Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Profile

Ken Whisenhunt played his college ball at George Tech and endured nine seasons in the NFL as a blocking tight end. He started his coaching career in the SEC at Vanderbilt University in 1995. He returned to the NFL as the Baltimore Ravens tight end coach and in 2001, Whisenhunt was hired by the Steelers to work with their tight ends and blocking scheme. Whisenhunt ended up taking over the offensive coordinator position in 2004. Whisenhunt's most famous moment has to be the trick play he called in Super Bowl XL. With Pittsburgh leading 14-10 over the Seattle Seahawks, Whisenhunt called a wide receiver reverse pass from Antwaan Randle El to Hines Ward. This is the only touchdown pass thrown by a wide receiver in Super Bowl history and this play allowed Pittsburgh to pull away and win the Super Bowl.

The Cardinals have had one winning season- and only one playoff appearance since 1984 and only one playoff victory since winning the NFL championship in 1947. Whisenhunt knows how winning feels and knows what it takes to get there. Look for a drastic improvement on both sides of the ball this year in Arizona.

Arizona Cardinals Off-Season Moves

The off-season for the Cardinals was a busy one, not only did Arizona bring in new coaches but a handful of rookies and veterans that are looking to contribute, instantly. I was most impressed with the Cardinals draft. I had them ranking extremely high in overall strength of draft for 2007.

The Cards first pick was jumbo-sized offensive tackle Levi Brown. He adds versatility and grit to a line that is lacking in size and athleticism. The Edge averaged 3.4 yards per carry last year, look for this mark to increase behind Brown. If Brown can help the Edge just a bit while keeping Leinhart off his back, Brown could end up being the best pick this team has ever made.

The Cardinals also grabbed Alan Branch, defensive tackle from Michigan that will fit into the new 3-4 defense nicely. Branch is a big, physical player and will absorb the double team blocking assignments allowing for the linebackers to freely roam. Look for Branch to be a mainstay in the middle of the 3-4 defense. Terrance Holt is another great pick-up by the Cardinals. The hard- hitting Holt will fill in nicely along side All-Pro Adrian Wilson. Look for this North Carolina State tandem to supply a knockout punch this year. Speedy rookie wide receiver from Michigan Steve Breaston, will make a nice addition to the receiving core and is going to provide a nice spark in the return game for Arizona this year as well.

Arizona Cardinals 2007-08 Outlook

This year has to be the year the Cardinals get back into the playoffs, right. Are we going to see the Cardiac Cards again this year? No, this year will be different! Last year the Cardinals were one of the league pretenders not contenders. The Cards were pretenders last year because they were so stacked with talent across the board and had the best stadium in the country but they managed only five wins. I will never forget the Monday Night debacle against the Chicago Bears and neither will former head coach Denny Green

This year will be different. The Cardinals have brought in a new head coach that is bent on fixing the offensive line problems and bringing winning football to the desert. Ken Whisenhunt is known for his hard-nosed, gritty approach to football and this style, this philosophy is desperately needed in Arizona.

The offensive line last season failed to consistently, open holes for Edgerrin James. The offensive line failed to pass block for Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart and was constantly at the center of discussion as to why the Cards were loosing. The Cardinals knew something had to be done and fast. Whisenhunt was just part of the solution. The other half of the fix is new offensive line coach Russ Grimm. Grimm, a former Steelers coach, helped mentor and teach some of the best offensive linemen in the game. Grimm made the Steelers offensive line one of the best in the NFL. He brings his love of old fashioned, tough-nosed football to a team that has lost the mean-streak, and physical edge that they once had.

2007-2008 is going to be an improved year for the Cards. Both Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin have had impressive off-seasons. My Cardinal insider also reported to me that the Edge has also looked awesome this spring and summer, putting a lot of time into workouts individually and with the team.

Furthermore, Matt Leinart will have had a year in the NFL, and should be ready to make a jump to stardom this year. Leinart is a very bright guy that showed plenty of poise in his rookie campaign and this year should be just massive if he can remain healthy for the full 16 games, which should not be an issue with a newfound focus on the offensive line. If he struggles or goes down with injury, former league MVP, Kurt Warner will be ready to go. The team is going to run more this year and with a strong off-season workout, James is capable of carrying that kind of load and then some.

The Arizona Cardinals football team, and its predecessor teams, is the oldest continuously run professional football franchise in the United States.

In 1922 the team moved to Chicago and played at old Comiskey Park. The team played there for 37 years. In that same year the team joined the NFL and called themselves the Chicago Cardinals.

In 1925 the NFL championship was still determined by the best overall record, and not by a playoff system. In that year the Cardinals were awarded their first NFL championship.

In 1933 a Vice President of the Chicago Bears named Charles W. Bidwell, Sr. bought the Cardinals. He paid $50,000 for the team. The senior Mr. Bidwell died in 1947.

After many years of below average performance, the Cardinals reclaimed the NFL championship title in 1947. This was the only time that the Cardinals won a championship by winning a championship title game. It was the NFL's 15th championship title game (it was not yet called the Super Bowl). The score was 28-21, and they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mrs. Violet Bidwell controlled the Cardinals for the next 15 years and in 1960, the Cardinals moved to St. Louis.

Violet Bidwill Wolfner took over for her husband and in 1962 she died, and her sons, Bill and Charles, Jr. took control. Bill Bidwill became sole owner in 1972 and still owns the team today. Only the New York Giants and Chicago Bears have been in the hands of one family longer than the Cardinals have.

In 1988 the Cardinals moved to Arizona under the name Phoenix Cardinals. In their first season in Arizona the Cardinals achieved two records and were welcomed by excited Arizona fans: one for single game attendance (vs. Cowboys in their inaugural Arizona game) and one for season attendance.

In 1994 William "Bill" Bidwell changed the name of the team to the Arizona Cardinals.

In 1998 the Arizona Cardinals finally ended the team's 15-year playoff drought and achieved their first postseason victory since 1947.

14 former Cardinals are in the Football Hall of Fame. They are: Guy Chamberlin, Conzelman, Driscoll, Kiesling, Curly Lambeau, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Ollie Matson, Nevers, Jackie Smith, Jim Thorpe, Trippi, Charles Bidwill, and Larry Wilson.

2006 marked the debut of the Arizona Cardinals' new stadium in Glendale. Shortly after opening the stadium it was named the University of Phoenix Stadium. No more hot August and September games - this stadium is an air-conditioned, state-of-the-art facility and one of the best stadiums in the entire world.

Arizona Cardinals 2007-2008 Roster

Arizona Cardinals 2007-2008 Depth Chart

Arizona Cardinals – University of Phoenix Stadium

Construction Began: 2003
Opened: September 10, 2006
Capacity: 63,000 (For football)
Location: Glendale, AZ
Surface: Natural Grass

The newest and most technologically advanced of all the NFL stadiums, the University of Phoenix Stadium plays host to the Arizona Cardinals as well as many other sports contests, events and concerts. The stadium possesses a retractable roof, allowing the stadium to be used as a dome or open air arena. It has a one of a kind feature not found in any other NFL stadium in that one side of the stadium also retracts, allowing the entire football playing field and sideline areas to “slide” into the great outdoors and the Arizona sunshine. Never has there been a more perfect natural grass field in a dome environment. The stadium will host the Super Bowl in 2008.