Steve Wilks sounds like a man who knows it's not working and the Cardinals players sound like a group that knows it's not working. Because its not.
First:
Sunday was unofficially the end of Steve Wilks time as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Even if he somehow survives the season and begins the 2019 regular season as head coach, the loss to the Raiders will eventually prove to be the point that cost him his job. I personally don’t believe he’ll make it to 2019 and for good reason: this team is not better now than it was in Week 1 and this coaching staff has not shown it knows howto fix it. Steve Wilks sounds like a man who knows it's not working and the Cardinals players sound like a group that knows it's not working. Because its not.
The longer the Cardinals wait to accept that reality, the further behind they will fall.
And 10:
1. If I were Michael Bidwill, I’d also make a change at GM. At its core, this Cardinals organization does not seem to accept how quickly things have changed in the NFL. Ultra aggressive offenses, constant innovation and bend-but-don’t-break defenses currently populate the top of the NFL hierarchy. I don’t think Steve Keim wants to accept that. The longer the Cardinals wait to accept that reality, the further behind they will fall.
2. Another critical mistake Steve Keim made in hiring Steve Wilks is pairing a rookie head coach with a roster still led by veterans who aren’t willing to wait out the growing pains of a new head coach.
3. The name atop the Cardinals list should they decided to make a change and should the coach be available is John Harbaugh.
He very much fits the profile of the offensive version of John Fox.
4. If Mike McCarthy is cut loose by the Packers, I’d stay far away from the Super Bowl winning head coach. He very much fits the profile of the offensive version of John Fox.
He brings immediate credibility to the development of Josh Rosen and the Cardinals offensive attack.
5. Another name quasi- out of the box hire I’d strongly consider: Norv Turner. He was 56-40 in his last stint as head coach, leading the Chargers to 3 AFC West championships and 3 playoff wins. He brings immediate credibility to the development of Josh Rosen and the Cardinals offensive attack. The risk of hiring Turner, other than the perception he’s failed too many times at head coach to succeed, is he’d likely insist the team hire his son Scott as offensive coordinator and maybe even want a succession plan in place. Whether he has the kind of clout is dubious but at 66, I’m sure he’d try.
6. Josh McDaniels would be a spectacular fit with Josh Rosen but all signs indicate he’s likely to line to coach Aaron Rodgers, if the Packers do in fact make a change.
7. You could try and import the Chiefs offensive wizardry with Eric Bieniemy. You could tap into the Sean McVay coaching tree with Matt Lafleur. You could try and bring the Saints offensive excellence to the desert with Pete Carmichael or Dan Campbell.
8. Or, if you really want to generate some attention for a franchise that has drifted back into full scale irrelevancy and fully embrace the offensive explosion that is currently sweeping the NFL, you could hire Mike Leach. Mike Leach and Todd Bowles as DC, anyone?
I still saw enough next level throws from Josh Rosen to remain fully on board with the idea he’s absolutely the franchise QB the team envisioned when they drafted him.
9. The game itself was hardly worth your time watching which is why its not worth re-hashing here but despite his obvious mistakes, I still saw enough next level throws from Josh Rosen to remain fully on board with the idea he’s absolutely the franchise QB the team envisioned when they drafted him.
The Chargers may actual have a home field advantage for the first time all season.
10. What’s next? On the “road” against the Los Angeles Chargers. In what could be the biggest indictment of the season for the Cardinals, the Chargers may actual have a home field advantage for the first time all season.