Not like this.With our optimism mostly sapped after the first two
weeks
Cheap D.J. Humphries Jersey , I think all but the most delusional of Redbirds fans were expecting a loss yesterday.But not like this.The first
quarter was like a dream. Bradford hitting wide open receivers down the field,
the defense playing physically and causing turnovers, the crowd energized. Maybe
the season could be salvaged, maybe things weren’t as bad as they seemed.But
then the dream turned back into a nightmare after halftime. Four straight
turnovers on offense, a gassed defense letting the lead slowly slip away, the
energy completely drained out of State Farm Stadium. A 14-0 lead turned into a
16-14 loss, salvation cruelly turned into validation of our worst fears.We’re
just not a good football team. Or even a mediocre one. As constructed, as
coached, and as shown on the field, we’re a bad football team.We played the
blame game last week, and the fingers were pointed squarely at GM Steve Keim.
That still holds true, as he’s the architect of this rapidly collapsing house of
Cards, but yesterday’s loss can’t be pinned solely on him. No, yesterday truly
showed the cracks in the pillars of this team, and one man was directly
responsible for the debacle we all witnessed.Head coach Steve Wilks.When Wilks
was hired, he talked a good game, preaching about his “three pillars” of trust,
commitment, and accountability. But it seems those were empty words—when talk
turned to action, he abandoned each of those pillars yesterday, showing an utter
lack of trust in his best players, commitment to the decisions he’s made, and
accountability toward those who need to be taken to task.Whether these are just
rookie coaching mistakes or signs that he’s in over his head remains to be seen.
But given the following examples of Wilks betraying his own principles just
three games into the season makes me lean toward the latter. Let me show you
exactly what I mean.TrustAs a head coach, you have to trust your best players to
get the job done. When the game is on the line, you make sure your best players
are on the field and put the game in their hands. Win or lose, at least you know
you know you gave it your best shot with your best guys.Wilks utterly failed in
that regard yesterday by leaving David Johnson on the sideline and watching as
rookie Chase Edmonds was tackled for a 3-yard loss on that pivotal 3rd-and-2 on
our penultimate drive. Why not at least line DJ up out wide as a decoy? (If
you’re not going to put the ball in his hands.) Leaving him on the sideline was
simply inexcusable.Local media, including our own Seth and Walter, have already
rightly skewered Wilks for this indefensible decision. And after three games in
which DJ has averaged less than 15 touches a game
http://www.cardinalscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-andre-smith-jersey , it’s quite clear that Wilks trusts OC Mike McCoy’s system (don’t worry—more on
him later) more than he trusts his own players.Failing to trust DJ and putting
misplaced trust in McCoy—this pillar is already showing some serious
erosion.CommitmentFor a head coach to keep the respect of the locker room, he
needs to commit to his players. The players need to know that their coach makes
sound decisions, even when faced with adversity. Leaders need to make tough
decisions and stick with them.Wilks has failed spectacularly at this as it
relates to the quarterback position during his short tenure. After the draft,
Wilks declared the position “open for competition,” only to then declare
Bradford the starter at the beginning of training camp. Okay, Bradford was an
established veteran and we were supposedly “retooling,” fine. Let the rookie
develop for a year. (It worked wonders for Patrick Mahomes II!)Then yesterday
happened.To say Sam Bradford had an up-and-down game would be a massive
understatement. He followed up a 2-touchdown first quarter with a 3-turnover
second half. His fumble deep in Bears territory in the fourth quarter was an
absolute backbreaker, no doubt about it.But to pull him and put rookie Josh
Rosen in the game down 2 with under 5:00 to play is just unconscionable—and
Rosen proceeded to do what most rookie QBs would do when put in that position.
(No Baker Mayfield comparisons, please—Mayfield came in in the first half as an
injury replacement.) The chances of Rosen succeeding in that situation were
minuscule, and he deserved a better time and place for his debut.We may have
“needed a spark,” but Bradford has been there before. You have to show
commitment to your veteran rather than making a panic move by putting the rookie
in. Was he influenced by what Mayfield did on Thursday night? Has he been
hearing some fans and media clamoring for Rosen? Whatever the case, this was not
a sound football decision, and the team paid the price.But Wilks might have
saved his worst indecision for after the game. When you bench your $20 million
veteran for a rookie late in the fourth quarter, there’s no going back. You have
to commit to the rookie at that point or else risk a QB controversy the team
can’t afford. Yet Wilks couldn’t even do that: “We’re going to evaluate Josh as
well as Sam,” he said after the game. Would you like some waffle fries with your
QB controversy?This QB situation has been mishandled about as badly as possible.
This pillar has a crack right down the middle.AccountabilityWhen things go wrong
(and many things have gone wrong for the Cardinals thus far in 2018), those at
fault need to be held accountable by the head coach. While the defense—Wilks’s
area of expertise—has largely been solid, the offense has been abysmal—so
where’s the accountability?There are two individuals that can be blamed: QB Sam
Bradford and OC Mike McCoy. So far, Wilks has declined to hold either of them
accountable. Yes, he pulled Bradford out of the game yesterday, but according to
Wilks’s postgame comments, Bradford could still start next week. That’s not
accountability.And anyone who’s watched even a few minutes of Cardinals football
this season can see that McCoy is a major problem. His schemes are vanilla (or
is it that the playbook is too complicated?), he doesn’t know how to use DJ, and
his playcalling a joke. This is a man who’s been fired from his last two
coaching jobs and who hasn’t shown the slightest ability to adjust in his short
stint here in the desert—and yet Wilks has “total trust” in him? Zero
accountability.If our offense is still this inept with McCoy at the helm going
into the bye, this pillar will have completely collapsed. (And, for the record,
I don’t think McCoy should be anywhere near State Farm Stadium when the Seahawks
come to town this weekend.)Final ThoughtsWhen Wilks was hired, there was a lot
of talk about his qualities as a leader, how he had the perfect demeanor for the
gig. So far—and
http://www.cardinalscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-justin-pugh-jersey , yes, it’s only been three games—I’m not seeing any of that. I’m seeing a guy
unprepared for the pressure of managing 53 professional athletes, a coaching
staff, and expectations from the fans/media. The moment was too big for him
yesterday, as it’s mostly been so far.Now, I’m not calling for his head—he’s a
rookie head coach, and most rookie head coaches struggle at first. But if he
can’t repair the cracks in his own personal pillars—which are now the pillars of
our team—he risks becoming another Valley head coach who’s all words but no
actions, no results. Another Earl Watson, if you will.And Watson didn’t even
last two seasons.It’s your turn to weigh in, Cardinals fans. What do you think
of Steve Wilks’s performance thus far? Do you agree with how he handled the game
yesterday? Do you still believe in him, or are you tired of empty words? Let us
know in the comments.Bird Droppings: Arizona Cardinals evaluating everything,
Bradford remains starter, Fitz providing charity to local restaurant and more
Happy Tuesday one and all.The Arizona Cardinals have quite a bit to figure out
still, but we are on to the Chicago Bears.That’s right, the Monsters of the
Midway roll into State Farm Stadium on Sunday and I have a feeling it will be a
large contingent of Bears faithful on hand.Yet, it is not time to give up, no
instead, it is time to figure out what the heck is going on and can it be
fixed?Let’s take a look around the web to see what the Cardinals next step
is.Cardinals Need To Be "Creative" In Using David JohnsonWilks emphasizes
confidence in McCoy, downplays potential QB changeRams aftermath, searching for
answersWilks - 'We All Have To Step Up'Head coach Steve Wilks gives his major
takeaways after reviewing tape from Sunday's loss to the Rams.Cards Daily - Less
Thinking, More PlaymakingPaul Calvisi brings you all the latest news and notes
on Monday from Tempe after head coach Steve Wilks reviewed yesterday's game film
from the 34-0 loss in LA.No easy fix for Cardinals' floundering offense -
Arizona Cardinals Blog- ESPNThe Cardinals have scored six points in two games --
0 on Sunday -- leaving players and coaches frustrated and disappointed.Coach
Steve Wilks says Cardinals will scale back playbookCardinals coach Steve Wilks
thinks jump-starting the team's offense begins with scaling back the
playbook.Bickley: Cardinals' Wilks seemed in control a month ago. What
happened?The feeble start for the Arizona Cardinals is full of caveats, but
there are no excuses for what we've seen from Steve Wilks and the new staff.Jay
Feely after Cardinals' loss to Rams: 'I don't see a system'Former Cardinals
kicker Jay Feely puts a lot of the blame for Arizona's abysmal offensive start
to the year on OC Mike McCoy.Former Cardinals QB Carson Palmer featured on 'A
Football Life'On Friday, former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer was
immortalized in the TV show "A Football Life" on the NFL Network.Wilks: Sam
Bradford needs help, Cardinals to scale back playbookQuarterback Sam Bradford
isn't the only one to blame for the Arizona Cardinals through two ugly losses to
begin the season, but Steve Wilks and the staff are expected to scale back the
playbook while searching for answers.Larry Fitzgerald buying patrons’ meals to
help ailing Scottsdale deli ownerArizona Cardinals star receiver Larry
Fitzgerald is picking up the meal tab Tuesday to help raise funds for a
terminally ill Scottsdale deli owner.Mike Glennon was better in 2017 than Sam
Bradford has been in 2018Bradford's terrible start is much worse than Glennon's
play before being benched last year by the Bears.Cardinals vs. Rams: 4 AZ
players who had positive performancesIt might have been an awful 34-0 loss, but
not everybody played terribly.Cardinals vs. Rams: 3 AZ players who struggled in
34-0 lossIt was a collectively poor effort, but these players had particularly
bad games.Cardinals vs Rams: 3 things we learn from Cards’ offensive snapsDidn't
the Cardinals say they would use a fullback?3 takeaways from Cardinals’ Week 2
defensive snap countsYou like coins? The Cardinals will nickel and dime
you.Arizona Cardinals to stick with Sam Bradford at QBSteve Wilks says there are
far too many other problems to just put Josh Rosen in there.
