The New Orleans Saints have recently picked up former Arizona Cardinals guard J.R. Sweezy.
After spending two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, veteran offensive guard J.R. Sweezy hit free agency this year. On Monday, he was signed by the New Orleans Saints.
After seeing what Sweezy did during his time with the Seattle Seahawks, it was an exciting pickup for the Cardinals when they signed him back in 2019. Seahawks fans often said, “it ain’t easy being Sweezy.”
One of the problems for Sweezy was the 10 combined penalties he had during his short two-year stint with Arizona. Including a high of six holding penalties in 2019, his infractions always seemed to come at the most crucial parts of games. 2020 was a lot better for the veteran guard as he only had three penalties, but many Cardinals fans were still calling for Sweezy to be gone.
Former Arizona Cardinals guard hoping to find a role with the New Orleans Saints
While he can be a big guy on the line, his stance never made much sense. As a former collegiate offensive lineman, I’d understand his stance if he played tackle. Having a more upright stance makes you better prepared for very wide rushes from edge defenders.
But at the guard position, you have to be low in your stance, as that’s the mantra coaches put into your head from little league. “The low man always wins” apparently did not apply to Sweezy.
Sweezy’s stance was so upright you’d think he was sitting on a barstool. When it came to run blocking, Sweezy was a part of the “inferior interior” of the Arizona offensive line that made Kenyan Drake bounce runs to the outside.
Not to mention, there is was his infamous holding call on the road in Seattle last season which resulted in a safety for the Seahawks.
It’s hard to figure out what the Saints saw in him, but best wishes to Sweezy in the big easy. With Jameis Winston and/or Taysom Hill throwing the ball, maybe it’s a quick throw offense that will make Sweezy look good in 2021