After two solid pickups for the right side of the offensive line, the Arizona Cardinals will now need to find a new anchor at center if they wish to keep quarterback Sam Bradford upright and healthy
The Arizona Cardinals offensive line needed help, that’s no secret. General Manager Steve Keim helped the unit be signing two great additions in tackle Andre Smith and guard Justin Pugh. Great pickups to solidify the right side.
Left tackle D.J. Humphries is making strides after his season-ending knee injury last season, and left guard Mike Iupati agreed to take a pay cut to remain with the team. That’s great news for a unit that struggled mightily in 2017 and gave up 50 sacks.
The biggest question, however, is who will be snapping the ball at center. The Cardinals currently have two holdovers in A.Q. Shipley, who started every game in 2017, and Evan Boehm. The former, entering the last year of his contract, and the latter has struggled since coming out of the fourth round in 2016.
Boehm, in 2017, was asked to move to right guard and that didn’t fare well for the Missouri product and was subsequently replaced by veteran Earl Watford in the middle of the season. Shipley was the only player on the offensive line to play and start every game — but his play is average at best.
Perhaps moving Boehm to his natural center position would bode well, but OTAs and training camp will determine that. Locking down the position for which he was drafted for would certainly help the Cardinals in the long run. He is only 24-years-old and under contract through the 2019 season.
The right pieces are in place for this unit and it is imperative that they find the right solution at center. Head coach Steve Wilks wants to run the ball and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy will bring out the best in Sam Bradford.
Fail to protect him, however, and he could see another year end on IR. Get him a great center and this offense will be productive with running back David Johnson being the center piece.
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Maybe one more free agent signing will suffice in really putting together a cohesive unit … someone give Steve Keim Mike Pouncey’s phone number.