Remember that Cardinals loss to our Hawks? Yeah, the one where our defense was flying around? Well, get this: four of their five starting offensive linemen actually pulled Pro Football Focus grades above 60.0 in that game. That might sound decent, but when you look at their 1-2 record, with both losses to division rivals in what’s already the league’s toughest division, it screams trouble. This team brought in new head coach Mike LaFleur to run an offense inspired by the Rams and 49ers, high-powered attacks both. But if their line played *that* well against us and still couldn’t win, something’s seriously off down in the desert.
Offseason “Fixes” and Current Struggles
Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort had one mission this offseason: fix that offensive line. He let some guys walk, thinking he could upgrade. OGs Evan Brown and Will Hernandez weren’t re-signed, and OTs Kelvin Beachum and Jonah Williams were allowed to find new homes. The kicker? Evan Brown is now starting center for the Houston Texans, while the others are out of football. It makes you wonder if those changes really helped. After just Week 2, their offensive line as a whole was ranked #20 by PFF, barely moving up one spot from Week 1. That’s not exactly the foundation you want for a “potent offensive output,” is it?
Breaking Down the Cardinals’ Wall
Let’s dive into the guys Ossenfort brought in or kept around. Isaac Seumalo was their “splash signing” at left guard, playing every single snap, 209 of them. His PFF grade is 63.1, and he’s apparently an excellent pass protector. But then you see his run-blocking grade at a dismal 46.1. He’ll pull, but he whiffs on defenders, which totally defeats the purpose. He’s allowed one sack, two QB hits, and seven pressures, but zero penalties. Then there’s right tackle Elijah Wilkinson, snagged from the Atlanta Falcons, where he started every game last year. He’s played every one of his 212 snaps for the Cardinals, but his 57.7 PFF grade ranks him 54th out of 69 qualified offensive tackles. His run-blocking is even worse at 52.4, ranking 56th. He’s an above-average pass blocker, though, allowing one sack, three QB hits, and six pressures, with two accepted penalties. The supposed “rock” of the group is center Hjalte Froholdt. He’s played every snap since landing there in 2023. His 57.5 PFF grade ranks him 19th out of 32 centers, allowing just three pressures and zero sacks.
So, when four of these guys graded above 60.0 against our Hawks, and they *still* couldn’t pull out a win, it tells you everything you need to know about the state of their offense. It speaks volumes about the fight and grit of our defense too, doesn’t it? As the Cardinals try to claw their way back from 1-2, they’ll need more than just “above average” or a “rock” who ranks in the middle of the pack. They’re heading into some tough weeks, and if this O-line can’t consistently open up holes or keep their quarterback clean, it’s going to be a long season for them. We, the 12s, love to see it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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