Omletnator13
All-Star
Hello Arizona Cardinals fans, and welcome to the number one spot for Cardinal news, stats and stories. We're here because less than a week from now, regular season NFL football is back and in full swing. This breakdown is going to cover everything including rookie performances and expectations, the offensive breakdown, and the defensive breakdown. But before that, it's been made official for several months now that the team is under new management/ownership. Kyle Emlet takes over and has been quoted as saying he'd like to refocus the team's building from the inside out. The offensive lines and defensive lines will both be a major focal point for the general manager and front office.
Rookies to Watch:
The 3 biggest players to look at after this draft are the first 3 picks: Haason Reddick, Budda Baker and Chad Williams.
Haason Reddick LB: If there were any two players that Bruce Arians was quick to compare Haason Reddick to after the draft, it was former ILB and Cardinal Darryl Washington and OLB for the Broncos Von Miller. Von Miller is probably the closer player you will see on tape from Temple. He was primarily used as a pass rushing OLB and was a force off the edge. However, the Cardinals are looking for him to step into a hybrid spot at middle linebacker. He is one of the most athletic players on the defense and has the ability to cover a major part of the field.
Budda Baker S: The safety spot has been an ever revolving door since the departure of Reshad Johnson a few years ago and this year the Cardinals went for a safety early in the draft in round 2. The instant image that comes to mind when watching Budda Baker play at Washington it would be Arizona's own Tyrann Mathieu. Baker in the preseason took snaps at multiple spots, slot corner, safety, and linebacker. He shows up all over the field, just like our own Honey Badger.
Chad Williams WR: Some look at Chad Williams as someone not set to make that big of an impact, but this offense outside of Larry Fitzgerald and often in trouble former Cards receiver Michael Floyd, has lacked a big receiver with high point catching potential for awhile. The last few breakout guys for the Cardinals have been small speedsters John Brown and J.J. Nelson. Chad Williams has all the physical tools to do so, now we'll see if the depth at receiver will allow him to see time.
Offensive Breakdown:
We're not going to beat around the bush, the Cardinals offense was a huge letdown from the season before. The long passing game was not there as John Brown and other key contributors were nagged with injuries. But, the new owner touched on the key problem from last year: the offensive line did not allow Carson Palmer time to throw the traditional downfield passes that are a stable of Bruce Arian offenses. The receivers are healthy and ready to take the top off for Fitzgerald and to set the tone and give space for superstar David Johnson. The only thing that those skill positions are waiting for is the guys up front to come together and protect their veteran leader in Carson Palmer.
Defensive Breakdown:
This team in the end goes as far as this defense takes them. The offense is important, and we saw that last year, but this team like the rest of the division sets the tone with a tough, physical defense that's hard to move the ball on and even harder to score on the farther down the field the opposition goes. However, when you look at this team, the obvious strength is the back end of the defense along with the linebacking corps. The defensive line has not gotten any stronger, in fact, we've lost our best piece to free agency, Calais Campbell. The only defensive line member to have any promise is Robert Nkemdiche, who had a disappointing rookie year but had a great preseason and looks like he's tapped into his potential. The rest of the line is going to see some serious evaluation and everyone will be given a chance to compete.
Final Thoughts:
This team really struggled out the gate and saw their quarterback get attacked constantly and unable to deliver the MVP season he had the year before last. As Palmer goes, so does the offense. Despite a record setting year from David Johnson, the team still only went 7-8-1 and missed the playoffs. The offense needs to give Palmer time to throw, and in turn give us a chance to win. Simple but not easy. Look for the team to maybe shake things up early on up front on both sides of the line and get some better production there. This team still has real contender hype and will challenge Seattle for the division crown. Be ready for these Cardinals to fly high and get things done.
Rookies to Watch:
The 3 biggest players to look at after this draft are the first 3 picks: Haason Reddick, Budda Baker and Chad Williams.
Haason Reddick LB: If there were any two players that Bruce Arians was quick to compare Haason Reddick to after the draft, it was former ILB and Cardinal Darryl Washington and OLB for the Broncos Von Miller. Von Miller is probably the closer player you will see on tape from Temple. He was primarily used as a pass rushing OLB and was a force off the edge. However, the Cardinals are looking for him to step into a hybrid spot at middle linebacker. He is one of the most athletic players on the defense and has the ability to cover a major part of the field.
Budda Baker S: The safety spot has been an ever revolving door since the departure of Reshad Johnson a few years ago and this year the Cardinals went for a safety early in the draft in round 2. The instant image that comes to mind when watching Budda Baker play at Washington it would be Arizona's own Tyrann Mathieu. Baker in the preseason took snaps at multiple spots, slot corner, safety, and linebacker. He shows up all over the field, just like our own Honey Badger.
Chad Williams WR: Some look at Chad Williams as someone not set to make that big of an impact, but this offense outside of Larry Fitzgerald and often in trouble former Cards receiver Michael Floyd, has lacked a big receiver with high point catching potential for awhile. The last few breakout guys for the Cardinals have been small speedsters John Brown and J.J. Nelson. Chad Williams has all the physical tools to do so, now we'll see if the depth at receiver will allow him to see time.
Offensive Breakdown:
We're not going to beat around the bush, the Cardinals offense was a huge letdown from the season before. The long passing game was not there as John Brown and other key contributors were nagged with injuries. But, the new owner touched on the key problem from last year: the offensive line did not allow Carson Palmer time to throw the traditional downfield passes that are a stable of Bruce Arian offenses. The receivers are healthy and ready to take the top off for Fitzgerald and to set the tone and give space for superstar David Johnson. The only thing that those skill positions are waiting for is the guys up front to come together and protect their veteran leader in Carson Palmer.
Defensive Breakdown:
This team in the end goes as far as this defense takes them. The offense is important, and we saw that last year, but this team like the rest of the division sets the tone with a tough, physical defense that's hard to move the ball on and even harder to score on the farther down the field the opposition goes. However, when you look at this team, the obvious strength is the back end of the defense along with the linebacking corps. The defensive line has not gotten any stronger, in fact, we've lost our best piece to free agency, Calais Campbell. The only defensive line member to have any promise is Robert Nkemdiche, who had a disappointing rookie year but had a great preseason and looks like he's tapped into his potential. The rest of the line is going to see some serious evaluation and everyone will be given a chance to compete.
Final Thoughts:
This team really struggled out the gate and saw their quarterback get attacked constantly and unable to deliver the MVP season he had the year before last. As Palmer goes, so does the offense. Despite a record setting year from David Johnson, the team still only went 7-8-1 and missed the playoffs. The offense needs to give Palmer time to throw, and in turn give us a chance to win. Simple but not easy. Look for the team to maybe shake things up early on up front on both sides of the line and get some better production there. This team still has real contender hype and will challenge Seattle for the division crown. Be ready for these Cardinals to fly high and get things done.