The Arizona Cardinals are hoping to pleasantly surprise some people this coming season.
They won just four games last season, and just about everyone is counting them out for the 2023 campaign.
It seems logical, as quarterback Kyler Murray could miss most if not all the season with a torn ACL, and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was recently released.
But new head coach Jonathan Gannon is looking to establish a defensive mindset, and linebacker Isaiah Simmons says he has been working with the team’s defensive backs, per Ari Meirov.
#Cardinals’ Isaiah Simmons told reporters today that he’s mainly been working with the DBs under new HC Jonathan Gannon. The plan is to solely focus on that and try to master it instead of also working at LB.
Simmons is entering the final year of his contract. pic.twitter.com/R7ITfJluPO
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 13, 2023
In three NFL seasons, Simmons, who was the No. 8 pick in the 2020 draft, has put up a total of 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits.
If the Cardinals are to have any hope of contending for a playoff spot in the NFC, they will need to earn their lunch money on the defensive side of the football.
Last season, they gave up more points than any team other than the Chicago Bears, who were one of only two squads to have a worse record than them.
Gannon is fresh off helping the Philadelphia Eagles reach the Super Bowl as their defensive coordinator last season, and they finished eighth in points allowed and second in total yards allowed during the regular season.
The glimmer of hope for Arizona lies in next year’s draft, as they will have their own first-round pick as well as the Houston Texans’ first-rounder.
There is a real chance that the Cardinals will have the top two selections in 2024, which would allow them to restock their roster in a hurry.
NEXT:
Cardinals WR Comments On DeAndre Hopkins’ Release From Team