GLENDALE, Ariz. – The third preseason game normally provides the best available read on an NFL team before the regular season begins. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians expects his starters to play the entire first half as well as one series each on offense and defense coming out the locker room for the second half Saturday.
The game will have added significance, however, since it comes against the Chargers, who employ the Cardinals’ former coach, Ken Whisenhunt, as their offensive coordinator.
Whisenhunt’s offensive decisions at quarterback and along the offensive line contributed mightily to his firing after three straight non-playoff seasons, the last of which included a 1-11 finish and a 5-11 record in 2012.
Neither team is expected to gameplan much for this matchup, but if you don’t think both Arians and Whisenhunt want to prove something, you don’t have a competitive bone in your body.
"We want to win," Arians said succinctly.
So does Whisenhunt, whether he admits it or not. Whisenhunt declined an interview request from FOX Sports Arizona, but he did speak to FOX Sports 910’s Mike Jurecki on Thursday about the anticipation of entering University of Phoenix Stadium as a visitor for the first time.
"There’s a big emotional connection to the fans, to the success that we had in the stadium, to all the people in the Cardinals organization that you worked with," he said. "It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but there’s a lot of great memories."
Whisenhunt didn’t discuss getting fired last December other than to say “it’s hard when you leave,” but Chargers special teams coach Kevin Spencer had some thoughts on the dismissal, which took place on New Year’s Eve.
"I think he went through all of those emotions," said Spencer, who was the Cardinals’ special teams coach for Whisenhunt’s entire tenure in Arizona. "Ken’s a very intellectual guy. I don’t think he shows emotions much -- he’s very cerebral and composed -- but I still think that something like that shakes you to your core. It’s a slap in the face."
We all know the particulars of Whisenhunt’s final three years: the dizzying array of ineffective quarterbacks, the struggles on the offensive line and with the running game, the public expression of discontent from Darnell Dockett and that 58-0 loss in Seattle that likely sealed Whisenhunt’s fate.
But there was plenty to admire about Whisenhunt’s tenure as well. He helped change the culture of Cardinals football from a club that was always expected to lose to one that competed in six playoff games. With a major assist from QB Kurt Warner, he led the Cardinals to their only Super Bowl and came with seconds of winning it.
"When I was an outsider looking in, the Cardinals had a reputation as not being a very good football team, and usually you could chalk that game up to a win," Spencer said. "Looking up in the stadium now, seeing those banners and knowing you were part of that is special. It wasn’t like Pittsburgh where you kind of just get them to church on Sunday because the cupboard's already full. We did some good work."
Whisenhunt also built a connection with players that isn’t easily cut. Center Lyle Sendlein was a rookie free agent in Whisenhunt’s first season.
"There’s some truth to teams not being invested in you because you weren’t drafted. It’s not the easiest way to go about making a team, but from the first day I got here, they always talked about giving a chance to the best players," Sendlein said. "I owe all the memories and experiences I’ve had to that staff -- Whiz and Russ (Grimm). Them giving me an opportunity to continue playing the game has been the biggest blessing, and I’ll always love them for that."
It is perhaps a cruel twist of fate that immediately after Whisenhunt left, the Cardinals went out and got a legitimate quarterback in Carson Palmer. But Whisenhunt has his own talented pupil to work with in Philip Rivers, and that is what consumes him.
As for thoughts of one day coaching another team, Whisenhunt insists he’s not worried about it.
"I’m just worried about trying to be the best offensive coordinator I can be," he told FOX Sports 910. "That will all take care of itself. I’ve never worried about that. Maybe one day I’ll get another opportunity."
There are unnamed changes Whisenhunt admitted he’d make if he gets anther chance, but he took the high road when looking back on what went wrong in Arizona.
"Everyone has regrets, sure. Hindsight is always 20-20," he said. "But like I said, I’m very thankful for having been given that opportunity. A lot of people never get that chance."
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