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1996 Season 7-9, 4th in NFC East 1997 Draft Choices Team Reporter Kevin Graff t~bug.graff@msc-net.com Arizona Cardinals Kevin's Mock Draft | Kevin's Player Rankings | Cardinals Draft Update LOOKING BACK With Vince Tobin running the show, the Cardinals showed signs of life for the first time in years. The late season heroics of Boomer Esiason helped the Cardinals finish 7-9, and they almost managed a playoff birth. The defense improved from a dismal ‘95 season. Lack of a running game and the inability to get it done in crutial situations sums it up. The talent was there, but consistency is the name of the game. If the Cardinals can improve on that, the playoffs should be in the near future. COMINGS & GOINGS Larry Centers will remain a Cardinal. Bill Bidwell knew fans wouldn’t be pleased if Centers was allowed to get away, so he made sure he stayed in Arizona. Centers signed a 3-year/ 7.5 millon dollar deal, with a 1.5 million dollar signing bonus. With the signings of Aeneas Williams, Eric Swann, last year, and now Larry Centers it looks like Mr. Bidwell is starting to understand what it takes to make a winning organization. The Cardinals have also signed TE Chris Gedney from the Bears. He’s had alot of trouble staying healthy, but has alot of potenial. Now that Centers, Gedney, and DT Bernard Wilson have been signed, the Cardinals will probably focus on signing DE Micheal Bankston. He hasn’t received much interest from other teams, and will have to lower his price tag to remain a Cardinal. Don’t expect Bankston back in a Cardinal uniform next year. As expected, Boomer Esiason was finally released. Thanks for the memories Boomer, but the future is now! DEPTH CHARTS QB-Despite almost getting his team into the playoffs, Boomer Esiason has played his last game as a Cardinal. The starting job has all but been handed to Kent Graham. Last year, Graham finally got a chance to start and he capitalized on it. For the first time in years the Cardinals offense actually looked good. Then Graham hurt his knee and that was that. Stoney Case will back up Graham. He’s untested, and if Graham goes down, the Cardinals could have a major problem. Chad May has talent but he has had trouble grasping the pro game. Expect the Cardinals to go after Jake Plummer in the draft. RB-Larry Centers is the leader of the offense, both statistically and emotionally. now that he’s re-signed , count on the Cardinals making a real run for the playoffs this year. Cedric Smith should be the backup FB. He’s an adequate blocker and runner, but needs to improve as a receiver. The best battle in training camp should be at RB. Leshon Johnson and Leeland Mcelroy both showed promise in ‘96. Johnson exploded against the Saints(200yards+), then came back to earth and looked average. He’s not elusive enough to avoid getting pounded. Count on him continuing to be injury prone in ‘97. On the other hand, McElroy is very elusive, but he’s not strong enough to run inside. With some added strength, McElroy could become a true superstar. WR-Pencil in Rob Moore at one starting spot, but be ready for changes at the other. Moore can’t seem to stay healthy enough to live up to his potential. With Graham at QB look for Moore to have a breakthrough season. Frank Sanders inability to hang onto the ball, and lack of speed, could cost him his starting spot. Marcus Dowdell made alot of big plays in ‘96. He is also much faster than Sanders. No matter who starts, they both will get plenty of playing time. Anthony Edwards(unrestricted free agent) is mostly a special teams player. He will likely re-sign. TE - Look for Johnny McWilliams emerge as the starter here. He has the size and the skills to become a another offense weapon for the Cardinals. He missed training camp last year, and never really picked up the offense. McWilliams should get a strong challenge from Chris Gedney, if he’s healty. They could form a nice 1-2 punch at TE. Pat Carter did a good job last year, but isn’t as talented as McWilliams or Gedney. He could have trouble holding onto the #3 job. Jarius Hayes should be ready to challenge for that job, after spending much of ‘96 playing special teams. OL-Lomas Brown will return to start at left tackle, but the rest of the line is in shambles. Possible starters at right tackle are: James Dexter, Matt Joyce, and Joe Wolf. Dexter is the most talented, but also the least experienced. Joyce and Wolf aren’t the answer. Duval Love did little to impress in ‘96, and probably won’t be back. Rob Selby and Anthony Redmon should be the starting guards. Selby is a free agent, who should be re-signed. He’s the best run blocker on the team. Aaron Graham looks to be ready to step in at center for Mike Devlin. If Devlin wins the starting center job, look for Graham to push Redmon for his job at guard. Joe Staysniak figures in as a backup. DL-Eric Swann and Bernard Wilson will return as the starting DT’s.Swann had a subpar year, but should return strong in ‘97. Wilson ,who recently signed on for two more years, is a solid runstopper. Simeon Rice will return as one of the starting DE’s. Rice tied the rookie sack record and should be a Pro Bowler soon. The other starting DE will be Micheal Bankston, he’s a steady run stopper, but needs to put more pressure on the QB. Brad Ottis and Eric England will be the main backups, neither has much down the road potential. LB-Jamir Miller and Eric Hill return as starters at linebacker. Miller(outside) had a good season and, at times, showed the poential that made him a first rounder. Hill(middle) played like a Pro Bowler again. He’s prone to injuries and this could be his final year as a Cardinal. Seth Joyner and Terry Irving will battle for the other ouside spot. Irving would be a starter on any othr team in the league. Joyner is getting up there in years, but he still has the talent to start. If Irving gets the call, Joyner could become a sack artist on 3rd downs. Ronald Mckinnon is the heir-apperent to Hill and an important special teams player. DB-Wthout CB Aeneas Williams , the secondary would be a complete mess. The other starting CB spot is totally up for grabs, Ronnie Bradford filled in nicely after coming to the Cardinals towards the end of the year, but was a free agent, and signed with the falcons. The team will probably address this need in the draft. Last years SS Matt Darby probably will sign elsewhere, look for Tommy Bennett to get the call. Brent Alexander probably won’t be back at FS. He was burned often and isn’t a big hitter. Kwaime Lassiter or Tito Paul could get the nod there, but neither player is a lock to even make the roster. Look for somebody to be brought. SPECIAL TEAMS-Kevin Butler has been re-signed, but that doesn’t mean the job is his. Training Camp will probably be the last time Butler kicks in a Cardinal uniform. Pro Bowler, Jeff Feagles will again handle the punting duties. He’s one of the most accurate punters in the league. Marcus Dowdell and Leeland Mcelroy will compete at for kick return duties. Mcelroy never really developed in ‘96, but he was one of the nations best in college. Anthony Edwards will probably be replaced at punt returner. Dowdell might get the nod there too. Draft Talk | Draft Trivia | Profiles