How to Fix ‘em: Arizona Cardinals
By: Matt Harmon
Year in Review:
How hard is it to believe that this team actually started out the year 4-0? Kevin Kolb was showing that he could be a starter and the defense was locking down the opposition. Everything fell apart when a suspect offensive line began playing up to its reputation and the fragile Kevin Kolb was hurt once again. John Skelton and Ryan Lindley took turns showing off some horrific quarterback play and the offense completely collapsed under their watch. The whole ordeal got Ken Whisenhunt fired and even though I think he is a good coach, he struggled to put together a competent offense. The defense has blossomed under the watch of Ray Horton, and he is a candidate for the top job. It sound like either way, the Cardinals want to keep him on staff. That would be great because this is a defensive group that has a lot of good pieces in place and carried this team at times. I am sure they want to follow Horton and getting rid of him would be a mistake. This offense needs a ton of work, so that the talents of Larry Fitzgerald aren’t totally waster for another year.
Top Five Team Needs:
Offseason Moves:
(Image taken from: http://findlogo.net/show/detail/A/arizona-cardinals-logo#.UPdxYaVnL18)
Year in Review:
How hard is it to believe that this team actually started out the year 4-0? Kevin Kolb was showing that he could be a starter and the defense was locking down the opposition. Everything fell apart when a suspect offensive line began playing up to its reputation and the fragile Kevin Kolb was hurt once again. John Skelton and Ryan Lindley took turns showing off some horrific quarterback play and the offense completely collapsed under their watch. The whole ordeal got Ken Whisenhunt fired and even though I think he is a good coach, he struggled to put together a competent offense. The defense has blossomed under the watch of Ray Horton, and he is a candidate for the top job. It sound like either way, the Cardinals want to keep him on staff. That would be great because this is a defensive group that has a lot of good pieces in place and carried this team at times. I am sure they want to follow Horton and getting rid of him would be a mistake. This offense needs a ton of work, so that the talents of Larry Fitzgerald aren’t totally waster for another year.
Top Five Team Needs:
- Quarterback: The Cardinals were without a doubt the team with the worst situation at the game’s most important position. Brian Hoyer had a decent showing in his brief time with the team, and he should be brought back in a backup role. Lindley is young so he has a chance to stick as well. Kolb and Skelton should be let go as they represent the failure of the old regime. A new franchise level starter is needed.
- Offensive tackle: There is a dearth at this position that is about equal to that of quarterback. Bobby Massie started his entire rookie year and struggled at right tackle, but he did get better as the season progressed. He has a lot of skills and he should be given another chance as a starter. Seventh rounder Nate Potter also closed out the year on a high note, but counting on him would be a poor decision. A high pick should be used here to lock down what has been a problem position for them for years.
- Offensive Guard: Yep this line needs an overhaul. You can get away with Darryn Colledge as one of your starters, but man Adam Snyder is not very good. He is a versatile backup who would be at his best as the team’s sixth lineman. Moving a healthy Levi Brown to this spot could be a solution, but again, it would be foolish to count on that. Young competition should be added here.
- 3-4 Outside Linebacker: Sam Acho is a solid starting player, but he would be best as the team’s second pass rusher. O’Brien Schofield flashes occasionally, and has potential, but he struggles staying healthy. A premium draft pick, or a highly rated free agent, should be added here. They’ve tried to get by with midlevel players since getting burned by the Cody Brown bust. Time to correct that mistake.
- Running back: I am a well-documented Ryan Williams fan. I loved him at Virginia Tech and I expected him to be the fantasy football sleeper of this year. However, after suffering a season ending injury for the second year in a row, its time to wonder whether we will ever see his full potential. Beanie Wells is probably on the outs, and he has been a massive disappointment. If Williams comes back, great you may have a stud on your hands. But if I were the Cardinals, I would add a veteran and add someone in the middle rounds of the drafts.
Offseason Moves:
- Steve Keim promoted to General Manager: Jettisoning Rod Graves was a good idea. Many reported Graves was in over his head and didn’t have the eye for scouting or personal evaluation. I have heard many rave about Keim and his authoritative evaluations. A new voice was needed in this organization and other teams in the league sought after Keim and I like that they promoted their own before he was poached. Good hire. Grade: A
- Bruce Arians hired as Head Coach: I think Arians certainly deserved his shot. He was a great coach in Pittsburgh and its well documented what he did last year with the Colts. He is a good, aggressive offensive coach, and his leadership traits are off the charts. I do not like that his hiring led to Ray Horton being let go, but at the end of the day, I never thought the Bidwell’s plan of hiring an offensive coach and keeping Horton and his staff around was going to work out. You can’t have two leadership voices in the building. Grade: B+
- Harold Goodwin hired as Offensive Coordinator: Goodwin comes from an offensive line back ground and worked under Bruce Arians with the Colts last year. I would suspect that Goodwin has a say here, but that Arians will have final say with the offense. Its good he got a guy he is familiar with and that can be in charge of the running game, while Arians likely will control the passing game. Grade: B
- Todd Bowles hired as Defensive Coordinator: It has been a bit off a fall from grace for Bowles. When he was the Dolphins secondary coach he was touted as the "next big thing", and was even promoted to their interim head coach job. However, Bowles did not fare well as the Eagles secondary coach, and the defense got noticeably worse when he took over as the coordinator midway through last year. So is Bowles the wiz kid from Miami or the failed coordinator we saw last year? It is a gamble either way but I have a feeling its the latter. They should have worked things out with Ray Horton. Grade: C
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