OK kids. Here is part two — The Final Chapter -- of my starting lineup blog guesses. Today is the offense, after I offered up the defense yesterday. There seems to be less in flux on the offensive side of the ball, so these are my thoughts of who will be on the field when the Cards go against the Rams in St. Louis Sept. 12:
WR — Larry Fitzgerald. Fitz had a big year with touchdowns but his yardage shrunk. With Anquan Boldin gone, I'd expect Fitz to look for more of everything.
WR — Steve Breaston. Breaston has proven he can be a good receiver in this league. Assuming Early Doucet stays healthy, the Cardinals will still be in good shape at wideout.
FB — Nehemiah Broughton. The position is open, but the Cards liked what they saw from Broughton late last season once they signed him. They will need a bruiser to help in what is expected to be a more prominent run game.
RB — Tim Hightower. Ahh, the most "controversial" of the starting calls. Will I be shocked if Beanie Wells is starting in St. Louis? No. Could Hightower start Game One and then have Wells move in? Sure. Might they stay Hightower-Wells all season as last year? Yes. Have I mentioned before it doesn't matter? I am feeling pretty good in saying Beanie will have more carries and be the leading rusher. The other details are window dressing.
TE — Ben Patrick. This is a hunch. They like how Anthony Becht blocks, and I believe Becht will again play a role. I think Patrick would have been in a better spot last season had he not been suspended to start the regular schedule. Patrick can catch, Becht can block. A better, pretty interesting question is whether Dominique Byrd, Stephen Spach or even Jim Dray can find a way into the mix. But that's for a blog on another day.
LT — Levi Brown. Since the day he arrived, Levi said he felt better at left tackle. Now he gets his chance to show it. Along with more running — the part of the game he is better at — the Cards hope Brown really blossoms.
LG — Alan Faneca. I know coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't guarantee anything when Faneca signed, but he's going to be in the lineup and he's going to be at left guard. The guy has made nine straight Pro Bowls.
C — Lyle Sendlein. I don't know if Rex Hadnot can slip in here, but Hadnot was playing guard this offseason with Ben Claxton running second team. Again, Sendlein has always been a favorite of Russ Grimm. I think that makes an impact.
RG — Deuce Lutui. Here is the upset pick (and remember, this is my gut — not necessarily because I know it to be true). Reggie Wells will have a good chance to hold on to this spot and Lutui must prove he is a) in decent shape and b) not too far behind after missing all the offseason work. But Lutui is a guy this team wants around long-term and someone they were pleased with the second half of the season.
RT — Brandon Keith. This is what they have been grooming Keith for the past two seasons. Herman Johnson may have a spot on the line in the future, but this is where they see if Keith is ready. Considering how little Keith has played, I think that confidence level is remarkably high.
QB — Matt Leinart. Derek Anderson may be sitting in the background (yes, I'm playing off the photo below) but this is Leinart's job to lose and his team to lead. No reason to hash and re-hash everything we've already said. We'll see what happens. But Leinart will get his chance to show what he can do after his Warner tutelage.
OK, that's wraps it up. Catch you all in a couple weeks.
