• Somers and McManaman at Cards practice Wednesday

    Somers and McManaman at Cards practice Wednesday

  • Carson Palmer looks ahead to 49ers

    Carson Palmer looks ahead to 49ers

  • Somers and McManaman on the Cardinals following loss to Cowboys

    Somers and McManaman on the Cardinals following loss to Cowboys

  • Arians recaps the Cardinals' loss to the Cowboys

    Arians recaps the Cardinals’ loss to the Cowboys

  • Somers, Bickley discuss Cardinals' loss to Cowboys

    Somers, Bickley discuss Cardinals’ loss to Cowboys

  • McLellan and McMananan discuss Cardinals loss to Cowboys

    McLellan and McMananan discuss Cardinals loss to Cowboys

  • Arians, Palmer and Fitzgerald talk on Cardinals' loss to Cowboys

    Arians, Palmer and Fitzgerald talk on Cardinals’ loss to Cowboys

  • Kent Somers and Bob McManaman on Cardinals vs. Cowboys

    Kent Somers and Bob McManaman on Cardinals vs. Cowboys

  • Shot Clock: Anthem, matchup questions surround MNF

    Shot Clock: Anthem, matchup questions surround MNF

  • Somers, McManaman preview Cards-Cowboys

    Somers, McManaman preview Cards-Cowboys

  • Arizona Cardinals Harold Goodwin and James Bettcher on prep for Cowboys

    Arizona Cardinals Harold Goodwin and James Bettcher on prep for Cowboys

  • Somers, McManaman report on Wednesday's practice

    Somers, McManaman report on Wednesday’s practice

  • David Johnson speaks for first time since injury

    David Johnson speaks for first time since injury

  • Cowboys are coming: don’t sell your tickets!

    Cowboys are coming: don’t sell your tickets!

  • azcentral sports' Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss Cardinals victory over Colts

    azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss Cardinals victory over Colts

  • Bruce Arians discusses his thoughts about Colts, Cowboys

    Bruce Arians discusses his thoughts about Colts, Cowboys

  • Kent Somers, Dan Bickley discuss Cardinals' win

    Kent Somers, Dan Bickley discuss Cardinals’ win

  • Shot Clock: Cards (eye) roll; ASU's 'real' player

    Shot Clock: Cards (eye) roll; ASU’s ‘real’ player

  • Cardinals game vs. Colts preview with Kent Somers and Dan Bickley

    Cardinals game vs. Colts preview with Kent Somers and Dan Bickley

  • Somers and McManaman on the state of the Cardinals

    Somers and McManaman on the state of the Cardinals

  • Arizona Cardinals running back D. J. Foster talks after Wednesday practice in Tempe.

    Arizona Cardinals running back D. J. Foster talks after Wednesday practice in Tempe.

  • CJ2K mad at Cards; Palmer needs to get right

    CJ2K mad at Cards; Palmer needs to get right

  • azcentral sports' Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss Cardinals practcie Wednesday

    azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss Cardinals practcie Wednesday

  • Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer talks after Wednesday practice in Tempe.

    Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer talks after Wednesday practice in Tempe.

  • Shot Clock: Could the Cards recruit death stare Adrian Peterson?

    Shot Clock: Could the Cards recruit death stare Adrian Peterson?

  • David Johnson seeking a second opinion on wrist injury

    David Johnson seeking a second opinion on wrist injury

  • Bruce Arians discusses loss to Lions

    Bruce Arians discusses loss to Lions

  • Bickley and Somers on Cardinals' season-opening loss

    Bickley and Somers on Cardinals’ season-opening loss

  • Kent Somers and Bob McManaman on David Johnson's injury

    Kent Somers and Bob McManaman on David Johnson’s injury

  • Cardinals vs. Lions: Kent Somers and Dan Bickley preview the game

    Cardinals vs. Lions: Kent Somers and Dan Bickley preview the game

  • Bob McManaman wraps up Cardinals practice on Friday

    Bob McManaman wraps up Cardinals practice on Friday

  • Shot Clock: Chiefs-Patriots lessons for Cardinals

    Shot Clock: Chiefs-Patriots lessons for Cardinals

  • Arizona Cardinals report: Thursday's practice

    Arizona Cardinals report: Thursday’s practice

  • Shot Clock: Cards a slim pick, what are the keys?

    Shot Clock: Cards a slim pick, what are the keys?

  • Cardinals report: How will Bucannon's absence affect team?

    Cardinals report: How will Bucannon’s absence affect team?

  • Shot Clock: Detroit Lions, Super Bowl champions?

    Shot Clock: Detroit Lions, Super Bowl champions?

  • Reaction to Cardinals' move at punter

    Reaction to Cardinals’ move at punter

  • Somers wraps up the Cardinals' preseason finale

    Somers wraps up the Cardinals’ preseason finale

  • Cardinals vs Broncos preview

    Cardinals vs Broncos preview

  • Somers and McManaman wrap up Cardinals' Tuesday practice

    Somers and McManaman wrap up Cardinals’ Tuesday practice

  • Shot Clock: CJ2K stays?; Drown out LA fans

    Shot Clock: CJ2K stays?; Drown out LA fans

  • Sights and sounds from 9th Annual Fitz's Supper Club

    Sights and sounds from 9th Annual Fitz’s Supper Club

  • Arizona Cardinals break camp

    Arizona Cardinals break camp

  • McLellan and McManaman wrap up Cardinals practice

    McLellan and McManaman wrap up Cardinals practice

  • Somers on Cardinals vs. Falcons

    Somers on Cardinals vs. Falcons

  • Cardinals treating final preseason game seriously

    Cardinals treating final preseason game seriously

  • Kent and Bob talk Cardinals game planning and remaining preseason games

    Kent and Bob talk Cardinals game planning and remaining preseason games

  • Bickley and Moore: Cardinals looked 'sluggish'

    Bickley and Moore: Cardinals looked ‘sluggish’

  • Shot Clock: Cards' Palmer, 'D' gotta get better

    Shot Clock: Cards’ Palmer, ‘D’ gotta get better

  • Kent and Bob break down Cards' preseason loss to Bears

    Kent and Bob break down Cards’ preseason loss to Bears

  • Somers, McManaman on the Cardinals' 'boring' camp

    Somers, McManaman on the Cardinals’ ‘boring’ camp

  • Somers, McManaman on Arians' anger, receiving issues

    Somers, McManaman on Arians’ anger, receiving issues

  • Shot Clock: Cards WRs stink; anthem issue solved

    Shot Clock: Cards WRs stink; anthem issue solved

  • Insider: Was Arians' criticism truth or motivational chatter?

    Insider: Was Arians’ criticism truth or motivational chatter?

  • Shot Clock: Stanton stands out for Cardinals

    Shot Clock: Stanton stands out for Cardinals

  • Shot Clock: Cardinals protecting QB Palmer?

    Shot Clock: Cardinals protecting QB Palmer?

  • Greg Moore and Bruce Arians talk charities

    Greg Moore and Bruce Arians talk charities

  • Gabbert's big chance, special team auditions

    Gabbert’s big chance, special team auditions

  • Shot Clock: Arians changes tone with Cardinals

    Shot Clock: Arians changes tone with Cardinals

  • Greg Moore and Bob McManaman break down the Red-White practice

    Greg Moore and Bob McManaman break down the Red-White practice

  • Somers, McManaman on Gruden possibility, CB battle

    Somers, McManaman on Gruden possibility, CB battle

  • Shot Clock: Early hiccups for Cardinals

    Shot Clock: Early hiccups for Cardinals

  • Moore, McManaman wrap up opening day at Cardinals training camp

    Moore, McManaman wrap up opening day at Cardinals training camp

  • David Johnson's work load; D-Backs' head games

    David Johnson’s work load; D-Backs’ head games

  • Shot Clock: Cards kick off fan-friendly camp

    Shot Clock: Cards kick off fan-friendly camp

  • Somers sits down with Cardinals rookie Budda Baker

    Somers sits down with Cardinals rookie Budda Baker

  • Shot Clock: Blaine Gabbert a keeper for Cardinals?

    Shot Clock: Blaine Gabbert a keeper for Cardinals?

  • Kent and Bob talk new NFL rules and wide out depth

    Kent and Bob talk new NFL rules and wide out depth

  • Arians Family Foundation Fundraiser at Top Golf

    Arians Family Foundation Fundraiser at Top Golf

  • Report card on Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert

    Report card on Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert

  • David Johnson No. 1 on NFL Players Association list

    David Johnson No. 1 on NFL Players Association list

  • Bruce Arians talks about his annual fundraisers

    Bruce Arians talks about his annual fundraisers

  • Keim, Arians striking gold in draft's third round

    Keim, Arians striking gold in draft’s third round

  • Top 3 games in Cardinals schedule

    Top 3 games in Cardinals schedule

Football is a game of inches and blurred lines. 

A veteran team that wins is hailed for its experience. A veteran team that loses is too old.

A head coach that wins his way is lauded for undying conviction. Until he starts losing, and then he’s just stubborn.

The 2017 Cardinals are straddling this fence, living this tale. This is what happens when high expectations intersect with low performance. And it’s time for Bruce Arians to evolve until his offensive line proves it can protect an immobile quarterback.

The solution seemed apparent in the first half of Monday’s loss to the Cowboys. Carson Palmer delivered the ball quickly and decisively. An offense that prides itself on big plays suddenly displayed a ball-control philosophy.

At one point, the Cardinals had out-gained the Cowboys 140-3. With 9:36 remaining in the second quarter, they had run 31 plays while Dallas had managed only six. The plan was working to perfection until Phil Dawson missed another field goal. And then it all fell apart.

The offensive line received most of the criticism for the breach in protection that occurred in the second half. Jared Veldheer took significant heat for his role in the outcome, a player who was switched to right tackle after 2016, considered retirement in training camp and didn’t seem to exhibit the brawler mentality necessary to negate fire-breathing pass rushers.

Arians insisted that Veldheer hasn’t checked out mentality, that he remains one of the hardest workers on the team. He might be right or could be protecting a player who isn’t providing much return on investment at the moment. 

CARDINALS PODCAST: Anthem reaction, Cowboys breakdown and 49ers preview

But the protection dissolved after the Cardinals reverted to their old ways, when a fast start against the Cowboys seemed to spawn a false sense of confidence. And when Palmer started looking downfield, holding the ball and going through progressions, he became an easy target for a defense that generated shocking amounts of pressure with four rushers or less.

The offensive line has been mostly brutal through three games and not equipped to sustain Arians’ preferred strategy. The unit was tasked with preserving Palmer at all costs after the 37-year old quarterback endured a physical beating the previous season. Yet Palmer is once again at the top of the list of quarterbacks under duress, sustaining 27 hits through the first three games. As a result, the offense has scored 19 points or fewer in two of three games.

There could be a reprieve this weekend if D.J. Humphries and Mike Iupati return from the injury list. But there can be no assumptions that a porous line will suddenly be fortified with those two in uniform. Those who believe the loss of David Johnson has crippled the offense must reconcile how a MVP candidate would’ve fared without open lanes or room to run. And a date with the winless 49ers is not a game the Cardinals can afford to lose.

In retrospect, Arians said an 0-2 start at University of Phoenix Stadium doomed the 2016 season, stealing the team’s swagger and breeding a fatalist attitude. We’ve already witnessed recurring issues from last year’s debacle, from a kicker who can’t split the uprights to a stout defense that still gives up too many big plays. A loss on Sunday would duplicate their early home-field shortcomings in 2016, and could be devastating.

That’s why Arians needs to change his mindset. He should use short passes to replicate the running game he doesn’t possess. Big plays are nice, but sustained drives wear down a defense. And the less Palmer gets hit, the better he performs.

When the Cardinals lit up the scoreboard in 2015, scoring 33 or more points in eight of 16 games, Arians was hailed for running the kind of offense rarely seen in today’s NFL. He has unshakable confidence in his approach and his coaching staff, making it clear he would not tolerate the dismissal of Amos Jones after the special teams sabotaged the 2016 season. With the right blend of talent, his aggressive personality can empower a team to great heights.

But change isn’t always an admission of weakness. To the contrary, it’s a sign of intelligence. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is the master at this chess game, constantly shifting schematics based on the opponent. He specializes in fielding teams that can look dramatically different from one week to the next.

Just ask former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin. He famously changed his rigid, authoritarian approach to better suit a new generation of players, and his evolution culminated in a Super Bowl triumph in Glendale.

It was proof that old dogs can learn new tricks, which is almost a necessity in the high-stakes arena of professional football. Arians must do the same, adapting to his team’s talent and its weaknesses. Even if a little pride is lost along the way.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cardinals-49ers breakdown and prediction

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Reach Bickley at [email protected] or 602-444-8253. Follow him on twitter.com/dan.bickley. Listen to “Bickley and Marotta” weekdays from 12-2 p.m. on 98.7 Arizona’s Sports Station.