense improves. The unit was 30th against the run and 28th against the pass last season. It also ranks among the league’s worst in sacks on an annual basis. Last year’s total of 21 was simply unacceptable. Defensive coordinator Larry Marmie is hoping the switch to a one-gap system will help bolster a defense that has recorded 40 sacks in the last two years. The defensive linemen will now choose one gap and penetrate as opposed to last year’s two-gap scheme, in which the lineman had to read the direction of the play and react.
The new-look system will be without DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, who suffered torn knee ligaments in his left knee in the exhibition game versus San Diego. This is another major setback for Vanden Bosch, who ripped up his right knee in 2001. The former second-round pick was being counted on to have a big year for the Cardinals.
Now the pressure falls on defensive ends Fred Wakefield and rookie Calvin Pace. The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Wakefield is a situational player. He hustles against the run but possesses average pass-rush moves. Of course, the Cardinals had their pathetic pass rush in mind when they raised eyebrows by selecting Pace in the first round of April’s draft. The former Wake Forest star has a knack for getting to the quarterback. As long as he shows that he can rush the passer, the coaching staff will put him on the field more and more.
Wendell Bryant, last year’s first-round selection, anchors the interior of the D-line. Bryant, who is coming off a disappointing rookie season, has a tantalizing combination of size and speed. If a player like Pace can draw some of the opposing offense’s attention it will allow Bryant to benefit from one- on-one situations. Russell Davis, Barron Tanner and Marcus Bell fill out the DT rotation. Bell, a fourth-round pick in 2001, has good lateral quickness and could work his way on to the field more. Rookie Kenny King is a perfect fit for the Cards’ new one-gap system. He is a threat to do damage when turned loose.
The linebacking corps could be a strength, but some questions must be answered. Raynoch Thompson is an undersized strong-side linebacker. He moves well and chases down plays but lacks the strength to shed physical linemen. His durability is another negative. Levar Fisher, a second-round pick in 2002, is expected to start on the weak side. Fisher finished his rookie season on injured reserve because of a knee injury. If he can stay healthy, however, watch for him to develop into one of the team’s best defenders. He possesses above-average quickness, range and athleticism. Middle linebacker Ron McKinnon rounds out the starting trio. The 30-year-old veteran works his tail off in practice and on game day, but that barely makes up for his lack of talent and ability. Ex-Jet James Darling provides good depth at all three linebacker spots. He could step in at WLB if Fisher falters. Gerald Hayes, a 2003 third- round pick out of Pittsburgh, played the middle in college but is getting his first look on the NFL level at OLB. Hayes is an excellent run defender and solid open-field tackler.
The secondary is the strength of the Cards’ defense. CB Duane Starks, who helped the Ravens to the Super Bowl championship in 2000, is the leader of the defensive backfield. When healthy, Starks can cover the league’s best receivers straight up. He’s an excellent overall player but his size limits him against the run. David Barrett is projected to start opposite Starks. Barrett is a more physical player than Starks but he lacks his teammate’s cover ability. Renaldo Hill and Coby Rhinehart will serve as the top backups. Hill, the nickel back, needs to improve his recognition skills.
Super Bowl XXXVII MVP Dexter Jackson cashed in his monumental performance against Oakland by signing a lucrative deal with Arizona. The 26-year-old Jackson is a good athlete with solid coverage skills. He’s a center fielder- type free safety and still has room to improve. But his presence adds another starting defensive back with a Super Bowl ring.
Adrian Wilson, the team’s third-round pick in 2001, will start at strong safety. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Wilson is a force against the run, but needs to improve his pass recognition. Backup safety Justin Lucas is one of the most versatile players on the team. He can play both safety spots, nickel linebacker and stands out on special teams. Michael Stone, a 2001 second-round pick, hasn’t lived up to his lofty draft status.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker Bill Gramatica might always be remembered for tearing a knee ligament while celebrating a made field goal against the New York Giants in 2001. Gramatica has a good leg but lacks the consistency of his brother, Tampa Bay’s Martin Gramatica. Punter Scott Player remains as one of the best at his position. He gets the kick off quickly and shows off his booming leg whenever he gets the chance. Player is a weapon because of his ability to place the ball inside the 20-yard line.
Kickoffs will be returned by RB Josh Scobey and WR Kevin Kasper. The rookie Johnson is getting the first shot at returning punts. However, his role as one of the team’s top receiving threats might expand to the point where returning punts is a distraction. Foster will also get a shot here.
COACHING
Give McGinnis credit for being a take-charge guy in an organization that has lacked a sense of direction. He fired former offensive coordinator Rich Olson after one unspectacular season and replaced him with Sullivan, who was regarded as one of the league’s best receivers coach. His contract runs through 2004, but he might wind up taking the fall if the team doesn’t improve.
OUTLOOK
The Cardinals have been the youngest team in the league over the past two years, but the additions of Smith, Blake and Jackson should add a nice blend of leadership to a personality-deprived franchise. The club opens with a tough five-game stretch that will take them to Detroit followed by homes games against Seattle and Green Bay, then road games in St. Louis and Dallas. Blake and Smith need to get the offense moving early in the season otherwise McCown and Shipp could take center stage by the middle of the year. The defense is an enigma and might not improve very much in 2003. If that turns out to be the case, the Cards might have to take another step back before moving forward. Will the Smith signing turn out to be substance over style? McGinnis might have a tough time reaching five wins again, which could lead to his departure.
By Bryan McGovern, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - Frustrated by a lack of success, the Arizona Cardinals have turned over a new leaf. But it remains to be seen if the moves were the right ones. Just about everything in Arizona is new, including the quarterback, running back, wide receivers and several key positions on defense.
The biggest changes came when the Cardinals made the decision to allow Jake Plummer and David Boston, the team’s former offensive cornerstones, to sign elsewhere. Plummer moved to Denver, while Boston found a new home in San Diego. At least the tandem is now in the AFC where they won’t come back to haunt their old team.
Head coach Dave McGinnis has enough worries coming off a miserable 5-11 campaign, and he hopes the quarterback and running back positions aren’t two of them. Veteran journeyman Jeff Blake replaces Plummer, while all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith will attempt to extend his career beyond the Dallas years. At least things are looking good for old No. 22 heading into the new season.
Only time will tell if the future Hall of Famer’s presence will enhance the Cards’ chances in the tough NFC West, but at least the Arizona loyalists will have a new toy to admire in 2003.
OFFENSE
Plummer led the Cardinals to just one winning season in more than five years as the team’s starting quarterback. It was clearly time for the club to get the "The Snake" out of Arizona. The team didn’t have many options when it came to replacing Plummer, and the best it could come up with was Blake, a 32-year- old East Carolina product playing for his fifth NFL team. But the one thing Blake is not short on is confidence.
"This is my team now," Blake said. "These guys have given me their respect and attention, and that’s very important if we are going to turn this thing around."
No one is going to question Blake’s passing ability, as he possesses one of the strongest arms in the game. His decision-making is another story, but at least he limits his turnovers better than Plummer. Blake has a solid 42-32 TD- to-INT ratio since 1999.
"Of course we like Jeff. We wouldn’t have brought him here if we didn’t like him as a player and as a person," stated McGinnis. "He can do a lot of things for our offense, especially getting our receivers more involved downfield. He’s a steady player with a good feel for the game. I always felt he was one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the league over the last decade."
While Blake is the quarterback of the present, the club is hoping Josh McCown, a third-round pick last year, is the QB of the future. McCown played sparingly as a rookie last year, completing 7-of-18 passes in two games. The coaching staff does not believe it is taking a risk by going with a second-year player as its backup to Blake. In fact, the Cardinals are so high on McCown that there has been speculation about him taking over in midseason if Blake struggles or if the team is out of the playoff race.
Offensive coordinator Jerry Sullivan has simplified the team’s playbook to take advantage of the strengths of Blake and Smith. Signing the 34-year-old Smith is a risk, but at least he’ll be a drawing card in a stadium that counts the flies as tickets sold.
Smith failed to reach the 1,000-yard plateau last year for the first time since his rookie season of 1990. However, he was able to pass Walter Payton as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. With the record behind him, Smith needs to concentrate on making the Cardinals a better team; something that could be difficult considering his past accomplishments and current state of mind. Emmitt’s presence also means less work for Marcel Shipp, a 25-year-old dynamo who burst onto the scene last year by averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Shipp has future star written all over him. So much so that the Cards parted ways with former first-round pick Thomas Jones in the offseason.
Arizona will have a good chance of improving its 15th-ranked rush offense in 2003. Smith and Shipp will be running behind a better-than-average offensive line and blocking back James Hodgins, who left St. Louis in the offseason. The 26-year-old Hodgins is a load out of the backfield. While he doesn’t catch the ball well or specialize in short-yardage situations, his isolation blocking is almost as good as it gets.
The offensive line has the potential to be one of the better units in the game. RT Anthony Clement missed virtually all of last season with a torn triceps but returns to anchor one of the line’s most crucial positions. The 6- foot-7, 350-pound Clement is a monster with outstanding strength and the ability to be one of the best tackles in the game. It also helps that he plays next to a rising star in RG Leonard Davis, the second overall pick in the 2001 draft. Davis is much more at home playing guard rather than tackle and should punch his ticket to Hawaii with a strong third-year performance.
Line coach Pete Hoener has a few options at center and left guard. The coaching staff wants to get Cameron Spikes more playing time at LG, and that could shift veteran Pete Kendall to center and Frank Garcia to the bench. Garcia will miss the first four games of the season because of a league- imposed suspension for ephedra use. Spikes’ athleticism has never been in doubt and he’s finally showing the coaches more consistency. Kendall, one of the more underrated players in the league, would be fine at guard or center. The Boston College product is extremely efficient with his movements and takes good angles on his targets. He finished the last two seasons on the sidelines with foot injuries, but he’ll be a contributor if healthy. The 31-year-old Garcia, who also needs to stay healthy, is a sound player with good instincts but may not be more than a key backup when he returns.
Talent is abundant on the offensive line, as L.J. Shelton, the 21st overall pick in ’99, rounds out the unit at left tackle. Shelton is effective as a pass or run blocker thanks to great strength, long arms and a fierce attitude. However, he misses his target at times and falls out of plays.
The Cardinals are hoping first-round pick Bryant Johnson can fill the void in the receiving corps left by Boston’s departure. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Johnson could be the type of possession receiver the Cards need to be successful. He has tremendous leaping ability and should be an immediate factor in the red zone. Fellow rookie Anquan Boldin provides hope for the team’s future. He could be the next Peter Warrick or the next Hines Ward, only time will tell. The converted QB is a great athlete and needs to be on the field. However, he needs to refine his ability to play receiver at the NFL level and could be better suited to play the slot early in his career. Marquise Walker, who was acquired in the Thomas Jones trade with Tampa Bay, has good size and could develop into a nice third receiver for this developing offense.
While Johnson and Boldin headline Arizona’s crop of receivers, neither rookie is expected to start on opening day. That honor will fall to unheralded veterans like Larry Foster, Bryan Gilmore and Jason McAddley. The ex-Lion Foster heads to Arizona with dreams of becoming a standout receiver and shaking the special-teams ace label. The Cards gave up a seventh-round pick to get Foster and hope he can contribute as a wideout. Gilmore is the most intriguing of the three veterans. He has the speed to make big plays, but needs to shake off the injury bug. McAddley played well last year in place of Boston and will likely start opposite Gilmore. He averaged 14.5 yards per catch last season in limited playing time and could find himself as Blake’s go-to guy.
TE Freddie Jones has been a career underachiever. Once thought to be a rising star, Jones has panned out to be an inconsistent receiver and weekly enigma. His conditioning has prevented him from finishing games, and he lacks the fire needed to excel. Backup Steve Bush is far less talented than his colleague, but he gets the most out of his talents. He has dependable hands and takes good angles on blocks.
DEFENSE
The Cardinals aren’t going anywhere unless their defense improves. The unit was 30th against the run and 28th against the pass last season. It also ranks among the league’s worst in sacks on an annual basis. Last year’s total of 21 was simply unacceptable. Defensive coordinator Larry Marmie is hoping the switch to a one-gap system will help bolster a defense that has recorded 40 sacks in the last two years. The defensive linemen will now choose one gap and penetrate as opposed to last year’s two-gap scheme, in which the lineman had to read the direction of the play and react.
The new-look system will be without DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, who suffered torn knee ligaments in his left knee in the exhibition game versus San Diego. This is another major setback for Vanden Bosch, who ripped up his right knee in 2001. The former second-round pick was being counted on to have a big year for the Cardinals.
Now the pressure falls on defensive ends Fred Wakefield and rookie Calvin Pace. The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Wakefield is a situational player. He hustles against the run but possesses average pass-rush moves. Of course, the Cardinals had their pathetic pass rush in mind when they raised eyebrows by selecting Pace in the first round of April’s draft. The former Wake Forest star has a knack for getting to the quarterback. As long as he shows that he can rush the passer, the coaching staff will put him on the field more and more.
Wendell Bryant, last year’s first-round selection, anchors the interior of the D-line. Bryant, who is coming off a disappointing rookie season, has a tantalizing combination of size and speed. If a player like Pace can draw some of the opposing offense’s attention it will allow Bryant to benefit from one- on-one situations. Russell Davis, Barron Tanner and Marcus Bell fill out the DT rotation. Bell, a fourth-round pick in 2001, has good lateral quickness and could work his way on to the field more. Rookie Kenny King is a perfect fit for the Cards’ new one-gap system. He is a threat to do damage when turned loose.
The linebacking corps could be a strength, but some questions must be answered. Raynoch Thompson is an undersized strong-side linebacker. He moves well and chases down plays but lacks the strength to shed physical linemen. His durability is another negative. Levar Fisher, a second-round pick in 2002, is expected to start on the weak side. Fisher finished his rookie season on injured reserve because of a knee injury. If he can stay healthy, however, watch for him to develop into one of the team’s best defenders. He possesses above-average quickness, range and athleticism. Middle linebacker Ron McKinnon rounds out the starting trio. The 30-year-old veteran works his tail off in practice and on game day, but that barely makes up for his lack of talent and ability. Ex-Jet James Darling provides good depth at all three linebacker spots. He could step in at WLB if Fisher falters. Gerald Hayes, a 2003 third- round pick out of Pittsburgh, played the middle in college but is getting his first look on the NFL level at OLB. Hayes is an excellent run defender and solid open-field tackler.
The secondary is the strength of the Cards’ defense. CB Duane Starks, who helped the Ravens to the Super Bowl championship in 2000, is the leader of the defensive backfield. When healthy, Starks can cover the league’s best receivers straight up. He’s an excellent overall player but his size limits him against the run. David Barrett is projected to start opposite Starks. Barrett is a more physical player than Starks but he lacks his teammate’s cover ability. Renaldo Hill and Coby Rhinehart will serve as the top backups. Hill, the nickel back, needs to improve his recognition skills.
Super Bowl XXXVII MVP Dexter Jackson cashed in his monumental performance against Oakland by signing a lucrative deal with Arizona. The 26-year-old Jackson is a good athlete with solid coverage skills. He’s a center fielder- type free safety and still has room to improve. But his presence adds another starting defensive back with a Super Bowl ring.
Adrian Wilson, the team’s third-round pick in 2001, will start at strong safety. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Wilson is a force against the run, but needs to improve his pass recognition. Backup safety Justin Lucas is one of the most versatile players on the team. He can play both safety spots, nickel linebacker and stands out on special teams. Michael Stone, a 2001 second-round pick, hasn’t lived up to his lofty draft status.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker Bill Gramatica might always be remembered for tearing a knee ligament while celebrating a made field goal against the New York Giants in 2001. Gramatica has a good leg but lacks the consistency of his brother, Tampa Bay’s Martin Gramatica. Punter Scott Player remains as one of the best at his position. He gets the kick off quickly and shows off his booming leg whenever he gets the chance. Player is a weapon because of his ability to place the ball inside the 20-yard line.
Kickoffs will be returned by RB Josh Scobey and WR Kevin Kasper. The rookie Johnson is getting the first shot at returning punts. However, his role as one of the team’s top receiving threats might expand to the point where returning punts is a distraction. Foster will also get a shot here.
COACHING
Give McGinnis credit for being a take-charge guy in an organization that has lacked a sense of direction. He fired former offensive coordinator Rich Olson after one unspectacular season and replaced him with Sullivan, who was regarded as one of the league’s best receivers coach. His contract runs through 2004, but he might wind up taking the fall if the team doesn’t improve.
OUTLOOK
The Cardinals have been the youngest team in the league over the past two years, but the additions of Smith, Blake and Jackson should add a nice blend of leadership to a personality-deprived franchise. The club opens with a tough five-game stretch that will take them to Detroit followed by homes games against Seattle and Green Bay, then road games in St. Louis and Dallas. Blake and Smith need to get the offense moving early in the season otherwise McCown and Shipp could take center stage by the middle of the year. The defense is an enigma and might not improve very much in 2003. If that turns out to be the case, the Cards might have to take another step back before moving forward. Will the Smith signing turn out to be substance over style? McGinnis might have a tough time reaching five wins again, which could lead to his departure.
