The Arizona Cardinals (2-5) need answers in a hurry.
Losers of their last five games — all by one score — and with a gauntlet of a schedule the rest of the way, Arizona is teetering closer toward failed expectations and offseason changes as the losses and frustration pile on.
Getting a small reprieve with a Week 8 bye, it’s full-on soul-searching and problem-solving time for head coach Jonathan Gannon and the franchise.
“We have had adversity hit us since I’ve been here. We are in it now. And there’s only one way to kind of flip the narrative, which I feel really confident with how we’re going to do that,” Gannon said Monday. “And we’re going to put our best foot forward, put all the energy and effort into flipping it and then let the chips fall.”
The coaching staff has multiple “projects” this week, the head coach added on Monday. One better revolve around getting the best out of the quarterback position regardless of who’s got the football.
There’s no denying Jacoby Brissett has put this offense in a better place since taking over for an injured Kyler Murray.
The journeyman quarterback has had little trouble pushing the ball down the field while hanging in the pocket and letting plays develop. And he’s doing so with a ton of pressure in his face.
Putting up multiple explosives through the air in a single game was hard to come by with Murray running the show across the first five weeks.
Whether offensive coordinator Drew Petzing wants to admit it or not, the game plan looks different between the two signal callers.
Brissett has operated much more under center and out of play action. The wins haven’t been there, but the wrinkles have helped lead to a pair of successful individual performances for the signal caller.
In his two games running the show, the quarterback has dropped back under center 26 times and operated out of play action 38.3% of the time.
He’s getting multiple pass catchers involved and seeing a lot more explosives in the passing game because of the added wrinkle.
In two starts, Brissett has completed 20 of his 30 throws (66.6%) for 272 yards and one touchdown to an interception. Nine of those completions have gone for at least 20 yards. He added 22 yards on three scrambles and was sacked once.
That added detail played a part in the offense posting back-to-back 27-point efforts with its total yards exceeding 330 yards or more the past two weeks, two marks that hadn’t been hit through the first weeks.
Murray had just 16 dropbacks under center and a 24.2% play-action rate during that span. Out of play action, the QB has completed 23-of-34 passing (67.6%) for 229 yards and a touchdown. He’s ripped off 68 yards on eight carries while being sacked six times.
Arizona only saw seven pass plays of at least 20 yards during that time.
Has Brissett been perfect? No, and he’s not the long-term answer, but he’s proving that more can be squeezed out of this offense without a complete overhaul of changes.
There’s got to be a way to marry some of what’s working into a Murray-led game plan upon his return, which is lining up to be for Monday Night Football in Week 10.
But the deep dive this bye week can’t end at the quarterback.
What’s got to change along the Cardinals offensive line?
The Cardinals offensive line has surprisingly taken a step back this season. It makes you seriously rethink how impactful now-Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, who was the Cardinals OL coach the past two seasons, was to Arizona’s operation.
Despite having all of its Week 1 starters from a year ago currently in the trenches, Arizona’s offensive line has been a main culprit in the run game struggles and has allowed the third most sacks in the NFL at 24. Only the New York Jets (31) and Tennessee Titans (30) have allowed more.
And this past loss to the Green Bay Packers again showed the need for a change.
Micah Parsons wrecking games isn’t a rarity. He’s in Gannon’s war daddy category after all. But watching him win over and over and over against right tackle Jonah Williams was something else last week.
Williams continues to struggle this year, making a move at right tackle an obvious consideration. And after seeing the Cardinals yank guard Isaiah Adams out of the starting lineup for Will Hernandez, Arizona showed it doesn’t mind mixing it up if the results aren’t there.
Much like the guard situation, the Cardinals have a reliable replacement in Kelvin Beachum, who’s started 63 games over six seasons for Arizona.
So, what’s the hold up on making a switch?
One reason could be because of Beachum’s role as Arizona’s blocking tight end (throw him a pass already!) with both Tip Reiman and Travis Vokolek out for the year with their respective injuries.
That’s not to say there isn’t a replacement for Beachum’s extra blocker role, though, in Jon Gaines II.
Gaines has already been used as an extra blocker this season at fullback. Adding a little more onto his plate seems doable, especially with a bye week to help work out the wrinkles.
What’s the solution to the Cardinals defense’s end-of-game issues?
This question has been asked every week since Arizona’s five-game losing streak began.
After looking like a grizzly bear through three quarters of work, Arizona’s defense turns into a gummy bear when the game matters most.
Across Arizona’s five-game losing streak, it’s allowed 11 total scoring drives (seven touchdowns, four field goals) in the fourth quarter alone. That’s compared to 13 scoring drives (five TDs, eight FGs) across the other three quarters of work in that span.
It’s not coming down to just one thing, either.
Whether it be a lack of focus or execution, the Cardinals defense has found different ways to lose late.
Most recently, the Cardinals watched the Packers lean on running back Josh Jacobs in Green Bay’s game-winning scoring drive behind seven carries for 25 yards and a one-yard touchdown.
That drive alone accounted for half or more of his carries, yardage and scores.
It was the second time in as many weeks the defense allowed the opposing run game to find an edge late after watching Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor run for 40 yards and a TD on eight carries in the fourth quarter.
Those late surges have contributed to the Cardinals’ NFL record three-game losing streak despite leading by at least seven points heading into the fourth quarter.
Whether it be a lack of focus or fundamentals, the defense must find a solution to its late-game problems.
“I don’t know if much really needs … a change other than making the plays when they matter (at the end of games). … That’s the only thing that needs to change,” Calais Campbell said after the loss to the Packers.
“This team has a lot of fight, playing good football, just losing one-score ball games. And in this business, 70% of them come down to one score and you got to win most of those if you want to be a playoff team, and we’re not doing that.”
The downturn late in games is taking away from the good that Campbell and Josh Sweat have brought to the table since joining the franchise this offseason.
More help needed in the run game?
Arizona’s run game hasn’t looked the part due to multiple factors.
Injuries at running back have only added to the issues.
While the run game didn’t look like it did in seasons prior, losing both James Conner and Trey Benson in back-to-back weeks poured fuel on the fire.
Arizona knows it won’t have Conner for the rest of the year after his ugly foot injury. Benson, meanwhile, is expected back from a knee injury and is eligible to return as early as the Cardinals’ Week 10 game against the Seattle Seahawks.
But until he starts practicing, it’s unclear exactly when Benson will be back.
The Cardinals have had to lean on their running back depth more than ever, with Michael Carter and Bam Knight shouldering most of the load. With Emari Demercado dealing with an ankle issue of late, D’Ernest Johnson made his way into the backfield last week primarily on third downs.
Arizona hung around with two tough run defenses in Indianapolis and Green Bay. The Cardinals were still held to under 100 yards in both contests, averaging no more than 3.7 yards per carry.
There’s been a little more efficiency in the run game, but it’s nowhere near winning football games for the Cardinals like it has in previous seasons.
Benson’s return will give the backfield a boost, but will it be enough to make a run in the backend of the season? Or do the Cardinals need to jump on the phone and see who’s available?
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been a name mentioned as a potential trade option ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline. He has one year left on his current deal and $18.5 million cap hit after this season.
That being said, it sounds like Kamara wants to stick around New Orleans, playoffs or not.
Jets running back Breece Hall, who is a free agent after this season, is another interesting name with New York floundering at 0-7. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal.
Titans running back Tony Pollard marks a third name to watch, too. He’s in the second season of a three-year, $21.75 million deal.
It’s a fun conversation to have, but it also leads to another question:
Just how much impact would a new face bring to the run game?
Giving up draft assets isn’t something general manager Monti Ossenfort does on a whim. He understands the importance of building through the NFL Draft.
Seven weeks in, the Cardinals are three games back in the division and have a 3% chance at making the playoffs heading into Week 8.
Arizona’s strength of schedule (.596) is the second toughest in the league, according to Tankathon.
Close losses or not, the optics don’t look great given the current trajectory of the season. Arizona has not proven it can consistently win the tight games it has found itself in through seven weeks.
It might be unwise adding to the cap and burning draft picks on a rental that doesn’t move the needle. It’s on Ossenfort to weigh those pros and cons.