Category: Arizona Cardinals

Statistical projections for Cardinals players after 11 games

Check out what the biggest names on the Cardinals should achieve by the end of the season.

The Arizona Cardinals have played 11 games this season, so we basically know what to expect from the players. Based on their per-game production this season, what will their season look like?

Let’s take a look.

QB Kyler Murray

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Stats through 11 games:

  • 2,703 passing yards, 14 TDs, 5 INTs; 418 rushing yards, 3 TDs

Full-season projection:

  • 3,932 passing yards, 20 TDs, 7 INTs; 608 rushing yards, 4 TDs

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Larry Fitzgerald got into Nick Bosa’s head

He put Bosa on the ground on a chip block and then was classy about it.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is a legend. He is one of the greatest receivers of all time. He is also a very good blocker now. San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive end Nick Bosa learned the hard way. Bosa is having a solid rookie campaign and is one of the most talented young pass rushers in the league.

Bosa was introduced to a Fitzgerald block in Week 11. Fitzgerald knocked him to the ground on a chip block before running his route.

Bosa spoke about it recently. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner shared the quote on Twitter.

“He’s always saying something,” Bosa said. “It’s not like mean or vicious in any way. It’s kind of friendly but it’s to get in your head. After that (block), he ran up to me and said, ‘Sorry, man, I’ve got to slow you down somehow.’ I was like ‘Well, (expletive), you did.'”

Fitz puts a guy on the ground and then is classy. No wonder he is one of the most respected players in the entire league and this entire generation of players.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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Rookie WR Andy Isabella named Cardinals’ most underrated player by PFF

His play is something to pay attention to in the final five weeks of the season. 

Arizona Cardinals fans waited a long time to see rookie receiver Andy Isabella make plays. In the last few weeks, he has begun to make an impact on ballgames. That play has earned him recent recognition from Pro Football Focus.

He was named the team’s most underrated player.

During his final collegiate season at UMass in 2018, second-round rookie Andy Isabella was PFF’s highest-graded wide receiver in the entire FBS. So then, it’s safe to say we here at PFF were excited to watch Isabella team up with Kyler Murray and first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona. Isabella, however, saw the field just 41 times on offense in his first eight weeks, but he has since seen far more time on the field, playing 58 snaps since Week 9. Since then, Isabella has flashed the playmaking similar to what we saw when he was in college. On his 10 targets, Isabella has earned a 70.8 receiving grade; he’s broken three tackles, generated three explosive plays and has caught 100% of his catchable targets while producing 2.86 yards per route run.

Given that his fellow Cardinal wide receivers are playing below expectations, and given his superb play when given the opportunity, Isabella’s stock is likely only going up from here.

Many feared Isabella was quickly becoming a bad draft pick. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury has insisted Isabella has been improving and that there is a plan for him. He just had not had the opportunity.

He has been impactful in limited touches. I guess that does make him underrated. However, this doesn’t mean he necessarily should have his role increased.

His play is something to pay attention to in the final five weeks of the season.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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How much progress has the Cardinals offense made in 2019?

After ranking at the bottom of almost every category in 2018, they a middle-of-the-pack team in 2019.

The Arizona Cardinals had a historically bad offense in 2018, leading to a 3-13 year and a complete makeover. Kliff Kingsbury was hired. Kyler Murray was drafted along with three receivers. They added offensive linemen and a pair of tight ends.

Let’s look at the progress they have made over the last season.

Overall offense

In 2018, the Cardinals averaged a league-low 241.6 yards per game and a league-worst 14.1 points per game.

In 2019, they are 20th in the league in yards, averaging 343.9, so more than 100 yards more per game.

They now average 22.5 points per game, which is 16th in the league. They have scored 25 or more points seven times this season and in six of their last seven games. They had one such game in 2018, and even in that game the defense scored one of the touchdowns.

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Despite awful defense, 3 Cardinals defenders deserve Pro Bowl consideration

The defense might be terrible, but the Cardinals have three baller defensive players.

The Arizona Cardinals have one of the league’s worst defenses in 2019. The specifics of the statistical struggles are detailed in this post from Thursday. However, the Cardinals do have standout players on defense, which makes their struggles even more confusing.

As Pro Bowl voting has begun for fans, three Cardinals players warrant consideration.

OLB Chandler Jones

(AP Photo/John Hefti)

This should be no surprise. Jones leads the NFL with 12.5 sacks and also five forced fumbles. His 13 tackles for loss are tied for sixth in the league. He is one of the elite edge defenders in the league.

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Steelers OL Maurkice Pouncey gets suspension reduced, will play vs. Cardinals

He originally was going to miss the game between the two teams on December 8.

After hearing appeals of the suspensions of multiple players involved with the fight near the end of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Brown last Thursday. The suspensions of Browns DE Myles Garrett and DT Larry Ogunjobi were upheld and the suspension of Steelers offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey was reduced, the league announced.

Pouncey was originally suspended three games and would have missed the game against the Arizona Cardinals on December 8.

With the appeal, his final missed game will be the rematch between the Steelers and Browns, and he will suit up against the Cardinals.

The Cardinals play the Steelers and Browns on consecutive Sundays. They were going to avoid both Pouncey and Garrett. Instead, they will face a full Steelers squad and then the Browns without their top pass rusher.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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Just haw bad is the Cardinals defense in 2019?

We break down the Cardinals defense, looking at the different numbers and where they rank in the NFL this season.

The Arizona Cardinals have struggled on defense for most of the season, leading to their 3-7-1 record. The offense has come off the field six times later in the fourth quarter or in overtime with a lead. The defense gave up game-tying or game-winning score.

How bad is the defense? Does it do anything well?

Let’s take a look at the different phases of the defense, what the numbers are and where they rank.

Overall defense::Downs::Passing defense::Rush defense

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Cardinals have top-10 QB situation because of Kyler Murray

However, Nick Foles and Josh Allen are ranked above him.

It is safe to say that the Arizona Cardinals are pleased with their situation at quarterback. Rookie quarterback Kyler Murray has been great and he is beginning to get recognized by those outside of the Cardinals’ local market.

In a recent ranking of the quarterback situations for all 32 NFL teams by Touchdown Wire’s Pat Yasinkas, the Cardinals are in the top 10.

They come in at No. 9 with Murray.

New coach Kliff Kingsbury and the front office were so infatuated with Kyler Murray that they made an unusual move. They drafted Murray with the No. 1 overall selection just one year after picking Josh Rosen at No. 10. Soon after they picked Murray, they traded Rosen to Miami. Although the Cardinals have only three wins, the move is looking like a smart one. Murray has thrown for 2,703 yards and 14 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also has rushed for 418 yards and three touchdowns. Like any rookie, Murray has committed mistakes, but he hasn’t looked overwhelmed by his adjustment to the NFL. “He’ll be fine. They just need to put a better team around him,” one panelist said.

Of course, there are some situations ahead of the Cardinals that seem questionable.

The Buffalo Bills with Josh Allen are ranked ahead of the Cardinals, even though Murray looks like much better a quarterback, even in Year 1. The Atlanta Falcons with a 34-year-old Matt Ryan are ranked fifth. The Jacksonville Jaguars with Nick Foles are ranked seventh.

There is no doubt that the Cardinals will be exciting to watch over the next several years, and the battles that should take place in the NFC West with quarterbacks like Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo and Jared Goff will be fun.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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Cardinals bring back LB Tanner Vallejo to practice squad

He was released last week by the Washington Redskins.

The Arizona Cardinals players are off for the rest of the week but the front office has made a move on the practice squad. On Wednesday the team announced that linebacker Tanner Vallejo was signed to the practice squad.

Vallejo spent the offseason and the preseason with the team after being acquired via waivers. He was cut before the season began and claimed by the Washington Redskins.

He appeared in nine games for the Redskins before being released last week.

To make room for Vallejo, the Cardinals released offensive lineman Ian Silberman from the practice squad.

The addition of Vallejo gives the Cardinals six inside linebackers between the active roster and practice squad. This move could be because there is an injury at the position that could affect practice time or simply they wanted Vallejo back but didn’t have room for him at the start of the season.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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Cardinals RT Justin Murray honored by PFF for play vs. 49ers

He did not allow even a single pressure against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Arizona Cardinals got right tackle Justin Murray back in the starting lineup on Sunday after two games being out with an injured knee. There didn’t appear to be any rust.

In his return to the lineup, he earned a spot on Pro Football Focus’ team of the week for Week 11.

Murray graded out solidly.

Murray allowed zero pressures across his 42 pass-blocking snaps en route to an 85.2 pass-blocking grade on Sunday.

He mostly had to block Arik Armstead.

Murray has been a surprising success this season. Acquired via a waiver claim and playing on his sixth team in four seasons, he was expected to be a backup. However, he was forced into action as a starter because of Marcus Gilbert’s torn ACL and has been solid.

If he stacks a few games like this, he might find himself with the team in 2020 and beyond.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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