It doesn't take hours of tape analysis to figure out why the Cardinals didn't make the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The offense still has serious problems, specifically average to poor quarterback play.
Sure, the Cardinals have other offensive problems. They need better play from their tackles and another receiver to complement Larry Fitzgerald. A lack of depth at running back also contributed.
But inefficient quarterback play was the biggest reason the team went 8-8.
Kevin Kolb and John Skelton were upgrades over Derek Anderson, who struggled the previous season. But the trade for Kolb has yet to pay dividends.
Kolb missed seven games due to injury -- four because of a foot problem and the last three games due to a concussion. That obviously hindered his development in an offense that is drastically different than that of the Eagles.
The problem going forward with Kolb is two-fold. His durability is an issue, as he's had a concussion in each of his two seasons as a starter in the NFL. Symptoms persisted for nearly a month, and Kolb is expected to take another neurological exam in late January or February. The Cardinals don't seem concerned about his long-term prognosis, however.
The second concern with Kolb is that he didn't play very well when he was healthy. He never seemed comfortable in the offense, and that showed up mostly in a lack of presence in the pocket. He didn't move well enough in the pocket to buy more time for himself. Under pressure, he tended to retreat too often, turning 6-yard sacks into 12-yard sacks.
Coaches continue to profess faith in Kolb, and he did show signs he could be effective. His best half of the season came against the Cowboys the week before he suffered the concussion.
Skelton was 5-2 as a starter, but that record is deceiving. The Cardinals won seven of their last nine because the defense made great improvement. Skelton just happened to be the starting quarterback at the time.
But Skelton showed enough to make the coaches optimistic about his future. He's smart, tough and resilient. He has good arm strength and a short delivery, especially for someone who's 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds. He's deceptively agile and can create something positive when his blocking breaks down.
But Skelton also was shaky in the first half of most of his starts. He makes poor decisions at times, and his accuracy needs to improve, especially on short to mid-range throws.
As inconsistent as their quarterback play was in 2011, the Cardinals are expected to stick with the same trio of players at the position in 2012: Kolb, Skelton and Rich Bartel. Kolb likely will enter the offseason as the starter, but Skelton will be given a chance to win the job.
The Cardinals are counting on an offseason of work rectifying their shortcomings at quarterback. It's a critical gamble, but it's one they have to take. They gave up too much for Kolb to bail out after one season. They will pay him a $7 million roster bonus in March and hope that his growing pains, and those caused by injuries, are gone in 2012.
NOTES, QUOTES
-- The Cardinals weren't amazed by Larry Fitzgerald's acrobatic catches in the fourth quarter of the season finale against the Seahawks. They see it every day in practice.
"We're spoiled Monday through Saturday because we see it all day," center Lyle Sendlein said of Fitzgerald's catches. "We come out here on Sundays and it's just another day. And we watch it on film and it's, 'Oh, there's Larry being Larry again. Move on to the next play.'"
Cornerback Patrick Peterson, who can make a huge play or two himself, marvels at Fitzgerald often.
"I've seen him make a catch with two fingers," Peterson said.
-- Coach Ken Whisenhunt rarely passes up a chance for a sarcastic remark. He certainly didn't when asked what his quarterback situation would be heading into 2012.
"Well, we've got three right now. We'll probably sign a few more."
-- Whisenhunt maintained throughout the year that the Cardinals suffered from having no offseason work. So how does he explain teams with new coaches, such as San Francisco, doing so well?
"San Francisco had a number of veteran players that had played together. I'm not comparing teams. They've done a great job. For us, I can focus on what I think happened or what happened with us from the impact of the lockout: We had 51 new guys, which was over half of our team. We had a tremendous amount of young guys who were playing a new scheme defensively. We had a new quarterback who had never been in our scheme. So we had a lot of things that we had to learn."
Whisenhunt has mentioned having 51 new players quite often. Most of those, however, were signed to fill out an expanded training camp roster of 90 players.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "There were some times on the sidelines during these overtime games and close games in the fourth quarter where I felt like Fred Sanford a little bit: 'Elizabeth, I'm coming to join you.' There was a lot of stress on the heart." -- Defensive end Vonnie Holliday on the team winning four overtime games in November and December.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Coach Ken Whisenhunt and his staff will evaluate players this offseason, and team president Michael Bidwill and general manager Rod Graves will evaluate Whisenhunt and his staff.
Whisenhunt, however, has the final say on his staff. That was made clear when he signed an extension in February 2010. If he doesn't want to make a change, he doesn't have to.
It's questionable if he will. Todd Haley, the Cardinals' former offensive coordinator who left to be the Chiefs' head coach, is available. But it's no given that Whisenhunt brings him back or that Haley wants to return. The two are good friends, but as is the case with most of Haley's friends, he and Whisenhunt have butted heads.
Whisenhunt is willing to deal with that. But he also is close to offensive coordinator Mike Miller, who has paid dues to reach his current position. Whisenhunt doesn't want to make Miller a scapegoat for the offensive problems of the past two years.
The first priority from a personnel standpoint is to reach a long-term agreement with defensive end Calais Campbell.
The two sides have been negotiating since early November, and speculation is that they aren't far apart on a deal. Campbell, 25, is close to reaching free agency for the first time, but the Cardinals also have the franchise tag available to them.
TEAM NEEDS
Left tackle -- Levi Brown played well over the last half of the season, but that doesn't make up for four-plus seasons of inconsistency. His cap number increases from about $9 million to $16 million in 2012, so he won't return at that price. The Cardinals haven't drafted an offensive lineman since 2009, and they haven't taken one higher than the fifth round since drafting Brown in 2007.
Wide receiver: The coaches like Andre Roberts, the starter opposite Larry Fitzgerald, but the offense could use another threat. Early Doucet, the third receiver, is not under contract for 2012.
Safety: Strong safety Adrian Wilson turns 33 next season. Free safety Kerry Rhodes will be 30. There isn't much depth behind them.
MEDICAL WATCH
-- QB Kevin Kolb said he has gone almost a week without concussion symptoms. That's the longest normal period he's had since suffering the injury on Dec. 11. The Cardinals remain confident he will return healthy in 2012.
-- RB Beanie Wells is likely to undergo surgery on his right knee in the coming weeks. Wells played most of the season with swelling and pain. It's likely a meniscus problem.
-- OG Daryn Colledge will undergo elbow surgery to have it "cleaned out." He said it's a minor problem that he's been playing with for a few years.
-- SS Adrian Wilson played all year with a torn biceps tendon. It apparently wasn't a complete tear, because Wilson did not undergo surgery. He said he will not have any procedures on the elbow this offseason.
