The offense isn’t the only problem, just the most obvious

The firing of Cardinals offensive coordinator Mike McCoy on Friday seems a foregone conclusion – or it should be.

After the 45-10 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night at State Farm Stadium, there is a bigger question: How many others will join him in the coming weeks? Because no single man could be responsible for such an embarrassment.

Earlier in the week, Broncos linebacker Von Miller predicted a butt whipping. He proved to be correct, and the Cardinals did nothing in response other than to say, thank you, sir, can I have another?

It was over almost before tailgaters could break down their canopies.

Someone will pay for the embarrassment

Quarterback Josh Rosen had two passes intercepted and returned for touchdowns in the first quarter, including one in which receiver J.J. Nelson appeared to stop running.

The defense was burned twice for scores, including a reverse pass for a touchdown and a 64-yard bomb to Emmanuel Sanders, who somehow was 15 yards behind the nearest defender.

The second quarter was 10 seconds old and the Cardinals trailed 21-3. By halftime it was 35-3, and the Cardinals were booed as they ran to the locker room. Again.

Someone will pay for the embarrassment. Most assuredly it will be McCoy. Under him, the Cardinals have stayed the course, and it’s led them steadily downward.

The Cardinals’ offense was terrible. Again. No news there. At a time when the NFL is on pace for a record-setting offensive season, the Cardinals looked as if they were meeting each other for the first time.

They took two timeouts to avoid delay-of-game penalties in the first quarter.

They were penalized for a delay of game in the second quarter.

Maybe playing a rookie quarterback, Josh Rosen, was a factor. But it was a problem when Sam Bradford was starting, too, which suggests McCoy isn’t getting the play call to the quarterback quickly enough.

The Cardinals continued to look at third down as a cow does at a gate, bewildered at how to get past it. In their last three games, they have converted 6 of 36.

Offense isn’t the only problem, just the most obvious

If McCoy lasts beyond Friday, there should be an investigation. A month ago, I defended him, reasoning that changing offensive coordinators would hinder Rosen’s development.

That opinion was the equivalent of running David Johnson up the middle on third-and-23.

Quarterbacks coach Byron Leftwich likely will be handed the keys to the offense, and he’ll earn the job for 2019 if he can figure how to get the thing off the blocks and actually running.

Whatever Leftwich is making, it’s not enough if the Cardinals expect him to do that.

But this offense isn’t the team’s only problem, just its most obvious.

The Cardinals’ 1-6 record records also speaks to bad decisions by ownership, management and coaching.

Coach Steve Wilks was hired because he was charismatic and could “command a room.” Presumably, that meant a room full of football players, but so far the Cardinals have been as motivated as empty chairs.

The offensive line rarely takes a defender where he doesn’t want to go, and the tackling on defense has been shoddy.

Wilks hasn’t shown that he’s head-coaching material, and that’s on team President Michael Bidwill and General Manager Steve Keim, who hired him.

My guess is Wilks will survive to coach next season, but that could change with more performances like the one Thursday.

To his credit, Wilks didn’t make excuses after the drubbing and accepted responsibility.

“I’m not going to sit here and throw a pity party,” he said.

Wilks deserves blame, of course, but he also is being saddled with several poor personnel decisions made by Keim.

On defense, three first-round picks – Robert Nkemdiche, Deone Bucannon and Haason Reddick – are making no impact.

The team’s major free-agent acquisition last offseason, guard Justin Pugh, isn’t playing because of a broken hand. He was signed despite playing a full season just once, as a rookie with the Giants in 2013.

Left guard Mike Iupati has broken down again. Keim failed to bolster the receiving corps.

The team’s best players look like sad reminders of who they used to be. Didn’t Larry Fitzgerald used to catch touchdown passes before the seventh week? Wasn’t David Johnson capable of amazing jump cuts? Couldn’t Patrick Peterson shut down the best receivers?

“Embarrassing,” left tackle D.J. Humphries said of the performance. “That’s the best way to say it. Embarrassing.”

No one is arguing, and McCoy might be only the first to pay the price for it.

Reach Somers at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @kentsomers.

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