Via Eric D. Williams
FOX Sports NFC West Writer
To frontline players like Chandler Jones and Jordan Hicks no longer on the list, it’s time The Arizona Cardinals players do everything Isaiah Simmons to take on more leadership roles this season.
To help in that effort, defense coordinator Vance Joseph anointed Simmons who called the defense game, starting with a Week 1 contest against Patrick Mahomes and Chief of Kansas City in the desert this Sunday.
“I love it,” Simmons told reporters last week. “I got to hear the play first, so I can’t forget it (laughs). I don’t have to worry about not hearing calls from anyone or anything like that. And so far, I feels like in the past we’ve had a number of times where the guys didn’t get the call.
“I realize the stress of calling everyone, especially in the far corner. I feel like ever since I started calling it, we’ve been able to call out and line up.”
This is the first time Simmons has worn the green dot on his helmet as a defensive caller in an NFL regular season game. Simmons, 24, said he understood it would add stress to hearing Joseph’s voice throughout the entire match, but he was up for the challenge.
“VJ (Joseph) pulled me aside, and he said, ‘Everything I say into that mic, I need you to tell people,'” Simmons said. “And sometimes he talks the whole time. And I’m there like, ‘Oh my God, are you serious?’ But it’s all for the good. These are important things. I understand if he said that to me, it’s important to everyone.”
The eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft apart from Clemson is one of the most impressive runners in his draft class, running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and posting a vertical jump. 39 inches at 6 foot-4 and 238 pounds during the NFL Scouting Combine.
Last season, the Cardinals finally turned the sport into consistent success on the field. Simmons starts all 17 games in 2021, totaling 102 tackles, including four tackles lost, four slick catches, 1.5 covers, one interception and seven clearances. shadow.
Joseph used Simmons throughout the field. According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons lined up 587 times in the box as a defender, 233 catches in a defensive midfield position, 161 opportunists, 22 corner catches and two catches. ball in safe position for free.
Joseph hopes a move to a “star” position – a hybrid defender/safety role – will unlock even more potential for Simmons.
“Isaiah is on his way to becoming a great player,” said Joseph. “He has to keep honing his skills and keep growing his footballing intelligence. …He’s played a lot – his numbers were off the charts last year. Now, he dropped too many plays in my opinion last year. He knows it. So it’s the next level. To do his plays and not give up. quit the plays.”
Joseph intended to use Simmons similar to how LA Rams use Jalen Ramsey and LA charger use Derwin James. Both act as defensive callers and play as the “stars” for their respective defences in 2021.
Like Simmons, both Ramsey and James are long-legged, versatile athletes.
Joseph said: “A ‘star’ streetwalker is a guy who plays a little back, a little bit of safety, a little bit of coin. “In this formation it can have a lot of places.… They are the ‘star’ players. Big guys, quick, can cover, play the second half (half-field safety) and quick.
“He’s special because he can do everything in range. He’s a big man, he can block. He can run and chase. He can blink. He can play on the sidelines. Also, he is protected by people in positions like CeeDee Lamb and those guys. And he loves it. That’s different from most sponsors. “
Simmons and the Cardinals will have their full hands to stop Kansas City’s explosive offensive behavior, led by Mahomes and close to the end. Travis Kelce. The Cardinals hosted teams that hit just 214.4 yards of passing in a competition last season, placing 7th in the NFL.
However, they lost one of their best passers in Jones to the hands Las Vegas Raiders in free agent. Jones finished last season with 10.5 sacks. And last year’s defensive caller Hicks, second on the team with 116 aggregate tackles, is now Minnesota Vikings.
Simmons believes he can continue the decline with veteran players no longer on the roster.
“I feel like I’m getting back in place – or working my way back to where I was at Clemson – which is a really nice thing,” Simmons said. “Just knowing that I can be there to help people, it really helps me because the more questions they ask me, the more focused I am on the game.
“And thinking about things that might involve a corner, or an ending, or an outside guard. So just being the guy that people can turn to is very helpful. I still ask. Budda (Baker .)) one million questions per day. Just understand that I’m someone else’s friend, I just want to help. “
Eric D. Williams is an NFL writer for FOX Sports. He has covered the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @eric_d_williams.
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