ARIZONA CARDINALS
2022 Record - 4-13
Head Coach - Jonathan Gannon
Offensive Rank - 22nd (324 YPG); Scoring - 21st (20.0 PPG)
Defensive Rank - 21st (349 YPG); Scoring - 31st (26.4 PPG)
The Cardinals will be looking for Kyler Murray to return from a knee injury and be the starting quarterback. Murray had 2,368 passing yards last season along with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 418 yards (6.8 yards per carry average) and scored three touchdowns. The running backs are James Conner (782 rushing yards, 4.3 YPC, seven TD) and Keaontay Ingram while Corey Clement is also available. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is now with Tennessee and that leaves Marquise Brown (67 receptions, 709 yards, three TD), Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch (52, 467, two TD), Zach Pascal and rookie Michael Wilson (Stanford) to be the primary targets in the passing game. The tight end is Zach Ertz and he had 47 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns.
The defense no longer has J.J. Watt up front as he retired and it will be Jonathan Ledbetter, Leki Fotu, Rashard Lawrence and Zaven Collins on the line while Kyzir White, Isaiah Simmons (two interceptions) and either rookie BJ Ojulari (LSU) or Dennis Gardeck at the linebacker spots. The secondary has Budda Baker at safety and he led the team with 111 tackles last year while also getting two interceptions. The other safety is Jalen Thompson (110 tackles) while the corners are Marco Wilson (three picks), Rashad Fenton and rookie Garrett Williams (Syracuse).
OUTLOOK FOR 2023 - The Cardinals have a lot of question marks entering the 2023 season and the sooner Kyler Murray can be at quarterback, the better it should be for them. The offense will look to be balanced and WR Marquise Brown will be the main target with Hopkins now gone. Spreading the football around would be the way new Head Coach Jonathan Gannon would like to see the offense moving forward.
The Cardinals have to cut down on turnovers and do more on defense to create them as they were a minus-five last season and only had eleven interceptions to go along with 36 sacks. Getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks would be helpful to take pressure off the defensive backs. Opponents were able to find the end zone too often last season (Arizona was 31st in scoring defense) and if the Cards can get better in those red zone situations, they will improve this season.
The big question will be about Murray and his return and how effective he will be when he does get back under center. The offense was middle of the pack a year ago and Murray makes it go when he is right, with the scrambling abilities and throwing on the run to Brown and the other receivers. It's not likely Arizona will be in playoff contention this season, so they will see how things go early on in the schedule and build for a better future.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Washington
Week Two - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week Three - vs. Dallas
Week Four - at San Francisco
Week Five - vs. Cincinnati
Week Six - at L.A. Rams
Week Seven - at Seattle
Week Eight - vs. Baltimore
Week Nine - at Cleveland
Week Ten - vs. Atlanta
Week Eleven - at Houston
Week Twelve - vs. L.A. Rams
Week Thirteen - at Pittsburgh
Week Fourteen - BYE
Week Fifteen - vs. San Francisco
Week Sixteen - at Chicago
Week Seventeen - at Philadelphia
Week Eighteen - vs. Seattle
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