It's that time of the offseason, when players scatter for some time away from the facility and so too does the author of a certain blog. Before that, however, I try and put on my analysis cap and attempt to project — sans injuries — who will be in the starting lineup come Sept. 8 when the Cardinals open the regular season in St. Louis trying to win their first game for a fourth straight season. This one is a little more difficult to sort out. By last year it was easier to get a sense of what Ken Whisenhunt wanted to do and who he wanted to do it with. No real way to know that with Bruce Arians yet.
For starters, he has said time and again judging players in shorts wasn't enough to make any solid decisions — he said he knew how they could play soccer, for goodness sake — and so I'd expect training camp to be much more important than the past. The Whiz coaching staff, which generally stayed stable, knew very well what they were getting with holdovers. This staff is new and don't know many of these players. Being unquestioned at your position is rare right now.
That doesn't even take into account Arians' desire to play young players. He clearly is much more willing to go with youth. He has also talked often about how the "starters" are more than just 11, especially on defense, thanks to the many packages a team has.
I suppose that's all a roundabout way of saying this is my best guesstimate, and that's all. We have defense today, offense tomorrow. There has been lots of speculation out there that the Cards may end up as a 4-3 team, and we'll see how things are spread around, but they have been working in a 3-4 base the entire offseason.
Remember, this is only an exhibition and not a competition, so please, please, no wagering.
DE — Darnell Dockett. He will get more chances to get on the stat sheet. He will, probably, be used inside in certain packages and not just as a 3-4 end. He definitely is happier than he has been in regards to how he is being used. The Cards are counting on that showing on the field.
NT — Dan Williams. The team poked around potential free agents earlier in the offseason, and Williams came in to workouts needing to shed pounds. But he has, and Arians praised his condition last week. Like the ends, there is talk of Williams getting upfield and attacking more often. It's so easy to forget he was a No. 1 pick, but the Cards need him to play that way.
DE — Calais Campbell. Had another very good year last season. He too sounds excited about his opportunities in Todd Bowles' system, although he tends to be a little more muted than Dockett (who isn't?) Has become one of the best in the league, period. At some point, it'd be nice to see him get a Pro Bowl nod.
ROLB — Lorenzo Alexander. This has been the spot for O'Brien Schofield, who recently told me camp was the place where jobs are won and lost. Could OB still make a starting run? Sure. But Alexander, wooed as a free agent partially on the strength of starting potential, is going to get his shot. I think, given his ability as a leader, he'll end up there at least at first.
SILB — Jasper Brinkley. Brinkley was an early free-agent sign, but then the Cards drafted Kevin Minter. Minter is the kind of player who needs camp to show what he's got. Arians thought he was getting too physical in the offseason. But I think Brinkley still holds him off at first, even if Minter pushes for playing time later this season.
WILB — Karlos Dansby. This is kind of cheating, because I don't even have to factor Daryl Washington into this — Washington is suspended the first four games. When Washington returns, however, it will be very interesting to see how it plays out with him, Dansby, Brinkley and Minter. It's been suggested Washington could end up outside in some scenario, but at no point in the offseason did Washington do any work there.
LOLB — Sam Acho. A very smart player and great in the locker room. He should start at the outset, but he needs to up his sacks to stay there. Otherwise they are going to start looking to upgrade.
CB — Patrick Peterson. Easiest position to peg.
CB — Jerraud Powers. The Cardinals did a good job building up depth at cornerback. Antoine Cason is slightly more established given Powers' injury history, but Powers has an Arians connection from Indy and I think that will make a difference. I wouldn't be shocked to see Cason start, though. Another thing to chew on: With so many corners, is one traded before the season starts? You still have Javier Arenas, Justin Bethel, Jamell Fleming, Bryan McCann.
FS — Rashad Johnson. Tyrann Mathieu is going to play in some way, shape or form, including nickel corner sometimes. You just don't see it any other way. But I don't see Mathieu starting. Johnson is helped because he played strong safety last season. I can see Johnson moving to strong safety if Mathieu bullies his way into the lineup.
SS — Yeremiah Bell. Bell brings experience and he knows Bowles well from their days in Miami. He is a short-term solution, though.
