Cory Redding brings leadership to Arizona Cardinals defense

The Arizona Cardinals took a big loss on the field and in the locker room when 11-year veteran Darnell Dockett signed with the San Francisco 49ers after being released by the team.

Dockett, a 3-time Pro Bowler at defensive tackle, was a captain on defense and one of the vocal leaders on the team.

Luckily, a defesnive tackle that doubles as a respected veteran voice in the locker room was on the free agent market this past offseason.

That guy is former Cory Redding, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, and he was on the Burns & Gambo show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Monday to discuss his role.

“I’m playing whatever they want we to play,” Redding said. “It’s not (Dockett’s) role or anything, wherever they want to line me up is where I am going to play.”

Redding spent the first six years of his career with the Detroit Lions before going to Seattle for a year, then spent two in Baltimore. He played his last three years with the Colts and started all 16 games with the team last year for the first time since 2007 with Detroit.

The 6-foot-4, 318-pound tackle should be able to replace Dockett almost seamlessly, especially considering that Dockett wasn’t even on the field last year due to tearing his ACL in camp.

Along with providing strong on-field production year in and year out, Redding is excited to bring his leadership to the defense.

“That is who I am automatically from day one,” Redding said on being a leader. “Right now, I am getting a good feel for my teammates. I want to listen and learn everyone first before I start talking and being who I am.

“People react differently to how you approach them. Some are passive-aggressive, some guys you have to sit down and have a heart-to-heart, some guys you can walk up to and tell them and other guys in passing. I try to learn all my teammates and when training camp is over, and we have our 53, then I start doing my thing. I’m starting to lead, being vocal and lead in the front, lead in the back when I need to be and push guys forward. That is who I am.”

Being a leader is something Redding has been doing since grade school, and it could be key for a defense that is still fairly young.

“Every day since I put on the pads in 7th grade I have been that guy in the middle, been that guy behind the scenes helping out guys from all aspects,” Redding added. “From the janitors to the cafeteria folks to the equipment guys to the head coach, everybody needs motivation and everybody needs encouraging words.”