The Arizona Cardinals know that the maiden season of being under new head coach Mike LaFleur is over. It’s not. But it begins with a win on the road against division foe Seattle Seahawks, who beat Arizona 31-7 earlier on the schedule.
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The Cardinals needed a win. They may not make the playoffs, or vie for the division lead, but they can win 8-9 games which would become something positive to build on.
Against Seattle, the Cardinals marched down the field
on their first possession and scored a field goal to take a 3-0 lead. But that was the highlight, as the offense could not move the ball, and the punter was the game’s MVP.
So, who played well for the Cardinals? Who didn’t?
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BEAKS
S Budda Baker – The dependable one just keeps racking up good tackling numbers. He had seven just in the first half alone.
In the second quarter, Baker read the run and was able to stop RB Jadarian Price for a short gain. In the third quarter, it was Baker who nailed RB Zach Charbonnet after a seven-yard gain on the third-and-15. Had the second most tackles with 11.
P Blake Gillikin – In the first half, Gillikin was called on to kick four times and had 184 yards with a long of 55 yards. Half of those punts landed inside the 20. Finished with six punts for 269 yards and a 44.8 yards-per-punt average. What a weapon.
S Andrew Wingard – This guy seemed to be everywhere in today’s game. Was able to tackle Price for a short gain as the first quarter was winding down. Combined with Baker, to stop TE A.J. Barner for just a one-yard gain on the first play of the second quarter. Tackled Charbonnet in the third quarter after a one-yard run. Led all Arizona defenders with 12 total tackles.
K Chad Ryland – Oh look, another kicker doing his job. Made the 28-yarder on the Cardinals’ first drive. This habit of the field goal kicker scoring all of the points is getting old.
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GEEKS
Third-down efficiency – Was a horrible 1-for-6 in the first half. Went 4-for-13 for the game. Ouch.
Offense – We realize the Cardinals are playing the Seahawks, which means playing their defense, but Arizona only had 110 total yards in the first half: 68 passing yards with just 42 on the ground. Nobody can win if the offense isn’t moving the chains. Only 13 first downs in four quarters is not a winning stat. Nine penalties for 97 yards are drive killers. Arizona could not buy a third down with an efficiency of 4 for 13 attempts. Could not run the ball whatsoever. Offensive drives for the game: FG, punt, punt, punt, punt, downs, punt, punt, downs. Sad. Very sad day for this group.
Not using the tight end – Wait a sec, this can’t be correct. TE Trey McBride had just two targets in the first half? And caught both for seven yards? TE Elijah Higgins, one target/one catch for four yards? Finally got some action in the second half with McBride, but both Higgins and TE Teagan Quitoriano had few targets all game. McBride did have seven receptions for 54 yards, but he dropped the touchdown on the fourth-down play. These are weapons that need to be utilized.
Lack of pass rush – Every week, it is the same thing: where is the pass rush? Seahawks backup QB Drew Lock had plenty of time to survey the field and find open guys. The Cardinals had zero sacks. None. Nada. Three QB hits. Josh Sweat: two tackles. Same for Andrew Billings and Dante Stills. Roy Lopez, Darius Robinson, and L.J. Fehoko had just a single tackle each. Was no wonder Seattle had 175 receiving yards. Lock was flushed several times, and it did look like he would be sacked, but he found ways to get around it and had five positive rushes.
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Bird Seed – When the candle factory burned down, everyone stood around and sang, ‘Happy Birthday’
QB Gardner Minshew – Very vanilla in the first half, connecting on 11 plays on 14 attempts for just 85 yards in the first half. The second half was better, but no explosiveness from the offense at any time. All these weapons, and every single player, had mediocre numbers. Finished 21 for 30 for 166 yards, a 5.5 average per pass completion, sacked three times, rushed once for 4 yards, and had an 83.5 QB rating. Meh.
WR Reggie Virgil – The rookie had one catch for 25 yards on the first drive. Spectacular catch and toe drag swag, and then that was it. Yawn.
