Stability helps Cards' offensive line grow

Now in his sixth year, guard Reggie Wells is the veteran statesman of the Cardinals' offensive line.

In this time, he's seen a turnstile of linemen come and go. Some because of the business side (Leonard Davis). Some because of injuries (Al Johnson). Some simply wanted to leave or were released (Pete Kendall). Some because they just weren't good enough to stick around (Oliver Ross or Alex Stepanovich).

For the same variety of reasons, he hasn't had the same foursome around him for longer than a full season - or the same position coach.

It still hasn't happened, primarily because Johnson was the starting center last year before he missed a few games with injury, then underwent season-ending surgery and was released by the team in September.

But with the same starting lineup every Sunday for the first two-thirds of the season and a position coach (Russ Grimm) in his second year with the team, this line's progress - a core reason why the Cardinals are No. 2 in the NFL in scoring and total offense - isn't hard to trace.

Continuity and coaching. Playing with the same guys for 10 games (and counting).

"Obviously we've had changes from one year to the next, whether it's contracts or whatever, so yeah, it's different, actually being able to do that," Wells said.

Four of the five (tackles Levi Brown and Mike Gandy, Wells and guard Deuce Lutui) were penciled in as starters entering the season.

So, too, was Johnson, but between a knee injury, surgery and the team determining he was going to be out for the season, Scottsdale Chaparral's Lyle Sendlein became the starting center. He was Johnson's backup as a rookie last year, and started twice in Johnson's absence, then worked with the first team through almost all of training camp.

Elton Brown has also filled in at guard and tackle when necessary this season, but Sendlein has been the key while calling signals up front.

"The biggest part of working together as an offensive line is the continuity of the players because of communication and having to work together, especially on double teams, especially on pass (protections)," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Lyle getting as many reps as he did in training camp has helped this group grow together."

Again, the Cardinals are worst in the league in committing penalties (80), but are tied for 23rd in penalty yardage (540 yards), a stark improvement from last season, when they were last by a hefty margin.

They're also tied for fourth in the NFL in time of possession (32 minutes, 17 seconds), have 54 more first downs than opponents and are plus-5 in turnover margin.

Quarterback Kurt Warner is an MVP candidate (again), receivers Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston are on pace for 1,000-yard seasons and it's all been instigated by the quintet up front.

"You can't miss the 70 percent completions," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said of the Cardinals' offense. "That's where you have to start."

And perhaps the biggest factor: Warner has been sacked only 18 times this season, an average of once every 21 pass attempts.

"The three receivers are playing pretty well, so we're going to open it up some and throw the ball," Grimm said.

"(But) we have to be able to run it when we want to run and tighten it down when you hit games with bad weather and be able to pound the ball."

Run-blocking, the Cards say, will continue to evolve, but if Warner isn't "clean," as Wells put it, the Cardinals know they'll be in trouble Sunday against the New York Giants.

Jersey's guys have 31 sacks, 14 interceptions and allow the second-fewest passing yards in the NFL (178 per game).

And it's not only against the Giants' vaunted defensive line that the Cards must tighten up, but in the weeks and probable playoff games to come.

Improvement was both a spoken and unspoken acknowledgement by the Cardinals' big guys up front, which is what this front five has continued to do daily for four months, without interruptions.

"I'm sure if you looked at the stats the past few years we've been able to protect the QB, but we're doing it more this year so we've been able to sustain drives," Wells said. "We've been able to do it for a while now but haven't gotten the recognition."