Arizona Cardinals Betting Odds – NFL Football Futures
The Arizona Cardinals had a lot of work to do in the shortened offseason but did shore up some enormous gaping hole with the trade for Kevin Kolb and the signing of Linebacker Stewart Bradley.
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A look at the numbers:
Last season – 5-11 SU, 5-11 ATS
Projection this season – 6-10 (4th in NFC West)
Cardinals Super Bowl XLVI Odds: +6000
Cardinals 2011/12 NFC Odds – +10000
2011 Cardinals NFC West Lines – +300
Larry Fitzgerald has to be the happiest man in the desert – finally there is someone who can and will get him the ball. So where does that leave the Cardinals ahead of the 2011-2012 season?
My guess is that the bold moves still leave them way short of the form that took them to a Super Bowl berth only a few short seasons ago.
The Cardinals have their franchise Quarterback. Kevin Kolb, despite only starting seven games in his NFL career instantly becomes the savior for a franchise that clearly has missed the presence of a Stud Quarterback. Kolb, although intriguing will likely take a few years to become that guy that most hope that he is. Remember the hype that surrounded Matt Cassell’s arrival in Kansas City?
My best guess is that Kolb’s path will be similar to Cassell’s. The one person that can save him from mediocrity is Larry Fitzgerald, arguably the most talented receiver in the game today. With Steve Breaston’s departure, Fitzgerald is the only real threat that Kolb will have in what was the worst passing game in the NFL last season. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Arizona traded Tim Hightower before training camp leaving the underwhelming Beanie Wells to carry the load. Hopes are that Rookie Ryan Williams can step in and help Arizona’s anemic running game. Excited? Don’t be – Wells was a huge part of a running game that was mired in the bottom of most NFL rushing categories in 2010 and Williams will have a very limited time to learn the playbook.
The Offensive Line is leaky (although the arrival of Daryn Colledge is certainly an upgrade) and the run blocking is unreliable. With only one real threat in the passing game, it will likely be a difficult year in the desert once again.
Defensively the Cardinals also had some work to do – they were at or near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories. Gone is one of their only defensive playmakers – Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was traded in the Kevin Kolb deal. Stewart Bradley will help as will a healthy Adrian Wilson.
All told, the Cardinals are deservedly projected to be a bottom third defense again.
Cardinals NFC West Prediction:
Optimism reigns supreme in Arizona but be careful not to drink the Cardinal Kool-Aid. Arizona had a ton of holes going into 2011. They filled a few but incredibly failed to address others during the NFL draft.
The Cards have some pieces for sure but I can’t help but compare the team to the Kansas City Chiefs of a few years ago.
The Cards will struggle again and finish last in the brutal NFC West.
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