Ron Rivera should be Arizona Cardinals next defensive boss

The former Carolina Panthers head coach would be an excellent candidate for the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator job

One of the most unpopular figures on the Arizona Cardinals message boards these days is Vance Joseph. In his first year with the club, the squad’s defensive coordinator has been an unmitigated disaster. Despite a mind-boggling vote of confidence from head coach Kliff Kingsbury on Monday, it’s almost a certainty that Joseph’s days with the Cards are numbered.

Now that an intriguing candidate has suddenly emerged for Joseph’s job, it may behoove the Cardinals to cut ties with the beleaguered assistant immediately. Tuesday’s firing of Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera should have general manager Steve Keim racing to the telephone. The defensive specialist would be a fantastic choice to take over as the leader of Arizona’s unit, and there’s no better time than the present to make that move.

Enough is enough with Joseph. The Cards are currently ranked dead-last in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. Joseph is the architect of a group that is giving up 426.3 yards and a whopping 29.2 points per game.

Rivera, on the other hand, could be just what the doctor has ordered for the Cardinals. “Riverboat Ron” found success as the defensive leader of the Chicago Bears, guiding a crew that was ranked number-two in the entire league in 2005. In 2006, the Bears allowed the fewest points in the NFC with Rivera at the helm.

The 57-year old’s accomplishments in the “Windy City” earned him head-coaching consideration. Arizona was one of several clubs to interview the hot assistant for their vacant position back in 2007, but Ken Whisenhunt ultimately got the gig. Rivera would go on to coordinate the San Diego Chargers defense for three campaigns (2008-10), before getting his shot as the head man for Carolina in 2011.

Keim needs to strike while the iron is hot. Joseph has worn out his welcome, and it’s time for the Cards to acquire someone who can get the job done. Bring in Rivera this week, and let the new coordinator begin to make his evaluations for 2020.