Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy wasn't going to get specific about how much the Cardinals plan to scale down the gameplan for Sunday's game against the Bears, as coach Steve Wilks had alluded to earlier in the week.
But, McCoy said, "we're not just running five plays."
Trimming an option or two off a category on the call sheet is a more likely result, as the Cardinals and McCoy try and figure out a way to climb out of the difficult start. In two games, the Cards have scored six points and converted 4-of-20 third downs.
"That's all you're trying to do, do what's best for this week's game," McCoy said. "All the plays you put on paper, you think they should work. We have to do a better job executing and a better job as a group."
"I've been doing this for a long time," he added. "There's the ups and downs. We'll fix this."
The veteran coach emphasized how early it was in the season and despite whatever level of offensive issues exist, "losing sucks, regardless."
McCoy said he continues to take input from the players to figure out what might work the best. He wouldn't say the Cardinals had to score in the first quarter Sunday against Chicago because the goal is to score every drive every game anyway.
"It's not just one area," McCoy said. "I can call some different things too. We're all in this together."
REMEMBERING THE END OF THE REDSKINS GAME, AND MESSAGE SENT
At practice Wednesday, coach Steve Wilks delivered a very specific message, and it wasn't anything he said.
At one point, when the crowd noise was being piped in as it is most practices in preparation for a game, the players heard not the usual sounds but instead booing.
"Honestly, I knew something was up because I was like, 'That noise sounds familiar,'" cornerback Patrick Peterson said. "Normally when you hear crowd noise it's cheering and whooping and hollering. This particular day it was the last sounds we heard when we left State Farm Stadium (after the Washington game), so we definitely don't want to give our fans that type of outcome again."
Peterson said the message was received, even in its almost "subliminal" state.
"As a home team, especially playing a Week 1 home game and getting booed in the second quarter, something like that, that's an embarrassment on our behalf," Peterson said. "We have to make sure we don't give our fans that reaction again."
KIRK SHOWS UP ON INJURY REPORT; FITZGERALD GETS BACK TO WORK
Coach Steve Wilks said Wednesday wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald would play Sunday – and indeed, Fitzgerald, nursing a hamstring issue, did practice on a limited basis Thursday. Wide receiver Christian Kirk (back) sat out after getting in a car accident Wednesday afternoon, but said he'd return to practice Friday.
Defensive tackle Olsen Pierre (toe) and linebacker Dennis Gardeck (ankle) also did not practice.
Still limited were safety Rudy Ford (ankle), guard Mike Iupati (chest), defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (foot) and tackle Andre Smith (elbow.)
For the Bears, there remains only one player on the list. Defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson remained limited with a forearm injury.
Images from past matchups between the Cardinals and this week's opponent, the Bears
Chicago Bears end Dick Gordon (45) heads toward the football, which was thrown by Jack Concannon as Cardinal defenders Jerry Stovall (21) and Pat Fisher (37) try to stop play, Nov. 19, 1967, Chicago, Ill. The ball was deflected away from Gordon.
St. Louis Cardinals quarterback Neil Lomax is almost thrown for a safety on his own one-foot line by Chicago Bears lineman James Scott (89) during first quarter action in Chicago, Dec. 19, 1982.
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, SEPT. 18-29 - FILE - This Sept. 13, 1969, file photo shows Chicago Bears' Dick Butkus (51) zeroing in on St. Louis Cardinals' Willie Crenshaw (33) during an NFL football game in Chicago. Butkus used to make opposing running backs think about retirement _ before they got into the NFL.
Field Umpire Hendi Ancich (115) tries to come between Chicago Bears' Wilber Marshall (58) and St. Louis Cardinals' J.T. Smith during a first-quarter skirmish at Saturday's NFL pre-season contest in Chicago. A fight in the second-half resulted in the ejection of the Bears' Keith Van Horne and Cardinals Ottis Anderson, Lionel Washington and Charles Baker. -- (Chicago, August 24, 1986.)
Chicago Bears Dan Hampton (99) grabs St. Louis Cardinals quarterback Neil Lomax after Lomax had tossed an incomplete pass during the first quarter in Chicago, Aug. 31, 1987.
Arizona Cardinals' Leeland McElroy (30) runs past Chicago Bears cornerback Tom Carter (25) for a 63-yard touchdown on the Cardinal's first play from scrimmage during the first quarter, Sunday Aug. 17, 1997, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Cardinals 22-10.
Arizona Cardinals' Terry Hardy (80) loses the ball as Chicago Bears linebacker Greg Jones (55) tackles him during the third quarter, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2001, in Chicago.
Chicago Bears' Alex Brown, bottom right, tucks in the ball as he recovers a fumble by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jeff Blake as Cardinals' Marcel Shipp, left, and Bears' R.W. McQuarters fall to the ground in the fourth quarter Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, in Chicago. The Bears won, 28-3.
Chicago Bears fullback Jason McKie (37) is stopped by Arizona Cardinals defenders Adrian Wilson (24), Robert Griffith (34), Darnell Dockett (90), Gerald Hayes (54), and Chike Okeafor (56) on a run attempt in the third quarter of a football game Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James (32) is tackled by Chicago Bears defensive lineman Israel Idonije (71), and cornerback Nathan Vasher (31), as linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (92), looks on in the first quarter of a football game Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, in Glendale, Ariz.
Chicago Bears punt returner Devin Hester (23) breaks away from the tackle attempt by Arizona Cardinals punter Scott Player, on field, in the fourth quarter of a football game Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, in Glendale, Ariz. Hester returned the ball for the game-winning touchdown as the Bears defeated the Cardinals 24-23.
Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, right, fumbles the ball as he is hit by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Bertrand Berry in the second quarter of a football game Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals recovered the fumble on the play.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, front, is hit by Chicago Bears defensive end Mark Anderson as Leinart cocks his arm to attempt a pass in the third quarter of a football game Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) gets hits by Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris (91) as he releases he ball durin an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) scores on a reception in front of Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman (33) in the second quarter of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Ben Patrick (89) looks toward Chicago Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher (31) after making a touchdown-reception in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Hester (23) catches a pass for a first down against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (29) in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.
Arizona Cardinals' Andre Roberts, left, against Chicago Bears' Kelvin Hayden, right, in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz.
Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Dan Williams (92) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) can't hold onto the pass as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) leaps for a pass as Chicago Bears free safety Chris Conte (47) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) dives to the end zone for a touchdown past Chicago Bears safety Adrian Amos (38) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Chicago.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) dives for a touchdown past Chicago Bears cornerback Terrance Mitchell, bottom, and safety Antrel Rolle (26) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Chicago. The Cardinals won 48-23.
Arizona Cardinals kick returner David Johnson (31) runs the opening kickoff or a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Chicago.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) scrambles away from Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins (96) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Chicago.
Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson (22) celebrates a touchdown after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, in Chicago.
