DAN BICKLEY

Vance Joseph’s defense continues to cost Cardinals in win column

Nov 18, 2019, 4:45 PM | Updated: Nov 19, 2019, 11:26 am

Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph of the Arizona Cardinals watches from the sidelines during the N...

Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph of the Arizona Cardinals watches from the sidelines during the NFL preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargersat State Farm Stadium on August 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Chargers 17-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Criticism is nothing new to Vance Joseph. He heard it all in Denver, where he was fired after two years as head coach, a failure and convenient scapegoat for a general manager who had left team precariously short on talent.

And here we go again.

Joseph is back on a hot seat after the Cardinals’ 36-26 loss to the 49ers Sunday in Santa Clara, the third time this season that his defense has coughed up a fourth-quarter lead. Had Joseph’s unit succeeded in closing down the Lions, Buccaneers and 49ers, the Cardinals would be 6-5 at the moment, in playoff contention.

Instead, Cardinals fans are wondering if Joseph is the encore to Mike McCoy, an underwhelming coordinator hired by Steve Keim to help out his rookie head coach on the other side of the ball. The comparisons are frightening.

Joseph’s secondary is too often out of place, looking for help, lost in the throes of confusion. His defense can’t stop tight ends or get off the field on third down. On a pivotal play against the 49ers, Cardinals fans watched in horror as Chandler Jones fell down trying to cover a streaking running back while teammates blitzed the 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Let’s pause for a moment.

The result of the play would’ve been exactly the same had Jones rushed the quarterback or dropped back in coverage. Either way, it would’ve been a touchdown, 49ers. It was the perfect play against a defense that had nobody protecting the middle of the field.

But the problem is philosophical. Jones is one of the best sack specialists in the NFL. Wasting him in pass coverage is not worth the deception or surprise. It’s derelict strategy, especially with the game on the line. And it speaks to a larger problem.

Professional coaches lose their authority and their impact in the locker room for two major reasons. They advocate a dead-end strategy that yields little success and inspires no one. Or they ask players to do things that put them at a disadvantage. Or ask for things a player can’t do.

That will cause eyes to roll behind a coach’s head. Eventually, that will turn to silent mutiny and half-baked effort. And any defensive coordinator that deploys Jones in high-leverage pass coverage assignments deserves to be criticized.

There are five games remaining in 2019, and it’s clear that Kingsbury is getting his first real taste of NFL injustice. He was effectively robbed by officials in that loss to Tampa. Another victory was squandered in northern California, and Kingsbury has been victimized by his defense on multiple occasions, a defense he’s delegated completely to Joseph.

In some ways, the defensive coordinator will be a test of new-regime loyalty. There was a time when Kingsbury seemed deeply appreciative of Joseph, who is affable, a strong communicator and posed no threat of dissent or undermining to the head coach.

Kingsbury has publicly thanked Joseph for serving as a sounding board early in his Arizona tenure, for answering the dumb questions that any first-year NFL head coach might have behind closed doors. Meanwhile, as late as mid-October, Joseph described his relationship with Kingsbury as “the perfect marriage.”

That was before the four-game losing streak. Before late touchdowns from the Buccaneers and the 49ers darkened the season and the narrative, overshadowing Kingsbury’s headset contributions in the past two games.

Remember, it was Kingsbury who was questioned for his strategy following earlier losses against the Saints and 49ers. The head coach responded brilliantly, with fire and innovation, only to have his defense fail him.

We’ll see what it means in the offseason. The more Kingsbury succeeds, the more power he attains, the more he will begin to bring in his own guys, handcrafting his own coaching staff. He might have that chance with his defensive coordinator in the offseason, if he pushes the issue.

After all, Kingsbury deserves better. He’s earning more autonomy. And chances are, the general manager who could use a scapegoat on defense. Along with a lot more talent.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@bonneville.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Array

Dan Bickley

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic drives against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) duri...

Dan Bickley

Luka Doncic trade proves again the Lakers are the luckiest franchise in sports history

The blockbuster Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade is not about the Lakers getting Luka. It’s about the Lakers getting lucky.

5 days ago

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia introduces the new Ring of Honor during the NBA game against the Utah...

Dan Bickley

Suns fans can both love a Jimmy Butler trade and hate everything it represents

I want Jimmy Butler with the Phoenix Suns. But I hate everything this trade saga represents.

9 days ago

Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Phoenix Suns watches the action during the first half against th...

Dan Bickley

Trade rumors provide both hope and harm for these Suns

The Suns are a .500 team. Mediocrity isn’t supposed to be this difficult. Or expensive. Changes are coming despite a three-game win streak.

25 days ago

Kyler Murray Cardinals Rams embracing Trey McBride after first touchdown...

Dan Bickley

Kyler Murray has one last dance with Cardinals after season of close calls

There are no better options for the Cardinals than Kyler Murray in 2025. The quarterback has one last dance in the Valley. For better or worse.

1 month ago

Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals runs the ball against D.J. Wonnum #98 of the Carolina Pant...

Dan Bickley

Shame on the Cardinals for being eliminated from the playoffs in the worst of ways

The Cardinals fumbled around and found out and were eliminated from playoff contention after an embarrassing loss in Carolina on Sunday.

2 months ago

Cam Skattebo Big 12 Championship ASU football...

Dan Bickley

We are witnessing an all-time Cinderella story with ASU football headed to College Football Playoff

An ominous beginning at the Big 12 championship was nothing but a speed bump. Cyclones? At this point, there is no force of nature strong enough to derail ASU football.

2 months ago

Vance Joseph’s defense continues to cost Cardinals in win column