2010 NFL Preview: Arizona Cardinals
The AFC North previews are complete on Technorati! To check out the previews, click on the teams' links:
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers
With the completion of the AFC North, we are down to two divisions left: The NFC West and AFC West. Let's go into the NFC West and start with the two-time reigning champion Arizona Cardinals.
The Arizona Cardinals have had a great ride in the past two seasons. They have won two consecutive NFC West division championships, won a NFC Championship in 2008, and went to their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
But a lot has changed since their exit from the NFC Divisional Playoffs last season: The quarterback that led the team to success, Kurt Warner, retired. Anquan Boldin expressed his displeasure and got his wish out of Arizona. With the losses, are the Cardinals capable of winning the NFC West for a third straight year? Or will Ken Whisenhunt's bunch go back to being the Cardinals that we have been accustomed to over the years? Technorati goes inside the Arizona Cardinals.
Recap:
- 2009 Record: (10-6, 1st NFC West, reached playoffs (Divisional Round))
- Key Additions: QB Derek Anderson (Cleveland Browns), G Rex Hadnot (Cleveland Browns), G Alan Faneca (New York Jets), DE/OLB Joey Porter (Miami Dolphins), ILB Paris Lenon (St. Louis Rams), CB/KR Justin Miller (New York Jets), FS Kerry Rhodes (New York Jets), K Jay Feely (New York Jets).
- Key Departures: QB Kurt Warner (retirement), WR Anquan Boldin (Baltimore Ravens), WR Jerheme Urban (Kansas City Chiefs), OT Mike Gandy (free agency), DE Bertrand Berry (retirement), ILB Karlos Dansby (Miami Dolphins), CB Bryant McFadden (Pittsburgh Steelers), FS Antrel Rolle (New York Giants), K Neil Rackers (Houston Texans).
Overview
Offense: The main reason for the Cardinals' success in the past couple of season, Kurt Warner, retired, so the reigns of the offense has been passed on to Matt Leinart. However, Leinart has not looked that great in the preseason (or during his entire NFL career for that matter) and has been benched in favor of Derek Anderson in the final two preseason games. Anderson did have one great year in 2007, when he threw for 29 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, but in the past two seasons combined, he's thrown for 12 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, and his accuracy in 2009 was abysmal, completing only 44.5% of his passes. However, he has passed Leinart on the depth chart, leading many to believe the it is not going to work out for the former USC star. If the Cardinals are going to shop for him, they need to at least pick up a more established quarterback so they will not be thin at the position. Leinart has had numerous chances to be an impact player, but he has never taken advantage of the opportunity. It may be time for both sides to finally move on.
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