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After looking at the snap counts for the Cardinals, there a few things that surprised us. Check out what it was.
We took a look at the offensive and defensive snap counts for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. Among the 69 offensive snaps and 64 defensive snaps against the Tennessee Titans, there were some surprises.
We go over them below.
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Kliff Kingsbury said the team is confident in Alford, Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson as starters at corner entering the season opener.
The Arizona Cardinals suffered a blow to their defensive backfield with the sudden retirement of cornerback Malcolm Butler. However, the Cardinals still believe they are in a good spot.
Now that cornerback Robert Alford has returned from the COVID reserve, head coach Kliff Kingsbury feels good about the guys who will take the field in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.
“I think we have three guys we feel really comfortable starting at outside corner,” Kingsbury told reporters Wednesday.
At the time, he had Byron Murphy, rookie Marco Wilson and recently acquired Luq Barcoo practicing with the starters.
While Kingsbury likes Barcoo, he was not one of the three players. Those players are Murphy, Wilson and Alford. At that time, though, Alford was still on the COVID list. He was activated from it on Friday, so the starters look set.
All offseason, throughout training camp and in the limited time the starters played, it was Murphy and Alford starting in base defenses. That will be the case still in Week 1. When they need three cornerbacks, Wilson, the Cardinals’ fourth-round pick, will come in and play outside while Murphy slides inside to the slot.
Wilson impressed in camp and in the preseason, which has the Cardinals excited and confident about him being in the lineup despite being a rookie.
This will be about as tough a test the Cardinals will face. The Titans had one of the league’s best offenses in 2020 and receivers Julio Jones and A.J. Brown are among the best in the league.
“We’re very confident in Alford, B-Murph and Marco and what we’ve seen from them,” Kingsbury said.
That confidence will be tested in nine days.
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Malcolm Butler is on the retired list right now. What is next for the Cardinals at cornerback?
The Arizona Cardinals find themselves in a bit of a bind at cornerback as rosters were cut down to 53 players. Projected starter Malcolm Butler is dealing with some personal issues and has, as of now, retired from the NFL. The team placed him on the retirement list Tuesday as part of the moves to trim their roster.
As things stand, they have only four cornerbacks on the roster, plus Robert Alford, who is currently on the COVID list.
Butler could potentially unretire and rejoin the team, but we can’t count on that for right now.
The Cardinals have some options to address the position.
Here are some possibilities to replace Butler.
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These players either helped or hurt their cases to make the final roster.
The Arizona Cardinals got their first action of the preseason Friday night and many young players got their first extended action since entering the NFL, as there was no preseason in 2020.
The Cardinals defeated the Dallas Cowboys 19-16 at State Farm Stadium Friday night, thanks to two Matt Prater field goals in the final two minutes, including a 47-yard kick as time expired.
But the preseason is more about individual performances than the team results, especially for those players battling for a spot on the final 53-man roster.
Below are some players whose stock rose and fell based on their performance Friday night.
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Rookie CB Marco Wilson, who has been learning both outside and inside corner, is looking to Byron Murphy early in his NFL career.
The Arizona Cardinals are very high on the talent of rookie cornerback Marco Wilson. They believe he will be the steal of their draft class. Wilson might not play much on defense early but has learned a lot so far and has a veteran teammate taking him under his wings.
Wilson told Justin Melo in an interview for Cards Wire that he is learning a lot from third-year cornerback Byron Murphy.
“I’ve really leaned on and taken the time to learn from Byron Murphy,” Wilson said. “He’s taken me under his wing and has been very helpful with my transition to the league so far. I’m thankful to call him a friend.”
Murphy is a very good player to gravitate toward. The Cardinals drafted him in the second round in 2019 but had him rated the fifth overall player on their draft board.
They have high hopes for him in 2020 and he and Wilson both have versatile roles. Murphy is their slot cornerback but will also play outside this season.
That is what Wilson did in offseason work.
“I’ve spent time both at outside cornerback and at the nickel back spot as well,” he said. “I’m a versatile guy that can move around and play multiple roles on defense. I’m happy that they’re trusting me enough to learn both positions.”
Murphy struggled as a rookie when he was forced into playing right away. He improved in Year 2 and now is poised to be perhaps their best cornerback.
That is something Wilson can watch.
Unlike Murphy, he likely won’t be asked to play much as a rookie unless there are dire circumstances like there were in 2019 for Murphy when Patrick Peterson was suspended for six games and Robert Alford broke his leg in training camp.
But he can see how a player who works extremely hard can ascend as a player.
Wilson is learning that everything about the NFL is serious.
“I have learned that the NFL is a business first and foremost. You have to take every aspect of it seriously. It’s all so important, especially when it comes to taking care of your body,” he said.
If Wilson does develop into a solid player, the Cardinals could end up with a pair of talented, versatile cornerbacks on the field, able to cover any receiver, inside or outside.
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Rookie CB Marco Wilson, who has been learning both outside and inside corner, is looking to Byron Murphy early in his NFL career.
The Arizona Cardinals are very high on the talent of rookie cornerback Marco Wilson. They believe he will be the steal of their draft class. Wilson might not play much on defense early but has learned a lot so far and has a veteran teammate taking him under his wings.
Wilson told Justin Melo in an interview for Cards Wire that he is learning a lot from third-year cornerback Byron Murphy.
“I’ve really leaned on and taken the time to learn from Byron Murphy,” Wilson said. “He’s taken me under his wing and has been very helpful with my transition to the league so far. I’m thankful to call him a friend.”
Murphy is a very good player to gravitate toward. The Cardinals drafted him in the second round in 2019 but had him rated the fifth overall player on their draft board.
They have high hopes for him in 2020 and he and Wilson both have versatile roles. Murphy is their slot cornerback but will also play outside this season.
That is what Wilson did in offseason work.
“I’ve spent time both at outside cornerback and at the nickel back spot as well,” he said. “I’m a versatile guy that can move around and play multiple roles on defense. I’m happy that they’re trusting me enough to learn both positions.”
Murphy struggled as a rookie when he was forced into playing right away. He improved in Year 2 and now is poised to be perhaps their best cornerback.
That is something Wilson can watch.
Unlike Murphy, he likely won’t be asked to play much as a rookie unless there are dire circumstances like there were in 2019 for Murphy when Patrick Peterson was suspended for six games and Robert Alford broke his leg in training camp.
But he can see how a player who works extremely hard can ascend as a player.
Wilson is learning that everything about the NFL is serious.
“I have learned that the NFL is a business first and foremost. You have to take every aspect of it seriously. It’s all so important, especially when it comes to taking care of your body,” he said.
If Wilson does develop into a solid player, the Cardinals could end up with a pair of talented, versatile cornerbacks on the field, able to cover any receiver, inside or outside.
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Justin Melo sat down and interviewed Arizona Cardinals rookie CB Marco Wilson. Check out what he had to say.
Cornerback Marco Wilson was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. They traded up to be able to select him.
He has completed the offseason program with the team, having participated in rookie camp, OTAs and minicamp.
He now prepares for training camp, which starts at the end of the month, and his rookie season.
Justin Melo sat down with Wilson and discussed his rookie experience, the Supreme Court ruling on NIL for amateur athletes and his new relationship with XSET off the field.
Check out what he had to say below.
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The Arizona Cardinals have three draft picks under contract. Four remain unsigned.
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The Arizona Cardinals have signed three of their seven 2021 draft picks. The team announced that three Day 3 picks — cornerback Marco Wilson, safety James Wiggins and center Michal Menet.
Each signed a four-year contract.
Wiggins and Menet were the Cardinals’ two seventh-round selections. Wilson was selected in the fourth round.
Here are their bios from the team’s press release:
Wilson (6-0, 191) played 36 games (35 starts) during his career at Florida and had three interceptions, 20 passes defensed and 103 tackles. He started nine games last season for the Gators and had 33 tackles, four passes defensed and a fumble recovery while helping Florida to an appearance in the SEC Championship game. Wilson started 11 games as a true freshman in 2017 and had a team-high 10 passes defensed, becoming one of just four players in program history to start at cornerback as a freshman in a season-opener. A Fort Lauderdale, FL native, Wilson set career-highs in 2019 with 36 tackles and three interceptions after missing the 2018 season with a knee injury.
Wiggins (5-11, 209) was a second-team All-American, semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and a first-team All-AAC selection in 2020 after collecting 32 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one sack in nine games for Cincinnati. He returned to the field last season after missing all of the 2019 season with a knee injury. A Miami, FL native, Wiggins was a second-team All-AAC selection in 2018 after setting career-highs in tackles (54), interceptions (four) and passes defensed (nine). He finished his collegiate career with 87 tackles (61 solo), five interceptions, two forced fumbles, 16 passes defensed and one sack in 32 games (22 starts) with the Bearcats.
Menet (MEN-et) (6-4, 301) was a three-year starter at center and two-time team captain at Penn State who finished his college career by starting in each of the final 34 games he appeared in. As a senior in 2020, Menet was a third-team All-Big Ten selection after starting nine games at center, helping the Nittany Lions finish second in the Big Ten in total offense (430.3 ypg). A Birdsboro, PA native, Menet received honorable mention all-conference honors in 2019 and won the Dick Maginnis Memorial Award at the team’s most outstanding offensive lineman following that season. He finished his career at Penn State by playing in 46 games (34 starts).
With these three signed, four draft picks remain unsigned — first-round pick Zaven Collins, second-round pick Rondale Moore and sixth-round picks Tay Gowan and Victor Dimukeje.
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He described Malcolm Butler and the rest of the notable players to be in the mix this year.
The Arizona Cardinals have a different group of cornerbacks on the team in 2021. Patrick Peterson, Kevin Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick all are no longer on the team. They signed Malcolm Butler, brought back Robert Alford and drafted Marco Wilson and Tay Gowan.
Appearing on the team’s weekly radio show, the Big Red Rage, cornerbacks coach Greg Williams commented on the rookies they added and also about the veterans on the roster.
Read on to find out what he had to say about them.
Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks coach Greg Williams talked about the team’s fourth-round selection.
The Arizona Cardinals are very excited about their fourth-round pick, cornerback Marco Wilson. General manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury called him the biggest steal of their draft class.
With a Day 3 pick, they see a potential starter who can play both outside and inside, something that is getting harder to find now.
They believe he has a very high ceiling but needs to shore some things up.
Arizona’s cornerbacks coach, Greg Williams, appeared on the Big Red Rage and discussed what he sees in Wilson.
“We thought right away, V.J. (defensive coordinator Vance Joseph), myself and (defensive backs coach) Marcus Robertson, as we watched him, we knew he had talent,” Williams explained. “He had the skillset just like some of the elite corners that went early in the draft.”
So what is Wilson lacking?
“It’s just a matter of getting consistent and we think he has that in him.”
Wilson recognizes this as well.
“I feel like I do a lot of things great and I’m hoping that these coaches here can find the things I don’t do as well and I can focus on those things so I can ven the best cornerback I can be,” he told reporters last week.
He is glad where he landed.
“The most important part was getting in the right system for me and getting around the right coaching,” he said. “That’s exactly what I got here at Arizona, so I’m super happy about it.”
Wilson could end up being a starter or rotational player as a rookie. That almost always brings growing pains.
But Wilson has the size, the strength and the elite athleticism you want in a cornerback. He played in the SEC and faced top competition. He was only the fourth freshman cornerback to start opening weekend.
He has torn two ACLs but has bounced back from them and still is one of the most athletic players from the draft.
He also comes with the requisite confidence for a cornerback.
“Marco is going to come in and I don’t believe it’s going to be too big for him at all,” Williams said. “He’s got a nice, quiet confidence in himself.”
Williams was with the Indianapolis Colts when they drafted Wilson’s brother, Quincy. Williams is still friends with him. He knows the work ethic and the family.
If the coaching sticks and Wilson’s inconsistencies are ironed out, Arizona could have a gem of a draft pick.
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