Cardinals Need More Than a Quarterback

The Arizona Cardinals' two-year reign atop the NFC West came to an end this season.

Many point to the retirement of Kurt Warner as a major reason why the Cardinals won 5 games and finished in last place in the NFL's worst division. That position is bolstered by the 50.8% completion percentage, 25 turnovers (including 19 interceptions), 50 quarterback sacks, and a 60.5 passer rating by the four players who tried to replace Warner in 2010.

Warner thinks the problems in Arizona go beyond the quarterback position.

"I think the Cardinals need a lot of things," Warner told Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic. "You don't win five games if you're only a piece or two away."

In addition to losing Warner, the Cardinals traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens, with linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Antrel Rolle departing in free agency.

"They need play-makers," Warner added. "They need guys who can make big plays for them at critical times in games. I see that, of the four big guys they replaced (Warner, Boldin, Dansby, and Rolle), (safety) Kerry Rhodes was the one guy that met expectations. He was the one guy who made plays and changed the complexion of games. But that's just one out of four.

"I have a lot of confidence in Coach Wiz (Ken Whisenhunt), and the way he does things. But you have to have the players. It's not easy replacing great leaders and great play-makers."

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