In August, Good Morning Football’s Peter Schrager outlined his top 10 breakout stars for 2020. In past years, Schrager has listed stars such as Patrick Mahomes, Marlon Humphrey and Danielle Hunter in his picks. This year, Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold came in at number 10. Amongst the star-studded offensive lineup, Schrager projected lofty ambitions for the tight end. Not only was he expected to make a giant leap, but Schrager suggest that Arnold would develop as one of the regular top options for Kyler Murray.
Dan Arnold: A Modern Tight End for Arizona
Acquired from the New Orleans Saints in a midseason pickup in 2019, Arnold hoped to add another dimension to the Cardinals tight end room. Namely, his ability as a receiver compliments the blocking ability of fellow tight end Maxx Williams. A product of Wisconsin-Platteville, Arnold ran track in addition to playing football, an indication of his athletic ability. At 6’6, 220lb, the Cardinals headed into the second season of the Kingsbury era with another genuine red zone threat.
Playing in just five games for Arizona in 2019, Arnold grabbed two touchdowns in that short period. His score against the Cleveland Browns in particular, demonstrated the finer details of Arnold’s receiving prowess. High pointing the ball in the back of the end zone, toe-tapping to stay in bounds appeared to be the prototype for Arnold’s success in the NFL. The ensuing off-season saw hype building around the former Saint as he continued to develop chemistry with Kyler Murray. Peter Schrager took this hype nation-wide on Good Morning Football, raving about the ‘prominent role’ Arnold was going to have in the Cardinals offense in 2020.
Dan Arnold: Week 1-10
Throughout the year, Arnold has been a fairly consistent contributor for Arizona. In an offense that already boasts the likes of DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald, Arnold is largely a third or fourth option on most plays. In fact, this is exactly what Schrager predicted earlier in the year. Through the first four games of the season, Arnold had nine receptions for 97 yards. This included a four-catch, 39 yard performance against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals offense has had an up and down year. At times the unit has been ranked the best in the league, but has had difficult periods. The same can be said for Dan Arnold. His performance against Carolina was followed by two straight weeks where Arnold wasn’t even targeted. His contribution in the win against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7 lead to some suggesting Kliff Kingsbury was underutilising him. Arnold’s lack of red zone usage contributed to his slow start, despite this being expected to be his forte. Although racking up average receptions and yardage, through Week 10, Arnold failed to record a touchdown. Questions about Arnold’s use joined those about the use of Hopkins, whose production faltered mid-season.
Week 11 and Onward
However, following the bye, as the Cardinals trended downward, Dan Arnold’s season picked up speed. Arnold saw his first touchdown of 2020 come in the Week 11 loss to the Seahawks, the beginning of a torrid period for Arizona. Revising the deployment of Arnold, as Kingsbury later did with Hopkins, saw his production improve. Arnold’s increased role coincided with the loss of Larry Fitzgerald in Week 12. Arnold appeared to fill that void, running a similar route scheme that involved receptions over the middle of the field. His large frame and athletic ability proved useful in providing an easy target amid Kyler Murray’s struggles.
In the Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Arnold recorded season-highs in both touchdowns (2) and yardage (61). A significant amendment seen in this game was that Kingsbury successfully unlocked the vertical aspect of Arnold’s game. Compared to earlier in the season, Arnold’s targets and receptions were more or less the same. However, later his yardage improved immensely. Therefore it is clear to see how Kingsbury has adapted his usage, employing him on more downfield plays like his first touchdown. Running deeper routes starkly contrasts the shallower concepts he ran early in the year, as reflected in his low early-season yardage totals.
Peter Schrager noted that chemistry with Kyler Murray was integral to Arnold’s success. Earlier in the year, the two had perhaps not fully developed this chemistry and trust. However, Murray’s continued targeting of Arnold in contested red zone situations indicates that this relationship is clearly blossoming. Arnold’s touchdown against the New York Giants in Week 14 is evidence of this, making a leaping grab from a ‘go get it’, almost throwaway toss by Murray.
Dan Arnold Going Forward
Kingsbury’s ability to recognize what he has on his roster has characterized much of the Cardinals season. Questioned on his usage of DeAndre Hopkins, Kingsbury has answered those questions. Dan Arnold is no different. After early season struggles, Arnold has emerged as a genuine three-down option on passing plays for Arizona. Making use of his athletic ability to open up the field solves the low-yardage issues that plagued him early in the year. Murray’s belief in Arnold, especially in red zone situations, has been integral in properly utilizing his physical talents.
The key to the Cardinals offense is unleashing DeAndre Hopkins. To do that, the team needs a viable second option to draw coverage away from the star. Dan Arnold is beginning to show that he may just be that man that helps turn the corner in the desert, just as Peter Schrager predicted in August.
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