Detroit Lions 2015 Schedule Preview: Arizona Cardinals
By Zac Snyder
The Detroit Lions‘ 2015 schedule features a lot of games out of the ordinary such as back-to-back appearances on national television, a morning local time kickoff for their game in London and a non-Thanksgiving Thursday night home game.
Another of those out of the ordinary games is their week five game against the Arizona Cardinals, scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. kickoff despite being a home game.
To get caught up on the Arizona Cardinals, I got together with Raising Zona‘s Scott Allen. Below are my questions followed by Scott’s answers.
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1. How would you assess the team’s offseason? Did they do what they needed to do through the draft and free agency?
"The Arizona Cardinals had a very productive free agency period and they may not be done yet. Certainly they hit a home run with guard Mike Iupati from the San Francisco 49ers. He is a great run blocker, one of the best in the NFL. Sure, his pass blocking skills are average at best but he is still a major upgrade. The Cardinals also added depth at linebacker with Sean Weatherspoon as well.I say they may not be done yet in that area as they are due for a visit with tight end Jermaine Gresham, who, if healthy, is also a very welcome addition. In the draft the Cardinals again looked at the offensive line in the first round with D.J. Humphries from Florida. In the third round they got steals in running back David Johnson from Northern Iowa and defensive end Rodney Gunter from Deleware State. Overall I give the Cardinals an A- in the offseason."
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2. Which rookie are you most excited to see play in 2015 and why?
"David Johnson. I want to see if he truly is a guy that can be as versatile as Andre Ellington. The Cardinals running game suffered big time in 2014 because of Ellington’s injuries. The knock on Ellington has been endurance. They say he can’t take a lot of hits thanks to his 5’9, 195 frame.Johnson can run and catch the ball just as well and he stands at 6’3 and 225. Ellington will still be the starter but if you can get Johnson in the game for 15-20 plays I think that goes a long way in keeping Ellington healthy this season."
3. What is the biggest question that still needs to be answered heading into training camp?
"Who is going to be the starting cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson. Right now there a few guys that can take the position vacated by Antonio Cromartie, who went to the New York Jets in free agency. Jerraud Powers, Alfonzo Dennard and Justin Bethel are the three top contenders. Can any of them come in and do the job Cromartie did in his one season in Arizona? Powers and Bethel each had their moments last season, especially Powers as a backup. Bethel has been big on special teams as well."
4. What are your expectations for the team in 2015?
"I expect the road to be tougher to a playoff berth but I also expect them to succeed as they did in 2014. If they stay healthy this season, then they should win at least 11 games again. Trips to Chicago, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Detroit, and Philadelphia though this season does make it a tougher campaign in 2015. I will say 11-5. That may not be enough to win the division.I don’t have the expectation that they will win the NFC West because Seattle is still just as good, St. Louis is better, and right now we don’t know what to expect from San Francisco. If they finish 11-5 though I expect a wild-card berth and this year they win at least one playoff game. They can win the division though but it will go through Seattle."
5. Right here, right now, are you marking down the game against the Lions as a win, loss or toss-up?
"Right now I will say win since that’s what I’m going to go with in my game-by-game predictions piece here down the road soon. However, the Cardinals now have to visit Detroit. I think Detroit was tired of coming here to Arizona. Detroit almost pulled it out last season in Glendale.I think health again is a big factor for both teams. The game is on October 11th, relatively early in the season so I think chances are good that both teams are relatively healthy. It will be close and certainly can go either way with the talent the Lions have but I will give the Cardinals the edge for now."
For more on the Cardinals, check out Raising Zona.
Next: Lions 2015 Schedule Preview: Seahawks