FOX analyst Johnston on Cardinals: There might be a large problem

The Arizona Cardinals were upset by the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, 33-18.

It was an all around forgettable day for the Cardinals, but there are many things to learn from in the wake of this disappointing game.

Former Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston was the analyst for the game on FOX, and he joined the Doug and Wolf show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Tuesday and talked about what happened.

“I saw a performance that does not correlate with the talent they have on the team, I don’t know what happened to the guys,” Johnston said.

There are many things to point at, such as the Cardinals’ inability to contain dual-threat quarterback Tyrod Taylor. On the very first option play of the game, he ran for 49 yards.

“He prepared you for all the potential pitfalls in that matchup on Sunday, and it seemed like it made no difference,” Johnston said. “Not to have your assignments down, knowing that you could not only get zone read but you could also get straight down the line option with quarterback and pitch, you had to have that covered.”

The defense gave up 202 rushing yards, as they struggled to corral the shiftiness of Taylor and LeSean McCoy. The offense struggled as well, as Palmer was sacked five times and knocked down numerous others. He couldn’t get into any rhythm, as he threw four interceptions in the fourth quarter. The veteran quarterback knew what he was going to get with Bills head coach Rex Ryan, but there was nothing he could do about it.

“We talked to Carson Palmer on Saturday, he knows Rex’s defense, he’s played against Rex when he was in Cincinnati,” Johnston said. “He was well aware of the style, and as you pointed out, for whatever reason they were not able to pick that up in the combination of pass protection with the offensive line, running backs and tight ends.”

The Cardinals’ early struggles are a concern given the high expectations they entered the season with, but Johnston does not believe their issues are tied to feeling too good about themselves.

“I don’t think they were complacent,” Johnston said. “Bruce Arians is never going to allow that to happen. I just think this was a team that went up to Western New York and executed very, very poorly.”

The Cardinals are sitting at 1-2 and tied for last place in the division with the San Francisco 49ers. It may be too early to start worrying, but when the Los Angeles Rams come to town Sunday, the result of that game may tell who the 2016 Arizona Cardinals really are.

“Arizona right now has to identify what the problem is, remedy that problem, and not just individually and small things, it seems to me that there might be something larger there,” Johnston said. “Identify that, sort that out and start moving forward.”