Tag: Drew Petzing

OC Drew Petzing seems to be staying put with Cardinals as Bears hire Ben Johnson as HC

The coaching staff appears to be remaining the same for the Cardinals in 2025.

The Arizona Cardinals have not announced any changes to their coaching staff and it doesn’t appear that any of significance is coming. After offensive coordinator Drew Petzing interviewed for the vacancy as head coach for the Chicago Bears, that job is now filled.

The Bears announced that former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is their new head coach.

With the move, Petzing doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.

In 2024, with Petzing as offensive coordinator, the Cardinals had a top-10 rushing offense (No. 7 overall), improved from 23rd in the league in total offense to 11th, from 28th to 14th in points scored and from 26th to 18th in passing offense.

We shall see if he can continue leading the offense to improvements in 2025.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals OC Drew Petzing interviewing for Bears vacant head coaching job Wednesday

Cardinals OC Drew Petzing is interviewing for the Bears’ vacant head coaching position on Wednesday.

The Chicago Bears are searching for a new head coach and have a number of candidates. One of their first candidates is Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears have Petzing coming in Wednesday evening.

Petzing has been the Cardinals’ OC for the past two seasons. He has previously coached quarterbacks, tight ends, receivers and outside line backers in stints with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings.

Arizona’s offense ranked 11th overall in 2024 for yards and 12th in scoring. They were seventh in the league in rushing and 18th in passing.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Jonathan Gannon unsurprised by Drew Petzing getting head coaching interest

The Bears want to interview Petzing, who has been the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator for two years.

The Arizona Cardinals could see some turnover on their coaching staff as the Chicago Bears have requested to interview offensive coordinator Drew Petzing for their vacant head coaching job. While many fans are frustrated with how Petzing did his job this past season, head coach Jonathan Gannon  could see this coming.

He is “not at all” surprised Petzing is getting interest. “I’m excited for Drew,” he said. “The people who know, know.”

Gannon believes Petzing will be a good head coach.

“The first thing is he knows how to teach,” he said. “He’s got really good command. He can get the best out of people. He’s extremely intelligent. I think he knows what’s going on, and he’s had some good experiences around a lot of good guys. I’m probably not one of them, but he’s been trained the right way. He is intelligent, and he’s got a growth mindset. He knows where he’s really strong and where he needs help, and I think he’d do a really good job.”

Petzing is one of a long list of candidates the Bears are considering and he is not considered a favorite, but Gannon is prepared for the possibility of Petzing leaving.

“The day I got here, I was thinking of future successors,” he explained. “You have to constantly. I try to live in the present, but the role that I’m in now we have really good people. We have multiple guys on that staff, in my opinion, that are going to be head coaches. In my seat, you better be thinking about that and have some answers.”

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Bears seek interview with Cardinals OC Drew Petzing for vacant head coaching job

The Bears are looking for a head coach. They have requested to interview Cardinals OC Drew Petzing.

The season is over for the Arizona Cardinals and now we must wait to see if there will be changes with the coaching staff. One coach on the staff has garnered interest for a head coaching job.

According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Chicago Bears have requested an interview with Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

Petzing has been the Cardinals’ OC for two years, his first two years at the position. Previously, he coached quarterbacks and tight ends for the Cleveland Browns.

Under Petzing this season, they were 11th in total offense and 15th in scoring. They were seventh in rushing and 18th in passing.

The Bears see his work with Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray as perhaps a model for Caleb Williams, who finished his rookie season with the Bears.

The request is a formality, as he is under contract currently, but because it is for a head coaching job, the Cardinals cannot stop him from interviewing.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has to stop trying to play miracle ball

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has regressed some and his team needs his best if they still want to win the NFC West in 2024.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has regressed some in his decision-making ability and it has cost his team the division lead heading into NFL Week 14. Luckily, Murray and the Cardinals will have a chance to redeem themselves versus the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday.

Two costly interceptions, an excessive 45 pass attempts and red zone struggles versus the Minnesota Vikings are an indication that the Cardinals offense has been uncharacteristic. Murray isn’t committing to his first reads in the pass game, holding the ball entirely too long in the pocket, and hoping to create miracles on broken plays.

Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing needs to pump the brake with his approach and get back to the ground game with running back James Conner more frequently. Petzing’s overuse of Murray was senseless, as the Cardinals held a 19-6 lead in the third quarter, meaning that Murray’s meltdown was an act of impulse rather than necessity.

Murray had the luxury of 77 total plays and the offense pretty much dictated the game in Week 13. Yet it was Murray’s two absurd interceptions that deflated a very optimal Cardinals push in Minnesota.

If the Cardinals and Murray want to actually win the NFC West, they need to revert back to playing fundamental football, not reaching for aimless miracles by being excessive in the pass game. 

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

James Conner must be used more in Week 13 vs. Vikings

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner is a beast so OC Drew Petzing must avoid the error of limiting his carries in NFL Week 13.

The Arizona Cardinals were not themselves in Week 12. Not only did the team have countless errors last week in their 16-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, running back James Conner only had seven carries, and that has not been a recipe for team success in 2024.



Over the four-game winning streak that was snapped last weekend, Conner averaged 17 carries per game, recorded two 100-yard games and had two touchdowns. Yet, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing found a way to alienate Conner from the game plan in their very important Week 12 matchup.

Against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13,  Petzing needs to rely on Conner to keep the Vikings offense on the sideline. Running the ball and sustaining offensive drives will help the Cardinals to dictate the pace of the game and prevent the game from turning into an offensive shootout.

Ultimately, it’s not that Conner can’t occupy as a asset with lesser usage but his play style helps to balance out the teams’ passing attack. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores will likely blitz Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray so Petzing would be wise to run the ball to play on the attrition of the Vikings defense. Allowing Conner’s physicality to weigh on the Vikings might be pivotal down the stretch of this contest.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Bears caught cold feet trying to catch Cardinals RB James Conner

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner continues to thrive under new head coach Jonathan Gannon and OC Drew Petzing.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner shredded the Chicago Bears defense for 107 rushing yards on just 18 carries yesterday at State Farm Stadium in a 29-9 win.

Thanks to head coach Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals have a new commitment to running the ball, a commitment that has dynamically impacted their potency on offense.

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Through Week 9, Conner ranks No. 6 in the NFL in both carries and rushing yards. His durability has been essential to the team and it’s almost as if Conner becomes more powerful as the game progresses. Conner wasn’t the lone carrier in the Cardinals’ run attack Sunday as rookie running back Trey Benson and Emari Demercado both scored touchdowns and handled a few carries as well.

With Gannon’s run-first offensive identity, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing can rely on Conner to set the tone while he simultaneously accesses film to identify potential coverage voids for the team to attack in play-action.

Ultimately, the Cardinals have found their niche on offense, using physicality and larger personnel groups to create advantages for Conner at the line of scrimmage. Thanks to Conner, the Cardinals now have their eyes set on winning the NFC West midway through 2024.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

When Cardinals RB James Conner puts on his spikes, things get spooky

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner sets a physical tone on offense setting up for QB Kyler Murray in the play-action pass game.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner ranks No. 8 in the NFL in total rushing yards (554) and No. 7 in total carries (129). His downhill running ability is a scary sight for undersized defensive backs at the second and third level.

The NFC West is wide open with the spooky Cardinals currently in first place heading into Week 9. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has relied on Conner to set a physical tone on offense, while offensive coordinator Drew Petzing treats himself to a plethora of plays to trick the defense in play-action. 

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In three of the Cardinals’ four wins this season, Conner has recorded runs of 14 yards or more. While this may seem insignificant, his ability to gash the defense for first downs makes the play-action strategy extremely effective for quarterback Kyler Murray.

With the exception of San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner, few second-level defenders can both account for Conner and cover tight end Trey McBride in play-action situations.

Furthermore, it will always be a haunting sight to see Conner coming downhill because opponents know that his effectiveness single-handedly ignites the spooky potential of Petzing’s playbook.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals RB James Conner shook the socks off the Chargers

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner had chunk plays as both a receiver and rusher to lift his team over the Los Angeles Chargers in week 7.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner totaled 152 scrimmage yards in Monday’s 17-15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Credit Conner’s 33-yard fourth-quarter reception with 1:45 to go as the game-defining moment that led to kicker Chad Ryland’s game-winning 32-yard field goal as time expired.  

Moreover, Conner’s physicality and tenacity continue to overwhelm opponents, allowing the Cardinals to outlast competitors in close games. 101 of Conner’s 152 total yards came on the ground through 19 carries, an indicator that the team is prioritizing the run game.

Conner’s chunk plays as both a receiver and rusher is helping offensive coordinator Drew Petzing execute his very versatile strategy.

With Petzing operating under the leadership of head coach Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals’ fans have seen a change in team identity, a transition from finesse to force on offense and it all starts with the power running game with Conner.

Conner’s week seven success has caused the Chargers to drop to No. 9 in the NFL in opponent rush yards allowed per game. Tallying the win column was absolutely vital for the Cardinals this week, and Conner deserves credit.

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Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Statistical Breakdown: How the Chargers and Cardinals stack up before Week 7 game

Here’s how the Chargers and Cardinals stack up statistically ahead of Monday’s matchup.

The Chargers and Cardinals are set to square off this upcoming Monday.

Here’s how Los Angeles and Arizona stack up statistically ahead of the Week 7 matchup:

Offense

Category Chargers Cardinals
Points per game 18.2 ppg (26th) 22.2 (17th)
Passing offense 153.2 ypg (29th) 187.0 (24th)
Rushing offense 127.8 ypg (10th) 145.2 (7th)
Total offense 281.0 ypg (28th) 332.2 (15th)
3rd down conversions 42.47% (10th) 40.63% (15th)
Red zone scoring 41.67% (28th) 58.82% (13th)
Sacks allowed 12 (11th) 11 (10th)
Turnovers 2 (1st) 8 (24th)

Defense

Category Chargers Cardinals
Points allowed 13.2 ppg (1st) 27.2 (27th)
Passing defense 192.0 ypg (8th) 220.3 (22nd)
Rushing defense 97.2 ypg (6th) 153.0 (29th)
Total defense 289.2 ypg (6th) 373.3 (28th)
3rd down conversions 37.31% (18th) 49.25% (32nd)
Red zone defense 44.44% (2nd) 53.85% (18th)
Sacks 13 (11th) 11 (T-16th)
Takeaways 9 (10th) 8 (12th)