Arizona Cardinals offensive line key to success

The Arizona Cardinals first unit offensive line has shown promise over the first two weeks of the preseason

Whenever we talked about the Arizona Cardinals offensive line last season, it usually was because of an injury, inept play, or both.  So far in the first two weeks of the preseason, the starters are looking pretty sharp.

Now this can only continue if they can stay healthy.  The Cardinals did lose starting center A.Q. Shipley a couple of weeks ago after the Red-White practice at University of Phoenix Stadium.

However through two preseason games, so far so good, knock on wood.  They will likely see a good amount of playing time in the first half next Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

Hopefully none of the starters will play in the preseason finale against the Denver Broncos four days later in Glendale.  So, next Sunday will be the time for spots to be solidified.

That is if those spots aren’t already solidified of course.  Guard Mike Iupati has looked good in run blocking.  D.J. Humphries has also been playing well.

The biggest question right now is at the center position.  The Cardinals, for now are going with rookie Mason Cole, a third-round pick out of Michigan.

He has looked good as well though.  He had held his own against the veteran lines of the Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints.

They do need to cut down on the penalties.  The Cardinals offensive line was hit with a couple of false starts on Friday night in New Orleans.

New Orleans is a tough place to play and does generate false starts often from opponents.  However the Superdome was not as loud as it would have been in the regular season.  The Cardinals will play in louder venues this season.

For now, the Cardinals need their backups to step it up.  It appears depth could end up once again being an issue.  The bodies will be there but the performance of the backups is going to be crucial as the season wears on.