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Cardinals Monday Morning QB: Roll call of season savers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — If you’re looking for a defensive MVP for the Arizona Cardinals so far this season, look no further than linebacker Mack Wilson Sr.
OK, it’s not exactly a heated competition, but there are other players who have delivered strong performances, notably safety Budda Baker.
That said, Wilson keeps showing up in the big moments no matter where the Cardinals line him up on the field. On Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, Wilson had an interception, a fumble recovery and six tackles (five solo); second only to Baker’s 12 (eight). This season, Wilson has 27 tackles, a pass defensed, a sack and the aforementioned turnovers.
Wilson has come off the edge. He has come up the middle. He has dropped back in coverage and his versatility has made him worth every penny, so far, of the three-year, $12.75 million deal he signed this offseason.
(Getty Images)
The past three seasons, Wilson was playing anywhere from one-fifth to one-quarter of the defensive snaps in New England and Cleveland, but he always felt like he had more to give despite his previous teams’ hesitation.
While the Cardinals were still in OTAs — and in the same interview where he revealed the heart-warming story of buying his mom a house — Wilson offered this foreshadowing of what was to come this season.
“The last few years, people act like they still don’t know who I am,” he said. “That’s OK. This year I have the opportunity to show the world what type of player I am. This is just the beginning for me.
“I promise you.”
So far, so good.
(Getty Images)
Conner carries the load
James Conner couldn’t get anything going. His first seven carries against the 49ers amounted to 15 yards and the Cardinals were in a 23-13 hole late in the third quarter.
But OC Drew Petzing refused to give up on his bell cow running back and Conner rewarded him with five carries for 36 yards on the TD drive that drew the Cardinals within 23-21 early in the fourth quarter. Then he carried seven times for 36 yards on the game-winning field goal drive.
Through Sunday’s game, Conner was sixth in the NFL with 379 rushing yards in the last year of his contract. None of that was on his mind when he took the podium after the game.
He was just thinking about that fourth-quarter performance, especially that final drive.
“It was just a mindset drive,” he said. “It’s my job to put the ball in the right spot; do what we gotta do to keep the chains moving.”
(Getty Images)
Ryland rebounds
When the 49ers media relations department handed out flip cards for Sunday’s game, Matt Prater was listed as the Cardinals kicker and Chad Ryland was nowhere to be found.
He might have preferred anonymity after Jordan Elliott blocked his field goal attempt and Deommodore Lenoir returned it 61 yards for a TD and 20-10 49ers lead.
But Ryland rebounded to boot the game-winning 35-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.
“He was awesome,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “They were going nuts in the locker room. Half of the guys didn’t even know him. He gets here, has an unbelievable week of practice. The guy can hit it from everywhere and with full confidence.”
“That’s what he did, especially after the one got blocked. That’s like shanking a t-ball and having to rip the driver a couple more times. It’s not easy. He did a good job.”
Ryland told reporters after the game that he was sitting on a couch with his parents in Lebanon, Pennsylvania last week, watching the NFL.
“You always stay ready, and I had the same mindset when I was on my couch those four weeks,” he said. “It’s a fun, emotional headspace to play in when you’re surrounded by guys who really care about what they do and approach it with that mindset.”
Ryland made just 16 of 25 field goals last season as a rookie for the Patriots and New England cut the fourth-round pick in August.
Prater will likely be back soon, but Ryland delivered in a critical moment, playing a small role to help save the Cardinals’ season.
“I’m just happy I could be here for it,” he said.
Kyler’s iconic moment, Part II
Three weeks after channeling Steph Curry on a TD pass against the Rams, Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was at it again. On Arizona’s first possession, Murray hit Trey McBride on a 22-yard pass to get things rolling. One play later, he got himself rolling on a keeper to the right after a fake handoff.
Once he hit the line of scrimmage, and while he was basically parallel with three 49ers defenders, he pointed to the end zone, signaling that he was going to score.
Next Gen Stats clocked Murray’s top speed on the play at 21.27 miles an hour, which would be the fastest a quarterback has run in a game in eight seasons. It was another iconic moment from the Cardinals QB.
“There’s not many times you get to do that in the NFL,” Murray said.
Stats & stuff
— Linebacker Jesse Luketa made his first appearance of the season on Sunday. All he did with it was force a fumble that Wilson recovered, killing another 49ers drive inside the 10-yard line and leading to what ended up being the game-winning field goal drive.
— It was a rough day for Marvin Harrison Jr. Murray targeted him seven times but he only caught two balls for 36 yards. There was miscommunication on the first two targets, there was a drop and then another tough catch that he couldn’t come up with. But there was also the critical 14-yard catch on fourth-and-5 that kept the game-winning field goal drive alive.
“We’ll be better,” Murray said. “He’s young. It’s our fifth game together. We’ll get it down. I’m not worried about it at all. But that just goes to show the confidence and the trust. Fourth down, who am I going to?”
— We may have underestimated Trey McBride‘s importance to the offense. He had six catches for 53 yards on nine targets. All of the receptions felt big.
— After the game, Murray sat at his locker rubbing his legs and looking utterly exhausted. I had to ask if the weather was a factor because it hit 100 degrees in Santa Clara and that heat came with more humidity than Arizona typically experiences.
“It was hot as hell,” Murray said. “It kind of kept getting hotter. That’s what it felt like.”
— Receiver Zay Jones is eligible to return from suspension this week.
PFF Grades
Injury updates
— Starting right guard Will Hernandez left the game after 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa rolled up on the back of his left leg. Hernandez was immediately ruled out with a knee injury; not a good sign for his immediate availability.
— Defensive lineman Bilal Nichols left the game with a stinger and was also in concussion protocol, but he came back in the game.
— Prater (knee), cornerback Garrett Williams (groin) and offensive lineman Isaiah Adams (thumb) all missed the game. We’ll have further updates on them on Monday or Wednesday. We may also hear more on the availability of defensive lineman Darius Robinson, who is still on IR.
Up next
The Cardinals will face the Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay for the first time in six seasons. The Cardinals won that game on Dec. 2, 2018, 20-17. Green Bay’s Mason Crosby missed a 49-yard attempt as time expired. Rookie Chase Edmonds ran for two touchdowns for Arizona in the game and Zane Gonzalez kicked a 44-yard field goal for Arizona with 1:41 left.
The Packers lead the all-time series 46-26-4, but the Cardinals have a pair of epic playoff wins in their history, courtesy of Kurt Warner, Carson Palmer, and, of course, Larry Fitzgerald.
Top illustration via Sidney Pinger and Damon Fairall, ALLCITY Network
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