Rating: (2 votes - 5.00 average)

The Cardinals have announced they will face the Saints without Anquan Boldin, one of their two superb wide receivers, because of ankle and knee injuries.


Somewhat unexpectedly, two other receivers stepped up against Green Bay in the playoff game to take Boldin's place.


Warner's main target remains Larry Fitzgerald, 26, a six-year veteran out of Pittsburgh. Fitzgerald's 97 catches led the Cardinals in 2009, as did his 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns -- stats he is able to amass in part because of his imposing size (6 feet 3, 217 pounds). But his athleticism is equally impressive, as evidenced by a one-handed, diving grab in the end zone that accounted for one of his two touchdowns against the Packers.
His two scores were equaled by former LSU standout Early Doucet.


Doucet (6-0, 212) had 17 catches coming into the playoffs, and his 12.6 yards-per-catch average was superior to Fitzgerald's 11.3.


Doucet was one of the two flankers who picked up the space left by Boldin's absence. The other was Steve Breaston, a three-year veteran from Michigan. Breaston's 55 catches for 712 yards and three touchdowns made him more of a regular-season factor than Doucet, but he stretched the field tremendously against the Packers, averaging 17.9 yards on his seven receptions and adding a touchdown catch.


The line


For 28 consecutive games, the Cardinals had the same starting five up front.


That streak came to an end in November when left tackle Mike Gandy was unable to go because of a pelvic injury. His spot in the lineup was taken by Jeremy Bridges, who has done an adequate job protecting Warner's blind side.


The rest of the line is a veteran one, led by Reggie Wells, who has started every game for the past four years at left guard, and Levi Brown at right tackle. Brown has started 27 of the 29 games in which he has appeared since the Cardinals made him the fifth overall pick of the 2007 draft out of Penn State.


Arizona Cardinals scouting report | New Orleans Saints Central - - NOLA.com

strato

One less worry

exile

That's huge for Arizona.

Also, I like this quote. Does this guy never tire of making excuses for his crappy play?

D_it_up

His fighting consisted of trying to catch up to receivers that burned him. I think he only really "fought" in the first quarter.

73Saint

After seeing Doucet play in Sunday's shootout, Boldin's being out doesn't seem as critical.

Halo

Agreed. Early really looked awesome.

RaginCajun83

As long as Fitz is playing there is no way to take this team lightly, surprised how well the rest of their wr corp stepped up last week, can they do it again?

cargojon

I think we'd all take a Boldin out vs. playing Early Doucet trade-off.

Assuming that Greer/Porter end up splitting time with Fitzgerald, the other one is going to get Breaston most likely, leaving Gay / Jenkins with Doucet. Depending on the personnel packages this might leave us with an extra guy to leave in the middle of the field to help out Vilma and Sharper on those crossing routes...

Rugby Saint II

Their starting LT has been out same as ours. I hope GW brings the pressure from the blind side putting pressure on Warner to scramble.

JoanieNTX

This is good news to me! With as many key injuries as we've had during the season, it only seems fair that that stat be a little more equal! Personally, I was hoping more Cards would go down Sunday....not permanently....just a few sprains and turns here and there. Sorta like we've had!