The Arizona Cardinals have eight names the first week of their newest coaching search.
So, what does the list look like?
- Vance Joseph, DC – Denver Broncos
- Anthony Weaver, DC – Miami Dolphins
- Robert Saleh, DC – San Francisco 49ers
- Klint Kubiak, OC – Seattle Seahawks
- Thomas Brown, Passing game coordinator – New England Patriots
- Matt Nagy, OC/QB Coach – Kansas City Chiefs
- Raheem Morris, former HC – Atlanta Falcons
- Jeff Hafley, DC – Green Bay Packers
So, if you want to “rank” the coaching candidates for the Arizona Cardinals here is
how I would rank them.
Homerun Hire
Klint Kubiak – The current offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks would give the Cardinals a young, innovative offensive coach that has rehabbed quarterbacks before. His work with Sam Darnold in San Francisco, then what he is doing now. He would be able to create an offense that runs a heavy outside zone, with some counter work, then hit a great passing situation.
Best Retread Hire
Robert Saleh – The only big issue is that hiring Saleh would be very reminiscent of the situation he came into with the New York Jets. Saleh has a great reputation of leading defenses, has done a good job with a terrible situation with the Niners this year where they are down every big name player on defense (hello Cardinals) and he has a nice rolodex of coaches to pull from.
Could Help the Arizona Cardinals
Vance Joseph – Joseph would be on his second go around as a head coach, and the second go around with the Arizona Cardinals. Joseph’s Denver Broncos defense is among the best in the NFL, and the last two seasons has shown he can coach defense.
Matt Nagy – Nagy isn’t a sexy hire, but he won a lot of games for a bad Chicago Bears franchise, and if the Cardinals decided to grab a quarterback in this draft, he has proven to get them to be serviceable. Maybe not great, but good enough. He could get the Cardinals to the point of being continually mediocre. This may not excite, but it is better than what the Cardinals normally are. Also, did you know he is only 47 years old! That is insane to me.
Raheem Morris – Morris is like Nagy and Vance combined. You have a dude who gets you to average, who can coach good defense, but also has never won/been to the playoffs. Yet, he would give the Cardinals a steady hand and leader who commands respect and has done good with average teams.
More questions than answers, the Arizona Cardinals style
Anthony Weaver – Weaver has coached defense as a coordinator for three seasons, one bad one with the Houston Texans, one great one with the Miami Dolphins, and one bad one with the Dolphins. He doesn’t have the rolodex of hires, and he hasn’t had a ton of success, but he is charismatic and on the rise, so maybe the Cardinals need to get in before he hits the big time.
Thomas Brown – He has gotten progressively better working with young quarterbacks. Terrible with Bryce Young, not bad with Caleb Williams, helped turn Drake Maye into a superstar. However, he is young, up and coming and has worked with Mike Vrabel and Sean McVay so maybe he has some names he can pull from.
Jeff Hafley – One great year as a defensive coordinator, one decent year as a defensive coordinator has Hafley on the list. Why here and not above? No head coaching experience in the NFL, average head coach in college, and bouncing back and forth between the NFL and college begs the question of who he can bring in on a coaching staff.
If you notice, the three names in the final category is less about their ability to coach and more about their ability to bring in coaches.
How would you rank the ones that they have reached out to?
