The criticism was as fast and furious as a blitzkrieg by the Chiefs offense. On the last four possessions that the Kansas City Chiefs had the football in Super Bowl LVII they had a 75-yard TD drive, 75-yard TD drive, 5-yard TD drive, and 66-yard game-winning field goal drive. The field goal was the benefit of a Patrick Mahomes slide play that could have been another touchdown. The Eagles defensive coordinator would be crucified for his decision making by players and fans in Philadelphia. Still, GM Monti Ossenfort took a chance. Four days after the debacle, Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon was introduced in Arizona.
I see people saying the Cardinals should back off Jonathan Gannon b/c the Eagles got beat last night. On what planet does that make any sense? One loss … to that QB and that coach … and you'd be out?
Know who else lost his last game as an ass't in a Super Bowl? Andy Reid.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 14, 2023
Cardinals Coach Jonathan Gannon Takes Flight in Arizona
After a two-year stint as the defensive coordinator for the Eagles, the Cardinals came calling. His resume says this is a quick jump to a head coaching gig, but after last season, his 2022 success would still inspire a few teams to give him a look. However, Gannon was just one name on the list, as others were considered to replace Kliff Kingsbury. Steelers senior assistant Brian Flores, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo were all solid candidates. Still, after two hastily arranged interviews, GM Monti Ossenfort got his man.
Touchdowns.
JG Mic'd Up 🎤: https://t.co/KB6xjY74m7 pic.twitter.com/7HwELlBlzH
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) June 15, 2023
Coach Jonathan Gannon is all about energy. His infectious personality has been a welcome change given the pressure cooker environment in Kingsbury’s last season. There is a palpable optimism despite the rebuilding process in the desert. The key now will be to graduate all that energy to a Cardinals’ team who too often looked listless and without leadership. Players, both veterans and rookies alike, will need to step up to earn their spot. Even quarterback Kyler Murray is safe for now, but 2024 is no guarantee.
A Super Bowl Disaster for Gannon
Perhaps the irony of ironies is his worst performance may have been in State Farm Stadium, his new professional home. In the second quarter of the Super Bowl, the Eagles defense would completely implode as Mahomes and the Chiefs would score four times. Philadelphia, who would dominate their 2022 regular season campaign, would make the kind of defensive errors that are likely to haunt the first-year Arizona coach. To his credit, Gannon has owned the criticism and taken responsibility for some disastrous breakdowns in the biggest game of his coaching career.
Two huge plays came when Kansas City faked jet motion, reversing course for wide-open touchdowns. Kadarius Toney would make the first big play when he found himself alone after the Eagles defensive backs overplayed motion. On the second play, Gannon called an all-out blitz on third down, and again no one covered the fake jet motion. Skyy Moore was alone for a score to put the Chiefs up by eight points.
Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore's 4th quarter touchdowns in Super Bowl LVII pic.twitter.com/b1etUAWRjN
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) February 13, 2023
Gannon is sincere when he says his defense was ready to go. But for as tough as the Eagles had been on defense, they were inept on Super Bowl Sunday.
Coaches Key to The Turnaround
Ossenfort changed the collective head coaching tune in the NFL. That may yet be a mistake the rookie GM will eventually own if the Gannon hire goes south. Head coaches who are “offensive centric” are winning division championships and playoff games. They are also winning the Super Bowl and finding success quicker than their defensive minded counterparts. Coaches like Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Mike McDaniel, Andy Reid, and new Broncos head coach Sean Payton are all strong offensive-minded coaches.
Drew Petzing is the Cardinals new offensive coordinator. Most recently the OC with the Cleveland Browns, Petzing inherits a quarterback situation both intriguing and troublesome. With Murray on the shelf for the first part of 2023, it’s a game of musical chairs. Arizona will need to find the right backup to keep the ship afloat. The incumbent Colt McCoy is also coming back from injury, and Jeff Driskel has all of 10 starts in his seven year career. Rookie Clayton Tune is the most interesting candidate and is likely to get a long look.
Building the staff in the Valley🌵
We are hiring Drew Petzing as Offensive Coordinator and Nick Rallis as Defensive Coordinator.
In addition, Jeff Rodgers will return to the team as Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator. pic.twitter.com/Znteg3mdkB
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) February 21, 2023
Gannon would bring Nick Rallis with him from Philadelphia as his defensive coordinator. That said, a career defensive coach like Gannon will certainly have his eye trained squarely on the defensive side of the football.
Cardinals Coach Jonathan Gannon Takes Flight in Arizona
The “good feels” aside, 2023 could be, and most likely will be, tough sledding in the sand. While some optimists see the Cardinals winning upwards of seven games, conventional wisdom says otherwise. Many in the sports media have Arizona losing a lot, some even saying no wins at all, with most saying four wins seems about right.
Cardinals Coach Jonathan Gannon will not be engaging in such hypothetical discussion. His mind is on the eleven players on offense and the eleven players on defense. That is ultimately his charge. And while a boundless optimism will not necessarily generate wins, it will motivate during the long grind of an NFL season.
Main Photo: Rob Schumacher – USA Today Sports
