CARDINALS FANTASY NEWS

February 6, 2006 2:00 PM ET

If you're a glass-half-full type of person, the Cardinals had a pretty solid 2005. They led the NFL in passing offense, averaging 20 more yards per game than their nearest competitor, and finished eight in the league in total offense. Their kicking game was unparalleled, as they made eight more field goals than any other team and converted a league-best 95 percent of their attempts.

If you're a glass-half-empty kind of guy or gal, it was the same old same old for Arizona. They finished dead-dog last in the league in rushing, averaging 12 yards per game fewer than the next-closest team. They had just two rushing touchdowns, just two running plays of more than 20 yards, and a paltry 58 rushing first downs on the year—less than 13 individual players, including the likes of Warrick Dunn, Thomas Jones, and Reuben Droughns. They also finished 30th in turnover differential at minus-11.

Somewhere in between—and, unfortunately for Cardinals fans, closer to empty than full, lies the truth. With Arizona set to play in a brand spanking new stadium in 2006, will the Bidwells throw some money at the Cards' litany of problems? Will the draft yield some help? Will Denny Green's addition of more refugees from the Vikings coaching staff pay dividends? No one knows for sure, but at least the restrooms at the new stadium will be clean.

Needs
Saying the Cards need to upgrade their running game is like saying Arizona is warm in the summer. But it might not be as simple as taking Deangelo Williams with the 10th overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Last April, the Cards thought they had taken care of the problem by snagging J.J. Arrington in the second round. Arrington couldn't beat out Marcel Shipp and earned himself just 112 carries in his rookie year, though he did net both of the club's rushing scores. Drafting Williams wouldn't necessarily provide a complement to Arrington, and truth be told the problems may lie more with the offensive line than with the backs.

To that end, Green brought back Steve Loney to coach the offensive line. Loney worked with the Cards under Joe Bugel several years back and most recently served as the Vikings' line coach and then offensive coordinator. He has some talent to work with—notably, former first-round pick Leonard Davis—and is familiar with right tackle Oliver Ross, whom he coached collegiately at Iowa State. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Cardinals pursue linemen in the offseason, especially since left guard Reggie Wells is a restricted free agent and there's little depth to speak of.

The Cardinals will also need to settle on a signal-caller, as both Kurt Warner and Josh McCown can test the market this offseason. The club appears willing to bring back Warner, which would likely send McCown searching for a starting gig elsewhere. However, inking Warner would necessitate a backup plan given Kurt's penchant for injury; if Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler lasts until the Cards make their selection, 10th overall, in the first round, he may be Denny Green's next quarterback project.

Arizona is locked, stocked, and ready to roll at the receiver position; in fact, failure to address running game issues might be a fantasy boon for Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, who both will likely rank among the top 10 at their position heading into next season. Behind them, Zona has former first-rounder Bryant Johnson, who has shown flashes of competence, and a pair of youngsters they really like in LeRon McCoy and Carlyle Holiday.

At tight end, the Cards think they've found a solid tandem in the blocking of Eric Edwards and the pass-catching of Adam Bergen. With so many passes going to the outside receivers, there's no need to dedicate resources to upgrade this area.

Defensively, Arizona has quietly been building a very strong young unit. While they ranked 27th in points allowed, the Cards finished eight in yardage allowed—ahead of such luminaries as the Redskins and Cowboys. Expect plenty of offseason attention to be directed at tackle Russell Davis, who was hurt much of last year and can test the free agent market. The Cards also need to address depth issues along the defensive line and in the secondary, as several key reserves can become free agents.

Salary Cap Situation
The Cardinals are approximately $23 million under the projected $92 million salary cap for 2006, according to NFL.com.

Unrestricted Free Agents
QB Kurt Warner, QB Josh McCown, RB James Jackson, RB J.R. Redmond, FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo, FB Harold Morrow, WR Reggie Swinton, C Billy Conaty, G Ian Allen, T Adam Haayer, DT Russell Davis, DT Ross Kolodziej, DE R-Kal Truluck, CB Raymond Walls, CB Robert Tate, S Quentin Harris

Restricted Free Agents
G Reggie Wells, DT Langston Moore, DE Kenny King, LB Gerald Hayes

Free Agent Signings
None.

The Draft
It's an annual tradition for the Cards to hold a high pick, and this year is no exception as they'll round out the first 10 teams on the clock in 2006.

Despite the selection of Arrington last year, most mock drafts point to Arizona selecting a running back 10th overall. The overwhelming majority of those mocks have Memphis' Deangelo Williams going to the Cards, though a growing minority tab USC's LenDale White for a bird suit. The selection of Williams might indicate that Arizona is giving up on Arrington, because the two players have similar styles and stature and wouldn't necessarily complement each other. Drafting White, however, might lead to a thunder/lightning backfield similar to White played in with the Trojans—and yes, it would be Arrington playing the Reggie Bush role, and no, we don't think he'd do it nearly as well.

The Cards could also look at grooming a quarterback of the future, and if Cutler slips past the Lions Denny will be waiting. Another possibility is Alabama's Brodie Croyle if he lasts until the 42nd overall pick. Either way, given Green's track record of drafting game-breaking skill players, it's tough to see the Cards going with a lineman in either the first or second round.

Injury Watch
To the surprise of no one, Warner's season ended early when he suffered a sprained knee in week 15. He had missed four games earlier in the season with a groin injury, and at age 35 can't be counted on for a full 16-game slate at this point in his career. If he does return to the Cards, they'll have to have a backup plan in place for the handful of games he won't be available.

Boldin missed a pair of games with a sore knee but still topped his stellar rookie digits in both catches and yardage. He's now missed time each of the past two seasons, which has to be a concern for both the Cards and for potential fantasy owners.

Kicker Neil Rackers missed just one game after suffering a partially torn calf muscle in his plant leg; he'll enjoy an offseason of rest, relaxation, and whatever else it is that kickers do and be good to go for next season.

Pro Bowl defensive end Bert Berry missed the second half of the season with a torn pectoral muscle, though the team initially hoped he would return for the end of the year. Ultimately, Berry was placed on injured reserve, but the fact that the team thought he might be back earlier is a good omen for his availability from the outset in 2006.

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