It sure can't get any worse. Its NFL ranking of 32nd last season - 245.4 yards a game - was as low as you can go. Dead last.

"I'm not going to describe anything," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "You're going to have to wait and see.

"We are going to be different. We've got some things that are changed, and we have things that are very similar, too. There are a lot of things we had on film that we're going to be doing, and doing a lot better."

Look for more shifting and motioning by the wide receivers and running backs in an attempt to create matchup problems for enemy defenses.

"We're still running Brat's offense," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "There's really just a few new wrinkles. He's inserted some different ideas and some different schemes to replace and fill in for some of the things we've cut out."

Ready to pounce

Defensive ends Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom are back. End Michael Johnson was a third-round draft pick and defensive tackle Tank Johnson was acquired in free agency.

"We added guys who can get to the quarterback," free safety Chris Crocker said. "We feel pretty good about what we have right now. But it's just on paper. We have to come together and finish off what we've started."

Close, very close

Palmer missed 12 games in 2008 because of a right elbow injury. How close is he to 100 percent?

"He's close," Bratkowski said. "Anytime you miss as much time as he missed last year, it's going to take some time. Physically, he's back. But in terms of mechanics and shaking the rust off, he's still got a little bit to go."

Playing catch up

Rookie second-round pick linebacker Rey Maualuga is backing up starter Rashad Jeanty on the strong side. Maualuga is also learning from middle linebacker Dhani Jones and weakside 'backer Keith Rivers, his teammate at Southern Cal.

"The veterans have that experience on me, but I'm catching up and I'm learning the defense very well," said Maualuga, who leans on Rivers for advice. "It's more so a comfort level knowing I've got an extra partner there next to me to help me out."

Quote machine

"I don't think (the defense) is that difficult. We've added and progressed over the course of the year. They've got a few more checks and stuff that they have to make. If you know where to line up and you know where to fit, it's pretty easy." - Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.