Cardinals remain steadfast in support of wide receivers

TEMPE, Ariz. — Chad Williams pressed his index finger to his thumb. That, the second-year receiver promised, is how close the Arizona Cardinals are to figuring this thing out.

Unequivocally, the offense has been poor through a Week 1 loss to Washington and into Sunday’s 34-0 defeat at Los Angeles. The Cardinals are dead last in total offensive yards and passing yards produced through two games so far.

Much blame has been put on the young receiving group that, after Larry Fitzgerald, has produced a combined five catches and 31 yards — all from rookie Christian Kirk.

Yet the Cardinals have maintained that there’s no concern with the talent in the room. They backed those words with action once again when head coach Steve Wilks said that Arizona wouldn’t sign anyone after a Wednesday workout of free agent receivers, including NFL veteran Kendall Wright.

So what can help the receivers at hand produce?

“Doing all the little things right,” said Williams, who on the depth chart is listed as the No. 2 receiver behind Fitzgerald. “Getting depth, getting open — different things, stacking defenders — making throws much easier for (quarterback Sam Bradford).

“Being physical with my hands, just remembering all the techniques we go through during the week to help me on Sundays.”

An embarrassing 0-2 start has the Cardinals putting out schematic fires and setting controlled, preventative burns among them emotionally.

To that second point, there’s been no finger-pointing, least of all at Williams, Kirk and veteran speedster J.J. Nelson.

Wilks has spent the three days since a loss to the Rams saying he is scaling back the playbook to put his players in better positions to succeed on both sides of the ball. He’s admitted quarterback Sam Bradford and the offensive line must do a better job in unison with the receivers.

“We have to create more separation down the field,” Wilks said. “Coming back for the ball … Got to be able to take some shots, loosen up the defense a little bit, those kind of things. I think those guys are doing a great job at the line of scrimmage, trying to fight, to get off the press. Again, it’s not just one thing.

“We’re one or two plays away,” Wilks added. “That’s one of those things, I know it sounds crazy when you talk 34-to-nothing … you can’t stay frustrated. You have to stay the course.”

Arizona also wants to look at how it can get running back David Johnson more involved in the passing game.

After watching tape of the Rams game, Bradford said Wednesday he could do a better job of checking down to Johnson instead of trying to manufacture deeper throws that might not be there, especially on first downs. Wilks added that the quarterback could do a better job of stepping up in the pocket to keep passing plays alive.

Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is tasked with searching out more mismatches for all of his pass-catchers.

The long list of fixes aside, the Cardinals remain steadfast in believing in what they’ve worked on since training camp began.

“Kind of seems like we’ve all taken turns making mistakes and I think if we can find a way to get some of those fixed — which I don’t think it’ll be an issue — I think it is close,” Bradford said. “I think we can do it.”

Nonetheless, Williams, Kirk and Nelson remain in the spotlight. Arizona needs better production from them.

While their coaches and front office continue to support them, they feel the pressure — if not from the media and fans, then from knowing others like Bradford are taking much of the blame.

“I don’t listen to any outside stuff,” Williams said. “But the quarterback, it’s the hardest job on the team. You have to be a human machine. If you look at what a quarterback goes through in one day, you’d probably rip your head off, don’t come back to work tomorrow.

“That’s the type of things those guys go through. There are great quarterbacks in that room, and they can stand up in that.”

EXTRA POINTS

— Safety Rudy Ford (ankle) and Fitzgerald (hamstring) were held out of practice Wednesday, while Markus Golden (ACL) and Jermaine Gresham (Achilles) were full participants. Wilks stopped short of saying Golden and Gresham were certain to play Sunday. “Larry will be ready to go on Sunday, no question,” the coach added.

— Bradford said the scaling down of the playbook was to “just make sure the plays we have in the gameplan, everyone’s comfortable with. Just feel like we own the plays in the gameplan that week.” Williams said he didn’t notice a difference in the playbook as it was called during practice Wednesday.

— Bradford, on stepping up in the pocket to extend plays: “I think there have been instances where I can help those guys out where I can step up and kind of climb through the traffic.”

— If it wasn’t clear that Bradford is the starting quarterback for the Chicago game, Wilks made it more clear on Wednesday: “Sam’s the guy,” he said.

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