The Arizona Cardinals came into this season wanting their offensive identity to become a great running team. That is what OC Drew Petzing envisioned and is his scheme.
The Cardinals were actively gathering
offensive linemen who were primarily good run blockers. All of their tight ends were scouted for how they blocked, and if they could catch an occasional ball, then that is the bonus round.
RELATED: 2024 CARDINALS FIRST DEPTH CHART
The offense already had QB Kyler Murray, who was considered an above-average runner who could scramble for yards, and also had his own running plays.
But the offense still needed to throw the ball. On occasion. Sometimes.
Last year, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort drafted the best receiver in the draft when he selected Marvin Harrison, Jr. out of Ohio State. Harrison had a laundry list of accolades, plus was the son of an NFL Hall of Famer. Make that, an NFL Hall of Fame receiver. So, the lineage was there.
True, Harrison’s presence wouldn’t help the rushing attack. The very next pick in the draft was OT Joe Alt out of Notre Dame. OT JC Latham went two slots later. In all, eight offensive tackles and one center went in the first round after the Harrison choice.
But what offense doesn’t want a blue-chip receiver in its midst? Arizona is home to one of the league’s all-time best, with Larry Fitzgerald, so having greatness catching passes felt like home.
Harrison would be paired with TE Trey McBride, a good blocker who also has exceptional hands. The team would also feature speedy journeyman Greg Dortch, veteran Zay Jones, the aging Zach Pascal, who was now on his fourth NFL club, undrafted rookie Xavier Weaver, and Michael Wilson.
None of this group were starting receivers the year before in 2023. Which meant it was a clean slate, ready to become whatever this group could make it to be. When the team’s first press release of the 2024 season was released, that first depth chart listed Harrison, Dortch, and Wilson as the starting receivers.
For many, the lineup came as a surprise. Wilson had beaten out the veteran Pascal. He had been ruled better than Chris Moore, Andre Baccellia, and Jones.
Not that Wilson didn’t have talent. He did. He ran a 4.58 with a vertical jump of 37.5”. He was selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft. He had 58 targets in his rookie campaign and 71 last year, with 565 yards and 548 yards, respectively. For the two seasons, he added seven touchdowns and converted 56 first downs.
And now, Wilson has earned his starting position in this year’s training camp. A lot was expected out of Wilson based on the fact that the 2025 season would be his third in the league. Usually, players have worked out all the kinks and the learning curve by their third season. They are no longer expected to make rookie mistakes and have become acclimated to the NFL level of how pro cornerbacks operate.
But that isn’t happening.
This year, Wilson has just 27 targets. That is a mere 3.9 per game. Wilson has 15 receptions. Yeah, 15. That’s just over two catches a game. His total output is 136 yards, which is an average of 19.43 yards a game. Oh, and one touchdown.
What is going on with Michael Wilson? Why the low production? Anyone?
Plainly put, he just isn’t getting the ball thrown to him. Is he just not in the game plan each game? Are his targets being rerouted to Harrison or McBride?
This year, starting RB James Conner went down and is now out for the year. His backup, Trey Benson, suffered a meniscus injury in the Week 4 contest against division foe Seattle Seahawks. Since then, it has been a steady diet of backup running backs, including Michael Carter, Emari Demercado, and Bam Knight.
Which all means the lack of starting-quality running backs has moved the focus from a run-first game.
Plus, the starting QB, Kyler Murray, has been hurt and has only played the first five games. Since then, career backup Jacoby Brissett has held down the fort.
There have been issues with the offensive line keeping a solid pocket together during passing plays. Because of this, and the starting RBs are no longer in play, the offense has basically morphed into a passing team.
- Week 4 (Seahawks): Murray passing yards – 200; Rushing yards – 89; QB was sacked: 6
- Week 5 (Titans): Murray passing yards – 220; Rushing yards – 168; QB was sacked: 3
- Week 6 (Colts): Brissett passing yards – 320; Rushing yards – 88; QB was sacked: 2
- Week 7 (Packers): Brissett passing yards – 279; Rushing yards – 94; QB was sacked: 6
Wilson signed a four-year deal, which is traditionally what is offered to a third-round pick. His total contract was for $5.34 million. This year, his cap hit is $1.47 million, which will increase next season by just over $200,000.
At $1.47 million, he is being paid $10,809 for each yard he has gained. He is paid $98,000 per reception. Exactly where do you apply for that job?
The thought process was that Harrison and Wilson would become this dynamic duo, snagging passes when the run game needed the defense to shift gears. But even when Harrison has been injured, Wilson did not get the attention he should have had.
In Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, Harrison left the game with a concussion. This should have set the stage for more passes being thrown Wilson’s direction. Yet, he ended up with just four receptions on five targets for 44 yards. Five targets. 5. Harrison is out, and Wilson saw just five balls. And Wilson had 55 snaps in this game, or 75% of all offensive plays.
Instead of using Wilson, Brissett had several key passes go to Jones beginning in the final two quarters, where the pair hooked up on plays of 11, 21, 17, 6, and 24 yards, plus tossed a 12-yard pass to Dortch, who scored.
Brissett also used the running backs more on passing downs as he connected with Knight for 20 yards and Carter for 16.
In the fourth quarter, Brissett did find Wilson for a 30-yard gain to get into the Colts’ territory and inch the Cardinals closer to a possible game-winning touchdown down 31-27.
Last weekend’s game against the Green Bay Packers, Wilson was targeted just four times with three receptions for 40 yards. In the San Francisco game, he had two targets for five yards.
It’s not like Wilson isn’t playing. He is. In Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints, he had his lowest number of offensive snaps with 44, or 66.7% of offensive plays. But since then, he has been in the 80% to 90% as far as snap counts. It’s his targets that are dwindling. And when the ball isn’t being thrown his way, obviously, receptions will be low.
All season, he has had a mere one touchdown.
The third-year wideout is not getting enough of an opportunity within the Arizona offense to be considered for any type of confidence. Officially, he has zero drops and is listed as the fourth most receiving yards on the team.
And really, is Wilson upset about getting low targets per game? If he is, he hasn’t mentioned it. So, he gets two catches and makes $196,000 for the game. Okay, that makes some sense. But how does that help the Cardinals’ offense?
He has the speed. He will run crisp routes and then run others more rounded. He can be deceptive. And he understands the jump high point.
Again, why isn’t the coaching staff using him?
