The Carolina offense now runs through QB Teddy Bridgewater.
The Arizona Cardinals defense does not have to face Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, who gashed them in 2019 for 153 rushing yards a season ago. McCaffrey is on injured reserve currently.
However, the Cardinals are very aware of the other weapons the Panthers have on offense.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson told reporters Thursday that the Panthers’ offense “is a lot like the Saints’ offense.” The New Orleans Saints have long been one of the best teams on offense for years. Carolina’s offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, used to work for the Saints.
But without McCaffrey, the Cardinals know they have three players in particular to stop.
It starts with the quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. “With Christian out, Teddy is playing a big role in this offense,” Peterson said.
“He’s playing really good football,” said defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. “If you watched him last year in New Orleans go 5-0 as a starter, that wasn’t by accident. The ball’s coming out really fast. He’s taking care of the ball. He can put them in good plays first, second and third down.
“The ball is popping out of his hand. He can move around, he can scramble and make plays with his feet, but he’s been impressive to watch.”
Peterson noted Bridgewater likes to attack the middle of the field and get the ball out quickly.
Joseph mentioned Carolina’s leading receiver Robby Anderson, one of the Panthers’ newcomers this season.
“He’s been a scary vertical threat in this league for a long time,” Joseph said. “In Denver, we went to New York (Anderson previously played for the Jets) and he had 150 on us on a couple of players, so he’s capable of making big plays vertically.”
The Cardinals also know they have to account for McCaffrey’s replacement at running back, Mike Davis, a player the Cardinals know well from his time with the Seattle Seahawks. At 5-foot-9 and 220 pounds, he is physical.
“He can break tackles, he can run the football, he can catch out of the backfield,” said Joseph.
Carolina is averaging only 22.7 points per game this season but it is not an offensive unit to take likely.
The Cardinals defense will have its hands full Sunday morning.
One player that would be a nice boost to the Cardinals’ edge rushing core is Duke standout Chris Rumph II.
We are entering week three of the NFL season and the Arizona Cardinals have made a strong start with a lot of momentum, despite a loss to the Detroit Lions. The offense is living up to every bit of the hype thus far. The defense has shown plenty of promise, especially their linebacker core, which made an immense improvement from last season.
As every game passes, that means we are one week closer to the 2021 NFL Draft. The Cardinals addressed their run defense in this year’s draft by selecting former Utah defensive tackle Leki Fotu in the fourth round. Now, this upcoming draft would be the perfect opportunity for them to address the pass rush early. One player that would be a nice boost to the Cardinals’ edge rushing core is Duke standout Chris Rumph II.
Chris Rumph II has really put himself on the map his past two seasons as a Blue Devil. Last season, he had 47 total tackles and 6.5 sacks. Through the first two weeks, Rumph already has 12 total tackles and a sack. He stands 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds and plays with a lot of power off the ball. Rumph is a versatile talent that can win anywhere on the defensive line. This is a player that even though he is undersized for an edge rusher, you don’t want to mess with him. He will come out of nowhere on blitzes and make you think twice. Rumph also possesses a tremendous amount of speed. Not only is he explosive off the ball, but Rumph also plays violent with his hands. He is a player that has potential first-round talent written all over him. Especially if Rumph keeps his momentum going and has a breakout season, look for him to soar his way up the draft boards come April.
As impressive as Rumph is with his hands, he still needs to polish up his technique. There are plenty of times where he will try to win with spin moves rather than his technique and athleticism. As dynamic and aggressive as he plays, he should not have too much of a problem improving in this area. Rumph is also only 6-foot-3, which is not the average size of your typical NFL edge rusher. When it comes to the edge rusher position, size matters quite a bit. However, there have been players in the NFL that have excelled with their size, such as former Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil (5-foot-11) and even James Harrison (6-foot-0), both who went on to win multiple Pro Bowls and even an All-Pro from Harrison. Even in this year’s draft, former Wisconsin Badger edge rusher Zach Baun has elite speed that can make coaches and analysts overlook the case of him being undersized. As for Rumph, he has the talent to also win games with his power and versatility. To summarize, having elite size at the edge rusher position matters, but you can also have all the tangibles to be great if you do not possess that. Overall, Chris Rumph II certainly has room to grow, and his size does pose a level of concern. However, he is more than talented to make people overlook that case.
Chris Rumph II would be an instant playmaker for the Arizona Cardinals’ pass rush. He has some skills to work on, and what better player to learn from than one of the best at his position in Chandler Jones. Rumph is undersized, but with the tape and season he has this year, he could soar his way up the draft boards quickly.
Following the Cardinals’ 23-26 loss to the Detroit Lions and glaring needs at safety, should the Cardinals bite the bullet and sign Pro-Bowl safety Earl Thomas?
The Arizona Cardinals experienced one of their more gut-wrenching losses in recent memory to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, falling 23-26. The team has lost to worse teams before, but this one felt different for both the Cardinals and their fans. This team is full of talent and potential, but can’t seem to reach it.
Part of Sunday’s disappointing loss came as a result of a very thin secondary for the Cardinals. By the time Detroit was at midfield in their game-winning drive, the Cardinals had backup safeties to their backups playing. The result was Marvin Jones breaking a tackle to move Detroit into field-goal range.
The incredible Budda Baker played through a thumb injury that requires surgery, but his availability in the future is uncertain. He will have surgery this week.
Baker’s plans are to only miss next week’s game against Carolina, but that is far from a certainty. He could end up missing a few weeks. This injury unfortunately pairs with the injuries to safeties Jalen Thompson, who is on injured reserve with an ankle injury, and Chris Banjo, who left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury.
So, what can the Cardinals do to add talent to their safety room? Many fans have expressed their desires to sign former Cardinal Tony Jefferson, though he does not appear ready to return to football as he recovers from a season-ending knee injury in 2019.
The obvious most talented option left for Arizona is none other than seven-time Pro-Bowler Earl Thomas III. After being an anchor in Seattle’s legendary Legion of Boom, Thomas signed with the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year deal. He was a large part of Baltimore’s stout 2019 defense. Thomas was released by Baltimore before the start of the season.
A seven-time Pro-Bowl and three-time First-Team All-Pro safety doesn’t get released in training camp very often. Thomas allegedly got into a fight with a teammate that led to him throwing a punch. This came months after he reportedly got into a scuffle with DT Brandon Williams after their loss to Cleveland. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has also reported Thomas missing or being late to some team meetings in his one-year stint with Baltimore.
Arizona would have to believe Thomas can prevent these type of incidents from occurring again for them to have any interest. There is certainly a risk in bringing a player into a locker room with that recent track record, but the payout if all works out is an All-Pro safety to bolster the secondary.
Budda Baker has settled in nicely in his role at free safety, which is the same role occupied by Thomas. While Baker has shown his positional versatility on the field, Thomas is usually locked into free safety. That becomes an issue when Baker returns, unless Vance Joseph wants to have Baker roam the field.
The bottom line is, Earl Thomas is a great player who makes the Arizona Cardinals better in the secondary. However, his release from Baltimore likely deters Steve Keim from bringing in the former All-Pro.
Depending on the status of Baker’s thumb surgery, Arizona would be better off adding one of the other free agent safeties given the hopeful short term injuries to their two starting safeties. Thomas may be a great player, but Arizona made Baker the highest-paid safety in the NFL. They rightfully believe in him.
Other free agent safeties include Tony Jefferson, Haha Clinton-Dix, Eric Reid and Demarius Randall. It would be a surprise if Arizona didn’t look into at least one of these options before Sunday’s game against the Panthers.
Arizona’s Kyler Murray and Seattle’s Russell Wilson are early favorites to take home the NFL MVP award. Who, if either, will end up taking home the award?
Through two weeks of the season, NFL fans and analysts are already making their MVP award predictions. While there are quite a few right now, it’ll narrow down to about two or three candidates by midseason. Two of the very popular picks to this point are division rivals — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
For the Cardinals, Murray has been often compared to Wilson. Their similar playing style and stature on the field make them an easy comparison. Coming out of the draft, Murray’s pro comparison was Wilson himself.
Both Murray and Wilson are trying to lead their teams to the top of the gauntlet that is the NFC West. Heading into week 3, three teams are 2-0, with the last place team being the defending NFC Champion 49ers. Should the division crown fall to Murray’s Cardinals, or Wilson’s Seahawks, MVP votes will come rolling in. To this point, the West is the consensus best division in the game.
Comparing Murray and Wilson’s supporting casts:
It’s no secret that the young & rapidly ascending quarterback has won the MVP award the last two seasons in Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, While Mahomes won the award seemingly by midseason in his year, Jackson was very much going toe-to-toe with Russell Wilson on a weekly basis at one point. Despite Wilson and Jackson’s similar 2019 campaigns, Wilson did not receive a single MVP vote. The takeaway here — the voters of the Associated Press love the young & new stars.
Big-name players do two things for a football team. They help a team win games and they create media attention. Arizona and Seattle both have their share of these players.
Wilson’s Seahawks are no stranger to household names. Seattle’s offensive supporting cast currently consists of D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Chris Carson and Greg Olsen.
Murray’s supporting group is highlighted by DeAndre Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and Kenyan Drake.
Both quarterbacks obviously have their fair share of talent and players that receive plenty of media coverage. Arizona and Seattle each made a blockbuster trade this offseason in DeAndre Hopkins and Jamal Adams. Those moves already made them two of the most talked-about teams in the offseason. That has carried over into the season.
To conclude here, Arizona and Seattle have both been talked about heavily and are receiving the sort of attention a team with an MVP-candidate needs, so that their player may take home the award.
Two Elite Dual-Threat Quarterbacks:
The NFL loves their mobile quarterbacks, with Wilson and Murray being two of the best. To this point, Murray has been better with the rushing attack, with Wilson being the better passer.
The MVP winner needs highlight-reel plays. Being a part of a good football team is not enough. Both quarterbacks have given plenty of those in just two games.
Russell Wilson makes a perfect throw to DK Metcalf for the 54-yard TD! #Seahawks
Here, Russell Wilson drops a perfect 54-yard bomb right over the head of the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore. In terms of highlight-reel plays, that will certainly do.
Through two weeks, Kyler Murray has the following stats:
66.7% completion percentage
516 passing yards
2 passing touchdowns/2 interceptions
158 rushing yards
3 rushing touchdowns
Meanwhile, Russell Wilson’s passing statistics are ridiculous:
82.5% completion percentage
610 passing yards
9 touchdown passes/1 interception
68 rushing yards.
Murray’s passing touchdown numbers will need to improve to compete with Wilson’s on paper. Both teams have had similar games to this point. They each handled a mediocre team(ATL for Wilson, WAS for Murray). Wilson and Murray also each embarrassed an elite defense(NE for Wilson, SF for Murray).
Media Hype & Conclusion:
Both the Cardinals and the Seahawks have had a promising start to the 2020 season. With the way the NFC West is going down, it may be the Arizona-Seattle matchups themselves that have the most impact on the MVP award, as well as division standings.
NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger has selected Murray as his MVP choice in 2020. More and more analysts are beginning to believe in Arizona’s second-year quarterback.
Former NFL Pro Bowl punter and talk show host Pat McAfee also calls Murray the “Next Great QB.”
If Wilson’s current pace continues and Murray continues to improve each game, there may very well by an MVP race in the NFC West.
Murray’s MVP odds have gone from +2500 to +1200 after his play in the first two weeks of the season.
The Arizona Cardinals have started off tremendously in the 2020 NFL season with victories over the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Football Team bringing their record to an unexpected 2-0 on the year so far.
Quarterback Kyler Murray has played extremely well building off of a successful rookie campaign where he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year. award. The second-year star signal-caller may have a good chance to bring some different hardware to his trophy case.
According to BetMGM, Kyler Murray’s odds for winning the 2020 NFL MVP have greatly increased. Entering the season, he was given +2500 odds to win it. Now, after two wins and two fantastic games individually, his odds have shortened to +1200, following their 30-15 victory against the Washington Football Team. This means that a $100 bet on Murray to win the MVP will now net a $1,200 winning instead of $2,500 winning for the same $100 bet before the season.
Kyler Murray has 518 passing yards on the season with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s made the most difference with his legs as he leads all quarterbacks with 158 rushing yards and has three rushing touchdowns on the year.
If he keeps playing the way that he is, Kyler Murray’s MVP odds would be sure to increase even more.
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Stream the NFL and the Arizona Cardinals all season long right here without cable, this is your best bet to follow the NFL this year.
The NFL returned last weekend and will continue this weekend with NFL Week 2. If you recently cut cable or are looking for a way to watch your Arizona Cardinals this season, you’ve come to the right place.
You don’t want to miss any of the action this year, below is all your tune-in information for this week and 2020 season!
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Arizona Cardinals 2020 Schedule
Sept. 13: Cardinals 24, 49ers 20
Sept. 20: vs. Washington, 4:05 p.m., Fox
Sept. 27: vs. Detroit Lions, 4:25 p.m., Fox
Oct. 4: at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., Fox
Oct. 11: at New York Jets, 1 p.m., Fox
Oct. 19: at Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 25: vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 p.m., Fox
Nov. 8: vs. Miami Dolphins, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Nov. 15: vs. Buffalo Bills, 4:05 p.m., CBS
Nov. 19: at Seattle Seahawks, 8:20 p.m., Fox/NFL Network/Amazon
Nov. 29: at New England Patriots, 1 p.m., Fox.
Dec. 6: vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m., Fox
Dec. 13: at New York Giants 1 p.m., Fox
Dec. 20: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 4:05 p.m., Fox
Dec. 26 or 27: vs. San Francisco 49ers, TBD
Jan. 3: at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m., Fox
NFL Odds and Betting Lines
NFL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds last updated Thursday at 12:15 p.m. ET.
Arizona Cardinals (-6.5) vs. Washington
To Win the Superbowl: +3000
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If the Cardinals were to move on from Kenyan Drake, a great replacement would be Clemson product Travis Etienne.
Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season is here as the Arizona Cardinals take on the San Francisco 49ers. There are many pros to this team, specifically long-term. From making big additions both offensively and defensively, to locking down perhaps the best receiver in the game in DeAndre Hopkins long term, this team is built to win. However, one of the Cardinals’ biggest long term position has yet to be answered, and that is the running back position. Back in June, Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake spoke out to the media saying he is not worried about an extension with the Cardinals. On another note, the Arizona Cardinals also said that they see Chase Edmonds as a starting running back. Edmonds is under contract for another two seasons and has been a reliable complement to Kenyan Drake. Lastly, the Cardinals also drafted Eno Benjamin in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He might just be the Cardinals’ gem of the draft who has all the tools and skillset to be in the Cardinals backfield long-term.
However, as the season begins, there have been no updates on the Kenyan Drake extension talks. If the Cardinals were to move on from him, a great replacement would be none other than the best running back in the draft and Clemson product Travis Etienne.
Etienne shocked the college football world by returning to Clemson for his senior year. He racked up over 3,200 yards and 43 touchdowns as a Tiger the past two seasons. Etienne plays with a lot of power and intensity. Once he finds that open hole, he is tough to catch. As lean as he is, he still makes people overlook that case with his explosiveness and ability to power through defenders. The Cardinals need a running back that will flourish in both the run and passing game. We saw what David Johnson was able to do during his time in Arizona. His versatility is something that the Cardinals fell in love with right away. Travis Etienne can be just that.
Etienne’s receiving ability is not something that will jump out at you. However, in 2019 he was utilized in the passing game more than he ever has been in his three years at Clemson, recording 432 yards and four touchdowns. This is an area Etienne will have to polish up, but 2019 was definitely a promising year for him in the passing game, showing that he can be that guy in their backfield that can do it all.
Due to his body frame, Etienne can be inconsistent with his pass blocking. One of his games that stood out in this area of weakness was his 2019 matchup against North Carolina. There were times where he would use his shoulders but lack the technique to finish his blocks. There are some running backs that have this weakness coming into the league, and even some that still struggle with it in the NFL. This is something that Etienne will have to polish up as well, and he has all the skill and tangibles to do it.
Etienne also struggles at times with his decision making. This is probably a weakness that he will have to polish up more than others. As quick as he is, Etienne struggles to find those tight holes. He will immediately lose the battle because he either panics or will hop around in the backfield trying to find an open hole. He needs to develop that elite vision for teams to feel confident in using him as their workhorse running back. As for the Cardinals, Etienne will have to face Aaron Donald and Nick Bosa twice a year, two of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFC West. So, he would certainly have his work cut out for him, but he is talented enough to develop this trait.
Travis Etienne is going to do great things in the NFL. He would be the perfect long-term answer for the Arizona Cardinals if they end up letting Kenyan Drake walk. Etienne is a unique type of talent because his speed, versatility and elusiveness make scouts and analysts overlook the case of him being undersized. He has room to grow and with his tape right now, Etienne is first-round talent that any team like the Cardinals would love to have in their backfield.
We have a new edition of the podcast, coming on the heels of the news of DeAndre Hopkins’ contract extension and the final roster getting set. Naturally, Revenge of the Birds’ Seth Cox and I have plenty to say.
In this edition of the show, we react and break down the Hopkins deal. We react to final cuts and who made the roster. We discuss the moves that have been made to the roster and the practice squad since then.
Then we look ahead to the season and talk about our hopes and concerns for the 2020 season and finally preview and predict the Cardinals’ season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
Enjoy this latest show and make sure to subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Give it a five-star rating!
Here are the topics of discussion and the approximate times for each.
(1:13) Intro and the reactions to DeAndre Hopkins’ deal
(18:29) Reactions to the roster cuts
(34:16) Breaking down roster moves since final cuts
One player that would be a nice bolster for the Cardinals’ pass rush is Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye.
The Arizona Cardinals continue to build their franchise back into a winning culture. From building an elite offense around second-year quarterback Kyler Murray to bringing in more defensive playmakers like linebacker De’Vondre Campbell to bolster their defense, this team is built to compete. However, there is still one key piece they are missing: the edge rusher position. Outside of Chandler Jones, there are not a whole lot of answers to the Cardinals’ pass rush.
Former Utah standout Leki Fotu is a tremendous addition for the future of the Cardinals’ run defense. Looking ahead into the 2021 NFL Draft class, there are some key edge rushers that the Cardinals could snag early. One player that would be a nice boost for the Cardinals’ pass rush is Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye.
Michigan has done a nice job producing defensive playmakers for the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded up for Devin Bush in last year’s draft, who is now one of the faces of that defense. The Green Bay Packers selected Rashan Gary, who has all the tangibles to be an elite pass rusher in the league, with their 12 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Kwity Paye could be the next guy added to that list.
Paye possesses elite speed with a high motor off the ball. Whether the play is out of reach or not, he never takes plays off. At 6-foot-4 and 272 pounds, Paye is a freakish athlete and dominates with his technique. Not only does he excel on the outside, but he has dominated on the interior as well. One of the games that stood out was the 2019 game against Iowa, where Paye finished with three solo tackles and 2.5 sacks. However, the key matchup for him here was former Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, who was drafted 13th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2020 NFL Draft. There were a few plays where Paye beat out Wirfs on the inside with his speed, technique and powerful jab step, resulting in a sack on former Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley. Kwity Paye is the definition of a highlight reel player. A college football reporter from The Athletic called Paye an “athletic freak” and that is just what he is. He finished the 2019 season with 26 solo tackles and 6.5 sacks. He is still weighing his return to Michigan due to the postponement of the Big Ten college football season. If Paye plays in the spring, expect a breakout season for him and a rise in his draft stock.
As impressive as he is, there is one weakness of Kwity Paye that can become quite concerning at times. He is a quick and athletic player, but there are times where he isn’t very powerful with his initial step off the ball. When this does happen, he will still drive his feet and finish the play. But, when his initial step lacks power, he loses all of his leverage and is too high off the ball. This became noticeable during the 2019 matchup against Ohio State. With his speed and initial drive, the bull rush is something that Paye can excel in. However, because he didn’t have that explosiveness when the play started, Paye was beat a few times off the ball.
Kwity Paye has really put himself on the radar with his performance at Michigan. If he does decide to opt out of the 2020 season, Paye still has plenty of impressive tape to look at. With some minor tweaks to his game, Paye will be a special player to watch in the NFL and would be a nice addition to the Cardinals’ pass rush.
They will be ready for Week 1. Fitzgerald had not practiced all week and Drake was nursing a foot or ankle injury.
The Arizona Cardinals held their final practice of training camp and had two important offensive players getting some work in. According to reporters in attendance, running back Kenyan Drake, who had missed several practices, and receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who had been sitting out of practice all week, were participating in the open portion of practice.
So after Kingsbury talked about Larry Fitzgerald’s rest, No. 11 is back out and working in the open part of practice. RB Kenyan Drake is back too. Saw WR DeAndre Hopkins briefly but then he went inside.
Drake had been nursing some sort of foot or ankle injury and was seen a while back wearing a walking boot. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury has been very clear that Drake would be fine by the season opener.
Fitzgerald, according to Kingsbury, was just getting rest in the final week of camp.
Kliff Kingsbury said Larry Fitzgerald hasn't practiced this week mostly for rest. Said Fitz has been asking to practice but they have told him to not. He will get back to practice next week. Said Fitz already understands offense fine.
The Cardinals are off for the weekend. Rosters must be cut down to 53 players by Saturday afternoon and the Cardinals will prepare for Week 1 beginning next week.
