The Arizona Cardinals had joint practices this week against the Green Bay Packers. They are coached by Mike LaFleur’s brother, Matt. Both brothers are students of the same offensive scheme and have ties back to the Los Angeles Rams who both coached under Sean McVay.
Noticed in the week’s goings-on were the brothers’ parents, fresh out of Michigan.
In the end, Arizona’s defense allowed a good fourth-quarter lead to vanish as they lost 42-38. The Cardinals second team offense played really well, especially the offensive line. It wasn’t until the third string players came in that things began to unravel. Green Bay did not score in the third quarter, but put points up on the board every time they touched the ball in Quarter 4.
Hopefully, the coaching staff will know which players to cut on Sunday. We will see.
So, who played well for the Cardinals? Who didn’t?
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**LB Karson Sharar –** The rookie was making plays the entire time he stepped on the field. Excellent stop in the first quarter with that four-year loss on the short right completion to RB Pierre Strong. Led all defenders with five tackles and one tackle for loss.
**RB Evan Hull –** Great game, and what a burst through the line on that scamper in the second quarter. He took it to the house, and it was estimated he was running 21.62 MPH. Will this type of play be enough to keep him on the final roster? The question is, who would they cut instead? Led all ball carriers with 16 carries for 107 yards, two touchdowns, and a 6.7 yards-per-carry average.
**QB Gardner Minshew –** Very good confidence on the field the entire time. Handled the offense well and had control. All of these are traits you want to see in your backup QB, and Minshew shows it. What a beautiful throw to Fehoko with CB Domani Jackson all over him. Finished 7 for 9 for 126 yards with one TD and zero picks, sacked once, and a 155.8 QB rating.
**WR Simi Fehoko –** Every game he finds ways to get open and make plays. The nine-yard TD late in the fourth quarter was a sign of his good route running. He will fight for contested balls. Great awareness on the toe tap to secure the catch. Is he a bubble player, or has this game shown he should make the final roster? Led all receivers with 8 targets, 5 catches for 94 yards plus two touchdowns.
**DE B.J. Ojulari –** Has had a mixed review in training camp, but he balled out in this game. The half sack with Eku Leota was all speed off the edge and then disregarding RT Travis Glover. The full sack with 7:47 left in Quarter 3 was all him. He began in an up stance; right off the snap, he was halfway beyond RT Darrian Kinnard. Backup QB Kyle McCord had no chance. On the very next play, stuffed RB Jaden Nixon for just two yards. Great run defense in this game, but his passing skills - are they back?
**Fourth-quarter defense** – The Cardinals had a 31-24 lead going into the fourth stanza. Instead of a staunch defense, Arizona allowed an FG, a TD, and a TD, and lost. In the fourth quarter, Green Bay scored on every drive, netting 18 points.
**CB Elijah Culp** – Horrible tackling attempt with 25 seconds left in the game with a three-point lead. First, he did not read the receiver right and was out of place. Then, when Kisean Johnson caught the pass, he whiffed at the three-yard line, only grabbing one leg. On the drive before, it was Culp who was beaten badly for the touchdown with 3:20 left and got the Packers close on the scoreboard. Finished with three tackles.
**LT Demontrey Jacobs** **and OG Matt Pryor** – Jacobs had issues the entire second half keeping out OLB Nyjalik Kelly, who finally got a sack late in the third quarter. Jacobs also struggled with run blocking. Pryor did not pick up the stunt early in the game that was an easy sack by Dani Dennis-Sutton.
**P Jack Browning and punt coverage team** – Browning had three kicks for a 46.0 average. That may work in college. He did boom a 52-yard punt. Punt coverage team? Did anyone touch Packers KR Will Sheppard at all on that 81-yard return? It appeared all of the Cardinals’ defenders were in slo-mo as Sheppard passed them? Isn’t right up the guy the big no-no? It all started when S Isaiah Oliver missed Sheppard, then three tacklers were huddled along the sideline, went straight up the middle with a blocker in front. Geez.
\--------------------------------------------------------------------------------**Bird seed: 9 out of 10 voices in my head say I’m crazy. The 10th is humming…..**
**CB Starling Thomas –** The defensive back has struggled some in this year’s training camp, but he was Johnny on the Spot with the fumble recovery with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter. It plays like this that will change the direction of any game. Had two tackles, a batted pass, plus the fumble recovery. But the PI call in the fourth quarter gave the Packers the ball in Cardinals’ territory on the fourth-and-17. He also missed the tackle at the four-yard line on the long touchdown grab by Michael Sturdivant early in the second quarter. Two tackles.
**DT Cam Horsley –** Made the forced fumbleafter beating the block from LG Dillon Wade. Had just one tackle.
See More:
* [Arizona Cardinals News](/arizona-cardinals-news)
* [Arizona Cardinals Preseason](/arizona-cardinals-preseason)