The most notable thing about the Cardinals is that they have a whopping (by NFL standards) seven White defensive players on the roster to start the season, including three starters: DE J. J. Watt (when healthy, which hasn’t been often since he was tearing up the league like maybe no other lineman before or since), T Zach Allen (who has also played a lot at end), and WLB Dennis Gardeck, finally getting regular playing time after being perhaps the most productive LB in the league on a per snap basis this side of Alex Singleton.
Offense is a different story, as the Cardinals again roll out their time-honored sumo-dominated line. LG Justin Pugh is the only White starter and RG Sean Harlow is the only White back-up.
The picture is brighter at tight end, with veteran Zach Ertz starting, backed up by Maxx Williams and rookie Trey McBride, the first TE drafted in 2022.
Colt McCoy and Trace McSorley are the back-ups at quarterback.
All CFers are familiar with the screwing WR Andy Isabella has taken in the desert thanks to head coach Kliff Kucksbury. Now in the final year of his rookie contract, Isabella’s fans can only hope he’s traded during the season or signs with another team in the offseason. Given that there’s been zero reported interest since it went public months ago that he had been granted permission to seek a trade, Isabella’s four-year mistreatment may mean that he’ll never have a shot at regular playing time in the NFL despite his speed and proven productivity while at UMass. The Patriots would be a natural landing ground, but the “new and not improved” version of Bill Belichick makes that unlikely.
LG: Justin Pugh
RG: Sean Harlow
TE: Zach Ertz, Maxx Williams, Trey McBride
QB: Colt McCoy, Trace McSorley
WR: Andy Isabella
DE: J.J. Watt
DT: Zach Allen
MLB: Nick Vigil, Ben Niemann, Tanner Vallejo
WLB: Dennis Gardeck
SLB: Cameron Thomas
Number of White starters: 5
Number of White players on 53 man roster: 18
Grade: D-
P: Andy Lee
PK: Matt Prater
LS: Aaron Brewer
Practice squad (thin gruel here): TE Bernhard Seikovits, G Martin Koda
Offense is a different story, as the Cardinals again roll out their time-honored sumo-dominated line. LG Justin Pugh is the only White starter and RG Sean Harlow is the only White back-up.
The picture is brighter at tight end, with veteran Zach Ertz starting, backed up by Maxx Williams and rookie Trey McBride, the first TE drafted in 2022.
Colt McCoy and Trace McSorley are the back-ups at quarterback.
All CFers are familiar with the screwing WR Andy Isabella has taken in the desert thanks to head coach Kliff Kucksbury. Now in the final year of his rookie contract, Isabella’s fans can only hope he’s traded during the season or signs with another team in the offseason. Given that there’s been zero reported interest since it went public months ago that he had been granted permission to seek a trade, Isabella’s four-year mistreatment may mean that he’ll never have a shot at regular playing time in the NFL despite his speed and proven productivity while at UMass. The Patriots would be a natural landing ground, but the “new and not improved” version of Bill Belichick makes that unlikely.
LG: Justin Pugh
RG: Sean Harlow
TE: Zach Ertz, Maxx Williams, Trey McBride
QB: Colt McCoy, Trace McSorley
WR: Andy Isabella
DE: J.J. Watt
DT: Zach Allen
MLB: Nick Vigil, Ben Niemann, Tanner Vallejo
WLB: Dennis Gardeck
SLB: Cameron Thomas
Number of White starters: 5
Number of White players on 53 man roster: 18
Grade: D-
P: Andy Lee
PK: Matt Prater
LS: Aaron Brewer
Practice squad (thin gruel here): TE Bernhard Seikovits, G Martin Koda
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