The Arizona Cardinals have made a change defensively. Linebacker Haason Reddick, who for several weeks was playing 100 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, has seen a reduction in playing time the last couple of weeks. That is because he has seen his role reduced.
He hasn’t been benched, but he has been demoted. Reddick has been replaced by Joe Walker in base defenses.
It began in Week 7 against the New York Giants, although it was barely noticed. Reddick played 64 defensive snaps and Walker only seven. The Cardinals played in their base defense only seven snaps that week.
It was much more noticeable in Week 8. Walker played 40 snaps against the New Orleans Saints and Reddick played 36.
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph explained the move to reporters on Tuesday.
“I think we’re doing the best for our defense,” he said. “I think Joe Walker, right now, has earned the right to play the base downs and Hasson, right now, is better at playing the sub downs.”
It continues to be about what Reddick can’t do still in the league. He did not play linebacker in college and has had struggles in some facets of the transition. There are things he does well.
“In sub, his ability to cover tight ends and to run and hit in the blitz, we can use his natural traits,” Joseph said.
However, when it comes to run defense, Reddick lacks the experience in handling misdirection and things opposing offenses do to get defenses out of position.
“Joe Walker has played inside backer longer than Haason Reddick has, so in the base downs we’re playing Joe more because of his experience with seeing the jets and the motions and the crosses and those things,” Joseph said. “We’re just doing the best for both guys and help our team.”
In the team’s next game on Thursday against the San Francisco 49ers, we can expect to see a lot of Walker and less Reddick. The Niners run a lot of formations with two running backs and a tight end. They use motions before the snap.
Reddick still has an important role but it is disappointing that he still cannot be trusted to do certain things. He has been dealt a tough hand in the league, having had three defensive systems in three seasons.
But this is not what we all wanted to see from the former 13th overall pick in the 2017 draft.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
