With a beautiful new stadium built and a new coaching staff, Arizona Cardinals are optimistic about the 2007 season. The Cardinals are a young team that will be lead by a young rookie Head Coach in Ken Whisenhunt who replaces the terrible coaching of Dennis Green. Players made mental errors last season far too often for a pro football team. Bodog.com has made the Arizona Cardinals 40 to 1 betting odds to win the 2008 Super Bowl XLII.
Whisenhurst is the former offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers and will employ a similar offensive strategy of running first and throwing second. Edgerrin James will be a major weapon in the Arizona offense. James is an elite pick and slide runner who has great hands out of the backfield.
QB Matt Leinart is smart, strong and accurate behind center. Leinart should develop into a top 10 NFL Quarterback under the tutelage of Whisenhunt. The Offensive Line is a weakness that got some help in the NFL draft and a new Offensive Line guru in coach Russ Grimm. Wide Recievers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald form one of the leagues deadliest reciever combos.
On defense the Cards will primarily work out of the 3-4 this year. The Defensive Line has versatility and a disruptive force in DE Darnell Dockett. OLB Karlos Dansby has star potential. Dansby is a playmaker and if he remains healthy could be a Pro Bowler. The Secondary has lots of young talent that needs development. CB Antrell Rolle has star ability. SS Adrian Wilson is a leader and difference maker. Special Teams have some formidable legs but are otherwise ordinary.
The Arizona Cardinals should be an improved team with good coaching but a divisional title at this point is a stretch unless Matt Leinart is spectacular.
Brad Marchetti Opening Day Arizona Cardinals Power Ratings: 20-80 Scale
20- Poor
30- Well Below Average
40- Below Average
50- Average
60- Above Average
70- Very Good
80- Great
Coaching: 65
Quarterback : 60
Backs : 65
Receivers : 70
Offensive Line : 45
Defensive Line : 55
Linebackers : 55
Secondary : 55
Special Teams : 55
Bodog.com has posted NFL betting odds to win the 2008 Super Bowl XLII:
Arizona Cardinals 40/1
Atlanta Falcons 60/1
Baltimore Ravens 18/1
Buffalo Bills 100/1
Carolina Panthers 25/1
Chicago Bears 15/1
Cincinnati Bengals 15/1
Cleveland Browns 125/1
Dallas Cowboys 20/1
Denver Broncos 20/1
Detroit Lions 70/1
Green Bay Packers 38/1
Houston Texans 100/1
Indianapolis Colts 15/2
Jacksonville Jaguars 30/1
Kansas City Chiefs 50/1
Miami Dolphins 55/1
Minnesota Vikings 50/1
New England Patriots 8/5
New Orleans Saints 14/1
New York Giants 30/1
New York Jets 38/1
Oakland Raiders 70/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 25/1
San Diego Chargers 6/1
San Francisco 49ers 15/1
Seattle Seahawks 18/1
St.Louis Rams 40/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 45/1
Tennessee Titans 50/1
Washington Redskins 40/1
