2003 CARDINALS
	Emmitt Smith is the league's all-time leading rusher.
	Head coach: Dave McGinnis (4th year). 2000 record: 5-11. NFC West finish: 4th. Season opener: Sept. 7 at Lions Schedule | Depth chart

Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis is fond of calling the 2003 version of his team chippy -- and why wouldn't it be? The Cards made a lot of changes to the core of the team and ended up with guys who have serious chips on their shoulders.

Running back Emmitt Smith is seething that everyone thinks he can't perform anymore. Free safety Dexter Jackson hates that people see him as a product of the Tampa Bay system, a Super Bowl MVP who will flop a la Larry Brown. Jeff Blake, well, he's always had a chip, irritated no one gives him his due as an NFL quarterback.

Whether those guys can carry the Cards' attitude past their talent level and make Arizona competitive is the story of this season.

On offense, the marquee guy is Smith, and the strength of the team is the offensive line. It would make sense that the Cards would plan on running the ball. The problem is that the receivers are inexperienced, and the offensive coordinator, Jerry Sullivan, would rather pass first and ask questions later. If Sullivan can turn the passing game into more than a rumor, there might just be enough room for Smith and Marcel Shipp to run the ball. If not, teams are going to stack the line and make it a long year for the Cardinals.

For a team with such a woeful pass rush the past two seasons, the Cards did distressingly little to upgrade their defensive personnel in the offseason. If the team cannot muster more pressure and more sacks (40 total in two years), the Cards have no chance. Arizona has gone more to an attacking style rather than read-and-react; the Cards hope that will translate into the appropriate pressure. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch's horrible knee injury is a killer blow to a defense that can't afford it.

Offense
Quarterbacks: Blake already has shown in camp he is a more forceful leader than Jake Plummer ever was, taking wideouts under his wing and showing his faith in them. His offensive mates already love him. If he continues to avoid making mistakes -- Plummer's problem -- the Cards will be happy. Blake does need to start hooking up with someone on his famous deep bombs, which have missed the target much of training camp. Backup Josh McCown must start showing more, or the Cards will be tempted to bring in a veteran reserve. McCown, a raw, 2002 third-round pick, has many physical tools, but he has no pocket presence yet, and McGinnis admits he can be skittish.
Grade: C-minus.

Running backs: Does Smith have a 1,200- or 1,300-yard season left in him? Perhaps. He has been shifty on the few reps he takes in practices, showing the vision that has made him the NFL's all-time leading rusher. He is driven by the idea that every team in the NFL except for Arizona viewed him as a reserve. Even the Cardinals could have seen Smith the same way, given the presence of Shipp. Shipp, who proved late last season he could start in the NFL, has graciously stepped aside without complaint for Smith. Now that James Hodgins, a 275-pound battering ram at fullback, has arrived, Arizona has high hopes for its running game.
Grade: B.

Receivers: Say this for the group -- it believes it will surprise people with its production. The problem is the Cards don't know yet who will do the surprising. Rookies Bryant Johnson and Anquan Boldin will be important -- Boldin, a favorite of Sullivan, looks like the early favorite to be the breakout guy. After that it gets murky. Larry Foster, a 5-foot-10 slot guy, has been the most impressive, but he has also been banged up in camp. Kevin Kasper, expected to be a bubble guy at best, has been the most consistent in camp. Holdovers Bryan Gilmore and Jason McAddley each has had his moments, but Gilmore has yet to prove he has toughness to go with his speed, and McAddley continues to drop too many balls. There is a good chance all six will find their way on to the roster. From there it's anyone's guess.
Grade: D-plus.

Offensive linemen: The best part of training camp for the Cards was Pete Kendall's smooth transition to center, allowing the Cards to add about 30 pounds to Kendall's former left guard spot by starting Cameron Spikes. The Cardinals are confident a line of left tackle L.J. Shelton, Spikes, Kendall, right guard Leonard Davis and right tackle Anthony Clement can be among the best in the league. Of course, they have said that about the line every year for the past couple of seasons, and the group never stays healthy enough to find out. Depth is a problem. Raleigh Roundtree was invaluable last season as a guard and tackle, but spleen-removal surgery has shelved him probably until October. Center/guard Frank Garcia was signed as a free agent, but he'll miss the first four games because of an ephedra suspension. Suddenly, veteran center/guard Chris Dishman and rookie tackle Reggie Wells become very important.
Grade: B-plus.

Defense
Defensive linemen: The Cards have been happy with early returns from first-round end Calvin Pace. They better be, since Vanden Bosch's injury hurts a group limited in ability in the first place. Fred Wakefield finds himself back in a starting role now. At tackle, the Cards still have a handful of guys (Wendell Bryant, Russell Davis, Marcus Bell, Barron Tanner) who will be hardpressed to stand out. Bryant, a 2002 No. 1 pick, needs to have a breakout season. Rookie Kenny King and second-year man Dennis Johnson have to provide something at end. The Cards will be looking to ink a veteran.
Grade: D-minus.

Linebackers: The Cards have tried to make this a speedy bunch, hoping second-year man Levar Fisher can come back from knee surgery and Raynoch Thompson continues to prove he is a good player. Rookie Gerald Hayes has had a good camp. Middle man Ron McKinnon is on the downside of his career, but the Cards hope free-agent James Darling can help there
Grade: C.

Defensive backs: This should be one of the Cards' strengths if strong safety Adrian Wilson has grown up and adds discipline to his game and if Jackson wasn't a product of the Tampa system. Unfortunately, the Cards will be without cornerback Duane Starks, projected to miss the season with a torn left ACL. David Barrett is an adequate second corner, and Renaldo Hill has become a decent nickel back. This is another spot where depth is a problem. The Cards need to stay healthy.
Grade: B-minus.

Special teams
Scott Player has punted at a near-Pro Bowl level, while Bill Gramatica -- who looks like he has corrected the woeful kickoffs that hurt him last season -- is set at kicker. The Cards need punt and kick returners, but rookies Johnson and Boldin will end up returning punts, while Kasper is the leading candidate to return kickoffs.
Grade: C.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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