Tag: james conner

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.

 

Cardinals RB James Conner gets 2-year extension

The Cardinals avoided losing James Conner in free agency and have signed him through 2026.

The Arizona Cardinals are committing another two years to running back James Conner. The team announced he signed a two-year contract extension that keeps him under contract through the 2026 season.

Conner was scheduled to be a free agent after this season.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the extension is worth $19 million.

Conner is in his fourth season with the team. This season, he has 705 rushing yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt. He has also caught 29 passes for 288 yards.

This comes after rushing for a career-high 1,040 yards in 2023 despite missing four games.

Conner will turn 30 in May so this contract keeps him with the team through his age 31 season.

He has 3,279 rushing yards since joining the Cardinals, which is 10th on the franchise’s all-time list. As things stand right now, he needs only 1,370 rushing yards to tie Stump Mitchell for No. 2 on the franchise all-time list, something that he should achieve if he remains healthy.

We will update you with financial details of the extension in the days to come.

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.

 

Highlighting the offensive struggles of Cardinals, Kyler Murray vs. Seahawks

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray seemed to be stuck in neutral in Sunday’s 16-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Did the bye leave him rusty?

Quarterback Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals offense seemed to be stuck in neutral in Sunday’s 16-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12. Producing just six points on 56 total plays on offense was rather disappointing, especially after the team averaged 26.2 points per game over its four-game winning streak before the bye week.



Murray finished Week 12 completing 24-of-37 pass attempts for 285 yards. Murray was also sacked five times for a net loss of 36 yards. Punter Blake Gillikin’s left leg is probably ringing from the six punts he was forced to kick this past Sunday thanks to inadequacies in the team’s offense.

While Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald is renowned as a pass-rushing mastermind, Murray’s incoherence was vividly apparent in Sunday’s loss. The raving Seahawks fans, mixed in with the shell coverage deception of the Seahawks’ defense and Murray’s lax demeanor, left Cardinals fans scratching their heads at the struggles. Additionally, the Cardinals had just 14 rushing attempts, a severe decline from their 34 rush attempts on Nov. 3 and 26 rush attempts on Oct. 27.

Murray’s crucial third-quarter interception throw made the Cardinals’ offensive struggles most indicative. At 6-5, the margin for error has become even slimmer for the Cardinals in the NFC West. Hopefully, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing will reflect on this outing and assess some All-22 film to better prepare for the Seahawks and their rematch on Dec. 8 at State Farm Stadium.

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.

 

This key stat stands out in Kyler Murray’s success with 1st-place Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has elitism that is represented by one key 2024 NFL passing statistic.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has undoubtedly had his career edified by head coach Jonathan Gannon this NFL season. Murray’s elitism is represented by one key statistic keeping the offense on schedule.

Murray ranks No. 6 among NFL quarterbacks with a completion percentage of 69.2%. For perspective, sitting ahead of Murray at No. 5 in this category is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. That is great company.

Murray has just 2,058 total yards passing through Week 10, so it is clear that Gannon isn’t expecting Murray to be a high-volume guy. Instead, Gannon has used Murray’s rhythmic play style to an advantage, sequencing in QB running plays and RPO to give Murray easy reads in the pass game.

At State Farm Stadium this past Sunday, Murray ignited a 17-0 Cardinals’ scoring run when he threw a precision touchdown pass to wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in the second quarter.

Ultimately, as long as Gannon continues to establish the running game, he can bait defenses into playing man coverage where opponents will be susceptible to both the athleticism of the Cardinals skills players, and impeccable throwing accuracy of Murray.

 

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 HC Jonathan Gannon is on a mission to win the NFC West

Arizona Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon has ignited a passion within the team locker room, one that might yield them the NFC West in 2024.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has ignited both a change in locker room enthusiasm and team identity in his first year. Having coached in and around the NFL for nearly two decades, Gannon has Cardinals’ fans hoping for a playoff berth in 2024.



There was evidently an intangible void needed to be filled by new leadership for the Cardinals franchise. Before Gannon, quarterback Kyler Murray wasn’t being optimized, often forced to run fancy RPO schemes under former coach Kliff Kingsbury. The most noticeable change for Gannon is his strategy to put Murray under center, using 13 personnel to neutralize the opponent’s pass defense, and create play-action opportunities in the pass game.

There is also a growing physicality on the defensive side of the ball for the Cardinals. Having recorded six sacks in Week 9, Gannon and Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis are producing a swarming presence through various shell coverages and blitz schemes. 

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The New York Jets will need to study long and hard to assure their past protection can handle the Cardinals blitz in week 10. Gannon however has his eyes set on advancing to 6-4 and furthering the momentum owner Michael Bidwell knew he could inspire when he hired him.

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.

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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.

 

James Conner moves up in Cardinals’ all-time rushing list

Conner is now in 10th place on the Cardinals’ all-time list for career rushing yards.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner did not have his best performance on Sunday, but he was one of the key protagonists in the team’s 28-27 upset road win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in Week 8.

He rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts.

His 53 yards moved him up in the Cardinals’ records books.

He moved into the top 10 of career rushing yards in franchise history.

With his 53 yards, he now has 3,131 rushing yards as a member of the Cardinals, passing David Johnson for 10th place.

Johnson’s 3,128 career rushing yards for the Cardinals came in 62 games.

Conner has 3,131 in 49 games.

He is 200 yards behind Ollie Matson for ninth place and 244 yards behind Wayne Morris.

Conner has 557 rushing yards through eight games. Averaging 69.6 yards per game, he is on pace for 626 more yards. That would get him to 3,757 career rushing yards for the Cardinals and would put him in fourth place on the all-time list. Jim Otis is in third place with 3,863 yards.

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.

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Will Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry’s success change how RBs are viewed in free agency?

Will Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry’s success change how the running back position is viewed in free agency?

Five of the NFL’s top ten leading rushers in 2024 were on different teams in 2023, and three of those players, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs, were vocal about running backs getting the short end of the stick when it comes to contracts, and a fair pay scale for the position.

Before this season, only Christian McCaffrey ($19M) and Alvin Kamara ($15M) were the outliers for massive contracts for running backs. Since then, Jonathan Taylor scored a deal for $14 million per season, while Barkley ($12.5M) and Jacobs ($12M) have proven the doubters the wrong on dishing out considerable contracts to running backs.

Ahead of the Week 8 matchup against the Bengals, Barkley was asked if his and Derrick Henry’s success this season can change how the position is viewed in free agency and when new deals are discussed.

Barkley is among the top five in rushing yards, while Henry is on pace to shatter the league’s single-season rushing record. Joe Mixon, David Montgomery, and Aaron Jones flourish with new teams or deals.

James Conner (Cardinals), Jones, Najee Harris, Nick Chubb, J.K. Dobbins, and Chuba Hubbard are among the big names who’ll test free agency, and this new theory that dual-threat running backs deserve to be paid like their counterparts at wide receiver.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray needs to be mistake-free vs. Dolphins

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will have his hands full attacking the Miami Dolphins’ pass defense in Week 8.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will need to beware of the Miami Dolphins’ pass defense at Hard Rock Stadium Sunday.

Defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Jordan Poyer have done due diligence, keeping the Dolphins’ defense intact despite the injury to quarterback Tua Tagivoloa and defensive back Xavien Howard. Amongst NFL teams, the Dolphins actually rank No. 1 in opponent pass yards allowed per game.

However, the Dolphins haven’t been nearly as strong versus the run. The Tennessee Titans had a time of possession of 34:22 versus the Dolphins in week seven and rushed the ball for 142 yards.

With this, the Cardinals cannot fall into the thrill of trying to pass the ball at high volumes versus the Dolphins defense. With Tagovailoa back in the lineup, it is expected that the Dolphins will be just as effective as they were before his concussion.

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To counter the Dolphins’ attack, the Cardinals may sequence in some run-option and give increased touches to running back James Conner. Sustaining offensive drives will be key on the road for the Cardinals and they cannot get off to a slow start if they want to win this 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.

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