All right, now that we have some of the initial details out of the way, we can start looking at the roster. I won't spend a lot of time here, because since this is real rosters, most of these players will be plenty familiar to you all.
The numbers following the position are the Starter/Reserve ratings. The following ranking is for the starter(s) only.
QB (36/13)--16th best
I suppose I should be happy that Jeff Blake warrants at least average in this league, but I am not holding my breath. Basically, he's a big thrower, and has some nice touch on his deep passes, but he falters quite a bit in the mental aspect of the game.
The backups are Josh McCown and Preston Parsons. McCown is a former third rounder who doesn't look to be developing too quickly. He is a short-game passer with good timing. Parsons went undrafted this past spring and will serve as the third quarterback and kick holder. He has the size and the personality of a starter, but is far short of talent or the mental ability needed for this position.
RB (9/9)--27th best
In real life, Marcel Shipp seems to have taken over the job, but in Jim's rosters, Emmitt Smith still holds the edge. Not that either of them look to be particularly effective at one of the weaker backfield groups in the league.
Smith just doesn't have the inside power or outside speed to be an every down back anymore, although he could be useful as an open field runner on third down. In pure skill, Shipp has a lot going for him, as he is a power back with good athleticism once he gets open. The problem appears to be that he is dumber than a doorknob, and is a fumble waiting to happen. Still, I think I would probably go with him just as often as I would Smith.
Josh Scobey and Damien Anderson are speedy, elusive backs with little future potential. Anderson, who was undrafted two years ago, has some decent skills and should make a fine backup behind the top two, but he'll never start.
FB (68/0)--11th best
James Hodgins looks like one of the best players at his position in the league. He's an effective blocker with room to improve, and a powerful inside runner. He also makes for a very good receiver out of the backfield.
Arizona's problem is there is no backup. That might be the focus of a free agent signing prior to training camp, since none of the running backs appear capable of ably stepping in as a fullback if needed.
TE (28/46)--17th best
This is one of the Cards better positions. Both of the best tight ends would see significant time on most teams in the league. Steve Bush is the fan favorite. He is a decent blocker, who works the inside seams well with good speed and he has courage in the middle of the field and on third down. His problem is he hasn't proven to be too clutch, and has been prone to running bad routes.
The other TE is Freddie Jones, who has yet to revolutionaize the position for the Cards since coming over from the Chargers last year. Jones isn't the blocker or mover that Bush is, but he is a steadier player, who runs solid routes, holds onto the ball and makes the clutch catch.
A pair of second year tight ends serve for further depth. 2002 7th roiund pick Mike Banks brings a little receiving skill, but is no blocker at all. 2002 undrafted free agent Nathan Hodel has actually passed Banks, as he is a more effective pass blocker and is also the better third down receiver.
WR (0/13)--Dead Last
While real life has certainly shown they aren't as bad as this score indicates, this is probably this team's worst position.
One thing this game has done that took injuries to do in real life is that it makes clear that rookie receivers Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson are both the players with the most potential and also the best receivers currently on the team.
As often occurs with young receivers, Boldin and Johnson are much more physically able than mentally prepared for the NFL. Boldin is a field stretcher with a lot of potential, but he has a lot of work to do on running routes and avoiding drops. Johnson isn't quite the physical specimen, but he comes into the league a little more natural in the game, able to adjust to routes better, catch third down passes and go over the middle fearlessly.
The backups are a ridiculous mess of bit parts. Kevin Kaspar, who was cut by the Broncos in the preseason last year, is a strong personality in the locker room, but is a third down receiver with very little skill in third down receiving. Nate Poole is better over the middle but is very limited physically. Bryan Gilmore could develop into a solid possession receiver and does his best work int he slot, but he is far from an established player. Jason McAddley doesn't have Gilmore's mental skills, but he is also effective on third downs and is more physically talented.
C (100/7)--Best In League
Nice to have a very positive position like this.
This is pretty much completely due to the presence of Pete Kendall, one of the best, if not the best center in the league. He can run and pass block with them all, and has great natural blocking strength. He is also a leader and a fan favorite.
Jason Starkey is the backup, and Cards fans will be praying Kendall never gets hurts. Starkey is a former undrafted rookie free agent who has some potential as a run blocker, but his complete lack of ability in the passing game makes him a liability.
G (15/0)--28th best
Former high first rounder Leonard Davis remains the best here, although he is still by far an unfinished product. He is massive and has the strength to back it up. Despite that, he is a better pass blocker than run blocker and will end up grading out much better in passing games in the long run.
Chris Dishman remains the best option at the other guard spot, but only for lack of other choices. He and Starkey have much in common, as he is an okay run blocker, but patches of grass have more mobility in the passing game. He is also undersized and weak.
The lone backup at one of the team's worst and shallowest overall positions is Cameron Spikes. Spikes brings very little to the field, as he has almost no effective technique and has to rely and subpar (but better than his other ratings) blocking strength. What makes him an intriguing character is that he is a leader and a strong personality and half the offense seems to either have an affinity or a conflict with him.
T (2/12)--31st best
It doesn't seem to get better, does it.
There is some reason tot hink there will be improvement here, though, since the Cards have brought in two rookies at the position who could both end up better than the starters (not that that's saying much).
The starters are L.J. Shelton and Anthony Clement. Shelton fits the mold of Starkey and Dishman, as he is a decent run blocker, but has almost no pass blocking skills. He is listed as the left tackle, but I think I will have to play him on the right, since someone with pass block skills needs to protect Blake's backside.
That job will probably go to Clement, who isn't as good a run blocker as Shelton, but has more ability overall, to go with poor--but still top on this team--pass block skills.
The two rookies are almost good enough to start now, and one may compete for a guard spot to get them playing time. 2003 6th round pick Reggie Wells needs a lot of weight work, but he has the potential to be decent in both running and passing situations. Undrafted rookie Kendrick Rogers looks like he will be even better than Wells. He also has ability in both key areas, and he has some blocking strength Wells doesn't have. His issue is that he fatigues too quickly.
P (32/0)--20th best
Scott Player isn't going to scare anyone with his booming kicks, but he gets good hang time and he is solid at directional punting. He is also an able kick holder, if needed.
K (0/0)--Dead Last
It's hard to believe Bill carries some of the same genes as his brother Martin, the fine kicker for the Buccs. There just isn't anything this guy does well. He has very little range or accuracy on his field goals, and his best quality--kickoff distance--would be considered paltry for most other kickers. I'm going to have to scour free agency for competition for this one.
DE (20/44)--31st best
The biggest addition from a draft that looks like it will add some talent to this team might be Green Page prospect DE Kenny King. King is already easily the best end on the team, and his potential is just huge. All this for a fifth rounder? Yay, X-factor.
King has a lot of work to do on his technique, both against the rush and on the pass rush, and his play resignation skills are horrendous right now. But the young man simply possesses terrific pass rush strength and is an elite-level hitter. He may never be a mental giant in the trenches, but when this guy develops, he will be a force.
King's surprising arrival has pushed first round pick Calvin Pace to the back a bit, but Pace is also a likely candidate to start with tremendous upside. He isn't very good against the run, and likely never will be, as he is very undersized for a defensive lineman, even an end. But he has the pass rush potential to become a domiannt force rushing the passer, and he has the mental game King doesn't.
King and Pace merely add tremendous talent to a group of young ends that already had some nice looking youngsters on the rise. Kyle Vanden Bosch is the best skilled end on the team right now (until the kids pass him up), and he also has some very good potential. Since he plays both the run and the pass with equal (and decent effectiveness), he will probably get a starting spot before giving way on pass downs.
Dennis Johnson and Fred Wakefield are practically carbon copies of each other, as they are both solidly strong and good hitters, and they both tend more toward rushing the passer than stopping the run.
DT (37/48)--21st best
As at defensive end, there are some potential developing stars in this group.
The best of the group is actually at his peak right now. Russell Davis is the line's best combo rusher and run defender. He is also strong in the pass rush and hits hard. His play recognition skills need a lot of work.
Veteran Barron Tanner will try to fight off former first round pick Wendell Bryant at the other tackle position. Tanner grades out better right now, while Bryant has slightly more potential. Tanner levels runners up the middle hard, and he is a very accomplished run blocker, even better than Davis. But he gives very little push in the pass rush, and doesn't recognize plays well. Bryant is a much more well-rounded player who is a better pass rusher than run stuffer.
Derrick Ransom and Marcus Bell provide depth. Ransom is actually the best dual threat tackle after Davis, as he rushes the passer than Tanner and defends the run better than Bryant. He gives up strength at the point of attack, though. Bell is strickly backup backup filler, although he has the potential to develop into a decent run stuffer.
MLB (55/0)--17th best
On a defense with very little true standouts, Ronald McKinnon is a blessing. After Kendall, he is probably the best overall player on the team and is the leader of the defense. Just about the only thing McKinnon doesn't do is rush the passer with any true technique, and he hides that by simply running over tight ends and running backs with freakish strength in the rush. He is excellent against the run, tested and experienced in recognizing plays, and he hits like a rock. He is uncomfortable in man, but he can play the bump and run and he is solid in zone defenses.
If McKinnon goes down, the Cards will be hurting, since James Darling is not an answer as the backup. He is technically better in the pass rush than McKinnon, is decent against the run and he is effective in recognizing plays. But he has almost no natural ability and is lost in pass defense.
OLB (29/29)--21st best
The Cardinals didn't just luck out with King. They also nabbed SLB Gerald Hayes in the 3rd round. Hayes came out much better than expected, and is already good enough to start from day one. He is potentially one of the most technically proficient linebackers in the game. He has the same freakish pass rush strength McKinnon displays, and he hits so hard, helmets will be sent flying into the stands. Right now his pass defense and play recognition are both very subpar, but when this guy is fully developed he will have few holes.
Raynoch Thompson is the incumbent on the strong side. He is very strong against the run, and has some skills in pass defense. But overall he is subpar against the pass, and gets very little results in the pass rush. He has settled into being a solid vet who can pick out the plays, and he is horse when it comes to playing time.
2002 2nd round pick Levar Fisher still has a ways to g0o, although he has the potential to be a solid player. He can play the physical stuff, doing bump and run well and hitting hard, but he is very limited atheltically, and next to useless against the passing game. LeVar Woods is Fisher's alter-ego, as he is pretty weak against the run, but he can mount a pass rush on occasion.
CB (21/0)--22nd best
There's no doubt who is the best in this group. Veteran Duane Starks is a fine man defender and a very solid physical corner. He diagnoses plays well, hits very hard and has soft hands for the picks. He is surprisingly ineffective against the run, however, and his zone defense could use some work.
David Barrett is probably the best of a very pedestrian remaining corner corps. Barrett is better in the zone than in man, although he falls short of Stark in both defensive sets. He is a solid run defender, and has better overall skills by far than any other corner on the team after Starks.
2001 2nd round pick Michael Stone looks likely to be the nickel back. He is horrible in zone defense, but is okay in man and bump and run, and he has room to grow. He also has the potential to be the best run defending corner on the team.
The rest of the group is mostly forgettable. Jacoby Rinehart and Renaldo Hill are both developing zone corners with good bump and run skills. Emmanuel McDaniel brings very little technical skill, but he can read the plays off the line, he hits strongly and he holds up against the run.
S (38/4)--22nd best
The Cards feature a pair of solid safeties at least, even if they are short of depth. FS Dexter Jackson is one of the best players on the team, and provides a fine security blanket on the back end of the defense. He is very good in zone and in bump and run coverage, he recognizes plays with the skill of a crafty veteran, and his hits literally crush the life out of receivers. He is also solid coming up against the run. His man coverage could use a lot of work, though.
SS Adrian Wilson is not far behind Jackson and might end up better. He has the potential to stand up the run and drop any ball carrier with force, reminiscent of Steve Atwater, and he could have shutdown corner level skills in man-to-man. He isn't there yet, though, and now sits as a solid, second-fiddle safety to Jackson.
The backups are extremely ordinary. Quentin Harris plays the physical game well, but is lacking in technique. Justin Lucas has better skills, but doesn't have the physical talent to escape backup status.
Did I say short?
CR