This week the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Arizona Cardinals this week and we had our weekly conversation with my fellow editor for the opposition. This week it’s Jess Root of Cards Wire who gives us the inside information on this week’s opponent.
1 - How has Kyler Murray looked since his return?
It has been a mixed bag. The physical part, the part where you worry he is RGIII, is fine. He moves like he never had a knee injury. The mobility, the quickness, the elusiveness, the speed, it is all there. Against the Falcons, he looked great. He had one throw he just missed. Against the Texans, there were a couple of bad throws — not bad decisions, but bad throws.
Last week against the Rams, though, it felt off. He actively didn’t run. His decisions on where and when to throw the ball were off. It is hard to pinpoint how much was bad scheme and routes, lack of receiving talent or whether he is still in his head with the new offensive system.
2 - The Cardinals defense has struggled a lot this season. What do you see as the biggest concern on defense this week?
The only part of the defense that isn’t a concern is at safety. The front seven is not good. Three of the team’s four best D-linemen are on injured reserve. The edge defenders have been passable at best. Their best linebacker is done for the season. They started three rookie cornerbacks last week. Facing a Steelers team has nearly 1,200 from Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, the concern is having another game where they get absolutely destroyed in the run game.
They have given up huge games to Tony Pollard, Christian McCaffrey, Devin Singletary, Bijan Robinson and two to Kyren Williams. Also, the Cardinals have been the “get-right” opponent a few times this season. After Pittsburgh finally had a 400-yard game on offense but only 16 points, you worry that the Steelers get right and not only get yards but put up 30 points.
3 - Who is a player on the Cardinals who is playing well the Steelers should know about?
I’ll give you one guy on both sides of the ball. On offense. second-year tight end Trey McBride is the guy. He is about to set the franchise record for receptions by a tight end (the record is only 57 receptions) and had the first 100-yard receiving game by a tight end in 34 years. He is becoming a stud.
On defense, it is rookie cornerback Garrett Williams. He has only been playing since Week 7 coming back from a torn ACL, but he has been the most consistent cornerback they have had this season.
4 - A lot of Steelers fans miss James Conner. How has he done this season?
He is the motor of the offense. He again missed games with an injury, but he actually has been better than ever. He is the most efficient he has ever been, averaging more than five yards per attempt. His role in this offense is one that debunks the “running backs don’t matter” concept. Arizona’s offense is significantly better when Conner is getting touches. He has 10 consecutive games averaging more than four yards per attempt.
5 - What is your prediction for this week?
I expect a grind-it-out game but fear a repeat of the Browns game where they looked listless in a 27-0 loss. That said, the Steelers will control the game but won’t run away with it. The Cardinals pick up a late touchdown to make it look closer than it actually was. The Steelers run the ball well. Steelers 20, Cardinals 13
