Well, the Arizona Cardinals have designs of taking their offensive success from last season to another level. They hope to ride that wave of enthusiasm into the NFL’s new … Continue reading →The squad returns all but one of eleven starters from a unit that finished 11th nationally in total offense last season. This past offseason, they committed to completely revamping the defense. Players and coaches alike are rightfully excited about this decision. They’re counting on it to pave the way for a seamless move into the regular season.
The next thing that jumps out about the Cardinals’ offense is the continuity, especially on the offensive line. Will Hernandez, the starting right guard Week 1 last year, tore his ACL in Week 5. He has since officially re-signed with the team. His return, alongside Isaiah Adams—who started the final five games of last season—provides a solid foundation for the offensive front.
Evan Brown expressed the importance of this continuity, stating, “It’s just invaluable because things move that much faster when you’re on the same page.” He emphasized that with returning players, the team can focus on the finer details to improve their performance.
Drew Petzing, the offensive coordinator, noted that having a largely intact roster allowed the team to skip over some initial discussions during training camp. “There are some conversations that you’re skipping over because you’ve already had them, so you can dive into some of the deeper details of the job in a lot of different areas,” he explained.
Quarterback Kyler Murray reiterated these feelings when it comes to the overall depth of this team and their familiarity. He said this foundation will be critical as they look ahead towards the off- and on-season, and much-needed change. Newly-signed star target Zay Jones agreed, saying with everyone knowing each other, trust is built between all of the players. He remarked, “You see what’s happening, and you can trust the person next to you that’s going to be out there.”
The Cardinals’ offense is fueled by familiar faces. It’s just as much about creating a shared mental model with your teammates on the field. During training camp, Murray and Jones were constantly talking through certain plays and routes. These types of conversations worked to help them with their on-field chemistry as well. This level of communication has allowed them to make changes faster processes at a training camp.
Murray’s focus on building trust struck a chord with the Planning and Community Health team. He added that in those high-pressure times, like when there’s only a few minutes left in a game, you need to always have confidence in one another. “It’s easy when you come out in the practice field and it’s routes on air… But when you need to win a game, those are the things that show up the most,” he said.
Even offensive linemen have laid claim to that need for speedy, clear communication. Brown mentioned that players are quick to identify and correct mistakes on the field, which enhances overall performance. “Communication is good and even if there’s a mistake—mistakes happen—it’s still quick to be like, ‘Hey I need to do that better,’” he stated.
The Cardinals’ offensive coaching staff is certain this kind of communication and understanding will lead to big time improvements. Petzing had been adamant about how concentrating on the minute aspects of the attack helps to improve performance. This enhanced focus away from logistics allows for better execution when it matters most.
As training camp rolls on, the Arizona Cardinals are confident that their offensive unit’s experience will help them immediately hit the ground running. Their future is bright, due in large part to a very successful offseason. With 12 returning starters, they are set up for success in the upcoming season just like…
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