The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers are two teams that will look to be on the rebound in 2011, as both teams will be hoping that they’re investments at the quarterback position pay dividends and lead them back to the playoffs in the not so distant future. The path back to the playoffs appears shorter for one of these teams, simply because of the feeble division they’re in, but both teams will be looking to get off on the right foot this Sunday.
Realistically, both the Cardinals and the Panthers are amongst the worst ten teams in the league, and are in a way fortunate to be presented with a realistic opportunity to win in week one. The Cardinals in particular will know that games like this (that are outside of their division) won’t come along every week, and they must capitalize on this to give themselves a much needed out-of-division victory. Here are three things to focus on in this week one matchup.
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1) Second year defenders making an impact
Both teams feature sophomore defenders that are going to get their first opportunity to make 2011 their breakout season. For the Panthers, defensive end Greg Hardy and Eric Norwood will be competing for playing time, as they have both played solidly in limited playing time in 2010. The Panthers will evaluate who will be the best fit to provide a foil for Charles Johnson in 2011. In Arizona, Dan Williams and Daryl Washington will be looking to strengthen the spine of the Cardinals’ defense. Both of these sets of players have the opportunity to make an immediate impact in 2011, as Williams and Washington have the opportunity to close down an explosive running game while Hardy and Norwood are facing a pair of sub-standard offensive tackles which should help them chase down a new quarterback. Week one will give us our first indications of whether or not these four sophomores are ready to make their mark in the NFL.
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2) Caging the Panthers’ running game
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The best offensive unit in this game is without doubt the Panthers’ running game, as they herald a solid offensive line coupled with the deepest backfield in the league. The fact that the Panthers boast three running backs that have all (at one point) shown the ability to be featured backs is bordering on greed. All three running backs have the ability to grind out extra yards, but they are also all big play threats that will be dangerous to the Cardinals’ defense. The Cardinals’ defensive line features a number of players who like to get up the field, but if that penetration isn’t able to break through, then look for big days from both Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. Any chance of a successful season rests largely on the shoulder of these two backs, and if they can make an early impact the outlook may not be so bleak for Carolina.
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3) Kolb to Fitzgerald?
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If the hopes of the 2011 Carolina Panthers rest on the running abilities of Stewart and Williams, then the familiarization of his new offense for Kevin Kolb in Arizona is pivotal to the Cardinals’ chances of success. Unlike Carolina in the NFC South, the Cardinals have a chance to make it to the playoffs this year in the still mediocre NFC West. Larry Fitzgerald is still their best player, and Kolb must find him early and often if the Cardinals hope to have any success this season. As usual, Fitzgerald will do everything in his power to help the team win, but as a receiver, he is dependent upon the play of his newly acquired quarterback. While Kolb no longer has the pressure that he was faced with in Philadelphia, he will want to with prove to Arizona that he is their quarterback of the future. Will he show that he’s ready to do it from week one?
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So there are your three points to focus on. Feel free to let us know what you’ll be focusing on in the comments section, or at our official Twitter account.
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