Strategy and Personnel

QB Matt Leinart was challenged in preseason by Brian St. Pierre for the No. 2 job. But Leinart played well throughout camp and has been impressive in three games. Not only did he secure the backup job, he gave the club some confidence that all is not lost if starter Kurt Warner were to miss a few games.

Depth at linebacker is a concern after a few injuries in preseason. Outside linebacker Cody Brown, the second round pick, is out for the season with a dislocated wrist. He was a top backup. Inside linebacker Pago Togafau, who likely was going to make the team as a reserve and special teamer, was waived/injured after suffering a fracture in his right foot during the preseason.

PLAYER NOTES

--TE Stephen Spach appears to have won the No. 1 job, especially with Ben Patrick suspended for the first four games. Spach underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in February and has made a remarkable comeback.

--RB Beanie Wells was impressive in his preseason debut, gaining 46 yards on seven carries. And he says he's not yet fully recovered from an ankle sprain that caused him to miss nearly a month.

--WR Early Doucet continues to have bad luck with injuries. After missing much of training camp with a shoulder sprain, Doucet suffered fractured ribs against the Packers and will miss at least two weeks.

--NT Alan Branch is in better shape than the past two seasons but he still can't rise above third on the depth chart. Branch is behind Bryan Robinson and Gabe Watson. He should make the team but coaches want to see more out of him.

--WR Anquan Boldin has a strained hamstring and will miss the last two preseason games. Boldin would probably be playing if it was the regular season. He hates the preseason so it's not killing him to be sitting out.

--WR Sean Morey, known mostly as a special teams player, has had an excellent preseason when it comes to catching the ball. He likely has solidified his spot as the club's fifth or sixth receiver.

PLAYER TO WATCH: RB LaRod Stephens-Howling -- The seventh-round pick was impressive all preseason, both as a third-down back and kick returner. He has excellent quickness in the open field, and with his size (5-7, 185 pounds) looks like Darren Sproles of the Chargers. Stephens-Howling lacks top-end speed but he should help replace J.J. Arrington, who filled those roles last year.

DRAFT PICKS TO STICK

Rd. 1/31, RB Beanie Wells, Ohio State -- An ankle injury didn't answer questions about durability and toughness. But Wells is healthy now and looked quick and explosive in his preseason debut.

Rd. 3/95, S Rashad Johnson, Alabama -- Looked lost at times in coverage during the preseason, but he's smart and should improve. Could play in dime packages and on special teams.

Rd. 4/131, CB Greg Toler, St. Paul's College -- Great speed and quickness. Has the physical tools but is struggling to adjust to playing at this level. He's a season or two away from contributing.

Rd. 5/167, OT Herman Johnson, Louisiana State -- A guard in college, he's been moved to right tackle and has been very impressive. A powerful run blocker, he could become a starter by next season.

Rd. 6/204, OLB Will Davis, Illinois -- Making the transition from a college defensive end will take time, but Davis has pass rush skills and should contribute on special teams.

Rd. 7/240, RB LaRod Stephens-Howling -- Very quick and elusive in the open field. Could play on third downs and should be the team's No. 1 kickoff returner.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK: Starter - Kurt Warner. Backups - Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre.

Warner resurrected his career for a second time last season, setting franchise records for nearly every passing category. No one handles the blitz better, although he does tend to hold the ball too long at times. Leinart has shown great progress this off-season and has improved his mechanics. St. Pierre is a steady veteran, but he's been hampered by a sore back.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters - RB Tim Hightower, FB Dan Kreider. Backups - Beanie Wells, Jason Wright, LaRod Stephens-Howling.

Hightower, only in his second year, is mature and dedicated. Becoming an elite back is important to him. He will be challenged throughout the year by Wells, who has great physical skills but must prove his toughness and durability. Wright is a solid third-down back and special teamer, but Stephens-Howling is more dangerous in the open field. If Stephens-Howling has to pick up the blitz, however, there could be problems. The Cardinals use a fullback about 25 percent of the time so they likely won't keep two of them.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter - Stephen Spach. Backups - Ben Patrick, Anthony Becht, Dominique Byrd.

Patrick could be the starter but he's suspended for the first four games. Spach is the best remaining all-around tight end and has made a remarkable comeback from knee surgery in February. Becht is the best blocker of the group, while Byrd is an excellent receiver. It wouldn't be surprising to see Leonard Pope, a starter for part of the past three years, cut.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters - Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald. Backups - Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban, Sean Morey, Early Doucet, Lance Long.

Boldin and Fitzgerald might be the best starting tandem in the NFL. Boldin is nagged by a hamstring injury but should be able to go for the opener. Fitzgerald is one of the top two receivers in the game. Breaston is considered a starter, too, because the three-receiver set is the base offense. Urban had a great camp, as did Morey. Doucet, a third-round pick, is dealing with injuries but has a great upside. Long could be cut. If that happens, he'll likely be claimed by the Chiefs and former Cards offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters - LT Mike Gandy, LG Reggie Wells, C Lyle Sendlein, RG Deuce Lutui, RT Levi Brown. Backups - T Oliver Ross, T Herman Johnson, G Brandon Keith, C Ben Claxton.

There is not a Pro Bowl player in the starting lineup but most of the group has been together now for three years. The starters don't get fooled much by blitzes, and they improved as run blockers. Lutui and Brown are good run blockers and Sendlein should improve after playing through a shoulder injury last year. Ross is an experienced backup, and Johnson and Keith are promising young players. Claxton can play some guard, which gives him the edge over Melvin Fowler.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters - LE Darnell Dockett, NT Bryan Robinson, RE Calais Campbell. Backups - E Kenny Iwebema, E Bertrand Berry, T Gabe Watson, T Alan Branch.

Dockett is a force who is a great one-gap player. Robinson is steady inside and has held off challenges from Watson and Branch. If Branch loses some weight, he could play end, too. Campbell is starting for the first time and shows great promise. There isn't much depth at end.

LINEBACKERS: Starters - LOLB Clark Haggans, ILB Karlos Dansby, ILB Gerald Hayes, ROLB Chike Okeafor. Backups - OLB Bertrand Berry, OLB Will Davis, LB Victor Hobson, LB Ali Highsmith.

Haggans and Okeafor are over 30 but their experience should pay off. Dansby is a special player but could be more consistent. Hayes, at 246, brings a physical presence to the inside. Berry is a pass rush specialist who will replace Haggans in those situations. The depth at all the spots is questionable. Hobson can play inside or out. No one else has much experience.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - LCB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, RCB Bryant McFadden, SS Adrian Wilson, S Antrel Rolle. Backups - CB Ralph Brown, CB Greg Toler, S Aaron Francisco, S Matt Ware, S Rashad Johnson.

Rodgers-Cromartie has the talent to be one of the best in the league but needs to practice harder. McFadden is a solid veteran who signed from Pittsburgh. He's been hampered by an ankle injury. Wilson is one of the best in the game and he'll line up at linebacker in passing situations and blitz off the edge. Rolle should be a playmaker at free safety and moves to nickel cornerback in those situations. Ware and Francisco play in dime situations.

SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Neil Rackers, P Ben Graham, LS Mike Leach, KOR LaRod Stephens-Howling, Steve Breaston, PR Steve Breaston.

Rackers is coming off a fine season, although he wasn't asked to make too many pressure kicks. Graham, a late-season addition last year, has shown more consistency in preseason and is great at putting the ball inside the 20. Leach is a solid snapper and can cover. Stephens-Howling already has shown to be a dynamic kick returner. Breaston is a reliable punt catcher, but averaged just 7.2 yards last year, with a long of 25.