THE 2013 ARIZONA CARDINALS - A TEAM TO NOT BE CAUGHT SLEEPING ON

The Cardinals started off strong last year with a 4-0 start that actually looked somewhat promising the way that their defense was playing.  The fact of the matter was that they didn't have their best offensive lineman in left tackle, Levi Brown.  I also think that their whole offensive line was way too young and inexperienced.  The whole team continued to become more unhealthy as the season went on so the result was a 1-11 finish and a final record of 5-11.  Well, let me just tell you that I can see why people would sleep on this team, because they brought in a guy that I thought was done last year to play quarterback.  I think I was wrong, because Carson Palmer seems to have a little bit of good football left, due to seeing him throw 4,000 yards and 22 TD's with 14 INT's last season for a pretty bad Raiders team.  The O line gets T Brown back and becomes more savvy, plus first round draft pick G Jonathan Cooper from North Carolina could be of some help.  I also think it will help that their backfield will be loaded in 2013.  First off, they picked up Rashard Mendenhall from the Steelers, whom I think has some good football left as well.  They drafted RB Stepfan Taylor from Stanford, who I think could be the most underrated back in the whole draft.  I watched this kid play for the Cardinals in college and he's a hell of a player and ready for this league, and what a steal in the fifth round.  Arizona also still has Ryan Williams at RB, who still hasn't been healthy enough to show what he can do, but has talent.  Now Carson has one or two more seasons to prove he can still play and compete in this league, and he's got a gift from God to throw to.  I think you can expect second year WR Michael Floyd to step it up this year, and don't forget the little white boy from Texas A&M, rookie WR Ryan Swope.  Now for defense, I think they are going to be pretty darn good.  They drafted LB Ryan Minter who should be able to shine a little in his first season, and if you're not too baked like he used to be, you may remember CB Tyrann Mathieu.  Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson, in my opinion, is due to have a break out season this year, and the fact that he will be mentoring his pal from college, much like he did at LSU, they will make a dangerous duo.  I also like fourth round draft pick, DE Alex Okafor from Texas, and RB Andre Ellington from Clemson, not to get off the subject of their defense, but I mean I just think they really loaded up this off-season.  They picked up CB Javier Arenas from the Chiefs and S Yeremiah Bell from the Jets, as well as LB Jasper Brinkley from Minnesota and CB Antoine Cason from San Diego.  I really don't think they lost anyone important, like Kevin Kolb or Beanie Wells, and even Adrian Wilson, due to the fact that he's in his twelfth year.  Looking at their schedule, I do see playing these NFC West teams twice a challenge, because the defenses in this conference are tough, and every game should be competitive.  Week one at St. Louis is going to be fought tooth and nail until the end, in my opinion, and I don't even know how to call that one.  The home opener vs the Lions should be tough, because I see Detroit having a more dynamic offense with Reggie Bush in the mix.  At the Saints is always really hard, as well as on the road again to Tampa Bay, whose defense should be good this year.  At home against Carolina is very winnable, but then at the Niners, then home to Seattle and then the Falcons just makes things much more difficult.  They get their bye after that, thank God, and then host Houston, which I think they can win and then maybe get on a roll.  They have the Colts at home after that, then at Philly, Rams at home, at Tennessee and Seattle again, then the home finale vs San Francisco. Last, but not least, I believe Bruce Arians will be a good fit for this team as their new head coach, and that's all I'm going to say about that. I will give this team about 8 maybe 9 wins, but it's because of their brutal division and tough schedule they play.  Do not, and I repeat, do not sleep on the Arizona Cardinals in 2013, for they could be a dangerous team to play.