Arizona
Arizona Cardinals confident rocky start can benefit team
TEMPE — There was no scarcity of adversity for the Arizona Cardinals early on this season.
On the damage entrance, starters Rondale Moore (3), J.J. Watt (1) and Antonio Hamilton (3) are amongst those that have already missed video games, whereas A.J. Inexperienced is trending towards out for Week 4.
Then there’s the sluggish begins, a side of the Cardinals’ present make-up they’ll’t appear to shake. Arizona has been outscored 31-0 by opponents within the first half via three weeks.
And whereas all three phases of the soccer workforce have appeared disconnected via all however two quarters of play in 2022, the offense projected to hold the workforce has been unexpectedly tough, with quarterback Kyler Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s group rating twenty first in DVOA (defense-adjusted worth over common), based on Soccer Outsiders.
Exterior of the Cardinals’ inconceivable comeback win over the Las Vegas Raiders in extra time, positives stay at a premium for the franchise forward of a Week 4 matchup in opposition to the Carolina Panthers.
The beginning hasn’t been anyplace near final yr when the Cardinals have been undefeated and firing in any respect cylinders.
However perhaps there’s a silver lining to it, particularly after the workforce’s second-half-of-the-season implosion and ugly NFC Wild Card exit final yr.
“I believe the best way that (the season has began) goes to transform in our favor,” linebacker Dennis Gardeck mentioned Tuesday.
“That form of progress mindset of urgent, leaving no stone unturned, with the ability to always reevaluate from not a indifferent place however an space the place you’re open-minded to no matter we will do to get higher, we’re going to do and we’re going to right it. We’re going to handle it and we all know it’s going to be higher each week. I believe that’s going to assist us down the highway.”
Possibly they don’t have any alternative, however head coach Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback Kyler Murray share the identical sentiment.
How final season ended and the best way this one started haven’t been misplaced on them.
And whereas Kingsbury and Murray aren’t ones to welcome all of the adversity, they’d fairly face it now with an opportunity to nonetheless proper the ship than afterward within the season when the margin for error is razor skinny.
“It’s just a bit little bit of adversity. That’s by no means damage anyone,” Murray mentioned. “I believe everybody on this room has felt adversity, everyone within the locker room has felt adversity. In any other case, we in all probability wouldn’t be the place we’re. I’m not an excessive amount of phased by it in any respect. I do know the fellows aren’t.
“Clearly, it feels ugly proper now to really feel the sensation of dropping and stuff like that. However we undoubtedly see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. We proceed to work arduous and get higher.”