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The Arizona Cardinals are off to a historic 8-1 start to begin the 2021 season with many notable players en route to some serious hardware as a result. While not everything has gone according to plan, you’d be hard-press to conjure up a better for these once criminally underrated group of Redbirds.
As a result, lets take a look at those who have gone above and beyond to help fuel this team to the NFL’s best record at the halfway mark of the season.
Here are your Arizona Cardinals midseason awards.
MVP
Before the season began, if I were to tell you that the Cardinals were off to their best start since 2014 (also 8-1), most would assume third-year quarterback Kyler Murray was also in the midst of a career year.
And they’d be right.
The former first overall pick is enjoying a banner season that has firmly put him in the mix for league MVP. Through eight games played, Kyler Murray is on pace for career highs in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. Murray also leads the NFL in completion percentage at a blistering 72.7%. While his rushing totals are down, that’s due in large part to the young signal callers emphasis on improving his ability to throw from the pocket. The growth Murray has shown as an intermediate passer is one of the biggest developments of the NFL season.
With the former Oklahoma Soon presumably set to return from a brief one week absence this Sunday against Carolina, expect Kyler Murray to double-down on what’s already been a historic start to the season with an electric second half.
My Pick: Kyler Murray
Honorable Mention: J.J. Watt
Offensive Player of the Year
While Murray rightfully garners most headlines when it comes to spearheading the Cardinals top five offense, there are certainly others worthy of praise when breaking down the unit. That’s due much in part to Arizona Cardinal GM Steve Keim, who has put together an embarrassment of riches for head coach Kliff Kingsbury to operate with.
From DeAndre Hopkins, to the sudden addition of Zach Ertz, this Arizona unit is filled with stars and impact talent alike. Yet one name in particular has seemingly flown under the radar as perhaps the most pivotal cog to this loaded group of offensive players.
To the dismissal of many, last spring, former Steeler running back James Conner inked a modest one-year contract with the Cardinals to mainly contribute in in the red-zone. Entering the year as the backup to the incumbent Chase Edmonds, the Pittsburgh native has exploded for this Arizona Cardinal team, scoring an absurd 11 touchdowns in only nine games played.
Conner has also offered a remedy to Arizona’s short-yardage issues that have plagued this franchise since Kingsbury’s arrival. His violent running style has been a breath of fresh air for a squad that no longer struggles to put opposing teams away late. With running mate Chase Edmonds set for a brief stint on injured reserve, expect Conner to add to his already robust statistics for an Arizona offense likely to lean on the run game as we approach post-Thanksgiving football.
My Pick: James Conner
Honorable Mention: Rodney Hudson
Defensive Player of the Year
Prior to his “maybe/maybe not” season ending injury, the award for most valuable defender on the Arizona Cardinals would have undoubtedly been gifted to one J.J. Watt. The Cardinals and their newfound mindset of toughness and physicality likely do not exist without Watt’s presence.
For that reason alone, big #99 deserves all the love.
To find another name that may be worthy of defensive accolades, might I suggest dumpster diving for some “junk”?
Markus Golden, the former second-round pick turned castoff, was wisely brought back by Keim and the Cardinals thanks to his familiarity with the organization. All that has transpired since his return is perhaps the most financially beneficial defensive contract for a team in the entire league. At the writing of this article, Markus Golden currently leads the NFC in sacks with nine and is netting a mere $2 million on the season for his efforts. Golden is also tied for second in all of football with four forced fumbles, spearheading the much welcomed takeaway mindset set by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
Much like this Arizona Cardinals team nationally, Golden has and likely never will receive the necessary acclaim to go along with his tremendous play. During his now eight-year career, the former Missouri product is averaging a near half sack per game, which undoubtedly makes him one of the most underrated players of the past half decade.
With All-Pro Chandler Jones’s uneven start to the season, the Arizona Cardinals are incredibly fortunate to have Golden (discount or not) terrorizing opposing quarterbacks on a weekly basis.
My Pick: Markus Golden
Honorable Mention: Budda Baker
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Considering the fact that the Arizona Cardinals only selected one offensive player in last year’s draft, the selection of wide receiver Rondale Moore for “Rookie of the Year” may not be all that surprising.
What has been a revelation, however, is Moore’s presence and contribution to an already loaded Cardinal receiving core. Even with the presence of veterans Hopkins, A.J. Green and Christian Kirk, Moore has quickly established himself as one of the premier slot receivers in pro football.
This was evident from the start, as the former Purdue standout was a marvel at Cards Camp over the summer. Word traveled quickly across league circles that the undersized former All-American might have a chance to make an impact as a rookie for Arizona. Since then, Moore has put together a tremendous campaign that has seen the 5’9 play-maker accounting for more than 400 yards of total offense through nine games. He has also added a much needed jolt to an otherwise putrid Cardinal return game.
With both Kirk and Green’s futures with the team unknown given their expiring contracts, expect Moore’s role and value to this Arizona Cardinal offense to only grow in the coming months. At the very least, if a “redraft” were to take place, there would be no question that the pint-sized Big 10 product would go amongst the top 32 picks.
My Pick: Rondale Moore
Defensive Rookie of the Year
When veteran CB Malcolm Butler announced that he would be stepping away from the game of football roughly three weeks before the start of the season, most Cardinal fans feared for the worst when it game to the team’s pass defense. Byron Murphy was talented yet unproven and Robert Alford hadn’t played a regular season game since 2018.
Enter rookie fourth-round pick Marco Wilson, who has been a godsend for a franchise that was grossly overdue for an impact on day three of the draft. The former Gator predictably fell out of favor with most teams following his infamous “shoe toss” while at the University of Florida.
To Steve Keim’s benefit, the troubled yet talented Wilson plummeted down draft boards right into the hands of the talent starved Cardinal secondary. Since his insertion into the team’s starting lineup, Wilson has done a miraculous job covering the likes of Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr. His blend of size and speed has been the perfect compliment to the physical style of play from fellow DB Byron Murphy.
At only 22 years old, Wilson has an opportunity to become a staple in an Arizona secondary that already ranks top five in pass defensed.
My Pick: Marco Wilson
Comeback Player of the Year
Following back-to-back preseason injuries that would sabotage his once bloated free agent deal, former Cardinal free agent bust Robert Alford is making amends with the Red Sea.
After resigning for what equated to the veteran minimum last spring, Alford has been more than steady for a Cardinal secondary that was in dire need of experience at the position. With one interception and four passes defended to his credit, the former Atlanta Falcon has proved to be the ideal fit in Vance Joseph’s secondary.
It only took three seasons to see it.
More importantly, Alford has been active and healthy for all nine games this season for Arizona. His 24 tackles is second to only Byron Murphy at cornerback, as his sparkling 71.7 overall grade via PFF ranks first for the unit. Assuming he can make it to the finish line, it would be in Arizona’s best interest to ensure Alford returns to the desert for a 2022 encore performance.
My Pick: Robert Alford
Honorable Mention: Jalen Thompson
Surprise Contributor
When the Arizona Cardinals selected LB Zaven Collins 16th overall in last April’s NFL Draft, I like many, were more than ready to part ways with the suddenly overpriced Jordan Hicks.
Hicks, who signed a multi-year deal with the club back in 2019, had just concluded a subpar 2020 campaign that routinely saw the former Eagle burned in the open field. With a contract that was more than moveable heading into 2021, Cardinal brass allowed Hicks to willingly seek a trade prior to the season. Yet to the surprise of many, no deal was reached and instead it was #58 once gain starting for the Cardinals come opening Sunday.
While his PFF grade remains marginal at 56.1, Hick has done more than enough to fend off rookie Zaven Collins en route to leading one of the most fearsome front sevens in football. His midseason state line projects the cagey veteran to accumulate a season total of over 100 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Hicks has also continued to serve as the ultimate professional and leader for an Arizona Cardinal team that is still learning how to win. The current Redbird team captain was, once upon a time, a key cog with a “Cinderella” Philadelphia Eagle’s team that captured their first Super Bowl title back in 2017.
The Cardinals are hoping their shrewd decision in keeping Hicks in house also pays dividends come January football.
My Pick: Jordan Hicks
Honorable Mention: A.J. Green
Biggest Disappointment
It’s hard to knock any singular player on a team that could very well be undefeated at this point in the season. Many of those on the Arizona Cardinals experiencing growing pains are still too young to knock while others (ala Devon Kennard, Jordan Phillips) had too little of expectations entering this season.
With that being said, when you look at the units that have underperformed for the Cardinals this season, you have to begin with the offensive line.
While certainly not terrible, this was a 2020 group that prided itself on limiting quarterback hits. Fast-forward to this season, even with the addition of Pro Bowler Rodney Hudson, and interior pressure has been an issue too big to ignore. That conversation starts and ends with former third-rounder Josh Jones, who has struggled mightily with his transition from tackle to guard. Following a training camp injury to Justin Murray, as well as an abrupt exit from veteran Brian Winters, and Jones was seemingly gifted the opportunity to begin the year amongst the starting five.
After a solid start to the season, Jones began to struggle with opposing defensive tackles. This became enough of an issue that offensive line coach Sean Kugler subsequently benched him last Sunday against San Francisco in favor of Max Garcia.
While it’s still too early to label the former Houston product an outright bust, it is fair to wonder if he is simply better suited outside. His finesse skill set likely compliments that of an offensive tackle rather than the power and strength need to excel at guard. At the very least, his versatility as the team’s sixth linemen could become invaluable as the Cardinals attempt to navigate the newly implemented 17-game season.
My Pick: Josh Jones
Honorable Mention: Zaven Collins
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