Raising Zona
FanSided

Five things the Arizona Cardinals must change to reach playoffs

By Aarron Van Buren

Jan 3, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) reacts in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 18-7. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) reacts in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 18-7. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 08: Zane Gonzalez #5 and Andy Lee #4 of the Arizona Cardinals react after a missed a field goal that would of tied the game as Byron Jones #24 of the Miami Dolphins signals no good at State Farm Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 08: Zane Gonzalez #5 and Andy Lee #4 of the Arizona Cardinals react after a missed a field goal that would of tied the game as Byron Jones #24 of the Miami Dolphins signals no good at State Farm Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

The special teams squad did little to make a mark this year. Outside of the the road game against the 49ers and the home matchup against the Eagles, there wasn’t much pop. Both return units were in the bottom 10 of the league.

Christian Kirk was the main return man and whether it was scheme or just not skilled enough, every punt return was less-than exciting to watch. It’s time to draft someone or get a free agent that can break open a great return.

For the punting, Andy Lee was solid all year. If it wasn’t for Andy Isabella running way past the return man in New England, Lee would have a spotless 2020.  No changes needed here.

Now we get to the juicy part- Zane Gonzalez. Let’s be fair here, the offense should do it’s job so that his is easier. However, when the team needs you to make clutch kicks, you have to deliver. He was bringing back nightmares of Chandler Catanzaro. Gonzalez went 1/3 in week one, and of course missed the big ones in Miami and New England. I really think that the job should be given to Mike Nugent, who also was golden all year despite that blocked kick against the Rams.

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