Tag: Jonathan Gannon

What Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said on Patriots QB Drake Maye

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon commented on Drake Maye ahead of the Week 15 matchup

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon had high praise for New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye, as the two teams get set to face off on Sunday afternoon.

Maye has looked every bit as good as the Patriots hoped when they spent the No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft on him. There’s hope that he’ll  have another strong outing against the Cardinals to help the Patriots bounce back from their 25-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13.

Despite the loss, Maye had an efficient game by going 24-of-30 passing for 235 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Nevertheless, the Patriots defense failed to fend off an 80-yard game-winning touchdown drive by quarterback Anthony Richardson and the Colts offense in the end.

“I think he’s grown since he’s been playing,” Gannon told media members on Friday. “I think he’s playing probably his best ball right now probably just because of the experience. So definitely his skill set jumps out. You can see why he was taken so high [in the draft]. He’s a good player, he’s ascending.”

It remains to be seen how Maye fares in the Week 15 matchup against the Cardinals. He’ll be looking to finish strong with only four regular season games left on the schedule.

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Kyler Murray’s turnovers have to hurt Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray will need to take better care of the football to salvage the 2024 season.

Even when Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing script the perfect game plan, they can’t possibly weigh in the chances of quarterback Kyler Murray turning the ball over on consecutive throws at the most inopportune times.



Murray singlehandedly surrendered the game momentum in the 30-18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday afternoon, tossing two crucial interceptions in the first quarter after the Cardinals gained a 7-3 lead. Murray has now thrown five interceptions in the last three games, a strong bullet point to reference regarding the team’s three-game losing streak.



Ramifications will only heighten for the Cardinals, who have now dropped to the third place in the NFC West. Murray must adapt a patient mindset and avoid searching for miracle plays that are highly improbable versus high-caliber opponents. Gannon has to ponder, how might have things gone over this three-game skid had Murray not thrown those interceptions? Ultimately, Gannon must avoid meditating on the self-sabotage, it will only depress him more. Instead, Gannon should use his expertise to redirect Murray in hopes that the Cardinals will slip into the 2024 playoffs.

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.

 

Several Cardinals coaches stood out during their time with the Vikings

Seven coaches on the Cardinals’ staff spent time with the Vikings.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for several Arizona Cardinals coaches, including head man Jonathan Gannon, who will be in Minneapolis to play the Vikings, a place where many developed their stripes when Mike Zimmer was the head coach.

These coaches spent time with the Vikings:

  • Gannon: Defensive quality control 2014-2017
  • Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing: 2014-2019; offensive assistant 2014-2015, assistant receivers 2016-2017, quarterbacks 2018, receivers 2019
  • Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis: 2018-2020; defensive quality control 2018-2019; defensive quality control/assistant linebackers 2020
  • Tight ends coach Ben Steele: 2021; assistant offensive line
  • Outside linebackers coach Rob Rodriguez: 2015-2019; assistant defensive line
  • Linebackers coach Sam Siefkes: 2021-2022; defensive quality control 2021; assistant linebackers 2022
  • Head strength and conditioning coach Evan Marcus: head strength and conditioning coach 2014-2015

We know that most head coaches hire assistants they worked with in the past. Gannon reflected on what it was that resonated with him as he wanted staffers who had capacity and character and could teach.

“When I was in Minnesota, I was there for four years,” he said. “That’s the longest I’ve ever been, out of my, however many stops. Seven stops I think. For four years and we were good, so I got to work with those guys firsthand. When I got here, (the question was) did they fit what I wanted and what I thought was the best for this team, and a lot of those guys did. You can’t hire everybody, but just being with those guys, learning about them as people first, then seeing them teach, seeing their growth mindset, who they were as coaches and teachers and people first; I knew that was attractive to me.

“Then when I left, two other guys that are on our staff walked into that building after I left. When one of your biggest mentors (Zimmer) says, ‘Hey man, you don’t know this guy, but he’s a lot better than you were,’ you take notice. That’s real, so then you start to develop relationships with those guys too. It’s been cool, but we have quite a bunch that have played in this stadium as their home base. They’ll be excited to get back and it’s always cool.”

Petzing agreed, saying, “It’s cool. I know a lot of people in that organization. I love that city. I love a lot of people that work there and live there. I was there for six years so there’s a certain element of being excited to see certain people. Love that. But at the end of the day, once the 60-minute clock starts, I really probably could care less.”

Asked what he recalls of a younger Gannon and Rodriguez, Petzing said, “I think our love of the game, like that’s where it was fostered. That was my second year in the NFL when I got to that organization. It was the first time I ever met JG. It was Nick’s first job in the NFL when he got there, so it was just, we were in a very similar situation in different roles where we talked a lot of football and spent a lot of time together, probably too much time together talking football working out doing so many things together.

“So, you know, it was a really cool experience. It helped me develop as a person, as a coach tremendously, so I’m really grateful for getting to know those guys and still being with them here today.”

Reflected Rallis, “Phenomenal organization. I owe them a lot. They gave me my first opportunity in the NFL and it’s first class. It’s a very fun place to play too. That stadium is going to be rockin’ and that Skol chant’s going to be going. Nothing like that. There’s nothing like a noon kickoff at the ‘Bank’ (U.S. Bank Stadium), so it’ll be phenomenal. I got great memories. There are great people, people that are still there when I was there that really helped me get to where I’m at today.”

When Rallis was asked if he ever thought they would be on the same team as coordinators together five years later, he said, “I don’t know. But I do remember when I first got there, Drew was phenomenal to me. Really helped me out, kind of showed me the ropes a little bit, but also just talking football with him. Really starting to shape my thought process on certain things. It was very beneficial to be around, not just Drew, but a lot of people that were in that building.”

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 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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