 |
 |
 |
|
Cardinals: Camp tour | 
Judge
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Observations from Arizona Cardinals camp:
1. The addition of rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie improves an already strong secondary, bolstered by the move of Antrel Rolle to safety. The former cornerback takes his place alongside the vastly underrated Adrian Wilson, who should serve as a security blanket for Rolle. "Making the switch to safety is a better fit for him," said Wilson, "because he doesn't have to rely so much on his instincts as far as being a corner. He can back up and play it at 12 yards, see it and be able to react a lot quicker than he will at corner. I always said he has the Ed Reed type of ability and the Ed Reed type of feel for a game. He can turn a game instantly, and that's the type of player you like to have." Rodgers-Cromartie is the type of player you like to have, too. At Tuesday's practice, he made a remarkable play on a perfectly thrown Matt Leinart pass at the goal line -- closing fast to bat down the ball. Rodgers-Cromartie could be special, and the Cardinals know it, but they're not going to start him. Not yet. And tell me the last time Arizona didn't rush a first-round pick onto the field.
2. Coach Ken Whisenhunt won't rule out the two-quarterback system he tried last year, with Kurt Warner taking over the hurry-up offense, but he sounds like someone who is reluctant to try it again. "If Matt (Leinart) is the starter, which he is now, he'll be in a much better position to handle the no-huddle, to handle some of the two-minute components," said Whisenhunt. "There were things he struggled with last year because he had so many other things to get up to speed with."
3. With the release of Marcel Shipp, J.J. Arrington becomes the backup running back to Edgerrin James, but don't kid yourself: Sooner or later, rookie Tim Hightower becomes that guy. Hightower, a fifth-round draft choice out of the University of Richmond, is a physical, productive and versatile back who's looked good at camp. That should surprise no one in Richmond. He broke 18 school, game and career rushing records there -- including his 39 touchdowns and 4,560 all-purpose yards.
4. There is concern with depth on the offensive line, and that could be a problem with a team determined to make itself better than the league's 29th-best rushing offense. Center Al Johnson is expected to be sidelined until the first or second game while he recovers from knee surgery, which means Lyle Sendlein -- who started twice last season -- takes his place. But that's not all: Backup guard Carlton Medder just fractured his left elbow and will miss at least a month, meaning rookie Brandon Keith switches from tackle to guard. The Cardinals, nevertheless, remain convinced they can run on opponents this season, partly because the coaching staff understands that zone blocking -- not straight ahead drive blocking -- is the best way to clear a path for James. "We have a better feel for what our line does well and for what our running backs do," said Whisenhunt. "Last year we had a number of different runs, and we were trying to decide what was going to be the best fit for us -- and it took us some time to fit it all."
5. The Cardinals have two of the top wide receivers in the business in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, but tell me: Who's No. 3? For the moment it's Steve Breaston, with Jerheme Urban and rookie Early Doucet the competition, but Doucet -- who looked good in workouts -- is sidelined with a sore hamstring. There is a feeling that maybe all of them could factor into the position held by Bryant Johnson a year ago.