One dark horse NFL team for every division
By Andrew Garda
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals
If not for a Carson Palmer injury, people might be thinking more about the Arizona Cardinals. Interestingly, in some ways this has seemed to be an offseason where they stepped back a bit in at least one area, even as they have a healthy Carson Palmer around.
Let’s start with the offense though, which could be a strength this season. Palmer will once again have the ageless Larry Fitzgerald to throw to. He’ll also have Michael Floyd across from Fitz, which will keep defenses from focusing on one over the other. It will be interesting to see how involved John Brown and J.J. Nelson do as receivers off the bench, and if head coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin find ways to use them to take advantage of the attention Floyd and Fitzgerald get.
Andre Ellington will remain the lead back here, but the team brought Chris Johnson in to help on third downs and catch the ball out of the backfield. Johnson struggled to find a role with the New York Jets, but he still has a little left in the tank. Third round rookie back David Johnson might also find a role as well.
The offensive line continues to be a concern. In the first two games of the preseason, Carson Palmer was sacked twice and hit a third time in nine called pass plays. He was then sacked another three times against the Oakland Raiders in week three.
This isn’t all the offensive line’s fault (the Raiders defense isn’t as bad as you think), but enough of it is to give anyone pause when it comes to Palmer’s health.
Defensively, the team lost four players—Antonio Cromartie, Sam Acho, Darnell Dockett and Dan Williams. Cromartie struggled at times last season, but still seems to have a little left in the tank with the New York Jets (he pick-sixed Eli Manning in Saturday night’s game), but Dockett is mostly a role player these days. Acho is mixing in with the first team in Chicago with the Bears, and Dan Williams will be missed when they need someone to clog the middle.
Sean Witherspoon, Kevin Minter and Alex Okafor should do well in the linebacker spots, but the defensive line feels thin right now.
The secondary might be strong enough to overcome that though. Tyrann Mathieu continues to become one of the best safeties in the game, while Patrick Peterson is one of the best corners. Jerraud Powers can be a bit up and down, but should do well across from Peterson. Tony Jefferson rounds out the group from strong safety.
Overall the defense is a little less sure than it’s been in the past, but if it can play well enough—and the offensive line can keep Palmer from being crushed like last season—they have an excellent chance of breaking out in the NFC West.