Arizona Cardinals Chance To Win The West Hendered,Part 2

Dec 29, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; NFL referee Walt Anderson breaks up a fight between San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals players at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

If healthy, the Arizona Cardinals will be scary on offense, adding the speed of Ted Ginn and rookies John Brown and Walt Powell, it will be hard to double Fitzgerald like the division usually does. Now it will be determined just how good the other three teams secondary’s are in this division, because the Cardinals offense will almost require perfect coverage from everyone not named Richard Sherman.

Speed will be the name of their game, Andre Ellington out of the backfield will be a more intricate part of the attack.
The key will be can John Brown and Ted Ginn stretch the defense like their speed dictates they should, if so look for this offense to almost be unstoppable.

The Cardinals are projected to have one of the most dynamic defensive secondaries in the league adding Antonio Cromartie to (star in the making) Patrick Peterson, and of course the health of the honey badger Tyrann Mathieu will be pivotal to their success. The secondary will have to be the absolute strong point on defense now that middle linebacker position is very thin, losing Karlos Dansby to free agency and of course the loss of Daryl Washington for the entire 2014 season because of a second failed drug test for illegal substance. The bringing in of ex-Steeler Larry Foote will not fill the entire void, in fact the team may have more than three guys sharing the load and perhaps depending on who the opponent is will determine which style of linebacker is needed. For example:Foote may be a veteran and can tackle and read plays because of his experience, and second year player Kevin Minter has youth on his side where he may be able to chase down ball carriers and has the best chance to stay with tight ends. Then there are other guys that the team will bring in to try and make up this void.

This defense at one point was fast enough to hold down the read option quarterbacks of the two power house leaders, but now going into this season it is a mystery and the offense may have to be a high scoring unit to stay in games.

Look for the Cardinals to split games with each division opponent this year and have a chance to make the playoffs, winning nine or ten games this season.Bold prediction and much is riding on how the defense will look with key missing pieces.