The Arizona Cardinals offensive line allowed 58 sacks last season, seven more than any other NFL team. The 97 quarterback hits allowed were fourth-most in the league. Cardinals running backs also averaged the fewest yards per carry of any team in the league with just 3.4 yard a rush.
The struggles last season would seem to point to a desperate need by the team to upgrade the talent on their line. However, head coach Bruce Arians doesn’t see it being nearly as big an issue as it’s perceived.
“It’s not as near the dire straits everyone wants to make it out to be,” Arians said, via the team’s official website.
Arians believes the return of Levi Brown from the triceps injury that sidelined him for all of the 2012 will help the Cardinals line return to form. Despite some thought that Brown could move inside to guard, Arians sees him as a better fit at tackle. The offensive line isn’t entirely to blame for the number of quarterback sacks last year either.
“We are a lot better than what we showed last year,” Arians said.
With the return of Brown to the lineup and the hope for rookies Nate Potter and Bobby Massie to continue to progress in their second season in the league, the Cardinals may not need to invest heavily in the offensive line to see a significant improvement next year. Nevertheless, Arizona would still be wise to infuse some new talent to the position this off-season, whether through the draft or free agency.