Cardinals K Catanzaro after tie with Seahawks: There’s ‘no excuse’ for OT miss
Oct 23, 2016, 10:52 PM | Updated: Oct 25, 2016, 11:20 am
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Since missing a 47-yard attempt that likely would have led to a Cardinals win over the New England Patriots in Week 1, Arizona kicker Chandler Catanzaro had been on a bit of a roll.
The third-year pro had made six straight field goals — some of the shorter variety, and some from a bit further out.
Sunday night against the Seattle Seahawks, however, his streak came to a sudden and disastrous end.
Catanzaro’s first attempt of the night, a 39-yard attempt, was blocked by Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, who leapt over the line of scrimmage and got his hands on the ball. Catanzaro made good on his next two kicks, from 46-yards out in the second quarter to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead and then from 45 yards away on the first drive of overtime to put Arizona ahead 6-3.
The Seahawks managed to tie the game, and the Cardinals, having nearly ended the game with a David Johnson touchdown run, sent Catanzaro onto the field to attempt a chip-shot, which after a delay of game was from 24 yards out. In sudden death, a make would have won the game.
The snap and hold were good, but the kick was not. It bounced off the left upright and fell to the turf, preventing the Cardinals from escaping with a much-needed win over a division rival.
“I just missed it,” Catanzaro said after the game, which finished in a 6-6 tie. “Yeah. No excuse.”
Catanzaro said he came out of the kick way too fast, which is something he cannot do. He felt terrible because “the team played their tails off,” but noted he must move on from the miscue.
Asked what he told Catanzaro after the miss, Bruce Arians said, “Make it.”
“He’s a professional,” he added. “This ain’t high school. You get paid to make it.”
In his two-plus seasons with the Cardinals, Catanzaro has been solid for the most part. This season two of his three misses likely cost the team victories. The first one, against the Patriots, was aided by a poor snap/hold and long distance. This one, however, was about as easy as they get for an NFL kicker.
“I know I make that kick 999,999 out of a million (times),” he said. “It’s a tough deal, but no matter what I’ve just got to move past this as quickly as possible.”
Arians said he was not sure if Catanzaro rushed the final attempt but figured Catanzaro saw Wagner leaping over the line and likely tried to “pull it up in there.”
Wagner said he noticed Cardinals long snapper Aaron Brewer setting up really low on film and felt like he’d be able to jump over him and make a play. Catanzaro said Wagner’s presence did not impact him at all because he cannot control what the other team is doing to try and block his kick. He said in this case, he trusted his line.
“My body didn’t do what I’ve trained it to do, what I’ve trained it to do over and over again on that last one,” he said.
