PHOENIX – Life without DeAndre Hopkins is here for the Arizona Cardinals.
It’s been nearly two weeks since they released the three-time first-team All-Pro wide receiver, and during that time, the Cardinals have shifted their focus to getting ahead with whoever is left in their receiving room. This wasn’t always the case, according to coach Jonathan Gannon. Arizona spent the offseason through May 26 working under the assumption that Hopkins would be part of this year’s team. Gannon added that “all the factors that were in play” led to Arizona’s decision to let Hopkins go.
“We felt it was the best thing for the team to play with who we have,” he said.
It’s been about a month and a half since Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort declared during the NFL Draft that “DeAndre is a Cardinal and we’re moving forward.”
While a lot will change for the Cardinals offensively, the status quo won’t change much at all. Hopkins wasn’t around that season, practicing on his own in various locations across the country and in Canada, so Arizona installed a fresh offense under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing without him there.
Although the Cardinals now have clarity on Hopkins’ situation, they are still looking for answers to a number of questions that have now arisen, namely: What would the offense look like without Hopkins on the field?
For starters, the 2023 plan will be fresh and different compared to what Hopkins played under former Cardinals head coach Cliff Kingsbury. However, it was not always so influential in X and O.
The absence of Hopkins from Arizona would require filling a large void that could be measured in a number of ways.
First, the obvious: At 6-foot-1, 212 pounds, Hopkins was a physical force on the court. He wasn’t necessarily the fastest receiver, but the way he used his body from positional to controlling to leverage—especially on the sidelines—allowed Hopkins to open up on a regular basis (he had 32 receptions when considered wide open last season in nine games, According to NFL Next Gen Stats). His understanding of the game, of sitting a way in or finishing it out or where the holes would depend on the fullback’s drop, added another dimension to Hopkins’ game. Then there were his XXXL-sized hands that helped him grip a lot. No receiver has caught more passes than Hopkins (853) since entering the league in 2013.
Arizona would lose it all in one player and basically have to replace Hopkins with two running back receivers: Marquis Brown and Rondel Moore.
Each has its own strength, which in combination can make up for Hopkins – but it has no size either. Brown, listed 5-9, is more of a vertical expansion receiver with the speed to break away from defensive backs—something Hopkins doesn’t do regularly—but Brown hasn’t worked much in trafficked areas or in the middle of the field. Moore, who is listed 5-7, can be used as more of a kinetic type of player for players running fly passes, screens, and sweeps. He could be more of a receiver who runs specific runs that could improve his 41 receptions from last season.
Both could end up with distinct roles: Brown could take on the higher defenses while Moore planned to open things up in space.
One of the unknowns after Hopkins’ loss is who will be the Cardinals’ limit X receiver, which was Hopkins’ turn last season. He may end up being the Browns — who lined wide on 67% of his runs last season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats — more often, but he doesn’t have the traditional size of a boundary X receiver.
When it comes to this post-style receiver, Arizona could end up looking at third starter Michael Wilson, who is 6-2, or tight ends Zach Ertz (6-5) and Trey McBride (6-3). McBride, who is entering his sophomore season, has a background in starting lineup and widefield from his time at Colorado State.
The Cardinals could also turn to the likes of Greg Durch, who is 5-7, and new additions like Zach Pascal (6-2) and Odin Tate (6-5).
Gannon was “very pleased” with his room without Hopkins so far.
“I think Drew Terrell (passing game coordinator and receiving coach at Arizona) and Webb (passing game specialist Spencer Whipple) do an excellent job with these guys,” said Gannon.[What] What we talk about with our guys is if you make yourself a role, we’ll use you in that role, and I like the way they work.”
Whoever plays the field, Hopkins’ loss will be felt.
He’s accounted for 21.3% of all receiving yards in the past three years, despite missing the first six games of last season while suspended for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He had 717 yards and three touchdowns last season in nine games, which led the team and was 8 more yards than Brown’s total, and Brown played three more games.
Last season, Arizona scored just 0.29 points per game with Hopkins on the court compared to when he wasn’t, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. With Hopkins on the field, the Cardinals’ yards per rush were up .10, their passing yards per game were up 68.3, their rushing yards per game were up 26.8, and their yards per attempt were up 0.60%.
However, Arizona quarterbacks averaged 0.28 more yards per attempt without Hopkins, and QBR was 2.7 points higher without him on the field.
Hopkins’ lack of option, especially in critical situations or on critical touchdowns — eight out of Hopkins’ 10 catches last season resulted in third-place finishes — means Petzing will likely have to plan more to create set tackles. It can be similar to how the Los Angeles Rams used Cooper Kupp with action, stacks, bunches, and quick releases to the flat.
In reaction to not having to face Hopkins anymore, defenses may be appropriate to enact game plans that involve deeper coverage or more man-to-man. Teams with corners who can run with the Browns might stack the box and try to get rid of the Arizona running game.
“With the guys we have on the team now, they provide some challenges to defend with their skills,” said Gannon. “…So I think just making sure we’re evaluating that with the players that we have… putting players in positions to make plays for us and using their skill sets accordingly, I think we’ll be fine.”