Larry Fitzgerald knows Cardinals offense must improve
Sep 17, 2012, 8:42 PM | Updated: 10:25 pm
Larry Fitzgerald is the best player the Arizona Cardinals have on the offensive side of the ball, and one of the top receivers in the entire NFL.
So, it should not be surprising that there is some concern over the team’s inability to get the ball into Number 11’s hands.
Through two games, Fitzgerald has just five catches for 67 yards. He was targeted with five passes in Sunday’s win over New England, but was only able to make one catch for four yards.
“Coach Belichick is the best coach in history for a reason,” Fitzgerald said when asked about the Patriots gearing their defense towards stopping him. “He’s done it a long time and done a masterful job throughout his career. He does a great job defensively, he’s a wonderful coach and his team’s really good.”
The Cardinals winning the game certainly makes Fitzgerald’s off day easier to stomach, as in the end that is the only thing that matters.
“It wasn’t by any stretch of the imagination a good day for us,” Fitzgerald said of the offense’s performance. “We have to do a better job. But guys stepped up in timely situations and made plays.”
Fitzgerald knows the Cardinals wasted opportunities to score touchdowns, having to settle for a couple field goals early in the game.
“We’ve got to do a better job of capitalizing on opportunities,” he said.
However, it’s tough to envision the Cardinals scoring many points and winning too many games in which they fail to get the ball into their best player’s hands.
“Yeah real close,” the receiver said of nearly getting the ball Sunday. “That’s not good enough right now though. It doesn’t help talking about it now on Monday.
“We’ve got to be able to execute it when we have our opportunities.”
From here it will be up to the Cardinals coaching staff to find those opportunities for Fitzgerald. Sure, teams can gameplan their defenses towards stopping the Pro Bowler, but it is still imperative the team finds some way to get him the ball.
Until then, though, Fitz is nothing but a high-priced decoy for a team that is struggling to find its way on offense. You won’t hear the receiver complaining about that role, rather he just knows he won’t be able to waste the chances he does get.
“I’ll get my opportunities, and when they come I just have to make my plays,” he said.
Arizona Sports’ Kyndra de St. Aubin contributed to this report
