Arizona Cardinals: Six keys to success in 2017

1. Special teams does just about everything better.

Cardinals fans know how atrocious special teams play was in 2016, so there’s no need to beat a dead horse and drag it through three counties. Everything about special teams needs to be better in 2017, and signing veteran kicker Phil Dawson was a good start. The Cardinals missed veteran long snapper Mike Leach, who retired prior to the 2016 season, and it’s yet to be seen if the answer at long snapper or punter are currently on the roster.

The good news is that the Cardinals’ special teams were so bad in 2016, that it would be difficult not to improve in 2017.  Such is the nature of special teams, that a few key personnel changes, added emphasis in practices, and a little bit of luck can result in drastically different outcomes. Improved special teams alone might be enough for the Cardinals to end 2017 with a winning record, but to be Super Bowl contenders will require more than just eliminating botched holds and kicks.