J.J. Smith, Smith says
Watt, who joins ex-teammate DeAndre Hopkins in Phoenix, adds ferocity to the Cardinals’ pass rush.
TEMPE, Ariz. (2:15)
Kliff Kingsbury, coach of the Arizona Cardinals, enters his third training camp with lessons gained from a meltdown in the second half of the 2020 season.
After the sting of ending 3-6 and one game short of the playoffs last year had worn off, Kingsbury began the laborious process of self-scouting.
What he discovered was a succession of decisions that he would have made differently if he could go back in time.
Some of the issues were logistical.
Some of it was due to practice.
All of this led Kingsbury to believe that if some decisions had been made differently, “we might have certainly done better and had a better finish.”
“But you’re going to look back every year and have certain things you wish you could have done better,” Kingsbury explained.
“But, I believe we had a chance to clinch a playoff berth toward the conclusion of the season and were unable to do so.”
“Now I’ve got to figure out a way to end the season stronger.” 2021 NFL Training Camp
Read more >> * Whole 2021 schedule | Depth charts >> * Trades | Injuries | More NFL >> One such decision will be to give the club the entire Thanksgiving week off during its bye week.
Arizona has been “terrible” during its bye weeks the past two seasons, according to Kingsbury, both of which have resulted in defeats.
Last season, Arizona was defeated 34-31 by the Miami Dolphins, kicking off a five-game losing streak.
Following their bye week in 2019, the Cardinals were defeated 34-7 by the Los Angeles Rams.
With his moves this year, Kingsbury intends to reverse Arizona’s fortunes.
Kingsbury, on the other hand, may have his job cut out for him.
Kyler Murray, the Cardinals’ quarterback, believed in April that the team had to stop taking the little things for granted, which he said was one of the causes for the team’s second-half collapse last season.
“Those organizations that are used to winning do everything correctly,” Murray said. “I don’t think we’re there yet.”
“And I believe that’s exactly what we need to start doing: doing everything properly, the little things right.”
Murray was frustrated by the late-season loss, saying, “The little things matter in the great scheme of things.”
“It’s strange for me not to go to the playoffs,” he remarked.
“I understand it’s the NFL, and I haven’t been there yet, but simply playing beyond the regular season is…
It’s simply that it’s different for me because I’ve always played beyond the regular season in any sport.
“I have no intention of becoming accustomed to that.”
So, it’s definitely upsetting.” For Murray, losing games the Cardinals shouldn’t have last season was a sign of “inconsistency,” which he attributed to “not doing everything correctly on and off the field.”
“Therefore, once that happens, I believe you should reflect on what you could have done differently and how you can improve moving forward.”
