The Arizona Cardinals dropped their only home preseason game to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 24-17
Of course, we all tell ourselves the preseason doesn’t mean anything and that is very true. However, it clearly would have been nice to win this one for two reasons.
- Break the Ravens’ 21-game preseason winning streak.
- Have Kyler Murray lead a comeback not as a quarterback, but as a play caller
Alas, that didn’t happen and John Harbaugh and Co. racked up yet another preseason victory but the Arizona Cardinals still gained some valuable information about the team ahead of yet another cut. All teams must cut down to 80 players by Tuesday and the Cardinals will need to let five players go.
So here are some quick reactions to the highs and lows of what we saw from the team this Sunday.
Low – Trace McSorley cooled down but is still capable
McSorley’s performance was one of the highlights of the Cardinals-Bengals game but he was a bit less impressive this Sunday. He threw for a good amount of yards, 229, but was very inefficient through most of the evening. He finished with a 52.9% completion rate and 49.8 passer rating to go along with two interceptions.
He did get into the endzone with his legs in the third quarter, but his performance through the air was rather lackluster. That being said, there is still a lot of good argument to keep him around as a 3rd string QB. He has uncannily similar body movement to Murray and in the event that he and Colt McCoy both went down, McSorley could probably step in and allow the offense to function at least somewhat like it does when QB1 is on the field.
High – Andy Isabella is making a case for himself
The Arizona Cardinals have clearly been torn on what to do with Andy Isabella as evidenced by the amount of playing time he has gotten in the preseason. It seems they are trying to get as much information as possible before making any major decisions regarding his future with the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2019 draft.
On Sunday, Isabella was the team’s second-leading receiver with 5 receptions on 8 targets and 54 yards. He was sent downfield on a number of occasions and drew two defensive pass interference calls that helped move the sticks. He showed that his type of speed does not come around every day and even as a “less-talented” pure receiver, he still has value on the field.
He played well against the Bengals as well and might be making a case for himself on the 53-man roster.
Low – Zaven Collins looked a bit better?
This is sort of hard to say with how little he showed up on the stat sheet, but that is always only half the reality of how a player performed. He was around the ball a lot more than in Game 1 of the preseason but he, along with everyone, struggled with tackling and actually stopping plays. He did have one tackle for loss that was nice to see, but for a first-round linebacker, he is still falling short of expectations.
High – Greg Dortch continues to torch
Wide receiver Greg Dortch didn’t have the same type of game on Sunday as he did in Week 1 of the preseason, but he continued to show that he could bring something to the team if he makes the final roster.
He finished third in receiving with 4 catches on 7 targets for 47 yards with one of those being a 34-yard bomb from Trace McSorley. He did not have another 55-yard punt return this week, but those can’t be expected in every game.
The surprise performances of Isabella might make it a bit harder for Dortch to make the team, but it is still seeming like he is approaching a lock every time we see him on the field.
Low – Tackling is an issue
I know what some are thinking. This isn’t anything to be concerned about since we weren’t playing our starting lineup. Sure, there is some truth to that, but considering tackling is an issue year in and year out I do think it is worth some level of concern.
Being such a consistent issue points to something lacking in coaching since this is a problem not confined to only one position group. What that issue is, I have no clue, but it has been frustrating watching opponents get so many extra yards because the Cardinals struggle with one of the most basic aspects of defensive football.
Low – Please send every cornerback to Arizona, STAT
The cornerback room was, to put it simply and mildly, not good on Sunday.
Blown coverages, missed tackles, pass interference. Anything they could do wrong, they did, which does not instill any confidence in the depth of this position group (or starting group really).
It has been rumored that the Arizona Cardinals are in the trade market for a cornerback as early as this week, and honestly, it can’t come soon enough. Some type of veteran experience that can reliably take care of one side of the field is an absolute must for defensive success at this point. Whether that means bringing back Robert Alford, signing another older free agent, or trading for a young guy that can be with the team for years to come, something has to happen at this position.
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