James Bettcher Named Arizona Cardinals Defensive Coordinator

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians announced Monday that the solution to the team's defensive coordinator would be of the in-house variety. OLB coach James Bettcher has since been named defensive coordinator.  

Continue for updates.

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Bettcher Named Cardinals DC

Wednesday, Feb. 4

Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com reported Bettcher has been named defensive coordinator.

Urban first linked Bettcher to the position on Jan. 26.

Bettcher does make sense as a prime option for the job. Bettcher was a special assistant to the head coach in 2012 with the Indianapolis Colts in a year where Arians served as offensive coordinator and interim coach.

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Cardinals Move on From Bowles by Looking at Internal Candidates

Monday, Jan. 26

Urban previously provided the details, including a possible candidate, who eventually ended up being the man who filled the role:

Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reported that Arians had actually made his decision already but wouldn't reveal it yet.

The coach who called the shots on defense for the past two years, Todd Bowles, was pried away from the desert this offseason, accepting the job as New York Jets head coach.

Bowles utilized hybrid defensive fronts and blitz-heavy schemes to manufacture quarterback pressure. Similar concepts were deployed by Bowles' predecessor in Ray Horton, who is now with Tennessee.

Fox Sports 910's Mike Jurecki previously mentioned two names who could be in the running to succeed Bowles:

The Cardinals' defensive coordinator has big shoes to fill. Given how much success Arians has had in the difficult NFC West division in winning 21 games over his first two seasons, though, there's reason to trust his judgment.

Nick Rapone is in charge of the Cardinals' defensive backs, but he is far older at age 58 than Bettcher (36). That wouldn't fall in line with Arians' claim that one of the younger guys would take the gig.

There is evidently trust already established between the two, as Bettcher followed Arians to Arizona and seems as qualified as anyone to take the next step on the coaching ladder.