Cardinals full of optimism as season kicks off

Projecting the Cardinals as a playoff team is risky business. Las Vegas can build mammoth, dazzling hotels thanks to people who put their money where such long-shot hopes reside. But this year, maybe for the first time since their playoff run of 1998, which really was a surprise, the Cards seem more of a middle shot.

Cardinals center Johnson out for season

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Surely, they need some luck and some help, such as a slide by the Seattle Seahawks, the longtime kings of their division.

Yet the Cardinals seem to have some aspects of the game going for them for the first time in memory, both specific and intangible.

Here are the reasons for optimism:

They return one of the NFL's most potent offenses intact, with the exception of No. 3 receiver Bryant Johnson.

"We're light-years ahead of where we were my first couple years here," said quarterback Kurt Warner, who is especially enthused about the return of last year's upgraded offensive line.

They've added enough depth on defense that they should be able to withstand a reasonable number of injuries. In addition, they got through training camp and the preseason with almost no health problems.

Initial indications are that their rookie class is a big step up from the so-far disappointing class of 2007.

Here are the reasons to be skeptical:

The offensive line doesn't have a lot of experienced backups. Already they've lost starting center Al Johnson for the season due to continuing knee problems.

Their secondary needs help right away from rookie cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

They're still the Cardinals. Will they find ways to lose close games, as was too often the case last season?

Or will they just be unlucky?

If there's a tiebreaker at work in these divergent views of their prospects, it's this: The players and coaches really seem to believe they can do it.

"The difference," said defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, "is that we're comfortable with each other and know where we're going to be. If we play the way we're capable, we can stop any team."

On the offensive side, "We're more experienced," Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald, now in his fifth year with the Cardinals, said, "This is the only time I've had the continuity with the offensive line coming back intact. We have the same backs, the same receivers, the same tight end," except Bryant Johnson.

"We know each other's weaknesses. We know each other's strengths. We can play to that."

Receiver Anquan Boldin added, "We have talent everywhere. In the past we've had talent in different places."Now, overall we have talent, and we have depth. That might be the biggest difference."

To get to the playoff level, that depth almost certainly will be tested.

"It's going to be key for those backups to be ready," Warner said. "You know how prevalent injures are in this business."

Recalling a couple of runs to the Super Bowl in St. Louis, Warner said, "We had a number of guys go down. But we saw backups step in and make big play after big play. Our depth will be key this year."

That's why Warner believes, "We're definitely in a better position now than at any point I've been with the Cardinals."

The Cardinals are also more self-assured.

"Last year," coach Ken Whisenhunt said, "we weren't sure about a lot of things. This year, we know what our strengths are. We hope we know what some of our weaknesses are and how we can address them."

All in all, though they still have to execute on game days.

In today's opener at San Francisco, Whisenhunt expects a "feeling-out process" early and then "a fair share of mistakes" and perhaps some surprises.

But he thinks his team has the ability and know-how to adjust to unforeseen events today and throughout the year.

"There will be ups and downs and tough spots," he said. "But our guys will fight through it and give us a chance to have a good season."

Agreed Dockett, "I'm pretty sure we'll have situations where we'll fight adversity.

"But we have a lot of confident playmakers on this team. We have guys who know they'll make a play when they line up."

Dockett's bottom line: "We're going in the right direction."

EXTRA POINT: 49ers coach Mike Nolan may have give the Cardinals some bulletin-board material. Nolan, asked by the San Francisco Chronicle if he likes the 49ers' difficult early schedule, declined to comment but added "I like opening with Arizona."