Sports360AZLet’s hope Ken Whisenhunt and the Cardinals took advantage of the opportunity to get away during their bye weekend because the task of salvaging their 1-4 start doesn’t get any easier with the defending AFC Champion Steelers coming to town on Sunday.
Mired in a four-game losing streak and losing ground each week to the front-running 49ers in the NFC West makes the Cards margin for error even smaller.
Although some experts envisioned bigger things following last seasons 5-11 clunker, others expected things wouldn’t be easy.
“It’s not terribly unexpected,” Yahoo Sports NFL Insider Jason Cole told Brad Cesmat on “Big Guy on Sports” Monday. “(Kevin) Kolb was not a finished product coming out. I think there’s still some development there that needed to be done.”
The Red Birds new quarterback has certainly shared the blame with Whisenhunt who has come under fire with critics and fans for the teams slow start. Cole believes that scrutiny is unfair.
“Categorically that’s stupid, “Cole explained to Cesmat. “Whiz is the best coach you’ve ever had. If it takes a little longer than expected, be patient. It’s a little too early (in the season). Let it play out a little bit longer.”
Monday Larry Fitzgerald took time to defend his coach.
“I think (he) has taken too much of a bad rap,” Fitz explained to the assembled media after practice. “At the end of the day, he’s not catching any passes…he’s not tackling anybody. Right now the players are not getting it done.”
The Red Birds are working with two new coordinators in Mike Miller and Ray Horton. Horton came over from the Steelers this past off-season.
Miller’s offense ranks near the bottom of the NFL in most offensive categories including third down conversions, while Horton’s defense has played well in spurts but has been vulnerable to giving up big plays.
Whisenhunt and his staff are certainly familiar with the Steelers, but executing against Mike Tomlin’s team on both sides of the ball is easier said than done.
