ADAM GREEN

Familiar problems appear, but hope remains for Arizona Cardinals

Aug 18, 2013, 1:48 AM | Updated: 1:48 am

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Much of what happened Saturday in Glendale was all too familiar for the Arizona Cardinals.

The defense produced six turnovers. The offense produced 12 points.

The unfamiliar part of the team’s 12-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys? Coming up on the right side of the scoreboard, even with the offense’s struggles.

Four times in the regular season last year the Cardinals failed to reach the end zone, and all four times they left with a loss.

“We have to learn to score touchdowns, but it’s something nice to improve upon,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said after his team improved to 2-0 in the preseason. “A win is a win; we feel very good about winning.

“And we have a ways to go before the season.”

Indeed, the Cardinals still have two games — and three weeks — before the games will start to count, meaning there is still time to iron out the wrinkles.

And unlike last season, the offense’s issues don’t appear to be the kind that will haunt this team when the games matter.

Carson Palmer, the new starting quarterback, completed just 7-of-15 passes for 66 yards. He missed on some throws and had some miscommunication issues with some receivers, but once again showed enough to make one confident the Cardinals will be fine at the position.

Rashard Mendenhall, the new running back, tallied 32 yards on seven carries, while the team’s four running backs as a whole ran for 93 yards on 28 carries, which averages out to 3.32 yards per tote.

While none of those numbers are eye-popping, they were good enough to earn a win, in no small part to six Cowboys turnovers. But really, few are concerned with how the defense plays, as this camp is all about the team’s ability to score points, not prevent them.

“There are a couple of things that we are really going to have to look at and discuss, find a way to make it better and move on and keep improving,” Palmer said. “We still have two more opportunities before we get things rolling, so it’s a good thing we have those two chances.”

Added receiver Larry Fitzgerald, “We want to be able to have a point for every minute we have time of possession, and basically we fell way short of that goal today.”

The Cardinals had the ball for just less than 34 minutes, so yeah, they fell a bit short.

However, Fitzgerald — like Arians — noted that no win is a bad win, preseason or not. And for what it’s worth, last year’s Cardinals were victorious in just one of five preseason games. If those losses were harbingers of what was to come, why can’t these wins be?

After all, according to the coach, his team is in a good spot right now on defense and special teams, meaning the offense is what needs to be figured out. An offensive-minded coach, Arians doesn’t seem to be terribly concerned.

“Offensively, we’re a work in progress,” he said. “I think we’re getting better each week; we just have to eliminate mental errors and get everybody on the same page when teams blitz us or when we’re in the red zone.”

At this point in time, those seem like minor, correctable problems, and doing so will go a long way toward erasing the memory of last season’s offensive offense.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Adam Green

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zack Greinke adjusts his cap between pitches against the Colorado Rock...

Adam Green

Concerned about Zack Greinke? Yes, I am

It's early, yes, but Zack Greinke's struggles this season are unexpected and concerning.

8 years ago

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones, who was acquired in a trade with the New England Patri...

Adam Green

Chandler Jones is the most exciting addition in Arizona Cardinals history

The Cardinals added Chandler Jones not to make them good, but to get them to the Super Bowl.

8 years ago

Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Zack Greinke and Patrick Corbin (46) prepare to hit during a spring t...

Adam Green

Money, expectations change the game for Diamondbacks

If the Diamondbacks are concerned about big heads due to being "offseason winners," they need look no further than to a division rival as a cautionary tale.

8 years ago

Phoenix Suns' P.J. Tucker (17) and Devin Booker (1) react to a foul call during the second half of ...

Adam Green

Who knew the Suns bottoming out could feel so terrible?

While the Phoenix Suns being bad may actually be a very good thing, the way they have hit the bottom is difficult to stomach.

8 years ago

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians watches during the second half of an NFL football game ag...

Adam Green

Trust leads to Arians’ aggressive approach with Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals had just coughed up a 14-point fourth quarter lead and had the ball at their own 16 with just 58 seconds left in a tied game.

8 years ago

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, left, greets Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palm...

Adam Green

Cardinals show road to NFC West title goes through Glendale

Prior to the game there was plenty of talk about how the Cardinals had yet to beat a winning team and were not nearly as good as their record may have indicated.

8 years ago

Familiar problems appear, but hope remains for Arizona Cardinals