Arizona Cardinals: The Offensive Line Will Be In the Top 15 of the League
Sept. 9, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (19) prepares to take the snap as the offensive line squares off against the Seattle Seahawks defensive line during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals beat the Seahawks 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Levi Brown, Jonathan Cooper, Lyle Sendlein, Daryn Colledge, and Bobby Massie are the projected starters on the offensive line of the Arizona Cardinals. If these guys can stay healthy throughout the entire year, they will improve massively. While Brown isn’t one of the best left tackles in the game, he is ten times better than D’Anthony Batiste, his replacement last season.
He is excellent in the run game, but has a ton of work to do in pass protection especially if you are protecting the quarterback from his blind side. Cooper is projected to be a Hall of Fame-type guard by many experts. In all honesty he better be being drafted so high that’s what you expect out of any player drafted in the top 10 picks. We all know sometimes it just doesn’t pan out that way though and that person crumbles under the pressure. Cooper has versatility playing different positions for North Carolina in his time there.
Cooper has great athleticism and knows how to get into the second level of the defense which will impact the running game and make Rashard Mendenhall and Ryan Williams happy. Expect Cooper to start off a little bit rocky because no matter how talented you are as a rookie it takes some time to adjust to the big boy level. Sendlein has been probably one of the most consistent of all the lineman. He can share his leadership and work ethic with the new rookies coming in.
Sendlein will be his normal self and do his job nothing more nothing less. Expect consistency play from him throughout the year, and to be the anchor for the line. Colledge the best player on the line this past season will now move to the right side. The interior of line will not be the problem that’s for sure it’s going to be the outside who will have to hold up.
Massie the second year pro had an awful first half last year he was getting beat by anything and anyone. Massie made adjustments and improved so much after giving up 13 sacks through the first seven games. Now I won’t sit here and write that he will not give up a sack this year but I believe he will only give up five sacks this year. He showed his desire to be great in the NFL, and that extra time he spends watching film will benefit him greatly.
This unit has a chip on its shoulder and has something prove after terrible play the past couple of years. If the Cardinals have any chance at making the playoffs, it is going to start with the offensive line. They have a quarterback that can make plays if protected and given time. Now not every sack was on them last season, and it doesn’t help when your quarterback is inexperienced and holds on to the ball for a century. This line will allow less than 40 sacks while that’s not elite it’s a huge improvement from 58 sacks.