GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals made no significant addition to the offense this offseason, and was it the right call? Arizona had the seventh most rushing yards in the NFL last year and was second with 5.3 in yards per carry. The duo of James Conner and Kyler Murray were dynamic in the run game and has been a consistent force since head coach Jonathan Gannon took over.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Add in the arrival of Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride, and the offense help the team double its win total in the past two seasons. Entering 2025, the Cardinals have playoff aspirations and it’ll be off the backs of those three offensive players that is an elite trio, according to Sports Illustrated writer Matt Verderame. He ranked the Arizona trio 11th of all 32 teams in the NFL, believing that they will be the key to the team’s success next year.
Dec 3, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) passes the ball to tight end Trey McBride (85) against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Verderame on Cardinals trio:
“If Arizona is going to make the playoffs in the third year of coach Jonathan Gannon’s regime, it’ll be because the offense takes wing. Murray accounted for 4,423 total yards last season, with McBride hauling in 111 receptions for 1,146 yards and two touchdowns. Conner accounted for 1,094 yards on the ground on 4.6 YPC and eight touchdowns, rounding out Arizona’s attack.”
Dec 3, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) celebrates a touchdown near running back James Conner (6) against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Under Gannon, the offense has consistently improved week-to-week and is set for a monster third-year together in the same system. While the offense is improving, the defense seemed stalled and was holding back the Cardinals in taking the next step. General Manager Monti Ossenfort solved that problem by signing multiple Pro Bowlers, like Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell, and drafting high-end prospects, like Walter Nolen and Will Johnson, to elevate the defense to the level of its counterpart.
Arizona is eyeing to end its three-year playoff drought, while Murray is desperate for his first career playoff win. The pieces are in place for Gannon to take the franchise to new heights, realizing those expectations will be another thing entirely.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
