Despite a third consecutive season with an improved record, the Arizona Cardinals underachieved in 2021 based on their potential. QB Kyler Murray lost his running ways while limping home in the passing game. WR DeAndre Hopkins finished with the worst season of his career--and he’ll begin this season with a six-game suspension. The addition of WR Marquise Brown brings hope to the Cardinals’ offense. His ties to Murray should be a positive. RB James Conner turned into a scoring machine (18 touchdowns) with the look of a special player in the passing game. Arizona has questions on the defensive side of the ball. The first step toward success falls on Murray’s ability to use the whole field in the passing game instead of running for his life with a limited sliver of turf to make plays.
Offense
The Cardinals finished with competitive chances in rushing attempts (496) and passing plays (591). They finished about 350 yards shy of a top-two offense in the league. When at their best, Arizona wants to run the ball while being more explosive in the deep passing game.
