The Arizona Cardinals are looking forward to putting a disappointing 2016 season behind them.
Step 1: Get on the same page during training camp and preseason play.
With Cards Camp set to open Saturday at University of Phoenix Stadium, here are five pressing questions facing the team as they prepare for their regular-season opener Sept. 10.
1. Who’s the other cornerback?
For the second straight year, this is the Cards' top question heading camp. Arizona thought it had a stop-gap solution last year by signing veteran CB Mike Jenkins, but Jenkins suffered a season-ending injury in preseason play. The Cards traded for Marcus Cooper before the season began, but Cooper left the team to sign with the Bears after last season.
That likely leaves second-year pro Brandon Williams and special-teams star Justin Bethel to fight for the job opposite six-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson. Neither have been especially impressive in a starting role to date, but coach Bruce Arians believes both will be better this season. Will he be proven correct?
2. Which rookies will impress right away?
On paper, a number of the Cards' 2017 draft picks are talented enough to see immediate playing time. Each of their first four picks — linebacker Haason Reddick, safety Budda Baker, wide receiver Chad Williams and guard Dorian Johnson — could all make an instant impact due to need, injury or both.
Even the Cardinals' fifth-round pick, running back T.J. Logan, could be plugged in right away as a kick returner, and sixth-round pick Rudy Ford could compete for the starting cornerback job even though he was a safety in college. For better or worse, Cardinals fans are going to learn a lot about all of these men shortly.
3. How will the offensive line shape up?
The Cardinals were decimated by injuries on the offensive line last season, and Carson Palmer paid the price, as he took the third-most hits of any quarterback in 2016. Pro Football Focus says the Cards have just the 17th-best O-line in the NFL heading into this season, and in order to be better than that, the youngsters will need to step up.
Third-year tackle D.J. Humphries will have to improve upon a 2016 season in which he gave up nine sacks, and an expected move from the right to left side of the line could do him good. Second-year guard Evan Boehm will also be counted on to step up this year, and rookie guard Dorian Johnson will add depth and could also get a chance to audition for a starting role.
4. Who’s going to back up Carson Palmer?
Carson Palmer is the obvious starter under center for the Cardinals, but the offseason addition of Blaine Gabbert suddenly made the backup QB situation in Arizona much more interesting.
Veteran Drew Stanton has been the No. 2 QB in the Valley since Palmer arrived, but Gabbert has more experience as a starter during his six seasons in the NFL. Gabbert’s pro career hasn’t gone as he’d hoped, but playing in Arians’ system could be a shot in the arm. Will he overtake Stanton for the second-string job before the regular season begins?
5. Have special teams been shored up?
The kicking game was an adventure for the Cardinals last season — and in the NFL, an adventure is the last thing you want in that area. Shaky placekicker Chandler Catanzaro was replaced by veteran Phil Dawson during the offseason, and former Canadian Football League punter Richie Leone has been brought in to compete with Matt Wile for a starting job.
An adventure-free kicking and punting game, combined with a reliable long-snapper (a position the Cards shored up halfway through last season), could be the difference between a playoff berth and an early winter break for Arizona. That's why it’d sure be nice to see this unit clicking on all cylinders during preseason play.
