Dealing Cards: Carson Palmer, Tyvon Branch setting the early pace

TEMPE, Ariz. – By now, it’s become common knowledge that Carson Palmer is the most sacked and hit quarterback in the National Football League. The man under center for the Arizona Cardinals is also the most prolific passer in the league.

Palmer has thrown an NFL-high 227 pass attempts.

Only one other quarterback, the Giants’ Eli Manning, has reached that 200 figure through five games.

“That’s why we’re resting him. His arm is fine,” head coach Bruce Arians said, referring to Palmer. “He made all the throws he needed to make the other day when he could actually get his feet set. We were open deep, but we couldn’t get our feet set to throw. But no, the rest, that plan’s worked fine.”

A big reason why for the high number of pass attempts — well, aside from the complete lack of a run game — is that the Cardinals have trailed in all five games this season.

In four of the five games, Palmer has attempted at least 44 passes with a high of 51 against San Francisco.

In addition, Palmer ranks second in both completions (136, behind Manning) and passing yards (1,573, behind Tom Brady); the latter number is the highest total in franchise history in the first five games of a season and Palmer’s career-high through five games.

Palmer is on pace for 435 completions, 726 attempts and 5,034 yards, numbers that not only would obliterate his career high but also set franchise records as well.

“I feel great,” he said. “Whether you throw 60 balls in a game or 40 balls in a game, it doesn’t really affect your arm either way. I like to throw it. We’d like to get to the point where we’re a little more 60-40, or closer to 50-50, but I’m not concerned.”

Tyvon (Branch) tackles better than anyone

Entering Week 6, the No. 1 tackler in the NFL wears a Cardinals uniform, and the player just might surprise people. It’s safety Tyvon Branch.

In his second season in Arizona, Branch leads the league with 49 tackles, according to NFL.com.

“I just go out there and play hard and whatever happens happens; just try to put us in the best position to win games,” he said.

Three times in the first five games, Branch has found his name sitting atop the final defensive statistics. He had 10 tackles against both Detroit and Philadelphia, while he finished with a season-high 11 against Dallas.

“I love how he’s tackling. Our strong safety has to be able to play in the box and has to be able to tackle with a lot of the things that we do schematically,” defensive coordinator James Bettcher said, before adding two more areas where Branch has excelled.

“He has blitzed well. We’ve brought him off the edge a few times and brought him inside a few times and he has blitzed physically. Then third, and really last but not least, he’s done a great job as a communicator back there. It’s a such a vital role between him and A.B. (Antoine Bethea) in our nickel package with some of the adjustments that they have to make to be able to communicate and get the other nine guys on the same page, and he’s done a great job of that.”

Facing a confident Jameis Winston

Last season, the Cardinals picked off Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston four times in a 40-7 win at University of Phoenix Stadium. It was the worst performance of his sophomore campaign.

This season, Winston is taking better care of the football. He’s been intercepted just three times, all against the Vikings in Week 2.

“A guy that’s playing with a ton of confidence right now,” Bettcher said, when asked what he’s seen on film from Winston. “There’s not a throw on the field that he physically can’t make and there’s also not a throw on the field that mentally he doesn’t think he can make. You saw against the Patriots, they had the tight end double covered, and he jammed one in there for a great throw. A guy playing with a ton of confidence right now.”

Final injury report

Only one player, defensive lineman Olsen Pierre, was officially ruled out for this week. He didn’t practice at all after suffering a sprained ankle at Philadelphia.

Five other players — linebacker Karlos Dansby (hamstring), cornerback Patrick Peterson (quadriceps), tackle Jared Veldheer (knee) plus defensive linemen Robert Nkemdiche (calf) and Corey Peters (knee) — are listed as questionable, meaning they are considered game-time decisions.

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