2013 NFL PREDICTIONS!!! (TYLER)

TIME TO VISIT THE CARDINALS

For Day 29 of my 2013 NFL Predictions i will break down the ARIZONA CARDINALS.

Since the departure of QB Kurt Warner the Arizona Cardinals have been dealt a bad hand of quarterback play, no one quarterback has stepped up to take over the starting position and played well enough to hold on to it. It also hasn't helped that running back has been a weakness along with offensive line for this team. All these factors have lead to a string of terrible seasons for the Cardinals even with one of the best in the game at WR Larry Fitzgerald on the team. However the defense on this team is very promising. Starting in the defensive backfield with Patrick Peterson, Antoine Cason, and Yeremiah Bell. Linebacker Karlos Dansby. And on the Defenive Line Calais Campbell, Matt Schaughnessy, and Darnell Dockett. Not too bad for a team that went 5-11 last year. The Cardinals did trade for QB Carson Palmer who will lead this team, and if he cannot then QBs Ryan Lindley or Drew Stanton will try to. This team needs help on offense, let's check out their draft to see if they helped themselves.

ROUND 1: Jonathan Cooper OG (North Carolina)

ROUND 2: Kevin Minter ILB (LSU)

ROUND 3: Tyrann Mathieu CB (LSU)

ROUND 4: Alex Okafor DE (Texas)

ROUND 4: Earl Watford OG (James Madison)

ROUND 5: Stepfan Taylor RB (Stanford)

ROUND 6: Ryan Swope WR (Texas A&M)

ROUND 6: Andre Ellington RB (Clemson)

ROUND 7: D.C. Jefferson TE (Rutgers)

I like that most of the picks for the Cardinals went toward areas of need while still getting good value out of their picks. Jonathan Cooper will start on the offensive line, Kevin Minter will get looks situationally in the LB core. Tyrann Mathieu is their pick i don't really understand, to me he is too risky for the reward he would provide (ex. basically all players in the NFL that have had past problems, Aaron Hernandez/Rolando McClain etc.) What i really like is the later round picks of RBs Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington. These two along with Rashard Mendenhall will prove to be headaches for opposing defenses. And believe me you will see Ryan Swope catching balls as a starter. However will this team be able to build off of last year's 5 wins? Did they do enough to upgrade? Lets take a look at my predictions.

OPPONENTS                             W/L
@ ST. LOUIS                                 L
DETROIT                                       L
@ NEW ORLEANS                        L
@ TAMPA BAY                            L
CAROLINA                                    L
@ SAN FRANCISCO                      L
SEATTLE (THURSDAY)                 L
ATLANTA                                     L
BYE WEEK
HOUSTON                                    L
@ JACKSONVILLE                         L
INDIANAPOLIS                             W
@ PHILADELPHIA                         L
ST. LOUIS                                     W
@ TENNESSEE                              L
@ SEATTLE                                  L
SAN FRANCISCO                           L

FINAL RECORD                        2 - 14

Analysis: Unfortunately i don't see good things for this team next year. Not only is their schedule against them, but they play in a tough division. I do have them sneaking in a couple of wins against Indy and St. Louis, but overall this year QB play is going to struggle. I don't think they have done enough to shore up the offensive line and Carson Palmer is not known to be a mobile quarterback. Good news is that the Cardinals will be in the running to draft Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater.

What do you think?