No NFL team is going to make an offense quarterback-proof – as in, an offense that can be playoff-worthy without excellent QB play. That's the league, that's the sport. Quarterback matters, and it will matter who the Cardinals have behind center Monday against the Cowboys (in this case, as we learned Saturday, Jacoby Brissett.)
But let's rewind for a moment to what the Cardinals wanted to be offensively, and the hope to run their opponents down, similarly to how they were able to play the last two seasons. That got lost in the first seven games, in part because James Conner and Trey Benson got hurt, in part from simple ineffectiveness.
That, left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. said, needs to change.
"One thing we have been talking about is we need to get started with the run game this week," Johnson said. "I know that is something we are choosing to make an emphasis on as an offensive line. That's regardless of the opponent. This is a good week to remind the league how much we want to work on it, put that on show."
Johnson is not wrong. This is a good week. The Cowboys have struggled to stop the run, allowing 146 yards a game, 29th in the league. That's a total the Cardinals have reached just twice this season. But at 4.4 yards a rushing attempt this season, it's the consistency the Cards need more than anything.
"That's a cool storyline, but coming out of the bye there were two things (the offensive line coaches) wanted to put emphasis on," coach Jonathan Gannon said, noting one plan had to do with the running game and one with the passing game.
(Gannon was not forthcoming with specifics.)
"I want our O-line to play with a lot of effort and violence, block the right people and move the right people," Gannon said.
Benson is still at least one week away from being able to return. Bam Knight and Michael Carter – Carter will be a practice-squad elevation come Monday – will be the players the Cards lean on. Emari Demercado is back. Gannon said Knight will get the first crack at carries.
Running the ball well also gives the Cardinals a chance to keep a Dallas offense that has been the best in the league off the field. That's the goal of PJJ and the offensive line.
"Regardless of who we have at quarterback," Johnson said. "I think we'll do just fine."
-- So the quarterback is Brissett. The waiting game continues for Murray. Not sure what he's thinking at this point – he hasn't spoken publicly since after the Titans game – but I am guessing he is frustrated with the situation. Missing a chance to play in Dallas, where he has thrived and loves to play, has got to be killing him.
-- Brissett's numbers have been good. They should be just as good against a struggling Cowboys defense. Brissett wasn't going to get into whether the pressure increases if there is a shootout in Dallas -- "I just want to score one more point," he said -- but the Cards need that side of the ball to keep trending up.
-- Cornerback Will Johnson is officially questionable with his groin injury, although Gannon said Saturday his limited practice status is precautionary. Here's hoping that's all it is, after Johnson missed two games already with the groin issue. He's got a chance to be an excellent player, but he has to be on the field. And even though Garrett Williams has a good chance to return this weekend, the Cardinals need Williams and Johnson in going against George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb.
-- The NFL trade deadline hits at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, which is less than 12 hours after the Cardinals are scheduled to land from their road trip to Dallas. Last year, the Cardinals traded for outside linebacker Baron Browning. I'm not sure if Monti Ossenfort has any deals in mind, or if it might hinge on the outcome against the Cowboys. It feels like any big moves, going out or coming in, is unlikely. But we'll see. (No, I don't see a Kyler deal, despite what everyone seems to want to speculate about on social media.)
-- The Cardinals have made a habit of close games – each of their seven decided within seven points – so kickers could matter Monday. Chad Ryland has continued to play well, and in his career has field goals of 57, 57, and 58 yards. But the Cards will face Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, who hasn't even played three seasons and could be trending to being the best ever. Aubrey has five field goals of at least 60 yards in his career, and amazingly already is 29-of-32 in his career from 50 yards or more.
"Deep down, you want as many attempts as you can get, and if someone gets a long one and you don't, you are kind of, 'Aw, shoot, I wish I had that chance,'" Ryland said.
Ryland also said kickers don't really root for others to miss. The kicking fraternity is that close. (Although Ryland wants to be the one booting a game-winner). The Cardinals just don't need the Cowboys to pull up at midfield and have Aubrey launch one.
"It may change how you play their offense defensively, are they in range?" special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers said. "Some teams, they get to the 50, they may need 'x' more yards. (The Cowboys) may attempt it. You give that player the respect. He's attempting a 64-yard kick in a game, with most kickers there is a returner sitting back there waiting on it. Not with that guy."
-- Linebacker BJ Ojulari might get a chance to get back in a game sooner than expected. Ojulari, who just had his practice window opened after 15 months on the sideline, "surprised" Gannon with how hard and fast he already looked in practice. But he won't play this week.
-- Tight end Trey McBride continues to hit all different kinds of marks and one to watch – and one that McBride shouldn't have an issue reaching with 10 games left in the season – is that he already has the second-most receptions for a tight end in his first four NFL seasons, 268. Jimmy Graham had 301 after four seasons, and given McBride's production, he's going to average more than 3.5 receptions a game the rest of the season. That'll put McBride over the top after four years. It'd be remarkable given how little he was targeted his first season-and-a-half, and proof with how prolific he's become since.
-- Monday will mark the 250th start for defensive lineman Calais Campbell in his NFL career.
-- A quick side note: I signed up to participate in the inaugural Cardinals Climb in February to help raise money for those with special needs. If you are so inclined to go to my page and donate a little something, I would be in your debt.
-- Keep in mind the vast majority of the country changes clocks on Saturday night – we in Arizona stay right where we are – so that we will now only be two hours earlier from the East Coast instead of three. That means NFL games are all on an hour later. In the Cardinals' case, that means kickoff against the Cowboys will be 6:15 p.m.
-- The last word goes to defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, whose unit faces the highest-scoring team in the league after a bye in which he tried to analyze why the defense has struggled in the fourth quarters. "It's not like, 'I've seen the light,'" Rallis said, noting that it is working with fixes within the margins that hopefully make the difference:
"Whether or not I found the answers, we will see."
See you Monday.
