Kliff Kingsbury, Joseph welcome Michael Bidwill’s film-watching ways

TEMPE — Arizona Cardinals fans and a majority of those who cover the team learned something for the first time on Wednesday: owner Michael Bidwill has a weekly film appointment with head coach Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

News to us, but not new to the trio — outside of the regular occurrence.

Last year, the three met early on in the season, but the tape watching petered off as 2021 progressed, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said Thursday.

Not only does it provide Bidwill a closer look into the Xs and Os of his football team, it gives Kingsbury and Joseph an opportunity to inform the owner of the hows and whys of specific instances — clips of game-changing, crucial plays — in a given matchup.

“He has a great understanding of what we’re trying to do and where we’re falling short,” Kingsbury said Wednesday. “We take ownership for what we need to take ownership for and say what we’re going to do moving forward. The communication has been clear and everybody’s been great.”

“You watch young guys get better each week also,” Joseph added Thursday. “It’s (Bidwill’s) players, that’s his biggest asset as an owner of an NFL team. Watching young players get better each week, that’s fun to talk about and just the plan moving forward. It’s good to have this communication once a week with the owner.”

While some may view this as Kingsbury and Joseph further under the microscope with the team sitting at 3-6 and wiggle room nearly nonexistent at this point, it’s nothing out of the normal for Joseph.

Over the course of the defensive coordinator’s coaching career, Joseph has seen the owner take a more hands-on approach in the film room.

And when it comes down to it, why shouldn’t the owner be involved in that manner? Wouldn’t you want to know some of the minute details that go into your team on the regular?

“I think it should be a (normal thing) because you don’t want any surprises,” Joseph said. “You want to all be on the same page weekly. That makes it work. It’s a good thing that we meet with Michael once a week and explain where this team’s going.”

“It’s honest conversations. It’s good for all parties involved in my opinion. … That just keeps the communication clear on where we are as a team and where we’re going each week. It’s a good session.”

Related

Arizona Cardinals release defensive end Michael DogbeHard Knocks with Hard Rock: Wolf & Luke tackle 1st impression of CardinalsCardinals' season hangs on what Arizona team shows up vs. RamsCardinals-Rams injury report: Kyler Murray a game-time decision, Budda Baker questionableArizona Cardinals place starting G Will Hernandez on IR, claim OL DavisCardinals’ young talent ranks middle of NFL in ESPN data breakdown