NFL
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals preview

Josh McCown

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

Other links Cardinals schedule

Predicted order of finish in the NFC West: Fourth

Coach: Dennis Green, first season, 11th season overall (97-62).

2003: 4-12 (fourth in NFC West). Dave McGinnis was fired after a 16-32 record over three seasons.

Key additions: DE Bertrand Berry, WR Larry Fitzgerald, LB Karlos Dansby, DL Darnell Dockett, RB Troy Hambrick, CB David Macklin, C Alex Stepanovich.

Key losses: CB David Barrett, QB Jeff Blake, K Bill Gramatica, C Pete Kendall.

Pre-snap read: Green, who took the Vikings to the playoffs eight times with seven QBs, believes he can do it with QB Josh McCown, a third-year player who started three games last season. Green plans to use a three-receiver offense that features last season's rookie phenom, Anquan Boldin; last year's No. 1 pick, Bryant Johnson; and this year's No. 1 pick, Larry Fitzgerald. However, Boldin is out until October with leg injuries, and the two others missed large parts of camp as well. The Cardinals will have to hope 35-year-old RB Emmitt Smith, the NFL's career rushing leader, can hold up because promising Marcel Shipp is out at least three months with a broken leg and dislocated ankle. The offense won't go anywhere, however, if the overhauled line isn't better than last year (29th in rushing and 30th in sacks). As questionable as the offense appears to be, there is no question the defense is bad. It ranked 26th at 344 yards allowed per game in 2003 and needs more playmakers. Berry (11.5 sacks for Denver last season) was signed to pump up a pass rush that produced just 21 sacks in 2003. The Cardinals are hoping for healthy seasons out of DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and CB Duane Starks, who missed 2003 with injuries.

What to expect: The desert sun won't shine on this team this season. Green has too much work to do and not enough players with whom to do it. But give him a year ...

The line on the line: The line is as much a mess as any part of the team. Green demoted LT L.J. Shelton and moved former first-rounder Leonard Davis from RG to LT, then the coach cut Kendall and put a rookie at center. Grade: C-

Offensive leaders
Pos.	Player	2003 statistics
QB	Josh McCown	1,018 yds, 5 TD, 6 INT
RB	Emmitt Smith	256 yds, 2.8 avg, 2 TD
WR	Anquan Boldin	101 rec, 1,377 yds, 8 TD
WR	Bryant Johnson	35 rec, 438 yds, 1 TD
TE	Freddie Jones	55 rec, 517 yds, 3 TD

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

E-mail this article

Print this article

Search archive

More Seahawks headlines...