Team Spotlight: Arizona Cardinals (1 Viewer)

[Maurile Tremblay]

See the pinned thread for links to each team spotlight.

I'll start off by posting my projections to get us going. The idea is for others to post their own projections as well, or to comment on the projections posted by others.

Overall

562 pass attempts for 344 receptions, 3847 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions; 399 rushes for 1624 yards and 14 touchdowns.

QB

Matt Leinart: 323 of 527 passing for 3611 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions; 32 rushes for 69 yards and 1 touchdown.

Derek Anderson: 20 of 35 passing for 236 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interceptions; 2 rushes for 5 yards and 0 touchdowns.

RB

Chris Wells: 217 rushes for 956 yards and 6 touchdowns; 53 receptions for 434 yards and 1 touchdowns

Tim Hightower: 108 rushes for 417 yards and 5 touchdowns; 27 receptions for 187 yards and 0 touchdowns.

LaRod Stephens-Howling: 14 rushes for 61 yards and 0 touchdowns; 3 receptions for 26 yards and 0 touchdowns.

Jason Wright: 11 rushes for 44 yards and 0 touchdowns; 2 receptions for 19 yards and 0 touchdowns.

Justin Green: 7 rushes for 30 yards and 0 touchdowns; 2 receptions for 13 yards and 0 touchdowns.

Nehemiah Broughton: 4 rushes for 15 yards and 0 touchdowns; 1 reception for 6 yards and 0 touchdowns.

WR

Larry Fitzgerald: 104 receptions for 1375 yards and 10 touchdowns; 1 rushes for 9 yards and 0 touchdowns.

Steve Breaston: 61 receptions for 773 yards and 3 touchdowns; 1 rushes for 9 yards and 0 touchdowns.

Early Doucet: 47 receptions for 535 yards and 3 touchdowns; 1 rushes for 9 yards and 0 touchdowns.

Andre Roberts: 21 receptions for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns; 0 rushes for 0 yards and 0 touchdowns.

TE

Stephen Spach: 4 receptions for 35 yards and 0 touchdowns.

Ben Patrick: 11 receptions for 113 yards and 1 touchdown.

Anthony Becht: 7 receptions for 53 yards and 1 touchdown.

 

[bigmiiiiike]

Hightower caught 60+ balls last year, and Beanie is not known for his pass catching abilities. I see Hightower's blocking and receiving abilities keeping him on the field for 3rd downs in addition to some series when Beanie is out.

Beanie will get his on the ground: 215 carries 950 yards 8 TDs, 15 catches 80 yards 0 TDs

Hightower: 120 carries 500 yards 6 TDs, 55 catches 400 yards 3 TDs

 

[Imagine]

Hi Maurile,

Fitzgerald's numbers are interesting. He's the highest rated WR with 104 receptions and 1375 yards. Just a bit behind him are Andre Johnson with 97/1298, Wayne w 92/1232, Austin w 77/1166, and Moss w 73/1059.

With Leinart at QB, and probably going to a more run oriented offense than the last few years, I wonder if Fitzgerald’s numbers might end up being a bit lower?

 

[the spanker]

Hi Maurile,Fitzgerald's numbers are interesting. He's the highest rated WR with 104 receptions and 1375 yards. Just a bit behind him are Andre Johnson with 97/1298, Wayne w 92/1232, Austin w 77/1166, and Moss w 73/1059.With Leinart at QB, and probably going to a more run oriented offense than the last few years, I wonder if Fitzgerald’s numbers might end up being a bit lower?

Never got a response to this?

 

[gianmarco]

Interesting that you have them down for 923 plays. That would have been good for 31st in the NFL last year in terms of plays from scrimmage. The 361 rushing plays you have them down for is lower than any team last year.

I understand losing Warner is a big deal, but this seems like an exaggeration. I also think it ignores the fact that this team will likely run more than it did in the past. Putting them down for fewer rushing plays than any team last year seems a bit off, especially with 2 capable RB's like Wells/Hightower and a head coach that has historically been committed to the run.

 

[Tanner9919]

Hi Maurile,

Fitzgerald's numbers are interesting. He's the highest rated WR with 104 receptions and 1375 yards. Just a bit behind him are Andre Johnson with 97/1298, Wayne w 92/1232, Austin w 77/1166, and Moss w 73/1059.

With Leinart at QB, and probably going to a more run oriented offense than the last few years, I wonder if Fitzgerald’s numbers might end up being a bit a lot lower?

I think Fitz's numbers take somewhat of a nosedive with Leinart at QB...teams will crowd the line more, blitz more, etc..things you can't do against Warner because he'll eat your lunch, but Leinart ?? not so much..

 

[Lord Fantasy]

Interesting that you have them down for 923 plays. That would have been good for 31st in the NFL last year in terms of plays from scrimmage. The 361 rushing plays you have them down for is lower than any team last year.

I understand losing Warner is a big deal, but this seems like an exaggeration. I also think it ignores the fact that this team will likely run more than it did in the past. Putting them down for fewer rushing plays than any team last year seems a bit off, especially with 2 capable RB's like Wells/Hightower and a head coach that has historically been committed to the run.

Just curious if there is a history of teams losing a great quarterback and then completely imploding the next year (even though the rest of the personnel remains essentially the same). Also, have heard a lot about how Arizona is going to run more, but no indication of whether or not they'll be able to run effectively. Do they have the line to pull it off? Or are they better at pass blocking?

Finally, gianmarco I've always admired your sig. Cracks me up every time.

 

[David Yudkin]

Hi Maurile,Fitzgerald's numbers are interesting. He's the highest rated WR with 104 receptions and 1375 yards. Just a bit behind him are Andre Johnson with 97/1298, Wayne w 92/1232, Austin w 77/1166, and Moss w 73/1059.With Leinart at QB, and probably going to a more run oriented offense than the last few years, I wonder if Fitzgerald’s numbers might end up being a bit lower?

Fitz has played 15 games with Leinart as the primary or starting QB. In those games, he has put up 82/1099/6. I didn't cross reference the difference between Boldin playing or not playing, however.

 

[David Yudkin]

Just curious if there is a history of teams losing a great quarterback and then completely imploding the next year (even though the rest of the personnel remains essentially the same).

Looking at guys in the Top 25 QBS in terms of passing yards . . .Team totals listed.Favre07 GB 4461/3008 GB 3813/28Marino99 MIA 3736/2000 MIA 2720/15Elway98 DEN 3808/3299 DEN 3646/16Moon93 HOU 4145/2394 HOU 3216/13Fouts87 SD 3602/13 (15 games)88 SD 2628/11Kelly96 BUF 3558/1897 BUF 3213/14Young98 SF 4510/4199 SF 3526/14Aikman00 DAL 2771/1401 DAL 2408/14

 

[karmarooster]

just curious that no one took issue with Beanie's 53 receptions vs. Hightower's 27. if anything it seems like that should be reversed.

 

[finito]

just curious that no one took issue with Beanie's 53 receptions vs. Hightower's 27. if anything it seems like that should be reversed.

Maybe he's expecting Wells to take command of the starting role and be on the field much more than Hightower. Could happen for sure.

 

[32 Counter Pass]

I am projecting the Cards to try and run the ball more than under the Warner regime. However I do not think it is in the Cards personality to be a run first team. Despite spending a #1 last year on Chris Wells and Whisenhunt paying lip service to running the ball more the Cards still only rushes the ball 37% of the time. I am projecting a slight bump in rush attempts which I anticipate will shorten the game, reducing the Cards plays from scrimmage total as well. I also am projecting a jump in sacks allowed by the Cards because Lienart has a slower release and is a slower decision maker than Warner. (Only posting notable fantasy players.)

Overall

985 scrimmage plays 552 pass attempts for 339 receptions, 3,754 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions; 384 rushes for 1599 yards and 13 touchdowns.

All passing stats numbers to Lienart.

RB:

Chris Well: 239 Att / 1,124 Yds / 10 TDs 18 Rec / 144 Yds / 0 TDs

Tim Hightower: 117 Att / 467 Yds / 2 TDs 43 Rec / 293 Yds / 1 TD

WR:

Fitz: 155 Targets / 96 Rec / 1,196 Yds / 11 TDs

Breaston: 127 Targets / 76 Rec / 952 Yds / 6 TDs

Early Doucett: 77 Targets / 46 Rec / 502 Yds / 3 TDs