The Arizona Cardinals are not expected to do much this season in terms of winning and success. They struggled offensively in the preseason and are expected to have Josh Dobbs, with two career starts and eight career appearances since entering the league in 2017, at quarterback running the offense.
But it isn’t the offense that is projected to be among the league’s worst.
ESPN’s Mike Clay projects the defense to be terrible.
The Los Angeles Rams are projected to allow a league-high 460 points, an average of 27.1 points allowed per game.
The Cardinals are projected to allow third-most — 458 points — just two fewer than the Rams. That would be an average of 26.9 points allowed per game.
That would be a franchise record.
The Cardinals’ worst defensive season was in 2003 when they allowed 452 points in 16 games.
459 points would be the most points allowed every by the Cardinals, but the 2003 team allowed 28.3 points per game (one fewer game).
Arizona has questions on defense. Their safeties are great. There are questions everywhere else.
The defensive interior doesn’t look good. The edge rushers are unproven. The linebackers are not great. The cornerbacks have questions.
However, when the Cardinals played their defensive starters in the preseason, they were solid.
The talent suggests it will be a struggle. If Jonathan Gannon and Nick Rallis’ defensive coaching and schemes can be at least decent, the Cardinals might have a chance to win a few games.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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