ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals defense to be tested right out the gate with George Kittle, 49ers

Sep 12, 2020, 9:58 AM

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) tries to avoid Arizona Cardinals defenders during ...

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) tries to avoid Arizona Cardinals defenders during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Things you could circle as definites when looking at the Arizona Cardinals last season:

Kyler Murray was the clearcut starter. Larry Fitzgerald can still catch it with the best of them. Opposing tight ends ran wild.

The Cardinals’ kryptonite last season was covering tight ends. The opposing pass catchers scored at least one touchdown in 12 games last season and had five games with two scores. Arizona gave up a league-high 1,147 yards and 17 touchdowns on 94 receptions to the position.

But in an effort to remedy the situation in 2020, Arizona went shopping this offseason. The team revamped the defense with veteran linebackers De’Vondre Campbell and Devon Kennard.

Arizona didn’t stop there, selecting versatile rookie LB Isaiah Simmons with the 8th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

On paper, the Cardinals accomplished this offseason assignment.

Come Sunday, they get their first — and possibly greatest — test of the season in the form of the San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle.

Kittle and the 49ers enter the new league year following a fourth-quarter collapse in the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs. There’s no doubt they want to kick things off with a bang to show the world they are still a contender.

With wide receiver Deebo Samuel out, the tenacity and intensity Kittle plays with will be on full display.

“Kittle’s a great player, obviously,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said Thursday. “In our first game last year, he made two or three big plays to hurt us, especially on third downs. Having a plan for him is going to be vital to us having success on defense.

“I won’t share our plan but obviously he’s one of their best targets on all pass downs. First, second and third down. Last year he had over a 1,000 yards receiving, the next guy had about 500. He’s definitely a guy we have to find on all pass downs and have a plan to get him stopped this year.”

Entering his fourth NFL season, Kittle has amassed 216 receptions for 2,945 yards and 12 touchdowns.

In 2019, the tight end caught 85 of his 107 targets for 1,053 yards and five scores. In his only game against the Cardinals last year, he had six receptions, 79 yards and a touchdown. The 2019 First Team All-Pro leads all NFL tight ends in yards after contact, yards after the catch (1,600) and missed tackles (45).

This season could see even more production out of the TE, as Kittle will be leaned on even more to move the chains with injuries plaguing the 49ers wide receivers room.

Simply put, he makes the 49ers offense go.

The Cardinals hope they’re ready for the task after another offseason under Joseph and additions to the linebacker group. Simmons provides the team with a big body that can move all over the field decisively, and the two veterans, Campbell and Kennard, bring more stability alongside linebacker Jordan Hicks — something that wasn’t necessarily there a year prior.

“I think as a defense as a whole we’re just in a further along spot then we were at this point last year, and maybe even a few games in,” Hicks said. “Just because of it being our second year in the system, the ability to have that familiarity of the coaches, of the communication, playing with the same guys and having the addition of some key guys in the role that have picked up really well.

“As a whole I think we’re ready. Obviously there’s some preparation we’re grinding through right now, but come game time I’m excited with where we’re at.”

The Cardinals face a tall task on Sunday. There’s no denying it. But if Arizona can limit Kittle, the 49ers offense turns more one-dimensional, leaving the Cardinals in a prime spot to capitalize on the injury-riddle defending NFC champs.

On a broader note, a strong defensive showing in Week 1 will only breed confidence moving forward as Arizona navigates the 2020 season.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

1 day ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Cardinals defense to be tested right out the gate with George Kittle, 49ers