Cardinals DC Bowles mum on future, interview possibilities
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Reporters knew what they were going to get from Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles on Wednesday even before they asked a series of questions about his head coaching job prospects.
"We're trying to focus on the game and trying to make sure our guys are ready to play right now," said Bowles of Saturday's wild-card playoff game against Carolina in Charlotte, N.C." That's the No. 1 thing going on. If you don't have your guys ready to play you lose and you go home."
It's hard to believe at least a small portion of Bowles' focus isn't on his career. He wouldn't be human if it he didn't think about it and it's not a criticism to believe he is.
It's just not the sort of thing you want to admit on the eve of a playoff game -- especially when your current team just gave you an unsolicited three-year extension that allows you the security of being more selective with your job choice.
"Me and coach (Bruce) Arians talked about it so we'll deal with it next week as opposed to this week," said Bowles, who isn't permitted to interview with teams until next week. "You just put it on the backburner and you move on."
Multiple outlets reported all five teams with openings already contacted Bowles: Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago, Oakland and the New York Jets. It's hard to discern how serious the interest is from each club. The Rooney Rule, implemented in 2003, requires every team to interview at least one minority candidate every time there is a coaching or general manager opening, but Bowles also has an impressive track record in his two seasons in Arizona.
The statistics may not show it this year, but when you take into account the myriad injuries and losses Bowles' defense suffered this season -- starting linebackers Karlos Dansby, Daryl Washington, John Abraham, starting defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, reserve tackle Ed Stinson and safety Tyrann Mathieu among others -- along with the fact Arizona's offense is just 20th in the NFL in average time of possession (29:48), it's remarkable that the Cardinals are fifth in the league in points allowed per game (18.7).
While Bowles cannot interview with teams until next week, there often is communication between the sides that occurs behind the scenes, normally through an agent. Bowles on Wednesday said nothing is set u, but he will bring a little more savvy into the process this season, after going through it last season.
"You get to see what they're interested in and what they're looking for and you just gain experience from it," he said. "You know what you want to say going in ... and you just go from there."
While the Panthers made the playoffs last season, the Cardinals haven't been there since 2009 -- Kurt Warner's final season.
Only four current Cardinals were on that team: wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, defensive end Calais Campbell, safety Rashad Johnson, center Lyle Sendlein, long snapper Mike Leach and injured defensive tackle Darnell Dockett.
Just seven additional players on the roster have playoff experience: tight end John Carlson, linebackers linebackers Lorenzo Alexander and Larry Foote, defensive end Frostee Rucker, cornerback Jerraud Powers, receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and tackle Bradley Sowell. Those players have played in a total of 66 playoff games.
The Cardinals will fly to Charlotte, a day early than originally planned. The team will practice Thursday and then fly out that evening instead of on Friday. The team will have a walk-through Friday in Charlotte.
Arians said several players requested the change.
"They just felt like they needed more rest from the flight," Arians said. "The one thing you want to do as a coach is make sure no one has an excuse. If that's an excuse, we're going to fix that real quick."
Cardinals: QB Drew Stanton (knee) and DT Dan Williams (foot) did not practice. G Jonathan Cooper (wrist/knee) and DE Frostee Rucker (ankle) were limited. LB Larry Foote (knee), DE Calais Campbell (hip), S Tyrann Mathieu (thumb/hip) and C Lyle Sendlein (back) practiced in full.
Panthers: QB Derek Anderson (ill) and G Fernando Velasco (non-injury) did not practice. S Thomas DeCoud (hamstring) was limited. RB DeAngelo Williams (hand) and OLB A.J. Klein (ankle) practiced in full.
-- Arians confirmed to FOX Sports' Alex Marvez that the Cardinals held a players-only meeting on Tuesday to make sure the rookie were ready for the playoffs. Players-only meetings occur all the time in pro sports. They probably garner too much hype with too much significance placed on them. Veteran linebacker Larry Foote agreed with that assessment, saying the meeting was just to refocus, "no big deal."
-- Arians said QB Drew Stanton (knee) would need to practice by Thursday to have a chance to play Saturday. The Friday walk-through would not provide enough prep time for him.
-- Justin Bethel was named NFC special team's player of the month for December. Bethel led the NFL with eight special teams tackles, five of which came at the 20-yard line or inside. He also forced a fumble and downed a punt at the 5-yard line.
-- The team placed tight end Andre Hardy on the practice squad/injured list (calf) and signed tight end Ted Bolser to the practice squad. The team also signed cornerback Rashad Carmichael and guard Antoine McClain to future contacts for the 2015 season.