Young Arizona Cardinals still have a long way to go

As the improving Arizona Cardinals prepare to host the undefeated San Francisco 49ers, reality says that this team still has a lot of growing to do.

A year ago, the Arizona Cardinals took five games to get their first victory of the season. And 0-4 start would eventually morph into a morbid 3-13 season. Hence, the franchise wound up with the first overall pick in April’s draft. The club went for a new head coach in Kliff Kingsbury and use that No. 1 selection on Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Kyler Murray.

This season, it was déjà vu all over again as the Cardinals once again to five games to get that first victory, a 26-23 triumph at Cincinnati. But one win was followed by two others in narrow victories over the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants.

Suddenly, Arizona’s record stood at 3-3-1 due mainly due to the fact that Kingsbury and his staff found ways to take advantage of what ailed the Bengals (run defense), Falcons (pass rush) and Giants (pass protection).

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But last Sunday at the Superdome, the Cards had to deal with a Saints’ team that really hasn’t displayed any major weaknesses. And the results were a lopsided 31-9 setback which saw Kingsbury’s overwhelmed in the second half.

The club was out-gained substantially in total yards (510-237) and allowed 137 yards on the ground. And although cornerback Patrick Peterson picked off Drew Brees once, the latter threw for 373 yards and three scores and wasn’t sacked. And Arizona’s ground game managed only 40 yards while Murray and Brett Hundley were sacked a combined four times.

Now enter the San Francisco 49ers, who the Cards have actually bested the last eight times the teams have met. But this is a different looking team than its recent predecessors. Kyle Shanahan’s squad is second in the league in rushing and first in the NFL in total defense. A team that totaled two interceptions and forced seven turnovers all of last season has picked off 10 passes and has 16 total takeaways in forging a 7-0 record.

As was the case last week, it’s another acid test for these Arizona Cardinals. A week ago, the team learned some hard lessons in the Big Easy. And on Thursday in the desert, Kingsbury, Murray and this revamped club could be in for an interesting evening.