APWhen Bruce Arians took over as the Colts’ offensive coordinator before this season, he had to figure out a way to get Reggie Wayne more involved after Wayne had a dismal 2011 season.
Arians succeeded at that mission well enough to become the Cardinals’ head coach, a job which offers the chance to do things all over again. Larry Fitzgerald had 71 catches for 798 yards in 2012, production well below what we’re accustomed to seeing from Arizona’s top wideout. Arians won’t have Andrew Luck running the offense next season, but he’s still confident that he can get the ball to Fitzgerald based on his results with Wayne.
“As a receiver, you can’t hand it to them, you have to throw it to them. They can double-cover him, and you don’t throw it to him if he is double-covered and someone else is single-covered. You’ve got to take what is there as a quarterback, but you do have to get him the ball because he is such a tremendous talent,” Arians said, via the team’s website. “When I first met with Reggie, Reggie had been on the left side for 10 years. The first day of spring I put him over there on the right, and he looked like he had palsy. I said, ‘It’ll come. You have to retrain your body here. Wait until I put you in the slot.’ There was buy-in.”
Given how little Fitzgerald was given to do during the season, he’d likely buy into anything that promises him more action in the future. It won’t be as simple as moving him around the offense since the Cardinals already do that, but you can be sure that maximizing Fitzgerald’s production will remain a high priority in the desert.
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Based on 2012, if they want to get him the ball effectively, they better move him to RB.
Andrew Luck got him the ball – Not the coach.
It will take a quarterback to do that, and I don’t know where BA will find one. But kudos to him for recognizing that one of the best players in the league is just wasting his talents in that offense.
Should work great, as long as “any way he can” doesn’t involve the words “Kevin Kolb”, “John Skelton”, or “Ryan Lindley”.
Then Arians had better sign Chase Daniel in the off-season
Need a running game as well as a decent QB so the defense has to respect other options. Late emergence of Floyd at WR last year gives me a little hope things will improve.
Palsy Bruce? You want to go there?
Sometimes you should just keep that big mouth shut.
Guess they’re gonna be handing the ball to him cause there’s no way they’re gonna do it through the air
I hear Jamarcus “Purple Drank” Russell wants another shot at the NFL…..
Spread the wealth!!!!
Get him, Andre Roberts, and Rob Housler footballs!!!
Then use that to open up the running game.
He plans to get the ball to the best player on the team, with almost no other options?!?!?!?
NOW I understand hiring him. Genius!
Arians might as well sign JaMarcus.
Kiper was fluffing him up like he did Luck when he was coming out at the draft..
Match made in heaven. At least at 300+ he might be able to take the beating Arians gives his QB’s on an annual basis.
He should give Mike Tice a call…sounds like Bruce is wanting the Larry Ratio