Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals offense aims to run the ball more, get James Conner going

By Trevor Woods | Last updated 6/6/23

The Arizona Cardinals ranked 22nd in rushing offense last season, but there's a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing that wants to improve that ranking.

Under former head coach Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals offense was pass-happy and air-raid-oriented, rarely using tight ends as blockers or using physicality to gut out first downs on the ground.

The main beneficiary of the new scheme will be RB James Conner, who had an admirable year on a lackluster Cardinals team. Conner rushed for 782 yards over 13 games last season with seven touchdowns on the ground along with 46 receptions for 300 yards and a score.

Cardinals QB Colt McCoy is pleased with how things are meshing in camp at the moment and envisions a system catered to Conner's strengths.

"We'll implement more two tight end sets and run the football," McCoy said on Monday. "Having more checks and alerts and things like that, that'll get James goin'. Hopefully, get him in the right looks."

Colt McCoy says he expects RB James Conner to have a lot of success in the new Arizona Cardinals offense.

He says the Cards will have more multiple TE sets than the previous offense.@PHNX_Cardinals pic.twitter.com/gxBNzdjlxk
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) June 5, 2023

McCoy said the offensive line has done a tremendous job this offseason and is "dialed in" to the new offensive approach. What makes matters more interesting with this approach is the fact that starting QB Kyler Murray is recovering from ACL surgery and could be out until mid-season. If that's the case and it's either McCoy or rookie Clayton Tune that begins the season as Arizona's starter, they'll have to turn to Conner and win with a smashmouth approach.

McCoy won't be outdueling gunslinging quarterbacks, and Tune is too inexperienced to carry the team on his shoulders. The options of McCoy and Tune being uninspiring with Murray still on the shelf could ultimately lead to Conner having the best year of his career in season No. 7.

If Arizona is going to win games in the early going of next season it won't be pretty, it'll have to be gritty. And Conner seems more than willing to answer the call in the desert.

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