Revenge of the Birds
Yeah, it has come to this.
We all knew this day would come.
It’s just time.
The Arizona Cardinals did not just lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday; they were eliminated from any playoff contention in the 20-17 loss. Keep in mind, the team has five games remaining.
The offense is a roller coaster. Dropped balls are a constant. The offensive line struggles mightily. No running game. The defense is on the field so much that they just crash and burn in the final stages.
RELATED: CARDINALS OFFICIALLY ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFFS
The Cardinals are now 3-9-0. It’s time. No more waiting around for this ship to right itself, despite five games left on the calendar.
Time to move on from head coach Jonathan Gannon.
The realization is that the Cardinals’ front office wanted to give him three years, but have regressed this year, staring down at 10+ losses. Getting beaten in double-digit games isn’t an issue in hockey, or soccer, or really, any other sport. But since football only plays 17 games, well, you get the point.
This is Gannon’s third season. Yes, he was 4-13-0 in his first year, followed by 8-9-0 last season. That all indicates that this season should have increased to a 10-win season, if not higher. That is how three-year rebuilds work. Everyone understands a horrible first season followed by a year that displays improvement. But by the third year, the franchise should be in the postseason. Instead of double-digit wins, it is inevitable that the season will end with double-digit losses.
That is not in the three-year plan.
But there are so many things wrong with this ballclub that cannot, and will not, and have not been corrected.
Let’s just end it. Please.
For those of us who have met Gannon, he is a great guy. Very personable, nice, calm, pleasant, well-spoken, and obviously intelligent. A very good football man with an emphasis on defense. We all like Gannon the person. It’s nothing personal – just business.
And the business of Arizona Cardinals football isn’t pretty.
Fans hate that he shows minimal emotion during games while on the sideline. That is just who he is. He is very chill, and things do not rattle him. He is the Jalen Hurts of NFL coaches – calm, reserved, studious.
Does he have a passion for the game? Of course. Does he get upset with players who make dumb mistakes? Yes indeed, but not in front of God and everyone. He is a person who takes his grievances and closes the door to address his concerns.
The players love him. He is viewed as a player’s coach.
But plainly put: his offense sucks. That side of the ball has zero ability to adjust to the opponent’s defensive adjustments. In his press conferences, his continual reference that “we will learn from it” or “it’s on me” has gotten stale.
Rarely is there any accountability for mistakes.
And the quarterback situation just never gets solved. It just...
