TopGun
Registered
Offseason Game Plan: Cardinals
By Jason Powell, Associate Editor
February 7, 2005 3:00 PM ET
Dennis Green led the Cardinals to a 6-10 record in 2004.
Dennis Green didn't make good on his prediction to lead the Cardinals into the playoffs during his first season as head coach. Still, the 2004 Cardinals were much more formidable than they were in previous seasons.
Green restored credibility to the organization by forming a defense that ranked 12th in points surrendered. Although the team only managed to win one game on the road, they finished with a 5-3 record at Sun Devil Stadium, giving their thinning fan base something to get excited about. Had they not been the only team to lose to the 49ers (twice), the Red Birds would have finished .500 on the season.
Although the defense showed dramatic improvement, the Cards' offense took a step backwards. The Cardinals finished 26th in scoring, averaging just 17.8 points per game. Josh McCown opened the season as the starting quarterback, lost his job, and later regained it due to injuries and poor play by his replacements. Whether McCown played well enough late in the season to retain his starting job is one of the biggest question marks surrounding the Cards this offseason.
Needs
There was a time when it would have been easier to list the positions the Cards didn't need to fill, as they were thinner on talent than the cast of "The O.C." From an offensive perspective, the big question is whether Green will look outside the organization for quarterback help.
McCown averaged 239 yards and threw five scores during the last four games of the season. He certainly performed better at the end of the year than he did early in the season, as Josh failed throw a touchdown pass during his first four games.
Josh's defenders would be quick to note that he was playing in a new offense and did not have star wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who missed six games because of a knee injury. Whether Green, who has a notoriously itchy trigger finger when it comes to quarterbacks, sympathizes with that excuse remains to be seen. There will likely be a new starting tight end in Arizona next season, as the Cards are not expected to attempt to re-sign free agent Freddie Jones.
The Cards are also believed to be in the hunt for a new tailback. Emmitt Smith rushed for 937 yards and nine touchdowns last year, but announced his retirement last week; in fact, he's still thanking people. Team officials recently contacted the agent of Bills' running back Travis Henry with interest in working out a trade. Another trade possibility would be Vikings' running back Michael Bennett, whom Green drafted while coaching in Minnesota.
Although the quarterback and running back situation will receive the most attention during the offseason, the Cards' biggest need is on the offensive line. Green lost patience with the line problems and fired position coach Bob Wylie during the season.
The Sheriff then pulled an odd move by hiring Everett Lindsay, who was actually cut by Green and Wylie when he tried out as a player prior to the season. Lindsay should get some help this season, as Green hired former Chiefs and Vikings offensive line coach Keith Rowan as the Cardinals' new offensive coordinator.
Green didn't exactly help the offensive line when he released center Pete Kendall prior to the season. The move surprised just about everyone, as Kendall was widely considered the unit's best member. Given the way Green treated Kendall and how poorly the line performed last year, virtually every member of the Cardinals' offensive line has to be considered expendable.
Defensively, Arizona could use a new middle linebacker. Starter Ronald McKinnon took a step backwards this season. The nine-year veteran totaled just 74 tackles, breaking his five-year streak of recording at least 100 tackles. The Cards will also be in the hunt for a left end. They were so desperate for help at the position that they were forced to acquire the mediocre Peppi Zelner and use him as a starter.
Salary Cap Situation
The Cardinals are approximately $9.4 million under the projected salary cap. This is one of the first times in recent memory that the Cardinals will not lead the league in salary cap space.
Unrestricted Free Agents
TE Freddie Jones, RB Emmitt Smith, LB Ronald McKinnon, S Ifeanyi Ohalete, G Cameron Spikes, CB Michael Stone, CB Robert Tate, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, S Adrian Wilson.
Restricted Free Agents
QB Josh McCown, G Jeremy Bridges, TE Lorenzo Diamond, WR Reggie Newhouse, S Quentin Harris, LS Nathan Hodel, DT Ross Kolodziej, WR Nate Poole.
The Draft
Given their losing history, the Cards probably aren't patient enough to draft a quarterback with the No. 8 pick overall in the draft. And if there's one position Green doesn't need to fill, it would be wide receiver. It's more likely that Green will use his first pick to select a running back.
The top-four backs are widely considered to be Cedric Benson (Texas), Ronnie Brown (Auburn), Carnell Williams (Auburn), and DeAngelo Williams (Memphis). At least one of them is expected to be selected before the Cardinals pick. If all of those backs are gone or if Green doesn't like the leftovers, there's always a chance they will trade down.
Injury Watch
Marcel Shipp is trying to battle back from dislocating his left ankle and breaking his fibula. He had a plate and screws inserted in his left leg last September, so he should be healthy long before the 2005 season begins. Unfortunately, team officials have been mum regarding the details of his rehabilitation.
By Jason Powell, Associate Editor
February 7, 2005 3:00 PM ET
Dennis Green led the Cardinals to a 6-10 record in 2004.
Dennis Green didn't make good on his prediction to lead the Cardinals into the playoffs during his first season as head coach. Still, the 2004 Cardinals were much more formidable than they were in previous seasons.
Green restored credibility to the organization by forming a defense that ranked 12th in points surrendered. Although the team only managed to win one game on the road, they finished with a 5-3 record at Sun Devil Stadium, giving their thinning fan base something to get excited about. Had they not been the only team to lose to the 49ers (twice), the Red Birds would have finished .500 on the season.
Although the defense showed dramatic improvement, the Cards' offense took a step backwards. The Cardinals finished 26th in scoring, averaging just 17.8 points per game. Josh McCown opened the season as the starting quarterback, lost his job, and later regained it due to injuries and poor play by his replacements. Whether McCown played well enough late in the season to retain his starting job is one of the biggest question marks surrounding the Cards this offseason.
Needs
There was a time when it would have been easier to list the positions the Cards didn't need to fill, as they were thinner on talent than the cast of "The O.C." From an offensive perspective, the big question is whether Green will look outside the organization for quarterback help.
McCown averaged 239 yards and threw five scores during the last four games of the season. He certainly performed better at the end of the year than he did early in the season, as Josh failed throw a touchdown pass during his first four games.
Josh's defenders would be quick to note that he was playing in a new offense and did not have star wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who missed six games because of a knee injury. Whether Green, who has a notoriously itchy trigger finger when it comes to quarterbacks, sympathizes with that excuse remains to be seen. There will likely be a new starting tight end in Arizona next season, as the Cards are not expected to attempt to re-sign free agent Freddie Jones.
The Cards are also believed to be in the hunt for a new tailback. Emmitt Smith rushed for 937 yards and nine touchdowns last year, but announced his retirement last week; in fact, he's still thanking people. Team officials recently contacted the agent of Bills' running back Travis Henry with interest in working out a trade. Another trade possibility would be Vikings' running back Michael Bennett, whom Green drafted while coaching in Minnesota.
Although the quarterback and running back situation will receive the most attention during the offseason, the Cards' biggest need is on the offensive line. Green lost patience with the line problems and fired position coach Bob Wylie during the season.
The Sheriff then pulled an odd move by hiring Everett Lindsay, who was actually cut by Green and Wylie when he tried out as a player prior to the season. Lindsay should get some help this season, as Green hired former Chiefs and Vikings offensive line coach Keith Rowan as the Cardinals' new offensive coordinator.
Green didn't exactly help the offensive line when he released center Pete Kendall prior to the season. The move surprised just about everyone, as Kendall was widely considered the unit's best member. Given the way Green treated Kendall and how poorly the line performed last year, virtually every member of the Cardinals' offensive line has to be considered expendable.
Defensively, Arizona could use a new middle linebacker. Starter Ronald McKinnon took a step backwards this season. The nine-year veteran totaled just 74 tackles, breaking his five-year streak of recording at least 100 tackles. The Cards will also be in the hunt for a left end. They were so desperate for help at the position that they were forced to acquire the mediocre Peppi Zelner and use him as a starter.
Salary Cap Situation
The Cardinals are approximately $9.4 million under the projected salary cap. This is one of the first times in recent memory that the Cardinals will not lead the league in salary cap space.
Unrestricted Free Agents
TE Freddie Jones, RB Emmitt Smith, LB Ronald McKinnon, S Ifeanyi Ohalete, G Cameron Spikes, CB Michael Stone, CB Robert Tate, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, S Adrian Wilson.
Restricted Free Agents
QB Josh McCown, G Jeremy Bridges, TE Lorenzo Diamond, WR Reggie Newhouse, S Quentin Harris, LS Nathan Hodel, DT Ross Kolodziej, WR Nate Poole.
The Draft
Given their losing history, the Cards probably aren't patient enough to draft a quarterback with the No. 8 pick overall in the draft. And if there's one position Green doesn't need to fill, it would be wide receiver. It's more likely that Green will use his first pick to select a running back.
The top-four backs are widely considered to be Cedric Benson (Texas), Ronnie Brown (Auburn), Carnell Williams (Auburn), and DeAngelo Williams (Memphis). At least one of them is expected to be selected before the Cardinals pick. If all of those backs are gone or if Green doesn't like the leftovers, there's always a chance they will trade down.
Injury Watch
Marcel Shipp is trying to battle back from dislocating his left ankle and breaking his fibula. He had a plate and screws inserted in his left leg last September, so he should be healthy long before the 2005 season begins. Unfortunately, team officials have been mum regarding the details of his rehabilitation.
