Questions still loom for Arizona Cardinals defense

As 2020 training camp begins for NFL clubs, the Arizona Cardinals have garnered some much deserved attention to make a run. Their defense, however, could prove to be the Achilles’ heel.

A once feared and respected unit, the Arizona Cardinals defense over the last few years have been more of a pushover, than the bullies of before. In the years preceding Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Wilks, the defensive unit was the backbone and strength of the team. The past two seasons, they’re producing more headaches than stops on third down.

In Bruce Arians’ five years as the Cards head coach, and under the direction of former coordinators Todd Bowles and James Bettcher, the Cardinals’ defense found themselves in the top-10 of NFL defenses four times. They were a top-5 unit twice; second overall in 2016.

Since, they’ve finished 20th overall and last the previous two years, respectively. Two regime and scheme changes could be a contributing factor, but it’s not up the standards of what the Cardinals are used to from the defensive side of the ball.

Kingsbury’s offense made significant strides in his initial season, and with the acquisition of perhaps the best WR in the NFL in DeAndre Hopkins, there aren’t many question marks for the offense. The biggest questions remain with Vance Joseph and his players.

With the offense all but taken care of, General Manager Steve Keim used the pandemic-struck 2020 offseason to address those concerns on defense.

He started by signing veteran free agents, Jordan Phillips (DT), Devon Kennard (OLB), and De’Vondre Campbell (OLB). Then, with his first-round pick, he took the freak defensive athlete Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson.

The latter should be a day one starter and alleviate the concern of opposing tight ends having career days against the Cardinals. Simmons can be a dynamic player, anywhere you plug him in, and the defense will only benefit from that as the year progresses.

Another positive to lean on is the nucleus of established players. They have perhaps the best pass rusher in Chandler Jones, who notched 19.5 sacks in 2019. Jordan Hicks, who collected a team-high 149 tackles and 3 interceptions. And do-it-all Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker, who plays much bigger than he is and flies all over the field.

The good thing about being dead last in defense is this unit can only improve from here. And once they begin to fire on all cylinders, they’ll be in place to run the table in the vaunted NFC West.