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Pigeonholed Cardinals?
By Walter Mitchell
I would imagine that most of us completely understand what it feels like to be snubbed or overlooked by the boss you work for. For me, a colleague of mine once told me that he had overheard our English department head say that she didn't think I was suited to teach AP English. She tried to give the assignment to another teacher, but he was let go over the summer and suddenly, much to my department head's apprehension, I got my chance. Fortunately, I was able to prove that I was worthy of the appointment and would wind up teaching AP English for ten years.
For players coming into the NFL, their initial hope is to make the 53-man roster. But after that ---> the vast majority of players aspire to become starters at their positions. Players will tell you that what they hope for most is to be given a fair chance to compete, regardless of where players were drafted or how they were acquired.
In 2017 the Cardinals drafted All-American guard Dorian Johnson of Pittsburgh in the 4th round with the #115 pick. Many of us hoped at the time that Johnson could step right into the starting lineup at RG. Instead, Bruce Arians and Harold Goodwin from the get-go relegated Johnson to the "B Team" practice field which gave him no chance to compete for a starting job.
Dorian Johnson said that he felt demoralized by not having what he considered to be a fair chance to do what he had done all his football life --- start at his position. He did not make the 53-man roster, was waived and signed to the Cardinals' practice squad. A month and a half later the Texans poached him. It would be the only time in Johnson's short career that he was on a 53-man roster. Three weeks later, after the Texans need to sign another QB to the roster because of an injury to Deshaun Watson, Johnson was waived. He had to wait two months to be signed to the Panthers' practice squad and his NFL career fizzled out shortly after that.
While some might argue that Dorian Johnson didn't have what it takes to be a full-time NFL player, a number of players in similar situations would tell you that how they were treated and often pigeonholed by their coaches from day one had made a profound effect on their morale.
What we are witnessing this year from four of the Cardinals' players on offense is a glaring expose in how being pigeonholed into their initial roles has become the ultimate litmus test of their will to change the local and national perception of their capabilities.
RB Emari Demercado
Pigeonholed as a blocking specialist on 3rd downs.
At TCU, Emari, his senior year, was listed as RB2. Yet, it was Emari who rushed for 150 yards and TD versus Michigan in the FBS National Semi-Final at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. Despite his outstanding achievements in the national playoffs, Emari went undrafted. Kudos to Monti Ossenfort, Dave Sears and the Cardinals' scouts for signing Emari as an undrafted free agent.
To Emari's credit, he played so well in his first pre-season that he made the Cardinals' 53-man roster. Not only that, when James Conner was out with an injury, Emari became the starter. He ran impressively hard and tough-nosed versus the Ravens and 49ers, two of the top 5 defenses in the NFL that year. Emari finished his rookie season with 284 rushing yards on 58 carries for an impressive 4.9 average and two rushing touchdowns. He also added 21 receptions for 119 receiving yards.
The truth is, Emari had given the Cardinals reasons to believe that he could be the team's RB2 behind James Conner and be a very capable starter in the event that James Conner would miss another few games due to injuries.
Instead, Monti Ossenfort, still not having properly addressed the team's defensive needs, drafted Trey Benson with his first of four 3rd-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. This surprising move relegated Emari to RB3 and continued to pigeonhole him as a pass protector on 3rd downs.
To make matters worse in 2024, when both James Conner and Trey Benson were lost to injuries, Jonathan Gannon promoted Michael Carter from the team's practice squad and had Carter leapfrog Emari into the RB1 role.
Then --- it was "deja vu all over again" (Berra) this season, something that Michael Carter was laughing out loud about when he was promoted from the practice squad and was appointed RB1 again versus the Tennessee Titans.
Imagine how demoralizing this was for Emari. I believe his frustration was a factor as to why he inadvertently let go of the football at the goal line after his electrifying 71-yard run versus the Titans.
Emari Demercado's Rushing stats:
* 2023 --- 58 carries for 284 yds, 4.9 ave, 2 TDs
* 2024 --- 34 carries for 223 yds., 9.3 ave, 1 TD
* 2025 --- 31 carries for 241 yds, 7.89 ave, 0 TD
Total rushing stats for Cardinals' RBs:
Emari Demercado (3 seasons) --- 113 carries for 748 yds, 6.6 ave, 3 TDs
Michael Carter (3 seasons) --- 97 carries for 387 yds., 3.9 ave., 2 TDs
Trey Benson (2 seasons) --- 92 carries for 451 yds., 4.9 ave., 1 TD
Bam Knight (1 season) --- 53 carries for 181 yds, 3.4 ave, 3 TDs
WR Greg Dortch
Pigeonhole: gadget-type WR4, starting punt returner
Slot WRs on the Cardinals have been largely overlooked and undervalued for too many years.
In 2023, after the seldomly thrown to Greg Dortch caught a pass and d a trio of defenders late in the team's upset win over the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, Jonathan Gannon came over to hug him and the look on Dortch's face said it all --- as in --- "oh now you want to hug me after pretty much ghosting me all year?"
Fact is, Kyler Murray in his 7 years with the Cardinals has never clicked with smallish, quick slot WRs because, in part, of how reluctant he is in throwing consistently over the middle from the pocket.
First there was 2019 2nd-round pick, Andy Isabella.
Then here was 2021 UFA, Greg Dortch.
Next there was 2022 2nd-round pick, Rondale Moore.
Total receiving stats for Cardinals' slot WRs:
* Andy Isabella (3 seasons) --- 31 catches on 49 targets, 63%, 426 yds, 13.7 ave., 3 TDs
* Greg Dortch (5 seasons) --- 137 catches on 180 targets, 76%, 1,243 yds, 9.1 ave, 9 TDs
* Rondale Moore (3 seasons) --- 135 catches on 182 targets, 74%, 1,201 yds, 8.9 ave., 3 TDs
Average catches, yards and TDs per season:
Isabella 10, 142 yds, 1 TD
Dortch 27, 249 yds, 1.8 TDs
Moore 45, 400 yds, 1 TD
Greg Dortch's targets per game in Drew Petzing's offense:
* 2023 --- 2.4
* 2024 --- 2.9
* 2025 --- 2.2
Given Greg Dortch's 6 catch on 6 targets, 66-yard and 1 TD performance last week, there's a decent chance that he may be targeted more often.
Let's just remind ourselves that in today's NFL the WRs at the top of the receiving charts are ones who thrive from the slot. Like Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Ja'Marr Chase, Puka Nacua and Justin Jefferson. Heck, Christian McCaffrey is 9th in yards receiving, splitting time in the backfield and the slot.
Michael Wilson
Pigeonhole: WR2 (3rd most targeted receiver behind Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr.)
On September 4, from my Red Rain blog:
Cardinals' most under-rated player on offense:
WR Michael Wilson
There was a heated debate all off-season among Cardinals' fans as to whether Michael Wilson is a WR2 or WR3. Those who believe that Wilson is a WR3 wanted to see the Cardinals spend another high draft pick on a WR --- or sign a top shelf UFA WR --- or trade for a high profile one.
I bet you right now that if you ask the Cardinals' CBs who is the most difficult WR to cover, the majority of them would say Michael Wilson. If you go back and watch the training camp one-one WR/CB man-to-man reps, Michael Wilson consistently, after 2-3 twitchy moves, is running free and wipe open. Wilson plays with leverage better than any receiver on the roster. Marvin Harrison Jr. is making enormous strides in his route running and use of leverage and is gaining quickly on his teammate. But he still has a little way to go to surpass M-Willy. Here is a sample of a couple of camp reps:
https://x.com/AzCardinals1988/status/1949942726012682624…
Michael Wilson, this season, is playing the quickest and fastest that he has ever played.
Then, what a number of fans and pundits have yet to acknowledge nearly enough about Michael Wilson, are his tremendous hands and focus on the football. More of these please plays, Cardinals:
https://x.com/AzCardinals1988/status/1951418576646353376…
________________________________________________________
In 5 games with Kyler at QB, Michael Wilson: 8 catches (44% catch rate) on 18 targets for 52 yards, 6.5 ave.
In 5 games with Jacoby at QB, Michael Wilson: 29 catches on 38 targets (76% catch rate) for 364 yards, 12.6 ave.
5 best reps in Wilson's 15/19, 185 yds, 12.3 ave performance in his first time as WR1:
Sharing Michael Wilson's rookie season #ReceptionPerception profile because I've been revisiting it both before and after Week 11's big game.
It's interesting to go back and check it out because it feels like a lot of the skills highlighted here - ability vs. man coverage, wins on in-breakers, outs and stop routes - were all present in last week's big game.
Definitely an overlooked player who has more to his game than you might think.
https://receptionperception.com/michael-wilson-2023-player-profile/…
Is Michael Wilson a legitimate number 2 wide receiver in your opinion?
He is not even the number four wide receiver. This is because the general manager didn’t draft one or sign one in free agency.
he catches almost everything thrown his way, they just gotta include him in the scheme more
Never has been, always a 3 at best as of now.
No way. In a good WR room he is a 3, maybe even the 4 WR.
No! It’s sad that we didn’t address this in the offseason. 1 catch for 5 yards isn’t a #2 receiver
He definitely has the potential
I’ve been saying for years that Kyler doesn’t care about his receivers which is why we’ve drafted and traded for so many. Only receiver he tried getting the ball to on purpose was D Hop. At what point do we look at the QB?
He has not proven to be a reliable #2. That said, he can be.
Yes but we don’t use him right
This chart confirms that Michael Wilson is #7 best WR (min 175 snaps) in separation vs man coverage:
1. Josh Downs (IND)
2. Tyquan Thornton (KC)
3. Mack Hollins (NE)
4. Garrett Wilson (NYJ)
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)
6. Tez Johnson (TB)
7. Michael Wilson (ARI)
8. Nico Collins (HOU)
9. George Pickens (DAL)
10. Matthew Golden (GB)
Jacoby Brissett
Pigeonhole: backup QB
NO - Rattler 214 - Kyler 163
CAR - Young 328 - Kyler 220
SF - Mac Jones 284 - Kyler 159
SEA - Darnold 242 - Kyler 200
TEN - Ward 265 - Kyler 220
IND - Jacoby 320 - Daniel Jones 212
GB - Jacoby 279 - Love 179
DAL - Jacoby 261 - Prescott 250
SEA - Jacoby 258 - Darnold 178
SF - Jacoby 452 - Purdy 200
Jacoby has completely flipped the script. Trey has thrived (6 TDs in last 5 games), Wilson and Dortch have been reborn, as way Zay Jones before he was injured. Over the last 5 weeks Jacoby has led the NFL in 3rd down completion percentage at 49%. As has his 314 yards passing per game.
Jacoby's Toughness and Leadership: Per Paris Johnson Jr.
Jacoby: "Opportunity to start is whatI've always dreamed about my entire life."
Red Rain Blog Question of the Day:
Should Jacoby Brissett in light of the passing prowess he has shown the last 5 games and the confidence he has instilled in his teammates be a legitimate candidate to be the team's starting QB in 2026?
Phenomenal numbers from Jacoby and 3 top rec's that Cards have not seen since the days of Kurt Warner:
* Michael Wilson --- 15/18, 185 yards, 12.3
* Trey McBride --- 10/11, 115 yards, 11.5, 1 TD
* Greg Dortch --- 6/6, 66 yards, 11.0, 1 TD
Totals: 31/35, 89%, 366 yards, 11.8, 2
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Comments:
ReplyDelete--Petzing doesn't really have too many plays for a slot WR that are successful (at least I haven't seen it in his 3yr tenure)
--With Kyler at helm we were a run first team, with JB at helm we became a pass first team... Does petzing not believe in Kyler's prowess as a passer. KK used Kyler in pass first offense with success why the drop-off with Petzing?
--Demarcado issue is his draft status (undrafted -v- 3rd round pick Benson) would like to see coaching staff do more in terms of development.--
--Training/Conditioning coach needs to consider different flexibility program that keeps guys from injury.
--Decision Making, Coaching, Development: It appears we make decisions based on draft position rather than actual play on field (in general). Coaching basics (Blocking, Tackling) have not been a priority or they are being taught wrong.
Jacoby is a legit QB candidate for '26 Cards with a few caveats:
DeleteDrew Petzing should not be the OC, because DP can't develop hasn't developed a QB and we should find a rookie or young Qb to become the long term future Qb;
JB must earn the starter role against quality competition.
All players must compete and earn their role on every team. Anointing players doesn't play well with teammates who have to earn their spot and keep it.
Take a look again at the Michael Wilson section. Added a chart that has him ranked #7 in WR separation vs man to man and look at the company he's with:
ReplyDeleteWalter B J Mitchell
@WBJMItch
·
1m
This chart confirms that Michael Wilson is #7 best WR (min 175 snaps) in separation vs man coverage:
1. Josh Downs (IND)
2. Tyquan Thornton (KC)
3. Mack Hollins (NE)
4. Garrett Wilson (NYJ)
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)
6. Tez Johnson (TB)
7. Michael Wilson (ARI)
8. Nico Collins (HOU)
9. George Pickens (DAL)
10. Matthew Golden (GB)
Ya think our OC had a clue? Play after play focused on MHJ, McBride even Dortch over Wilson. Hollywood Brown, even Rhondale Moore got more looks.
DeletePetzing's offensive philosophy has heavily emphasized the run game and utilizing multiple tight end sets, which naturally results in fewer targets for wide receivers in general
Regardless, let's give the young man his props and hope he isn't bitter and signs elsewhere when his contract is up.
Or did Kyler Murray have a clue? It has taken Jacoby Brissett to unlock the Cardinals' passing offense and the talent at WR that so many fans claimed was putrid.
DeleteJacoby has earned the right to be the starting QB. If we can lean on him to help on-board QB of the future all the better. He has actually been one of the few bright spots this season.
ReplyDeleteMonti’s first 7 picks of the 2024 draft was all time type of malpractice. 2 frp, 1 srp and 3 3rd, every single pick he simply just chose the wrong guy. The year prior he traded out of drafting Will Anderson who was the best player on the field on Thursday night and is the 2nd best pass rusher in the league rn behind Myles G. If he had done even a middle of the road job with those 15 top 100 picks out present and future looks entirely different. Objectively I don’t believe there’s a GM in the league who’d have gotten less out of those 15 picks. So long as he head of personnel, the Cardinals will remain the doormat of the division.
ReplyDeleteSince already said it above but the anointing of starters, there’s no worse protocol a staff can assume. There needs to be open competition at every spot on the roster and the best players need to start. JG has been derelict in that regard and it’s just one of many reasons he needs to go.
Monti did do one thing right last offseason when he brought in Brissett. The guy is only 32 and for whatever reason, he’s found himself at the pinnacle of his abilities and anything he’d put on tape in prior seasons is irrelevant. 2025 Brissett is a baller and I don’t need to see any more to understand we won’t be able to acquire a better qb for next season. Can he avoid injury behind the terrible line play is really the only question. Niners are decimated with injuries on defense, which helped us keep him a bit cleaner than other weeks where he was hit way too much. I believe it’d be efficacious to even extend JB for another aeason after next, perhaps add another season on around 10-15M, so he’s got 2/20M remaining to be paid after this season is over. It’d be a massive bargain if that’s something he’d agree to.
Much to the ridicule of others, I've long said that MW is a gem that can easily eclipse 800 yards in a season. Probably even 1,000. He has everything needed to be a successful WR - speed, intelligence, smooth route running, etc. All it took was a QB who can unleash the offense. Kyler severely limited us.
ReplyDelete