New-look Cardinals emphasize toughness and running game
TEMPE — “No risk it, no biscuit” is ancient history for these Arizona Cardinals.
The big-play, fling it down the field offense of Bruce Arians has been replaced by a run-oriented game that features toughness up front, and a stout defense emphasizing physical play, especially in the secondary.
At least that’s the way first-year coach Steve Wilks envisions it.
Whether that results in success in the standings is an open question, especially with a passing game that’s still a work in progress, and a brutal road schedule.
Las Vegas odds make Arizona a 120-1 long shot to win the Super Bowl and has his team’s over-under victory total at just six games.
“That’s great,” Wilks said to a room full of reporters. “From Day 1, April 3, I talked to the guys about our vision and expectations. Outside of that team meeting room a lot of people aren’t giving us a chance. I’m probably looking at quite a few of them. That’s fine as well. But we’re going to continue to emphasize the fundamentals and technique and going about our business each and every day and put ourselves in position to hopefully, No. 1, win our division, and then from there we’ll talk about everything else.”
Wilks believes he has some star power to build around: David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Sam Bradford, Patrick Peterson and 2017 NFL sacks leader Chandler Jones.
And expect to see a lot of Johnson, who is out to remind people he’s one of the NFL’s best running backs (and earn a nice contract in the process).
“I definitely feel like people seem to have forgotten about me,” Johnson said. “You hear people talking about Todd Gurley, Zeke Elliott and Le’v Bell -- and they’re great backs. But then you notice that you’re not hearing your name or people are not talking about you.”
Johnson led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and touchdowns two seasons ago, but fractured his left wrist in the opener last year and didn’t play again.
Wilks, defensive coordinator at Carolina last year, has emphasized toughness and physical play from the get-go. Some practices start with a one-on-one drill between a top defensive and offensive player. The first had defensive end Jones against left tackle D.J. Humphries.
He also took the team outside of air-conditioned University of Phoenix Stadium for a handful of practices during training camp in the sizzling desert sun. The idea is to develop a mental edge, he said.
Here are some things to consider about Wilks’ Cardinals:
O-LINE MAKEOVER
The Cardinals rebuilt the offensive line and Wilks calls it the strength of the team.
Humphries and guard Mike Iupati, who has had a strong preseason, are on