{"id":142246,"date":"2023-06-18T16:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-06-18T20:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=142246"},"modified":"2023-06-17T07:55:29","modified_gmt":"2023-06-17T11:55:29","slug":"cardinals-coach-jonathan-gannon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2023\/06\/18\/cardinals-coach-jonathan-gannon\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardinals Coach Jonathan Gannon Looks To Get It Right in Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The criticism was as fast and furious as a blitzkrieg by the Chiefs offense. On the last four possessions that the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/chiefs\/\" target=\"_self\">Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> had the football in <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2023\/02\/12\/kansas-city-chiefs-win-super-bowl-57-patrick-mahomes\/\" target=\"_self\">Super Bowl LVII<\/a> 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/MahoPa00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Patrick Mahomes<\/a>\u00a0slide 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">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 &#8230; to that QB and that coach &#8230; and you&#39;d be out?<\/p>\n<p>Know who else lost his last game as an ass&#39;t in a Super Bowl? Andy Reid.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlbertBreer\/status\/1625292190950752257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">February 14, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Cardinals Coach Jonathan Gannon Takes Flight in Arizona<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Touchdowns.<\/p>\n<p>JG Mic&#39;d Up \ud83c\udfa4: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KB6xjY74m7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/KB6xjY74m7<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/7HwELlBlzH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/7HwELlBlzH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AZCardinals\/status\/1669158028871086080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 15, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coach Jonathan Gannon is all about energy. His infectious personality has been a welcome change given the pressure cooker environment in Kingsbury\u2019s 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\u2019 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>A Super Bowl Disaster for Gannon<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps the irony of ironies is his worst performance may have been in State Farm Stadium, his new professional home. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two huge plays came when Kansas City faked jet motion, reversing course for wide-open touchdowns. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/T\/ToneKa00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kadarius Toney<\/a> 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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/MoorSk01.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Skyy Moore<\/a>\u00a0was alone for a score to put the Chiefs up by eight points.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore&#39;s 4th quarter touchdowns in Super Bowl LVII <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/b1etUAWRjN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/b1etUAWRjN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Nick Falato (@nickfalato) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nickfalato\/status\/1625258615769825285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">February 13, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Coaches Key to The Turnaround\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 \u201coffensive centric\u201d 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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\u2019s 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2023\/05\/05\/clayton-tune-believes-he-is-best-rookie-quarterback\/\" target=\"_self\">Clayton Tune is the most interesting<\/a> candidate and is likely to get a long look.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Building the staff in the Valley\ud83c\udf35<\/p>\n<p>We are hiring Drew Petzing as Offensive Coordinator and Nick Rallis as Defensive Coordinator. <\/p>\n<p>In addition, Jeff Rodgers will return to the team as Assistant Head Coach\/Special Teams Coordinator. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Znteg3mdkB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Znteg3mdkB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AZCardinals\/status\/1628146865861701636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">February 21, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Cardinals Coach Jonathan Gannon Takes Flight in Arizona<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u201cgood feels\u201d 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Main Photo: Rob Schumacher &#8211; USA Today Sports<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4499,"featured_media":142253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[7801,9226],"class_list":["post-142246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cardinals","tag-arizona-cardinals-news","tag-jonathan-gannon"],"modified_by":"David Latham, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142246","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4499"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142246"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142246\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}