3-9, 4th NFC West
2018 was a forgettable season for the Arizona Cardinals and that trend will likely continue into this year. After going 3-13, the Cardinals had the #1 overall pick in the draft and took two-star QB, Kyler Murray. He’ll immediately be placed into the starting lineup though relatively little help will be surrounding him. Last year, the Arizona offense ranked last in the league and the defense didn’t fare much better at 26th. Joining Murray will be David Johnson, a serviceable back though nothing close to the breakout 2016 version, and a group of receivers led by Larry Fitzgerald.
Position POS |
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Left Wide Receiver LWR |
Tight End TE |
Slot Wide Receiver SWR |
Right Wide Receiver RWR |
Quarterback QB |
Running Back RB |
Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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Left Wide Receiver LWR |
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Tight End TE |
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Slot Wide Receiver SWR |
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Right Wide Receiver RWR |
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Quarterback QB |
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Running Back RB |
Position POS |
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Left Defensive End LDE |
Nose Tackle NT |
Right Defensive End RDE |
WILL Linebacker WILL |
Middle Linebacker MLB |
Strongside Linebacker SLB |
Left Cornerback LCB |
Strong Safety SS |
Free Safety FS |
Right Cornerback RCB |
Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Left Defensive End LDE |
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Nose Tackle NT |
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Right Defensive End RDE |
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WILL Linebacker WILL |
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Middle Linebacker MLB |
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Strongside Linebacker SLB |
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Left Cornerback LCB |
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Strong Safety SS |
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Free Safety FS |
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Right Cornerback RCB |
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QBs | |
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74
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72
|
|
70
|
Quarterbacks | Stats | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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74
|
QB 1 | 13 | 46 | 457 | 293 | 64.1 | 3060 | 6.7 | 9 | 77 | 448 | 34.5 | 4 | |||
|
72
|
QB 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
|
70
|
QB 3 |
RBs | |
---|---|
|
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|
78
|
|
89
|
|
74
|
|
60
|
|
65
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|
76
|
|
67
|
Running Backs | Stats | Receiving | Rushing | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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78
|
RB 1 | 41.4 | 1 | RB 1 | 41.4 | 1 | 59 | 43 | 295 | 6.9 | 26 | 0 | 112 | 454 | 36 | 1 | 4.1 | 41.3 |
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89
|
RB 2 | 37.9 | 1 | RB 2 | 37.9 | 1 | 46 | 35 | 366 | 10.5 | 31 | 4 | 89 | 336 | 18 | 2 | 3.8 | 30.5 |
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74
|
RB 3 | 20.5 | 0 | RB 3 | 20.5 | 0 | 21 | 12 | 105 | 8.8 | 31 | 1 | 59 | 304 | 37 | 4 | 5.2 | 30.4 |
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60
|
RB 4 | 0 | 0 | RB 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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65
|
RB 5 | RB 5 | ||||||||||||||||
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76
|
RB 6 | RB 6 | ||||||||||||||||
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67
|
RB 7 | RB 7 |
WRs | |
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75
|
|
85
|
|
66
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|
74
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|
72
|
|
68
|
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68
|
|
70
|
|
74
|
|
75
|
Wide Receivers | Stats | Receiving | Rushing | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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75
|
LWR 1 | 61.8 | 87 | 57 | 616 | 70 | 10.8 | 69 | 3 | 6 | 50 | 0 | 8.3 | 5 | ||
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85
|
RWR 2 | 56.7 | 90 | 64 | 669 | 70 | 10.5 | 54 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
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66
|
SWR 3 | 18.4 | 28 | 21 | 188 | 80 | 9 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.2 | ||
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74
|
LWR 4 | 11.8 | 12 | 8 | 185 | 70 | 23.1 | 88 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 5.3 | 1.3 | ||
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72
|
RWR 5 | 45.8 | 31 | 18 | 188 | 60 | 10.4 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
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68
|
SWR 6 | 19.5 | 13 | 4 | 80 | 30 | 20 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
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68
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LWR 7 | |||||||||||||||
|
70
|
RWR 8 | 37.8 | 42 | 21 | 187 | 50 | 8.9 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.3 | ||
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74
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LWR 10 | |||||||||||||||
|
75
|
RWR 11 |
TEs | |
---|---|
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81
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|
77
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|
60
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|
69
|
|
72
|
|
71
|
Tight Ends | Stats | Receiving | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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81
|
TE 1 | 27.2 | 21 | 16 | 203 | 80 | 12.7 | 47 | 1 | ||
|
77
|
TE 2 | 28.2 | 14 | 11 | 139 | 80 | 12.6 | 21 | 1 | ||
|
60
|
TE 3 | 2.5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 50 | 4 | 4 | 0 | ||
|
69
|
TE 4 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 50 | 12.5 | 19 | 0 | ||
|
72
|
TE 5 | ||||||||||
|
71
|
TE 6 |
OL | |
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|
81
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|
70
|
|
72
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|
74
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|
59
|
|
75
|
|
75
|
|
65
|
|
75
|
|
71
|
|
N/A |
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N/A |
|
76
|
|
69
|
Offensive Line | Stats | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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81
|
C 1 | C | 66.7 | |||
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70
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LT 1 | OT | 66.5 | |||
|
72
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LG 1 | G | 66.7 | |||
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74
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RG 1 | G | 64.6 | |||
|
59
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RT 1 | OT | 59.9 | |||
|
75
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RG 2 | G | 1 | |||
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75
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RT 2 | OT | 0.4 | |||
|
65
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C 2 | C | 13.1 | |||
|
75
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RG 3 | G | 0 | |||
|
71
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OL 10 | OT | 27 | |||
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OL 11 | OT | 0 | ||||
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OL 12 | OT | |||||
|
76
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OL 13 | OL | ||||
|
69
|
OL 14 | G |
Team Defense | Rating |
---|---|
Arizona Cardinals Cardinals |
74
|
Team Defense | Rating | Pts Allowed/Game | Yards Allowed/Game | Pass Yards Allowed/Game | Rush Yards Allowed/Game | Sacks | Fumbles | INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona Cardinals | 74
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23.4 | 336.9 | 239.1 | 97.9 | 33 | 8 | 6 |
Special Teams | Rating |
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Arizona Cardinals Cardinals |
0
|
Special Teams | Rating | Kick Return TDs | Punt Return TDs | Field Goal Blocked | Punt Blocked | Extra Point Blocked | TDs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona Cardinals | 0
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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---|---|
|
73
|
|
63
|
|
75
|
|
73
|
|
76
|
|
67
|
|
66
|
|
76
|
|
72
|
|
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|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
73
|
LDE 1 | 26.9 | 14 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
63
|
RDE 1 | 47.8 | 31 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
75
|
NT 1 | 51.8 | 29 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
73
|
NT 2 | 14.2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
76
|
RDE 2 | 10.4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
67
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DL 6 | ||||||
|
66
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DL 7 | ||||||
|
76
|
DL 8 | 35 | 22 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
72
|
DL 9 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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|
---|---|
|
82
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|
79
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|
63
|
|
87
|
|
75
|
|
66
|
|
70
|
|
65
|
|
65
|
|
62
|
|
55
|
|
79
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
82
|
WILL 1 | 50.6 | 37 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
|
79
|
MLB 1 | 73.2 | 120 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
|
63
|
ILB 1 | 28.2 | 41 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
87
|
SLB 1 | 64.3 | 40 | 14.5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
|
75
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ILB 2 | 47.6 | 68 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
66
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MLB 2 | 0 | 8 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
70
|
WILL 2 | 23.5 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
65
|
SLB 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
65
|
MLB 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
62
|
ILB 3 | 1.6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
55
|
LB 11 | ||||||
|
79
|
LB 12 | 8.8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
---|---|
|
|
|
93
|
|
77
|
|
78
|
|
|
|
77
|
|
69
|
|
64
|
|
65
|
|
75
|
|
|
|
68
|
|
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|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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SS 1 | 46.6 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
93
|
LCB 1 | 71.6 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
|
77
|
RCB 1 | 71.2 | 66 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
78
|
FS 1 | 72.6 | 118 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
LCB 2 | 15.4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
77
|
SS 2 | 23.5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
69
|
RCB 2 | 19.8 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
64
|
FS 2 | 1.9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
65
|
RCB 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
75
|
FS 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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DB 11 | |||||||
|
68
|
DB 12 |
Kickers | Rating |
---|---|
|
75
|
|
70
|
Kickers | Rating | Depth Position | Points | Field Goals Made | Field Goal % Made | Long | Extra Points Made | 0-19 FG Attempted/Made | 20-29 FG Attempted/Made | 30-39 FG Attempted/Made | 40-49 FG Attempted/Made | 50+ Attempted/Made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
75
|
K 1 | 104 | 27 | 90 | 54 | 23 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 2 |
|
70
|
K 2 |
Punters | Rating |
---|---|
|
76
|
Punters | Rating | Depth Position |
---|---|---|
|
76
|
P 1 |
Quarterbacks | Stats | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
74
|
QB 1 | 1 | 5 | 30 | 20 | 66.7 | 194 | 6.5 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Running Backs | Stats | Receiving | Rushing | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
78
|
RB 1 | 39 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 18 | 0 | 10 | 30 | 11 | 3 | 37 | 3.4 | 10 | 0 | |||
|
89
|
RB 2 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 24 | 1 | 17 | 34 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 6.3 | 9 | 0 | |||
|
74
|
RB 3 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
WR | |
---|---|
|
|
|
75
|
|
85
|
|
72
|
|
66
|
|
74
|
|
68
|
Wide Receivers | Stats | Receiving | Rushing | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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|
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|
75
|
WR 1 | 58 | 9 | 8 | 85 | 90 | 10.6 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | ||
|
85
|
WR 2 | 55 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 40 | 6.7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
|
72
|
WR 3 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 100 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
|
66
|
WR 4 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 100 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
|
74
|
WR 5 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 100 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
|
68
|
WR 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tight Ends | Stats | Receiving | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
77
|
TE 1 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
|
81
|
TE 2 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 100 | 5 | 5 | 1 | ||
|
60
|
TE 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
OL | |
---|---|
|
|
|
72
|
|
59
|
|
70
|
|
74
|
|
75
|
Offensive Line | Stats | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
||
|
72
|
OL 1 | 60 | ||
|
59
|
OL 2 | 60 | ||
|
70
|
OL 3 | 60 | ||
|
74
|
OL 4 | 36 | ||
|
75
|
OL 5 | 3 |
Game | Score | Starting Lineup | Game | Score | Starting Lineup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week 14: 12/8/19 vs PIT | 17-23 L | Kyler Murray (QB), Kenyan Drake (RB), Christian Kirk (WR1), Larry Fitzgerald (WR2), Maxx Williams (TE), Justin Pugh (G), Justin Murray (OT), JR Sweezy (G), DJ Humphries (OT), AQ Shipley (C) | |||
Week 13: 12/1/19 vs LAR | 7-34 L | Kyler Murray (QB), Kenyan Drake (RB), Larry Fitzgerald (WR1), Christian Kirk (WR2), Charles Clay (TE), AQ Shipley (C), JR Sweezy (G), Justin Pugh (G), DJ Humphries (OT), Justin Murray (OT) | |||
Week 11: 11/17/19 at SF | 26-36 L | Kyler Murray (QB), Kenyan Drake (RB), Christian Kirk (WR1), Larry Fitzgerald (WR2), Charles Clay (TE), AQ Shipley (C), Justin Pugh (G), JR Sweezy (G), DJ Humphries (OT), Justin Murray (OT) | |||
Week 10: 11/10/19 at TB | 27-30 L | Kyler Murray (QB), Kenyan Drake (RB), Keesean Johnson (WR1), Christian Kirk (WR2), Larry Fitzgerald (WR3), AQ Shipley (C), JR Sweezy (G), Justin Pugh (G), DJ Humphries (OT), Mason Cole (C) | |||
Week 9: 11/1/19 vs SF | 25-28 L | Kyler Murray (QB), Kenyan Drake (RB), Christian Kirk (WR1), Larry Fitzgerald (WR2), Charles Clay (TE), Mason Cole (C), DJ Humphries (OT), Justin Pugh (G), JR Sweezy (G), AQ Shipley (C) |
Kyler Murray has the chance to be a great dual threat QB early in his career but that will by no means take any pressure off the #1 overall pick. He’s a great signal caller who will prove to be great under pressure though it remains to be seen whether he can actually live up to his expectations. From preseason action, he’s got great poise and pocket presence, using his legs to get out of tough situations multiple times.
In his first preseason action against the Chargers, he looked very confident delivering the ball both in the pocket and on the run. There was great accuracy and pocket presence and this looks to be the beginning of a very promising career. While he doesn’t have the same amount of weapons, Murray could be the Baker Mayfield of this year and exceed everyone's initial expectations. While it’s hard to predict how Murray will fare in regular season action when everything’s on the line, it’s no doubt that his play will be a major storyline for the future of the Arizona franchise.
Patrick Peterson has been a staple in the Arizona secondary since joining the team back in 2011. However, a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy will land him on the sidelines for the first six games of the year. Without his presence, the Cardinals are missing out on a 8 time Pro Bowler and 3 time All-Pro who anchors the cornerback position and consistently takes away the opposing team’s top wideout.
The Cardinals will certainly hope to get him back sooner rather than later though their early season schedule doesn’t present too many offensive weapons to worry about. Among their first six games, the only two clear elite wide receivers to worry about are AJ Green and Julio Jones. Among the other opponents, the Arizona secondary should be able to handle the Lions, Ravens, Panthers, and Seahawks receivers fairly decently. Nevertheless, the defensive unit didn’t improve too much from last year and will have to count on Murray to do most of the heavy lifting anyways.
After a 15 year NFL career, does Larry Fitgerald have anything left? His numbers have been on a decline in the past year and without him getting any younger, it’s hard to imagine being anywhere close to the player he once was. While he’s certainly serviceable, I expect Fitzgerald to be more of a mentor moving forward and attempting to help the younger guys better assimilate into the league.
Over his career, Fitzgerald has been a starter and will likely step back into that role this year. However, he might move into WR2 on the depth chart if Arizona decides to give Christian Kirk a more dominant role in the offense. He caught only 734 yards last year which was surprisingly his career low. The 6 TDs are nice and the addition of Kyler Murray will certainly help. Nevertheless, Fitzgerald might not be the same player he was once and you can’t exactly count on a 1,000 receiving yard season anymore.