The Cardinals closed out the pre-season with a 20-10 home win over the Washington Redskins Thursday night. After watching all four Cardinal contests, some things became very apparent and some other things a little "less obvious". As the team now prepares for its final cuts (teams must be at 53 players this weekend), here's a few things that caught my attention.
- Derek Anderson is the best available choice to lead the team: Once the Cardinals benched Matt Leinart (for a second time in his career), it was easy to see where things were/are headed. The team has given the former first-round pick permission to arrange a trade. With that in mind, Anderson will likely get the call for the season opener in St. Louis. Anderson appears more at ease with the offense, is comfortable throwing downfield and has shown doubters (like myself) that he can handle the job. Don't get me wrong, he's still got some work to do (he keeps missing open receivers).
- Rookie linebacker Daryl Washington has earned a starting spot: This kid, a second-round pick out of TCU, is sensational. He's got good speed and instincts. So much so, in fact, that many insiders are starting to forget about Karlos Dansby, who left as a free-agent in the spring. Washington will be an excellent complement to Joey Porter and will certainly be a stopping force in the middle.
- Stephen Williams surprises, Will likely make roster as an undrafted free agent: On a team where it's tough to stand out at receiver, the former Toledo receiver is making a strong case for a spot on the final roster. Williams was second on the team in receiving during the preseason catching 11 balls for 187 yards and a touchdown. Look at him as the number four receiver who could easily see action when the Cardinals use the spread or four-receiver package.
- Running Back by committee again this year?: Many people thought Beanie Wells would earn the majority of the carries this season, but you couldn't tell this based on his preseason work. Wells looks to be sharing time again with Tim Hightower. That's not necessarily a bad thing, given Wells history of injuries. Watch for more passes out of the backfield to both Wells and Hightower.
Pre-Season Preview: Read our earlier preview of the 2010 Cardinals
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