The Arizona Cardinals upgraded their linebacking corps both in free agency and in the draft. They signed Devon Kennard and De’Vondre Campbell. They drafted Isaiah Simmons in the first round.
They also added defensive lineman Jordan Phillips, who had 9.5 sacks a season ago.
With these new additions, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph already has a package in mind where he uses almost all his linebackers.
The Cardinals used a similar package last year on obvious passing downs. They would use one defensive lineman and five linebackers.
Only this time, Joseph has added versatility. Speaking to the media in a video conference this week, he spoke of having Phillips on the field as the one defensive lineman, combining him with Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks, Haason Reddick, Simmons and Campbell.
“We’ve got a bunch of linebackers who can rush and cover now,” he said.
The one player that seems to be left out is Kennard. However, he will be a starter. He will play more than just in base packages, but if the Cardinals intend on keeping Reddick this year, it may be the one way they can use him to get anything out of the former first-round pick.
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Ep. 266
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Ep.265
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