The Arizona Cardinals offensive line has been maligned for the better part of 20 years. This year's offseason moves do not change that in the media, but the team is hoping for a better showing than a season ago, when Cardinals quarterbacks were sacked 54 times.
This season, the returning starters are left tackle Levi Brown, left guard Daryn Colledge and center Lyle Sendlein.
Gone are Rex Hadnot and Brandon Keith.
The team signed Adam Snyder to a free agent contract to take the right guard spot and Jeremy Bridges, a holdover from last season, currently is listed as the number one right tackle -- the position he likes playing best.
In the draft, the team took tackle Bobbie Massie in the fourth round, guard Senio Kelemete in the fifth and tackles Nate Potter in the seventh.
The biggest storylines going into camp start with Levi Brown, whom the team re-signed this offseason. He has been the whipping boy by the fans for five seasons, but put together a solid second half of the year -- so much so that the team gave him a five-year deal. If he plays like he did at the end of last year, then all is well. If he reverts, then he will reach whipping boy status again.
The other storyline is the right tackle position. Massie was drafted, projected to be a right tackle. Bridges is a journeyman, but is average at best. Most feel that Massie ought to be able to take over the job at some point in 2012, but Bridges is not going to just hand it to him. He plays with an edge and chip on his shoulder. Massie has been criticized for his mental toughness coming out of college.
Other players coming to camp are center Ryan Bartholomew (practice squad last season), holdover tackle D'Anthony Batiste, guard Chris Stewart, tackle D.J. Young (on the 2011 practice squad almost all season) and undrafted rookies Braeden Clayson, Blake DeChristopher, Scott Wedige.
Arizona has lacked youth on the line. It looks like they finally have addressed that.
Whether or not the unit is better than a season ago is the big question. That will yet to be determined.
Get more Cardinals coverage at Revenge of the Birds.
For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.