Arizona Cardinals: Rondale Moore is turning heads in the desert
By Sion Fawkes
Arizona Cardinals receiver Rondale Moore put up yet another remarkable performance in the Week 10 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
The 2022 season could not have started off worse for Arizona Cardinals second-year receiver Rondale Moore. After putting up pedestrian numbers in his rookie season, Moore needed to step up in Year 2. Except he missed the first three games with a hamstring injury.
When he returned in Week 4, his meager performance that included three receptions for 11 yards had fans clamoring for head coach Kliff Kingsbury to bench Moore in favor of the similarly-sized Greg Dortch.
Since that game, however, Moore, for the most part, has been one of the Cardinals most productive receivers, logging 41 receptions for 414 yards and a touchdown. He is another player that, regardless of what happens after the season ends, should stay in the desert given his ascent.
Arizona Cardinals have a dynamic slot receiver in Rondale Moore
Moore has improved in more than just his basic statistics. His yards per reception, just 8.1 in 2021, has increased to 10.0 this year. Last season, he recorded 31.1 receiving yards per game, just over 22 yards fewer than in 2022. He is also averaging 7.4 yards per target, over a half-yard more than he did last year.
Moore’s catch percentage has decreased by 10%, but his uptake in the numbers listed above shows that is more than just snagging quick passes for short gains. Either way, that number is still up there at 74.4%, one of the best in the league.
Best yet, Moore is starting to show playmaking ability. And as a young player, he can easily transform into one of the more dangerous slot receivers in the NFL if this ascent in production continues.
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When Marquise Brown returns to the lineup, look for Moore to see himself get an even greater number of opportunities. And he can easily end the season in the 70-80 reception range, lower than the 82 receptions he is currently on pace to snag.
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