The Arizona Cardinals are the latest team to challenge the “N.F.L. establishment.” They are dangerous subversives with a thrilling dual-threat quarterback and a slick upstart coach whose gimmicky system is all dessert and no vegetables. They may be fun to watch, but conventional wisdom nervously warns that they won’t amount to anything until they grow […]
In 2018, the Cardinals finished with a minus-40.9 percent offensive DVOA, Football Outsiders’ metric for efficiency, the third-worst rating since 1986. Last season, they made dramatic improvements and finished with an offensive DVOA of 3.8 percent, which ranked 13th. The Cardinals’ offensive renaissance was led by quarterback Kyler Murray, the rookie of the year after […]
NFL minds have long been resistant to the idea of Air Raid quarterbacks in the NFL. Some were concerned the reads they made in college were too simple and they wouldn’t be able to adjust to the complexities of an NFL offense. Or they never had to throw into tight windows in college, and would […]