The season is approaching. The editorial staff of DNA of Sports invites you to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today, the Arizona Cardinals 2023. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
Supporting the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 was complicated! The team had everything to qualify for the playoffs but a series of unfortunate events (injury to Kyler Murray, suspension of DeAndre Hopkins) meant that the franchise was never able to hope for anything.
The ousting of Kliff Kingsbury (although extended to the 2022 offseason) and the resignation of general manager Steve Keim lead the Cardinals to initiate a period of reconstruction. The two men are replaced respectively by Jonathan Gannon (former defensive coordinator in Philadelphia) and Monti Ossenfort (former personnel director of the Titans).
Last season: 4 wins – 13 losses, 4th in the NFC West
Movements in the off-season
Notable arrivals: Jonathan Gannon (HC), Kyzir White (LB), Hjalte Forholdt (OL), Zach Pascal (WR), Dennis Daley (OL), Rashad Fenton (CB), Kris Boyd (CB), Elijah Wilkinson (OL) , Jeff Driskel (QB)
Re-Signatures: Kelvin Beachum (OT), Will Hernandez (OL), Greg Dortch (WR), Matt Prater (K)
Draft: Paris Johnson Jr. (OT), BJ Ojulari (OLB), Garrett Williams (CB), Michael Wilson (WR), Jon Gaines II (OL), Clayton Tune (QB), Owen Pappoe (LB), Kei’Trel Clark (CB), Dante Stills (DT)
Notable losses: JJ Watt (EDGE), DeAndre Hopkins (WR), Zach Allen (DE), Markus Golden (OLB), Byron Murphy (CB), Kamu Grugier-Hill (LB), Michael Dogbe (DT)
On the starting side, big names are to be noted, especially in defense. Among them, we can note that of JJ Watt, who has retired. Markus Golden was cut off. The objective of extending Zach Allen missed, the latter left for the Broncos. To replace them, the franchise turned to the Draft with BJ Ojulari (brother of Azeez) and Dante Stills.
On the second curtain, Byron Murphy (Vikings) left, replaced by Rashad Fenton, an experienced cornerback. Despite everything, in this area, the site may not be finished, because Budda Baker has requested his transfer. If nothing is done at the time of this writing, one of the Cardinals’ defensive leaders could be traded during the season.
In attack, another experienced player has left the club: receiver DeAndre Hopkins. If the rest of the workforce has been retained, the movements have been made mainly via the Draft. To replace DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona is betting on Michael Wilson, who should give size to a squad that lacks it. Unfortunately, he was never healthy during his college seasons. On the offensive line, Paris Johnson Jr. comes to give a welcome and essential facelift to this attack.
The strong points)
Arizona being a rebuilding workforce, the strengths are few. Among the few forces, we could mention the pair of safety Budda Baker – Jalen Thompson. Irreproachable despite some irregularities in 2022, the two players are considered one of the best pairs at their position.
Another pair that could be put in this section: offensive tackles. DJ Humphries missed half of last season but remains a solid and reliable player. Kelvin Beachum is the only offensive player to play every game in 2022.
If Paris Johnson Jr. and Jon Gaines can play at the level they did in college, the offensive line could become solid. Which would not be too much for the future quarterback who will start in week 1, in the absence of Kyler Murray.
The weak spots)
Arizona is a rebuilding squad, a field of ruins inherited by Jonathan Gannon. Therefore, several roster positions could be considered some of the worst in the league. This is the case for the cornerback position.
Rashad Fenton and Marco Wilson do not have the profile of a shutdown cornerback and Garrett Williams arrives in the squad with a ruptured cruciate ligament. Not ideal for starting an NFL career, despite obvious potential.
During their rookie season, Myjai Sanders and Cameron Thomas showed some interesting things. Still, a pair that produced 18 sacks in 2022 (JJ Watt, Zach Allen) will have to be replaced. Since his arrival, Zaven Collins has disappointed and is often misused. The addition of BJ Ojulari could be interesting and could even put Collins back to his natural position of middle linebacker. Overall, the pass rush of the Cardinals is sorely lacking in quality and experience.
Jonathan Gannon is a defensive coach. This season will therefore be an opportunity to judge the quality and progress of these players in this area.
Among the runners, James Conner had an honorable season in 2022. But he is too alone. In a league where the winning teams operate by committee of riders, Arizona has too large a gap between its leader and the others. Last season, behind James Conner, the 2nd best runner was none other than Kyler Murray himself!
The X Factor: Air Attack
Kliff Kingsbury will no longer call attacking plays. Defensive-minded coach Jonathan Gannon should leave play calls to his offensive coordinator. Arrived in Gannon’s luggage during the offseason, Drew Petzing is in charge of energizing an air attack on alternating current last year.
He will have to give confidence to a trio of receivers with untapped potential. Disappointing since his Draft and traded for a big counterpart, Marquise Brown has already been in the shoes of a number 1 receiver in Baltimore. In his 4th year, the former Ravens will have to do better than in 2022 (3 touchdowns) if he wants to get a big contract extension.
Rondale Moore can be interesting, but is coming off a 2022 season disrupted by a big injury. Michael Wilson has just arrived but he arrives with a significant injury history. These receivers are going to have a lot of playing time. If the receivers don’t show up (or are still in the infirmary), there remains the tight end position. In this position, we find the experienced Zach Ertz and Trey McBride. The latter has a good chance of increasing his number of receptions compared to last year (29 receptions), since Ertz could be cut during the season, in a logic of reconstruction. He has also been injured often lately.
The real question is who will be the quarterback from week 1? Colt McCoy leaves with a clear lead over recent draftee Clayton Tune. Coach quarterbacks on the side of the Browns last year, Drew Petzing managed to do good things with Jacoby Brissett. He could get similar results with the former Giants and Commanders quarterback, who started just 4 games last season.
Player to watch: Isaiah Simmons (LB)
One of Monti Ossenfort’s first decisions in his new position involves the Cardinals linebacker. Drafted very high in 2020 (8th choice), Isaiah Simmons nevertheless shone with his irregularity. It is therefore logical that Arizona does not lift the 5th year of the player’s rookie contract.
However, his new trainer is not losing hope and plans to use him in several roles:
“I want to see him comfortable in the positions in which he will play. It’s obvious that he has talent and that he can do a lot of things defensively. It’s versatile and compatible with different players,” he said recently.
Used as a linebacker, but also safety, or even cornerback, Isaiah Simmons still has to learn to gain consistency. In a season that promises to be crucial for him, he could reveal himself or fall into oblivion.
It’s up to him to follow the same trajectory as a certain Haason Reddick, revealed during his 4th career year in Arizona. This allowed him to land an additional year at Carolina in the NFL, to then sign a big contract with Philadelphia.
2023 Arizona Cardinals Schedule
@Commanders, Giants, Cowboys, @49ers, Bengals, @Rams, @Seahawks, Ravens, @Browns, Falcons, @Texans, Rams, @Steelers, 49ers, @Bears, @Eagles, Seahawks
Podcast audio preview
In summary
The goal of the duo Monti Ossenfort – Jonathan Gannon for this new season is to judge the workforce in order to prepare well for the future. Indeed, the Cardinals will be without their star quarterback Kyler Murrray for the entire first half of the season. It is hard to see how the Cardinals could win the playoffs in 2024 with this major absence.
The current squad can be considered one of the worst in the league. In addition, it could be turned upside down during the season. One or two surprise victory(s) could embellish a season which promises to be difficult.
Patience will be required for Cardinals supporters. The franchise is a favorite to pick up the 1st pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. A draft where they will have the privilege of choosing two players in the first round, with perhaps the selection of a new quarterback. If this scenario occurs, it would likely (already) mark the end of the Murray era in Arizona.
