Whether or not Dennis Green was serious when he predicted his first team in Arizona would win 10 games, it still set the tone for a more confident Cardinals team that greatly improved on its 2003 performance. That group was doubled up in scoring 28.2-14.1 per game, ranking at the bottom of the league in both points scored and allowed. The 2004 team was outscored by just 2.3 PPG, was one of the better pass defending units in the NFL, and finished 5-3 SU & ATS at home. All of that plus the emergence of WR Larry Fitzgerald and DE Bertrand Berry have the starving fans of this organization anxiously awaiting the start of the 2005 campaign. They will need to move on without team MVP Emmitt Smith, who produced 9 TD’s in his final season, as well as solve their quarterback woes. Green started three different QB’s over the course of 2004, and only Josh McCown experienced any success.

Last year’s signing of Berry is being favorably looked upon by many as the best free agent move ever made by Arizona. He led the NFC in sacks and was a primary reason the team went from 26th to 12th in total defense. This year’s equivalent addition could be DE Chike Okeafor of Seattle, who is just one of a handful of free agent signings that could make an impact in 2005. On the offensive side of the ball, QB Kurt Warner was brought in to challenge for the starting spot with the winner having the privilege of playing catch with Fitzgerald and fellow wideout Anquan Boldin. Through the draft, the Cardinals bring in two particularly talented players in CB Antrel Rolle of Miami and RB J.J. Arrington of Cal.

The impact of Green is being felt around here even quicker than most optimists expected. This franchise has been so bad for so long that even the smallest sliver of hope is magnified. There are several things going for the Cards in 2005. They are in the NFL’s weakest division, plus they have a nice mix of youth and veteran talent, a fresh attitude, and the motivation of a new stadium coming in 2006. Sounds like a recipe that might land Arizona in the playoffs.