CARDINALS AT A GLANCE
	Jake Plummer
	Last year: 9-7, second place in NFC East Key returnees:: QB Jake Plummer (3,737 yards, 17 TDs); RB Adrian Murrell (1,042 yards rushing); WR Frank Sanders (89 receptions, 1,145 yards); S Kwamie Lassiter (8 INTs); DE Simeon Rice (10 sacks) New faces: WR David Boston (1st round pick); LB Rob Fredrickson (Lions) New places: OL Lomas Brown (Browns); LB Jamir Miller (Browns); QB Stoney Case (Ravens); PR/KR Eric Metcalf (Ravens) Watch out: DE Andre Wadsworth missed all of training camp in '98, didn't sign until the regular-season opener and wound up with only four sacks. He could triple that sack total in '99. Better than '98: Adding Boston into the mix with veterans Sanders and Rob Moore gives Plummer a potentially lethal three-receiver set. Worse than '98: Quarterback protection has been a problem the past two seasons (50 sacks allowed last season), and losing a veteran like Brown doesn't help.

Gone are three co-captains and signature players from the 1998 team in offensive tackle Lomas Brown, linebacker Jamir Miller and fullback Larry Centers, leaving an even younger nucleus.

Holdouts by wide receiver Rob Moore, defensive tackle Mark Smith and first-round offensive tackle L.J. Shelton were the talk of preseason.

And with one of the toughtest schedules in the NFL, it's debatable whether the team will be ready for a higher level of competition. Only the Raiders, Jets and Buccaneers have it rougher in '99. The Cardinals have dates with eight teams that made the playoffs last year, including four from the AFC East: the Dolphins, Jets, Patriots and Bills.

"I'm excited about the schedule," quarterback Jake Plummer said. "I want to play the best of the best and prove to people that last year wasn't a fluke, and that we are contenders and do have a good football team with some pretty damn good football players on it."

The biggest question of all, though, is this: Are these Cardinals currently better than the team that walked off the field in January after losing an NFC divisional playoff game at Minnesota?

Arizona will need stability in both its offensive and defensive lines to be able to answer in the affirmative.

"They realize the situation they're in," coach Vince Tobin said. "They know that, for example, the Giants and Tampa Bay the previous year made the playoffs, didn't make it the next year and didn't make it with the same type of scenario -- where they had a tougher schedule.

"They know the challenge that's ahead. And I think they've prepared themselves to face it."

Here's a position-by-position look at Arizona's roster:

Quarterbacks
As a starter, Plummer has been a great finisher. He helped author seven wins in eight games decided by three or fewer points in his first full season behind center and now is the offense's unquestioned leader. The third-year pro still needs to get going earlier in games to avoid the need for late-game heroics, and he needs to learn to throw the ball away more in desperate times. Dave Brown lends veteran leadership as a backup. Grade: B

Running backs
Adrian Murrell had better games statistically, but he was at his best in Arizona's two postseason games wth 225 all-purpose yards. This season, he might get more opportunities to catch the ball out of the backfield with the departure of Centers. The bulk of those chances on third down, however, will fall to second-year pro Michael Pittman.

		Everyone is saying Arizona is the team to watch in the NFC East, but you must realize the Cardinals have the fifth-toughest schedule in the NFL in 1999. Plus, the Cards made a very bad move in giving up on fullback Larry Centers. They're expecting Michael Pittman to be their receiving back, but Pittman hasn't proven he can take on that role yet. This offense is not good enough for them to give up the security blanket that Centers provided for Jake Plummer. Every quarterback who has won a Super Bowl has had a security blanket. Yet Plummer no longer has one because the Cards don't really use the tight end in this offense. Arizona also will need to find a replacement for Jamir Miller, a good young linebacker who they allowed to get away in free agency. Lomas Brown is also gone from the offensive line, and he was the best pass protector in what is essentially a passing offense. So the Cardinals have some holes to fill there. They will need to rely heavily on Plummer, who is one of the most improvisational quarterbacks in the league. He makes things happen on the run. Plummer's ability to move the offense will determine if Arizona can meet expectations and master a much more difficult schedule. Plus, the defense must step up as well. With the people they've lost and the injuries they have, the Cardinals might be on an even level with the Cowboys and Giants. Arizona is capable of winning the NFC East, but the Cards need to answer some questions.<

As a situational goal-line runner, Mario Bates had six TDs last season, and he should continue in that role. Nebraska rookie Joel Makovicka could be the short-yardage blocker the team has been searching for. Grade: B

Receivers
Frank Sanders already had emerged as Plummer's favorite target, with career highs in receptions (89) and yards (1,145) last season. But with Moore holding out during training camp, that bond has been strengthened further. Moore needs to show up and recapture his '97 form after battling hamstring problems last season.

The addition of No. 8 overall draft pick David Boston will translate into more three-receiver sets and should create matchup problems for opponents covering a trio of receivers all 6-foot-2 or taller. TE Johnny McWilliams quadrupled the scoring output of his first two seasons in '98 and needs to build on that effort with the loss of versatile backup Chris Gedney (colon surgery). Grade: A-

Offensive linemen
A unit that was supposed to enter camp merely searching for a left tackle now has bigger problems. OLG Chris Dishman underwent elbow surgery. ORG Lester Holmes was involved in a car accident, putting his availability for the opener in doubt. Backup OG Jerome Daniels dislocated an elbow in the second week of the preseason.

Meanwhile, Shelton, a candidate along with Anthony Clement and Matt Joyce to start at left tackle, became entangled in a bitter holdout. Only starting C Aaron Graham and ORT James Dexter have escaped problems. All these factors have subtracted from valuable meshing time. Clement likely has won the OLT spot. Joyce will serve as a valuable swingman as a reserve. Grade: D+

Defensive linemen
What could be a team strength also could be a huge concern, depending on what happens in the middle. Eric Swann had been to more Pro Bowls (two) than '99 training-camp practices as of Aug. 30, after two surgeries last fall on his right knee. He's reportedly shooting to be ready to start in the season opener. Fellow DT Mark Smith has 15 sacks in his first two NFL seasons combined, but he was embroiled in a contract dispute.

Their absences would leave the likes of Rashod Swinger, Carl Simpson and Jerry Drake at the DT position. It would also mean additional double-teams for DEs Simeon Rice and Andre Wadsworth and more scheming to cover for the interior shortcomings. (This grade takes into account the uncertain status of Swann and Smith.) Grade: C

Linebackers
Coaches have raved about the coverage ability and smarts of free-agent pickup Rob Fredrickson, who replaces the departed Miller. MLB Ronald McKinnon covers well from sideline to sideline but benefits when Swann and Smith command double-team attention and keep linemen off his smallish frame (6-0, 240).

The protracted absences of Swann and Smith would hurt his effectiveness. Patrick Sapp and Tony McCombs are battling for the weak-side starting job, but neither is proven. Grade: C-

Defensive backs
LCB Aeneas Williams is the cornerstone of the unit. He has gone to five consecutive Pro Bowls. It's the other side that has dogged Arizona over the years. Corey Chavous is just the latest in a long line of players to start opposite Williams. Chavous could finally be the answer to fill that role.

Tom Knight, a '97 first-rounder, adds excellent depth if he can stay healthy. He also gives the Cardinals a strong counter to three-receiver sets. Tommy Bennett and Kwamie Lassiter (NFC-leading eight picks in '98) have developed into reliable safeties, with Pat Tillman contributing in situational roles. Grade: B+

Special teams
The kicking battle between Joe Nedney and Chris Jacke wasn't expected to be resolved until the final preseason game. Nedney has recovered fully from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left (kicking) leg suffered last November at Kansas City. He has a stronger leg than Jacke, who played in just four regular-season games in '98 but had three game-winning kicks. Whoever wins out must improve beyond 40 yards after a combined 8-for-17 effort in 1998.

Scott Player has been adequate if unspectacular at punter. Boston is slated to return punts, with Pittman or Bates logging kickoff returns after Eric Metcalf (now with Baltimore) handled both roles last season. Grade: C

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