2006 Arizona Cardinals Preview

2006 season preview of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team from MadduxSports.com. Once the preseason gets underway be sure to purchase Maddux's Winning NFL Picks. We have also setup a live NFL lines feed so all visitors can compare multiple odds from the best sportsbooks on the net.

Coach Dennis Green starts his third season at the helm of a club that once again has improved. Top running back, Edgerrin James (Indianapolis), has joined the team and the Cards drafted their quarterback of the future—Matt Leinart. Arizona, which moves into a new stadium this year, looks ready for a playoff run.

Kurt Warner (375 ATT, 242 COMP, 2,713 YDS, 11 TDs, 9 INT) will start at quarterback. Warner is a solid veteran but his health is problematic. A healthy Warner greatly enhances Arizona’s play-off chances. John Navarre (24 ATT, 14 COMP, 174 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT) will backup.

Last year, Arizona had the NFL’s best passing game and the worst running attack. Edgerrin James (360 ATT, 1,506 YDS, 4.2 AVG, 13 TDs) automatically improves the ground game. In 2005, James ran for 11 more touchdowns and 368 more yards than the entire Arizona team. But this will not be a cakewalk. James ran behind a great line. Now he’s running behind one of the worst.

However, the team’s making an effort to improve. Steve Loney (Minnesota) is Arizona’s new line coach and the Cards signed OG Milford Brown (Houston) and drafted guard Deuce Lutui in the second-round.

The receiving contingent has two of the best in the business at wide receiver. Larry Fitzgerald (103 REC, 1,409 YDS, 13.7 AVG, 10 TDs) and Anquan Boldin (102 REC, 1,402 YDS. 13.7 AVG, 7 TDs) form a dynamic duo.

The defensive line suffered from injuries last season and played inconsistently. Pro Bowl DE Bertrand Berry, who was lost part way through 2005, is back, free agent tackle Kendrick Clancy (NYG) was signed and DTs Gabe Watson and Jonathan Lewis were drafted. The unit has more depth and talent.

There are some sound players in the secondary but the linebacking unit is lacking. Third-year player Karlos Dansby is the best of the bunch.

2006 Arizona Cardinals Predictions

The Cardinals have a good chance to be in the post-season. They’ll need to plug some holes in the defense and continue to focus on the offensive line. Chicago, Dallas and Denver will be tough to beat. Beating Seattle would be a major coup.

We predict a second place finish in the West this season with a decent shot at making the playoffs. They will probably but against one of the tough NFC East teams to see who grabs the final playoff birth.

For more info on the Cardinals NFC West division rivals check out the Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers team previews that Maddux Sports has completed for the NFL sports fan and bettor.

For more info and news on the 2006 Arizona Cardinals football team visit the Arizona NFL.com page.