Raising Zona
FanSided

Arizona Cardinals: Five biggest disappointments in 2016

By Scott Allen

Dec 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter as he is tackled by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter as he is tackled by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) catches a pass in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Vernon Hargreaves (28) during the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) catches a pass in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Vernon Hargreaves (28) during the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Darren Fells

The third-year tight end out of UC-Irvine appeared to be turning into something special in 2015. He had 21 receptions for 311-yards and three touchdowns in 2015.

All of that was from a tight end who didn’t even play college football.  It was also accomplished in an offense that uses the tight end sparingly.

Instead of improving , he regressed a bit in 2016.  He hasn’t caught a touchdown yet and has just 13 receptions for 117-yards.

Some of that can be attributed to the emergence of tight end Jermaine Gresham.  Gresham has been more active in the offense in 2016 than he was in 2015.

Still, you have to wonder what changed with Fells?  He was in Bruce Arians dog house back in training camp.  He committed a number of dumb penalties in the preseason.  That too did not sit well with Arians.

You would expect Fells to return in 2017 but have we seen Fells peak already?  A lot will be determined by the decisions the Cardinals make on their other tight ends in the offseason, including Gresham.

Home/Cardinals News