Notable Changes In The Cardinals Coaching Staff

Zach RosenthalMay 28, 2009

Cardinals Defensive Coordinator Bill Davis has come full circle.

His career as an NFL defensive assistant has landed him with eight different NFL organizations.

In Carolina, he helped develop Kevin Greene and Lamar Lathon while the Panthers came to within one game of the Super Bowl in 1995.

In Atlanta, he oversaw the linebacking corps under Dan Reeves and Wade Phillips. His success was evident, as Keith Brooking went to the Pro Bowl in each of the three years Davis spent there.

And just two seasons ago in Arizona, all three of the Cardinals starting linebackers, Karlos Dansby, Calvin Pace and Gerald Hayes, amassed over 100 tackles on the season.

His efforts were rewarded during the offseason, as Davis was named the team's new Defensive Coordinator, replacing Clancy Pendergast, who was fired shortly after the team's 27-23 loss to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl 43.

While Davis's track record as a linebackers coach is impressive, his brief stint as a defensive coordinator is not so impressive. In San Francisco, the 49ers allowed 428 points in 2005, and 412 in 2006.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who also takes over the team's play calling duties for the departed Todd Haley, is comfortable with Davis commanding the defense as the Cardinals move closer to an exclusively 3-4 defensive scheme.

Davis will have far superior personnel in Arizona to the group he had with the 49ers.

He will also have coaching stability within the rest of the defensive staff. Defensive line coach Ron Aiken and secondary coach Teryl Austin return for their third seasons with the club.

Matt Raich takes over for Davis as the linebackers coach. Raich was a defensive assistant a season ago.

The offense saw more changes. The team will not have an offensive coordinator.

Chris Miller takes over as the new quarterbacks coach. He was a Pro-Bowl quarterback with the Falcons in 1991.