Cardinals offseason report: Healthy Carson Palmer may mean reversal of fortunte
Hard to argue that any team was plagued with more bad luck last year than the Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona started 2014 as one of the most feared outfits in the NFC, going 9-1 in its first 10 games. It looked as if the Cardinals were on a potential path to the Super Bowl, which, coincidentally, was being held at their home stadium.
That all came crashing down Nov. 9 when quarterback Carson Palmer tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Backup Drew Stanton seemed to keep things together post-Palmer, winning three of the next five games. But then it got worse.
Stanton injured his knee in Week 15, which left third-stringer Ryan Lindley as the man the Cardinals would need to save the season.
It didn't work.
Despite one of the top defenses in the NFL and a valiant effort from coach Bruce Arians to keep Arizona on the winning track, the Cardinals just didn't have enough to make a run in the playoffs and fell to the Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round.
"I think Coach Arians said it best, when the season was over and we were able to take all of our players off the IR board and put them back on our depth chart, we had a pretty good football team," general manager Steve Keim said. "We just finished the season with no bullets left in the gun."
With Palmer almost back to full health and some notable players added, however, the Cardinals could be poised to build on last year's success.
WATCH: NFC burning questions
Quarterback
Palmer is the key to the season. If he can stay healthy, Arizona's offense should be fine. "The training wheels are off," Arians said when asked during minicamp if Palmer had any limitations. Getting those practice reps during training camp will be huge, but judging from Palmer's progress, he'll be ready to go. "He looks like the Carson of old form," safety Rashad Johnson said. "He threw the ball well, on time, on target, and it made us step our game up." Stanton and Logan Thomas are Palmer's backups.
Running back
Leading rusher Andre Ellington returns. He excels at slashing and catching the ball out of the backfield, much like backup David Johnson, whom the Cardinals drafted in the third round. "Andre will just continue his same role," Arians said. "We'll keep him healthy and let him continue to develop as a player. The nice thing David can do, he can do everything Andre does, so you don't have to change if there was an injury."
Wide receiver
The Cardinals exercised their fifth-year option on Michael Floyd, who is slowly becoming the team's top wideout. Larry Fitzgerald is a strong veteran presence with sure hands and still one of the league's cagiest and more effective stars. John Brown emerged as a star last season and should continue to make strides, especially if Palmer stays healthy.
Tight end
John Carlson retired this offseason, leaving the position to inexperienced Troy Niklas. "Troy still has a ways to go," Arians said. "He's young, in his third year at the position, can't stay healthy." Niklas had minor ankle surgery, but he should be ready to go for the start of the season. Second-year Darren Fells and Ifeanyi Momah, signed this offseason, are reserve options. (UPDATE: The Cardinals signed free agent Jermaine Gresham before training camp.)
Offensive line
One of Arizona's main objectives this offseason was to bolster its rushing attack. With some new names along the offensive line, the Cardinals appear to have done just that. None is bigger than left guard Mike Iupati, whom the team signed away from the division rival San Francisco 49ers in free agency. First-round pick D.J. Humphries is a candidate to start immediately at right tackle but will have to beat out incumbent Bobby Massie. Ted Larsen projects to start at center, and Jonathan Cooper, the 2013 No. 7 overall pick, is the right guard.
Defensive line
The Cardinals lost one of their most productive players and leading voices when they released aging Darnell Dockett, who signed with the 49ers. That means defensive end Calais Campbell becomes the leader of the group, while Frostee Rucker likely starts on the opposite side. At nose tackle, the Cardinals will turn to inexperienced Alameda Ta'amu to use his massive frame (6-3, 348 pounds) to clog the middle.
Linebacker
The big addition is Sean Weatherspoon, the young but often-injured inside linebacker formerly of the Atlanta Falcons. If healthy, he should be an instant starter. "Sean has worked his butt off," Palmer said. "He's come in with some nagging injuries that he's had to deal with, and young guys see that. He's always here working." He should join Kevin Minter on the inside, while Alex Okafor and Matt Shaughnessy likely become the starting outside linebackers, though Lorenzo Alexander has received some first-team reps in the offseason. To add depth, Arizona signed veteran LaMarr Woodley and drafted pass rusher Markus Golden, who could see action as a reserve. Former Pro Bowler Daryl Washington is hoping to be reinstated from an indefinite suspension.
Secondary
The most notable loss is that of cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who returned to the New York Jets in free agency. The unit still has corner Patrick Peterson as its star, though he struggled with health issues in 2014. Jerraud Powers is the other likely starter at cornerback. At free safety, the Cardinals are hoping Tyrann Mathieu can stay healthy after he dealt with a nagging thumb injury. Meanwhile, Tony Jefferson, Rashad Johnson (last seaosn's top tackler) and Deone Bucannon, a first-round pick in 2013, should all see time at safety with Bucannon also getting reps as a nickel linebacker.
Special teams
The biggest departure is Ted Ginn Jr., who was released after being the kick and punt returner last season. Look for speedster Brown and rookie J.J. Nelson to battle for both of the return jobs. Chandler Catanzaro (29 of 33 in field goals) returns as the kicker, and Dave Zastudil should reclaim his job as punter after suffering a season-ending groin injury early last season.
Coaching
The Cardinals lost a huge piece of their staff when defensive coordinator Todd Bowles left to become the coach of the Jets. James Bettcher, who had been the outside linebackers coach under Bowles, was promoted to replace him. The continuity should help maintain many defensive concepts. "You just have to be able to organize at a higher level," Bettcher said. "You have to think big picture." To help bridge the gap with some players, Larry Foote, who started 14 games last season, becomes Arizona's inside linebackers coach.
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