Jake's stake

Young Cards need to step forward after loss of free agents

After being buried a league-high 49 times last season, Jake Plummer is hoping an improved line will keep him out of the sack. Stephen Dunn/Allsport

The Arizona Cardinals, who last season made their first playoff appearance in 23 years, open their 1999 training camp in Flagstaff, Ariz., on July 29. Here are a few questions from Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z, followed by CNNSI.com's perspective on some of the issues facing the Cardinals this season. SI's season preview will be posted August 24.

Dr. Z wants to know:

1) Three sturdy vets -- left tackle Lomas Brown, outside linebacker Jamir Miller and fullback Larry Centers -- were lost via salary cap miseries. How much of a setback is this to a young team just starting to make its move? Which leads us to ...

2) Can rookie L.J. Shelton replace Brown, the best pass blocker on a unit that got Jake Plummer sacked a league-high 49 times? Which leads us to ...

3) When are the Cards going to put a real line in front of the Snake, and, oh yes, try revive a running game that's been in the dumper ever since O.J. Anderson toted the mail?

4) When will these people figure out that overachieving Mark Smith is their best defensive lineman and pay the guy what he deserves? Sorry, but tackle Eric Swann's one-series-dynamite, one-series-invisible leaves me cold.

The Cardinals might make the playoffs if: They solidify the offensive line and do a better job of protecting Plummer; Swann steps it up and the defense dominates, as it should; and veteran cornerback Aeneas Williams stabilizes a young secondary. To avoid having to repeat last year's performance -- when they had to win six of their last nine regular-season games to earn a wild-card berth -- the Cards also must emerge from a tough early slate with at least four wins by the time the open date in their schedule rolls around on Oct. 24.

Cardinals Facts 1998 record: 9-7 (second in NFC East, wild card) Coach: Vince Tobin (20-28 in three seasons with Cardinals) Stadium : Sun Devil Stadium (73,158, natural grass) 1998 rankings: Offense -- 21st run, 8th pass, 13th overall. Defense -- 20th vs. run, 17th pass, 21st overall. Depth chart 1998 results 1998 player statistics 1999 schedule CNN/SI Projection: 9-7

Pivotal games: Oct. 12 at Dallas; Dec. 12 at Washington. The Cardinals have the fourth-toughest schedule in the league -- which means they'll have ample opportunity to prove last year's success wasn't a fluke -- and they face another season front-loaded with road games. They must get off to a quick start and Dallas looms large in between games against San Francisco and the New York Giants. Arizona will likely need a win at Washington in December before hosting Buffalo and then heading to Atlanta and Green Bay to finish out the regular season.

On the hot seat: Right cornerback Tom Knight has great speed but is injury prone and high-salaried. Second-year safety Corey Chavous could step in and render Knight superfluous. Arizona's kicking game also needs to improve. Placekicker Joe Nedney was just 7-of-13 on field goals of 30-plus yards. Punter Scott Player is so-so -- and the Cards are still seeking a return man to replace Eric Metcalf, who signed with as a free agent wih the Ravens.

Up-and-comers: Running back Michael Pittman and fullback Rod Brown, who made Larry Centers expendable. Centers' role as a third-down back/receiver will likely go to second-year man Pittman, who only rushed for 91 yards as a rookie, but is durable, has sure hands and can shift out to wide receiver. Brown, who has spent the past two seasons on the Cardinals' practice squad, will replace Centers at fullback.

Player Movement Unrestricted Free Agents Restricted Free Agents Players Lost Rob Fredrickson, LB, from Det. Mike Devlin, C, re-signed Chris Jacke, K, re-signed Kwamie Lassiter, S, re-signed Mark Maddox, LB, re-signed Carl Simpson, DT, re-signed Bernard Wilson, DT, re-signed Tommy Bennett, S, re-signed James Dexter, T, re-signed Aaron Graham, C, re-signed Matt Joyce, T, re-signed Ronald McKinnon, LB, re-signed Johnny McWilliams, TE, re-signed Patrick Sapp, LB, re-signed Lomas Brown, T, Cle. Jamir Miller, LB, Cle. Stoney Case, QB, Ind.

1999 Draft Picks Round Overall Pick Player Pos School 1 8 David Boston WR Ohio St. 1 21 Lonnie Shelton OT Eastern Michigan 2 51 Johnny Rutledge ILB Florida 3 83 Tom Burke DE Wisconsin 4 116 Joel Makovicka FB Nebraska 5 155 Paris Johnson S Miami (OH) 5 168 Yusef Scott OG Arizona 6 190 Jacoby Rhinehart CB SMU 6 202 Melvin Bradley DT Arkansas 6 206 Dennis McKinley RB Mississippi St. 7 239 Chris Greisen QB NW Missouri St.