| Christopher Reina. 26th February, 2009 - 5:27 pm
 Record: 9-7
Trench Counter: 1.2
Point differential per game: 0.1 (18th)
Payroll: $122M (8th)
Cost Per Win: $13.6M (17th)
Passing offense: 292.1 (2nd)
Rushing offense: 72.6 (32nd)
Passing defense: 221.4 (22nd)
Rushing defense: 110.3 (16th)
Turnover differential: 0 (19th)
Strength of schedule: 21st
If their season were a song: Golden Age - TV On The Radio
Game-by-Game (Score, Trench Counter)
Week 1: at SF, 23-13 Win, 1.2
Week 2: MIA, 31-10 Win, 19.2
Week 3: at WSH, 17-24 Loss, -1.5
Week 4: at NYJ, 35-56 Loss, -14.0
Week 5: BUF, 41-17 Win, 11.5
Week 6: DAL, 30-24 Win, -5.0
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: at CAR, 23-27 Loss, -7.3
Week 9: at STL, 34-13 Win, 24.0
Week 10: SF, 29-24 Win, 11.7
Week 11: at SEA, 26-20 Win, 11.0
Week 12: NYG, 29-37 Loss, -
Week 13: at PHI, 20-48 Loss, -16.8
Week 14: STL, 34-10 Win, 6.6
Week 15: MIN, 14-35 Loss, 13.1
Week 16: at NE, 7-47 Loss, -21.6
Week 17: SEA, 34-21 Win, 12.6
Season Summary
The Cardinals had the lowest Trench Counter of any playoff team and all of those 'this is the worst team to ever make the playoffs' statements were quickly shown to be outrageous as soon as they handled the Falcons. It was clear that the Cardinals overachieved to a certain degree in the playoffs and I'm not sure they will reach another Super Bowl with this unit, but they will remain the class of the NFC West for as long as Larry Fitzgerald has Kurt Warner throwing to him.
Their running game was absolutely atrocious and will improve, but they still finished third in the NFL in points and fourth in total yards.
Reina Value and FIC Rank
Quarterbacks
- Kurt Warner (3rd, 989, +133%)
With an embarrassment of riches at receiver, Warner threw nearly 600 passes for 4,583 yards, 30 touchdowns and a 96.9 passer rating. It is difficult to remember that there was some debate on who would be the Arizona quarterback because the appropriate decision couldn't be more clear by about Week 2.
- Matt Leinart (49th, 47, -36%)
Leinart was 15-for-29 in mop-up duty in four separate games. Though the sample size is extremely low, he has an 80.2 passer rating and you would expect Tom Tupa, the former Cardinals' QB who converted to punter to have some success if he had Fitzgerald and Boldin to throw to.
Running Backs
- Tim Hightower (48th, 294 [136 rushing, 159 receiving], +318%)
Hightower was efficient in finding the end zone (10 TDs), but he rushed for just 2.8 yards per carry. He was mildly effective as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 34 balls for 237 yards.
- J.J. Arrington (53rd, 255 [77 rushing, 175 receiving], +72%)
Seemingly out of nowhere, Arrington rushed for 6.0 yards per carry in his 31 attempts. He had been dreadful in this department over his first three seasons and he also had a very nice season as a receiver and kick returner.
- Edgerrin James (60th, 212 [158 rushing, 54 receiving], -84%)
The Cardinals dropped Edge's usage like a cheap suit, but his 3.9 yards per carry is barely off of his career average and beyond the TD scores, it was hard to see what Arizona liked so much in Hightower to essentially bench and alienate one of the highest paid backs in the NFL.
Wide Receivers
- Larry Fitzgerald (2nd, 933, +50%)
Fitzgerald had his third 1,400+ yard season in four years, so it isn't as if he was plopped down into the national consciousness from thin air. But his performances in the playoffs, Super Bowl and even the Pro Bowl has turned Fitzgerald into the greatest thing to hit this planet until Mountain Dew Throwback without HFCS comes out.
- Anquan Boldin (11th, 704, +43%)
Boldin was an unhappy man from start to finish in 2008, but he was also holding Jules Winnfield's wallet and made 89 ridiculous catches for 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns. His yards per catch dropped from what is had been in each of the past three seasons, but he was a dangerous and frequently used weapon.
- Steve Breaston (21st, 639, +1,107%)
If Jamal in 'Slumdog Millionaire' would have said 'Breaston' instead of 'Aramis' as the name of the third muskateer, that would have been an acceptable answer to win 20 million rupees. He caught 77 balls for 1,006 yards and looks like an absolute 7th round steal from the 2007 draft.
- Jerheme Urban (67th, 297, +175%)
There is no fourth muskateer, so Urban was essentially Arizona's Ringo, as he had career highs in receptions (34), yards (448) and touchdowns (four).
Tight Ends
- Ben Patrick (53rd, 69, +99%)
Patrick was the most productive of a tight end group more worried about keeping Warner upright long enough to get Fitzgerald and Boldin into space than they were in racking receptions. He caught 11 balls for 104 yards.
- Leonard Pope (63rd, 50, +0%)
Pope was injured several weeks of 2008 and finished the season with nine catches for 77 yards one year after catching five TDs.
Defensive Summary
The defense was better against the run than the pass, as opposing quarterbacks had a 95.4 rating and threw for 36 touchdowns. Strong safety Adrian Wilson was the focal point of the defense and was aided by a very good season at DT by Darnell Dockett and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie finished strong and should make a big step forward in 2009.
Biggest draft needs
With the 31st pick in the draft, it is tough for the Cardinals to be married to any specific position, though linebacker, running back and the O-line are all pressing needs. There are so many teams that need receivers and with a run of guys that probably should go in the second round, Arizona should have a few of their more desirable options fall to them.
If Beanie Wells should drop to 31st, I think the Cardinals would have to do him the favor of not allowing him to slip into the second round because he would be an ultimate buy low pick since he came into 2008 as a likely top-five pick. |
