This Defense

[Dayman]

Maybe it's because of the disproportionate amount of pick sixes. Maybe it's because piling on Kyler when he's down is just too darn fun. But for whatever reason, there has been very little talk about our truly atrocious defense.

League ranks:

Points allowed - 31st
Yards allowed - 26th
Passer rating against - 28th
Sacks - 22nd

Our current points allowed average would be the 5th worst in franchise history. Not just Phoenix/Arizona franchise history. The whole history.

And it's steadily getting worse. Over the last 3 games:

Points allowed per game - 33
Yards allowed per game - 432
Passer rating allowed - 100

If the points allowed average goes up another 1.5 points by the end of the year, this will be the worst defense in Cardinal history based on that metric.

But we don't have any money invested in the defense, so this is expected, right? Nope. 10 of our top 20 cap hits are on the defensive side of the ball, including 2 of our top 3.

But what about injuries? Outside of Lawrence and now Budda, the defense has been healthy. They just haven't been any good.

This team is bad in all phases right now. That very much includes the defense, which is on track to be historically horrible.

#keimtime

 

[GoldGloveschmidt]

It's very bad. We either get a splash play turnover or a long, grinding drive where they run the ball at will and convert every 3rd down. And every time the offense scores and the momentum seems to be shifting, the D gives up another score on the next drive.

 

[gmabel830]

We have a mix of good guys (Budda, Byron, Jalen, JJ, Allen) and bad guys (everyone else not mentioned in the next list, with only a couple in between (Zaven, Simmons, and Golden minus this year).

 

[BritCard]

Maybe it's because of the disproportionate amount of pick sixes. Maybe it's because piling on Kyler when he's down is just too darn fun. But for whatever reason, there has been very little talk about our truly atrocious defense.

League ranks:

Points allowed - 31st
Yards allowed - 26th
Passer rating against - 28th
Sacks - 22nd

Our current points allowed average would be the 5th worst in franchise history. Not just Phoenix/Arizona franchise history. The whole history.

And it's steadily getting worse. Over the last 3 games:

Points allowed per game - 33
Yards allowed per game - 432
Passer rating allowed - 100

If the points allowed average goes up another 1.5 points by the end of the year, this will be the worst defense in Cardinal history based on that metric.

But we don't have any money invested in the defense, so this is expected, right? Nope. 10 of our top 20 cap hits are on the defensive side of the ball, including 2 of our top 3.

But what about injuries? Outside of Lawrence and now Budda, the defense has been healthy. They just haven't been any good.

This team is bad in all phases right now. That very much includes the defense, which is on track to be historically horrible.

#keimtime

I'd like to see this broken down by snaps. They have been on the field that much that they are bound to concede more things measured by absolute numbers.

EDIT - still bad. Only Chargers and Lions worse on points per play. 26th in yards per play.

 

[nashman]

Oh it’s atrocious which to me is why it’s hilarious some only point to Kyler why this team is losing lol. Terrible coaching staff that never has the team prepared, always among the leaders in penalties, atrocious D that can’t stop anyone consistently, NO Oline to speak of, terrible running game, injuries everywhere like crazy, but yeah Kyler should be expected to overcome all that… joke! He is by no means playing well but how could he be expected too? Zero balance terrible protection, clown who doesn’t know how to run an NFL offense is what it is…

 

[Crimson Warrior]

We are a terrible football team. Top to bottom. Just awful.

 

[vince56]

The only excuse I can say is the offense sure puts the defense back on the field a lot with the 3 and outs.

Otherwise, the defense is like a hitter that bats 0.100 with 40 HRs. Yeah it’s splashy performance but it’s not going to win you games.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

The only excuse I can say is the offense sure puts the defense back on the field a lot with the 3 and outs.

Otherwise, the defense is like a hitter that bats 0.100 with 40 HRs. Yeah it’s splashy performance but it’s not going to win you games.

True. But the defense is terrible getting off of the field on 3rd down too.

 

[BigRedRage]

probably the lack of rest

 

[kerouac9]

19th in defensive DVOA. Part of it is that we've played the eighth-hardest schedule of offenses in the league.

We're not great on defense (obviously), but the reasons people aren't talking more about it is because we're 30th in offensive DVOA against the 24th-hardest opponent schedule in the league.

 

[JD Robertson]

We are a terrible football ORGANIZATION. Top to bottom. Just awful.

FIFY

 

[Krangodnzr]

Maybe it's because of the disproportionate amount of pick sixes. Maybe it's because piling on Kyler when he's down is just too darn fun. But for whatever reason, there has been very little talk about our truly atrocious defense.

League ranks:

Points allowed - 31st
Yards allowed - 26th
Passer rating against - 28th
Sacks - 22nd

Our current points allowed average would be the 5th worst in franchise history. Not just Phoenix/Arizona franchise history. The whole history.

And it's steadily getting worse. Over the last 3 games:

Points allowed per game - 33
Yards allowed per game - 432
Passer rating allowed - 100

If the points allowed average goes up another 1.5 points by the end of the year, this will be the worst defense in Cardinal history based on that metric.

But we don't have any money invested in the defense, so this is expected, right? Nope. 10 of our top 20 cap hits are on the defensive side of the ball, including 2 of our top 3.

But what about injuries? Outside of Lawrence and now Budda, the defense has been healthy. They just haven't been any good.

This team is bad in all phases right now. That very much includes the defense, which is on track to be historically horrible.

#keimtime

This is partially the result of: punt, punt, punt, punt.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

This is partially the result of: punt, punt, punt, punt.

Maybe you should check our average time of possession for 2022 Krang. I show we're 14th in the league at 30:18 per game.

But whatever man. Whatever fits your and Britcard's narrative that Murray is by far and away the number one problem with our team.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

The only excuse I can say is the offense sure puts the defense back on the field a lot with the 3 and outs.

Otherwise, the defense is like a hitter that bats 0.100 with 40 HRs. Yeah it’s splashy performance but it’s not going to win you games.

Yeah you would be right except for the fact that ARZ leads the league in offensive snaps per game at 69 and is middle of the pack in defensive snap counts at 63.

JFC do you understand that? That on average we have more offensive plays than the other team? That our defense is on the field less than our offense?

But please, by all means, continue to blame Murray and the offense. It's unbelievable the alternate reality that some of you guys live in.

 

[cardpa]

The defense and the offense are mirror images of each other. A few times during a game they look great, the rest of the time they are pedestrian to awful.

 

[slanidrac16]

We KNEW the defense was going to be sub par.
This offense has hung the defense out to dry. This offense was suppose to carry this team. This offense was going to have to out score our opponents.
Those numbers posted are a bit skewed.
In some ways the defense has played better than I expected. I was kind of thinking our games would be more like 38-31 or 34-28.
Cry all you want about the defense but this offense has been the demise of this team.
Our offensive stats are damn near identical to what our defense has allowed….and our offensive stats are deplorable. We have scored about 2.1 touchdowns a game. Unless you have a GREAT defense it is impossible to compete in todays NFL with this kind of offensive output.

 

[Cardsfaninlouky]

Maybe it's because of the disproportionate amount of pick sixes. Maybe it's because piling on Kyler when he's down is just too darn fun. But for whatever reason, there has been very little talk about our truly atrocious defense.

League ranks:

Points allowed - 31st
Yards allowed - 26th
Passer rating against - 28th
Sacks - 22nd

Our current points allowed average would be the 5th worst in franchise history. Not just Phoenix/Arizona franchise history. The whole history.

And it's steadily getting worse. Over the last 3 games:

Points allowed per game - 33
Yards allowed per game - 432
Passer rating allowed - 100

If the points allowed average goes up another 1.5 points by the end of the year, this will be the worst defense in Cardinal history based on that metric.

But we don't have any money invested in the defense, so this is expected, right? Nope. 10 of our top 20 cap hits are on the defensive side of the ball, including 2 of our top 3.

But what about injuries? Outside of Lawrence and now Budda, the defense has been healthy. They just haven't been any good.

This team is bad in all phases right now. That very much includes the defense, which is on track to be historically horrible.

#keimtime

Our defense isn't good for sure but imo, it wouldn't look as bad statistically if the offense could get more 1st downs. 3 & outs wears what little we have on defense down.

 

[AZCB34]

The entire organization is broken

 

[slanidrac16]

Our defense isn't good for sure but imo, it wouldn't look as bad statistically if the offense could get more 1st downs. 3 & outs wears what little we have on defense down.

EXACTLY!

 

[Metcalf Rules]

While I loved the pick six from Collins, I also said, crap the defense has to go right back out there.

 

[Stout]

Oh it’s atrocious which to me is why it’s hilarious some only point to Kyler why this team is losing lol. Terrible coaching staff that never has the team prepared, always among the leaders in penalties, atrocious D that can’t stop anyone consistently, NO Oline to speak of, terrible running game, injuries everywhere like crazy, but yeah Kyler should be expected to overcome all that… joke! He is by no means playing well but how could he be expected too? Zero balance terrible protection, clown who doesn’t know how to run an NFL offense is what it is…

Literally no one is saying Kyler is the only one to blame. There's a small group putting him at the top of the blame heap, then a small group, including you, who do all you can to minimize criticism on your favorite player, but no one is deluded enough to believe KM is the only one to blame on this team.

 

[jf-08]

Literally no one is saying Kyler is the only one to blame. There's a small group putting him at the top of the blame heap, then a small group, including you, who do all you can to minimize criticism on your favorite player, but no one is deluded enough to believe KM is the only one to blame on this team.

Bingo.

 

[BritCard]

Oh it’s atrocious which to me is why it’s hilarious some only point to Kyler why this team is losing lol. Terrible coaching staff that never has the team prepared, always among the leaders in penalties, atrocious D that can’t stop anyone consistently, NO Oline to speak of, terrible running game, injuries everywhere like crazy, but yeah Kyler should be expected to overcome all that… joke! He is by no means playing well but how could he be expected too? Zero balance terrible protection, clown who doesn’t know how to run an NFL offense is what it is…

They gave up 23 points or less in 5 games and we only won 2 of them. 20 or less in 4 of them.

So yeah, it's mainly the offense.

 

[AZfaninMN]

They gave up 23 points or less in 5 games and we only won 2 of them. 20 or less in 4 of them.

So yeah, it's mainly the offense.

The league average is 21.8 points per game. Scoring is down so allowing 23 points on average is a loss this season. Now having said that, offense has scored only 19 total TDs through 9 games.

 

[BritCard]

The league average is 21.8 points per game. Scoring is down so allowing 23 points on average is a loss this season. Now having said that, offense has scored only 19 total TDs through 9 games.

Yes they have 5 games where they gave up 23, 20, 16, 20 and 19. That's 19.6 a game. Consecutive games too. We won 2 of them when we should have won all of them. We actually won the game we conceded 23 with a defensive score too when we were about to lose.

We all said it at the time "That game was winnable".

In my opinion this roster on both sides know Kyler is playing poorly and they have mentally given up on the year.