TEMPE, Ariz. -- With additions and departures comes a new season of change for the Arizona Cardinals.
When Arizona kicks off 2015, it will have a slew of new faces thanks to free agency and the draft. While the draft is still a month away, I can only predict the Cardinals' 2015 starters based on what’s happened in free agency.
Here are my predictions for what the Cardinals’ primary special teams players will look like next season:
Kicker: Chandler Catanzaro
Reason: Catanzaro proved that a kicker doesn’t have to be drafted. He played as well as the Cardinals could have expected, and with the confidence from his rookie year building, Catanzaro is starting to learn how to manage the mental side of being a pro kicker.
Backup: Not available.
Punter: Dave Zastudil
Reason: Coming off a groin injury, Zastudil still will be one of the most lethal kickers in landing punts inside the 20.
Backup: Drew Butler
Long snapper: Mike Leach
Reason: This is Leach’s job to lose. He’s too consistent, too steady for the Cardinals to think about going in a different direction.
Backup: Bradley Sowell
Punt returner: John Brown
Reason: With the return job open, Brown seems to make the most sense at the position. He’s impressionable, meaning the Cardinals can teach him how to return punts and kicks their way.
Backup: Nathan Slaughter
