ARIZONA CARDINALS

Carson Palmer: Arizona Cardinals are ‘completely different team’ from last year

Jul 25, 2014, 5:32 PM | Updated: 5:33 pm

Follow @theAdamGreenPresented By...

LISTEN: Carson Palmer, AZ Cardinals QB

The Arizona Cardinals won 10 games in 2013, narrowly missing the playoffs but proving that they were not a team to be taken lightly.

They won’t be the same in 2014, however, and while they’ve certainly upgraded in a lot of areas, they’ve also lost some key players from last year’s squad.

“We’re a completely different team than we were last year,” Cardinals QB Carson Palmer told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Friday.

Palmer said given the losses the defense suffered, with Karlos Dansby leaving for Cleveland and Daryl Washington being suspended for the season due to violating the league’s substance abuse policy, the offense will be leaned on a bit more than it was last season, saying the team’s dynamics have changed.

“Our defense is going to be very, very good, and our offense has to be very, very good,” he said. “And we expect to be very, very good offensively.”

Last season was really a tale of two halves for the Cardinals’ offense. Arizona averaged 19 points per game through the first seven, struggling to a 3-4 record. However, over the final name games — of which the Cards won seven — they averaged 27.3 points per game.

The improvement coincided with the defense finding its groove and Palmer being comfortable in the offense, with the latter fact being what has people excited heading into the new season.

After all, if the the light really did come on for the veteran in the back half of 2013, it’s reasonable to assume the offense will continue moving forward in 2014.

It will have to if the Cardinals are going to break through in a very difficult NFC West.

“Every year is different,” Palmer said. “You always lose a player or two and you gain a player or two, but losing two guys in the middle of your defense is difficult.

“But we’re excited about having that challenge and moving on.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

2 days ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

2 days ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

3 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

3 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

3 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

3 days ago

Carson Palmer: Arizona Cardinals are ‘completely different team’ from last year