The Arizona Cardinals entered week two of the NFL preseason riding high. A commanding win in their home opener brought energy and success.
But against the Denver Broncos, the story flipped.
The Cardinals looked outmatched for most of the game. Their depth took center stage, and the result left questions looming.
However, that is not unusual with August football.
Preseason is less about the scoreboard and more about the layers underneath.
But when those layers get exposed, it sparks curiosity about how a roster as a whole stacks up against the rest of the NFL.
For the Cardinals, they hope to be able to stack up well once the regular season kicks off in the coming weeks.
Cardinals Depth Tested Against Broncos
The Broncos didn’t hesitate to expose much of the Cardinals’ 2nd and 3rd string units.
From the opening snap, the Broncos looked in command and the Cardinals looked outmatched.
It’s fair to point out that no team usually looks good when their backups take the field, but when they fault with style against another team’s backups, the cracks shouldn’t be ignored.
Offensively, the Cardinals could not get anything positive going once quarterback Jacoby Brissett exited the game.
Additionally, third string quarterback Clayton Tune had a rough outing.
Defensively, Arizona had a hard time containing Denver’s offense.
Missed tackles, blown assignments and gaps in coverage started to add up.
Head Coach Jonathan Gannon looked outcoached from the sideline, unable to respond to the pace of the game.
Moreover, rookie cornerback Will Johnson struggled throughout the game.
With high hopes set on Johnson, it’s crucial his development continues positively.
The Cardinals are still putting the pieces together and can’t afford their investment in high draft picks to fail.
While the alarm bells shouldn’t be sounding off, it is worth noting the Cardinals’ depth is thin.
Brissett’s Poise Highlights Bright Spots
Although the Cardinals could not keep up in the mile-high city, the whole picture was not totally bleak.
Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett gave the Cardinals life when he was operating under center.
While protection was shaky at times, Brissett was able to deliver another poised performance and has remained a constant throughout the preseason.
Brissett offers the Cardinals’ stability as a backup, which is worth noting as Kyler Murray prepares for the full grind of the regular season.
Defensively, while CB Will Johnson did struggle, other defensive backs were able to make positive gains.
Kitan Crawford and Denzel Burke offered up some worthy plays in open space and in coverage.
In addition, the Cardinals special teams unit also shined bright.
The special teams unit held their own on returns and punter Blake Gillikin had a few noteworthy punts.
Gillikin was able to net a 70-yard punt, pinning the Broncos deep in their end of the field.
While the Cardinals did lose big in Denver, the loss wasn’t about the score.
It was about exposure.
The Broncos simply exposed some depth issues that could plague the Cardinals if injuries pile and the season gets behind them quickly.
Arizona has some intriguing starting talent and will need a big season from their top players.
As the regular season gets underway, will the starting lineup be able to mask the thinness that lies underneath?
Time will tell for the birds of the desert.
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