ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals’ Isaiah Simmons exerting his leadership qualities early on in Year 3

Jun 18, 2022, 11:05 AM

Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons (9) runs onto the field prior to an NFL football...

Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons (9) runs onto the field prior to an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, December 19, 2021. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

(Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

TEMPE — After showing off his raw abilities in Year 1, Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons turned in a much-improved sophomore season.

Starting every game in 2021, Simmons was third on the team in tackles (105) and tied for second in passes defensed (seven) and forced fumbles (four).

His name was more times than not all over the stat sheet.

And while there are still some inconsistencies to iron out as he enters his third season, Simmons is also striving to evolve his NFL game in another facet.

Simmons’ career expectation for himself is to be the best player to grace the league. Adding a leadership role to the NFL resume never hurts.

“I definitely want to exert myself more as a leader because that’s just who I’ve been,” Simmons said Tuesday. “I don’t really have a problem with saying something to anyone because at the end of the day, I’m not really here to be anybody’s friend. We’re all trying to get to the Lombardi Trophy.

“If you don’t like what I’m saying, then you’re probably in it for the wrong reasons, because I’m not saying anything to hurt anyone’s, or to call anyone out, it’s just all for the better of us. And the thing is when I’m saying this, I want people to say the same things back to me or else … we’re not in it for the right reasons.”

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury has seen Simmons’ comfortability in the defense improve as he fine-tunes his craft this offseason. The linebacker will be the first to tell you everything’s slowed down for him.

But it’s not just about the Simmons’ improvement this offseason, it’s about the team as a whole in his eyes, a common leadership trait.

It’s nature for Simmons, who was a leader on defense during his college days at Clemson.

He doesn’t see why he can’t be in Arizona.

And coming with that territory is not being afraid to speak up to young players like second-year pro Zaven Collins or veterans like J.J. Watt — someone Kingsbury still doesn’t say anything to — when it asks for it.

“We butt heads a little but it’s because I want J.J. to be better than he’s ever been, which that’s a lot to say. Especially to a Defensive Player of the Year, that’s a lot to say,” Simmons said. “J.J., he’s my biggest critic, but he wants me to be the absolute best I can. If it’s J.J. telling me something that I don’t want to hear, which he knows I don’t want to hear, he’s going to have no issues and he’s going to tell me.

“Also, I feel like he would want me to do it vice versa. Being able to get after him, knowing we can get after each other, all with the same end goal. That’s the type of guys you want to have on your team and not guys that just let things slide by.”

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Arizona Cardinals CB Byron Murphy attempts a pass during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins warms up ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray jokes around ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray jokes around ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals S Tae Daley catches a pass during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Greg Dortch catches a pass during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Antoine Wesley looks on during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker catches a pass during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Rondale Moore runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Christian Matthew catches a pass during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Rondale Moore runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Christian Blake runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Marquise Brown looks on during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Marquise Brown looks on during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Colt McCoy jokes around ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Leki Fotu runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Rashard Lawrence runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Michael Dogbe runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Marco Wilson runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Marco Wilson runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Antonio Hamilton runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Marco Wilson runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Breon Borders runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CBs Breon Borders (21) and Byron Murphy (7) run through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CBs Antonio Hamilton (33) and Jace Whittaker (39) run through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Byron Murphy runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Antonio Hamilton looks on during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Christian Matthew runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Byron Murphy runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

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