TEMPE — The Arizona Cardinals offensive line was among the team’s strengths heading into Year 3 under the current regime.
Even with a new offensive line coach and Week 1 starter, there was plenty of optimism that the upward trend was going to continue, especially in the run game, thanks to the continuity and chemistry in the trenches.
Nine games in, that’s far from the feeling.
Despite seeing the fourth lowest blitz rate in the NFL (21.3%), the Cardinals are allowing the fifth-most sacks (34), sixth-most pressures (144) and seventh-most pressure rate (38%).
For comparison, Arizona allowed the fifth-fewest sacks (30), fifth-fewest pressures (173) and sixth-fewest pressure rate (28%) a year prior while facing the eight-highest blitz rate (31.2%) just a year ago. Kyler Murray’s elusiveness certainly helps in lowering the numbers, but there’s still a clear difference in performance.
As for Arizona’s run game? It’s 19th in the league (113.4 yards per game), tied for 17th in scores (seven) and has posted the fifth-worst stuff rate (20.7%). It’s 24 runs of at least 10 yards are good enough for 11th.
“I think we’ve played some really good fronts. I think the communication has been good. I think at times, you’re losing some one-on-ones in critical situations, which is hurting us,” offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said Tuesday. “And certainly, we need to evaluate how and why that’s happening and try to clean that up.”
Last week’s lopsided loss to the Seattle Seahawks only magnified the issues on the line of scrimmage.
Jacoby Brissett was beat up behind five sacks — all coming in the first half — and 10 QB hits in the defeat. He’s now seen at least 23 pressures in all but one start (Arizona’s win over Dallas) since taking over for Murray.
And while those numbers were bad, it’s the 14 points scored off a pair of strip sacks, one of which three Cardinals linemen were blocking one Seahawks defender, that really left a sour taste.
The two plays that sum up the Cardinals’ loss to the Seahawks.
Rough is an understatement. pic.twitter.com/Me2sdVNOxt
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 10, 2025
Those two defensive scores from Seattle, plus an offense that found the end zone on three straight drives, were key in erasing any hope the Cardinals had heading into the tilt by halftime.
“It’s probably a blend of everything, truthfully,” head coach Jonathan Gannon told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Monday when asked if mental or physical mistakes were to blame for the offensive line issues. “But credit to (the Seahawks), they did a good job.
“I thought we had a plan to go in and try to negate (Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams) a little bit and they had some complements off of it. And then I would say that when that game fell out of balance early and it’s known pass, you’re going to be swimming upstream versus a really good front.”
And it’s not going to get any easier the rest of the way.
In five of the eight games left to play in 2025, Arizona faces a team sitting 12th or better in quarterback pressure rates.
What changes can be made to Cardinals’ offensive line?
Midway through the season, major changes are not on the way for Arizona’s offensive line. That’ll come in the offseason if things keep up.
Save for Paris Johnson Jr., everyone’s going to be evaluated, including first-year OL coach Justin Frye.
That’s not to say there can’t be some tweaks, such as changing out Jonah Williams at right tackle for Kelvin Beachum. This is one is tricky because Beachum serves as Arizona’s extra blocker with tight ends Tip Reiman and Travis Vokolek done for the season. But Jon Gaines II, who has filled in as a fullback this year, could slide into that spot, thus allowing Beachum to return to a role he’s been in plenty of times before.
It could also be a necessity at this point due to the unknown surrounding Williams’ shoulder issue picked up in Sunday’s loss.
As for along the interior, is it time for Isaiah Adams to get another look? The second-year pro went from a Week 1 starter to an afterthought due to inconsistent play and the return of Will Hernandez.
But with Hernandez having his own struggles, why not give the young guard another shot, especially if he’s in Arizona’s long-term plans?
It’s not just about changes along the O-line, though.
The Cardinals can circumvent some of the shortcomings in the trenches by getting the ball out quicker. That falls on both Brissett, whose play style and ability to hang in the pocket lead to more time with the ball in hands, and the overall play design.