Plus, weirdest questions and most impressive aspects of the Cardinals OFF, DEF and STs
I thought it might be interesting this week to check on where the Cardinals’ players rank in the NFL at their respective positions, per their PFF grades. Here’s a look at which players are currently ranked in the top 50:
Eligible Players: (based on number of snaps)
- QB —- Kyler Murray —- 80.3 —- #11
- RB —- James Conner —- 85.4 —- #6
- WR —- Marvin Harrison Jr. —- 78.0 —- #24
- TE —- Trey McBride —- 86.5 —- #2
- TE —- Elijah Higgins —- 65.1 —- #30
- T —- Paris Johnson, Jr. —- 70.4 —- #13
- G —- Will Hernandez* —- 69.3 —- #24
- G —- Trystan Colon —- 68.4 —- #27
- G —- Evan Brown —- 67.9 —- #30
- DI —- none
- ED —- Zaven Collins —- 75.6 —- #24
- ED —- Dennis Gardeck* —- 72.6 —- #31
- ILB —- Mack Wilson Sr. —- 63.0 —- #44
- CB —- Garrett Williams —- 79.6 —- #9
- S —- Budda Baker —- 75.7 —- #13
Small sample size: (if they were to be eligible)
- T Jonah Williams —- 65.3 —- would be #47
- DI Darius Robinson —- 62.2 —- would be #46
- S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson —- 76.8 —- would be #11
- CB Kei’Trel Clark —- 72.0 —- would be #20
- ED Victor Dimukeje —- 82.8 —- would be #15
I think these rankings give us a good sense of what the team’s top priorities are, personnel-wise, for the off-season.
They also point to how impressive the Cardinals’ defense has been given the fact that only 1 player in the Cardinals’ front 7 is ranked in the top 25 at his position.
Curious OFF/DEF paradoxical reversal —-
- Cardinals’ Points Per Game: 22.2 —- NFL rank: #17
- Cardinals’ Point Allowed Per Game: 21.6 —- NFL rank: #11
- Cardinals’ Yards Per Game —- 347.3 —- NFL rank: #11
- Cardinals’ Yards Allowed Per Game —- 334.8 —- NFL rank: 17
- Cardinals’ Red Zone TD% —- 52.6% —- NFL rank: #23
- Cardinals’ Red Zone Defense % —- 48.8% —- NFL rank: #7
The numbers point to a paradox (an apparent contradiction that reveals a curious truth) —- the curious truth is the offense moves the ball well between the 20s —- but struggles to score TDs —- while the defense gives up a fair number of yards between the 20s —- but does a commendable job of preventing TDs.
- Cardinals’ average time of possession: 28:51 —- NFL rank: #26
- Cardinals’ turnover differential: -1 —- NFL rank: #13
Cardinals’ Weirdest questions:
Weirdest stat on offense: the Cardinals highest graded player, TE Trey McBride, ranked #2 at his position —- why does he not have a single TD reception through 12 games?
Weirdest play call on defense: on the 4th and 7 this past week late in the 4th quarter with the game on the line, why wasn’t the Cardinals highest ranked defensive player, CB Garrett Williams, assigned to cover Justin Jefferson? Or at any time during the Vikings’ game winning TD drive?
Cardinals’ Most Impressive Aspects in all Three Phases:
- Cardinals’ most impressive aspect on offense: currently ranked #5 in pass blocking.
- Cardinals’ most impressive aspect on defense: despite having the #30th ranked pass rush, thanks to a recent surge in manufactured pass pressures, the Cardinals’ defense is now ranked #9 in the NFL with 34.0 sacks.
- Cardinals’ most impressive aspect on special teams: currently ranked #5 in NFL.
Are the 2024 Arizona Cardinals unpredictably predictable? Or — predictably unpredictable?
Are the 2024 Arizona Cardinals on the path that leads to awesome?
To quote Kid President, “Hey Robert Frost, what if there were only two paths? Well then, I want to be on the one that leads to awesome.”
Special thanks to Seth Cox, Kyle Ledbetter and Marcos Labrada.