A barely broken in coach in Dennis Green, a new logo, new uniforms, and now a new starting quarterback in Kurt Warner—equals a new swagger to the Cardinals outlook of the 2005 season. Last season could have been the grounds for shocking the NFL world, but as the 2005 season approaches that isn’t going to be the case.

On Saturday, Kurt Warner effectively played five drives and threw for 150 yards and a touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald. Even though the Cardinals offensive line is awaiting some healed athletes, Warner was still able to have enough time to get the ball to his big play receivers. The offense looked in midseason form, and operated smoothly for the majority of the first string’s time on the field.

Everyone knows what Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald bring to the table, but the big x-factor is Bryant Johnson. People forget that the Cardinals selected Johnson with the 17th pick, in the same draft they selected Boldin in the second round. It seems that Warner and Johnson have developed a nice relationship, and Warner has already said that Johnson has surprised him in training camp on how quickly he gets out on his routes.

The Cardinals may have six running backs on their roster, but JJ Arrington will be the main guy once September rolls around. On Saturday he only carried the ball four times for twelve yards, but Green has always been attracted to fast backs. Arrington is the only guy of the Cardinals that possesses that threat, and the Cardinals didn’t draft him in the second round for nothing.

Defensively, the Cardinals may finally have a top ten unit. They’re always around the ball, and Bertrand Berry has quickly become one of the best defensive ends in the NFL. Antrell Rolle just barely signed into camp, and he has already caught up like a college student cramming right before a test.

The whole team looks headed forward, but Warner is this team’s catalyst or goat. He only has a one year contract, and so does a guy by the name of Drew Brees. Warner never really got a fair shot with the Giants, so this is his chance to show that his years with the Rams weren’t a product of the players surrounding him. Even if they were, he had to make the throws.

Being inconsistent with erratic play won’t get it done, but the bad thing for the Cardinals is that Warner doesn’t have a challenger behind him. Josh McCown isn’t anywhere near being an NFL starter, and may not even be a suitable backup. Spot duty for a couple of series is the only time I’d risk having McCown on the field.

This might be the type of team that relives what the Cardinals did in 1998 with Jake Plummer. That would be to barely sneak into the playoffs as a wild card, and then not make it back for awhile. The NFC is weak right now, but quickly becoming stronger. This team has just enough to make it this year, but the talent level is going to be ahead of them next year, while they’re going to have to bring in a new quarterback.