Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams: The Biggest disparity between the Cardinals and Rams... Special Teams play

There has been much hand-wringing over the special teams play from the Arizona Cardinals in the Bruce Arians era.

During that time, Amos Jones has been the special teams coach and is a Bruce Arians disciple, someone Arians has a massive amount respect for.

Well, the Cardinals have, for the last five seasons been consistently one of the worst teams when it comes to special teams play and that was never more evident than on Sunday in their 32-16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

This especially rings true when you look at the razor thin margin the Cardinals have with the team as is.

With Blaine Gabbert at quarterback, no talent outside of Larry Fitzgerald at wide receiver, an at best below average offensive line and in this game, no Adrian Peterson, the task was tall.

So, to get turnovers early from Gabbert hurts, but what hurts more is to continually be in a hole every time a team scores and the ensuing kickoff means starting short of your own 25.

What hurts is having a team pinned deep in their own territory, then to see a 71 yard punt, followed by a three and out with a sack that backs the team up, then the Rams get a 30 yard punt return to setup their young quarterback on a short field, at the Arizona 30 with a chance to put the game out of reach.

Continued shortcomings on special teams usually point to a lack of something, but in year five, that it is still continuing likely means a lack of coaching... Just don’t tell Bruce Arians that.

Let’s hope the execution is better next week.