February 11, 2019 7:08 PM PST
Steve Wilks took over as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals
saying he was humbled by the job but exhibiting an abundance of confidence that
he can do it well.
The 48-year-old
coach http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-brandon-parker-jersey ,
promoted after just one season as defensive coordinator of the Carolina
Panthers, was introduced at a news conference Tuesday, bringing a reputation of
connecting easily with his players as he replaces Bruce Arians, who retired
after five colorful seasons and 50 victories in Arizona.
”We found a great leader,” Cardinals President Michael Bidwill said, ”and not
just a leader with a high football IQ but also a high football `EQ’ (emotional
quotient). He doesn’t just coach football players, he coaches people.”
Wilks, who gets a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth,
described his coaching style as ”very passionate, persistent and very
positive.”
And confident.
”I’m going to tell you right now,” Wilks said, looking at Bidwill and general
manager Steve
Keim http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-nick-nelson-jersey ,
”you guys made the right decision.”
In a later interview, Wilks said, ”It’s hard to blend in when you’re born to
stand tall.”
Bidwill said he heard nothing but good things about Wilks from his former
players, many of them unsolicited.
”I know what he brings to the table. I know what they’re getting,” Washington
Redskins and ex-Panthers cornerback Josh Norman said in a statement provided by
the Cardinals. ”At the end of the day, I came from pretty much nothing to rise
up to where I’m at today and he was the catalyst behind that. Position coach all
the way up to the ranks of a D-coordinator for a year, and then making it now to
a head coaching job; it’s crazy how that trend came for him. The conversations
we have are just so enlightening. He’s a leader of men and that’s what it all
boils down to.”
Keim was asked what separated Wilks from the other eight candidates
interviewed for the job.
”You can become a better coach through experience,” Keim said. ”But to have
leadership, to me, there’s an innate part of that. And when you get to know
Steve Wilks, you can tell that he has that innate leadership skill that very few
people have.”
There was nary a mention of Arians at the news conference. Instead, the new
coach http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-johnny-townsend-jersey ,
who gained the nickname ”Denzel” back in Carolina due to his resemblance to a
certain actor, provided a vision for the foundation of the franchise, while
acknowledging ”the elephant in the room.”
”This is not a rebuild, this is a retool,” Wilks said. ”I think we have the
pieces in place, when you look at both sides of the ball. There’s a question
mark right now and we all know it, the elephant in the room. We don’t have a
quarterback.”
This in a division that includes Jared Goff, Russell Wilson and Jimmy
Garoppolo.
Keim insisted that lack of a quarterback was not a hindrance in the coaching
search.
”We looked at it as a positive,” Keim said, ”As Michael and I talked to the
candidates, it’s `You really have a blank canvas. You really have an opportunity
to be a part of setting us up for the future at that position.”
Asked which was harder, finding a coach or a
quarterback http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-ryan-switzer-jersey ,
Keim didn’t hesitate. ”A quarterback,” he said.
”We’re going to be aggressive in the process and there’s going to be a number
of different options,” Keim said, ”whether it’s free agency, whether it’s a
trade option or whether it’s the draft, or all three.”
While all of Wilks’ 23-year coaching career (11 college, 12 NFL) are on the
defensive side. He will inherit the makings of a strong defense in Arizona,
anchored by the likes of NFL sack leader Chandler Jones and perennial Pro Bowl
cornerback Patrick Peterson.
But the big questions are on offense, and Wilks gave no hint as to who his
offensive coordinator will be. He said he wanted his staff in place by the Super
Bowl and did not rule out retaining members of the previous one.
He said he’d talked with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on the phone but
doesn’t know if the star wide receiver will return for a 15th NFL season.
One of Wilks’ biggest smiles came when he talked about the return of running
back David Johnson, who was lost for the season when he broke a wrist in the
opener.
The Cardinals will, the new coach assured, run the ball.
Wilks’
wife http://www.patriotsauthorizedshop.com/authentic-adrian-clayborn-jersey ,
Marci, two young daughters and an even younger son watched the news conference
from the front row then joined him onstage for photos.
—
Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa is heading to the 10-day disabled list
because of a stiff back.
Correa sat out games on Tuesday and Wednesday, and wasn’t in the lineup
Thursday night at Tampa Bay. The Astros say he’ll be put on the DL on
Friday.
”He feels better, but we just need to do the right thing and get him
completely symptom-free and not sore,” manager A.J. Hinch said. ”He’s not going
to be available, so we’ll move forward and hopefully this is just 10 days and
he’ll be activated by next weekend.”
Hinch said by putting Correa on the disabled list Friday, retroactive for
three days, there is a possibility the 23-year-old star can be activated July 5
for a weekend series against the Chicago White Sox.
Correa is hitting .268 with 13 home runs and 49 RBIs in 73 games and recently
had a streak of 70 errorless games.
The Astros will make a corresponding move to fill their 25-man roster on
Friday.
Marwin Gonzalez was in Houston’s lineup at shortstop Thursday
night.