Notes
• Carson Palmer proved last year that, when healthy, he can be a more than solid starting quarterback in this Arizona Cardinals offense. Getting him back to the level he was playing at before he went down in 2014 will be key to the Cardinals attempts to improve again in 2015.
• Last year we very nearly put Michael Floyd in the dark green category, instead deciding to wait a year for him to prove he belonged there, and our reservations were confirmed with a down year from the former Notre Dame star. Given the Cardinals quarterback situation after Palmer got hurt, we thought it unfair to push him down any lower than where he was a year ago however.
• Dan Williams was limited to playing a limited snap count as the team's nose tackle, but if leaves as a free agent, the Cardinals have very few options at the position currently on the roster. Alameda Ta'amu would be the next man up, but we simply haven't seen enough of him to form a full picture.
• 2014 wasn't great for Patrick Peterson, but we're giving him the benefit of the doubt that it was a down year and not an example of where he truly is as a player. He didn't prove himself to be the elite player many expected last season, but his career body of work keeps him in the Very Good category.
Team Needs
Cornerback: Even if 2014 was merely a down year for Patrick Peterson, with the second half of the season better than the first, this is still a position that Arizona needs to address. Antonio Cromartie is a free agent which right now puts Justin Bethel in line to start. He's one of the best in the league on Special Teams, but hasn't seen enough time on defense for us to judge either way, while the other three players listed on the depth chart at the position combined for a total of zero snaps on defense in 2014.
Outside Linebacker: It was a by-committee approach at outside linebacker for the Cardinals in 2014, but it's definitely a position which needs improving as we head towards the new season. Okafor, Shaughnessy and Alexander combined for just nine sacks, nine hits, and 37 hurries last season, so fans will be hoping they can find a top edge rusher either through free agency or the draft.
Interior Offensive Line: Perhaps the question mark for this Cardinals team comes on the offensive line. They addressed the left tackle spot with the addition of Jared Veldheer last offseason, but the interior needs help, and needs it urgently. Was 2014 just a down year for center Lyle Sendlein, who was solid enough the two years previous? Can Jonathon Cooper stay on the field and nail down a starting spot in his third year in the league? Even if both of those thing go in their favour, they could do with upgrading the other guard spot, with Ted Larsen struggling last year.
Click here to see the rest of the charts.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.