New Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has been on the staff of a number of teams and has worked with a number of coaches. However, almost all of them have one main connection — Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator and longtime NFL coach Wade Phillips.
Joseph’s number one influence on his defensive style and scheme is Phillips, he revealed last week on the Big Red Rage, the Cardinals’ weekly radio show.
“Everybody I’ve been with on defense in this league has come through Wade,” he said, citing the defensive coordinators he had with the San Francisco 49ers in Mike Nolan, Billy Davis — who is now the linebackers coach for Arizona on Joseph’s defensive staff, and Greg Manusky.
He even worked directly with Phillips with the Houston Texans from 2011-2014.
It wasn’t until he joined the defensive staff of the Cincinnati Bengals under Mike Zimmer, that he worked in a 4-3 under another influence.
“I’ve had the pleasure of being around some of the greatest,” he said, referring to both Phillips and Zimmer as “great defensive minds.”
Joseph says he is “a combination of Mike and Wade” in his defensive style.
Phillips and Zimmer are two of the most successful defensive coaches of this generation, with both dating back years.
The Cardinals can only hope to see Joseph experience some of the same success as he tries to turn the Cardinals defense around.
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