ARIZONA CARDINALS
2023 Record - 4-13
Head Coach - Jonathan Gannon
Key Additions - Marvin Harrison, Jr. (WR), Desmond Ridder (QB), Dustin Jones (DL), Evan Brown (OL), Sean Murphy-Bunting (DB), Jonah Williams (OL)
Key Losses - D.J. Humphries (OL), Marquise Brown (WR), Leki Fotu (DL), Jonathan Ledbetter (DL), Antonio Hamilton (DB)
2023 STATS LINE
PASSING - Kyler Murray (1,799 yards, 10 TD, 5 INT)
RUSHING - James Conner (1,040 yards, 5.0 ypc, 7 TD)
RECEIVING - Trey McBride (81 receptions, 825 yards, 3 TD)
SACKS - Dennis Gardeck (6)
INTERCEPTIONS - Jalen Thompson (4)
OUTLOOK FOR 2024 - The Cardinals have work to do to get out of the NFC West basement, but having quarterback Kyler Murray back healthy this season and drafting wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr. (Ohio State) should definitely help. Head Coach Jonathan Gannon had a rough go of things in his first year with the team, so he is eager to see the team get moving in an upward direction.
Murray will be on hand and with Harrison, Jr. playing along with Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride and James Conner leading the running game, Arizona's offense should improve this season after averaging 19.4 PPG last year and finishing 19th overall on offense, averaging 356 yards per game. Murray is always a dual threat as well as he can run the ball with the best of them when he takes off.
The Cardinals defense has to get better, especially against the run, where they finished last in the NFL (allowing 143 yards per game) if they want to compete in their division where all three opponents had winning records last season. The Cards gave up 26.8 PPG a year ago and had just 33 sacks while getting 11 interceptions, but they allowed too many big plays and in the red zone their defense wasn't too good.
It's not all doom and gloom in the desert after a tough season and in the NFL, big time turnarounds happen more often that in the past decades. If Murray can get things rolling early in the season and maintain that play as he and Harrison get more experience playing together, this team could be a surprise if opponents don't gear up to stop their offense. The key for success will be the defense being consistent and key players avoiding injuries. The playoffs aren't likely this year, but a better future should be ahead for this team.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Buffalo
Week Two - vs. L.A. Rams
Week Three - vs. Detroit
Week Four - vs. Washington
Week Five - at San Francisco
Week Six - at Green Bay
Week Seven - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week Eight - at Miami
Week Nine - vs. Chicago
Week Ten - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week Eleven - BYE
Week Twelve - at Seattle
Week Thirteen - at Minnesota
Week Fourteen - vs. Seattle
Week Fifteen - vs. New England
Week Sixteen - at Carolina
Week Seventeen - at L.A. Rams
Week Eighteen - vs. San Francisco
No comments:
Post a Comment