The Arizona Cardinals are dotting their “i’s” and crossing all the “t’s” as they prepare to play their first game of the season this weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers.
This is an exciting time for both the coaching staff, the players, and the Cardinals fanbase.
This new offensive system is the headline of this year’s team.
New head coach Mike LaFleur has taken his experience under similar systems used with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. Does this mean that the Cardinals will have the offensive firepower of their division foes LA and SF?
Yes and no. Yes, it is designed similarly, with a lot of schemes, player personnel, and traits the same. No, in that this doesn’t happen overnight.
But this offense is loaded with talent. That is, on paper.
It all starts with the offensive line and the talent of the quarterback. We will see if both of these boxes become checked as games fall off the calendar.
The true test of the new offense is how the receiver room is utilized. Let’s do a deep dive.
The X receiver lines up wide from the offensive line. Back in the day, it was referred to as the “split end.” This position is responsible for running a complete route tree, having good moves, physicality, and the ability to get downfield.
Marv Harrison (6’-3”, 220 pounds) is the Cardinals’ X receiver. It is what he played in college, and last year’s coaching staff - along with LaFleur’s guys - have kept him there. Harrison had a ton of success in the X at Ohio State, so why relocate him and attempt to teach him a new job?
Just imagine if Harrison can take a huge leap this year. Name a receiver award in college, and that hardware became a fireplace mantelpiece for his household.
There are plenty of questions regarding Harrison, and it all begins with his durability. He spent his entire career at all levels without ever having any major injuries, but last year he was in and out of the lineup. If he can remain upright, he can become a very valuable tool in this offense.
This position typically remains isolated all game. In LaFleur’s system, Harrison must be highly versatile and will be moved around from side to side quite a bit. This is because of tactical responsibilities. One of these is the ability to absorb and fight off physicality from the outside cornerback, who can jam Harrison as soon as the ball is snapped. His job has no cushion against aggressive press coverage, and he has to be able to beat a jam. The X has the ability to use the sideline to his benefit.
The X must be a good downfield blocker. Harrison is considered a willing and capable blocker, although this is not his strongest asset. While this offense will use quite a bit of 12 and 13 personnel, this will often leave the X isolated in man coverage for his number to be called, or simply running the decoy on a clear-out route for another receiver underneath.
The main job of the X is to win those isolated man matchups. Harrison showed in college that that is his style of play anyway.
This is where it gets interesting. Last year’s sensation in this offense, Michael Wilson (6’-2”, 213 pounds) is the Z receiver. This position is different from last year’s offensive scheme. Back in the day, this was referred to as the “flanker.”
Look at the Los Angeles Rams. The Z is Puka Nacua. Look at the Seattle Seahawks. Their Z is Cooper Kupp.
Typically, the Z receiver is the secondary option, but in LaFleur’s offense, it is the engine that sparks the passing game.
The Z is a step off the line of scrimmage as another outside receiver and is able to go in motion.
Part of the scheme for the Z is that it heavily utilizes play-action concepts that strike the intermediate portions of the field. This helps the offensive line because plays don’t take that long to develop, and the ball is out pretty quickly. Now, it does require a receiver who isn’t afraid to run crossing routes and deal with hard-hitting safeties.
As the Z the past three seasons, Nacua had 160, 106, and 166 targets, and 1,486, 990, and 1,715 yards, respectively. And who was Nacua’s coach? LaFleur.
This position sits inside its own little pocket outside of either side’s offensive tackle, or if a tight end is lined up. He must be a step off the line and have another receiver on his outside shoulder. He is another guy who will often go into motion and run the ball on the jet sweep. Usually, this is a smaller receiver.
For now, Kendrick Bourne (6’-1”, 205 pounds) is playing the slot.
Tyreek Hill is a great example who perfectly fills this role by getting up to speed before he turns upfield and has a good running start, often just blowing by his defender. And while Bourne isn’t running in the 4.3 range, his time in the 40 was 4.68, so he doesn’t have that flat-out speed, but he does have quickness.
This is a player who rarely gets jammed at the line and doesn’t have the sideline to work with or help him out with bad throws. Bourne is used to the short passing game, which is what the slot was invented for. All it takes is to fool just one defender, and either the center of the field or a soft zone towards the sideline is what he is working for. More than the other two positions, the slot guy must be able to create separation. And after he has gotten some space between himself and the defender, he must be able to defend himself against a head-hunting safety.
At times, Bourne will be asked to take it deep, usually in center field. By taking his routes down the middle of the field, he has the advantage of knowing which direction he will break off his route.
There will be some four-receiver sets, but only once in a while. But this offense would rather stick another tight end on the field than four pass catchers. When it does happen, most likely you will see Simi Fehoko (6’-4”, 225 pounds), who is the backup to Wilson, as WR4.
Two players who should get some snaps are Jalen Brooks (6’-1”, 205 pounds) and the rookie, Reggie Virgil (6’-3”, 187 pounds). Devin Duvernay (5’-10”, 202 pounds) is also listed in the receiver room, but most likely he will be strictly a kickoff and punt returner.
Brooks is the guy who might be able to strip away some snaps from Bourne. He has an uncanny ability to get open in deep soft zones and is fearless about being around defenders. He will take hits and secure the catch extremely well.
The coaches are very high on the rookie Virgil. But just remember, it is a very deep room. And he is in his first year, so his best friend is patience.
This entire group for the past two years pretty much was reliant on the development of Harrison, who was taken with the fourth overall pick and was expected to become the next Jerry Rice and blow up the league.
But with the development of Wilson last year, and the experience of Bourne being signed away from the 49ers (who run this same offense) and the preseason success of both Brooks and Virgil, the Cardinals won’t have to rely on Harrison so much this year. If he continues to get injured, the offense is no longer decimated by his absence. There are guys now who can become plug-and-play, and the beat goes on.
If Harrison can remain vertical, if Wilson can grow his game even further, and if Bourne can fill his role with his nine years of experience, this will give the Cardinals what they have been missing for many, many years since the glory days of Larry Fitzgerald.
A balanced passing attack.
The Cardinals open Week 1 on Sunday, September 13, on the road against the Chargers. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m.(Eastern) and will be broadcast on CBS.
See More:
* [Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart](/arizona-cardinals-depth-chart)
* [Arizona Cardinals discussion](/arizona-cardinals-discussion)