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The season has not started as expected.
The Arizona Cardinals look like an utterly incompetent team, being outscored 58-6 in two games, and being subjected to “will they pass the 50-yard line” as an in game accomplishment during their second loss of the season, this time to the Rams.
When you start 0-2 and play as bad as this team has, there are quite a few things that can be pointed out as glaring issues.
Yet, maybe the biggest red flag thus for for the 2018 Arizona Cardinals is their use of David Johnson.
Through two games, Johnson has 11 targets, 6 catches and 33 yards receiving.
In Sunday’s embarrassing loss to the Rams, Johnson was targeted in the game two times. He had one catch for three yards.
The misappropriation of Johnson’s talents caught the ire of Twitter and the fantasy community as well:
Someone tell the Arizona coaching staff that David Johnson was a receiver in college, and the best damn NFL running back in 2016. Two targets is a shocking show of ignorance.
— scott pianowski (@scott_pianowski) September 17, 2018
In his historic 2016 season, David Johnson averaged 31.1 routes run per game, an 19% target share, and he saw 38.1 air yards per game.
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) September 16, 2018
In Weeks 1-2 this year, DJ has averaged just 16.5 routes run per game, an 18% target share, and only 8.5 air yards per game.
In 2016, David Johnson was split out as a wide receiver (in the slot or out wide) on 26% of his routes run.
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) September 16, 2018
In Weeks 1-2 this year, Johnson has been split off from formation as a receiver on just 9% of his routes.
David Johnson was @PFF’s top-graded receiver in 2016—and that’s among all players, not just RBs.
— Thomas Duffy (@TJDhoops) September 16, 2018
Laughable the team can’t give him a single target. Coaching staff is lost. Makes you appreciate guys like McVay and Shanahan.
Imagine having the best RB/WR in the league with the ability to move that person around and create ridiculous mismatches and decide to target that player 0 times in 2.5 quarters. It's just incompetence. #cocoon #davidJohnson #AZvsLAR
— Kane Lindsay (@Kanemlindsay) September 16, 2018
Maybe no one told Steve Wilks that David Johnson can catch the ball?
— Marcas Grant (@MarcasG) September 16, 2018
So giving David Johnson just two targets today should get everyone fired no questions asked, right?
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) September 16, 2018
The usage of Johnson, not only the lack of, but the way the team has gone about it has been one of the worst parts of the early season for the Arizona Cardinals.
They have one of the better weapons in the NFL, and have used him as a traditional running back, in an offense that cannot get out of its own way.
After two weeks, the Cardinals have a historically inept offense, yet have gone away from using their best weapon.
Mike McCoy needs to make some adjustments and quick, or the Cardinals will need to in the coaching ranks.