Raising Zona
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5 reasons to worry about the Arizona Cardinals in 2019

By Avery Duncan

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 23: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on from the bench in the NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Los Angeles Rams won 31-9. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 23: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on from the bench in the NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Los Angeles Rams won 31-9. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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TEMPE, ARIZONA – APRIL 26: General manager Steve Keim introduces quarterback Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals during a press conference at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center on April 26, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. Murray was the first pick overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, ARIZONA – APRIL 26: General manager Steve Keim introduces quarterback Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals during a press conference at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center on April 26, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. Murray was the first pick overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

1. The newness of the team

The ’19 Cardinals are a completely different team from their ’18 counterparts. The team added 11 draft picks that expect to make the roster, made a bold coaching hire, and signed or traded for 17 veterans. My list of players that can expect to see significant time next year sits at 20 and includes:

Although not every one of these players will start week-one, that’s still a lot of change for the team. Each expects to make the opening day 53-man roster and weren’t on the team last year. That’s a lot of change, and 37.8% of the roster build. If every one of their additions makes the roster, that will be 52.3% of the roster — that doesn’t include their AAF signings.

The changes don’t end at roster build. The Cardinals completely rebuilt their coaching staff and went in different directions than the last with each. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury will shift the Redbirds to an Air Raid squad, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has their defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4.

Next. Should the Cardinals trade for a defensive star?. dark

The culmination of their radical changes will be a bit of a developing period. The team will have to build chemistry while the coaching staff will have to sell them on their schemes. If that developing period takes longer than the first half of the season, the Cardinals could be in trouble.

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