Cardinals’ Bruce Arians: ‘Attention to detail on offense is very lacking’

Sep 16, 2013, 9:56 PM | Updated: 9:56 pm

While the Arizona Cardinals scratched out their first win of the season Sunday, it wasn’t always pretty. So much so, that head coach Bruce Arians told the media Monday that his team needs to do a better job of paying more attention to the details.

In their 25-21 victory over the Detroit Lions, Arizona’s offense was 1-of-11 on third downs and only scored one touchdown in four trips to the red zone.

Arians said both things need to be corrected in practice this week.

“It was third down when we were shooting ourselves in the foot and it’s very correctable,” Arians said. “It was a collective group thing on 1-for-11. Same thing down in the red zone. A couple of miscommunications, things we’re still ironing out.”

Though pass protection — their biggest problem in a Week 1 loss to the St. Louis Rams — was much improved Sunday, the offense still struggled to execute on critical passing situations. The Cardinals’ only third down conversion came in the fourth quarter, and their only touchdown came on Rashard Mendenhall’s one-yard, go-ahead score with 1:59 remaining in the contest.

Arians knows the offense can be better and emphasized a need for a higher level of focus going forward.

“Our attention to detail on offense is very lacking,” Arians said. “A lot of coaches say the little things. There are no little things. Everything’s a big thing. That attention to detail has to increase to be as good as we want to be on offense.”

Although he was critical of the offense’s overall focus, Arians did praise the play of quarterback Carson Palmer for the second straight week, focusing on the 31-year-old’s leadership following his interception.

“The young guys all gravitated around him,” Arians said. “He set the best example and sent the best signals.”

Arizona Cardinals fans hold a sign in memory of the victims of Friday's Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings during the first half of an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt makes a call against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells (26) gains yards as Detroit Lions cornerback Jacob Lacey (21) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) breaks the tackle of Detroit Lions cornerback Jacob Lacey during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Arizona Cardinals tight end Jeff King (87) breaks the tackle of Detroit Lions middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch (55) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) tries to escape the tackle of Detroit Lions cornerback Jacob Lacey (21) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) warms up before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) is pressured by Arizona Cardinals defensive end David Carter (79) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) 
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) makes a catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure (25) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) cannot pull in a pass as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Detroit Lions outside linebacker DeAndre Levy (54) makes an interception as Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) looks to gain yardage as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws under pressure from Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett (90) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Rashad Johnson (49) and Daryl Washington during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley(14) celebrates a running touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) makes an interception to set up a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Rashad Johnson (49) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half in an NFL football game on Sunday Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson, left, intercepts a pass intended for Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson, right, during the first half in an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) throws against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure (25) breaks a tackle by Arizona Cardinals cornerback William Gay (22) during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) pulls in a pass as Arizona Cardinals strong safety Rashad Johnson defends during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells (26) stiff-arms Detroit Lions middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch (55) during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by Detroit Lions cornerback Chris Houston (23) during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
Arizona Cardinals' Greg Toler (28) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions as teammate Kerry Rhodes (25) follows during the second half in an NFL football game on Sunday Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Lions 38-10. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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