Cardinals Tab Vance Joseph as Defensive Coordinator

The Arizona Cardinals have hired former Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Steve Keim said on Monday at Kliff Kingsbury’s introductory press conference the ideal candidate for the defensive coordinator position would have head coaching experience. In two years with the Broncos, Joseph had an 11-21 record. 

https://www.sports360az.com/2019/01/kliff-notes-new-cards-coach-ready-to-get-to-work/

The Cardinals defense will look to not only regain their 2017 form but hope Joseph can recapture the Broncos’ defensive output from that year as well. Two years ago, the Broncos gave up the third least yards per game (290 YPG), were 4th in passing yards allowed per game (200.6 YPG), 5th in rushing yards allowed per game (89.8). The Broncos were rtied for 22nd in the league in points allowed at 23.9 points per contest.

In 2018, like the Cardinals, Denver’s defense regressed from a top-five defense to the bottom third of the league. They had the 22nd best yards allowed per game, were ranked 20th in passing yards allowed and 21st in rushing yards per game. They were ranked 13th in the league in points allowed.

Prior to Denver, Joseph was the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins for one season. The Fins went 10-6 and made the postseasn before being knocked out in the Wildcard round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Additionally, the Cardinals will bring back Bill Davis as the team’s linebackers coach. Davis was the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator in 2009-10 and was most recently the linebackers coach for Ohio State.