Cardinals season preview 2016: Predictions and analysis

The Arizona Cardinals have not enjoyed much success throughout the history of the franchise. Starting as the Chicago Cardinals in 1920, there have only been two championships seasons (1925 and 1947), with the first one being a source of much controversy.

The Cardinals moved from St. Louis to Phoenix in 1988, and before current head ciach Bruce Arians arrived in 2013, the team had three winning seasons in the desert. They have matched that total over Arians’ tenure.

Going into 2016, Arizona has its best chance of winning a Super bowl at least since the days of Jim Hart and Don Coryell. The Cardinals have the league’s best roster, stacked at almost every position on both offense and defense. The only potential fly in the ointment is the health of Carson Palmer, which is always teetering on a razors edge.

Palmer is 36 years old and has only played a full season in two of his last five campaigns. Last year was one of them, and the veteran took advantage with 4,671 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Both numbers are career highs by considerable margins, so look for those numbers to decrease.

In that vein, Arians will rely more on the rushing attack to move the ball. Second-year man David Johnson should see more touches after being highly impressive in the 125 carries he toted. Johnson rushed for 4.6 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns while adding 36 receptions for 457 yards and another four scores.

Johnson needs to become a focal point in this offense to both protect Palmer from injury and provide more balance to the unit. Palmer and his legion of quality receivers will always be the main plan of attack, but if the Cardinals want to be a bigger threat in the postseason, it goes through the ground game.

The defense should take a big step forward with the additions of first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche and outside linebacker Chandler Jones. Jones was acquired from the New England Patriots for a second-round pick and guard Jonathan Cooper, giving Arizona a true pass-rusher. Jones will be replacing Dwight Freeney, who was allowed to leave in free agency despite registering a team-best eight sacks. Last year, Jones amassed 12.5.

While the front seven also has quality players in Calais Campbell and Frostee Rucker, the strength of this unit is in the secondary.

Tyrann Mathieu tore his ACL last season but is fully recovered. Mathieu is the most versatile defensive back in the league, excelling at both safety and corner. Patrick Peterson also provides the Cardinals with a true shutdown corner, while Deone Bucannon is an underrated safety who can play the entire field.

Every team enters the season with aspirations of holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Arizona has a real opportunity to do so. The Cardinals have to hope Palmer stays upright and that Larry Fitzgerald can continue to produce as a top receiver, but the pieces are in place for a championship run.

Schedule

Week 1 – New England Patriots (Sun. night)
Week 2 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 3 – at Buffalo Bills
Week 4 – Los Angeles Rams
Week 5 – at San Francisco 49ers (Thurs.)
Week 6 – New York Jets (Mon.)
Week 7 – Seattle Seahawks (Sun. night)
Week 8 – at Carolina Panthers
Week 9 – BYE
Week 10 – San Francisco 49ers
Week 11 – at Minnesota Vikings
Week 12 – at Atlanta Falcons
Week 13 – Washington Redskins
Week 14 – at Miami Dolphins
Week 15 – New Orleans Saints
Week 16 – at Seattle Seahawks
Week 17 – at Los Angeles Rams

Arizona is going to be feeling some serious jet lag in late November and early December. After traveling to play Minnesota, the Cardinals will come home before flying across the country to Atlanta. After one home game, Arizona gets back on the jet and goes to Miami.

The first six weeks of the schedule provide the Cardinals to get off to a nice start. Arizona has Jimmy Garoppolo at home with the Buccaneers coming in next. If things go right over that stretch, Arizona could be undefeated before hosting the Seahawks in primetime.

Draft class

Round 1 (29) – Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
Round 3 (92) – Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M
Round 4 (128) – Evan Boehm, C, Missouri
Round 5 (167) – Marqui Christian, S, Midwestern State
Round 5 (170) – Cole Toner, OT, Harvard
Round 6 (205) – Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana

General manager Steve Keim did a nice job addressing both need and nabbing the best available players. Nkemdiche is a boom-or-bust candidate to the hilt, but he comes to a good locker room with a tough coach. It’s hard not to like the fit.

Williams has some flaws but he projects as a nice player down the road, and Boehm is one of the most underrated linemen in the draft. He could take over a starting spot some point this year if A.Q. Shipley has more struggles.

Offseason moves

Acquired

Evan Mathis, OG (1 year, $6 million)
Chandler Jones, OLB (Trade with NE)

Lost

Jonathan Cooper, OG (Trade with NE)
Dwight Freeney, OLB (ATL – 1 year, $1 million)

X-Factor

Can Mathieu finally play a full 16 games? The Honey Badger is one of the most talented, versatile players in the sport. When he’s on the field, Mathieu can drop into the box, come on the blitz, play man coverage or roam like a center fielder.

Without his presence, the secondary in Arizona is a serious question mark beyond Peterson. Mathieu is coming off a major knee injury, tearing his ACL. Should he be able to come back anywhere close to 100 percent and play the entire season, it’s a huge boon for the Cardinals.

Bottom Line

Arizona is the most complete team in football. The Cardinals addressed their lack of a pass rush by acquiring Chandler Jones in the offseason, and bolstered the defensive line with Nkemdiche. The only question is can Palmer stay upright and perform in the playoffs?

With Arians at the helm and this talented cast surrounding him, the Cardinals should be strong contenders to win home-field advantage and advance to the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history.