Robert Saleh delivers strong statement for another shot as a head coach

The Arizona Cardinals had a lot of injuries this year.

They leaned on those injuries as an excuse for why this team was 3-14, that 14 losses is the most in franchise history.

The Cardinals lost some talent, that is not a question, it is a fact. However, they also had less high end talent lost than a lot of teams.

Take for example the San Francisco 49ers.

The last two games the 49ers have given up 13 points to the Seattle Seahawks in a battle for the top seed in the NFC, and 19 points in a Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Niners in that game had this group starting:

Line – Bryce Huff, Jordan Elliot, Sam Okuayinonu, Kalia Davis
LB – Eric Kendricks, Tatum Bethune, Dee Winters
DB – Renardo Green, Deommodore Lenoir, Malik Mustapha, Ji’Ayir Brown

What is impressive is that only Jordan Elliot and Dee Winters were starters along the front seven at the beginning of the year.

While they lost the game against the Seahawks, they held the third best scoring offense in the NFL to 13 points. They averaged 28.4 points per game.

Against the Eagles in a game to prolong their season, they went to Philadelphia and beat an Eagles team that wasn’t the same as last year, but it is still a team that averaged 23.9 points per game at home this season, in the cold. They held Saquon Barkley to 4 yards per carry. They held Jalen hurts to 168 yards passing.

Saleh took a group that likely will get blown out next game, but found a way to not just be competitive, but win.

Jonathan Gannon was resigned to giving up 35 points per game in their nine game losing streak, talking about injuries and just not coaching them up enough.

Maybe behind closed doors, Gannon was a fiery guy who inspired his team. On the field and in the public eye, outside of one time with Emari Demercado, Gannon seemed indifferent. Never too high, never too low, just a guy who wanted his guys out there to have a great time, and get their orange slices and juice boxes after the game.

There was no fight. Fans looked more engaged than the players.

With Saleh, maybe he is not the guy, maybe his overall work as a leader won’t work even in its second go around, but he sure as hell is showing he knows how to motivate and get players to play hard and together.