Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
The entire NFL has to respect the masterful job Arians did with the
Colts in 2012, after stepping in as the interim coach while Chuck Pagano
underwent leukemia treatment. The situation could have unraveled the
young Indianapolis team; instead, Arians helped guide the franchise back
to the playoffs.
The foundation is not nearly as stable in Arizona.
One thing is for sure: Andrew Luck won’t be walking through the
desert door to save a team that started four different (and equally
disappointing) quarterbacks throughout the season. The Cardinals’
offensive line was the worst in the NFL in 2012, and aside from Larry
Fitzgerald, the talent level is mediocre. Arians brought Colts O-line
coach Harold Goodwin along with him to be the Cardinals’ offensive
coordinator, and somehow that duo must put this unit back together.
Despite their 11-5 mark, too, the Colts struggled defensively under
Arians’ watch — he has no other NFL experience directing that side of
the ball. With Ray Horton bouncing for Cleveland, the Cardinals will be
starting over, to some extent, on that side of the ball as well.
Arians’ only previous head coaching experience came during a 21-45
stretch at Temple from 1983-88. This will be, at age 60, his first NFL
head coaching job. Is he ready for it?
Grade: B