Interview with Dave Razzano by Dewey Hammond.
Dave Razzano is a former NFL scout and Playmaker Mobile correspondent with more than 22 years of professional scouting experience with the San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals under NFL coaches including Bill Walsh, George Seifert, Chuck Knox and Dick Vermeil. He's been a part of five Super Bowls with three Super Bowl wins (49ers, 1989, 1990; Rams, 2000).
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Q: Boldin is off the roster, it's Matt Leinart's year, or maybe it's NOT Matt Leinart's year. What do you expect in the desert?
A: I expect the Cardinals to win the division. It's a weak division, maybe the weakest in the NFL. For sure the weakest in the NFC. Even if Leinart struggles, they still have enough talent to win the division. It's going to be a two-horse race with them and San Francisco to win the division. I think Seattle and St. Louis are way too far off in terms of talent. I think Arizona will still be on top. They have a good offensive line, good running game, good receivers, nice young defense, and again, even if Leinart struggles they can win with average QB play in that division.
Q: I know you're a big fan of Beanie Wells. What do you expect from Beanie this season?
A: I expect — if he's healthy — that he'll have close to 1,400 or 1,500 yards. He's the type of guy who can lead the league in rushing with his side, speed and explosion. Everybody saw that last year. He had 700 yards in limited play. He can easily double that if he stays healthy. He does get nicked a lot, and there have been questions about his toughness in terms of coming back from injuries and that sort of thing.
Q: Larry Fitzgerald has a new starting QB, his number two guy is out the door and on a new team. Is Larry Fitzgerald still the #1 wideout in the game, and what impact do these roster changes have on his fantasy value?
A: From a fantasy perspective I have him leading all the receivers in the league in points (ed. note: Download Playmaker Mobile on your iPhone for exclusive fantasy predictions from veteran scout Dave Razzano). He'll be Leinart's security blanket and I don't think his numbers will drop off at all. In fact they may even be higher with Boldin gone. Leinart will constantly go to him. Plus they have some good complementary receivers. They've done a good job getting guys in the draft, like Doucet and Steve Breaston. They even got this guy Steven Williams, this undrafted free agent, the leading receiver in Toledo's history. He's really having a great camp. A big 6'5" guy. They do a great job at finding these second-tier receivers and I think Fitz will have a great year.
Q: What's your biggest concern about the offense?
A: Well the biggest concern is the quarterback. It's Matt Leinart. I think everybody knows that. If he struggles Derek Anderson is no more than a fringe backup. We all saw that in Cleveland. I think there is a bright future with QB John Skelton, the fifth-round steal out of Fordham. What I've seen in the preseason he kind of looks like a mix between Matt Schaub and Joe Flacco. He's 6'5" with a great arm. Very accurate. Poised. He may not be ready this year, but boy he looks like a natural, a heck of a get for the Cards in the middle of the draft. The only concern is Leinart. Every other position is good enough. Their receivers, tight end, running game, offensive line. It's only Leinart we don't know about.
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