Cardinals Michael Floyd Emerging As A Relevant Weapon
By Earl Burnett
Nov 17, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Alan Ball (23) deflects a pass to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) in the second quarter of their game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
An offense with two first round wide receivers should be absolutely unstoppable, and perhaps the emergence of Arizona Cardinals Michael Floyd is not a mirage in the dessert heat. Should Floyd keep up this new found dominance it will open things up for the rest of this could be dynamic offense.
Looking at the game tape against the Jacksonville Jaguars I watched every play of receiver Michael Floyd and I notice a few things that look promising for the future of this team. I noticed confidence in where he is going on his routes, the plays are coming more natural to him, he does not look indecisive as to where he suppose to line up. The depths of his routes are precise and he seems to not be concerned at all of who is lined up in front of him. I noticed him explode off the line of scrimmage with quicker feet and a powerful release even with a defensive back close to him, he positions his body to make himself available for a tight window pass completion, and quarterback Carson Palmer has been able to get it to him lately.
I also observed the comfort level Palmer is establishing with him, it seems like its more anticipation to where Floyd will be on his routes and that is a recipe for cutting down on interceptions for Palmer. Floyd had 11 targets and seems to be emerging into the favorite target to Palmer in the offense more so than Larry Fitzgerald, seeing that Fitzgerald still can get a lot of attention from a defense and their chemistry has not been as anticipated, but if both require a double team then this offense can get to the point of explosive and dangerous in the playoffs, should they make it that far.
Watching Floyd run down the field on that 91 yard touchdown reception showed me one more thing and that is he is always never willing to go down easy, he fights for every inch and like Fitzgerald is very physical, he shoved off defenders in that run like they were not even there, and his power was unbelievable standing up to hits down the middle.
Floyd gave us a glimpse at clearly why he was a number one pick and is starting to pay his dues in the passing game.
If Floyd continues this emergence of his talents it will give this offense a dynamic element that it has always wanted and that is a dangerous weapon on the other side of Larry Fitzgerald.