Cardinals reportedly moving on from DL coach Derrick LeBlanc
The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly moving on from defensive line coach Derrick LeBlanc after two seasons with the organization.
Watch: Breaking down the Arizona Cardinals' running back room and preseason offense | 9 mins
The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly moving on from defensive line coach Derrick LeBlanc, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson.
LeBlanc was among the many new faces that came aboard in 2023 under the new leadership of general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon.
The coach was up against this past year with starters Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols going down with season-ending injuries in addition to rookie Darius Robinson’s slow roll due to a calf injury and the death of his mother.
Despite the injury issues up front, Arizona’s defensive line improved towards the back half of the season. A lot of that can be credited to Dante Stills, who finished the season with 4.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble. He was also the only Cardinals defensive tackle to crack the top 10 for run stop win rates at 38%.
Veteran L.J. Collier in a bounce-back year wasn’t too far behind Stills with 3.5 sacks and four tackles for loss. Roy Lopez also brought stability along the interior line, while Robinson got his feet wet in a six-game sample size.
But even with the improvement over the latter half of the year, the Cardinals still landed 20th in run stop win rate (30%) and 28th in pass rush win rate (33%).
Of the upgrades needed this offseason, defensive line and pass rusher are right up there at the top of the list.
Derrick LeBlanc the latest Cardinals assistant coaching departure
In addition to Arizona moving on from LeBlanc, the team will also need a new inside linebackers coach after Sam Siefkes was named Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator on Monday.
They aren’t the only Cardinals assistants mentioned this hiring cycle, either. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing interviewed for the Chicago Bears’ open head-coaching job before the team landed on Ben Johnson.
The Bears also requested an interview with Cardinals quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork for their then-open offensive coordinator role.
Offensive line coach Klayton Adams is also getting interest for the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator job under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Related
Virginia Tech hires Cardinals assistant for open DC job
Another Cardinals coach is gaining interest this hiring cycle, this time from the Cowboys
Cardinals assistants coaching, ASU and Arizona prospects playing in Shrine, Senior bowls
Report: Bears request to interview Cardinals QB coach Israel Woolfork for OC opening
Cardinals' youth movement could really pay off in 2025
Say what now? Hjalte Froholdt’s 1-of-a-kind way to describe Cardinals’ QB play
Comments
3 Comments
I hope he lands on a team with a lot more DL players with NFL talent.
Kenny Dillingham said it best at a recent post season news conference, "I am nothing without a Quarterback. Truer words ever spoken. And by the way, Kliff Kingsbury had nothing to be ashamed about either his preparation or playcalling. He has done a phenomenal job this season with Jayden Daniels and the entire Commanders Offense. Going up against the best defense in the 2024 NFL, Kingsbury kept his team in the game up to Halftime. In the second half, the wheels came off, and the Washington offense quickly became one dimensional. Kingsbury is going to be just fine as OC for the Commanders in the short term. In Daniels, he has the chance to develop Daniels as "the next Patrick Mahomes."
Revolving door of college and NFL. Seattle made a huge mistake firing Pete Carroll. As a fan of AZ, am optimistic. At same time know young head coaches get out coached by those with lots of experience. I remember Andy Reid coaching at NAU, along with Brad Childress. Their impact was immediate. And yet look at the years it took Reid to get to top. Have to pay the dues in NFL, no guarantees though at the end, without the right mixture of talent, drafts, luck, etc. awfully tough to win. I think Gannon can get to 10 wins with the 2025 schedule. And by the way, Commanders lost because Kingsbury did not adjust at half time. Did not pay his dues. And neither did Gannon for that matter, but he improved Murray in 2024. Pete Carroll paid his dues, it shows. Go Cardinals!