No. 3: Head coach Steve Wilks gets his first NFL win in his debut

When Bruce Arians retired after the 2017 season, he was the winningest coach in club history. He took the team the 2015 NFC Championship. His tenure was certainly a success. So many questioned as to how the football club would respond.

How to fill those shoes?

They responded by hiring a well-respected assistant coach and coordinator in Steve Wilks. From day one, he’s let everybody know that this is now his team. He is the antithesis of Bruce Arians — and that’s OK.

The Cardinals knew they weren’t needing a major rebuild, as the pieces to win now are in place. After all, they have one of the best running backs in the league and a defense that’s feared around the NFL. They needed a coach to take control; someone who could not only win now, but get them back to their first Super Bowl in 10 years. Wilks, I believe, is the right guy to do that.

Bringing in a defensive guy to take the reins was a bold move. But the defense is the strength of the football club. With an offense to complement the defense, this team is certainly not in a “rebuild” phase. As Wilks put it, “this is a retool.”

The Cardinals went all in for a man who has no NFL head coaching experience — but the players seem to respect him, and his philosophy.

“He knows what’s going on and he leads by example,” guard Justin Pugh said of Wilks. High praise coming from a savvy veteran.

Wilks seems to have his team ready for the regular season. He demands perfection; he expects sound technique; he wants to be aggressive.

Wilks’ long road to become an NFL head coach will come to fruition this Sunday when his team plays the Redskins.

He went about training a little different than what people in the desert are used to. And I believe that approach will certainly pay huge dividends in the long run. His players will reward him this Sunday, with what he hopes to be the first of many wins for the rookie head coach.