FanPost

A few thoughts on the offensive line.

Ever since Bidwill and GM Steve Keim wen't out and hired Offensive Line coach Sean Kugler as the O-Line coach we've seen the offensive line slowly but surely get much, much better over time. Not only has the O-Line improved but Kugler has really improved the talent in the room especially the back-up depth of the offensive line. The OL looks the best it has in years with quality depth behind the starters. Lets pop the hood and look at the make-up of the OL.

LG Justin Pugh has been a good consistent pass blocking guard but he's been a pretty poor run blocker in the run game. I don't think you'd find a single Cardinals fan who think's he has lived up to the contract he signed and the amount of money he's made per year as a starting LG in the NFL. Pugh has been very average for the Cardinals, and one big positive is that Pugh has at least been available. Pugh has played hurt and played through pain when he could of sat out, Pugh's been there for his team. At the end of this season though Arizona can move on from Pugh without being penalized financially. If Pugh isn't livid over the pay-cut we might even be able to keep Pugh having him resign at discount which isn't unheard of.

If Arizona does move on from Pugh this off-season I was thinking maybe Arizona should re-sign RT Kelvin Beachum and then possibly move Arizona's uber athletic 2nd year OT Josh Jones (who was a collegiate LT) over next to LT DJ Humphries at Left-Guard which would give Arizona one helluva athletic/powerful left side of the offensive line. DJ Humphries currently ranks 12th of 74 ranked OT's with a borderline elite 80.1 PFF grade that should go up further after yesterdays grades are factored in. OT/G Josh Jones has a very solid 65.1 overall grade playing fill-in duty here and there. With an entire off-season to prepare at LG though I think he could play the position at a very high level. Center Mason Cole is an excellent pass protector who's getting better and better the more he plays, same with RG Justin Murray the more comfortable he gets. If Arizona starts Josh Jones @LG Arizona would obviously keep excellent RT Kelvin Beachum who has a lot of life yet. Over the off-season i'd love to see AZ draft a stud OG/C just to push Cole and Murray and keep them sharp & to keep very capable backups incase they're called upon. I think moving Josh Jones to LG would be an excellent move ensuring AZ is starting their 5 best OL men next season. Keeping RT Kelvin Beachum at RT and moving Josh Jones to LG would upgrade the line I think. At Center Mason Cole to me is a very young Center who's yet to peak, he's an excellent pass blocker but I hope over the off-season we see him hit the weight room and get noticeably stronger. If Cole just got a bit stronger I think it'd help him tremendously in the run game. With a 64.6 overall grade Cole has an average to above average grade right now, if he just gets a little stronger I think we'd see him consistently grade out between 7th-10th overall among Centers via PFF. Arizona is very close toward fielding a top 10 caliber OL, by this time next year I think they will be there.

At WR I kinda hope this is Fitz's last season because we could get a whole lot more production out of the slot with the right player. if this is Larry Fitzgerald's last season which it appears it might be i'd love to see AZ draft his replacement this year. AZ very likely will go D-Line in round 1 but pick in RD2 in all likelihood be a WR to replace Larry Fitzgerald if he retires. Even if AZ has to trade to the top of RD2 to do it I hope they do and then hopefully land Alabama 6"1.5 180pd WR DeVonta Smith. In just 6 games Smith had 56 receptions for 759 (13.6YD/AVG) and 8TDs. In 2019 Smith had 68 receptions for 1256YDs (18.5YD/AVG) and 14TDs. Smith is on pace for a much more productive season in his last collegiate season. I think Smith would be perfect to replace Larry Fitz as a big slot WR in Kingsburys offense. Smith can play both inside and outside. Smith has excellent body control superb bodycontrol near the sideline w/ the ability to catch it and stay in bounds. Playing in the slot Inside Smith a tough receiver who's a good route runner with very good hands and more importantly can dodge defenders and is a good YAC yardage WR & was Bama's most consistent WR over the last few years which is saying something.

Blazing fast WR 5"10-180pd Jaylen Waddle might even be the better option if AZ decides to draft a receiver high re replace Fitz. People compare Waddles blazing fast elite speed to that of Tyreek Hill. AZ likely has to draft him at the end of RD1 or trade back up into the bottom of RD1 to land him. With Christian Kirk, Isabella and Waddle all possessing elite 4.41 40 speed or better that would give Arizona a ton of speed on the field all at once Defenses would have to account for not including Elite All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins as well. Along with upgrading the offensive line this off-season I hope AZ does the same at WR drafting a receiver relatively high to replace Larry Fitzgerald which also would save a helluva a lot against the cap space as Fitz's replacement wont cost anywhere near $11M per season. Hopefully AZ uses that $11M to beef up the defense!!!!!

<em>This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Revenge of the Birds' (ROTB) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of ROTB's editors.</em>