49ers Q&A: Five questions with The Cardinals Report

The 49ers face the Cardinals this week and I got a chance to chat with Eli Wahlstrom of The Cardinals Report about this week's upcoming matchup.Check back on The Cardinals Report for the questions he asked me.Sam: The Cardinals lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators during the off-season. How much will this affect the team?Eli: I guess only time will tell. A lot of analyst out there are using this as an excuse to pick against the Cardinals in the division this season. Coach Whisenhunt will be calling the plays this season which he has done for the Cardinals before. So there should be a familiarity for Kurt Warner and the offense. Whisenhunt will make a point of running the ball a little more this year but I still expect great seasons out of Warner and his WR's. The defense lacked consistancy last season so that's what the change at defensive coordinator was all about. The Cardinals will be looking to their athletic D to not allow so many big plays this season so they can give their high flighing offense a chance to win some games.Sam: Is there such thing as a Super Bowl hangover? Are the Cards prepared to make another deep run? Eli: The numbers say that there is such thing as a Super Bowl hangover, but I don't think it will be affecting Arizona this season. The Cardinals are still the best team in the division and haven't lost any of their key players. So I do expect them to win the division and if everything lines up again I don't see why they can't make another run at the Super Bowl.Sam: With Edgerrin James gone, the Cards are relying on young backs in Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells. Can they carry the load? Eli: Edgerrin James was the most productive RB the Arizona Cardinals have ever had. But Tim Hightower showed lots of improvement in preseason and Beanie Wells looks like the real deal. This might be the most confident I've ever felt with the Cardinals run game going into a season. It wouldn't surprise me to see Beanie Wells win Rookie of The Year.Sam: What has been the biggest story coming out of training camp? Eli: I think the biggest story coming out of training camp for the Cardinals is their inconsistant play during the preseason. They were 0-4 and the starters never won a half or a quarter. Both sides of the ball really struggled at times and it was a cause for concern for both the players and fans. Hopefully the Cards will get out of their funk as soon as the real games begin. Well I should say I hope, you man not Sam :-)Sam: Who wins the game and who is the game MVP? Eli: The 49ers played the Cardinals very tough last year and I expect that to happen again. I think the home field advantage will carry the Cardinals to a 27-21 victory. Despite having a hurt leg Boldin will have a huge day and will be the player of the game.===I hope that you're wrong Eli. Go Niners!! Maybe the game will start like this again...