How will the Arizona Cardinals stop (contain) Davante Adams?
By Sion Fawkes
In Week 1, the Arizona Cardinals failed to stop Patrick Mahomes and his top target in Travis Kelce. Things get no easier this week with Davante Adams.
An article published by Arizona Sports stated Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said Raiders receiver Davante Adams could not be stopped; only contained. Especially with a defense whose cornerback room is as thin as Arizona’s.
Odds are, they will not see Trayvon Mullen suit up for a second straight week while projected CB2 Antonio Hamilton will not return for at least another two weeks. That leaves Marco Wilson to line up across Byron Murphy, leaving Christian Matthew as the third corner on the depth chart, However, odds are that job may once again go to Isaiah Simmons.
Not an ideal situation, since Simmons allowed three catches on three targets for 53 yards, 17.7 yards per reception, a touchdown, and a 158.3 quarterback rating. Clearly, stopping, or containing Adams, will fall to the most experienced member of the secondary, Byron Murphy.
The Arizona Cardinals need two cover guys on Adams
To stop or contain Adams, there must be two cover guys accounting for him at most times. Murphy, plus either a safety or another, like Simmons, to provide help. However, this also means accounting for star tight end, Darren Waller, which would also fall to Simmons, linebacker Zaven Collins, and the duo at safety comprising Budda Baker and (hopefully) Jalen Thompson.
Overall, expect the Cardinals to key on Adams all afternoon, throwing different looks at the star receiver. But they can’t forget about Waller, who is a game changer in his own right.
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Most importantly, the Cardinals need to be better prepared to cover the impact players this week than they were last week. Or else Derek Carr will utilize his best targets time and again come Sunday afternoon.
Article Source: Containing Raiders’ Davante Adams priority No. 1 for Cardinals defense by Tyler Drake
(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)