Arizona Cardinals Top Five Position Battles

Nov 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of an Arizona Cardinals helmet on the sidelines before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit:

-USA TODAY Sports

If it were not for major injuries at many key positions, the Arizona Cardinals may have been legitimate Super Bowl contenders last season. Through the first half of the season, they were arguably the best team in the NFL, starting off with a league-best 9-1 record. Injuries caused them to fade down the stretch, but the Cardinals proved that they are a legitimate force to be reckoned with going forward.

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After a successful off season, the Cardinals’ roster is loaded and primed for another strong run. The biggest free agent addition that the team made this off season was the signing of Mike Iupati, who will step in as the Cardinals’ starting left guard. Iupati is a mean and nasty offensive lineman who is considered one of the best run blockers in the entire NFL. His addition alone will help the Cardinals with their struggling rushing attack, while help solidifying the entire offensive line.

The biggest loss the Cardinals suffered this off season did not even come from the roster. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles became one of the best defensive minds in the game with the Cardinals, but he has now moved on to become the head coach for the New York Jets. While James Bettcher was promoted internally to replace Bowles, and is expected to run a very similar system, it is certainly fair to wonder whether the Cardinals’ defensive will have same kind of impact without Bowles.

While the coaching change on defense could bring some difficulties, the Cardinals have one of the most talented overall rosters in the entire NFL. With their outstanding talent and depth across the board, they should be considered serious contenders from the NFC.

Obviously, having too much talent is never a bad thing, but it will make for some very interesting decisions to be made by the coaching staff. Sure, certain players bring versatility that can open things up, but the Cardinals have many situations across the roster where decisions on who will start will not be easy.

Like every season, these starting positions will be won in training camp and in the Pre-Season. The extreme depth that the Cardinals have on the roster comes from great drafting and use of free agency by General Manager Steve Keim, but it will make for some very difficult decisions for Bruce Arians and his coaching staff.

Here are the top five position battles for the Arizona Cardinals entering the 2015 season.

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