-- The 1st-team WR group has a surprise: It’s Marquise-Rondale…and Zach Pascal. Before we rush off and think it’s just ‘favoring the veteran’ early and ‘making the young WRs work for it’ -- Pascal was in Philly with this new Arizona (former Philly) regime last year.
-- Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson have been the best two WRs in camp…and they are the two most talented WRs on the team, in my opinion…and they are both listed as 2nd-team WRs. How Dortch is not starting over Pascal is/would be further proof that Arizona is not trying to win in 2023.
If I were the GM of the Cardinals, I would trade Marquise Brown before Sept 1st. -- and I think there’s a 20%+ chance that will happen. Then I’d run with Wilson-Dortch-Rondale…while trying to lose/tank 2023, to prep for 2024.
-- Colt McCoy is listed ahead of Clayton Tune, which makes sense…but Tune is already ahead of David Blough, so there’s good vibes on Tune for sure. I can’t imagine he will beat out McCoy for Week 1, but it’s not as impossible as I thought it might be weeks ago.
Tune has hope, but also note -- he’s built to look great in no-threat-of-contact practices/scrimmages.
-- Dennis Gardeck, my man, is listed as the starting OLB/EDGE…which is surprising. I just assumed he would always be overlooked -- but maybe this new regime is gonna give him a real chance. He’s an 8+ sack guy if he is the real starter this season.
-- Arizona is entering the season with multiple-time failed Kyzir White and solid enough Krys Barnes as the starting ILB duo. Unbelievable…either Arizona is trying to lose, or they are really awful at football roster management.
I look at this starting defense, on the depth chart…and it is for-sure the worst starting defensive personnel in the league. Not even close.
-- Marlon Mack just joined the team a few days ago…and is probably the 2nd best back on the team, but was listed as the #5 RB, which is OK since he just got there. But his march to #2 RB got derailed the next day as he tore his Achilles and is done for the season. Keaontay Ingram is back to the #2…until Arizona signs someone else.
