With the return of wide receiver Rondale Moore to the lineup, many Arizona Cardinals fans have been critical of his usage. Last year, of course, he rarely got the ball down the field.
We have seen him be used on passes behind the line of scrimmage and some failed run plays.
Many have questioned why he doesn’t run downfield routes.
However, the fact of the matter is that he is running downfield routes.
I looked back at the Cardinals’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles and his assignments in the passing game. I separated his routes into three categories — behind the line of scrimmage, within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage and more than 10 yards down the field.
He ran a total of 39 pass routes on Sunday.
This was the breakdown:
Behind the line of scrimmage: 6
0-10 yards down the field: 18
>10 yards downfield: 15
Of the 18 routes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, two were when the Cardinals were inside the 10. Three were actually routes to block on a screen pass to another player. Another turned into a deep route when Murray extended a play but it was originally within 10 yards.
Of his deeper routes, one looked like it might have been an intermediate route initially. He looked back and then went deeper.
What does it mean?
Moore, now with a major role in the offense, is not lacking in opportunities to get the ball farther down the field.
The issue is that, to target him farther down the field, it requires a correct read and being open.
Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury wants to make sure Moore gets the ball. One of the ways to ensure he does is to manufacture touches near the line of scrimmage where he is the first read or that is the designed play. Beyond that, there are more moving parts.
The more he runs these downfield routes, assuming he is getting open, he will get the ball more. But don’t expect the screen passes and jet sweeps to stop. He is the best option for those plays.
It is different than last season when his snap counts were far lower. With a full-time role on the offense as WR2 for another game and WR3 after DeAndre Hopkins returns, he will be on the field for far more than the gadget plays designed for him.
He will get opportunities down the field. He is running those routes. He just hasn’t been targeted much there yet.
The thing he is asked to do the least is the stuff behind the line of scrimmage this year.
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