Arizona Cardinals: Five necessary changes for 2017

Dec 11, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians looks on in the game against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Dolphins defeat the Arizona Cardinals 26-23. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians looks on in the game against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Dolphins defeat the Arizona Cardinals 26-23. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
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Nov 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Kicker

All season I’ve backed up Chandler Catanzaro.  To his credit, Catanzaro hasn’t made any excuses for his misses.  At some point though, he has to be made accountable for the games he is costing his team.

Sunday may have been that last straw.  After misses on game-winning attempts against the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks many people wanted him to go.  Up until last week against the Washington Redskins, he hadn’t missed since that Seahawks game in October.

Then Sunday happened.  He missed an extra-point, had another blocked that was returned for two-points by the Dolphins, and missed two field goals.  It’s time the Cardinals stop allowing this to happen.

Catanzaro is a likeable guy.  Arians likes him a lot.  He picked him in favor of Jay Feely after the 2015 preseason because of his ability to kick the ball into the end zone on kickoffs.  Catanzaro can’t even do that consistently.  Time to look elsewhere.

Schedule