Moore: Steve Keim's replacements have a lot of work to do

DENVER — The Cardinals gave their interim bosses Quentin Harris and Adrian Wilson a clear look at their to-do list in their 24-15 loss to the Broncos on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.

Harris and Wilson, taking over for general manager Steve Keim, who is out on leave to deal with an unspecified health problem, need to find offensive linemen, defensive backs, a quarterback, an offensive play caller and — more than anything else — an identity for a franchise that hasn’t had one since the days of Bruce Arians and Carson Palmer.

Start with the offensive line, which Harris and Wilson will need to rebuild before the 2023 season starts.

Tackle Kelvin Beachum left the game in the third quarter with knee and ankle injuries. He’s the only offensive lineman to have played in every game for Arizona, and it looks like that streak is in jeopardy.

Center Rodney Hudson has been out for weeks with a knee injury, and it’s hard to imagine him coming back to play a meaningful role on the field ever again. He’s contemplated retirement before, including putting off his decision to return for as long as he could ahead of training camp. His contract is up after this season, but he hasn’t been able to show enough to guarantee the team would want him back.

Guard Justin Pugh has been out for weeks with a knee injury, too. He’s another veteran who has contemplated retirement. His contract is also up at the end of the season.

It gets worse.

Guard Will Hernandez missed time with a strained muscle in his chest. He’ll be a free agent this offseason. So will Cody Ford, Max Garcia and Billy Price. (All contract details are according to Sportrac.com.)

And the team will need depth behind tackle DJ Humphries, who has played just eight games this year, his latest season of struggle in an injury-plagued career.

Arizona is going to need starters and reserves up and down the line. Otherwise, their offense will continue to be what it was in mustering just 15 points against Denver — nonexistent.

That’s not the only position of need, though.

Cornerbacks Byron Murphy, Marco Wilson and Antonio Hamilton all started the game on the inactive list, and when Christian Matthew was shaken up on a third-quarter play, it looked like Harris and Wilson, former defensive backs, might have to take off their suits and suit up in a helmet and shoulder pads.

Matthew ended up being OK, but it illustrated the need for depth at an essential position in a pass-happy NFL.

Meanwhile, Colt McCoy, filling in for Kyler Murray, went out with a concussion when he was tackled into Beachum’s leg. Arizona had to play third-stringer Trace McSorley.

Murray is scheduled to have surgery on his injured knee sometime after Christmas. He’s expected to be out at least nine months, but the Cardinals should be cautious with that timeline. If they rush him back, they could ruin a promising career. We all remember what happened with Robert Griffin III in Washington.

Harris and Wilson need to decide whether to address the position through free agency or the draft.

The combination of McSorley and McCoy combined for 167 yards passing and three interceptions. That’s not going to cut it unless the Cardinals are planning to tank next season in a youth movement to get players ready for a Murray return in 2024. If they go that route, they might as well keep Kliff Kingsbury, who is under contract through the 2027 season.

However, if Harris and Wilson want to compete next season, they need to get a new offensive coordinator.

Kingsbury has called plays, and we see how that’s worked out on Sunday. Kingsbury might be able to design, scheme and communicate an offensive gameplan (and that’s a big might), but at this point we know he can’t put points on the board consistently enough to win at this level.

That brings us to the most important item on the to-do list for the new bosses: They have to help the Cardinals find an identity.

Are they going to be a defensive force, as they showed glimpses of Sunday with seven sacks and two forced turnovers?

Are they going to be a high-flying offense, taking advantage of Hollywood Brown and DeAndre Hopkins?

Or will they get nasty and employ a power run game that’s heavy on play-action for deep shots down the field? (Which would be my preference, even after Murray returns.)

Regardless, Harris and Wilson have a lengthy to-do list now that they’re in charge. It was all on display Sunday in Denver.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Moore: Steve Keim's replacements have a lot of work to do