Cardinals' success starts with physicality

how are they Arizona Cardinals Did it suddenly become this good? It’s a question that has the NFL stumped.

This is a team that has won four straight and a month ago seemed mired in mediocrity. They’re now atop the NFC West at 6-4 and playing like one of the league’s best teams, at least temporarily.

The answer starts with a principle that Jonathan Gannon promises to instill from Day 1: physicality.

Cardinals dominate with tight ends

Part of the Cardinals’ physicality is schematic. According to Sümer Spor, they use multiple tight ends on 46% of offensive snaps, ranking second behind the Chiefs.

They also leaned heavily on multiple tight end looks last year in offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s first season. But this summer, they blocked tight end Tip Reiman in the third round, allowing them to utilize tight ends even more.

And naturally, these looks help manage the ball. The Cardinals ran 193 plays across multiple tight end sets this year, the most in the league. They also average 4.8 yards per carry on those plays, the third highest in the league.

Not only that, but 130 of those games were gap schemes, as opposed to the regional running style that has exploded in popularity over the last decade. No other team has more than 75 such runs.

A bruising, physical style that makes defending difficult.

These runs in Sunday’s 31-6 victory against the Jets show three different ways the Cardinals can use their tight ends.

On the first, they line up all three tight ends on the same side to cover the front end of the play for Trey Benson. On the second, they help freeze the defender by using Trey McBride’s receiving threat as a decoy from the backfield. On the third, Elijah Higgins lines up at fullback and all three tight ends work their way to the second level. They helped break up James Conner for a 12-yard gain, Conner’s longest carry of the day.

Higgins’ usage perhaps best exemplifies the Cardinals’ commitment to their power run game. He was a wide receiver in college and is in his second season as a tight end, but he had no reservations about his role in an offense that used him more as a blocker than a pass catcher.

The Cardinals’ use of tight ends also has major advantages in the passing game. Kyler Murray has seen base coverage — meaning he has four defensive backs on the field as opposed to the five defensive back looks most common in the modern NFL — more than all but two other quarterbacks.

On those plays, he’s averaging 10.2 yards per attempt compared to 6.6 yards per attempt against five or six defenders.

In all three of these games, the Cardinals face multiple tight ends. The Jets are aware of the threat posed in the run game, so they respond with three defenders, sacrificing defense.

On the first play, two of the linebackers faked a run, leading to Marvin Harrison Jr., who noticed zone coverage and slowed his route to stay open. It opens a space for This is a rookie defenseman with an understanding of opposing defenses that he didn’t always have at the start of the year.

“I’m making decisions quicker, reading the defense,” Harrison said recently. “That’s also part of my preparation, studying film throughout the week, getting a feel for what the defense likes to do. “Letting me go out there and play fast, I think that’s something I’m getting better at every week.”

With Trey Benson going out in the second game, there is no danger of a run. But the motion roils the Jets defense, which has never fully recovered. Additionally, their three defender appearances create a mismatch for McBride. Like Harrison, McBride excels at recognizing zone coverage and settling into open space.

“I have to run my route within a certain constraint and I have a small area to work with,” McBride said. “I can do things based on different scopes. The game has really slowed down for me over the last few years.

Aaron Rodgers reflects on tough day against Arizona Cardinals

Aaron Rodgers describes the play where the Cardinals sacked him and caused mayhem.

“I can actually see the feeds, understand what’s happening before it happens. Kyler is really good at understanding that, too.”

In the third game, the Jets sell out the run. This allows McBride to pass down the field unnoticed and get wide open at the back end of the play.

This is what Petzing dreamed of in training camp.

“We put (multiple tight spots) on the field, are you going to stay at base or are you going to be at nickel?” Petzing said at the time. “Are you going to put five on the field? And as much as you have to worry about that, now you have to defend multiple offenses with those people on the field.”

Cardinals playing with motor and violence

The other aspect of the Cardinals’ physicality comes down to mentality. Gannon’s favorite slogan is “motor and violence.” He demands consistent aggression from his players.

They recently illustrated this.

“What is consistent with our team is how we play,” Gannon said. “… The effort, the engine, the finish, the violence, the hitting. I think there is a way to play this game and if this part is correct it can give you a chance to win many games. And everyone does it.”

It’s seen on both sides of the ball, but it’s especially evident on offense.

In all four of these games, the Cardinals’ offensive line shows a high level of aggression, finishing blocks and flattening defenders. On plays one and three, left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. clears the way for opening holes for ball carriers. In the second and fourth games, center Hjalte Froholdt does the same.

But in reality it is a team effort; It’s a workout that extends to wide receivers and tight ends. On the first play, Reiman and receiver Michael Wilson rush down 40 yards to help Conner if he needs additional blocks. Neither is ultimately involved in the play, but both realize the details Gannon so passionately emphasizes.

Thus begins a four-game winning streak.

Cardinals dominate with tight ends

Cardinals playing with motor and violence

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