Since the last time we saw them:
2008 Record: 9-7, Wild Card win against Atlanta, Divisional Playoffs win at Carolina, NFC Championship win at Philadelphia, Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh
Key Additions: CB Bryant McFadden, RB Jason Wright, TE Anthony Becht, FB Dan Kreider, C Melvin Fowler
Key Losses: DE Antonio Smith, RB J.J. Arrington, LB Monty Beisel, CB Eric Green, CB Rod Hood, RB Edgerrin James, DE Travis LaBoy, FB Terrelle Smith, OC Todd Haley
Top Draft Picks: RB Chris Wells, OLB Cody Brown
What we now know:
Best Player: WR Larry Fitzgerald
Most Underrated: LT Mike Gandy
Looking Forward:
Breakout Candidates: RB Tim Hightower, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, S Antrel Rolle
Looking to bounce back: LOLB Clark Haggans
Time to step up: DE Calais Campbell, CB Ralph Brown, CB Michael Adams
Strengths:
- QB Kurt Warner is accurate, smart and arguably has NFL's quickest release
- NFL's best receiving corp in WR Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston
- A very good pass blocking O-Line. (218 blitzes faced, only 6 sacks on blitzes)
- DL Darnell Dockett
- Very nice, underrated ILB duo in Gerald Hayes and Karlos Dansby
- Depth at OLB
- Dependable CB McFadden and potential star in CB Rodgers-Cromartie
- S position deep and talented, led by Adrian Wilson
- K Neil Rackers
- New winning attitude with postseason success
- Rushing game was non-existant last season and incumbent RB Hightower averaged just 2.8 yards per carry.
- QB Warner's surgically repaired hip won't completely heal until March and will hamper his mobility and footwork all season
- Potential Brett Favre-like late-season collapse from aging, 38-year-old QB Warner
- DE Campbell thrown into lineup with departure of Antonio Smith
- Age of NT Bryan Robinson
- Lack of pass rush from aging OLB's (Haggans, Chike Okeafor, Bertand Berry)
- Nickel Back questionable with veteran CB Brown and unproven CB Adams vying for position
- Already poor return game loses best returner in RB Arrington
- Departure of OC Todd Haley, who implimented pass-heavy spread offense to Arizona
- Contract disputes with WR Boldin, LB Dansby and DL Dockett
- Loss of momentum that helped 9-7 team reach Super Bowl
- Bull's Eye on back and lack of us-against-the-world attitude
- Super Bowl loser's curse. (8 of past 10 failed to make playoffs next season with only 1 combined playoff win)
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