Arizona
Isaiah Simmons among Arizona Cardinals who will make or break 2022
The Arizona Cardinals are a tough group to peg getting into the 2022 common season.
Simply ask the quite a few reporters and analysts who’ve been everywhere in the spectrum by way of the place this group lands within the standings.
On one hand, they may very properly emulate final season’s 11-6 mark.
On the opposite, there’s an actual chance the group’s harm historical past and gauntlet of a schedule put on Arizona all the way down to sub-.500 territory.
However on the finish of the day, the wins and losses come all the way down to these taking the sphere.
A have a look at an important gamers who will dictate Arizona’s season in 2022:
Star backer Isaiah Simmons
Let’s begin with the apparent one.
Star backer Isaiah Simmons was already cracking this record earlier than it was found that he will likely be relaying the play calls to the protection in Week 1.
Now, all eyes are on him.
Not solely is he tasked with manning a number of positions over the course of a given sport, he’ll be quarterbacking the protection frequently.
Simmons’ trajectory is on the rise after recording 105 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception and 7 passes defensed final season.
He should proceed on that path in a protection needy of constant playmakers.
QB Kyler Murray
The Cardinals’ offense doesn’t function because it ought to with out quarterback Kyler Murray on the roster.
We noticed as a lot final season.
Colt McCoy admirably took over beginning sign caller duties for 3 video games with Murray sidelined on account of harm. He didn’t have that very same juice that Murray brings to the desk, nevertheless.
Murray has helped foster a profitable tradition in Arizona, with the Cardinals seeing their victories enhance behind the QB.
And whereas Murray brings with him the power to launch a bomb by way of the air or make defenders miss on the bottom, it’s been his accuracy that has stood out over the previous couple of seasons. Coming off a career-high completion share of 69.2% in Yr 3, Murray has put his group within the place to win extra occasions than not.
That development, on high of bettering on final season’s speeding totals, has to proceed this season for the Cardinals to have an opportunity to make some noise.
DL J.J. Watt
Defensive lineman J.J. Watt doesn’t want a lot of an introduction. He’s a three-time Defensive Participant of the Yr who can nonetheless transfer with the most effective of them.
The largest knock on Watt getting into Arizona’s residence opener is his well being.
Watt was every thing the Cardinals anticipated and extra over the primary seven video games of the season earlier than a nasty shoulder harm put him on the shelf till the postseason.
His harm performed a giant half within the group’s downfall within the second half of the season, with Arizona going 4-6 over its closing 10 video games earlier than a Wild Card shellacking by the Los Angeles Rams.
Watt brings management, a no-quit mentality and is a identified commodity. You recognize what you’re going to get. However for him to really make an affect on this roster, he has to remain upright for greater than half a season.
CB Byron Murphy Jr.
The dialog this offseason surrounding Arizona’s secondary has largely targeted on Cardinals cornerbacks not named Byron Murphy Jr. and rightfully so given the group’s state at No. 2 CB.
The onus is on the others to step up, however it’s additionally on Murphy to enhance upon final yr’s totals.
Murphy seemed like an All-Professional cornerback early on final season, registering three picks and 6 passes defensed over the primary 4 contests.
However like the remainder of the group, Murphy fell off because the weeks drug on. Over the ultimate 12 video games of the season, Murphy recorded only one interception to go together with six passes defensed.
That can’t be the case this season with Arizona’s murky cornerback room.
OLB Markus Golden
Very like Murphy, outdoors linebacker Markus Golden goes to be counted on immensely with questions surrounding the go rusher spot reverse him.
Golden paced the group final season with 11 sacks, 0.5 greater than now-Las Vegas Raider Chandler Jones.
However gone with Jones went all his pressures from 2021, one thing that benefitted Golden tremendously.
It’s on Jones’ replacements (Dennis Gardeck, Cameron Thomas, Victor Dimukeje and Myjai Sanders) to select up the slack ultimately, however Golden should deliver that prime motor each snap.
The questions don’t cease earlier than Golden, both.
The linebacker was a nonparticipant over coaching camp and the preseason as he tends to a toe harm. There have additionally been rumblings that Golden is holding in as he searches for a brand new deal from the group.
Golden must be one of many final Cardinal gamers to be involved about getting into a season opener.
However along with his absence on the sphere and no extension in hand, his standing stays murky. And for a group that wants all palms on deck within the pass-rushing division, that isn’t best.
WR Hollywood Brown
Hollywood Brown received his want this offseason.
He left a run-heavy Baltimore Ravens for a pass-happy Cardinals squad led by his faculty teammate in Murray.
It was anticipated that Brown would kind a formidable duo with DeAndre Hopkins from the soar, however following the latter’s six-game suspension for PEDs, Brown should take over the No. 1 vast receiver reins.
All of us noticed what this offense seemed like with no legit receiving menace like Hopkins on the sphere final season. In a couple of phrases, stagnant and nowhere close to constant. His harm was pegged as one of many greatest causes for Arizona’s second-half collapse by Kingsbury, GM Steve Keim and proprietor Michael Bidwill.
Brown should have the ability to make up for Hopkins’ absence till the All-Professional’s return in Week 7.
Honorable Mentions
WR Rondale Moore
Broad receivers coach Shawn Jefferson this offseason stated Rondale Moore’s route tree was fully unlocked.
It’s now on Kingsbury to make the most of the sport changer in additional methods than behind the road of scrimmage.
Keep in mind, no D-Hop for the primary six video games.
OLB Dennis Gardeck
Dennis Gardeck figures to begin reverse Golden this season.
He confirmed he can go rush with the most effective of them rather than Jones in 2020 earlier than an ACL harm minimize his season quick.
Getting again to that related success, or on the very least making use of constant strain, can pay main dividends for this Arizona protection.
ILB Zaven Collins
Zaven Collins enters Yr 2 because the group’s beginning MIKE backer. He received’t name the protection however will nonetheless have a hand in getting the unit set.
Nick Vigil gives a powerful backup to Collins, but when the younger professional can take a noticeable step ahead this season, there’s going to be an entire lot of aid felt from the entrance workplace and the stands.
CB Marco Wilson
Marco Wilson was known as out by Kingsbury this offseason as somebody they weren’t certain could possibly be an every-down starter earlier than ultimately shedding the gig to Antonio Hamilton.
However following Hamilton’s freak cooking accident, it’s Wilson’s job to lose in the interim.
Displaying he can roll with the punches and be a serviceable defender alongside Murphy will present an added increase to a dangerously skinny CB room.