TEMPE, Ariz. — Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt knows what you're thinking.
"There's been a lot of negativity about our team in training camp and through the (pre)season," he said. "Not many people are giving us a chance, so we've got to make sure we keep our head down and work."
The preseason is often a contradiction of unbridled optimism and evidence-deficient concern. The Cardinals are clearly listing toward the latter following a couple of key injuries and a high-profile position battle that never got off the ground. But with so many players impacting the game on a weekly basis, you never know what's going to happen in the NFL.
The Cardinals answered some questions in the preseason and camp, but others remain hanging. Here's a look at three of each, along with their potential impact.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Is nose tackle Dan Williams ready for big things? The Cards have been waiting for their 2010 first-round draft pick to establish himself as the immoveable anchor on defense. Williams played well in the preseason, occupying space and blockers, shedding them when needed, and showing an unusual ability to pursue plays along the line of scrimmage. With ends Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell bookending him and linebackers Daryl Washington and Sam Acho emerging, the Cards' front seven has a chance to become one of the league's elite fronts.
2. Are running backs Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams healthy? They are. There's no telling what will happen over the course of a 16-game season or if those surgically repaired knees will hold up, but both showed enough in the preseason — Wells with a burst and power, Williams with a willingness and ability to cut — to feel confident in their readiness to spearhead the offense.
3. Is the 2011 draft class as good as it looked last season? Sure looks that way. Granted, the Cards cut receiver DeMarco Sampson and linebacker Quan Sturdivant last week, but those guys were sixth- and seventh-round picks. Top pick Patrick Peterson is clearly a star in the making, second-round choice Ryan Williams is ready to explode, linebacker Acho (fourth round) is way ahead of schedule, fullback Anthony Sherman (fifth round) has displayed versatility and play-making ability on special teams, and defensive lineman David Carter (sixth round) was a steal.
QUESTIONS UNANSWERED
1. Do the Cardinals have a quarterback? Starter John Skelton and erstwhile starter Kevin Kolb both played like backups in the preseason, completing a combined 36 of 62 passes (58 percent) with two touchdowns, five interceptions and eight sacks. Some have suggested it was obvious why Skelton won the job. We prefer a different manner of phrasing: It was obvious why Kolb did not.
2. Can the offensive line hold up? Left tackle Levi Brown is out for the year following triceps tendon surgery. Jeremy Bridges (thumb) also will be out for the year unless he heals quickly and the Cardinals use their one IR exception on him. That means journeyman D'Anthony Batiste (four career starts) and rookie Bobby Massie will start at the tackle spots, with rookie Nate Potter and journeyman Pat McQuistan as the backups. If that doesn't give you concern, there's also the issue of depth. Rich Ohrnberger is the backup at right guard and center; rookie Senio Kelemete is the backup at left guard. The Cards do have experience on the interior in center Lyle Sendlein and guards Daryn Colledge and Adam Snyder (provided Snyder is healthy), but the rest of the line is a patchwork collection of inexperience and unproven ability. The Cards have some nice pieces at the skill positions, but will it matter given the concerns at QB and on the line?
3. Do the Cardinals have a second cornerback? They certainly have a lot of guys vying for that spot opposite Patrick Peterson, but can any of them play? William Gay is the starter, with Greg Toler listed as his backup and rookie Jamell Fleming backing up Peterson but capable of shifting to the right side. The Cards are hoping competition will drive one of the three to greater heights. Michael Adams is a terrific special-teams player, but he looks lost in coverage outside the hash marks.
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