FanHouse Bertrand Berry

With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.

After a Cinderella run to the Super Bowl -- and nearly winning the thing -- the Cardinals will look to continue building momentum as a franchise. They have a gaping hole in the backfield, because there is no true every-down back on the team anymore. Also, Anquan Boldin's situation really needs to be resolved, and the team could struggle to replace dearly departed offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

After astonishing everyone and heading to the Super Bowl last season, the Arizona Cardinals now face truly raised expectations for the first time in memory. We all remember the magical postseason run, when Larry Fitzgerald established himself as the NFL's premier wideout (even if Andre Johnson wants to argue), Kurt Warner polished his legacy, and the defense showed its capability -- one we had not seen much in the regular season.

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

If anyone still cared about the NHL, the Sabres might make it three whole things that people love about Buffalo. As it is, there's wings -- and then there's the Bills. Sadly, Canada seems intent on stealing the NFL away from the city in the middle of the night. Relevancy (almost achieved following a 4-0 start last season) would greatly enhance the Bills' chance of hanging around Buffalo.

There are bigger problems at play, but "nice offseason additions" would greatly benefit the franchise and head coach Dick Jauron. And there are plenty of areas that will need to be addressed over the coming months.

To get you ready for Super Bowl XLIII, we're diagramming a couple of key plays in Anatomy of a Play.

While the Steelers have a reputation as a blitzing team, the Cardinals are actually the team that will most likely do anything and everything to create havoc on defense.

Pittsburgh believes that it can get pressure with a four-man rush. Arizona, on the other hand, will probably send five, six and even seven to put Ben Roethlisberger on the ground. The Cardinals will also likely blitz their inside linebackers in first- and second-down situations to try to create problems in the Steelers' run game.

Falcons quarterback -- and 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year -- Matt Ryan is in Tampa for Super Bowl Week, and he took time out from hawking Axe Hair products to talk to FanHouse about preparing for the draft, his breakout rookie season, as well as some thoughts on the Cardinals and the Steelers.

Ryan Wilson: Hey, Matt, thanks for taking time out to talk. First of all, congratulations on Rookie of the Year.

Matt Ryan: I appreciate that, thank you.

RW: Let's just go through a few things here because I know you're busy down there in Tampa, because I guess Axe Hair doesn't sell itself.

Every week this season we've analyzed some aspect of line play for Between the Lines. So for the Super Bowl, we are analyzing all aspects of the battle at the line of scrimmage.

When you watch the Cardinals defense and try to discover tendencies, or pick out stars and weak spots, you can't help but get tripped up by one glaring problem -- if you go back and watch the Cardinals during the regular season, you feel like you're watching a different team than the one that cruised through the NFC playoffs.

Every week this season we've analyzed some aspect of line play for Between the Lines. So for the Super Bowl, we are analyzing all aspects of the battle at the line of scrimmage.

When you watch the Cardinals defense and try to discover tendencies, or pick out stars and weak spots, you can't help but get tripped up by one glaring problem -- if you go back and watch the Cardinals during the regular season, you feel like you're watching a different team than the one that cruised through the NFC playoffs.

Arizona Cardinals' defensive end Bertrand Berry was on the Dan Patrick radio show today, and he had something interesting to say about the Offensive Rookie of the Year, Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan.

Berry said that Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan didn't change his snap count all game.

It's true that the Cardinals' defensive front was getting off the ball very quickly all game, so I guess we have to believe Berry. I just don't understand how a quarterback at the NFL level would turn a blind eye to something as obvious as this. High school quarterbacks vary snap counts in order to keep opposing defenses on their toes. Sure, Ryan is a rookie, but he went 11-5 in his rookie season and showed veteran-like poise in many late-game situations.

Is it possible he buckled under the playoff pressure and his lack of variance on the snap count was due to nerves?

Other notes from the interview were that Berry said Anquan Boldin would try to play even if he had an amputated leg. I'm sure someone will make a fuss about that comment in relation to Richard Collier's tragic situation from this past offseason. Let's just remember, he's making a statement about how tough Boldin is.

Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.

We've decided to extend Studs and Duds into the playoffs. Here's Wild Card Weekend at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.

Studs

Ed Reed, S Baltimore (2 interceptions, 1 returned for a TD) -- As one of my colleagues said in an email yesterday, there isn't a football player in the NFL (or the world, for that matter) playing better football than Reed. The Ravens' shifty Robin to Ray Lewis' Batman has hauled in six interceptions in his last three games, all must-wins, and has given the Baltimore defense that scary title that no other unit, offense or defense, can claim this season -- "Group You Do Not Want to Play Under any Circumstances." The '07 Patriots offense carried that torch and now the Ravens defense, thanks to Reed, is happy to be strutting around with the acclaim.

Both his interceptions were tough catches, and it was really too bad a potential third interception went through his hands late in the game. Up next for the Ravens? A quarterback who threw just seven interceptions all season. If only they had some experience with a quarterback who only tossed seven interceptions before the playoffs (rubs chin).

The 3-4 defense that the Arizona Cardinals will switch to this season has caused a ton of changes to their front seven. In fact, almost every single player other than Gabe Watson and Antonio Smith will be moved.

Watson will continue to battle Alan Branch for the starting nose tackle spot, while Smith will assume a familiar role at right defensive tackle. From there, things get a little trickier.

Darnell Dockett will now move from defensive tackle to left defensive end, with Chike Okeafor moving to outside linebacker. Bertrand Berry will join Okeafor on the outside as Karlos Dansby moves to an inside linebacker position. Rounding it out is Gerald Hayes, who will fill the last inside linebacker spot.

Most of those players are talented and athletic enough to perform well at their new positions, but Dockett will carry some question marks. While he does move well for having such a big frame and weighing about 300 pounds, he seems best suited for playing under tackle. He's really going to have to step it up in order for the new 3-4 defense to be successful.

Overall, I like the alterations. I'm excited to see what this unit can do.