How the Arizona Cardinals match-up with: the Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 1 - @Jacksonville, Jacksonville Stadium
Sunday, Sept. 20th, 1:00 PM, FOX

All-time series: Jacksonville 2 - Arizona 0
Last 10 games: Jacksonville 2 - Arizona 0

Interesting Stat: In two games, Jacksonville has outscored Arizona 68-27

Quarterback
Jaguars - Let's just say that if David Garrard gets injured for any amount of time, the Jags are in big trouble. After releasing Cleo Lemon so they didn't have to pay a back-up quarterback $3 million a year to ride the pine, the Jaguars were left with, well, nothing. Todd Boeckman didn't even play that much in college, nonetheless the pros, and Todd Bouman is 106 years old. To make matters worse, Garrard's not even all that good.
Cardinals - If you ask me if I want Garrard or Warner, I pick Warner. If you ask me if I want Garrard or Leinart, I pick Leinart.
Edge: Cardinals, because their back-up is better than the Jags starter.

Running Back
Jaguars - Much like the quarterback position, the Jaguars are sparse at running back. This being the first year in a good while that the Jacksonville fans won't be able to see Fred Taylor on the field, Maurice Jones-Drew will have to become a 30-carry back for the first time as well. The question then becomes, "Can he do it?" I think he can, but as is the case with most shared-carry backs that move into the featured roll, I expect his production (per carry) to go down. If a solid back-up can be found in rookie Rashad Jennings, Alvin Pearman, or Chauncey Washington, there is a chance the run game won't suffer the loss of Taylor too much...but don't count on it.
Cardinals - "Lean" and "Mean," Tim Hightower and Chris "Beanie" Wells. have huge potential, but as you will hear me reiterate again and again before the season starts, they are wholly unproven. Potential in no way equals production and I cannot in good objective standards annoint them...yet.
Edge: Jaguars, if Maurice Jones-Drew stays healthy.

Wide Receiver
Jaguars - Another trouble area for the Jaguars, although landing veteran Torry Holt does help matters at least. Without Holt, this write-up would be very easy: they're bad. However, there is a lot of youth here, and like the Cardinals run game, has a lot of potential. Reggie Williams is solid, but not mind-blowing (he didn't have over 55 yards in any game last year); Mike Thomas was a stud at the University of Arizona and should see playing time quickly if he pays attention in training camp; the other Mike, Mike Walker, had some games last year that looked promising, so he could easily become Garrard's second or third option; and the rest will be figured out in the pre-season, with the young receivers battling it out (all with a chance to play).
Cardinals - This comparison is kind of sad, really. I mean, c'mon, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston vs. Holt, Williams, and Thomas? Let's just say that if you add all the receiving yards of the wide receivers currently on the Jaguars roster (not counting Jones-Drew, a running back), it is less than Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin by themselves.
Edge: Cardinals, with no explanation needed.

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Krag Klages is the Arizona Cardinals Examiner

How do the Arizona Cardinals Matchup with: the San Francisco 49ers

Week 1 - @Arizona, University of Phoenix Stadium
Sunday, Sept. 13th, 4:15 PM, FOX

Week 14 - @San Francisco, Candlestick Park
Monday, Dec. 14th, 8:30 PM, ESPN *Monday Night Football

All-time series: San Francisco 19 - Arizona 16Last 10 games: Arizona 6 - San Francisco 4
Interesting Stat: 4 out of last 12 games have gone into overtime

Quarterback
49ers - Another quarterback battle is in store for a team that desperately needs a leader. It really comes down to the returning starter, Shaun Hill, and the 2005 number-one draft pick, Alex Smith. If history is any indication where this is going, Shaun Hill will come out of this thing the victor, expecially with Singletary's love for the blue-collar type quarterback.
Cardinals - No brainer, here. Apart from any injury set-backs (which is a possibility, even in the pre-season), Kurt Warner will be the starting quarterback for the Cardinals. Sorry, Leinart, you've got at least another year of waiting.
Edge: Cardinals, by a mile.

Running Back
49ers - Frank Gore is an outstanding back and the new rookies, Glen Coffee (Alabama) and Kory Sheets (Purdue), could be two great additions to what has been a one-man show. That said, if the offensive line doesn't create better opportunities, it doesn't matter who's behind them.
Cardinals - "Beanie" Wells dropping to #31 in the draft was just one more indication that the winds are changing for the Arizona Cardinals. They needed a big, bruising running back more than anything else and they think they've found it in Wells. Paired together with the speedy edge-rusher, Tim Hightower, the Cardinals could quite possibly have the next great tandem in the NFL. Tim Hightower and "Beanie" Wells - I shall from here on out call them "Lean" and "Mean," respectively.
Edge: 49ers, as the Cardinals are too young and unproven.

Wide Receiver
49ers - This receiving corps is a couple of veterans (Arnaz Battle and Isaac Bruce) followed by a bunch of babies, albeit a bunch of very talented babies. Whoever ends up at quarterback better be able to get rid of the ball fast and on target, because these guys can catch and these guys can run. Michael Crabtree needs to prove himself in the NFL before I start comparing him to Larry Fitzgerald like many other media pundits, but even I can admit that his potential is unmatched at his age.
Cardinals - It's too bad for the 49ers that the Cardinals have the best wide receiving corps in the country, because the 49ers are pretty solid themselves. But, alas, Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin make up the best one-two punch in football, hands-down.
Edge: Cardinals, but not by as much as you might think.

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Krag Klages is the Arizona Cardinals Examiner