You are what you are in the NFL and the Arizona Cardinals were an 8-8 team in 2011. But the Cardinals, more than most teams, have reason to saying “what if” right about now. Arizona started 1-6, but lost four of those games by four points or less. That dug a hole from which the team could not emerge.

But closing 7-2 on the strength of a mostly strong defensive performance has at least some Cardinals fans optimistic about the future. The quarterback situation is in flux, the running back position has some question marks, the team needs more consistent play from wide receivers not named Fitzgerald and the offensive line needs some upgrades.

Even with those issues, the blog Raising Zona’s Lead Writer Scott Allen says he thinks the Cardinals’ future is bright. Here’s what he had to say:

Zoneblitz: John Skelton won six of eight starts. Arizona gave up a lot for Kevin Kolb. Is the Cardinals quarterback of the future currently on the team’s roster?

Scott Allen: I would say chances are yes he is. The Peyton Manning rumors are great and I truly believe he’d want to play here if he was healthy, but the Cardinals would have to spend a lot of money to get him. They owe Kevin Kolb a $7 million option on March 17th and I just can’t see the Cards declining his option without knowing if Manning is going to be able to play. Skelton played admirably in 2011 however I don’t think his future is as a full-time starter. Kolb probably gets one more shot in 2012 to prove his worth. He wasn’t a complete bust as some might be led to believe.

Zoneblitz: Beanie Wells put up 1,000 and 10, but much of his success came in two or three big games. With him and Ryan Williams, are the Cardinals set at running back or do they still need more resources at that spot?

Allen: Two questions that need to be answered first before I can give a 100 percent honest answer on this question. Can Beanie Wells stay healthy for a whole season? He played injured this season and only missed two games. In the St. Louis game, he got hurt on three separate occasions that in prior seasons with a decent backup, would have put him out a couple of weeks at least. He stayed in and had his best game of the season. Second question – can Williams rebound from his season-ending injury in Green Bay in the preseason? I think Williams has a great future in the NFL if healthy.

Zoneblitz: It’s appeared to me even back as far as the Super Bowl season that Arizona could use a couple offensive linemen. How do you assess that position?

Allen: Just a couple of offensive linemen? I think they could use a complete overhaul, but that’s just me.

Zoneblitz: Larry Fitzgerald is one of the top wideouts in the game but what about his supporting cast in the passing game? Has anyone stepped up in the number two receiver spot?

Allen: Not yet. A couple of players tried. Andre Roberts and Early Doucet. Both certainly had their great moments in 2011 but neither was consistent enough to be considered a number two. Time might be running out on Doucet. Roberts will probably be the number three in 2012. I do see the Cards drafting a receiver high in the draft.

Zoneblitz: The defense gave up nearly 90 points less in 2011 than 2010. Where has it improved and where does it still need work?

Allen: The thing with the defense was that they did give up fewer points because although they gave up a lot of yards between the 20’s, inside the red zone they were terrific. They held a lot of offenses to field goals rather than touchdowns. In the game against the San Francisco 49’ers in San Francisco in November, in the first half they only allowed the Niners to score nine points on six drives. David Akers was 3-6 on field goal attempts.

The Cards defense came up big when it counted most. It kept the Cards in the game, one they eventually lost 23-7 after giving up a couple of touchdowns after turnovers in the second half. Of course the defense still needs to improve – especially in the secondary, but they will get Greg Toler back in 2012 after he missed the entire season. The Cards’ defensive line may not be the biggest in the NFL, but man they sure do know how to bring it and that was also a huge reason why they were able to limit the points.

Zoneblitz: At 8-8, the Cardinals finished second in the NFC West. But San Francisco won the division hands down. How much of a gap is there between the two teams and how far are the Cardinals from contending for the playoffs and division title?

Allen: Not as much of a gap as you would be led to believe. They split the season series with the Niners. Turnovers killed them in the first game against them. The Cards easily left five wins on the field. They lost to the Washington Redskins 22-21 and fumbled on their last drive. They lost to the Seattle Seahawks 13-10 in a game Seattle had no business winning. They lost to the New York Giants 31-27 after leading 27-17 with just five minutes left in the game. The defense had one of its few lapses of the season and the Giants were the beneficiary of a couple of egregious calls that should have gone the Cards way.

Then there was the loss to the Baltimore Ravens loss 30-27. That was a game they led 24-3 at one point – in Baltimore. That was a collapse of epic proportions. That was also the game where they lost Kevin Kolb for a month with turf toe. They also had a great opportunity to win in Cincinnati. After being down 23-16, the Bengals had to hold on after the Cards had four clear shots at the end zone at the end of the game and would have tied it had Early Doucet not tripped over his own feet on a wide open pass.

The Cards were their own worst enemy in 2011. Sure, they could have been a lot better and had they been, they would have won those close games. They easily could have finished 13-3 as well. However they weren’t, so would’ve, could’ve, should’ve.

Zoneblitz: It’d be hard to talk about the 2011 Cardinals without mentioning Patrick Peterson. He was great as a returner. I’d heard he was having ups and downs early as a defensive back. What is your assessment of his season and his future?

Allen: Peterson will get better as a cornerback. He had an interception in the Pro Bowl. He was thrust into the starting position a little quicker than the Cards wanted coming off a lockout. They had planned on him starting at some point in 2011, but all season was necessitated by injury. It’s tough to throw a rookie back there as your “main guy” but especially when there was no offseason to prepare. I look for him to find better balance between the two positions in 2012.

Zoneblitz: I was reading where Arizona’s kicker, punter and long snapper all are in their mid-30s and all free agents. What did you think of their performances in 2011 and who among them should be re-signed?

Allen: Jay Feely spends more time on Twitter giving me his political views than he does impressing me on the football field, but he’s serviceable. Long snapper Mike Leach is serviceable as well. He makes few mistakes, so I’m good with him. Long snappers can have a long life in the NFL. The punter is a position I know the Cards continually look at. It would not surprise me if Dave Zastudil doesn’t make it through the 2012 season, however we shall see.

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

Allen: I think the Cards will be very active in free agency. I think they look at upgrading the offensive line, probably looking at free agency first. The wide receiver core (unless they plan on getting a top notch one in the draft – but both would be fine by me). I can see them trying to find a linebacker to replace Joey Porter and Clark Haggans. That’s another position that could be in the draft plans.

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

Allen: Yes, the Cards will be back in the playoffs in 2012.

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