Wild Card

McGinnis Hasn't Rescued Cardinals
By Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist
12/05/2003

Vince Tobin is a nice man who had a 28-43 record as coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Dave McGinnis is a nice man who has a 16-37 record as coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

There was no shortage of voices calling for Tobin's firing midway through the 2000 season. Those same voices have been silent regarding McGinnis.

Why?

Clearly, McGinnis' demeanor has shielded him from overt criticism. McGinnis is the rare coach who treats the media with respect and dignity: he calls most reporters by name, whereas most coaches call us names. It's much easier to blast a bully like Buddy Ryan or an arrogant Buck Showalter.

The Cardinals' ignominious reputation also has served McGinnis well. He is viewed as a victim of the organization's ineptitude, another coach done in by the failures of the front office.

That perception is not without merit, but neither Arizona's bungling nor McGinnis' personality should obscure the fact that in three-plus seasons, he has failed to make any difference on Sundays.

Look around the NFL. In his first year in Dallas, Bill Parcells has the Cowboys headed to the playoffs. In Cincinnati, rookie coach Marvin Lewis has transformed a team and organization that could match the Cardinals gaffe for gaffe.

John Fox took over a 1-15 Carolina team, led it to a 7-9 record last year and has the Panthers (8-4) in first place in the NFC South this season.

McGinnis, on the other hand, is going backward. He won seven games in 2001, five games in 2002 and, if form holds, will win three games this season. Nice guys finish last shouldn't be a cliche come to life.

Would McGinnis be successful in a different organization? Possibly. Gene Stallings left the Cardinals and won a national championship at the University of Alabama.

But McGinnis isn't coaching somewhere else. He's coaching here. And unlike Lewis or Parcells, he has not been able to change the culture of defeat that permeates the organization.

Blame the front office if you like, but McGinnis must be held accountable for some of the disastrous personnel decisions that have sabotaged the Cardinals.

His 2001 draft was solid — Leonard Davis, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Marcus Bell, among others — but his 2002 selections were ruinous: Wendell Bryant, Levar Fisher, Josh McCown, Dennis Johnson, Nate Dwyer, Jason McAddley, Josh Scobey, Mike Banks.

See an impact player in there? See anyone who's helping the Cardinals win games this year?

McGinnis' calling card has been his ability to motivate and cajole every last ounce of energy out of his team.

This year, however, the Cardinals have played listless, uninspired football in losses at Dallas and Cleveland. They've been handled by sad-sack teams like Detroit and Chicago.

It's too harsh to say the Cardinals have quit on McGinnis, but their inconsistent effort reflects a team that has tuned out its head coach. Players already have begun speculating about who the next coach will be, and whether he'll be a martinet along the lines of former Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin.

There's no question Arizona's talent level is a tide that never comes in. But other teams in the league — Chicago, Houston, Cincinnati — have personnel issues, and they're playing above their means. That the Cardinals aren't is an indictment that lands on McGinnis' desk. Like every other media wretch in town, I hoped McGinnis would succeed. It's a lot more fun to cover a coach who comes into the pressroom to chat than a coach who would rather torture his dog than talk to us.

In the end, though, it's about Sundays, not sunshine. And while it's hard to imagine a new coach riding into town on his white horse and rescuing the Cardinals, we know this:

McGinnis hasn't done it.

http://www.aztrib.com/index.php?sty=14068

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phillycard

That's a fair assessment. It really serves to underscore how Dave was handicapped from the jump. This is why I'll tell you, that we need the complete opposite of a nice guy in here next year. I really don't want Fassel. Although he's a good coach, he's a nice guy. Despite his attempts to appear tough at times. He'd be an improvement, but we need quantum leaps here not baby steps.

100%CardsFan

I really hate this guy Bordow. Why didnt he include this years draft as well???

JeffGollin

This is why I'll tell you, that we need the complete opposite of a nice guy in here next year.
To lay off the problem on "nice guy vs. tough guy" is overly simplistic.

Areas where Mac apparently fell down included -

- Players not being well enough prepared going into each new game.

- Protecting under-performing assistant coaches

- Failure of some of our young players to develop to full potential

- Over all lack of organization and discipline

- Sloppy execution of plays, ball protection and coverages

- In short be not knowing what it takes to employ and coordinate all the various components that go into a winning program.

I maintain that you can be more demanding and still be a nice guy. You can still be a nice guy and address every one of the above problems.

Buddy Ryan was considered a tough guy and he left this franchise in a shambles.

Better "we get it right" rather than merely seek the "anti- Mac."

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Later (GBR/RIP40 - RIPSKKORP)

seesred

Jeff you are right on in your assesment. Personally I've had it with this nice guy take and I like this guy stuff! I was caught up in it as well, jumoing into the stands last year hugging fans etc;

This staff in general does not manage the clock ..very basic Just look at the game we used all our first half time outs in the first 10 minutes of the game. This is not front office this is basic.

Take a look at all the penalties on us for not lining up right or not knowing the play or not sending in the right personal for thge play called, this is not front office.

WE are a train wreck right now with some decent to good football players. We need some one to right this train pull it into the station and fix the problem so it will move the ball.

The head coach should know when other coaches are screwing up. Greene, Marmie etc. Heck Marrmie should have been put on the carpet more than a dozen times this year for horid Defense calls maybe fired for that fourth down call in the fourth quarter leading the Rams.

WE draftyed players that Graves or Mac wanted. Bidwill does not pick, he may okay and I don't berlieve he has the info to do anything that staff does not recomend, he holds the money. It's obviuos that he spends it especially this year. Pace and Johnson for name an impact player that you like cost as much as that 1 guy. It was Mac and Graves who went this way. Mac must go. He sees it, he doesn't want to lose, he just doesn't have the ability top turn it around. MOve on now.

GBR

Redheart

This team will never succeed playing for the coach's well being.

Sure, with a few lucky bounces coupled with the emotion of the moment, they may upset a good team. Maybe the ____ this Sunday.

But the sad reality is that players play for themselves. They are no different than you or I. We are most interested in and / or motivated by what is in our own best interest.

They will play hard for a coach only if they see it is in their own best interest. That may mean money, ego gratification, or fear of losing their job (cut or benched affects their bank account & ego).

College players may buy into the rah-rah, team spirit, "I'm a Fighting Woodchuck" stuff; but it just does not play for professionals who are paid for their bodies.

Make no mistake about it; professional football players are paid to destroy their bodies for our enjoyment. Sure, they are human and get caught up in the "heat of battle"; but most are pretty realistic about the fact it is only a game that they get paid very well to play because it may be the last time they walk without a limp. For certain they well die earlier than the average and suffer major medical complications for a long term career.

I don't feel sorry for them. The money, the glory, the FUN...even understanding the negatives, I would want to "play the game".

The point:

A coach must continually hold the players self-interest as the key motivator to his performance and therein obtain team performance. This goes for the assistant coaches as well.

This means you have to pay/praise the winners (and only them), cut/bench the losers (the only public recognition of poor performance), and publicly shoot the problem makers (inspiring terror is a plus).

As fans, we loved Mac's rah-rah, "play with you heart" rants. I just don't think the paid help bought it for a second.

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CaptTurbo

Great article. I agree 100%

kerouac9

This is the best article that I have seen semi-apologizing for the Media's lack of, or less than enthusiastic participation in, criticism of Dave Mac's ignominious tenure.

It seems that many Mac critics that are also Cards fans have had few places to look to find reasonable analysis of Mac's failures. The fact that these articles are starting to come out only now is a testimony to the disintegration of Mac's authority as head coach.

It's weird how no one on KDUS or the Republic really says anything about how obvious it is that Mac is gone. It always seems like the gorilla in the room on the Postgame shows and such. I always want to call in during post game and ask "Hey, who do you think is going to replace Mac in February?"

It's also funny that apparently players are openly talking to the media about who's next.

__________________
Ben Muth: Watching th Cardinals this year has been like watching a sports movie in rewind.

Thanks, DesertDawg

SeattleCard

He brings up a good point about the 2002 draft. What a crapper. Can't say the same thing about the 2003 draft obviously.

MadCardDisease

I think he didn't mention it because Graves pretty much took control of the draft this year and had the final say on all draft picks. Mac was more in control the two prior years.

kerouac9

I think that Dennis Johnson and Levar Fisher have been solid contributors this season. Josh Scobey has been all right on returns (which is all you're really looking for in a sixth round pick or whatever). I think that the main disappointments have been McAddley (remember him?) and Bryant.

No one that we drafted was really a playmaker, but Mac hasn't really been in the business of finding playmakers, has he?

__________________
Ben Muth: Watching th Cardinals this year has been like watching a sports movie in rewind.

Thanks, DesertDawg

phinius

Didn't Mac pretty much control the 2002 draft?
Didn't Graves pretty much control the 2003 draft?
I would be interested in hearing your comments.

DevonCardsFan

2001 was far from Solid, the Cards landed a RG with the 2nd overall pick and what about the great 2nd round choice of Michael stone they guy that was going to replace Aeneas Williams the player they traded for this choice

RedStorm

I think the article was looking for impact players. DJ and Josh have been good but they are not turning the game in our favor.

I think the article is right with this one exception, we may have an impact player but with our current coaching staff we will not know. Heck Pace, Johnson, Bryant, Wilson might be All-Pros with the right coaching staff.

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Yeah, Stormy's probably on to something. - Rivercard

Sense MAKER!!!
Blasphemer!!!
Burn him!!!!

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100%CardsFan

Thanks!