There are important NFL players and then there are the players who shoulder the fate of their teams based on day-in, day-out performance during the season. These are the latter. Here are the 3 Players Who Will Make Or Break The Arizona Cardinals' 2015 Season.
QB Carson Palmer
It's safe to say that the Arizona Cardinals offense didn't run nearly at peak efficiency with Palmer sidelined by a torn ACL last season. It's also safe to say that the 35-year-old is as determined as ever to prove that he's healthy enough to go the distance in 2015.
"You look at our team and our roster and the way things are built and this is the year we have to take advantage of it," Palmer said recently. "This is a year that we feel we have a good team and we don't want to sit around and talk about playing in Super Bowls and all of those things, but you look at our team, you look at the experience we have, you look at the depth we have, it's a very well-constructed roster."
Look for Palmer to put the pedal to the metal early and often, pushing the Cards offense out of the doldrums of its late season/postseason swoon last time around. However, if he gets hurt again or isn't the same player, Arizona may not make the playoffs.
LB LaMarr Woodley
Arizona's defense has been one of the best in the league since head coach Bruce Arians took over, but they needed to improve their linebacking core. They did so by adding Woodley, who is now being called on to anchor the unit. If he can play up to the level he's capable of, Arizona's defense may challenge Seattle's as the best in the league.
DL Corey Peters/Cory Redding
The Cardinals lost defensive line mainstays Darnell Dockett and Dan Williams to the 49ers and Raiders, respectively, but Arizona replaced them with Corey Peters and Cory Redding. Arizona's defensive line has been the key to their defensive success, and while both can play all three line positions in the Cardinals' 3-4 scheme, and they can't let Arizona's defensive production drop off.
Follow our Arizona Cardinals team page for all the latest Cardinals news and rumors!
Back to the Arizona Cardinals Newsfeed