Nothing against Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro but the Cards will need more touchdowns to take some pressure off their defense if they want to go far this season. So far through five games they have 11 touchdowns. They are averaging just two per game on offense. One of their touchdowns was on defense and another on special teams.
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Catanzaro is 14-14 and I am sure glad we have him but the Cards depleted defense needs more rest and the Cards need more points. If the Cards had turned their two field goals into touchdowns in Denver, that fourth quarter could have been a different ballgame no matter who was at quarterback.
They started out with just two field goals against the San Diego Chargers, Both touchdowns came in the fourth quarter. Against the New York Giants, they scored just one offensive touchdown. Against the San Francisco 49ers they managed two very nice touchdown drives but missed on several other opportunities, including a Larry Fitzgerald fumble at the Niners five-yard line in the second half. We can’t harp too much on turnovers as the reason though. That fumble was just one of three turnovers the Cards have this season.
Dropped passes was a great reason for not getting in the end zone early in Denver. They dropped at least seven passes, two that could have been touchdowns, in the first half of the 41-20 loss, a game which was just 24-20 going into the fourth quarter.
The carousel of quarterbacks could be used as a reason but honestly both Palmer and Stanton have shown to be able to move the ball. For some unknown reason though when the Cards get near the red zone, everything changes. They seem to be aggressive at hitting the end zone with long passes before they reach the red zone but once they get there, their play calling either seems to get conservative or the wrong play gets called.
It’s all about the proper execution though. Any play can be converted into a touchdown if the proper execution takes place. They’ve gotten away with it for the most part so far thanks to timely defense but they can’t continue to rank 25th in the NFL in touchdowns scored if they want to make the playoffs and have success beyond getting there.