The Arizona Cardinals drafted what they believe to be a special player in Isaiah Simmons in the first round this year. They believe he will be their answer to be able to cover opposing tight ends and running backs in the passing game.
Former Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby approves.
“That’s a hell of a pick,” he said in an interview on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “You all got what you’ve been looking for.”
Dansby, in classic Dansby form, then took it a little further. H
“Every since I left, they haven’t been able to fill that void,” he said. “The body type, the range, the speed, the athleticism, the IQ of the game.”
Dansby was an incredibly productive linebacker and actually had three stints with the Cardinals. He was drafted by Arizona, then left in free agency, returned for a season, played three more seasons elsewhere and returned for one final season before retiring.
He was a complete linebacker, able to play the run, tackle, rush the passer and cover.
Dansby and Simmons are very similar in another way. Simmons played all over in college for Clemson, beginning as a safety and eventually playing a little of everything. Dansby had a similar background.
“What people fail to realize is I played safety at Auburn,” he explained. “I played safety and then moved to linebacker. This guy here, he’s got all the intangibles every last one of them and the speed — more speed than me. I’m excited to see him play.”
Dansby isn’t the only one excited to watch Simmons.
He isn’t wrong. The Cardinals have not been able to find a linebacker who could do the things Dansby did. Simmons should be that guy and could be even better.
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Ep. 266
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Ep.265
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