No one knows if Dave McGinnis can coach yet, but he's already demonstrated
that he's intelligent. After going 1-8 a coach in the wake of Vince Tobin's
in-season firing, McGinnis somehow gained control of all the Cardinals'
football decisions. Once he assumed command, McGinnis correctly determined
that the 3-13 team was so bad it would take more than a one-year fix to turn
it into a contender. That's the only possible explanation for McGinnis'
personnel moves, which concentrated on offense and ignored the 30th-ranked
defense. One unit at a time, please.
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CAMP AT A GLANCE
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| Thomas Jones struggled in his rookie season. |
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Location:Northern Arizona, Flagstaff, Ari.
Rookies report: July 27
Veterans report: July 27
Preseason schedule:
Aug. 11: Oakland
Aug. 18: at Seattle
Aug. 25: at Chicago
Aug. 31: San Diego
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On offense, McGinnis added big-ticket free agent Pete Kendall and took
massive Leonard Davis with the second overall pick in the draft, giving the
Cardinals two star-quality guards to go with capable tackles L.J. Shelton and
Anthony Clement and solid center Mike Gruttadauria (if he's healthy). The
perennially leaky line hasn't protected quarterback Jake Plummer or paved the
way for a decent running game for years, but, if the blocking improves, the
Cardinals have the weapons to score on people. Figuring out how to stop
people will have to wait until next year.
Man in the spotlight
Finally, Plummer is fully armed, but is he dangerous?
The local hero looked like a potential Pro Bowler in 1998, but hasn't been
the same since, throwing 45 interceptions the last two years. Last year he
was booed at home and began to lose the confidence of his teammates. With
better pass-blocking, halfback Michael Pittman on the verge of a breakout
year and three fine wide receivers in Rob Moore, David Boston and Frank
Sanders, Plummer is out of excuses. It's time for him to become the leader
and playmaker everyone through he would be.
Key position battle
Moore, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in
August, is ready to reclaim his starting wide receiver spot. That leaves last
year's starters, Boston and Sanders, to fight over one position. Sanders has
been a steady pro for six years, but the coaches think Boston has the
potential to become one of the top receivers in the league after a 71-catch,
1,156-yard, seven-touchdown season. Sanders might have to accept being the
third option on one of the NFL's best receiving corps.
Biggest adjustment
The Cardinals' dream defensive line of Simeon Rice,
Eric Swann, Mark Smith and Andre Wadsworth is just a memory now. Considered
the key to the team's future just two years ago, the line fell victim to
injury and greed and now must be rebuilt from scratch. That will take time.
At end, veteran Brad Ottis and rookie Kyle Vanden Bosch will be hard-pressed
to replace Rice's pass-rush. At tackle, unheralded second-year men Jabari
Issa and Mao Tosi must shut off the faucet after opponents rushed for 163
yards per game last year. The patchwork line was the worst in the NFL last
year and things don't figure to be any better this year. That won't help a
secondary that must replace six-time Pro Bowler Aeneas Williams at cornerback.
Rookie report
Davis and Vanden Bosch will step into the starting lineup.
Cornerback Michael Stone, another second-round pick, could beat out Corey
Chavous and replace Williams. Kicker Bill Gramatica, taken in the fourth
round, will be given every opportunity to unseat Cary Blanchard.
Sixth-rounder Bobby Newcombe fills a need as a punt returner.
Arizona's complete offseason moves
