Four games into the 2012 season, Arizona was undefeated and Kevin Kolb looked like he might be turning into the quarterback the Cardinals hoped he would be when acquiring him from Philadelphia.

But a loss to St. Louis in week five and an injury to Kolb during a defeat against Buffalo turned the tide on the season and the Cardinals never recovered, losing 11 of 12 and finishing in last place in the NFC West. The collapse cost Rod Graves and Ken Whisenhunt their jobs and ushered in yet another new era in the desert.

There’s plenty of talent on this roster, however, with guys like Patrick Peterson on defense and Larry Fitzgerald on offense, which made the job eventually won by Bruce Arians a coveted one. Arians and his crew are high on this team’s potential and many think the Cardinals are just solid play at quarterback away from being a contender in the NFC. Tyler Nickel, a manager for Revenge of the Birds, shared his thoughts.

Zoneblitz: Do you agree with the firings of Ken Whisenhunt and Rod Graves?

Nickel: I think their tenure with the Cardinals had run its course, to be honest. Whisenhunt was one of the better coaches this franchise had ever seen, but his inability to fix the quarterback situation was keeping this team from doing anything great. As for Graves, his draft picks have largely been a hit or miss and it seemed like Keim was a better option.

Zoneblitz: Do you like the hirings of Bruce Arians and Steve Keim?

Nickel: I really do. Arians brings a talented staff and great knowledge of the game, especially on offense, to this team. Hopefully he can fix the offensive side of the ball. As for Keim, he has a strong hold on what would be good for this organization, so I think he will do well.

Zoneblitz: Quarterback play certainly wasn’t the only issue that hurt Arizona’s 2013 season, but it was certainly a big factor. How do you expect the team to do address the position in 2013?

Nickel: If I had to guess, I would say that the Cards make Kevin Kolb restructure his contract (which he will agree to) and ride with him for another season. They can re-sign Brian Hoyer or bring in someone like Drew Stanton to be his backup. If 2013 is a failure, then they will have to draft one in 2014.

Zoneblitz: Signal calling aside, how does the rest of the offense look?

Nickel: The offensive line could definitely still use some work. The left tackle position is still a bit of a question mark, as are right guard and center. Most will tell you that the Cardinals really need a tackle, but I think the interior line is a bigger issue. Adam Snyder has been a terrible signing. The running back position has been plagued with injuries the past couple of seasons, so they may address that in a later round in the draft.

Zoneblitz: Todd Bowles was brought into run the defense. How was that unit in 2012 and how do you expect it to change under the new coaching staff?

Nickel: The defense was very good under Ray Horton in 2012. With Bowles now in charge of that unit, I don’t expect a ton of change. They will still run the 3-4 and pressure the quarterback. I expect the defensive linemen, particularly Darnell Dockett, to be used more effectively.

Zoneblitz: Are there any under-the-radar players on the current roster you see breaking out in 2013?

Nickel: I think William Powell could honestly have a nice breakout season if Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams are hurt again. He has shown nice flashes as an undrafted running back and could work his way up the depth chart, especially if LaRod Stephens-Howling is not re-signed.

Zoneblitz: Keim was quoted saying this is a retool and not a rebuild. Do you agree?

Nickel: Yes, I do. If it was a rebuild, stars like Larry Fitzgerald would have been shipped out already. This team has many talented players and is only a couple more away from possibly making it back to the playoffs, even in a tough division.

Zoneblitz: San Francisco played in the Super Bowl, Seattle had a tremendous season in 2012 and St. Louis was improved as well. How good can the Cardinals be in 2013 and how far is this team from competing for the playoffs?

Nickel: I think I just answered this in my last question. With a talented quarterback under center, the sky could be the limit for this team.

Zoneblitz: What would you like to see the Cardinals do in free agency and the draft?

Nickel: Re-signing key players like Stephens-Howling and cornerback Greg Toler should be among their priorities in free agency. Cutting Adam Snyder, William Gay, etc. should make that possible. They aren’t going to sign any big names from other teams because they don’t have enough cap room. As for the draft, offensive line help and some more secondary pieces would be ideal.

Zoneblitz: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Nickel: If you are not a diehard Cardinals fan, look for the progression of Daryl Washington and Patrick Peterson to be a barometer for how this defense plays in 2013. Both of them are the wave of the future for this team and if they play as well (and hopefully better) as last year, look out.

Follow Revenge of the Birds on Twitter at: @RevengeofBirds
Follow Tyler Nickel on Twitter at: @TylerNickelASU
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