Arizona Cardinals: First half grades
By Scott Allen
Nov 1, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) kicks a field goal during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Special teams:
The Cardinals special teams have been pretty good as well. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro has been money for the most part so far this season.
Catanzaro is 13-15 on field goals and 30-32 on extra points. Of course this year the kickers are dealing with 33-yard extra points. At least five other kickers have missed as many as two extra points in the first half of the 2015 season.
As for the punting, it all depends on who you ask but so far punter Drew Butler has been just alright. He has averaged just 41.0 yards per punt, which is dead last in the NFL amongst those punters with at least 23 punts. However the one thing he is pretty good at is placing the ball inside the 20, so the 41.0 average is a little skewed. He has placed 10 punts inside the 20.
The Cardinals also have a kickoff return for touchdown this season as well. David Johnson ran one back 108-yards against the Bears. They are averaging 28.2 yards-per kick return, which is second in the NFL, behind only the Giants 29.5-yard average.
Grade: B+
Overall:
You can’t complain much about what the Cardinals have accomplished to date. They do have a tougher schedule over the last eight games of the season. As of right now, three of the Cardinals next five games are slated for national television. The next two are on Sunday Night Football.
The Cardinals have four divisional games plus tilts against the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Green Bay Packers. If they are to finish strong they will have earned it. The big key will be to stay healthy, something we all know they couldn’t do down the stretch last season.
The Cardinals are making others notice them again. Now they need to go out and prove it against some stiff competition.
Overall grade: A-