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Arizona
CARDINALS
2002 Record: 5-11
Head Coach: Dave McGinnis
13-28 overall
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TEAM LEADERS
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Passing
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Jake Plummer
284-530, 2,972 yards, 18 TDs, 20 INTs
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Rushing
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Marcell Shipp
188 carries, 834 yards, 6 TDs
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Receiving
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David Boston
32 catches, 512 yards, 1 TD
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Kicking
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Bill Gramatica
15-21 FGs, 29-29 PATs, 74 points
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Schedule | Roster |
Statistics | Stadium
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By B. Duane Cross, SI.com
Just how woeful was the Arizona offense in 2001? One-time off-the-radar RB Marcell Shipp needed only 100 more receiving yards to lead the team in rushing and receiving. Shipp scored six rushing TDs (60 percent of the team total) and tied for the lead in three receiving TDs (3) with little-known WR Kevin Kasper and FB Joel Makovicka.
The answer to the Cards' offensive shuffle was a flurry of offseason comings and goings:
Hello: QB Jeff Blake, WRs Larry Foster and WR Marquise Walker; RB Emmitt Smith.
Good bye: QB Jake Plummer; WRs David Boston, MarTay Jenkins and Frank Sanders; RB Thomas Jones.
Will any of it make a difference? Probably not.
Defensively, S Kwamie Lassiter left for San Diego. His departure from the 29th-ranked defense is cause for concern, especially in light of the loss last year of CB Corey Chavous. Then again, it's the run defense that is the team's Achilles' heel, checking in at No. 30 (134.1 yards per game and 17 TDs allowed).
Arizona's free-agent signings were battle-tested vets, but the draft was a boon, yielding first-rounders WR Bryant Johnson and DE Calvin Pace, plus Round 2 WR Anquan Boldin, two inside LBs and a tackle for each side of the ball.
"I couldn't even begin to describe how happy I am about what we've been able to accomplish with this brand new group since our draft and free agency," head coach Dave McGinnis said when 'Zona wrapped its minicamps. “What these guys have been able to form as far as bonds with each other, not only on the field, but the chemistry of this locker room is very very good."
RB Emmitt Smith -- But only from a box office standpoint. There's no arguing the will to compete that the NFL's all-time leading rusher holds close to his heart, but giving Emmitt a majority of the carries only stunts the growth of Shipp.
However, McGinnis says Shipp will still take his turn in the backfield: "Marcel Shipp is a running back that did very well for us when he was called upon last year," McGinnis said. "This, to me, in no way inhibits Marcel Shipp. I watched many young running backs learn from Walter Payton. Marcel Shipp is still a very big part of our football team and will be."
QB Jake Plummer -- In his first full season as a starter in 1998, "Snake" guided the Cardinals to their first playoff appearance in 16 years. He struggled with injuries the next two seasons, but bounced back to throw a career-high 18 touchdown passes the past two seasons. Jeff Blake takes over for Plummer and had two exceptional years -- in 1995-96 with Cincinnati. Since leaving the Bengals after the '99 season, Blake has now played for three teams.
TE Freddie Jones -- There are very few options on this team, but the veteran Jones is still a decent play at tight end given the lack of established talent at wide receiver. Jones did lead the Cardinals in receptions last year but had just one TD and a career-low in receiving yards. Still, his fortunes could turn around with new quarterback Jeff Blake, who threw a lot to Todd Heap last year in Baltimore.
RB Emmitt Smith -- Unfortunately, this move doesn't look like Joe Montana to the Chiefs or Jerry Rice to the Raiders. Instead, it screams of Franco Harris to the Seahawks or Tony Dorsett to the Broncos, when a star player does very little in his final years. Emmitt hasn't be a great fantasy contributor in a couple of years, as seen with his eight TDs the past two seasons. He will get the bulk of the categories this season, but remember that Marcel Shipp, who played very well at the end of last season, is still on the roster and could get his share of carries.
WR Anquan Boldin -- He was the second wideout the Cardinals took in the draft after Penn State's Bryant Johnson. While Johnson was hardly anything special in college, Boldin occasionally had his flashes of brilliance at Florida State and could transfer some of that ability on the next level. Jeff Blake will be looking for anyone to throw to this year, and Boldin could be marginally valuable by the end of the season.
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>> Cardinals will make the playoffs because ...
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All the mismatched pieces come together and the veterans make a remarkable run as St. Louis, San Francisco and Seattle struggle.
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>> Cardinals will miss the playoffs because ...
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This is the more likely scenario. ... Arizona needs two or three more solid drafts in order to restock the roster and build an NFC West contender. A shot at the franchise's first Super Bowl is in the distant future.
| 2003 Draft Picks |
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| Rd. |
Pick |
Player |
Pos. |
School |
| 1 |
17 (17) |
Bryant Johnson |
WR |
Penn State |
| 1 |
18 (18) |
Calvin Pace |
DE |
Wake Forest |
| 2 |
22 (54) |
Anquan Boldin |
WR |
Florida State |
| 3 |
6 (70) |
Gerald Hayes |
ILB |
Pittsburgh |
| 5 |
6 (141) |
Kenny King |
DT |
Alabama |
| 6 |
4 (177) |
Reggie Wells |
T |
Clarion |
| 6 |
37 (210) |
Tony Gilbert |
ILB |
Georgia |
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