Arians: Additions, better health will lead to improved special teams play

PHOENIX — Much was made of the Cardinals’ struggles in special teams last season, as they had troubles in virtually every aspect.

In 2016, the Cardinals were 31st in field goal percentage and 23rd on PATs, while ranking last in the league in punting.

Arizona was also 16th in kick return yardage and 29th when it came to returning punts. For good measure, the Cardinals ranked in the bottom half of the league when it came to defending both kick and punt returns.

The team made an effort to fix the kicking game, signing punter Matt Wile late in the year and then adding veteran kicker Phil Dawson in free agency, but in terms of the return game, little has changed.

However, Arians is not so sure the team’s primary returners are currently on the roster.

“I think that is one of the wide-open things in the draft,” he said at the NFC Coaches Breakfast at the Arizona Biltmore Wednesday.

Arians said he was disappointed in Andre Ellington, who returned kicks last year but had been battling injuries. The now-healthy Ellington will have to prove he can handle punts from left-footed kickers, which he struggled to do in practice. Arians said that led to a loss of confidence.

“He should have a chance as a kickoff returner/punt returner, but he’s got to do a hell of a lot better than he did last year,” Arians said. “He knows it.

“J.J. (Nelson), that’s why we drafted him; he broke the thumb early in camp last year and lost his confidence catching them and didn’t want to be back there. John Brown was doing a heck of a job until he got hurt, so we’ve got some guys.”

The coach noted he’s looking to add a player in the draft who could compete for the returner role, which makes sense. What did not make sense, at least to some people, was Arians’ decision to leave Amos Jones in place as the special teams coordinator.

“I’ve been around him for so long, I know how good a coach he is, I watch him coach,” Arians said, before noting that injuries and down seasons from the kickers were the real issue. “It ain’t got a damn thing to do with coaching — he didn’t kick, he didn’t snap.”

Arians’ belief is that the team’s issues there were not related to the coach.

“If I thought it was something to do with the coach, we’d address it,” he said.

To Arians, improvement on special teams will come not only from the team’s additions, but key contributors getting healthy.

“Getting Alani Fua back, and Mo (Ifeanyi Momah) back, Gabe (Martin) back — they’re all in competition,” he said. “But our four or five cover guys were all on IR.”

Follow Adam Green on Twitter

Follow @theAdamGreen