The Arizona Cardinals will not be making a change at defensive coordinator. Vance Joseph “will be back” in 2020, head coach Kliff Kingsbury announced Monday at his postseason press conference.
The Cardinals struggled for much of the season defensively and finished the season last in the league in yards allowed, 28th in points allowed, 24ths in rushing defense and 31st against the pass.
Many speculated and even called for his firing, but that was never on the table, according to Kingsbury.
“I never wavered in that,” he said. “His approach, knowing what I know of him and watching him work, the things I saw from the first day I was with him, I knew I wanted him to be here.”
Another factor is maintaining continuity on a team that was on its third defensive coordinators in three seasons. He said, “continuity is huge when you look at the top organizations out there.” He cited, players, coaches and the front office being stable with the best teams.
Kingsbury said he never had to reassure Joseph of his place with him and the staff.
“He understood where we were at and he knew that it was going to be a work in progress,” he said.
Plus, Kingsbury “was really impressed with the last quarter (of the season) and how he stuck with it. We really started playing solid defense at the end.”
Rather than bring in a new coordinator to teach a new defensive system, the players who remain will play in the same system and the Cardinals will bring in new players who hopefully fit the system.
They were an above average defense over the final month of the season. If they start there next year, the team will have a good chance of competing for the postseason.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 253:
[protected-iframe id=”16364e67f2a2e913eaf5ca135bda360d-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/21052588/download.mp3″ ]
Ep. 252:
[protected-iframe id=”65599ee7743ebac0198fabf66970f0d8-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/20854910/download.mp3″ ]