Arizona Cardinals: Greg Dortch deserves much better
By Sion Fawkes
Greg Dortch was the brightest spot on the Arizona Cardinals offense tonight, with James Conner getting the honorable mention.
If there is one thing that sums up how bad of a football coach Kliff Kingsbury is, it is his outright refusal to play certain players. Tonight, considering the circumstances, the much-maligned Arizona Cardinals head coach was forced to play Greg Dortch, who once again put on a show.
Dortch, who had 10 receptions for 98 yards, plus three rushes for 25 yards, was easily the MVP for the Redbirds offense. And this isn’t the first time the smallish wideout enjoyed a remarkable game.
Flash back to Week 1, and he had seven receptions on nine targets for 63 yards. In Week 3 vs. the Los Angeles Rams, Dortch hauled in nine catches for 80 yards on 10 targets. Once Rondale Moore returned to the lineup, however, Dortch saw his number of snap counts dwindle.
However, on a Monday Night game in Mexico City, Dortch once again put on a show, hauling in another nine receptions on 10 targets for 103 yards. Overall, he has been one of the better players on this team, but Kliff Kingsbury has flat out refused to give him a chance to shine if he could help it.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver deserved so much better this season
As it stands, Dortch has 44 receptions on 50 targets for 422 yards, and two touchdowns. Not all-world numbers, but how good would this speedster have looked had Kliff been wise enough to play him more often this season? Consider the following numbers:
When Dortch logged 70% or more snap counts in 2022, he logged at least four receptions in those contests. In games where he logged 80% or more in snap counts, he recorded at least seven receptions. Yet Kliff thought it was a good idea to keep the kid on the bench.
More. 3 traits the Cardinals must look for in their next coach. light
Greg Dortch is one of many reasons Kliff doesn’t deserve to keep his job. This is a player who showed more than just heart this season; he also displayed sheer talent. Yet Kliff, for one reason or another, either never saw it, never bothered to see it, or never bothered to consider it. How much more efficient would the offense have been this season with Dortch in the lineup, we will never know.
(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)
Want your voice heard? Join the Raising Zona team!