Hiring DeMeco Ryans would be just another Arizona Cardinals mistake
By Jim Koch
The Arizona Cardinals would contribute to the regression of Kyler Murray by hiring a defensive-minded coach like DeMeco Ryans.
It was reported this past Thursday that the Arizona Cardinals are looking to interview San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans for their vacant head-coaching position. The 38-year-old Ryans became one of the hottest names on the market after presiding over the NFL’s top-ranked defense this past season.
At the current time, it would be a disastrous move by the Cardinals to hire a candidate like Ryans. Quarterback Kyler Murray regressed (at least in the win column) in 2022, and any future success that the organization may experience depends heavily on straightening out the erratic signal-caller. Unfortunately, Arizona is basically stuck with Murray after they handed him a $230.5 million contract-extension last summer.
Due to the fact that Murray is going nowhere in the near future, it would behoove the Redbirds to bring in a head coach who can get the 25-year-old signal-caller back on track. First-rate candidates like Sean Payton or Jim Harbaugh have what it takes to accomplish such a feat. It would be foolish to think that a former professional linebacker like Ryans would be able to get Murray and the rest of the offense’s play back to an elite level.
Arizona Cardinals need a head coach who can attract quality assistants
Obviously, Ryans would drop that enormous responsibility on whatever offensive coordinator and quarterback coach he would add to his staff. But with just five years of coaching experience under his belt, would Ryans succeed in bringing quality assistants with him to the Cardinals?
It was the exact opposite back in 2013, when the vastly-experienced Bruce Arians surrounded himself with a bevy of top-notch assistant coaches. As an NFL “lifer”, Arians was able to assemble an impressive staff from the countless contacts he had made since he first came to the league back in 1989. It’s almost a certainty that Ryans would have a disadvantage in that particular area.
light. Related Story. Cardinals coaching job may be unattractive
While Ryans could have the qualifications to be an attractive possibility for some teams, the Cards certainly aren’t one of them. Murray, at this point, needs to be resurrected from the ashes. With that goal in mind, Bidwill must acquire an offensive genius like Payton or Harbaugh, and leave a defensive option like Ryans for another coach-needy franchise.
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