Arizona Cardinals being unfairly criticized for firing coach

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Steve Wilks of the Arizona Cardinals reacts to a penalty during the second quarter agaiinst the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Steve Wilks of the Arizona Cardinals reacts to a penalty during the second quarter agaiinst the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

A bunch of unjustified backlash is being directed at the Arizona Cardinals for ridding themselves of an incompetent head coach

Fans of the Arizona Cardinals must have thought that it was Christmas morning all over again. This past Monday, on New Year’s Eve, long-suffering followers of the franchise received the best gift ever. Unfortunately, Cards’ team President Michael Bidwill is now being criticized for giving it to them.

That present, the firing of head coach Steve Wilks, has not been well-received by a good number of people outside of the organization. Some feel that the former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator deserved more time. Obviously, those individuals didn’t waste their precious time watching the Cardinals this past season.

The 13 losses that Arizona suffered with Wilks at the helm wasn’t the main reason that he was sent packing. However, the fact that the squad failed to be competitive for most of 2018 was troubling. Wilks’ proposed plan for turning things around in 2019 also didn’t impress the Cards’ brass.

Bidwill stated during a press conference on Monday that he had concerns about Wilks early on in ’18. Blowout defeats during the first two weeks raised some red flags. Despite having a healthy roster, the Cardinals were outscored by a combined total of 58-6 in losses to the Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Rams.

Many more ugly performances were still to come, as well. Arizona lost by 35 points to both the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers in the coming weeks. There was also a 26-point loss to the Atlanta Falcons in week 15, and a 23-point defeat in a rematch with the Rams seven days after that.

Need to hear any more about the mess that Wilks presided over? The Cards’ 3-13 record matched the worst won-loss total they’ve had since they moved to the desert in 1988. This year’s offense ranked dead-last in the league by a wide margin, and the defense tumbled from sixth-overall in 2017 to 20th this season.

Kudos to Bidwill and general manager Steve Keim for not giving in to pressure, and doing what needed to be done. Wilks, by all accounts, is a good man who is simply not cut out to be a head coach. Thankfully, the front office cut the cord early and put the Cardinals’ fans out of their misery.

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