Since this is, oh, I don’t know, playoff week and all (65 hours and counting until kickoff!), we figured we’d take a closer look at the Arizona Cardinals.
This will be a three-part series in which we at OBOD examine all three phases of the Cardinals – and, maybe, shed some light on how the Green Bay Packers could attack those phases come Sunday.
And since the Cardinals are known for their explosive offense, that seems like a good place to start:
Quarterback
At the age of 38, Kurt Warner is still getting it done. This season, he completed just over 66 percent of his passes for 3,753 yards, 26 touchdowns and just 14 picks. He had some lingering health issues after suffering a blow to the head awhile back, but will be 100 percent for Sunday. Warner is not the most mobile of quarterbacks, instead surviving on his grit, knowledge of the game and extremely quick release (one of the quickest of the past 15 years or so, in my mind). At times throughout his career, Warner has been a turnover machine, particularly when facing heat. Pressuring Warner is perhaps the biggest key to victory for Green Bay on Sunday as it would allow the turnover-heavy Packers’ defense to do its thing.
Running Back
Much has been written about the fact that the running game is not a huge part of the Cardinals’ offense. This is true – Arizona finished 28th in rushing yards per game (93.4 per) - but like all teams, it’s played a huge part in Arizona’s successes. The Cards did not top 100 yards on the ground in any of their six losses - but they did in seven of their 10 wins.
The Cardinals employ a two-back system featuring rookie Chris “Beanie” Wells (176 carries, 793 yards, 4.5 yards per attempt, seven touchdowns) and Tim Hightower (143 carries, 598 yards, 4.2 yards per attempt, eight touchdowns).
While the quick, shifty Hightower is not a bad back, Wells clearly has more upside as he is both explosive and punishing. Arizona favored Wells more down the stretch – 13.6 carries per for “Beanie” over the last five games of the regular season as opposed to just six per for Hightower – and it’s likely to be that way Sunday. The Packers must get numerous defenders around Wells to keep him from breaking tackles and using his explosiveness at the second level.
Wide receiver/tight end
Clearly the gem area of the Cardinals’ offense. If Larry Fitzgerald (97 catches, 1,092 yards, 13 touchdowns) isn’t the game’s best receiver, he’s no worse than second (behind Houston’s Andre Johnson). Fitzgerald can do it all; he’s fast, has great hands and can outjump just about anyone. More over, Fitzgerald has been around long enough now to develop a veteran’s sense of the game. Those All-Pro instincts compliment a tireless work ethic. It’s a good thing Green Bay has Charles Woodson because Fitzgerald can embarass even the best of corners. Woodson will have to play his best game of the year Sunday as we all remember the now-legendary postseason Fitzgerald had last year.
Anquan Boldin’s knee/ankle injury could keep him out of the game Sunday. Gimpy or not, if Boldin (84 catches, 1,024 yards, four touchdowns) plays, he is nearly as lethal as Fitzgerald. Boldin’s strengths are more run-after-the-catch based than Fitzgerald’s as he is fully capable of taking a seven-yard curl route 80 yards to the house. Being physical with him is a dangerous, yet necessary, game for Tramon Williams on Sunday.
On most teams, the quick Steve Breaston (55 catches, 712 yards, three touchdowns) is a No. 2 receiver, which shows Arizona’s true depth. Our pal Jarrett Bush likely draws Breaston as his assignment Sunday and you have to think the Cards will target him numerous times.
Early Doucet (17 catches, 214 yards, one touchdown) and Jeheme Urban (18 catches, 186 yards, no touchdowns) round out Arizona’s receiving corps and provide decent depth at the No. 4 and No. 5 spots.
Ben Patrick is Arizona’s top pass-catching tight end, although he does not provide much of a threat (12 catches, 146 yards, two touchdowns).
Offensive line
Overall, the unit is solid. They finished tied for sixth in least sacks allowed with just 26.
The right side of the line is particularly strong with the massive pair of right guard Deuce Lutui (6-feet, 4-inches, 338 pounds) and right tackle Levi Brown (6-feet, 5-inches, 324 pounds).
Center Lyle Sendlein (6-feet, 3-inches, 305 pounds) and left guard Reggie Wells (6-feet, 4-inches, 312 pounds) have both started every game this season and, for the most part, are solid.
If there’s one spot the Packers figure to attack, it’s at left tackle. Veteran Jeremy Bridges (6-feet, 4-inches, 326 pounds), listed as a guard, is filling the void at the position left by another veteran, Mike Gandy. After starting 11 of the first 12 games, Gandy went on injured reserve Dec. 23 as a result of a sports hernia. Bridges doesn’t have a ton of experience at the spot. As such, he could be a player to target Sunday.
-Chris Lempesis
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