Revenge of the Birds
The Arizona Cardinals (2-3-0) have lost three straight games. Each one, they gave away. So, what do they need to do going forward?
They face a very good team in the Indianapolis Colts this weekend. Indy is currently 4-1-0 and tied for the lead in the AFC South Division. They have scored the second-most points in the league this season.
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What will it take to defeat Indianapolis? How can the Cardinals stop this three-game losing streak and come away with a much-needed win?
The Cardinals are operating with their third and fourth string running backs. Emari Demercado began the season as RB3 and is now the starter. Michael Carter was on the practice squad and is now a featured back. This means the running game is in trouble and is barely treading along the best it can. Other viable options must be considered.
In order to keep the offense moving, Arizona needs to find TE Trey McBride and feed him a steady diet of passes the entire game. McBride is not being utilized enough.
Five catches against the Tennessee Titans. Is this correct? 41 yards? One touchdown catch for the year? Is anyone paying attention to how the team’s most versatile pass catcher is not being used?
The Colts’ defense has several weaknesses, but one is that they are frail against coverage on the tight end position. All of their linebackers are good tacklers in run support, but soft in coverage. SAM linebacker Segun Olubi is known for his ability to go sideline-to-sideline, but is slow to recognize passing plays if the quarterback has given a good fake to the running back. WILL linebacker Austin Ajiake has great speed, but is viewed as being too passive and is not good in coverage. The MIKE linebacker, Zaire Franklin, is the only one who will react quickly to passing downs and can cover.
Generally, it is the outside backers who cover the tight end.
McBride is a former star basketball player. He set school records in high school for both basketball and baseball, records that still stand today. He is 6’-4” and 246 pounds, so he isn’t going to go down easily. Of his 265 receiving yards this season, 117 are YAC (yards after contact) production. That is a lot of pushing, scraping, and hand fighting to gain those extra yards after catching the ball.
He knows how to box out his opponent in the paint for a rebound. He can jump and can use his body to protect the ball from being defended while the pass is in flight. McBride is excellent at making the defender have to go through him before reaching the ball. Plus, we have seen how he is able to get open.
Throw him the damn ball.
The NFL has some top names at running back: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, Josh Jacobs, and Alvin Kamara.
This year, the...
