For Arizona Cardinals, some coaching continuity important

Much of the staff has departed but it is reported that some Arizona Cardinals assistant coaches under Bruce Arians will stay

New Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks apparently knows the value of keeping good coaches.  Arizonasports.com reported that as many as five assistants under Bruce Arians could remain on Wilks staff.

While Wilks went and got new coordinators, he will keep several assistants.  They include linebackers coach Larry Foote, quarterbacks coach Byron Leftwich and assistant receivers coach Kevin Garver.

Keeping Leftwich and Garver could go a long way in keeping receiver Larry Fitzgerald for another year.  That part is pure speculation.  There has been no reports they are linked in anyway.

During the search for a new head coach, there was a thought from yours truly that keeping James Bettcher would help with continuity.  However it would seem Wilks is the right guy but he too sees there is a need for some continuity.

It would have been easy to completely clean house and replace every single assistant coach. However there were good coaches who deserve to continue on.

Of course the guys that Wilks brought in are very intriguing as well.  Fresh faces are needed just as much as maintaining some continuity.  Wilks deserves to bring in who he feels like gives the team the best chance to win going forward.

Wilks brought in Mike McCoy as his offensive coordinator, Al Holcomb as his defensive coordinator, and Jeff Rodgers as his special teams coordinator.  Maybe one of the more intriguing additions is in the secondary with Dave Merritt.

Merritt spent three seasons with the Cardinals as a player in the mid-90’s.  He had been with the New York Giants for the past 13 years.

Next: Arizona Cardinals still waiting on Fitz

One thing is for sure, it won’t be dull in Arizona.  The guys Wilks has assembled so far should create some energy and a strong willingness to improve from 8-8 and get back to the playoffs sooner rather than later.