• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Phoenix Sports Today

Phoenix Sports News Continuously Updated

  • Cardinals
  • Diamondbacks
  • Coyotes
  • Basketball
    • Mercury
    • Suns
  • Soccer
  • Colleges
    • Arizona State
    • Grand Canyon University
    • Northern Arizona
    • University of Arizona

Cardinals’ Vance Joseph gives Isaiah Simmons new position: ‘star backer’

July 31, 2022 by ArizonaSports.com - 98.7 FM

GLENDALE — It’s the question that’s been asked since the Arizona Cardinals drafted him No. 8 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft: What position will Isaiah Simmons play?

Linebacker? Safety? A hybrid of both?

Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph on Saturday called the third-year pro a “star backer,” meaning he is capable of playing at multiple spots such as linebacker, safety and dime depending on the scheme and game plan for that particular week.

“He’s playing well, but we’ll see,” Joseph said. “That’s what camp is for — to kind of figure out how far we can go with him playing certain spots. So right now, we’re just reaching for the stars and hope it’s good enough.”

RELATED STORIES
  • Kingsbury: ‘It makes no sense’ for Hopkins to be full throttle at end of camp

  • No more homework (clause): Kyler Murray’s role ‘defined,’ Kingsbury says

  • Cardinals C Rodney Hudson focused on family, body during absence

  • J.J. Watt is a huge fan of his ‘beehive’ helmet cover (don’t fine him)

  • Arizona Cardinals still eyeing the cornerback market

“In this scheme, it can be a lot of places. … We’ll see,” Joseph added. “It depends on a game plan.”

The 6-foot-4, 238-pound Simmons was technically used predominantly as a linebacker during open practice on Saturday, the first in which Cardinals fans could watch in attendance at State Farm Stadium.

However, Simmons’ athleticism in the slot allows Joseph to play his base 4-3 scheme even when the offense is in three- and four-receiver sets without having to sacrifice a linebacker for a cornerback on the field.

During Saturday’s practice, for example, Joseph was able to use a base 4-3 formation against the Cardinals’ first-team offense in a three-receiver set while keeping two high safeties because Simmons has the athletic ability to keep up stride for stride with slot wide receivers — unlike most linebackers.

Joseph compared Simmons to former NFL safety Taylor Mays, who the current Cardinals DC coached during his time with the San Francisco 49ers (2010) and Cincinnati Bengals (2014).

“They’re very similar. They’re not quite backers, not quite safeties,” Joseph said. “They’re kind of star players — big, fast guys who can cover, play half, who can blitz. … (Simmons) is special because he can do things that other guys can’t do as far as covering.

“He’s a big man who can tackle, run and chase, he can blitz, he could play that edge. But also he’s covered guys in the slot like CeeDee Lamb and those guys and he likes it. That’s different from most linebackers.”

Joseph hopes that opposing offenses will have to game plan around Simmons, but the defensive coordinator also realizes that it’s entirely possible to ask too much of a single player.

“Practice as you install and game plans are so different. Game plans are tight,” Joseph said. “Installs in practice get to be much. Right now we’ve got four installs and everything’s in right now.

“It’s a lot of defense in five days, but games are really tight. It’s first-, second-down packages — eight, nine calls. Third down — four, five calls and red zone. So games are really easier than practice.”

Joseph said that Simmons’ numbers were “off the charts” last season, but did add that he gave up too many plays and the next evolution in his development will be limiting those.

“I think Isaiah is on his way to being a great player,” Joseph said. “He still has to obviously keep honing his skills and keep growing his football IQ.”

Follow @jwa1994

Filed Under: Cardinals

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • GM Brian Gregory on Devin Booker’s contract extension: He is the embodiment of the Phoenix Suns
  • Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #93: 7/10 @ Padres
  • Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #93: 7/10 @ Padres
  • Are the Suns stuck in the Western Conference?
  • GM Brian Gregory on Devin Booker’s contract extension: He is the embodiment of the Phoenix Suns

Categories

Archives

Our Partners

All Sports

  • 247 Sports
  • ArizonaSports.com - 98.7 FM
  • Bleacher Report
  • Heat Waved
  • OurSports Central
  • The Arizona Republic
  • The Sports Fan Journal
  • USA Today

Baseball

  • Arizona Diamondbacks
  • AZ Snake Pit
  • Last Word On Baseball
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Venom Strikes

Basketball

  • Phoenix Suns
  • Amico Hoops
  • Basketball Insiders
  • Bright Side Of The Sun
  • High Post Hoops
  • Hoops Hype
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball
  • Pro Basketball Talk
  • Real GM
  • Valley Of The Suns

Football

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Cardinals Gab
  • Cards Wire
  • Deep Dive
  • Last Word On Pro Football
  • NFL Trade Rumors
  • Our Turf Football
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Football Talk
  • Raising Zona
  • Revenge Of The Birds
  • Words From The Birds

Hockey

  • Elite Prospects
  • Five For Howling
  • Howlin Hockey
  • Last Word On Hockey
  • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Talk
  • The Hockey Writers

Soccer

  • Last Word on Soccer
  • MLS Multiplex

College

  • AZ Desert Swarm
  • Busting Brackets
  • College Football News
  • College Sports Madness
  • Devils In Detail
  • House Of Sparky
  • Last Word On College Basketball - Univ of Arizona
  • Saturday Blitz
  • Zags Blog
  • Zona Zealots

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in