5 biggest takeaways from the Cardinals win over the Jaguars in Week 3
By Kyler Burd
Arizona’s run defense is still an enigma
After starting the season strong by shutting down Derrick Henry, the Arizona Cardinals defense has struggled against the run in their last two games.
In Week 2, Dalvin Cook game Arizona fits in the first half, and in their most recent game, James Robinson had some bursts that came close to keeping the Jaguars in a game in which they had no business. Robinson put together an impressive drive in the third quarter with 6 rushes for almost 65 yards that ended in a 4-yard rushing touchdown in which the defense looked completely hopeless.
Both weeks saw adjustments from Vance Joseph that improved the run defense throughout the game, but it continues to be a point of concern particularly before facing a run-happy Sean McVay offense in Week 4.
The Cardinals have a giant gap between their pass and rush defense. Against the pass, the Cards are 8th in the league, but against the run, they rank near the bottom at 29.
In order to continue their winning ways, Joseph and the Cardinals front seven will have to work hard to close that gap and keep their team in positions to win even against run-heavy teams.