Tag: Jonathan Gannon

Cardinals TE Trey McBride’s size makes him tough to cover

McBride is No. 4 in receptions by tight ends in the NFL as the Cardinals get ready to face the Seahawks.

Arizona Cardinals playmaker Trey McBride ranks No. 4 in receptions among NFL tight ends. It is McBride’s 6-foot-4 and 246-pound frame that makes him very difficult for nickel defenders to guard him in one one-on-one in man coverage.

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McBride is averaging a whopping 11.3 yards per catch and should be credited for quarterback Kyler Murray’s suburb pass completion percentage this season. McBride’s 65 targets are the most on the Cardinals and his sure hands have been a security blanket when his number has been called.

McBride still hasn’t recorded a receiving touchdown this season (he has a rushing touchdown and recovered a fumble for a touchdown), but it’s only a matter of time before he reaches the end zone. With running back James Conner and Murray working exceptionally in the RPO game, the Cardinals have been able to score on the ground so effectively that McBride hasn’t received many red zone targets. However, as opponents increase intel on the Cardinals’ ground attack, head coach Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing will be able to scheme more heavily for McBride down in the red zone.

Stopping McBride will certainly be an area of focus for Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald in Week 12. Time will tell how the Seahawks plan to defend McBride when play-action scenarios arise.

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.

 

Zaven Collins helps Cardinals sack Bears QB Caleb Williams 6 times

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked six times in the Arizona Cardinals’ 29-9 win on Sunday.

The Arizona Cardinals sacked Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams six times in their 29-9 home win on Sunday.  

Now at 5-4, the Cardinals are finding themselves defensively, helping to complement a thriving offensive attack.

Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis has worked in tandem with head coach Jonathan Gannon to produce more quarterback pressures this season, an area the Cardinals have struggled in over the last few years. Well, after producing a high volume of sacks on Sunday, the Cardinals seem to have found something in their defensive playbook.

Rallis is using a scheme that heavily depends on the athleticism of safeties Jalen Thompson and Budda Baker to cover ground. The use of man blitz, and Cover 1 robber schemes, creates tight windows for quarterbacks to throw in while simultaneously lessening the time quarterbacks have to make decisions in the pocket.

Gannon was well prepared to rattle Williams Sunday, a rookie not fully familiar with the shell coverage concepts used in the NFL. Williams felt the pocket collapsing all game long, and with the large deficit on the scoreboard, the one-dimensional Bears offense made it easy for the Cardinals to unleash the pressure.

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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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 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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Cardinals should ride with TE Trey McBride vs. Chargers in NFL week 7

Instead of falling into a panic the Arizona Cardinals should lean on TE Trey McBride to reignite their offense on Monday Night Football.

Instead of falling into a panic, the Arizona Cardinals should lean on tight end Trey McBride to reignite their offense Monday night against the L.A. Chargers.

The Chargers may crowd the line of scrimmage in hopes of stopping running back James Conner so quarterback Kyler Murray may need to soften off their man coverage with the intermediate passing attack.

Murray can look for McBride on three-step drops to keep the Cardinals’ offense in short down and distance or allow McBride’s size to be an asset in the red-zone.

McBride enters Week 7 with 28 catches on 38 just targets, and 271 receiving yards. His reliability has been unquestionable thus far.

Even if McBride doesn’t get a high volume of targets, his ability to soften up the Chargers’ linebackers and safeties by getting chunk plays can open up running lanes for Conner out of the backfield.

If the Cardinals can dictate at the line of scrimmage, they’ll give themselves a solid chance to win this game at home.

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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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)

 

For Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, keeping the main thing the main thing is ‘practice’

“You have to take care of Monday through Saturday up until game time to have a chance to win or you just won’t.”

“We talking about practice.”

–Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers, circa 2002.

It’s been more than 22 years since Iverson went on that memorable infamous rant during a post-season press conference in which he said the word “practice” 22 times.

It had been a rough season for the team, one made even more difficult for Iverson, who experienced the murder of his best friend, Rahsaan Langford. A few days before the presser, the trial began for the man accused of the murder.

76ers head coach Larry Brown often complained publicly about Iverson’s practice habits, so his emotions spilled out when he was asked about it.

In a portion of his answer, Iverson said, “We sitting in here; I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we in here talking about practice. I mean, listen: We talking about practice. Not a game. Not a game. Not a game. We talking about practice. Not a game. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game like it’s my last. Not the game. We talking about practice, man.”

So, you might ask, why is this the lede of a story about the Arizona Cardinals?

It’s simple. Because head coach Jonathan Gannon would likely throw a fit and escort a player out of the building if they ever said anything like that about “practice.”

In fact, on Monday, the day after the remarkable come-from-behind win over the defending NFC champion 49ers, Gannon was asked how proud he was with his team.

Brace yourself.

“Very proud,” Gannon said. “Honestly, you guys are probably going to not like this answer. I’m more proud of the week of practice than the actual game probably. Honestly, I really am. It just shows you the leadership and that you’ve got the right guys in the locker room because (in) the NFL it’s week-to-week. You’re going to go through ups and downs, and you try not to ride the emotional roller coaster, but that’s real in the NFL. The sky’s falling. You’re the best. You’re the worst.

“You have to block that out and you have to maximize the day. I thought that—and I told them this—I thought Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday we maximized the day. On the grass, in the weight room and with our health bucket. They did a really good job because it took all of that to get it done, but they set themselves up to have a chance to win the game. They did that and the challenge is now to do it again.”

As for how critical the overall team response was after the 28-point loss to the Commanders the week before, Gannon said, “Critical because if you don’t have a good week of practice, you’re probably not going to win a game. We are where we are right now. A lot of work to be done, a lot of corrections that need to get done, but if we keep stacking good days, good weeks, keep winning behavior on our mind and do things the right way, the league’s fair.”

He then explained how he evaluates what an excellent practice week looks like.

“The first thing I would look at is energy, how we practice and then the mindfulness of the details of each play and the plan,” Gannon said. “We put a lot on our guys mentally. It’s not easy to play here. We give them a lot of things, not just schematically but I put a lot on those guys — not just offense, defense, special teams — but the global view of the game. Our guys take to that because we show them why it’s important. I expect them to know a lot, and they do. When I ask questions in meetings, I can tell by the response that they’re on it.

“That’s a good thing, so again, you’re trying to behave in a way that’s winning behavior. Our process is kind of the same week to week and then every game is different, but you have to take care of Monday through Saturday up until game time to have a chance to win or you just won’t. I mean that’s just how the NFL is: To even do that a very high level, to even give yourself a chance to win — not to win the game — to even give yourself a chance to win. Our guys understand the correlation between that, and they go out and do it.”

In essence, it’s all about, yes, “practice.”

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.