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[font=verdana,arial,helvetica] Don't sling shovels of dirt on the Cardinals' season just yet.
It is true that a win over the Rams, no longer an elite team, is no cause for giddiness.
But for Arizona, any win is a good one, and a look ahead makes the most optimistic of long-suffering Cardinals followers begin to wonder if the team maybe, just maybe, could get past Jacksonville on Sunday and then win out.
That, of course, is no easy task given that the Jaguars have won three straight and four of their past five, and have scored at least 20 points in six straight games.
Until the Cardinals mauled the Rams in St. Louis last weekend, it seemed that 20 points would give any foe a reasonable chance of vanquishing the Big Red.
Now, despite continuing injuries along the offensive line, quarterback Kurt Warner is playing like the Warner of old instead of an old Warner. Running back J.J. Arrington no longer is a wide-eyed rookie.
Warner is moving the ball around. Tight ends, for example, caught five balls last weekend, including 9-yard touchdown by Adam Bergen. Prior to that, they'd caught only 14 in nine games.
And there has emerged just enough threat of the run that foes must take it seriously.
It is a more diversified attack than simply heaving it to Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin - though Warner still is not above doing that.
"I think we played our best overall game, and that's what you build on," Warner said. "You can't take one step forward and two steps back. We have to build off of this win and make sure we continue to do what we're doing right."
Perhaps even more stunning is that the Cardinals' defense - with five of its top seven linemen out for the year and with its best playmaking linebacker and best cover corner out with injuries - held a Rams ground game that includes Steven Jackson and Marshall Faulk to 6 rushing yards, the fewest the Big Red had surrendered in 35 years.
Strong safety Adrian Wilson made like Larry Wilson, a Hall of Famer of Cardinals lore, with three sacks on safety blitzes.
"We're showing people we've got a very good offense, and our defense is capable of getting the job done, too," Fitzgerald said.
After the 7-3 Jaguars, the Cardinals visit San Francisco, which they drubbed in October in Mexico City; host reeling Washington; visit woeful Houston; host Philadelphia without Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens; and finish at Indianapolis, which could have 14 or 15 wins by then and be resting starters for the playoffs.
It would take nothing short of running the table to get the team to 9-7 for a shot at moving on to the playoffs. And since offensive lineman Alex Stepanovich (shoulder) and linebacker Karlos Dansby (groin) did not practice Wednesday and are not likely to play against the Jaguars, the degree of difficulty becomes even greater.
So those dreams could end Sunday against a surging Jacksonville team.
But the Cardinals showed last week that it might be too early to shovel dirt on their grave.
SERIES HISTORY: Second meeting. In their only meeting, on Dec. 10, 2000, in Florida, Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell threw two touchdown passes and running back Fred Taylor rushed for 137 yards and two TDs as the Jaguars rolled to a 44-10 rout. This will be the first meeting in Arizona in this very brief series.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Quarterback Kurt Warner once was no stranger to accolades, but this week he received his first NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor as a member of the Cardinals - for his work against his old team, the St. Louis Rams.
The Cardinals' 38 points were a season high, as Warner passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He was not intercepted and was sacked only once.
"I wanted to come back and show people I could still play," Warner said. "It's not that I wanted to shove it in anyone's face, but it was nice to come back and be able to perform."
—Wide receiver Anquan Boldin is quick, no surprise to anyone who has attempted to cover him. But Boldin became quickest of the quick when he reached the 200-catch milestone earlier than anyone who has ever played the game. Among his eight grabs at St. Louis was the 200th of his three year career - in his 34th game. That is two games ahead of previous record-holders Lionel Taylor of Denver (1960-62) and Tom Fears of the Los Angeles Rams (1948-50).
Boldin had missed the two previous games with a knee injury.
—It's still early with six games to go, but kicker Neil Rackers hasn't missed yet in 31 field-goal tries.
The last NFL kicker to have a perfect season was Mike Vanderjagt of the Colts in 2003 (37-for-37). Jeff Wilkins of St. Louis did it in 2002, but he attempted only 17 on a record-breaking offense that scored touchdowns instead of field goals. Gary Anderson of Minnesota made all 35 in 1998. He was coached by Dennis Green, now coach of the Cardinals. And Tony Zendejas of the Los Angeles Rams was perfect in 17 tries in 1991.
Rackers is more worried this week about helping the homeless and hungry for Thanksgiving. He was among players distributing turkeys on Tuesday.
"Everyone should have a good Thanksgiving," Rackers told The Arizona Republic. "We've been very blessed this season, especially after being unemployed not too long ago. Once you've been unemployed, when only one team has ever wanted you, you always wonder whether you're going to get another job.
"Anyone who plays in the NFL and doesn't realize how lucky they are, I just can't fathom that. We've all been lucky. The right people at the right time have given us the break we've needed. It's only right to give back to people who never got the same kind of opportunity."
—There has been plenty of talk about the Cardinals' receiving tandem of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and for good reason. But running back Marcel Shipp (26 catches) and fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo (25) are among only two sets of backfield teammates in the league with at least 25 catches each. The other is Steven Jackson and Marshall Faulk and the Rams.
—Fitzgerald and Boldin are coming off yet another game in which they each had at least 100 receiving yards. Fitzgerald, in his second season, leads the league with 18 catches of 20 yards or longer. Boldin has 47 catches in eight games.
—By walloping St. Louis last weekend, the Cardinals won on the road for the first time this season and for only the eighth time in the last 5 1/2 seasons (8-37). Although the Cardinals drubbed San Francisco in Mexico City in October, it technically was a home game. The Cardinals have three road games remaining, including a visit to the 49ers. Also to come on the road, a visit to a weak Houston team and a season-ending clash at Indianapolis, where the Colts could be sitting on 14 or 15 wins and attempting to avoid injuries for the playoffs.
—Former Cardinals CB Roger Wehrli, a seven-time Pro Bowler with 40 career interceptions, is among 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2006. He started from his rookie season in 1969 until his retirement in 1982.
—Not only were there signs of the current Cardinals coming together during their stunning romp over the Rams in St. Louis last Sunday, there was an equally surprising coming together of former Cardinals - surprising because this sort of touchy-feely gesture normally is not associated with this franchise. Cardinals alumni from their St. Louis era were present to see their old team wallop the Rams 38-28, including Wehrli, Hall of Famer Larry Wilson, Jim Otis, Jackie Smith, Keith Wortman and Mel Gray.
The Bidwill family, which owns the Cardinals, hosted a suite for the alumni players and their guests.
"These guys played for less money, stardom and helped make the NFL as great as it is today," said Michael Bidwill, Cardinals vice president and general counsel.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6 - Rushing yards allowed by the Cardinals against the Rams, the fewest surrendered by the Big Red defense since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's pretty cool. Right now, I don't really think about accolades. I just want to win football games. But someday, whenever I'm done playing, I'll be able to sit back and maybe think about the personal stuff." - Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, on making his 200th career catch in 34 games, two games faster than anyone ever reached the milestone.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Cardinals may be forced into yet another lineup shuffle on the offensive line caused by Alex Stepanovich's shoulder injury and Jeremy Bridges' ankle sprain. Neither practiced Wednesday. Stepanovich, the center who moved to right guard when Elton Brown was injured, and then to left guard last week to cover for injured Reggie Wells, suffered his shoulder injury at St. Louis. It appears that Adam Haayer will be the left guard, Nick Leckey the center and converted defensive end Fred Wakefield the right guard.
PLAYER/PERSONNEL NOTES
—QB Kurt Warner is coming off three TD passes in a win at St. Louis, his most since the 2001 finale against Atlanta when he played for the Rams. In his past two starts since returning from a groin injury, Warner has a passer rating of just over 95 and a 64 percent completion rate.
—SS Adrian Wilson is coming off a career-high three sacks at St. Louis, one of which knocked out Rams QB Marc Bulger for at least three weeks. Wilson's five sacks this season are the most in the league among defensive backs.
—K Neil Rackers continues his assault on records. With 31 field goals without a miss, he needs one more to pass Fuad Reveiz for the third-longest streak in NFL history. He became the first ever to make at least two field goals in 11 consecutive games, a salute not only to his accuracy and consistency but also to a sputtering red-zone offense.
—RB J.J. Arrington continues to shake a slow start that cost him the starting position. His strong work in relief of Marcel Shipp has produced 109 yards on 24 carries in his past three appearances (4.5-yard average).
—RG Elton Brown, the starter, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss at least two games.
—C Shawn Lynch, who started the season opener when Alex Stepanovich was injured, was promoted to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
—TE Teyo Johnson was released following the emergence of Eric Edwards and Adam Bergen among an inexperienced group of tight ends.
—SS Ernest Shazor, regarded in many circles to have been the steal among undrafted rookies, was promoted to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
—WR/PR J.J. Moses was released with the return from a toe injury by primary return man Reggie Swinton.
GAME PLAN: The Cardinals began to run the ball effectively for the first time last week, restoring balance to the offense and improving their red-zone performance for a season-high 38 points. Of course, it is one thing to do that against the St. Louis Rams defense, but another to do it against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have made a U-turn and find themselves among league leaders in defense.
Recently, the Big Red offensive line starters have been shaken up, and the team has gone away from the three-wide formations in favor of using a fullback and tight end - at the same time - in an attempt to get more blocking and make the running game go. It is paying off.
Five of the top seven defensive linemen are lost for the season, including Pro Bowl DE Bertrand Berry, their best playmaker, yet they held St. Louis to 6 rushing yards. They're getting good mileage out of the safety blitz, where Adrian Wilson had three sacks last weekend. Still, with Berry out, and their next-best playmaker, OLB Karlos Dansby, hurting, and their best cover corner, rookie first-round pick Antrel Rolle, still sidelined, it will take not only a Herculean effort by the second team but also some creative scheming by coordinator Clancy Pendergast to find a way to cool Byron Leftwich and the Jaguars offense that has scored at least 20 points in six straight games.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
—Cardinals SS Adrian Wilson, doing a reasonable impersonation of Larry Wilson, vs. Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich, one of the hottest in the league. Wilson had a career-high three sacks on blitzes last week at St. Louis, where he knocked Marc Bulger out for at least three weeks, and he leads NFL defensive backs with five sacks for the season. Turning him loose, a la another former Cardinals safety named Wilson - Hall of Famer Larry, who made the safety blitz famous - seemed to be the key that unlocked a lame unit. But in his past six games against NFC foes, Leftwich has 10 touchdown passes. He leads the league with 857 third-down passing yards, one reason why the Jaguars have won three in a row and four of their past five games, and have scored at least 20 points in their past six. Twenty generally is more than enough points to beat the Cardinals.
—Cardinals RB J.J. Arrington, a rookie second-round pick who finally is seeing the light, vs. Jaguars MLB Mike Peterson, a tackling machine. Arrington was perilously close to being labeled a bust through the first half of the season when he was averaging fewer than 3 yards a rush and was prone to fumbling. He averaged 4.1 yards a tote in a win last weekend at St. Louis, and has shown the moves that made him a 2,000-yard rusher in college last year. According to coach Dennis Green, Arrington is on the verge of a breakout game. But Peterson anchors one of the league's most improved defenses, having led the team in tackles in all 10 games. He also is tied for the league lead in interceptions among linebackers (three) on a unit that leads the league against the pass.
INJURY IMPACT
Once again, the Cardinals got bad news regarding offensive line injuries - and just when the offense finally put it together last Sunday and resembled the high-scoring unit it was anticipated to be. This time, it is the shoulder of Alex Stepanovich, who was moved to left guard last Sunday to cover for the season-ending ankle injury to Reggie Wells, and the ankle of RG Jeremy Bridges, who would have stepped in for injured Elton Brown. Now Adam Haayer is expected to start at left guard, and converted DE Fred Wakefield at right guard. Stepanovich, the starting center last year, missed the opener this season while recovering from preseason surgery on a fractured hand. The team also missed starting RT Oliver Ross for four games, and last week saw Brown undergo surgery on a knee. Only LT Leonard Davis has been on the field every game among the offensive linemen. The result has been predictably inconsistent play, until last weekend's breakout at St. Louis. The likely offensive line lineup against Jacksonville this Sunday, from left to right, will be Davis, Haayer, Nick Leckey, Wakefield and Ross.
The defense, already a fine imitation of a sieve, lost its best player, Pro Bowl DE Bertrand Berry (torn pectoral), for the season. He had surgery and has been placed on injured reserve. Berry joins fellow defensive linemen DT Kenny King, wrist; DT Russell Davis, biceps; DE Calvin Pace, cut arm; and NT Langston Moore, shoulder, with season-ending injuries. The Cardinals, who can't stop the run and rely heavily on quarterback pressure to cover for an ailing secondary, have now lost five of their top seven defensive linemen and find themselves struggling for depth in the area where they went to training camp best supplied. LE Chike Okeafor moved into Berry's right-side spot for several snaps last week to cover the pass-rushing void, with neophyte Antonio Smith then stepping in at Okeafor's left end spot.
OLB Karlos Dansby (groin), the next-best playmaker to Berry, is unlikely to return against Jacksonville. He did not practice Wednesday.
In addition to their defensive woes up front, the Cardinals still are without rookie CB Antrel Rolle, their first-round pick, who is recovering from knee surgery but is not on injured reserve. His return this season remains iffy, however he is expected to return to Arizona from Florida next week to be assessed. The team did not put him on IR because of the chance that he could come back for the final few games
From USA Today.
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It is true that a win over the Rams, no longer an elite team, is no cause for giddiness.
But for Arizona, any win is a good one, and a look ahead makes the most optimistic of long-suffering Cardinals followers begin to wonder if the team maybe, just maybe, could get past Jacksonville on Sunday and then win out.
That, of course, is no easy task given that the Jaguars have won three straight and four of their past five, and have scored at least 20 points in six straight games.
Until the Cardinals mauled the Rams in St. Louis last weekend, it seemed that 20 points would give any foe a reasonable chance of vanquishing the Big Red.
Now, despite continuing injuries along the offensive line, quarterback Kurt Warner is playing like the Warner of old instead of an old Warner. Running back J.J. Arrington no longer is a wide-eyed rookie.
Warner is moving the ball around. Tight ends, for example, caught five balls last weekend, including 9-yard touchdown by Adam Bergen. Prior to that, they'd caught only 14 in nine games.
And there has emerged just enough threat of the run that foes must take it seriously.
It is a more diversified attack than simply heaving it to Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin - though Warner still is not above doing that.
"I think we played our best overall game, and that's what you build on," Warner said. "You can't take one step forward and two steps back. We have to build off of this win and make sure we continue to do what we're doing right."
Perhaps even more stunning is that the Cardinals' defense - with five of its top seven linemen out for the year and with its best playmaking linebacker and best cover corner out with injuries - held a Rams ground game that includes Steven Jackson and Marshall Faulk to 6 rushing yards, the fewest the Big Red had surrendered in 35 years.
Strong safety Adrian Wilson made like Larry Wilson, a Hall of Famer of Cardinals lore, with three sacks on safety blitzes.
"We're showing people we've got a very good offense, and our defense is capable of getting the job done, too," Fitzgerald said.
After the 7-3 Jaguars, the Cardinals visit San Francisco, which they drubbed in October in Mexico City; host reeling Washington; visit woeful Houston; host Philadelphia without Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens; and finish at Indianapolis, which could have 14 or 15 wins by then and be resting starters for the playoffs.
It would take nothing short of running the table to get the team to 9-7 for a shot at moving on to the playoffs. And since offensive lineman Alex Stepanovich (shoulder) and linebacker Karlos Dansby (groin) did not practice Wednesday and are not likely to play against the Jaguars, the degree of difficulty becomes even greater.
So those dreams could end Sunday against a surging Jacksonville team.
But the Cardinals showed last week that it might be too early to shovel dirt on their grave.
SERIES HISTORY: Second meeting. In their only meeting, on Dec. 10, 2000, in Florida, Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell threw two touchdown passes and running back Fred Taylor rushed for 137 yards and two TDs as the Jaguars rolled to a 44-10 rout. This will be the first meeting in Arizona in this very brief series.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Quarterback Kurt Warner once was no stranger to accolades, but this week he received his first NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor as a member of the Cardinals - for his work against his old team, the St. Louis Rams.
The Cardinals' 38 points were a season high, as Warner passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He was not intercepted and was sacked only once.
"I wanted to come back and show people I could still play," Warner said. "It's not that I wanted to shove it in anyone's face, but it was nice to come back and be able to perform."
—Wide receiver Anquan Boldin is quick, no surprise to anyone who has attempted to cover him. But Boldin became quickest of the quick when he reached the 200-catch milestone earlier than anyone who has ever played the game. Among his eight grabs at St. Louis was the 200th of his three year career - in his 34th game. That is two games ahead of previous record-holders Lionel Taylor of Denver (1960-62) and Tom Fears of the Los Angeles Rams (1948-50).
Boldin had missed the two previous games with a knee injury.
—It's still early with six games to go, but kicker Neil Rackers hasn't missed yet in 31 field-goal tries.
The last NFL kicker to have a perfect season was Mike Vanderjagt of the Colts in 2003 (37-for-37). Jeff Wilkins of St. Louis did it in 2002, but he attempted only 17 on a record-breaking offense that scored touchdowns instead of field goals. Gary Anderson of Minnesota made all 35 in 1998. He was coached by Dennis Green, now coach of the Cardinals. And Tony Zendejas of the Los Angeles Rams was perfect in 17 tries in 1991.
Rackers is more worried this week about helping the homeless and hungry for Thanksgiving. He was among players distributing turkeys on Tuesday.
"Everyone should have a good Thanksgiving," Rackers told The Arizona Republic. "We've been very blessed this season, especially after being unemployed not too long ago. Once you've been unemployed, when only one team has ever wanted you, you always wonder whether you're going to get another job.
"Anyone who plays in the NFL and doesn't realize how lucky they are, I just can't fathom that. We've all been lucky. The right people at the right time have given us the break we've needed. It's only right to give back to people who never got the same kind of opportunity."
—There has been plenty of talk about the Cardinals' receiving tandem of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and for good reason. But running back Marcel Shipp (26 catches) and fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo (25) are among only two sets of backfield teammates in the league with at least 25 catches each. The other is Steven Jackson and Marshall Faulk and the Rams.
—Fitzgerald and Boldin are coming off yet another game in which they each had at least 100 receiving yards. Fitzgerald, in his second season, leads the league with 18 catches of 20 yards or longer. Boldin has 47 catches in eight games.
—By walloping St. Louis last weekend, the Cardinals won on the road for the first time this season and for only the eighth time in the last 5 1/2 seasons (8-37). Although the Cardinals drubbed San Francisco in Mexico City in October, it technically was a home game. The Cardinals have three road games remaining, including a visit to the 49ers. Also to come on the road, a visit to a weak Houston team and a season-ending clash at Indianapolis, where the Colts could be sitting on 14 or 15 wins and attempting to avoid injuries for the playoffs.
—Former Cardinals CB Roger Wehrli, a seven-time Pro Bowler with 40 career interceptions, is among 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2006. He started from his rookie season in 1969 until his retirement in 1982.
—Not only were there signs of the current Cardinals coming together during their stunning romp over the Rams in St. Louis last Sunday, there was an equally surprising coming together of former Cardinals - surprising because this sort of touchy-feely gesture normally is not associated with this franchise. Cardinals alumni from their St. Louis era were present to see their old team wallop the Rams 38-28, including Wehrli, Hall of Famer Larry Wilson, Jim Otis, Jackie Smith, Keith Wortman and Mel Gray.
The Bidwill family, which owns the Cardinals, hosted a suite for the alumni players and their guests.
"These guys played for less money, stardom and helped make the NFL as great as it is today," said Michael Bidwill, Cardinals vice president and general counsel.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6 - Rushing yards allowed by the Cardinals against the Rams, the fewest surrendered by the Big Red defense since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's pretty cool. Right now, I don't really think about accolades. I just want to win football games. But someday, whenever I'm done playing, I'll be able to sit back and maybe think about the personal stuff." - Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, on making his 200th career catch in 34 games, two games faster than anyone ever reached the milestone.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Cardinals may be forced into yet another lineup shuffle on the offensive line caused by Alex Stepanovich's shoulder injury and Jeremy Bridges' ankle sprain. Neither practiced Wednesday. Stepanovich, the center who moved to right guard when Elton Brown was injured, and then to left guard last week to cover for injured Reggie Wells, suffered his shoulder injury at St. Louis. It appears that Adam Haayer will be the left guard, Nick Leckey the center and converted defensive end Fred Wakefield the right guard.
PLAYER/PERSONNEL NOTES
—QB Kurt Warner is coming off three TD passes in a win at St. Louis, his most since the 2001 finale against Atlanta when he played for the Rams. In his past two starts since returning from a groin injury, Warner has a passer rating of just over 95 and a 64 percent completion rate.
—SS Adrian Wilson is coming off a career-high three sacks at St. Louis, one of which knocked out Rams QB Marc Bulger for at least three weeks. Wilson's five sacks this season are the most in the league among defensive backs.
—K Neil Rackers continues his assault on records. With 31 field goals without a miss, he needs one more to pass Fuad Reveiz for the third-longest streak in NFL history. He became the first ever to make at least two field goals in 11 consecutive games, a salute not only to his accuracy and consistency but also to a sputtering red-zone offense.
—RB J.J. Arrington continues to shake a slow start that cost him the starting position. His strong work in relief of Marcel Shipp has produced 109 yards on 24 carries in his past three appearances (4.5-yard average).
—RG Elton Brown, the starter, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss at least two games.
—C Shawn Lynch, who started the season opener when Alex Stepanovich was injured, was promoted to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
—TE Teyo Johnson was released following the emergence of Eric Edwards and Adam Bergen among an inexperienced group of tight ends.
—SS Ernest Shazor, regarded in many circles to have been the steal among undrafted rookies, was promoted to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
—WR/PR J.J. Moses was released with the return from a toe injury by primary return man Reggie Swinton.
GAME PLAN: The Cardinals began to run the ball effectively for the first time last week, restoring balance to the offense and improving their red-zone performance for a season-high 38 points. Of course, it is one thing to do that against the St. Louis Rams defense, but another to do it against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have made a U-turn and find themselves among league leaders in defense.
Recently, the Big Red offensive line starters have been shaken up, and the team has gone away from the three-wide formations in favor of using a fullback and tight end - at the same time - in an attempt to get more blocking and make the running game go. It is paying off.
Five of the top seven defensive linemen are lost for the season, including Pro Bowl DE Bertrand Berry, their best playmaker, yet they held St. Louis to 6 rushing yards. They're getting good mileage out of the safety blitz, where Adrian Wilson had three sacks last weekend. Still, with Berry out, and their next-best playmaker, OLB Karlos Dansby, hurting, and their best cover corner, rookie first-round pick Antrel Rolle, still sidelined, it will take not only a Herculean effort by the second team but also some creative scheming by coordinator Clancy Pendergast to find a way to cool Byron Leftwich and the Jaguars offense that has scored at least 20 points in six straight games.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
—Cardinals SS Adrian Wilson, doing a reasonable impersonation of Larry Wilson, vs. Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich, one of the hottest in the league. Wilson had a career-high three sacks on blitzes last week at St. Louis, where he knocked Marc Bulger out for at least three weeks, and he leads NFL defensive backs with five sacks for the season. Turning him loose, a la another former Cardinals safety named Wilson - Hall of Famer Larry, who made the safety blitz famous - seemed to be the key that unlocked a lame unit. But in his past six games against NFC foes, Leftwich has 10 touchdown passes. He leads the league with 857 third-down passing yards, one reason why the Jaguars have won three in a row and four of their past five games, and have scored at least 20 points in their past six. Twenty generally is more than enough points to beat the Cardinals.
—Cardinals RB J.J. Arrington, a rookie second-round pick who finally is seeing the light, vs. Jaguars MLB Mike Peterson, a tackling machine. Arrington was perilously close to being labeled a bust through the first half of the season when he was averaging fewer than 3 yards a rush and was prone to fumbling. He averaged 4.1 yards a tote in a win last weekend at St. Louis, and has shown the moves that made him a 2,000-yard rusher in college last year. According to coach Dennis Green, Arrington is on the verge of a breakout game. But Peterson anchors one of the league's most improved defenses, having led the team in tackles in all 10 games. He also is tied for the league lead in interceptions among linebackers (three) on a unit that leads the league against the pass.
INJURY IMPACT
Once again, the Cardinals got bad news regarding offensive line injuries - and just when the offense finally put it together last Sunday and resembled the high-scoring unit it was anticipated to be. This time, it is the shoulder of Alex Stepanovich, who was moved to left guard last Sunday to cover for the season-ending ankle injury to Reggie Wells, and the ankle of RG Jeremy Bridges, who would have stepped in for injured Elton Brown. Now Adam Haayer is expected to start at left guard, and converted DE Fred Wakefield at right guard. Stepanovich, the starting center last year, missed the opener this season while recovering from preseason surgery on a fractured hand. The team also missed starting RT Oliver Ross for four games, and last week saw Brown undergo surgery on a knee. Only LT Leonard Davis has been on the field every game among the offensive linemen. The result has been predictably inconsistent play, until last weekend's breakout at St. Louis. The likely offensive line lineup against Jacksonville this Sunday, from left to right, will be Davis, Haayer, Nick Leckey, Wakefield and Ross.
The defense, already a fine imitation of a sieve, lost its best player, Pro Bowl DE Bertrand Berry (torn pectoral), for the season. He had surgery and has been placed on injured reserve. Berry joins fellow defensive linemen DT Kenny King, wrist; DT Russell Davis, biceps; DE Calvin Pace, cut arm; and NT Langston Moore, shoulder, with season-ending injuries. The Cardinals, who can't stop the run and rely heavily on quarterback pressure to cover for an ailing secondary, have now lost five of their top seven defensive linemen and find themselves struggling for depth in the area where they went to training camp best supplied. LE Chike Okeafor moved into Berry's right-side spot for several snaps last week to cover the pass-rushing void, with neophyte Antonio Smith then stepping in at Okeafor's left end spot.
OLB Karlos Dansby (groin), the next-best playmaker to Berry, is unlikely to return against Jacksonville. He did not practice Wednesday.
In addition to their defensive woes up front, the Cardinals still are without rookie CB Antrel Rolle, their first-round pick, who is recovering from knee surgery but is not on injured reserve. His return this season remains iffy, however he is expected to return to Arizona from Florida next week to be assessed. The team did not put him on IR because of the chance that he could come back for the final few games
From USA Today.
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