Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians: Offense needs to ‘just execute’ inside red zone

Aug 20, 2013, 12:15 AM | Updated: 12:15 am
LISTEN: Bruce Arians- AZ Cardinals Head Coach

The Arizona Cardinals are off to a fast start in the preseason, as they’re one of only eight NFL teams to begin the exhibition schedule with a 2-0 record.

But it’s another number that’s caught head coach Bruce Arians’ attention heading into Saturday’s contest against the San Diego Chargers.

Eleven percent — as in the Cardinals’ success rate inside the red zone.

Despite victories over the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, Arizona’s offense has struggled mightily to make the most of its trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, managing just one touchdown — a one-yard pass from Drew Stanton to Jaron Brown in the second quarter of team’s 17-0 win at Lambeau Field on Aug. 9 — in nine trips during the preseason.

It’s a problem that was only exacerbated by an 0-for-5 performance against Dallas Saturday afternoon, including two trips by the first-team offense that ended in a 25-yard field goal and a turnover on downs.

Arians was a guest on Arizona Sports 620’s Bickley with Marotta Monday and said the key to his offense scoring in the red zone is rather simple.

“Just execute,” Arians said. “Just execute what you’re taught. Don’t improvise. Do what the playbook says and you’ll be fine. Don’t run a four-yard route on a third down and six from the six-yard line. That’s a Cardinal sin.

“You run your route on the goal line if you’re the underneath guy. Some of it was young players, some of it was older players. When they blitz, you have to run the proper hots.”

Specifically, Arians admitted he was upset with wide receiver Michael Floyd on the third-down play that eventually led to the turnover on downs in the first quarter.

On third and three from the Cowboys’ nine-yard line, Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer connected with Floyd for what looked to be enough for a first down. Instead, Dallas cornerback Danny McCray popped the unprotected ball free. Although center Lyle Sendlein eventually recovered the football, the Cardinals were faced with a fourth down and one at the seven-yard line instead of a new set of downs.

“It’s just the little itty-bitty things, the easy things that we need to correct,” Arians said. “But it’s frustrating that they continue to happen.”

Nearly four weeks into training camp, the first-year head coach noted that a lot of the errors and minor setbacks have a lot to do with intellect and very little to do with the speed and physicality of the game.

In his eyes, it’s an area that’s still very much a work in progress.

“Having played [the Cardinals] in the past I thought they were a physical team, obviously defensively I thought they were,” said Arians. “Offensively, it looked like they got away from the run and became more pass-oriented. But I don’t really care about the past.

“What we want to do is become smart, fast and physical. The smart part is the part that is lacking right now. We’re fast and physical, but we have to be a little smarter.”

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) warms up prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians walks on the field prior to an NFL football preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo warms up prior to a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones signs autographs prior to the Cowboys' preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald watches warmups before a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, left, shakes hands with Bruce Carter before a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) hands off as Dallas Cowboys defensive end Tyrone Crawford (98) pursues during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals running back Alfonso Smith (29) gains yardage against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes a catch as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) hands off to DeMarco Murray during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett applauds his team during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) pulls in a pass as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Kyle Orton (18) hands off to Lance Dunbar during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely (4) boots a field goal as teammate Dave Zastudil holds and Dallas Cowboys defensive back Brandon Underwood (23) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo gets off a pass against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half during a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo passes against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half during a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant (88) has the ball stripped away by Arizona Cardinals' Jerraud Powers for a fumble in the first half during a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Ben Bass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Kerry Taylor (18) pulls in a pass as Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Brandon Magee (46) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) throws as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Sam Acho (94) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) greet each other during a time out during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals' Jerraud Powers, decond from right, celebrates his interception with teammates Tyrann Mathieu (32) and Patrick Peterson (21) as Dallas Cowboys' Lance Dunbar, left, looks on in the first half during a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tony Jefferson (36) pulls in an interception as Dallas Cowboys running back Lance Dunbar (25) and James Hanna defend during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) gains yardage after a catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals' Tony Jefferson (36) collides with teammate Curtis Taylor (26) as Jefferson intercepts a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys' Dwayne Harris (17) in the first half during a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Jasper Brinkley, right, recovers a fumble by Dallas Cowboys' Lance Dunbar, left, as Cardinals' Patrick Peterson, back left, looks on in the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Fans watch the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tony Jefferson (36) celebrates his interception against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of a preseason NFL football game onSaturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 12-7. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians signals a play against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 12-7. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, left, meets with Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett after a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Cowboys 12-7. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys' Joseph Randle (35) tries to get away from Arizona Cardinals' Tony Jefferson (36) just before Jefferson makes the tackle in the second half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Cowboys 12-7. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely (4) connects for a field goal against the Dallas Cowboys as Dave Zastudil (9) holds in the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Cowboys 12-7. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys' Gavin Escobar (89) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Dante Rosario as Arizona Cardinals' Kevin Minter, left, sits on the ground in the second half of an NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Cowboys 12-7. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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