by Will Soistman
Key Additions: QB Kevin Kolb, Tight Ends Todd Heap and Jeff King, Offensive Linemen Pork Chop Womack and Daryn Colledge, Defensive Linemen Vonnie Holliday and Nick Eason, Linebacker Stewart Bradley, Corner Richard Marshall.
Key Losses: Running Back Tim Hightower, Wide Receiver Steve Breaston, Defensive Linemen Alan Branch and Gabe Watson, Corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
The Cardinals took a step back in 2010 (5-11) after making the playoffs 2 straight years. Losing potential Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner can do that to a team, and the Cardinals were unable to find a replacement. This year, the Cardinals are going all in on former Eagles QB Kevin Kolb as they traded their best Cornerback and a 2nd round pick for the former Houston Cougar QB.
Larry Fitzgerald personally lobbied for Kolb in the offseason as the two have practiced together on multiple occasions during past offseasons. With the QB situation solved, for now, Arizona brought in Todd Heap to try and have defenses respect the passing game more and draw attention from Fitzgerald. Losing Steve Breaston to the Chiefs is going to hurt, but Arizona is high on Andre Roberts and Early Doucet to replace the injury-prone Breaston.
Not only was the QB situation a disaster in 2010, the running back situation was crowded and never reached its full potential. However, with one running back leaving town in Hightower, a new one was brought in via the draft in Ryan Williams. Beanie Wells is really going to have to prove that he can stay healthy and carry the load for the team if he wants to keep the talented Ryan Williams off the field.
On the defensive side of the ball the Cardinals drafted Patrick Peterson in the 1st round. Peterson was/is highly regarded as the best player in the 2011 draft and this made way for the Cardinals getting rid of Rodgers-Cromartie in the trade for Kolb. Steward Bradley is an off-the-radar move that could bode very well for the Cardinals if Bradley can stay on the field. He was always seen as the future star of the Eagles, but injuries slowed his career down. Last year's 1st round pick, Nose Tackle Dan Williams, is reportedly out of shape and not improving from last years poor 1st year. Darnell Dockett and Adrian Wilson are still very good players and will help make the Cardinals defense at least respectable.
In order for the Cardinals to be relevant in 2011, Kevin Kolb will have to live up to the hype the Cardinals have built, and paid for him. I see the Cardinals improving on their disastrous 2010 campaign and challenging the Rams for the division crown in 2011.
Prediction: 7-9 2nd in NFC West
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