The Cardinals' defense improved dramatically in the latter half of the 2012 season, which was the main reason the team won seven of its final nine games.
But there is room for improvement, and that starts in the middle at nose tackle. Since Ken Whisenhunt became coach in 2007, the Cardinals have spent considerable resources in trying to find a nose tackle to provide an anchor for the 3-4.
In 2007, they traded a fourth-round pick to move up to take Alan Branch at the top of the second round. He struggled with weight issues his first three seasons and never looked comfortable playing inside. He eventually moved to end, where he played better, and is now a solid player for Seattle.
Gabe Watson, a fourth-round pick in 2006, had multiple chances to win the job but couldn't do it.
Veteran Bryan Robinson was signed in 2008, presumably as a backup defensive end. But he ended up starting at nose tackle for most of three seasons because younger players didn't develop as quickly as expected.
That includes Dan Williams, a first-round pick in 2010. The Cardinals thought highly of Williams coming out of Tennessee because he didn't struggle with weight issues and seemed to have the stamina to play through an entire game.
But just as with Branch and Watson, Williams struggled to keep his weight in check as a rookie. The coaches held him out of one game because of it.
No player suffered more because of the lockout last year than Williams. Without the supervision of the Cardinals strength staff, Williams gained even more weight and reported to training camp in poor condition. Rookie David Carter, a sixth-round pick, played better for much of the season because he was in better condition.
Williams gradually shed the weight and was starting to play better when he suffered a broken arm in the 10th game of the season. That required surgery and has limited his activity this offseason. But in an odd way, the injury might have benefited Williams. Because he's on a rehabilitation plan, he has access to the team's facility and its training staff.
Williams' weight problems started last year when he returned home to Tennessee and was not under supervision. He ate poorly and didn't work out as hard as he should have. The result was significant weight gain.
This year appears to be different. He plans to spend the entire offseason in Arizona, and he's maintained his weight at about 328 pounds, which is his playing weight.
If Williams is in shape, he gives the Cardinals a dimension they've lacked. He can take on double teams more effectively than Carter, who is built like a defensive end. Williams has the strength to hold at the point of attack, and if he's in shape, he should be able to last an entire game without fading.
If healthy and in shape, Williams could be the impact nose tackle the Cardinals have been seeking the past five season.
Having Williams in great condition backed up by Carter is an ideal situation for the Cardinals. Carter could be freed up to play some defensive end, too, and the team could use backups behind Calais Campbell and Darnell Dockett.
NOTES, QUOTES
-- Strong safety Adrian Wilson is donating $100,000 to Phoenix Children's Hospital. Medical care for children has been one of Wilson's favorite charities since Wilson's son, born several years ago, spent his first two months in a hospital.
-- The average age of the Cardinals' opening-day roster likely will be skewed because all three specialists have re-signed. It's a veteran group, to say the least. Kicker Jay Feely turns 36 in May, long snapper Mike Leach is 35 and punter Dave Zastudil is 33. All performed well last season, although Zastudil has been hampered by injuries in recent seasons.
-- Quarterbacks coach John McNulty attended a recent on-campus workout by Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler. The Cardinals aren't likely to draft a quarterback, but McNulty is impressed with Osweiler, who left school a year early.
"Everybody talks about his height (6-7), but he obviously moves very well for his size. And that idea that he could have gone to Gonzaga to play basketball is something people take into consideration for his athletic ability," McNulty said. "He's showed a big arm today, that's for sure. He threw a lot of deep balls, which was nice."
-- Quarterback Kevin Kolb is declining to answer questions about the team's pursuit of Peyton Manning for a few more weeks. Kolb politely said he would meet with reporters when the offseason program begins on April 16.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Going through the type of season I went through with injuries, it can really affect your season and your career. That's not right." -- Quarterback Kevin Kolb on former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams offering payments for injuring opposing players.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The club replaced cornerback Richard Marshall with former Steelers cornerback William Gay. Gay should be able to fill Marshall's role as a part-time starter, nickel contributor and special-teams player.
Gay knows the Cardinals' system because it's basically the same one used by the Steelers, and he played for Arizona defensive coordinator Ray Horton in Pittsburgh.
The team also shored up a weakness by signing safety James Sanders to a one-year deal. Sanders is expected to be a backup to both strong safety Adrian Wilson and free safety Kerry Rhodes.
The Cardinals weren't particularly active in free agency and concentrated on re-signing many of their own players. Recent re-signings included kicker Jay Feely, long snapper Mike Leach, receiver Early Doucet, linebacker Reggie Walker and offensive lineman D'Anthony Batiste.
DRAFT NEEDS
1. Offensive tackle: This could become less of a priority should the Cardinals sign a free agent or two. The starters from last year, Levi Brown and Brandon Keith, both became free agents before Brown re-signed on a five-year deal shortly after being let go. Still, the team likely will be looking for an upgrade. With the 13th overall selection, they should be able to fill this need if they so choose.
2. Guard: Maybe Adam Snyder, signed as a free agent, can start on the right side. Or maybe the Cardinals move him to right tackle and draft a guard. They will have a shot at the draft's best guard, Stanford's David DeCastro, in the first round. He would be hard to pass up.
3. Defensive end/outside linebacker: The starters are young and talented, but depth is a concern. The Cardinals have had trouble acquiring and developing outside linebackers and need to flood the position. The team also needs to start bringing along a young defensive end.
FREE-AGENCY REPORT
-- S Hamza Abdullah is a decent special-teams player who doesn't play much on defense. He's a solid backup who could return.
-- OLB Clark Haggans is 35 and likely has lost his starting job to O'Brien Schofield. Haggans is in good shape, though, and could continue to mentor young players.
-- DE Vonnie Holliday is 36 but performed well as a backup. He wants to play at least another year, and the Cardinals might accommodate him. He's great with young players, too.
-- RT Brandon Keith has struggled with injuries the last two seasons. He has athletic ability but hasn't been consistent. The team would like him back but wants him to compete for the job.
-- CB Joey Porter lost his starting job last season and then went on injured reserve with a knee injury. It looks like his career is over.
-- RB Chester Taylor isn't expected back. The team already has Beanie Wells, Ryan Williams, LaRod Stephens-Howling and Alfonso Smith. There doesn't seem to be room for Taylor, 32.
-- OG Floyd Womack spent the season on injured reserve and could be brought back. The team will look elsewhere for help first, however.
-- QB Max Hall (not tendered as ERFA) spent last season on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury suffered during camp. There doesn't appear to be a spot for him on this team.
-- S Rashad Johnson (tendered at $1.26M with a third-round pick as compensation) finally produced at a consistent level in 2011. He doesn't project as a starter, though.
-- RB LaRod Stephens-Howling (tendered at $1.927M with a second-round pick as compensation) is an excellent situational player who excels in the open field. He didn't produce as usual as a kick returner last year, but that might have been due to the kickoff rule change. He will likely return.
-- DE Ronald Talley was a part-time player with some pass-rush skills. The Cardinals are thin at defensive end, so Talley could get a roster spot again.
-- DE Brandon Williams was a late-season addition who's unlikely to return but has an outside chance at making the roster.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
-- QB Richard Bartel: ERFA; terms unknown.
-- T/G D'Anthony Batiste: UFA; $700,000/1 year
-- OT Levi Brown: FA (had been released); $30M/5 years, $7M bonus.
-- WR Early Doucet: UFA; 2 years, terms unknown.
-- PK Jay Feely: UFA; $3M/2 years, $500,000 SB.
-- CB A.J. Jefferson: Potential ERFA; terms unknown.
-- LS Mike Leach: UFA; $3.5M/3 years, $500,000 SB.
-- RB Alfonso Smith: ERFA; terms unknown.
-- CB Greg Toler: RFA; tendered at $1.26M with fourth-round pick as compensation; $1.26M/1 year.
-- LB Reggie Walker: Not tendered as RFA; 2 years, terms unknown.
-- WR Stephen Williams: Potential ERFA; terms unknown.
-- P Dave Zastudil: UFA; 2 years, terms unknown.
-- CB William Gay: UFA Steelers; $3.2M/2 years, $500,000 bonus.
-- S James Sanders: UFA Falcons; 1 year, terms unknown.
-- OG Adam Snyder: UFA 49ers; $17.5M/5 years.
PLAYERS LOST
-- S Sean Considine: UFA Ravens; $890,000/1 year, $65,000 bonus.
-- OG Rex Hadnot (released).
-- OG Deuce Lutui: UFA Seahawks; 1 year, terms unknown.
-- CB Richard Marshall: UFA Dolphins; $16M/3 years, $6M guaranteed.
-- WR Chansi Stuckey (released).
