2011 NFL Draft Needs: Arizona Cardinals

If the Arizona Cardinals’ 2010 performance doesn’t solidify Kurt Warner’s bid to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, I don’t know what will. Warner’s retirement should’ve finally ushered in the Matt Leinart era in Arizona. Ken Whisenhunt, not fully trusting Leinart’s ability, gave Derek Anderson a one-year five million dollar contract for insurance. Leinart was cut before the season began, Anderson was given the reigns and a quarterback carousel ensued. Anderson lost his starting job to undrafted free agent Max Hall during a week four thrashing at the hands of the San Diego Chargers, Hall lost it back to Anderson when he went down with an injury in Seattle in week seven, and Anderson lost it again to fifth round pick John Skelton when he was benched because of poor play in a week 13 loss to the Rams. Whisenhunt even gave journeyman Richard Bartel a shot during a final week thumping to the division rival 49ers. To say the Cardinals missed Warner may be the understatement of the century. Arizona finished dead last in the NFL in total offense, rushing offense and 31^st in the league in passing offense.

Quarterback was definitely the root cause for the Cardinals’ disappointing 5-11 2010 campaign, but several other facets of their roster didn’t help matters. Going into 2010 it was assumed that the Cardinals projected two-headed monster of a run game in Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower would at least help to alleviate some of the offensive pressure that was created by Warner’s retirement. Wells suffered with a knee injury that impeded his development while the Cardinal offensive line had serious run-blocking issues throughout the season. Hightower showed glimpses throughout the year, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, but he too suffered with a poor run-blocking offensive front, splitting carries with Wells and having to play from behind in most games. The Cardinals offense also suffered with inconsistent play by their receiving corps. Larry Fitzgerald still managed to have a Pro Bowl caliber year in Warner’s absence but Steve Breaston and Early Doucet were huge disappointments. Breaston struggled with consistency while Doucet was plagued with injuries. Rookie Andre Roberts had a few nice games towards the end of the season but probably isn’t the long term answer opposite of Fitz.

Arizona’s defense was anything but impressive in 2010. The Cardinals’ ‘D’ ranked 23^rd in passing yards allowed, 30^th in rushing yards allowed, and 29^th in overall defense. The front three is set with Darnell Dockett, Dan Williams and Calais Campbell but the linebacking corps and secondary have serious needs for upgraded talent. In a 3-4 defense a team’s strong point should be its linebacking corps and with the exception of quarterback, it may have been Arizona’s weakest. Inside linebacker Daryl Washington made some plays and showed solid progress throughout his rookie season and Paris Lenon had a nice year but both lack the size to play the "Mike" position in a 3-4.  The team brought in Joey Porter to provide pressure on opposing quarterbacks on the outside but he failed to do so for the majority of the year and really began to show his age (34) as the season wore on, failing to tally a single sack in the final six games he appeared in. With that being said, here are the Arizona’s three biggest draft needs.

1.       Quarterback: The Cardinals went through four quarterbacks in 2010 and not one appears to have the ability to be the team’s quarterback of the future. Max Hall has serious trouble throwing the ball downfield and only eclipsed the 100 yard passing mark once in six appearances last season. In four starts last season John Skelton failed to throw for over 200 yards once and is a developmental project player at best. If Derek Anderson proved anything last season it was that he is a complete mental case. A postgame blowup on an Arizona sports writer after an embarrassing Monday Night home loss to the 49ers in week 12 sealed Anderson’s fate in Phoenix. With the fifth overall pick in April’s draft the Cardinals should have at least one of the two top quarterbacks to pick from in Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton.  Matt Leinart may have soured Arizona’s front office on the idea of taking a quarterback with such a high pick again and they might be better off taking a chance on one of the veteran quarterbacks that will eventually become available. The Cardinals have been linked to having an interest in Baltimore’s Marc Bulger and Philadelphia’s Kevin Kolb and may also take a look at Matt Hasselbeck or Donovan McNabb.

2.       Rush Outside Linebacker: The Cardinals have a solid defensive front in Campbell, Dockett and Williams but 3-4 defensive linemen aren’t usually so heavily depended on to put pressure on the quarterback. Since Whisenhunt left Pittsburgh to take over as the Cardinals head coach in 2007 and switched the defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4, he has constantly neglected developing a solid pass rushing outside linebacker. The team went into the season with Porter and Clark Haggans (both former Steelers) as their outside linebackers and lacked consistent results throughout the year. Both Porter and Haggans will be 34 when (if) the 2011 season starts and their production steadily declined last year. This would be the more likely direction for Arizona to go in. If Von Miller slips to the Cards at five Whisenhunt would be hard pressed not to take him. Miller is a pass rushing beast who would give the Cardinals their first legitimate pass rushing specialist since Whisenhunt has been in the desert. Robert Quinn is another option for the Cards at five and he too would solidify a weak outside pass rush.

3.       Offensive Line: This was a tough decision because Arizona definitely has a serious need in their secondary for a competent starting cornerback opposite of Rodgers-Cromartie but their need for a top tier offensive lineman is much greater. Stats don’t lie, the Cardinals offense was absolutely putrid last year and their offensive line, although perhaps not the root cause, was a major factor in their deterioration. The line couldn’t open up lanes for runners and couldn’t give their multitude of quarterbacks any time in the passing game. Arizona finished next to last in the league in sacks allowed with 50. Alan Faneca is nearing the end of his career while Deuce Lutui could become a free agent depending on what happens with the new CBA. Unfortunately there isn’t a clear cut top ten offensive tackle and there’s no way the team will reach this high for Florida’s Mike Pouncey at guard or center. Arizona will take a corner, quarterback or pass rusher if they stick at the fifth spot and probably wait until at least the second round to address their offensive front. Villanova’s Ben Ijalana would be a great fit as a tweener guard/tackle in the second. In the mid to late rounds LSU’s Joseph Barksdale or Alabama’s James Carpenter would be solid picks at tackle, while Baylor’s Danny Watkins or Wisconsin’s John Moffit would both be great fits at guard.