Kingsbury (c) likely will be measured based on the success he has in developing QB Josh RosenGETTY IMAGES
The Cardinals yesterday made Kliff Kingsbury their next coach, and one thing President Michael Bidwill did differently in this search that he "didn’t do" in his pursuit of former coach Steve Wilks was "ask for help from outside of the organization," according to Bob McManaman of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Bidwill in the aftermath of firing Wilks said that he "didn’t get it right, took full responsibility for it." This time, Bidwill "turned to" longtime NFL exec Ernie Accorsi during the hiring process. He said Accorsi was a "great value in terms of helping us with this search” (AZCENTRAL.com, 1/10). McManaman writes it is "no secret why the Cardinals are taking a chance on a head coach with no prior NFL coaching experience" in Kingsbury, who will "almost solely be measured by what the Cardinals can get out of" QB Josh Rosen. Given the NFL "trend the past few years where offensive production continues to soar at a record-setting pace, the Cardinals realized they had to join the party and get in front of the crowd when it comes to seeking an innovative playcaller." When Bidwill and Cardinals GM Steve Keim "interviewed each of the coaching candidates on their list, the primary question they had for all of them was this: How can you get the most out of Josh Rosen and how quick can you do it?" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/10).
COPYCAT LEAGUE: In Phoenix, Kent Somers writes the Cardinals with Kingsbury's hiring are "copying a model that flipped the fortunes of the Rams and Bears." However, there is "more to that model than just pairing a young, offensive coach with a young quarterback in need of development." The Rams and Bears also "hired proven defensive coordinators that allowed their head coaches to concentrate on one side of the ball." The Cardinals made an "unconventional move by hiring an offensive coach with no NFL connections." History "strongly suggests Kingsbury won’t be successful," but the league has "changed and innovative offensive coaches are needed" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/10).
BROKEN SYSTEM? Dallas-based WFAA-ABC's Dale Hansen said Kingsbury "fits all the criteria to be a head coach in the NFL." Hansen: "He's an offensive genius, he's young and he's white and not necessarily in that order. There have been six new coaches hired so far, all white and two coaches of color they are replacing." He added, "Young, talented coaches of color not getting the chance, that's a huge problem. The covert racism of the NFL ownership group is so bad, the NFL had to make a rule so that minority coaches could at least get an interview" (WFAA-ABC, 1/9). The Undefeated's Domonique Foxworth said there is "no good argument for bringing in" Kingsbury and it seems like the Cardinals hired him "because Sean McVay was also young and handsome and they're finding other young and handsome coaches." It "seems like a problematic model assuming that one size fits all, what worked in L.A., is going to work in Arizona." However, it "appears that the other teams have been complying with the Rooney Rule and that's all that anyone asked them to do" ("OTL," ESPN, 1/9).
