NFC.(National Football Conference)

Arizona Cardinals

www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/cardinals

AREA TO IMPROVE: For the second straight year, the team ranked last in sacks, and it can't stay with the same front four. RE Kyle Vanden Bosch plays hard and is great against the run, but he doesn't pressure the passer. The same can be said of LE Fred Wakefield. It was hoped first-round pick Wendell Bryant could provide some push from the tackle spot, but he missed training camp in a contract dispute and never made an impact.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: SS Adrian Wilson has the physical ability to be a star. But he made too many mistakes in coverage and gave up too many big plays. In his fourth season, LT L.J. Shelton enjoyed a breakout year. Shelton was inconsistent in his first three seasons, tending to play well against big-name opponents and poorly against lesser ones. The coaches planned to move Leonard Davis to left tackle, but Shelton's progress persuaded them to keep Davis at right guard. OLD Raynoch Thompson was supposed to be too skinny (6-3, 217) to last 16 games. But he was durable and was the team's top defensive player.

OFFSEASON GAME PLAN: Again, the club's problems seem to overwhelm its ability to solve them. The Cardinals need a premier pass rusher and probably a quarterback, and they must sort out their receiving unit and develop a playmaker in the secondary. The priority should be the pass rusher. Opponents routinely scored in the final minutes of halves because the quarterback had time. Upgrading at quarterback will be a close second priority. Jake Plummer struggled through the first half of the season, continuing to make the mental mistakes that have plagued him for years. But Hummer will be the top quarterback in a thin unrestricted free-agent market. He could return for less money. He wants to come back and is willing to compete for the job; his competition would be Josh McCown. The team could decide to take a quarterback with one of its top draft picks. With Marcel Shipp the No. 1 running back, the team likely will try to trade Thomas Jones. The club also must deal with its top three receivers--David Boston, Frank Sanders and MarTay Jenkins--being unrestricted free agents. Not all of them will return. Boston is one of the most talented players in the league, but there are concerns about off-field problems. It would be tempting to trade him, but players such as Boston are hard to replace. The team likely will place a franchise tag on him.--Kent Somers

FINAL GRADES

Regular season