Tweet
by: Dave Pasch
The Arizona Cardinals will see a lot of familiar faces Sunday when they visit St. Louis for the season opener, some of which they're not looking forward to seeing. That group includes Orlando Pace, who after a lengthy holdout signed a one year contract, and is expected to start Sunday, despite missing the entire preseason. In the past Pace holdouts, he at least played in one preseason game, so maybe he'll be a bit rusty.
OFFENSE
Pace will start at LT, and former Cardinals offensive lineman Chris Dishman will start at LG. The Rams still have Adam Timmerman, and Andy McCollum, but cut last year's starting center Dave Wohlabaugh, and Kyle Turley is out for the year with a back injury, which could cost him his career.
Even though the Rams have Marshall Faulk, they still used their first round pick on running back Steven Jackson out of Oregon State. Faulk is 31 years old, and had some injury problems the last few years.
The Kurt Warner era is officially over, even though it essentially ended when Marc Bulger grabbed the job early last season. Bulger looked great at times, but also threw 25 interceptions, including the post-season. He also had a lot of success, throwing for over 3,800 yards, and 22 touchdowns, but the Rams weren't as dangerous stretching the field, or in the red zone in 2003.
That wasn't because of Torry Holt. He had his best NFL season, and one of the best EVER with 117 catches for just under 1,700 yards. Isaac Bruce is entering his 10th season, but can still get it done. Dane Looker was a nice surprise last year, and 2003 draft picks Shaun McDonald, and Kevin Curtis are healthier than they were at this time last year.
DEFENSE
Larry Marmie, who spent the last three seasons coordinating the Cardinals defense, will run the show in St. Louis for Mike Martz, who worked for Marmie at Arizona State. Marmie brought with him several former Cardinals, including Justin Lucas and Nijrell Eason. Eason failed to make the 53-man roster in Arizona last year, Lucas was let go on June 1.
Leonard Little faces felony DUI chargers, which could impact his future in the NFL. He's by far the Rams best player on defense, and losing Grant Wistrom to Seattle in free agency won't help their pass rush. Former first round picks, DT's Ryan Pickett and Damione Lewis have been disappointing, and last year's number one pick, DT Jimmy Kennedy is injured.
The Rams have a good linebacking corps, but their best LB Tommy Polley is banged up, and may not play this week. Rookie fourth round pick Brandon Chillar would start in his place.
CB Travis Fisher, who led the team last year with four INT's, is out with a broken arm, so 2003 fifth round pick Kevin Garrett will likely get the start opposite 2001 fifth round pick, Jerametrius Butler. St. Louis is pretty good at safety with the tandem of Adam Archuleta and Aeneas Williams, who is entering his 13th season.
The fans and media in St. Louis have already started criticizing Mike Martz, partly because he didn't know what the score was late in a preseason game, which cost his team the contest. Still, Martz is a terrific offensive mind, and Bulger showed flashes last year of being a top notch quarterback. Bulger will make mistakes when pressured, and the offensive line hasn't played together yet (because of Pace's holdout), so if the Cardinals can manufacture a pass rush, they have a chance to contain the Rams potent offense.
The Arizona Cardinals will see a lot of familiar faces Sunday when they visit St. Louis for the season opener, some of which they're not looking forward to seeing. That group includes Orlando Pace, who after a lengthy holdout signed a one year contract, and is expected to start Sunday, despite missing the entire preseason. In the past Pace holdouts, he at least played in one preseason game, so maybe he'll be a bit rusty.
OFFENSE
Pace will start at LT, and former Cardinals offensive lineman Chris Dishman will start at LG. The Rams still have Adam Timmerman, and Andy McCollum, but cut last year's starting center Dave Wohlabaugh, and Kyle Turley is out for the year with a back injury, which could cost him his career.
Even though the Rams have Marshall Faulk, they still used their first round pick on running back Steven Jackson out of Oregon State. Faulk is 31 years old, and had some injury problems the last few years.
The Kurt Warner era is officially over, even though it essentially ended when Marc Bulger grabbed the job early last season. Bulger looked great at times, but also threw 25 interceptions, including the post-season. He also had a lot of success, throwing for over 3,800 yards, and 22 touchdowns, but the Rams weren't as dangerous stretching the field, or in the red zone in 2003.
That wasn't because of Torry Holt. He had his best NFL season, and one of the best EVER with 117 catches for just under 1,700 yards. Isaac Bruce is entering his 10th season, but can still get it done. Dane Looker was a nice surprise last year, and 2003 draft picks Shaun McDonald, and Kevin Curtis are healthier than they were at this time last year.
DEFENSE
Larry Marmie, who spent the last three seasons coordinating the Cardinals defense, will run the show in St. Louis for Mike Martz, who worked for Marmie at Arizona State. Marmie brought with him several former Cardinals, including Justin Lucas and Nijrell Eason. Eason failed to make the 53-man roster in Arizona last year, Lucas was let go on June 1.
Leonard Little faces felony DUI chargers, which could impact his future in the NFL. He's by far the Rams best player on defense, and losing Grant Wistrom to Seattle in free agency won't help their pass rush. Former first round picks, DT's Ryan Pickett and Damione Lewis have been disappointing, and last year's number one pick, DT Jimmy Kennedy is injured.
The Rams have a good linebacking corps, but their best LB Tommy Polley is banged up, and may not play this week. Rookie fourth round pick Brandon Chillar would start in his place.
CB Travis Fisher, who led the team last year with four INT's, is out with a broken arm, so 2003 fifth round pick Kevin Garrett will likely get the start opposite 2001 fifth round pick, Jerametrius Butler. St. Louis is pretty good at safety with the tandem of Adam Archuleta and Aeneas Williams, who is entering his 13th season.
The fans and media in St. Louis have already started criticizing Mike Martz, partly because he didn't know what the score was late in a preseason game, which cost his team the contest. Still, Martz is a terrific offensive mind, and Bulger showed flashes last year of being a top notch quarterback. Bulger will make mistakes when pressured, and the offensive line hasn't played together yet (because of Pace's holdout), so if the Cardinals can manufacture a pass rush, they have a chance to contain the Rams potent offense.
Comment