Cardinals have knack for facing QBs making NFL debuts
Sep 5, 2012, 6:26 PM | Updated: 8:10 pm
When Russell Wilson lines up under center (or in the shotgun) Sunday he will become just the latest in a growing line of QBs to make their NFL debuts in Week 1 against the Cardinals.
The line will be three deep come Sunday.
It all began in 2010 when Arizona opened up on the road in St. Louis against Sam Bradford.
The number one overall pick in that April’s draft, Bradford put forth an OK effort, completing 32-of-55 passes for 253 yards and one touchdown, but he did throw three interceptions and was sacked twice.
The Cardinals won 17-13.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed about the loss,” Bradford said. “I thought I handled some things well, didn’t handle some things well.”
The Cardinals opened the next season against 2011’s top pick, Cam Newton, and he had a little more success than Bradford the prior season.
OK, a lot more success.
Newton completed 24-of-37 passes for a hearty 422 yards, tossing a pair of touchdowns and just one interception. He also ran for 18 yards and a score, making his day one for the record books.
The Cardinals left with a 28-21 win, as their own rookie (Patrick Peterson) returned a fourth-quarter punt 89 yards for the score.
“He was on point, he made some great runs, he made some great reads, made some fantastic throws,” Panthers receiver Steve Smith said of his QB. “He made some throws out there that honestly as a receiver it made it easy to catch them.”
So what should the Cardinals expect from Wilson?
Well, unlike the previous two rookies they opened against, the Seahawks’ starter was not the first pick in the draft.
Still, the third-round pick out of Wisconsin earned the starting gig by completing 40-of-63 passes for 536 yards and five touchdowns in the preseason, so he’s not lacking for ability.
He is lacking in height, though, and many feel he will struggle standing just a shade under 5-foot-11. But with mobility and a knack for making plays, it’s likely Wilson will cause the Cardinals — and any other defense he faces — some problems.
Though if history is any indication, the Cardinals should still get the W this Sunday.
