2012 Arizona Cardinals Preview: Predicting The Players' Stats

With the Arizona Cardinals set to begin their season, we put our writers to the test. We asked them to crunch the numbers and come up with how the stats would look for the collection of players. Here is what we came up with.

Tyler Nickel:

John Skelton: 55% completion percentage, 2,500 yards, 10 touchdowns, 15 interceptions.
Kevin Kolb: I don't believe he will see the field in 2012. I think Skelton stays healthy because of his size, durability and pocket manipulation.
Beanie Wells: The Cards will run the ball more this season, so I predict 950 yards for Beanie, falling just short of 1,000. He will also rush for eight TDs.
Ryan Williams: 1,000 yards, six TDs.
Larry Fitzgerald: 1,200 yards, 9 TDs
Michael Floyd: 650 yards, 4 TDs
Daryl Washington: 125 tackles, six sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 INTs
Sack leader- O'Brien Schofield, 11

Cody Ulm:

John Skelton: 55 comp %, 2,900 yds, 16 TD, 13 INT
Kevin Kolb: 61 comp %, 950 yds, 6 TD, 5 INT
Beanie Wells: 280 attempts, 1,200 rush yards, 6 TD, 50 receiving yds, 0 TD
Ryan Williams 150 attempts, 550 rushing yards, 3 TDs, 250 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Larry Fitzgerald: 75 receptions, 1,325 yards, 9 TD
Michael Floyd: 40 receptions, 575 yards, 4 TD
Sack leader: Sam Acho with 9.5 sacks

Ryan Bafaloukos:

John Skelton: 15 TD's 11 INT's around 2,000 passing yards and about 10 starts
Kevin Kolb: 5 TD's 8 INT's and around 1,000 passing yards in about six starts
Beanie Wells: 850 yards and 8 TD's. Will miss at least 4 games with injury
Ryan Williams: Around 500 yards and 6 TD's. Has the potential to steal the starting job from Wells if Beanie is hurt too much.
Larry Fitzgerald: 1,100 yards receiving and 7 TD's. No matter who is the QB, Fitz always seems to get his numbers
Michael Floyd: Will have a slow start to his rookie season but turn it on late. 500 yards receiving and 4 TD's.
Sack leader: Sam Acho with 8.5. I love Acho in Ray Horton's blitzing scheme. Campbell is close with seven.
Bonus: Patrick Peterson will have at least two punt return TD's and at least three INT's. Could see the endzone four or five times this season and hopefully Cardinals can find a way to use him more on offense.

Jose Romero:

John Skelton: Less than 2,000 yards, will be replaced at some point and end up splitting time with Kolb.
Kevin Kolb: Slightly over 2,000 and ends up playing more than Skelton.
Beanie Wells: About 800 rushing yards. 8-10 TDs
Ryan Williams: About 500 rushing yards, 4 TDs
Larry Fitzgerald: Around 80 catches and more than 1,300 yards.
Michael Floyd: 35-40 catches, 400 yards or so.
Sack leader and number: Calais Campbell, 10.

Troy Erickson:

With a depleted offensive line, it's going to be a long season for whoever plays quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. John Skelton is the designated starter, but he may not last the entire season. If he does happen to start all 16 games, I predict that he will just miss throwing for 4,000 yards, finishing with 3,800. I also see him throwing around 20 touchdown passes, but finishing with more interceptions, around 24 for the season. Even if Skelton does not get injured, he may be pulled due to performance, or lack thereof. In that case, my predictions would obviously need to be adjusted.

Kevin Kolb will probably see some playing time at quarterback this year, but I don't see him playing any more than half the season at most, injuries notwithstanding. In that case, I could see Kolb passing for about 1,600 yards, while throwing the same number of touchdowns as interceptions, which I predict would be around eight.
If Beanie Wells can remain healthy, and has fully recovered from his off-season surgery, I would expect him to have a good year, but not quite reach 1,000 rushing yards like he did last season. The biggest reason for this is the fact that Ryan Williams should get his fair share of plays in the backfield. Even though I feel the Cardinals are going to have to rely more on the running game this year, Wells may get fewer carries due to the Cardinals ability to utilize Williams, who missed all of last year with a torn patellar tendon. I expect Wells to rush for close to 900 yards, and Williams to rush for about 700.

Larry Fitzgerald will obviously be the go-to guy again this year for whoever is playing quarterback. I expect Fitz to have another exceptional season, partially because of his work ethic and desire to be the best. He should have at least 80 receptions, and around 1,300 receiving yards. Rookie receiver Michael Floyd is beginning the season as a third string backup. He still has to develop, although Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt says that Floyd is improving every day. I expect Floyd to have limited playing time this year, and would be surprised if he has more than 30 receptions and 300 yards.

Defensively, the Cardinals should be solid, as long as they can continue to learn and understand the complex schemes defensive coordinator Ray Horton, who came from the Pittsburgh Steelers, implemented last year. They have a good combination of young talent and experienced veterans. I expect Daryl Washington to lead the team in tackles, and should end with over 100 for the second straight season, finishing with 110. I think Calais Campbell will lead the team in sacks just like last season, and should reach double-digits this year, finishing with 11 total sacks.

Jess Root:

John Skelton: 3200 yds passing, 20 TD, 13 INT
Kevin Kolb: In only rare playing time, 300 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Beanie Wells: 1075 yds, 7 TD
Ryan Williams: 785 yds, 5 TD
Larry Fitzgerald: 93 receptions, 1400 yards, 11 TD
Michael Floyd: 47 catches, 600 yards, 3 TD
Sack leader: Calais Campbell and Sam Acho, with 10.5

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