Even though Julius Peppers came out and accepted blame for Larry Fitzgerald’s back-breaking 75-yard catch and run, defensive coordinator Dom Capers said it wasn’t Peppers’ fault.
Capers placed the blame squarely on rookie cornerback Damarious Randall.
“I think (Randall) knew the call,” Capers said. “But you have to evaluate how shallow the crossing route goes on that. If it goes under your underneath defenders than you have the ability to come off of that. If it goes over the top of him then you have to carry it.
“He just needed to carry (the coverage) further across the field.”
Peppers ended up blitzing on the play, vacating the zone Fitzgerald ended up in. His responsibility on the play was running back David Johnson.
Johnson stayed in the backfield to block on the play and that gave Peppers the option to rush, which he did.
Randall was supposed to follow Fitzgerald across the field and, well, you saw what happened there.
Another wasted season.