Arizona
Cardinals

Cardinals Team Report

Updated: May 25, 2012 04:18 EST

You can break down the Cardinals roster position by position. Rate individual performances from a year ago. Project how each player will do in 2012.

But how the team plays this season comes down to one major item: the quarterback.

If the Cardinals don't receive better quarterback play than a year ago, they won't contend for a playoff spot. It won't matter if the offensive line is better or if the defense continues to improve.

Unless the Cardinals get more out of the quarterback position, they will be relegated to finishing .500 at best.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt and his staff know that. That's why the organization pursued Peyton Manning in free agency. And it's why Whisenhunt made changes on his staff, replacing quarterbacks coach Chris Miller with John McNulty, the former receivers coach.

The hope is that Kevin Kolb, or John Skelton, will show great improvement after a full offseason of work with McNulty.

"When we started (this offseason), you realized how much they missed last year," McNulty said. "We're going from ground zero so to speak: each play, each protection, each situation."

Kolb was thrust into a difficult situation last season and floundered. Because of the lockout, the Cardinals traded for him in late July and his first practice was in training camp. The Cardinals' offense was dramatically different than the West Coast system Kolb ran in Philadelphia for four years, and nothing about the transition went smooth.

Kolb didn't play well when he was healthy, and he wasn't healthy that often. He missed nine games because of injuries.

The information overload, combined with foot and concussion injuries, made Kolb's first season in Arizona a disastrous one. The hope now is that he can benefit from immersing himself in the offense over an entire offseason.

"It's like a slow-soaking process right now," he said, "because we're installing four to five plays today, four to five tomorrow, rather than training camp, when you're getting 16 to 20 at a time."

Whisenhunt is handing the job back to Kolb. John Skelton has a legitimate shot to win it, Whisenhunt said, but that seems questionable. The Cardinals gave up cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick in 2012 for Kolb and have paid him $19 million. It's hard to believe they would keep him on the bench.

Skelton played well late in games last season and contributed to the team winning seven of its last nine. But he also struggled early in games and was a major reason the team had to come from behind to win so often over the last half of the season.

McNulty is concentrating on improving the fundamentals with both quarterbacks. Their footwork got sloppy last year, he said, because they were unsure of the offense.

Skelton often wouldn't reset his feet when moving beyond his initial option on a pass. Kolb would just start moving if the first guy was covered.

"If you get out of rhythm with your feet," said McNulty, "then the whole thing is broken down. You may end up moving, getting out of the way and making a play, but as far as what the play is supposed to be, it's been lost and you're playing catch-up. More times than not, bad things happen."

--Rookie Bobby Massie is expected to contend for the starting right tackle job, but he's going to have to work his way up the depth chart. He's third now behind Jeremy Bridges and D'Anthony Batiste.

--Quarterback Kevin Kolb appeared to run with the starting unit with John Skelton working with the twos. Both will get work with the starters during these summer practices, however. Kolb has the advantage but Skelton will be given a shot to win the job, too.

--The team has a full roster of 90 players but it's telling that three numbers have not been given out: 91, 53 and 72. The players that wore them last year, defensive end Vonnie Holliday (91) and outside linebacker Clark Haggans (53) probably will sign soon. Brandon Keith (72), the starter at right tackle last season, is still an unrestricted free agent. The Cardinals would like him back, but Keith is likely looking for a better opportunity. Keith visisted the Patriots this week.

--Running back Beanie Wells remains vague about the type of knee surgery he had following the season. Wells is attending but not participating in offseason practices. The timetable is for him to be 100 percent by the start of training camp.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "You might not be able to win a job but you'll probably be able to lose a job in an offseason like this." -- QB John Skelton on the importance of summer practices.

The Cardinals have a full complement of 90 players and will continue to look for help at several spots, including on the offensive line, defensive line and at outside linebacker. They have also taken a look at a couple of veteran safeties, but don't appear to be in any hurry to sign one.

NT Dan Williams appears to have his weight under control. He's near 328 pounds, which is the weight at which coaches want him to play. Williams reported to camp out of shape last year after doing little conditioning work during the offseason. He is participating in all conditioning at minicamp and has met the standards for men his size.

MEDICAL WATCH

--TE Jeff King suffered a partially torn tendon in his right quadriceps while training at the team facility. He has undergone surgery and the Cardinals are hopeful he will return by training camp.

--OLB O'Brien Schofield on Twitter confirmed he had offseason shoulder surgery. He is participating fully in voluntary practices and should be ready for the season.

--CB Greg Toler, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, is participating in team sessions of practices. He is skipping most individual drills for now. He is expected back by the starting camp.

--RB Ryan Williams appears on schedule to return from a torn patellar tendon by the start of camp. He's doing strenuous rehabilitation work with an athletic trainer.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: DE Calais Campbell (tendered at $10.605 million; signed May 11).).

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--S Hamza Abdullah is a decent special teams player who doesn't play much on defense. A solid backup who could return.

--OLB Clark Haggans is 35 and likely has lost his starting job to O'Brien Schofield. But Haggans is in good shape and could continue to mentor young players.

--DE Vonnie Holliday is 36 but performed well as a backup. He wants to play at least another year and the Cardinals might accommodate him. He's great with young players, too.

--RT Brandon Keith has struggled with injuries the last two seasons. He has athletic ability but hasn't been consistent. The team would like him back but want him to compete for the job.

--CB Joey Porter lost his starting job last season and then went on injured reserve with a knee injury. It looks like his career is over.

--RB Chester Taylor isn't expected back. The team already has Beanie Wells, Ryan Williams, LaRod Stephens-Howling and Alfonso Smith. There doesn't seem to be room for Taylor, 32.

--OG Floyd Womack spent the season on injured reserve and could be brought back. The team will look elsewhere for help first, however.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

--QB Max Hall (not tendered as ERFA) spent last season on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury suffered during camp. There doesn't appear to be a spot for him on this team.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

--T Bobby Massie (4/112): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--G Senio Kelemete (5/151): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--S Justin Bethel (6/177): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--QB Ryan Lindley (6/185): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--K Nate Potter (7/221): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--QB Richard Bartel: ERFA; terms unknown.

--T/G D'Anthony Batiste: UFA; $700,000/1 yr.

--OT Levi Brown: FA (had been released); $30M/5 yrs, $7M SB.

--DE Calais Campbell: Franchise FA; $55M/5 yrs, $15M SB/$10M OB 2013.

--WR Early Doucet: UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

--PK Jay Feely: UFA; $3M/2 yrs, $500,000 SB.

--CB A.J. Jefferson: Potential ERFA; terms unknown.

--S Rashad Johnson: RFA tendered at $1.26M with third-round pick as compensation); $1.26M/1 yr.

--LS Mike Leach: UFA; $3.5M/3 yrs, $500,000 SB.

--RB Alfonso Smith: ERFA; terms unknown.

--RB LaRod Stephens-Howling: RFA tendered at $1.927M with second-round pick as compensation); $1.927M/1 yr.

--DE Ronald Talley: ERFA; terms unknown.

--CB Greg Toler: RFA; tendered at $1.26M with fourth-round pick as compensation; $1.26M/1 yr.

--LB Reggie Walker: Not tendered as RFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

--LB Brandon Williams: ERFA; terms unknown.

--WR Stephen Williams: Potential ERFA; terms unknown.

--P Dave Zastudil: UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--CB William Gay: UFA Steelers; $3.2M/2 yrs, $500,000 SB.

--LB Quentin Groves: UFA Raiders; terms unknown.

--S James Sanders: UFA Falcons; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--OG Adam Snyder: UFA 49ers; $17.5M/5 yrs.

PLAYERS LOST

--S Sean Considine: UFA Ravens; $890,000/1 yr, $65,000 SB.

--OG Rex Hadnot (released).

--OG Deuce Lutui: UFA Seahawks; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--CB Richard Marshall: UFA Dolphins; $16M/3 yrs, $6M guaranteed.

--WR Chansi Stuckey (released).