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The Arizona Cardinals finished the 2005 football season with 5 wins and 11 losses, but I don't think the team was as bad as their record would indicate. In fact, as surprising as it may sound, the Cardinals were ranked number eight in both total offense and total defense for the season, with the offense generating 348.4 yards per game and the defense yielding just 295.6 yards per game. The losses were largely due to the fact that the Cardinals gave up a whopping 388 points for the season, or an average of 24.2 per game, while scoring just 19.4 points per game on their own end.

Despite the lopsided record for a team that, statistically anyway, should have been in the top-eight, the Cardinals were in a very good position going into the offseason. They had a lot of positives to build on, and also owned the number 10 pick in the NFL draft -- a pick that was high enough to ensure that a great player would be available.

As it turns out, the Cardinals had one of the most successful drafts in the entire league. They caught a lucky break when former USC star quarterback Matt Leinart, who was projected to be the number two or number three overall pick, slipped all the way down to number 10. The Cardinals were in desperate need of a young quarterback who they could count on to lead them for many seasons in the future, and that's just what they got. Veteran Kurt Warner is still slated to be the starter in 2006, but everyone knows that at some point in the season, the oft-injured Warner will come out of a game for one reason or another, and Leinart will get a chance to show what he can do.

In the meantime, Leinart will have the opportunity to study under Warner and learn some things from the former Super Bowl and NFL MVP. It seems like a great situation for both Leinart and the Arizona organization. By now, the shock of falling to the 10th pick overall has probably worn off, and Leinart will be able to see that he's much better off in Arizona than he would have been in New Orleans or Tennessee.

The only thing that could potentially pose a problem is the fact that Leinart will still be close to Los Angeles, where he has a reputation of hanging out with young A-list Hollywood celebrities. This might cause a distraction for both Leinart and the team as a whole, which could take his focus away from football. Leinart's dedication to professional football has been called into question many times since he left USC, and I think his first year in the Arizona Desert will speak volumes as to how much he wants to play in the NFL.

In addition to snaring the top-ranked quarterback in the draft, the Cardinals also got a steal in tight end Leonard Pope. Many experts had ranked Pope as the third-best tight end in the draft, behind Vernon Davis of Maryland and Marcedes Lewis of UCLA. However, some character issues allegedly cropped up during the NFL combine and interview process that scared some teams away from the former Georgia Bulldogs standout. As a result, Pope, who was projected as a late first-round pick, wasn't selected until the third round, when the Cardinals spent the eighth pick (72nd overall) on him.

Whatever Pope's off-field issues may be, there's no denying the fact that he brings a lot of skill to his position. These days, more and more NFL teams are featuring the tight end as a bigger part of the offense than just another blocker (think of the roles that Antonio Gates and Jeremy Shockey play for the Chargers and Giants, respectively), and Pope now has a chance to become an integral part of the Cardinals' success. If he doesn't get caught up in extended contract negotiations and is able to report to camp on time, look for Pope to make an immediate impact on the offense.

In addition to the bright new draft picks that will be on the Arizona roster, the Cardinals also made a blockbuster free agent acquisition when they picked up running back Edgerrin James, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, at the beginning of the signing period. James instantly improves a backfield that was almost dead last in running production last season, and gives the Cardinals a legitimate two-dimensional offense that should open the playing field up even more. His presence on the team should give the Cardinals one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL next season, which will be fun for fans to watch.

Plus, don’t forget about Arizona's dynamic young receiving duo of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. These two rising stars are arguably the best tandem in the league right now, and there is really no limit on what they can do. With Warner set to give them the ball this season, and if Leinart can develop into the prolific passer that most scouts believe he will, then Boldin and Fitzgerald no doubt have some very prolific seasons on the horizon.

In 2005 the Cardinals relied almost exclusively on the passing attack to move the offense. Fitzgerald hauled in 103 passes on the season, while Boldin was right behind him with 102. Together, they posted an incredible 2,811 yards and found the end zone a total of 17 times. I think it's safe to say that there's no way the Cardinals' offense would have been ranked in the top eight if these two guys weren't on the field.

The only concern that Cardinals fans should have is Boldin's health. He has missed several games due to injuries in both the 2004 and 2005 season. While Fitzgerald was able to step up and carry the load last year, you can bet it would be much more difficult to do so this season given the fact that opposing defenses now know how dangerous the former Pitt star really is.

As Arizona fans unfortunately know only too well, there has been precious little to cheer about in the desert the past few years. The Cardinals haven't posted a winning record since 1998, when they advanced to the playoffs under then-head coach Vince Tobin. This futility has of course affected attendance and kept the fans away. But things are definitely looking up for the Arizona Cardinals. With Warner, James, Boldin, and Fitzgerald ready to lead the way in 2006, and Leinart and Pope waiting in the wings for their shot, it seems that the Cardinals at last have all of the pieces in place to make another charge for the postseason.