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2009 Arizona Cardinals Season Preview
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2010 Arizona Cardinals Preview | 2010 NFL Team Previews
The Arizona Cardinals are coming off their best season in franchise history in winning the NFC title and playing in one of the better Super Bowls in recent memory, which makes the 2009 Arizona Cardinals Preview look very hopeful indeed. They narrowly missed winning it all last year and have high hopes going into the 2009 Arizona Cardinals Season. Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt became the Cardinals 34th head coach when hired on January 14,2007. Whinsenhunt is going into his third season as Head Coach and surpassed all expectations by leading Arizona to a Super Bowl appearance last year. Departed Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, who left to become Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, has shaken up the responsibilities on the coaching staff going into this season. Russ Grimm is the Assistant Head Coach, Running Game Coordinator, and Offensive Line Coach. Mike Miller is the Passing Game Coordinator this season and Bill Davis will be the Defensive Coordinator.
Other 2009 Arizona Cardinals Team Related Pages
2009 Arizona Cardinals Schedule | 2009 NFC West Preview
2009 NFC Conference Preview
2009 Arizona Cardinals Free Agency And Trades
Joining the team via the 2009 Arizona Cardinals Free Agency and Trades this off season is Cornerback Bryant McFadden coming over from the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. He will add depth to an already strong secondary the Cardinals possess. Running Back Dan Kreider has come over from the St. Louis Rams along with Running Back Jason Wright who came over from the Cleveland Browns to add depth at the Running Back position.
2009 Atlanta Cardinals NFL DraftWith the 31st pick in the 1st round the Cardinals selected Ohio State Running Back Chris "Beanie" Wells. Wells dropped some in the 2009 Cardinals NFL Draft as many experts had him going much earlier in the first round. Often injured in college and and less than ideal speed left Wells available for the Cardinals at the 31st pick. They were thrilled he was available and look for him to step in and take the place of the recently cut Edgerrin James. Wells is expected to be the starter this upcoming season and the Cardinals hope he can help improve the worst rushing attack in the league from a year before. The Cardinals' second draft pick at 63rd overall was Defensive End Cody Brown from Connecticut. Brown was the Big East Sack leader in 2008 and will look to provide the Cardinals with pressure coming off the edge. Scouts rated Alabama Safety Rashad Johnson as one of the best pure safeties in this draft and the Cardinals were happy to get him with the 95th pick in the 3rd round. Gregory Toler was taken with the 131st pick in the 4th round. He will most likely back up Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie at cornerback. LSU Offensive Tackle Herman Johnson was taken in the 5th round with the 167th pick. In the 6th round Illinois Defensive End Will Davis was taken as the 204th overall selection. Running Back LaRod Stephens-Howling from Pittsburgh and Offensive Guard Trevor Canfield from Cincinnati were taken in the 7th round with the 240th and 254th picks respectively. The Cardinals had a very solid draft filling team needs at various spots and should see immediate contributions from their first two picks RB Chris "Beanie" Wells and DE Cody Brown.
2009 Arizona Cardinals Quarterbacks
Kurt Warner is getting up there in age at 37 years old but remains one of the elite quarterbacks in the league as he showed in the Cardinals playoff run a season ago. Warner threw every pass for Arizona last year and led the second ranked passing attack in the NFL, into Super Bowl XLIII. With Warner as the main of the two 2009 Arizona Cardinals Quarterbacks, they are poised for another big season and barring a key injury should remain one of the NFC's top teams. A lot of Warner's success will hinge upon whether or not the Cardinals are able to keep Anquan Boldin happy, as they are in contract disputes. Matt Leinart remains the No. 2 QB for Arizona and should eventually get his chance at the starting job but barring a injury to Warner it will not likely be this upcoming season. Leinart has picked up a new off season regimen, which may eventually benefit him, but the jury is still out on whether Leinart is a bust.
2009 Arizona Cardinals Running BacksThe 1st round draft choice of Chris "Beanie" Wells should improve the dismal rushing attack of the Cardinals from a year before. They released veteran RB Edgerrin James freeing up Wells to step right in as the No.1 of the 2009 Arizona Cardinals Running Backs. With the Cardinals potent passing attack in place there should be plenty of holes for Wells to attack. If he can stay healthy, Arizona is hoping he will greatly improve the league's worst rushing attack from 2008. Second year RB Tim Hightower scored ten touchdowns for Arizona last year and should be a solid compliment splitting carries with the rookie Wells.
2009 Arizona Cardinals Wide Receivers
Pro Bowl Wide Receiver Anquan Boldin has voiced concerns on his current contract publicly voicing his displeasure all off season. It is vital for Arizona to have him back and productive as one of the 2009 Arizona Cardinals Wide Receivers. The Cardinals will need Anquan Boldin's attitude on the field, if they want to muscles up against physical secondarys. Along with No.1 WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona sported the NFL's second ranked passing attack a year ago. Fitzgerald had a great regular season, and a post-season that was out of this world. Fitzgerald hauled in more touchdowns and receiving yards, than any other receiver in NFL Playoffs history. Steve Breaston is the current No.3 WR and along with Boldin and Fitzgerald gave Arizona three wideouts with more than 1000 yards a piece in 2008. There is no doubt the Arizona Cardinals' WR core is the strength of this team along with QB Kurt Warner. It promises to be an exciting offense to watch this year with the nucleus coming back, that is if Anquan Boldin remains a Cardinal at the start of the 2009 NFL Season.
2009 Arizona Cardinals Offensive LineWith rookie running back Beanie Wells taking over the starting job it will be vital for the 2009 Arizona Cardinals Offensive Line to be strong. Right tackle Levi Brown is once again the leader of this group. Center Lyle Sendlein returns after starting all 16 games last season. The drafting of guards Herman Johnson and Trevor Canfield will add some much needed depth for the offensive line.
2009 Arizona Cardinals Defensive LineThe 2009 Arizona Cardinals Defensive Line will be transitioning to more of a 3-4 defense. Darnell Docket a five year starter for the Cardinals will be at left end. Gabe Watson needs to improve as the starting nosetackle coming off an inconsistent 2008 season. This group needs to improve on a poor performance in 2008.
2009 Arizona Cardinals LinebackersLinebacker Karlos Dansby was franchised by the team and should be a leader for the front seven 2009 Arizona Cardinals Linebackers. He has become one of the better linebackers in the league. Chike Okeafor has been a solid consisent player for Arizona and will have to have a good season to make up for the loss of Antonio Smith to free agency. Second round pick Cody Brown should push Gerald Hayes for a starting OLB spot and should help boster the Cardinals defense.
2009 Arizona Cardinals Secondary
The Cardinals looked to have a very strong secondary by the end of the year last year, after giving up a record number of touchdown receptions, coming into the 2008 NFL Playoffs. Safeties Antrelle Rolle along with Pro Bowler Adrian Wilson are becoming a very formidable duo, one that has made a name for the Arizona Cardinals. Adrians Wilson emerged as one of the better safeties in the league a year ago, impressing fans and analysts alike, with his freakish physical talents. By the second half of the year, rookie CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie became a starter and looked like a possible future star finishing with four interceptions. Rookie safety Rashad Johnson will see extended playing time this year and could very possibly open things up, so that Adrian Wilson can roam the field, making plays. With some of playmaking abilities the 2009 Cardinals Secondary possess, the Arizona Cardinals defense, as a whole, should greatly benefit the team.
2009 Arizona Cardinals Draft Picks
Round 1: Pick 31 - Chris "Beanie" Wells RB (Ohio State)
Round 2: Pick 63 - Cody Brown DE (Connecticut)
Round 3: Pick 95 - Rashad Johnson S (Alabama)
Round 4: Pick 131 - Gregory Toler CB (St Pauls)
Round 5: Pick 167 - Herman Johnson OT (LSU)
Round 6: Pick 204 - Will Davis DE (Illinois)
Round 7: Pick 240 - LaRod Stephens-Howling RB (Pittsburgh)
Round 7: Pick 254 - Trevor Canfield OG (Cincinnati)
| 2009 Arizona Cardinals Free Agency Acquisitions and Trades |
| Bryant McFadden from Pittsburgh Steelers - Cornerback |
Anthony Becht from St. Louis Rams - Tight End |
Keith Lewis from San Francisco 49ers - Safety |
| Dan Kreider from St. Louis Rams - Running Back |
| Jason Wright from Cleveland Browns - Running Back |
| 2009 Arizona Cardinals Free Agency Losses and Trades |
J.J. Arrington to Denver Broncos - Running Back |
Montey Beisel to Kansas City Chiefs - Linebacker |
Antontio Smith to Houston Texans - Defensive End |
Edgerrin James released and unsigned - Running Back |
Rod Hood to Cleveland Browns - Cornerback |
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