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DA's pass went that way
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Inside Slant
The Cardinals went to training camp believing their off-season upgrades had delivered a high-scoring, potent offense.
But as they enter the regular season, there is not yet evidence that is the case because of slower than anticipated development of the line, caused largely by injuries.
They have a capable experienced quarterback, Kurt Warner, signed as an unrestricted free agent.
They have perhaps the most potent young trio of receivers in the league in Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson.
They appear to have a nice 1-2 combination at running back in diminutive scat back J.J. Arrington, a second-round pick who will start, and veteran Marcel Shipp, who has a way of running for high average despite doing it primarily between the tackles. Shipp has made an impressive recovery from serious lower leg and ankle injuries that led to surgery and sidelined him all of 2004.
But the first unit showed very little during preseason. By the third week, the team was down to its fourth center after injuries to starter Alex Stepanovich (fractured hand), backup Nick Leckey (ankle) and newcomer Bill Conaty (triceps, lasted two weeks before he went on Injured Reserve). Stepanovich remains a long shot to return for the Sept. 11 opener at the New York Giants
"The offense is trying hard," coach Dennis Green said. "We've got a couple of things going, but not the consistency."
Whoever starts at center — and converted guard Adam Haayer appears the leading candidate — will line up beside a rookie right guard, Elton Brown. New right tackle Oliver Ross is expected to be a mauling run blocker, just as he was at Pittsburgh, when he recovers fully from a knee injury that caused him to miss the first two preseason games.
So it is no surprise that Warner has been under intense pressure or that Arrington averaged only 2.9 yards a carry through three games, finding nowhere to run behind a makeshift line.
Still, the Cardinals' belief is unshaken that they have upgraded the unit that rarely scored more than two touchdowns a game in 2004. At some point, when all the players have returned and worked together, they still expect to double last year's numbers.
The key question for them is when? How long will it take? And by then, will the team that many national observers believe will win a mediocre NFC West be too far behind to do it?
Shipp was the good-news story of camp, a comeback player whose return is critical to the team. He was the leading rusher in 2003 and 2002. He takes a gaudy 8.2 yards a carry into the preseason finale, although most of that has been with the second unit against other second units.
For some other players, the news wasn't as good.
Tight end Bobby Blizzard created some buzz when he made All-NFL Europe. Tight end is the forgotten position in the offense — at least one the team neglected to address during the off-season after not re-signing veteran Freddie Jones. But Blizzard was a non-entity almost from the first day of camp and now is unlikely to even make the roster — even though first-teamer Eric Edwards has had a torn pectoral muscle and is just now returning to the practice field. The job was there for the taking.
Defensive tackle Kenny King, who had wrist surgery and missed almost all of 2004, was expected to come back and battle hard for a starting spot with Darnell Dockett, who replaced him in the lineup as a rookie. But King's wrist problems continued and he has been placed on Injured Reserve again already. Dockett, a live-bodied playmaker, will remain the starter inside at "under tackle."
Free safety Quentin Harris was expected to knock Ifeanyi Ohalete out of a job, but for the second straight camp Harris underperformed and now is working as a backup strong safety. It wasn't a total whiff at free safety, though. Veteran free agent Robert Griffith won the job and undrafted rookie Ernest Shazor has been coming on strong the past two weeks to the extent that the team released Ohalete, their 2004 starter, before the final cut down.
Most of the good news is on defense, where two 2004 starters — Ohalete and defensive end Peppi Zellner — have been released already because others have passed them.
"We turned the corner," Green said.
Zellner became expendable because Chike Okeafor, signed during the off season, has been everything the team envisioned while winning the job and 2003 first-round pick Calvin Pace has re-emerged from the scrap heap to claim the backup job.
The defense, which made strides last season, has been sharp, benefiting not only from the addition of Okeafor but also from free-agent outside linebacker Orlando Huff, rookie corner Antrel Rolle and Griffith.
It is a unit that just might be good enough to keep the team in games while the offense comes together. Initially, that's the Cardinals' only hope.
COACHING: Dennis Green, 12th year, 2nd with Cardinals (103-72).
REMEMBERING: 2004 record: 6-10 (3rd in NFC West); did not make playoffs.
PREDICTING: 2005 regular season record 9-7 (2nd in NFC West); gain Wild Card playoff position.
NOTES, QUOTES
— Last season, the team's first four draft picks became starters, and it appears the Cardinals have followed with another strong draft class. Rookies Antrel Rolle (CB), J.J. Arrington (RB) and Elton Brown (G) are on the first team, and Eric Green (CB) is pushing hard to dislodge a veteran.
— PR/KR J.J. Moses was claimed off waivers from Chicago after J.R. Redmond, projected as the kickoff and punt returner and third-down back, suffered a season-ending dislocated shoulder in the third preseason game at Oakland.
Moses has experience — 30 games over the last two seasons as expansion Houston's returner.
Moses' competition is Charles Lee, James Jackson and Damien Anderson on kick returns, and Dan Sheldon on punt returns.
— With Remond on IR, it will take at least two and possibly three players to replace him since it appears one player will not be both the kick and punt returner, as Redmond would have been. Redmond also was shaping up as the third-down back. Coach Dennis Green said Anderson and Jackson are battling for the No. 3 running back spot.
— It appears rookie RG Elton Brown has won the job from veteran Jeremy Bridges. Brown, a fourth-round pick, was regarded as the best guard in the draft.
— It's still a jumbled mess at tight end, where Eric Edwards (pectoral muscle tear) has missed almost all of preseason. He's just now returning to practice. With one year, he is the most experienced player at the position. Undrafted rookie Adam Bergen and Aaron Golliday have shared duty, a situation that will continue in the opener and perhaps a week beyond while Edwards works back.
— The fullback battle still is too close to call. Massive James Hodgins, who played with QB Kurt Warner at St. Louis, is a fine blocker, but his game is one-dimensional. Obafemi Ayanbadejo started last season while Hodgins was on Injured Reserve and isn't the blocker Hodgins is, but has some pass-receiving capability.
The edge appears to be with Hodgins. The fullback is going to be relegated to short-yardage and goal-line packages while the team uses its spread formations primarily.
— The fourth and fifth receiver jobs still are open — Charlie Lee and Reggie Newhouse appear to be the leaders.
The team is not expected to have interest in Peter Warrick (who reportedly signed with Seattle on Wednesday) or Peerless Price, who were cut this week. The Cardinals have invested heavily in high draft picks Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson. Fitzgerald and Johnson are former first-round picks. Boldin was a second-round pick but his contract was re-worked last month so that he now is paid like a first-rounder.
— Veteran SS Robert Griffith will open the season as the starter at free safety after the team released Ifeanyi Ohalete, the 2004 starter.
— CB Eric Green, a third-round pick, continues to push 2004 starter David Macklin for the starting job opposite another rookie CB, first-round pick Antrel Rolle. That race remains too close to call going into the preseason finale.
— Fans who enter Sun Devil Stadium for Cardinals games now will be subject to hand searches effective Friday in the preseason finale against Denver, which features former Cardinals QB Jake Plummer.
The Cardinals will play only seven more games at Sun Devil before moving to a new stadium in Glendale, Ariz., next season. One of their homes games this season, Oct. 2 vs. San Francisco, has been moved to Mexico City for the first NFL regular-season games ever played outside the U.S.
The Cardinals say the new procedure is "to enhance fan safety." All fans should expect to be patted down by security personnel before going through stadium gates. The procedure will be in effect at every NFL stadium.
"This new requirement is not a result of any specific threat information," said NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. "It is in recognition of the significant additional security that 'pat-downs' offer, as well as the favorable experience that our clubs and fans have had using 'pat-downs' as part of a comprehensive stadium security plan."
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 — Different starting centers during preseason because of injuries.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I thought he did a great job with what we asked him to do in such a short period of time. One snap came up funny (vs. Oakland) but the rest were great and he actually made some adjustments." — Cardinals QB Kurt Warner, on C Adam Haayer, converted last week from G, who may start in the opener because the team's top three Cs are injured.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
— Releasing two 2004 defensive starters before the final cut down indicates that the Cardinals have improved their personnel on that side of the ball.
DE Peppi Zellner was axed after Chike Okeafor took ownership of the left-side starting job and Calvin Pace improved greatly to win the backup spot.
SS Robert Griffith and backups Adrian Mayes and Ernest Shazor made 2004 starter Ifeanyi Ohalete expendable.
The early release should help Zellner and Ohalete catch on elsewhere. They also were making more money than the other backups, so their ouster improves the team's salary-cap situation, which was not in bad shape to begin with.
One early release the team might now like to have back: Josh Scobey, who was the kickoff returner in 2004 and a competitor for the No. 3 RB position. Within days of releasing Scobey — who quickly was signed by Seattle — the man who was to replace him, J.R. Redmond, suffered a dislocated shoulder and was placed on Injured Reserve.
— Also going to IR already are DT Kenny King (wrist, a contender for starting "under" tackle), and backup C Bill Conaty (triceps tear).
PLAYER TO WATCH: SS Ernest Shazor — The undrafted rookie from Michigan was the gem of the undrafted group, the team believes. But Shazor initially was slowed by a hamstring injury and was blown away by not being drafted. He battled personal issues that caused him to miss the early days of camp, at the time making it questionable that he would be around for long. But during the past two weeks, he has come on strong and now appears in position to make the team as a backup. If he sticks, watch for his role to increase as the season unfolds.
DRAFT PICKS TO STICK:
Round 1/8 — CB Antrel Rolle, Miami — Locked up the starting left-side position, to no one's surprise. Physical and instinctive. Opened eyes when he deflected a pass in the end zone to save a TD in his pro preseason debut. He's big. He can jam and bump, exactly what the Cardinals want.
Round 2/44 — RB J.J. Arrington, California — It is shaping up as a rough transition but the team is going to ride with him as the starting back. He is averaging fewer than 3 yards a carry in preseason play and has fumbled a couple of times, but he has shown the flashes of speed in the seams of spread formations that the team loves. Backup Marcel Shipp, although a different type of back with his pounding runs, is right on Arrington's tail to push him.
Round 3/75 — CB Eric Green, Virginia Tech — The team has a dire shortage at corner, and even though it selected a very good one in the first round, Green will find a spot, too. At the very least he will play in nickel or dime packages and definitely on special teams, where he was an excellent kick-blocker in college. But he remains a strong contender to take the starting right-side job from veteran David Macklin.
Round 3/ 95 — OLB Darryl Blackstone, Virginia — He won't crack the starting lineup, but he will make the roster as strong-side backup to second-year starter Karlos Dansby. Blackstone has shown that he can get to the quarterback.
Round 4/111 - G Elton Brown, Virginia — He has taken the starting right-side job from veteran Jeremy Bridges. At 111 players deep, Brown was a steal in the draft. Many rated him the best guard in the draft, some believing he has first-round talent, but he fell because of questions regarding his intensity. He has put those concerns to rest with his preseason play.
UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS:
QUARTERBACK: Starter — Kurt Warner. Backups — Josh McCown, John Navarre.
McCown did not live up to Green's expectations, although he was 6-7 as the starter on a 6-10 team, lost the job late in the season, and was replaced by free-agent veteran Kurt Warner, who is anxious to prove he still has what it takes. Warner is a high-percentage passer, but he also takes tons of sacks. He has eased questions regarding how well he still grips the ball. McCown, still young and athletic, gets more grooming time. Green likes Navarre, as well, and don't rule him out if Warner goes belly-up or is injured.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters — RB J.J. Arrington, FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo. Backups — RB Marcel Shipp, RB Damien Anderson, FB James Hodgins.
Shipp, the team rushing leader in 2003 and 2002, has come back from a nasty lower leg fracture and dislocated ankle that sidelined him all of 2004 and out-played the rookie Arrington. But Arrington still gets the starting job, a high draft pick with plenty of upside to be developed. Shipp, a pounder who gains high averages, will be a strong backup.
TIGHT ENDS/H-BACK: Starter — Eric Edwards. Backups — Aaron Golliday, Adam Bergen.
Very inexperienced group. Of those who have played previously, Edwards will need a week or two into the season to work back into playing condition after missing three weeks to a torn pectoral muscle. It will be a tag-team until then, but with spread formations the team plans to use, the tight end won't always be on the field, anyway.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Bryant Johnson. Backups — Reggie Newhouse, Charles Lee.
This appears to be the team's strongest unit among the starters, but it's a different story among backups. Lee can help his chances if he wins the kick-return job. The starting three - the team lists three as starters for their anticipated extensive use of spread formations - are as good as any. Boldin knows how to get open. Johnson has the best deep speed, something Kurt Warner will love. Fitzgerald is rounding into the most polished overall talent among them.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters — LT Leonard Davis LG Reggie Wells, C Alex Stepanovich, RG Elton Brown, RT Oliver Ross. Backups — G Jeremy Bridges, G/T Fred Wakefield, C Nick Leckey, C/G Adam Haayer, T Ian Allen, C Shawn Lynch.
The Big Red Line got the Big Red Flag. All but one of the starters on the underachieving unit of a few years back are gone now (Davis is the only survivor, and he's now in a different spot, LT, where he moved last year). There is inexperience in the middle but the added toughness of free-agent Ross should open more holes for runners and protect QB Kurt Warner adequately. C will be a concern initially with the projected top two players injured. Haayer, a converted G, may open the season as the starting C.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters — LE Chike Okeafor, LT Russell Davis RT Darnell Dockett, RE Bertrand Berry. Backups — T Ross Kolodziej, E Calvin Pace, T Tim Bulman, E Tyler King.
There are big-time players in Berry, who made the Pro Bowl, and Dockett, an effective rookie starter. Adding free-agent Okeafor to play outside opposite Berry gives the team another threat to sack the QB, as he showed during preseason. Run-stopping still is questionable. It is a deep, experienced group.
LINEBACKERS: Starters — SLB Karlos Dansby, MLB James Darling, WLB Orlando Huff. Backups — MLB Gerald Hayes, SLB Darryl Blackstone, WLB Eric Johnson.
Dansby showed as a rookie that he is a keeper with his play-wrecking athleticism. Huff played inside in Seattle but coaches here like his early work outside. Hayes is likely successor in the middle to long-time starter Ron McKinnon, who was not re-signed, but Hayes preseason knee injury has shuffled Darling into the starting position to open the season until Hayes is ready in a month. Darling is an experienced versatile veteran who can play inside or out. There is edge pass-rushing ability and improved toughness in the group, which could mitigate the weak run-stoppers up front.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Antrel Rolle, RCB David Macklin, SS Adrian Wilson, FS Robert Griffith. Backups — CB Eric Green, SS Quentin Harris, CB Robert Tate, FS Adrian Mayes, FS Ernest Shazor.
Rolle, a high first-round pick, steps into the spot where Duane Starks was a huge disappointment, but will have to learn how to play off NFL receivers. Rolle is a physical bump-and-run player. Fellow rookie Green is pushing hard for Macklin's job. Wilson is as good as any at what he does. At FS, veteran Griffith sent 2004 starter Ifeanyi Ohalete packing. Starting four are solid. Questionable depth.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Starters — K Neil Rackers, P Scott Player, LS Nathan Hodell, KR Damien Anderson, KR James Jackson, PR Dan Sheldon, PR Charles Lee, KR/PR J.J. Moses.
Rackers was among the best in the league in field-goal accuracy, especially beyond 40 yards. His greatest improvement, though, was in touchbacks on kickoffs. He's solid and safe. Player continues to be among the league's steadiest and most competent. His hang time is excellent, and he is adept at pinning foes inside the 20. A real weapon. The preseason loss of J.R. Redmond, who had claimed both return jobs, has thrown those positions into turmoil going into the closing preseason game. Newly signed Moses could take them both. That question might not be answered for a game or two. Coverage killed the team and must be shored up, the only glaring weakness on units that have been team strengths for several seasons.
The Cardinals went to training camp believing their off-season upgrades had delivered a high-scoring, potent offense.
But as they enter the regular season, there is not yet evidence that is the case because of slower than anticipated development of the line, caused largely by injuries.
They have a capable experienced quarterback, Kurt Warner, signed as an unrestricted free agent.
They have perhaps the most potent young trio of receivers in the league in Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson.
They appear to have a nice 1-2 combination at running back in diminutive scat back J.J. Arrington, a second-round pick who will start, and veteran Marcel Shipp, who has a way of running for high average despite doing it primarily between the tackles. Shipp has made an impressive recovery from serious lower leg and ankle injuries that led to surgery and sidelined him all of 2004.
But the first unit showed very little during preseason. By the third week, the team was down to its fourth center after injuries to starter Alex Stepanovich (fractured hand), backup Nick Leckey (ankle) and newcomer Bill Conaty (triceps, lasted two weeks before he went on Injured Reserve). Stepanovich remains a long shot to return for the Sept. 11 opener at the New York Giants
"The offense is trying hard," coach Dennis Green said. "We've got a couple of things going, but not the consistency."
Whoever starts at center — and converted guard Adam Haayer appears the leading candidate — will line up beside a rookie right guard, Elton Brown. New right tackle Oliver Ross is expected to be a mauling run blocker, just as he was at Pittsburgh, when he recovers fully from a knee injury that caused him to miss the first two preseason games.
So it is no surprise that Warner has been under intense pressure or that Arrington averaged only 2.9 yards a carry through three games, finding nowhere to run behind a makeshift line.
Still, the Cardinals' belief is unshaken that they have upgraded the unit that rarely scored more than two touchdowns a game in 2004. At some point, when all the players have returned and worked together, they still expect to double last year's numbers.
The key question for them is when? How long will it take? And by then, will the team that many national observers believe will win a mediocre NFC West be too far behind to do it?
Shipp was the good-news story of camp, a comeback player whose return is critical to the team. He was the leading rusher in 2003 and 2002. He takes a gaudy 8.2 yards a carry into the preseason finale, although most of that has been with the second unit against other second units.
For some other players, the news wasn't as good.
Tight end Bobby Blizzard created some buzz when he made All-NFL Europe. Tight end is the forgotten position in the offense — at least one the team neglected to address during the off-season after not re-signing veteran Freddie Jones. But Blizzard was a non-entity almost from the first day of camp and now is unlikely to even make the roster — even though first-teamer Eric Edwards has had a torn pectoral muscle and is just now returning to the practice field. The job was there for the taking.
Defensive tackle Kenny King, who had wrist surgery and missed almost all of 2004, was expected to come back and battle hard for a starting spot with Darnell Dockett, who replaced him in the lineup as a rookie. But King's wrist problems continued and he has been placed on Injured Reserve again already. Dockett, a live-bodied playmaker, will remain the starter inside at "under tackle."
Free safety Quentin Harris was expected to knock Ifeanyi Ohalete out of a job, but for the second straight camp Harris underperformed and now is working as a backup strong safety. It wasn't a total whiff at free safety, though. Veteran free agent Robert Griffith won the job and undrafted rookie Ernest Shazor has been coming on strong the past two weeks to the extent that the team released Ohalete, their 2004 starter, before the final cut down.
Most of the good news is on defense, where two 2004 starters — Ohalete and defensive end Peppi Zellner — have been released already because others have passed them.
"We turned the corner," Green said.
Zellner became expendable because Chike Okeafor, signed during the off season, has been everything the team envisioned while winning the job and 2003 first-round pick Calvin Pace has re-emerged from the scrap heap to claim the backup job.
The defense, which made strides last season, has been sharp, benefiting not only from the addition of Okeafor but also from free-agent outside linebacker Orlando Huff, rookie corner Antrel Rolle and Griffith.
It is a unit that just might be good enough to keep the team in games while the offense comes together. Initially, that's the Cardinals' only hope.
COACHING: Dennis Green, 12th year, 2nd with Cardinals (103-72).
REMEMBERING: 2004 record: 6-10 (3rd in NFC West); did not make playoffs.
PREDICTING: 2005 regular season record 9-7 (2nd in NFC West); gain Wild Card playoff position.
NOTES, QUOTES
— Last season, the team's first four draft picks became starters, and it appears the Cardinals have followed with another strong draft class. Rookies Antrel Rolle (CB), J.J. Arrington (RB) and Elton Brown (G) are on the first team, and Eric Green (CB) is pushing hard to dislodge a veteran.
— PR/KR J.J. Moses was claimed off waivers from Chicago after J.R. Redmond, projected as the kickoff and punt returner and third-down back, suffered a season-ending dislocated shoulder in the third preseason game at Oakland.
Moses has experience — 30 games over the last two seasons as expansion Houston's returner.
Moses' competition is Charles Lee, James Jackson and Damien Anderson on kick returns, and Dan Sheldon on punt returns.
— With Remond on IR, it will take at least two and possibly three players to replace him since it appears one player will not be both the kick and punt returner, as Redmond would have been. Redmond also was shaping up as the third-down back. Coach Dennis Green said Anderson and Jackson are battling for the No. 3 running back spot.
— It appears rookie RG Elton Brown has won the job from veteran Jeremy Bridges. Brown, a fourth-round pick, was regarded as the best guard in the draft.
— It's still a jumbled mess at tight end, where Eric Edwards (pectoral muscle tear) has missed almost all of preseason. He's just now returning to practice. With one year, he is the most experienced player at the position. Undrafted rookie Adam Bergen and Aaron Golliday have shared duty, a situation that will continue in the opener and perhaps a week beyond while Edwards works back.
— The fullback battle still is too close to call. Massive James Hodgins, who played with QB Kurt Warner at St. Louis, is a fine blocker, but his game is one-dimensional. Obafemi Ayanbadejo started last season while Hodgins was on Injured Reserve and isn't the blocker Hodgins is, but has some pass-receiving capability.
The edge appears to be with Hodgins. The fullback is going to be relegated to short-yardage and goal-line packages while the team uses its spread formations primarily.
— The fourth and fifth receiver jobs still are open — Charlie Lee and Reggie Newhouse appear to be the leaders.
The team is not expected to have interest in Peter Warrick (who reportedly signed with Seattle on Wednesday) or Peerless Price, who were cut this week. The Cardinals have invested heavily in high draft picks Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson. Fitzgerald and Johnson are former first-round picks. Boldin was a second-round pick but his contract was re-worked last month so that he now is paid like a first-rounder.
— Veteran SS Robert Griffith will open the season as the starter at free safety after the team released Ifeanyi Ohalete, the 2004 starter.
— CB Eric Green, a third-round pick, continues to push 2004 starter David Macklin for the starting job opposite another rookie CB, first-round pick Antrel Rolle. That race remains too close to call going into the preseason finale.
— Fans who enter Sun Devil Stadium for Cardinals games now will be subject to hand searches effective Friday in the preseason finale against Denver, which features former Cardinals QB Jake Plummer.
The Cardinals will play only seven more games at Sun Devil before moving to a new stadium in Glendale, Ariz., next season. One of their homes games this season, Oct. 2 vs. San Francisco, has been moved to Mexico City for the first NFL regular-season games ever played outside the U.S.
The Cardinals say the new procedure is "to enhance fan safety." All fans should expect to be patted down by security personnel before going through stadium gates. The procedure will be in effect at every NFL stadium.
"This new requirement is not a result of any specific threat information," said NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. "It is in recognition of the significant additional security that 'pat-downs' offer, as well as the favorable experience that our clubs and fans have had using 'pat-downs' as part of a comprehensive stadium security plan."
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 — Different starting centers during preseason because of injuries.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I thought he did a great job with what we asked him to do in such a short period of time. One snap came up funny (vs. Oakland) but the rest were great and he actually made some adjustments." — Cardinals QB Kurt Warner, on C Adam Haayer, converted last week from G, who may start in the opener because the team's top three Cs are injured.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
— Releasing two 2004 defensive starters before the final cut down indicates that the Cardinals have improved their personnel on that side of the ball.
DE Peppi Zellner was axed after Chike Okeafor took ownership of the left-side starting job and Calvin Pace improved greatly to win the backup spot.
SS Robert Griffith and backups Adrian Mayes and Ernest Shazor made 2004 starter Ifeanyi Ohalete expendable.
The early release should help Zellner and Ohalete catch on elsewhere. They also were making more money than the other backups, so their ouster improves the team's salary-cap situation, which was not in bad shape to begin with.
One early release the team might now like to have back: Josh Scobey, who was the kickoff returner in 2004 and a competitor for the No. 3 RB position. Within days of releasing Scobey — who quickly was signed by Seattle — the man who was to replace him, J.R. Redmond, suffered a dislocated shoulder and was placed on Injured Reserve.
— Also going to IR already are DT Kenny King (wrist, a contender for starting "under" tackle), and backup C Bill Conaty (triceps tear).
PLAYER TO WATCH: SS Ernest Shazor — The undrafted rookie from Michigan was the gem of the undrafted group, the team believes. But Shazor initially was slowed by a hamstring injury and was blown away by not being drafted. He battled personal issues that caused him to miss the early days of camp, at the time making it questionable that he would be around for long. But during the past two weeks, he has come on strong and now appears in position to make the team as a backup. If he sticks, watch for his role to increase as the season unfolds.
DRAFT PICKS TO STICK:
Round 1/8 — CB Antrel Rolle, Miami — Locked up the starting left-side position, to no one's surprise. Physical and instinctive. Opened eyes when he deflected a pass in the end zone to save a TD in his pro preseason debut. He's big. He can jam and bump, exactly what the Cardinals want.
Round 2/44 — RB J.J. Arrington, California — It is shaping up as a rough transition but the team is going to ride with him as the starting back. He is averaging fewer than 3 yards a carry in preseason play and has fumbled a couple of times, but he has shown the flashes of speed in the seams of spread formations that the team loves. Backup Marcel Shipp, although a different type of back with his pounding runs, is right on Arrington's tail to push him.
Round 3/75 — CB Eric Green, Virginia Tech — The team has a dire shortage at corner, and even though it selected a very good one in the first round, Green will find a spot, too. At the very least he will play in nickel or dime packages and definitely on special teams, where he was an excellent kick-blocker in college. But he remains a strong contender to take the starting right-side job from veteran David Macklin.
Round 3/ 95 — OLB Darryl Blackstone, Virginia — He won't crack the starting lineup, but he will make the roster as strong-side backup to second-year starter Karlos Dansby. Blackstone has shown that he can get to the quarterback.
Round 4/111 - G Elton Brown, Virginia — He has taken the starting right-side job from veteran Jeremy Bridges. At 111 players deep, Brown was a steal in the draft. Many rated him the best guard in the draft, some believing he has first-round talent, but he fell because of questions regarding his intensity. He has put those concerns to rest with his preseason play.
UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS:
QUARTERBACK: Starter — Kurt Warner. Backups — Josh McCown, John Navarre.
McCown did not live up to Green's expectations, although he was 6-7 as the starter on a 6-10 team, lost the job late in the season, and was replaced by free-agent veteran Kurt Warner, who is anxious to prove he still has what it takes. Warner is a high-percentage passer, but he also takes tons of sacks. He has eased questions regarding how well he still grips the ball. McCown, still young and athletic, gets more grooming time. Green likes Navarre, as well, and don't rule him out if Warner goes belly-up or is injured.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters — RB J.J. Arrington, FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo. Backups — RB Marcel Shipp, RB Damien Anderson, FB James Hodgins.
Shipp, the team rushing leader in 2003 and 2002, has come back from a nasty lower leg fracture and dislocated ankle that sidelined him all of 2004 and out-played the rookie Arrington. But Arrington still gets the starting job, a high draft pick with plenty of upside to be developed. Shipp, a pounder who gains high averages, will be a strong backup.
TIGHT ENDS/H-BACK: Starter — Eric Edwards. Backups — Aaron Golliday, Adam Bergen.
Very inexperienced group. Of those who have played previously, Edwards will need a week or two into the season to work back into playing condition after missing three weeks to a torn pectoral muscle. It will be a tag-team until then, but with spread formations the team plans to use, the tight end won't always be on the field, anyway.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Bryant Johnson. Backups — Reggie Newhouse, Charles Lee.
This appears to be the team's strongest unit among the starters, but it's a different story among backups. Lee can help his chances if he wins the kick-return job. The starting three - the team lists three as starters for their anticipated extensive use of spread formations - are as good as any. Boldin knows how to get open. Johnson has the best deep speed, something Kurt Warner will love. Fitzgerald is rounding into the most polished overall talent among them.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters — LT Leonard Davis LG Reggie Wells, C Alex Stepanovich, RG Elton Brown, RT Oliver Ross. Backups — G Jeremy Bridges, G/T Fred Wakefield, C Nick Leckey, C/G Adam Haayer, T Ian Allen, C Shawn Lynch.
The Big Red Line got the Big Red Flag. All but one of the starters on the underachieving unit of a few years back are gone now (Davis is the only survivor, and he's now in a different spot, LT, where he moved last year). There is inexperience in the middle but the added toughness of free-agent Ross should open more holes for runners and protect QB Kurt Warner adequately. C will be a concern initially with the projected top two players injured. Haayer, a converted G, may open the season as the starting C.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters — LE Chike Okeafor, LT Russell Davis RT Darnell Dockett, RE Bertrand Berry. Backups — T Ross Kolodziej, E Calvin Pace, T Tim Bulman, E Tyler King.
There are big-time players in Berry, who made the Pro Bowl, and Dockett, an effective rookie starter. Adding free-agent Okeafor to play outside opposite Berry gives the team another threat to sack the QB, as he showed during preseason. Run-stopping still is questionable. It is a deep, experienced group.
LINEBACKERS: Starters — SLB Karlos Dansby, MLB James Darling, WLB Orlando Huff. Backups — MLB Gerald Hayes, SLB Darryl Blackstone, WLB Eric Johnson.
Dansby showed as a rookie that he is a keeper with his play-wrecking athleticism. Huff played inside in Seattle but coaches here like his early work outside. Hayes is likely successor in the middle to long-time starter Ron McKinnon, who was not re-signed, but Hayes preseason knee injury has shuffled Darling into the starting position to open the season until Hayes is ready in a month. Darling is an experienced versatile veteran who can play inside or out. There is edge pass-rushing ability and improved toughness in the group, which could mitigate the weak run-stoppers up front.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Antrel Rolle, RCB David Macklin, SS Adrian Wilson, FS Robert Griffith. Backups — CB Eric Green, SS Quentin Harris, CB Robert Tate, FS Adrian Mayes, FS Ernest Shazor.
Rolle, a high first-round pick, steps into the spot where Duane Starks was a huge disappointment, but will have to learn how to play off NFL receivers. Rolle is a physical bump-and-run player. Fellow rookie Green is pushing hard for Macklin's job. Wilson is as good as any at what he does. At FS, veteran Griffith sent 2004 starter Ifeanyi Ohalete packing. Starting four are solid. Questionable depth.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Starters — K Neil Rackers, P Scott Player, LS Nathan Hodell, KR Damien Anderson, KR James Jackson, PR Dan Sheldon, PR Charles Lee, KR/PR J.J. Moses.
Rackers was among the best in the league in field-goal accuracy, especially beyond 40 yards. His greatest improvement, though, was in touchbacks on kickoffs. He's solid and safe. Player continues to be among the league's steadiest and most competent. His hang time is excellent, and he is adept at pinning foes inside the 20. A real weapon. The preseason loss of J.R. Redmond, who had claimed both return jobs, has thrown those positions into turmoil going into the closing preseason game. Newly signed Moses could take them both. That question might not be answered for a game or two. Coverage killed the team and must be shored up, the only glaring weakness on units that have been team strengths for several seasons.
