49-year old head coach Ken Whisenhunt is going to try to get the Cardinals back on the right path in 2011.  They had a nightmare of a season in 2010 as they finished 5-11, using UFL caliber QBs.  This year they will have Kevin Kolb under center, so the excuses are about to be over.  The Cardinals are 32-32 (50%) in the regular season in Ken Whisenhunt’s four years on the job.  They are also 4-2 (66.7%) in the post-season under Whisenhunt and they were NFC Champs in 2008, falling just short of winning the Super Bowl.  I think Whisenhunt is going to get the Cardinals back into the playoffs in 2011.

The Cardinals gave up CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2nd round pick for 26-year old Kevin Kolb, so he better be ready to rock in 2011.  Kolb played in 7 games (5 starts) for the Cardinals last year and he completed 115 of 189 passes (60.8%) for 1,197 yards with 7 TD passes and 7 INTs (76.1 QB Rating).  Kolb has also carried the ball 15 times for 65 yards (4.3 ypc) last year.  Kolb has now played in 19 games (7 starts) in his first four years in the NFL and he has completed 194 of 319 passes (60.8%) for 2,082 yards with 11 TD passes and 14 INTs (73.2 QB Rating).  Kolb has also carried the ball 36 times for 64 yards (1.8 ypc) with 1 TD run so far in his career.  Kolb is 3-4 (42.9%) as a starting QB so far in his NFL career.  The Cardinals have put all of their eggs in Kolb’s basket, so they need him to live up to the hype starting in 2011.

23-year old John Skelton goes into the 2011 season as the #2 QB.  He played in 5 games (4 starts) as a rookie for the Cardinals last year and he completed 60 of 126 passes (47.6%) for 662 yards with 2 TD passes and 2 INTs (62.3 QB Rating).  Skelton also carried the ball 10 times for 49 yards (4.9 ypc) last year.  The Cardinals were 2-2 (50%) under Skelton when he started last year.

28-year old Richard Bartel and 25-year old Max Hall will compete for the #3 QB job in training camp.  Bartel played in 1 game (0 starts) last year for the Cardinals and he completed 16 of 28 passes (57.1%) for 150 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT (57.1 QB Rating).  That was Bartel’s first shot to play in the regular season game and with that in mind, he didn’t play too poorly.

25-year old Max Hall looked lost quite a bit in his rookie season last year.  Hall played in 6 games (3 starts) for the Cardinals last year and he completed 39 of 78 passes (50%) for 370 yards with 1 TD pass and 6 INTs (35.7 QB Rating).  Hall also carried the ball 1 time for -5 yards last year.  The Cardinals were 1-2 (33.3%) when Hall started at QB last year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CARDINALS QBS IN 2011:  B-

23-year old running back LaRod Stephens-Howling made the Cardinals as a rookie last season as the kickoff returner.  The 5’7″, 180 pound Stephens-Howling has all kinds of moves and he often gets right up the field rather than running east and west.  He played in 16 games last season for the Cardinals in which he returned 52 kickoffs for 1,257 yards (24.2 avg) with 1 TD return (it was a 99-yarder).  Look for the Cardinals to have good starting position quite often in 2010 due to LaRod Stephens-Howling.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CARDINALS KICKOFF RETURNERS IN 2010:  A-

The Cardinals look to have a very physical offensive line as they shift from a finsesse pass blocking team to more of an attacking run blocking team.  On the left side will be tackle Levi Brown and guard Alan Faneca.  Brown was a Pro Bowl alternate as a right tackle for the Cardinals last season but he will be shifting to the left.  But he won’t be the blind side protector as long as Matt Leinart is starting.  Faneca is a brawler in the running game which is his specialty from his Pro Bowl days with the Steelers.  Center Lyle Sendlein has come a long way since being a undrafted player out of college.  He has a nice upside and rarely makes mistakes.  Right guard Deuce Lutui is a lot like Faneca as he’s a solid run blocker.  Jeremy Bridges will battle Brandon Keith for the right to be the blind side tackle for Leinart in 2010.  Both Bridges and Keith are capable of handling the job at right tackle with the loser in the competition providing depth.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CARDINALS’ O-LINE in 2010:  C+

48-year old head coach learned his trade under Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh.  Whisenhunt brought a lot of his qualities along with him to Arizona and that is a good thing.  He led the Cardinals to a 10-6 record last season and the Cards went 1-1 in the playoffs.  The Cardinals are now 27-21 (56.3%) during Whisenhunt’s three years in charge and they are 4-2 (66.7%) in the post season.  The Cardinals narrowly lost the 2008 Super Bowl and it remains their goal to get back to that game and win it this time around.

34-year old kicker Jay Feely will likely be a very solid kicker for the Cardinals in 2010.  He played in 16 games for the Jets last season and he connected on 30 of 36 field goals (83.3%).  He also made all 32 of his extra points as he finished up with 122 points for the Jets.  Feely has now played in 143 games in his NFL career and he has made 303 of 373 field goals (81.6%) and 320 of 322 extra points good for 1,013 points.  I think he will excel kicking for the Cardinals without having to deal with the elements outside.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CARDINALS KICKERS in 2010:  B+

26-year old Larry Fitzgerald will definitely be the go-to man with Anquan Boldin off to Baltimore.  Fitzgerald played in 16 games (all starts) for the Cardinals last season and he caught 97 passes for 1,092 yards (11.3 avg) with 13 TD grabs.  He has now played in 92 games (all starts) in his six years with the Cardinals and he has caught 523 passes for 7,067 yards (13.5 avg) with 59 TD grabs.  Fitzgerald has also carried the ball 16 times for 55 yards (3.4 ypc) in his NFL career.  Fitzgerald has been to 4 Pro Bowls in his young NFL career but he will only make it to a fifth one in 2010 if the Cardinals get solid play from either Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson at QB.

26-year old Steve Breaston will be stepping into Boldin’s old role in the starting lineup.  Breaston played in 15 games (6 starts) last season for the Cardinals and he caught 55 passes for 712 yards (12.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He has now played in 47 games (15 starts) in his three years with the Cardinals and he has caught 140 passes for 1,810 yards (12.9 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball six times for 60 yards (10.0 ypc) in his NFL career.  I think Breaston will have a solid year for the Cardinals in 2010.

24-year old Early Doucet has the edge heading into training camp to be the #3 WR for the Cardinals in 2010.  Doucet played in 9 games (0 starts) for the Cardinals last season and he caught 17 passes for 214 yards (12.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 16 games (0 starts) in his two years with the Cardinals and he has caught 31 passes for 304 yards (9.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.

Rookie 3rd round pick Andre Roberts out of The Citadel will battle Early Doucet in training camp for the #3 WR job.  He is a solid receiver but this will be a huge step up in competition for him.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CARDINALS WRs in 2010:  B+

The Cardinals are a downfield passing game and that’s the reason the TEs don’t get the ball much.  25-year old Ben Patrick will likely get a lot of P.T. in 2010.  He played in 9 games (7 starts) for the Cardinals last season and he caught 12 passes for 146 yards (12.2 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Patrick has now played in 27 games (13 starts) in his NBA career and he has caught 30 passes for 323 yards (10.8 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He has the best upside as a receiver of the Cardinals’ TEs.

32-year old Anthony Becht is a big guy at 6’5″, 272 pounds and he is solid run blocking.  He’s also a nice, big target when the Cardinals get near the Red Zone.  Becht played in 16 games (10 starts) for the Cardinals last season and he caught 7 passes for 61 yards (8.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 158 games (129 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 185 passes for 1,511 yards (8.2 avg) with 21 TD grabs.

27-year old Stephen Spach comes to training camp #3 on the depth chart for the Cards.  Spach played in 7 games (5 starts) for the Cardinals last season and he caught 4 passes for 38 yards (9.5 avg).  He has now played in 34 games (12 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 13 passes for 95 yards (7.3 avg).

26-year old Dominique Byrd is in camp trying to revive his NFL career.  He last played in 2007 with the Rams.  Byrd has played in 14 games (0 starts) in two years in the NFL and he has caught 6 passes for 83 yards (13.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Byrd is a sleeper at TE for the Cardinals as he has a lot of talent as a receiver.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CARDINALS FBs in 2010:  C-

The Arizona Cardinals didn’t use a fullback much last season but that could change in 2010 due to the fact that they will be running more.  As of right now, 27-year old Nehemiah Broughton appears to be atop of the depth chart heading into training camp.  Broughton has not played in the NFL since the 2006 season with the Redskins.  He has played in 6 games (0 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 1 time for 3 yards.

3rd year FB Reagan Maui’a is #2 on the depth chart despite not playing in a game yet in his NFL career.  He is a big guy at 6’0″, 260 pounds so he could earn his paycheck by blocking for Tim Hightower and Chris Wells.

25-year old Charles Ali is #3 on the depth chart but he could easily move up it.  He did not play last season.  Ali is another big guy at 6’2″, 260 pounds and his game is also blocking.  He has played in 28 games (4 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 4 passes for 13 yards (3.3 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CARDINALS FBs in 2010:  D-

UPDATE:  (8/9/2010) – The Cardinals have released Charles Ali due to a lingering hamstring issue. 

The Cardinals are going to be running the ball a lot more in 2010 due to Matt Leinart being under center instead of Kurt Warner.  21-year old Chris Wells will be sharing time with 24-year old Tim Hightower in the backfield.  Wells played in 16 games (0 starts) as a rookie last season for the Cardinals and he carried the ball 176 times for 793 yards (4.5 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He also caught 12 passes for 143 yards (11.9 avg) last season.  I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Wells goes over 1,000 yards rushing in 2010.

Tim Hightower is more of a power back than Wells is.  Hightower is also light years better as a receiver out of the backfield.  He played in 16 games (all starts) for the Cardinals last season and he carried the ball 143 times for 598 yards (4.2 ypc) with 8 TD runs.  Hightower also caught 63 passes for 428 yards (6.8 avg) last season for the Cards.  He has now played in 32 games (23 starts) in his two years with the Cardinals and he has carried the ball 286 times for 997 yards (3.5 ypc) with 18 TD runs.  Hightower has also caught 97 passes for 665 yards (6.9 avg) in his career.  Look for Hightower to also have more yards rushing than he did last season.

23-year old LaRod Stephens-Howling was quite a find for the Cardinals last season late in the draft.  He played in 16 games (2 starts) as a rookie for the Cardinals last season in which he carried the ball 6 times for 15 yards (2.5 ypc) and he also caught 10 passes for 83 yards (8.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Stephens-Howling earned his money on special teams last season as he returned 52 kickoffs for 1,257 yards (24.2 avg) with 1 TD return.  Don’t look for him to put up many offensive numbers unless Tim Hightower or Chris Wells get injured.

27-year old Jason Wright will have to play well this training camp to beat out Stephens-Howling for the #3 RB job in 2010.  Wright played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Cardinals last season in which he carried the ball 3 times for 17 yards (5.7 ypc) and he also caught 9 passes for 53 yards (5.9 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Wright has now played in 65 games (4 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 162 times for 605 yards (3.7 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He has also caught 64 passes for 539 yards (8.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CARDINALS RBs in 2010:  B+