Cardinals GM Steve Keim not happy with special teams play

For the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams wasn’t totally due to failures on special teams, but once again, that phase of the game left fingerprints at the scene of the crime.

The Cardinals had two kicks — an extra point and a field goal attempt — blocked, and had trouble in their own return game and stopping the Rams’ in a 32-16 defeat at University of Phoenix Stadium.

It’s an all-too-common symptom for a second straight season.

Much of the criticism, at least from the fan base, has been lobbed at special teams coach Amos Jones, who has served in that capacity under head coach Bruce Arians since 2013.

General manager Steve Keim, isn’t happy, but he also won’t point the blame in one direction.

“One thing you guys know about me is I’m never going to go on record or publicly bash any of our players individually or one of our coaches,” Keim told Doug & Wolf Monday morning on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

“The bottom line is — and it’s no excuse — our special teams have been unacceptable, point blank.”

FootballOutsiders.com ranks all NFL special teams units on five elements: field goals/extra points, kickoffs, kick returns, punts and punt returns. The website had the Cardinals ranked 27th heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Rams.

“That’s something that needs to improve, and I’ll just leave it at that,” Keim concluded.

Follow @Vincemarotta