FOOTBALL
Raiders Coach Says Arizona Cardinals Will ‘Be A Big Challenge For Us’
Sep 15, 2022, 9:00 AM
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 11: Running back Jerick McKinnon #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the ball as safety Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals closes in during the third quarter of the game at State Farm Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
As the Las Vegas Raiders prepare for the Arizona Cardinals, they know they need to prepare for more than just Kyler Murray.
Coach Josh McDaniels spoke to the media on Wednesday and talked about what the team is looking at as they prepare for Week 2. In 2021, the Cardinals were one of the top blitzing teams in the league. Preparing for the blitz is one of the things they’re practicing over and over the coach said.
“They generate a lot of negative plays, a lot of pressure on the quarterback, create a lot of third-and-long situations with negative plays, with their blitz packages,” McDaniels said. “So, for us, we’re going to need to do a good job of obviously identifying exactly where they’re lined up at. They’ve got a lot of different personnel groupings that they use and very athletic blitzers from [Isaiah] Simmons, to [Budda] Baker to [Zaven] Collins. They all come, and when they come, they’re coming fast. They basically threw the kitchen sink at Kansas City last week. And again, that’s just awareness, communication pre-snap, and then we’ve got to follow your rules. I wouldn’t say we’ve seen every blitz that they have, so we’re probably going to get some things that are unique to us.”
Chander Jones faces off against his former team for the first time since 2012. He currently holds the franchise record for sacks at 71.5. If he’s going to pressure his former teammate, he’s going to have his day cut out for him.
“He forces you to be absolutely on top of all your P’s and Q’s, and you can’t take plays off and can’t relax because if you do, generally he makes you pay for it,” McDaniels said. “He’s an exceptional player. This will be a huge challenge. Excited to have the opportunity to compete against him, but this guy is a really, really good football player.”
🔴🎥 Live: Head Coach Josh McDaniels addresses the media from the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center. https://t.co/wTO0lr9SLP
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 14, 2022
