The Arizona Cardinals are ready to welcome back Deone Bucannon to one of the most outstanding linebacking crews in the NFL
The Arizona Cardinals would probably be lying if they said they “needed” Deone Bucannon to return. In fact, the club’s current starters at inside linebacker, Karlos Dansby and Haason Reddick, are terrorizing opposing offenses. But it will sure be nice adding one of the Cardinals’ best tacklers to the mix.
Bucannon, Arizona’s first-round draft pick in 2014, was brought to the desert to play safety. But thanks to a Daryl Washington suspension, “Buc” was moved to inside linebacker. Actually, he was designated a “dollar” linebacker by then-defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, which was basically a description for a linebacker in a safety’s body,
The University of Washington product missed the first three games of this season due to the ankle surgery performed on him in May. Bucannon originally suffered the injury last December, causing him to miss the final three games of 2016 as well.
Dansby and Reddick have been outstanding as the stand-ins. Through three games, Dansby is second on the team in tackles with 21. Reddick, the Cards’ first-round draft pick for this year, has made 16 stops.
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Will Bucannon have trouble regaining his playing time? Not likely. Reddick the rookie will still receive ample snaps, but is almost certain to slide into a backup role.
Whatever the roles of the three inside ‘backers, the Cardinals can expect production from whoever’s on the field. Divvying up playing time for the trio is a good “problem” for defensive coordinator James Bettcher to have. Perhaps the young assistant can even devise a scheme that can get all three onto the field at the same time.
Expect Bucannon to be worked back into the defense slowly at first. Arizona’s coaching staff can afford to do so thanks to the strong play of the others. But when Bucannon is back at full-speed, whatever opponents remain on the Cards’ schedule can expect to feel his wrath.