A Look at Steve Wilks’ First Season as Cardinals Head Coach

Steve Wilks time as the Arizona Cardinals head coach could be coming to an end after suffering yet another loss this past weekend in a blowout fashion to the Los Angeles Chargers.

When he was hired, one of the first things he said was the Cardinals were not rebuilding, but instead were retooling. Actions speak a lot louder than words and the 2018 Cardinals are struggling more than ever before.

His first season as a head coach has not been good. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong.

The 2018 Arizona Cardinals...

• Suffered a blowout loss to the Rams (34-0)
• Scored only six points in his first two games as a head coach
• Defeated by a score of 45-10 twice (Broncos and Chargers)
• Lost to, who many thought to be, the worst team in the NFL (Raiders)
• Ranks last in all offensive categories (points, passing, rushing, total yards)
• Ranks 30th in rushing yards allowed
• Scored only 14 points in the third quarter
• Have a 2-9 record

In addition to this, he continues to trust Phil Dawson who has missed three field goal attempts on the season. He has kept Andre Smith in as the starting right tackle, despite his constant struggles in pass protection. It took Wilks and the front office eight weeks to fire Mike McCoy.

Wilks also mentioned, after he was hired, that he wouldn’t fix what wasn’t broken and that he was willing to keep the 3-4 defensive scheme. But as we all know, that didn’t work out.

He did fulfill one of his promises though and that was to make his defense get after the quarterback. His defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 37 times. The defense is also fourth-best against the pass.

But all of the good of their pass rush and pass defense is countered with their inability to stop the run every week.

The Cardinals got their only two wins of the season against a 49ers team led by backup quarterback C.J. Beathard.

Unfortunately for the entire team, they continue to make the same mistakes that Wilks says they would correct every week. There are a lot of self-inflicting wounds but, at the same time, their opponents were just the better team.

Confidence in Wilks is waning and players are abandoning ship with his vision that has not come to fruition. The Cardinals, who were 8-8 a season ago, are now the worst team in the NFL.

Cardinals’ President Michael Bidwill will have big decisions to make after the season, whether or not to retain Steve Wilks and his coaching staff. Don’t expect GM Steve Keim’s job to be safe either.