Arizona Cardinals

Dec 2, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Sam Acho (94) and inside linebacker Daryl Washington (58) celebrate. I am going to jump right into this one. Daryl Washington is going to be suspended four games for the use of PED’s. The Cardinals are hoping the punishment, is not too drastic because Daryl Washington is a key cog in a stingy defense.  On that note, the presence of Karlos Dansby should be welcomed by the team. He was very productive in Miami and Arizona and a well loved linebacker for the Cardinals faithful. Let us take a look at not only Dansby but a couple of guys brought in to bolster the Cardinals middle linebacker core. Karlos Dansby is a no-brainer for the Arizona Cardinals at one of the inside linebacker spots.  He had 101 solo tackles to go along with 33 assisted tackles for the Miami Dolphins last year.  The stat that jumped out the most, though, was the nine passes Dansby defensed this previous season.  There are defensive backs who do not break up that many passes in a season.  What that should be telling Todd Bowels, is Dansby has great awareness and although he is 31, he still has the ability work in open space.  At about 6’4 250 pounds he also has the size to withstand the pounding that takes place in the box when the run game is headed his way.  He is a true proffessional and great for any locker room.  Dansby is a hard worker and understands the game, in zone and man coverage Dansby excels and does more than hold up his own. Jasper Brinkley was a pick up in free agency for the Cardinals and it was not a bad one.  Last year Brinkley totaled a career-high 872 snaps according to Pro Football Focus.  Not bad for a guy who missed the entire 2011 season with a serious hip injury.  Last year for the Minnesota Vikings. Brinkley tallied 63 tackles with 36 assists. The only downside is Brinkley does not fare well in pass coverage.  He is slow to react to pass plays and lets his man get behind him too often.  With Todd Bowles indicating that a multiple front may be used, and the Cardinals having the personnel to do it, perhaps Brinkley’s weakness can be masked a little bit through scheme. With this being a league in which teams are throwing the ball almost 70 percent of the time it will be very important for Brinkley to shore up his coverage skills while not losing any of the run-stopping ability he has. Rookie Kevin Minter, the Cardinals’ second-round selection in this years draft, is an interesting prospect.  Without a doubt he was LSU’s best linebacker this year and in known as a run defense machine.  While watching film I noticed he has a knack for really playing downhill and can get into the backfield with relative ease when defending the run. In an interview with Arizona Sports 620′s Doug & Wolf Les Miles stated  ”It’ll be real difficult for the ball to be run between the tackles, Kevin Minter just knows where to be”.  Miles went on to say “I think he’ll be an every-down player, he’s a guy who will make a lot of big-time tackles.” The knock on him, just like Brinkley, was weather or not he could succeed in pass coverage. Although he had 6 passes defensed in college does not necessarily mean it will equate to success in the National Football League. He will need to work hard in man and zone coverage if he is to be what Miles is predicting, an every down backer. With Washington being out it is looking like Dansby and Minter will be manning the inside linebacker positions.  But Jasper Brinkley certainly could be in the mix for a starting roll. How he adapts to a 3-4 base defense (played 4-3 in Minnesota) could have an adverse affect on his positioning on the depth chart.  If and when Daryl Washington returns the Cardinals would be hard pressed not to have him and Dansby on the field together. Time will tell, and for the time being, the Arizona Cardinals have a good amount of talent to evaluate at the

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports Heading into his first full season as the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback, Colin Kaepernick already has a heaping pile of pressure strapped to his shoulders. The load got heavier on Wednesday when it was announced that his top target, Michael Crabtree, could miss the entire 2013 season with a torn Achilles tendon. While many have already speculated on which wide receiver must step up to replace the lost production, no player has more to prove following the loss of Crabtree than Kaepernick. This is the NFL, and every young, inexperienced player is just waiting for his opportunity to hit the field and prove his worth. Especially with the depth that the 49ers have at wide receiver, there’s going to be a plethora of talented pass-catchers ready to fill the void. Whether it’s from 2012 first-rounder A.J. Jenkins, rookie Quinton Patton or No. 2 running back LaMichael James, the production will show up somewhere. But whose job is it to get the ball to them? The only difference now is that Kaepernick must work that much harder to make the same plays with different receivers. As the 49ers’ No. 1 passer, he must make the most with the weapons he has available, even if Crabtree is never a part of his arsenal in 2013. Take future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning for example. During his stay with the Indianapolis Colts, Manning never had an elite set of wide receivers to throw to. After Marvin Harrison retired, he was left with Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and a hoard of inexperienced, injury-prone pass-catchers. Still, that never stopped him from being productive. A top-tier quarterback makes his receivers better and puts them in position to be successful, and that’s exactly what the 49ers need from Kaepernick this upcoming season. The loss of Crabtree is nothing more than a test for Kaepernick. The exciting young quarterback enjoyed the reliability that his top receiver provided last season, but must now face the reality that life in the NFL doesn’t always include a player of Crabtree’s caliber. The talent is there, though, for Kaepernick to pick up where he left off in 2012. Can Kaepernick step up and allow his other receivers to thrive? Only time will tell. Gil Alcaraz IV is a Content Planner/NFL Featured Columnist for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

One of the biggest concerns I have had moving forward with the Bruce Arians era was the departure of Ray Horton. It's not so much that Ray Horton was an irreplaceable force of nature from the booth, but more that I like what Horton did with this defense. With Horton we saw innovation, putting dynamic playmakers in a position to make plays, and creating pressure without having a pass rushing force to utilize. I'm not saying that defensive coordinator Todd Bowles won't do similar, but we knew what we had with Horton, and that was comforting for a singular reason: Lack of an elite pass rusher. As we look forward into 2013 one question will surely be asked by analysts and fans alike, who will be the Cardinals, pass rushing threat? The Cardinals brought pressure from the inside linebacker position more than any other team in the NFL in 2012, and that created massive holes in the defense that became more and more exploitable as the season went along, Daryl Washington had eight of his nine sacks in the first eight games of the season, and only one the last eight games. In fact, the entire defense only posted 12 sacks the last eight games of the season, after having 26 sacks the first eight weeks of the season. One of the situations that came from Daryl Washington's 2012 season was how much he was used blitzing the passer, and that was out of necessity, because the team lacked any real threat to get to the passer. Is there someone on the roster that could become a threat to get after the quarterback consistently? Who do you think will have the biggest impact from the outside linebacker position in 2013? Sam Acho- One of the continuing problems with Acho is that he lacks any type of pass rushing move set, and isn't exactly an elite athlete off the edge where he can beat blockers purely on speed. He struggles to disengage from blockers and too often gets "held" up on his initial move, and then is kept out of the play. Acho does work relentlessly to get off blocks, and can pick up some cheap clean up type sacks, but if he doesn't beat his man initially, he typically won't be making an impact. O'Brien Schofield- The biggest issue with Schofield has been his inability to stay healthy over a full season. He has shown growth as a pure edge rusher over the last two seasons, showing a good combination of burst off the edge, and counter moves to get to the passer, but if he isn't on the field, (he played the most snaps of his career in 2012 despite only playing in nine games) he will never reach that potential. Lorenzo Alexander- The soon to be 30 year old racked up 2.5 sacks in 325 defensive snaps in 2012, the most of his career at the linebacker position, as he was a defensive lineman when he started his career. Alexander's big game was against the Minnesota Vikings in week six, when he rushed the passer on 20 of his 28 defensive snaps. Alexander shows a relentless motor to get to the quarterback, works up the field nicely, and does a good job of getting his defender off balance and taking advantage. Matt Shaughnessy- The wildcard in the mix of veterans, Shaughnessy has never played OLB before, he's been a defensive end for most of his career, but now is getting some time standing up. As far as scouting Shaughnessy as a pass rusher, he did a good job using his length at the point of attack, but doesn't show a plethora of pass rush moves, and looks rigid at times. The question is, can he bend and dip around the edge consistently, is he a guy that can drop into coverage, or is Shaughnessy a run stopper only, because throughout his career, he's been very good at that. Alex Okafor- Okafor dropped to the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft for a reason; he doesn't possess an elite ability to get to the quarterback. He, like Acho and Alexander, is a tireless worker, but he utilizes a strong bull rush to push his blocker back, get them off balance and then make a play on the passer. He doesn't bend the edge overly well, he

Arizona Cardinals running back Ryan Williams admits he spent last season scared of hurting his surgically repaired knee. When he suffered a season-ending injury, he called it a "blessing in disguise."

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The San Francisco 49ers lost a key offensive weapon this week, as wide receiver Michael Crabtree suffered a torn right Achilles’ tendon on Tuesday during an OTA practice. He reportedly underwent surgery on Wednesday and will be sidelined for at least six months. Crabtree emerged as a primary target for 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick late last season and during San Francisco’s run to the Super Bowl, so he will be missed as the team looks to put themselves in position for another deep postseason run. The 49ers looked toward the opposite sideline during February’s Super Bowl to bolster their wide receiver group this offseason, trading a sixth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for Anquan Boldin. He did not have a terrific regular season with the Ravens in 2012 (65 receptions for 921 yards and four touchdowns), but a strong postseason (22 catches for 380 yards and four touchdowns) may have put rumors of his demise to rest. Boldin now becomes by far the most proven wide receiver on the 49ers’ roster with Crabtree out, but should fantasy football owners view him as a top option for 2013? Boldin will turn 33 during the coming season, and he has not topped 1,000 yards or had more than 65 catches in a season since 2009 with the Arizona Cardinals. Durability is also a primary concern for fantasy owners, as he has played all 16 regular season games just once in the last six seasons, and that will definitely not go away even after the production he had late last season. San Francisco attempted the second-fewest passes in the NFL in 2012 (436-27.3 per game), and that is unlikely to change much in 2013 with running back Frank Gore still around and the running ability Kaepernick brings to the table. Young wide receivers A.J. Jenkins and Quinton Patton should have a chance to earn more playing time with Crabtree out, but Boldin and tight end Vernon Davis are the two players who stand to benefit most in terms of increased targets. Crabtree’s injury has little impact on my overall opinion of Boldin for 2013, as I already considered him a solid WR2 or WR3 in standard leagues. It’s easy to bump Boldin up preseason rankings based on the likelihood for increased production, and there is certainly good reason to do so, but he has just 18 touchdowns over the last four seasons and I think his fantasy value will only change significantly in PPR leagues. Brad Berreman is a contributing writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradberreman24.

Dec 6, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) reaches for Oakland Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer (3) during the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Denver Broncos defeated the Oakland Raiders 26-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports Why do all of the critics think that a quarterback in the NFL is good all by himself ? when the fact is, no good quarterback has ever been a star without good players around him. The quarterback cannot block for himself or pick up blitzes himself, nor can he run the ball, throw it to himself and run the correct route. Most of all, he cannot play defense all at the same time. In other words, a lot has to go right from other positions. Everyone wants to throw stats up and think that’s the only marker that shows what kind of quarterback you are and that is only one piece of the puzzle. Yes, there is a difference from a good quarterback and a bad one from the physical and mental side of things, but any stat you put up is a result of others doing their job as well. The quarterback position gets all the blame when things are bad and all the glory as well when it go right, which in my opinion is unfair when it takes an eleven man cohesive unit. When Carson Palmer had pieces around him in Cincinnati in 2005-2006 he was a Pro- Bowl quarterback, and minus that knee injury in the playoffs against the Steelers, maybe his Bengals make a Super Bowl run. For those who are stat freaks, look up the 2005 and 2006 seasons and you are sure to see his offensive line in the top ten, his running game high-ranked and his wide receivers Pro Bowl-caliber. His years before and after that he has had no quality players around him, instead, he has had low football IQ players around him from the line to the wide receiver, low football IQ players are those that continue to get dumb penalties and are not in the right place they need to be, and mentally are just gone at times, like the 2012 Oakland Raiders. If you put any good quarterback on the Raiders last year, you will get the exact result, throwing for a lot of yards, coming from behind and forcing balls, dropped passes, and off timing routes.  This is a different outcome with quality consistent players doing their jobs week in and out. Here’s an examples. Having the good pieces in place, Tom Brady came off the bench to lead his team to the Super Bowl; he never had to go through having low-quality players around him. His situation was established by coaching, a solid offensive line and multiple running backs and hard working veteran wide receivers who all got groomed and went through their lumps with Drew Bledsoe as their leader before the Super Bowl years.Without that consistent cohesive team, Brady would have been the same as any other good quarterback going through the hard times of getting all the right pieces. These pieces do not consist of all great players, but they are players that did their job correctly. When the ball was thrown their way they caught it, when the line opened holes they picked the right holes to run in, the wide receivers ran timing routes precise and blockers knew which gap to pick up a blitz and on and on. I have watched every throw from Carson Palmer the last two years with the Raiders and you will be surprised at how many low IQ players did not do their jobs and made him look like a bad player, I saw more than 15 dropped passes and numerous wrong routes ran and many timing routes with wrong timing, not to mention many interceptions because of these imperfections. I saw many missed blocking assignments and running backs that could not pick up blitzes and also hurried passes and forced passes all due to the talent around the QB, and yes, Carson Palmer had his mistakes as well but for the most part he is a good sound decision maker and a very accurate passer that can read defenses and blitzes very well as I seen on tape. In fact, at times, when the Raiders offense had done their assign

Unless you already know who your starter is, May is too early to christen a victor of any particular battle on the roster. May does happen to be a good time to re-visit some of the on-going competitions the Cardinals are evaluating, however. No. 2 WRMichael Floyd vs. Andre Roberts Floyd showed promise at the end of the 2012 season and is carrying that momentum into OTAs. He's getting more snaps with the first team than Roberts at this point, and should be the favorite to win the starting job. Roberts is no slouch, himself managing to reel in 115 sailing, off-target passes over the last two seasons and even scoring more fantasy points than Larry Fitzgerald in 2012, but Floyd's talent makes him difficult to match, and his size and speed make him a natural fit in a vertical passing scheme. While Floyd should win the job, both players will hear their numbers called often this season. No. 2 CBJerraud Powers vs. Antoine Cason Both Powers and Cason struggled in 2012, which probably had a lot to do with why they were available in free agency. Cason's size and press cover ability makes him a more natural fit for an outside cornerback, but Powers has been running with the first team in OTAs. In four seasons, Powers has started every game he has been active for but has yet to complete a full season. Cason started 45 of 48 games over the last three seasons. Both players are experienced. Powers may have a couple slight advantages, having played with head coach Bruce Arians in Indianapolis in 2012 and having signed a three-year contract compared to Cason's one-year deal, but neither of those factors reflect how this battle will play out on the field. The best man needs to play, no exceptions. ILBJasper Brinkley vs. the field Karlos Dansby will appear in Daryl Washington's place for at least the first four games this season, but who will appear next to him? Profootballfocus.com's 50th-rated ILB from 2012 (ahead of only London Fletcher, Paris Lenon and Rey Maualuga), Jasper Brinkley, has been running with the first team so far. He struggled in his first season as a starter for the Vikings, so it would seem his main advantage right now is experience. It would be an upset if he can hold off the Cardinals second-round pick, Kevin Minter. The Cardinals general manager, Steve Keim, wanted impact players in the first three rounds, and Minter won't be able to have an impact from the bench. The expectation is for him to play. Fifth-year special teams man Reggie Walker appears to be the odd man out. PR/KRPatrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, other Peterson will be the primary punt returner again, but Mathieu, Javier Arenas, and rookie running backs Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington should all get a chance to show they can be a weapon as a kick returner. Mathieu has been taking snaps at both safety and nickel corner during the Cardinals OTAs, but his biggest impact in 2013 may be on special teams. He took two to the house for LSU in 2011 and is renowned for his playmaking ability and ball skills. Arenas is a reliable return man, but his average yardage per return isn't anything special, and he has never scored a special teams touchdown. Ellington fielded a few for Clemson over the years, while Taylor doesn't have any experience as a returner. More likely, the coaches are looking at it as another way to get him on the field. Should William Powell find a way to make the final roster, he could be a factor as a kick returner as well, having had some success in that role for the Cardinals in 2012. Expect this battle to last through the pre-season.

Sept 23, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Karlos Dansby (58) reacts during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports When Arizona Cardinals fans think of Karlos Dansby, they think of a middle linebacker running back a fumble for a touchdown. Now, Dansby has a chance to make more memories in Arizona. Dansby, who did very well as a Cardinal when he was with the team, signed a one-year deal to help give Arizona much-needed depth at middle linebacker. With Daryl Washington’s suspension, depth was needed at the position, and Dansby is a great player to fill a huge hole. The former Miami Dolphin registered 134 tackles in 2012 with the Dolphins, but he is only making $2.25 million in 2013 with the Cardinals. Dansby was only signed to a one-year deal, but he could end up playing in Arizona longer. He’s had some great times in Arizona, and he signed with the Cardinals for less money than he could have received from other teams. With Washington out, Dansby is almost guaranteed to start at one of the two middle linebacker positions in Arizona’s 3-4. He has intercepted 11 passes and is decent in pass coverage, which would help make up for the pass-coverage struggles of Jasper Brinkley, who will likely start with Washington out. Dansby has never missed more than two games in a season, also. He’s entering his 10th season, but he’s coming off a season in which he registered more tackles than ever. Dansby failed to force a fumble, but he’s forced 15 in his career. He isn’t known for forcing turnovers, but Dansby has still averaged about three turnovers forced per season. Expect Dansby to jump in and easily outplay his contract. With a combined 268 tackles among Washington and Dansby, Arizona’s middle linebackers will be great. Brinkley will likely be used for depth once Washington comes back, but he will see the field a good amount as well. As long as Dansby can continue to avoid injuries, he should be able to put up solid numbers once again. Arizona’s defense ranked 12th in the NFL in 2012, but it still could use improvement. With Dansby and Washington, the middle of the defense will be as good as ever. Dansby operated in a 3-4 in Miami, and he definitely has experience in the scheme. Expect Dansby to fit in very well in a place that adores him, and expect him to be on the field a lot. Because the Cardinals and Dansby are such a good match and because Dansby is such a good player, this signing gets an A short-term and long-term. If Dansby can keep playing well, it’s likely he’ll be in Arizona again. He loves the desert, and the desert loves him.

The biggest news in the last 24 hours actually has very little to do with the Arizona Cardinals. It is the fact that Michael Crabtree of the 49ers could be lost for the season with a torn Achilles. Aside form that, there are a few videos from the team's home page. Cardinals: Word From the Birds Blog | Crabtree injury elevates Boldin in SFFirst it will be interesting to see how Crabtree’s absence impacts the 49ers and, bigger picture, the NFC West. The Grind For "Year One" PlayersGame inexperienced but not rookies, some Cards straddle two ways of NFL life Mathieu on move to safety: "it takes time"Tyrann Mathieu talks about adjusting to his move to the safety position. Dockett set to "dominate"Darnell Dockett talks about having more freedom in the new defensive scheme. Flight Plan - New Faces of the CardinalsTake a look at some of the new additions added to the Cardinals' roster. Closer look: Offensive starter projections - NFC West Blog - ESPNA few thoughts on the numbers for NFC West teams: Around the NFC West: WR complaints - NFC West Blog - ESPNBruce Arians' complaints about the Arizona Cardinals' wide receivers made headlines Tuesday. A little context is in order. Arizona Cardinals defensive ends free to do what they do best: AttackChange in system philosophy has Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett excited Arians' affable approach will be tested by CardinalsArians prides himself on being players' coach, but dose of Cardinals, NFL reality might change things. Cardinals backfield a balance of risk, rewardInjuries, contract years provide Cardinals backs Mendenhall, Williams plenty of motivation. Cardinals' Palmer undaunted by circumstancePalmer has work cut out for him with Cardinals but has spent career overcoming circumstances. NFL: The NFL's great Super Bowl swindle - SBNation.comDoes your city want to host the big game? Pay up. Steelers quarterback Landry Jones talks about his religion and gay athletes - OutsportsThe former Oklahoma standout says his Christian perspective on homosexuality would not affect his treatment of a gay teammate Super Bowl 50 selection culminates long process for Jed York, 49ers - SBNation.comThe San Francisco/Bay Area community was selected by NFL owners to host the historic Super Bowl 50. It has been a long road to this point for the 49ers franchise. Brian Urlacher announces retirement from NFL - SBNation.comOne of the best linebackers in a generation has called it a career on Wednesday morning. Michael Crabtree injury: 49ers WR has torn Achilles - SBNation.comThe 49ers number one receiver could miss the entire 2013 season. How will San Francisco move forward? Panthers reach contract agreement with DT Star Lotulelei - Cat Scratch ReaderThe Carolina Panthers have signed another player from their 2013 draft class, and this time it's first round pick Star Lotulelei. Microsoft's NFL partnership worth $400M over five years, reports AP | PolygonMicrosoft's new agreement with the National Football League for interactive NFL experiences, which includes the NFL on Xbox app for Xbox One, is worth $400 million over the next five years for the... 'Star Trek Into Darkness', as reviewed by NFL rookies - SBNation.comAt the 2013 NFLPA Rookie Premiere in L.A., the newest crop of NFL players took in "Star Trek Into Darkness" and shared their reviews with SB Nation, ranging from "I loved it" to "It shocked me" to "I fell asleep." Arthur Brown injury: Ravens LB sidelined 4-6 weeks - SBNation.comThe Baltimore rookie suffers a setback after surgery but is expected back for training camp. Can he catch up in time to be a starter next season? Geno Smith signs with Jay-Z's Roc Nation - SBNation.comThe rookie will take on New York with a local icon. What does this mean for the future of Geno and for Roc Nation? Matt Ryan expected to land $100 million extension with Falcons - SBNation.comAtlanta's signal-caller is perhaps the next man to be in line for a major pay raise. Keep up with Cardinals

When the Cardinals lost running back Ryan Williams to a season-ending shoulder injury last October, the general reaction in Arizona was an unhappy one since it meant Williams would wind up missing all but five games in his first two seasons.  Williams