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Defensive coordinator a perfect fit for Arizona Cardinals

By Jim Koch

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos works on the sideline int he first half of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos works on the sideline int he first half of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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New coordinator Vance Joseph will bring a 3-4 defensive alignment back to an Arizona Cardinals squad that will welcome it

The Arizona Cardinals’ front office did what they said they were going to do. This past Wednesday, general manager Steve Keim stated that the club would be searching for a defensive boss who preferred a 3-4 alignment. On Friday, the Cards got their man.

Vance Joseph has been hired by Arizona to be their new defensive coordinator. The former head coach of the Denver Broncos will be asked to clean up the mess that the previous coaching staff left behind. Former coach Steve Wilks and his protege, Al Holcomb, insisted on forcing their 4-3 scheme onto a unit that was ill-equipped to execute it.

Finding someone who’d implement a 3-4 wasn’t the only qualification that Keim was looking for in the next coordinator. Seeking out an individual with experience was important as well. In Joseph, the Cardinals’ GM found an assistant who checked both boxes.

The 46-year old’s first job in the pros was as a defensive backs coach with the San Francisco 49ers, a post he held for six seasons (2005-10). Joseph held the same title for three campaigns with the Houston Texans (2011-13), and for two more with the Cincinnati Bengals (2014-15). The University of Colorado product finally received a promotion in 2016, when he was named the defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins.

Joseph was announced as the new head coach of the Broncos on January 11, 2017. Unfortunately, the experience was a failure. Joseph compiled a disappointing 11-21 regular-season record during his two years with Denver, leading to his dismissal this past New Year’s Eve.

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Joseph will be inheriting some talented performers in the desert, a group that includes Patrick Peterson, Chandler Jones, Budda Baker and Haason Reddick. The Cards defense should not have played as poorly as it did last year. Joseph has arrived to prevent that from happening again.

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