Arizona Cardinals week 7 Pro Football Focus stats

The Cardinals are running out of time. Sitting at 3-4 entering their bye week was not what this team expected. An entire offseason of claiming we were healthy, and this team was set to make a rebound have not come to fruition.

As fans, we are looking for something better. After being spoiled from 2013-2015, we let 2016 go as a down year. But the same issues that plagued us then are resurfacing in 2017.

We examine some of the key Pro Football Focus stats from the Cardinals each week. They have been spot on throughout the season, but is this week any different? Let’s find out.

Offensive Stats:

• The Cardinals struggled to get Adrian Peterson going on Sunday. Peterson gained 18 of his 21 yards after contact and only had one run longer than five yards. As a receiver, Peterson was targeted four times and he dropped two of those targets.
• LT Jared Veldheer had his best game as a pass blocker. Veldheer only allowed 2 hurries, which earned him an 84.5 pass block grade. That 84.5 pass block grade was the second highest among tackles in the early games.
• LG Alex Boone struggled against the Rams. Boone allowed a team-high six pressures. He surrendered two sacks, two hurries, and two hits. Boone received a 37.0 overall grade.
• The Arizona passing attack struggled to throw the ball outside the numbers on Sunday. Only three passes were thrown outside the numbers to the left side of the field, while ten passes were thrown to the right side and 15 were thrown down the middle. Cardinals QBs gained 132 of their 188 passing yards on passes in between the numbers.
• The Cardinals offense have changed their personnel packages in recent weeks. The Cardinals used 12 personnel on 33% of their plays and it was the most used personnel package. Since acquiring Adrian Peterson, Arizona has used 12 personnel on 36% of its plays. The Cardinals used 12 personnel on 16% of its plays the first five weeks of the season.

Defensive Stats:

• The Cardinals' secondary did an admirable job defending the deep passes. On passes traveling ten or more yards down the field, Arizona only allowed four of ten passes to be completed for 63 yards.
• $LB Deone Bucannon performed well against the pass on Sunday. While he allowed seven of ten passes to be caught, he only surrendered 43 yards and only 10 of which came after contact. The former first-round pick also added an interception and a team-high seven total stops, which helped him earn an 80.6 coverage grade.
• CB Patrick Peterson had a great game in coverage. Peterson covered WR Sammy Watkins the entire game was only targeted once. Peterson didn't allow a catch and earned an 80.2 overall grade.
• In his first start this year, Tramon Williams had a decent performance. Williams allowed six of eight passes thrown his way to be caught for 62 yards.
• In his first game back from injury, Robert Nkemdiche performed well in run defense. Nkemdiche recorded two run stops on 19 run snaps and an 84.3 run defense grade. He lined up as a left defensive tackle on 31 of his 40 snaps.

Snap Counts:

The Cardinals offense saw the field for 49 snaps. Larry Fitzgerald saw the most snaps among the skill positions with 46 snaps total. Adrian Peterson saw a total of 26 snaps, leading the backfield.

Jermaine Gresham lead the tight ends with 30. Ifeanyi Momah was credited with only one snap, but I had to ask for clarification. I recall seeing him more than once.

Patrick Peterson, Tramon Williams, Tyvon Branch, and Deone Bucannon played all 80 snaps on the defensive side of the ball. Justin Bethel did not record a single defensive snap but resumed his role on special teams. Tyrann Mathieu was on the field for 77 total snaps.

Budda Baker saw the most snaps he’s seen all season with eight.

Josh Bynes saw the bulk of the snaps at inside linebacker when Karlos Dansby went to the sideline. His 17 snaps were the most since week one. Haason Reddick continues to outpace Kareem Martin, totaling 31 to Martin’s 26.

Chandler Jones saw 76 snaps, to pace the entire front seven.

Is there a stat you’re looking for? Let me know in the comments and I will reach out and get it for you.

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