Jonathan Gannon implements zone-heavy defense with Cardinals in 2023

In 2023, the Arizona Cardinals, under head coach Jonathan Gannon, established a defense that predominantly utilized zone coverage. An analysis shows that 76.88% of early down plays were in zone compared to just 13.47% in man coverage. The Cardinals primarily employed a Cover 3 structure for over 84% of these plays, making this year significantly different from the previous two seasons. As the season progressed, adjustments were made, shifting towards more two-high safety structures. Early down blitz rates were at their lowest point at 16.50%, reflecting a calculated approach to defending against offense in initial downs.

• 5:00 PMYahoo Sports — Jonathan Gannon’s 2023 Cardinals defense prioritized zone over everything else