The Cardinals have bolstered their defense in 2025. But they had a surprising improvement in 2024 with less talent

The Arizona Cardinals have made a concerted effort this offseason to improve their defense, adding starting talent and depth on the defensive line, the defensive edge and linebacker in free agency and then addressing every defensive position in the NFL draft.

But that roster improvement comes after they made marked improvements from 2023 to 2024 defensively.

BetMGM’s Nick Hennion noted that the Cardinals “moved from 32nd in defensive DVOA in 2023 to 14th in 2024” and that the improvement was impressive for a number of reasons.

1. They played the third-hardest schedule of opposing offenses in 2024 after playing the hardest schedule in 2023.
2. They lost 72.9 adjusted games to injury on defense, the fourth-highest total in the league. 
   • They lost BJ Ojulari, Dennis Gardeck, Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols to season-ending injuries.

They were 15th in scoring defense last season but 21st in yards allowed. They were 14th in passing defense and 20th in run defense. However, they had an interesting dichotomy of metrics. They were sixth in the league in the percentage of opposing offensive drives ending in scores, but they were dead last in plays allowed per drive and second-to-last in time allowed per drive.

If they improved that much with a roster that is markedly worse than the current one, imagine what this year’s defense might be when they have an easier schedule.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

Before the Arizona schools chief cracks down on DEI, he should show us examples of where it went wrong. He can’t.

• Arizona schools chief Tom Horne wants schools to sign a “No DEI” statement or else lose federal funding.
• A readers goes nuts over early political ads by Karrin Taylor Robson, 18 months before the election.

Arizona schools chief Tom Horne has warned public schools they could lose federal funding if they don’t sign his “No DEI here” statement, even though the executive order that is the basis for this is neither enforceable nor clear. 

Its language provides no specifics on what constitutes the dreaded DEI, yet Horne demands public schools sign to confirm they have nothing approaching it.

Of course, Horne should have plenty of examples, given that one of his first acts was to initiate a “Empower Hotline,” to allow parents to report objectionable material taught to their kids.  

And, of course, this turned out to be at best a nothing burger and at worst a fiasco.

If Horne had examples, you would think he would trot them out. But he doesn’t, which suggests that Horne’s “No DEI Here” is just another performative stunt, trying to ingratiate himself with the Trumper crowd.

Mike McClellan, Gilbert

An open letter to Karrin Taylor Robson

I believe I speak for hundreds of thousands of Arizona voters when I say I am absolutely sick of politics and empty-suit double-talking politicians. 

Why on earth would you start up with political ads a full 18 months before the election? I could not hit the mute button fast enough when I started seeing yours. 

You may have very well just caused me, out of pure frustration, to vote for someone else.

Antonio Morales Jr., Glendale

Book bans put parents, not students, in the dark

When libraries put parental controls on books, students will find a way to access the books they want to read through friends, bookstores and Kindle. 

Wouldn’t the parents rather know what their kids are reading? 

Then perhaps they could open a dialogue about “sensitive” subjects.

Bekke Hess, Bullhead City

Letter: Arizona public schools need more DEI, not less of it

Ungrateful choice advocates would bankrupt public schools

I’m amazed that the homeschooling community is complaining about caps to their spending.

I am sure public-school students would love to bake with high-end equipment, design clothing with the best fabrics and buy the best tools.

Do you even realize that Arizona is spending nearly a billion dollars yearly on empowerment scholarship accounts? The budget isn’t going to be able to sustain that without raising taxes. 

Public school districts are struggling to provide competitive salaries for teachers, resources to maintain buildings and programs that don’t charge students. They, too, would love a piece of the education dollars’ pie.

Wake up state leaders and Arizonans, we are bankrupting the public education system.

Alexis Reed, Anthem 

Letters: Arizona should ban hunting dogs – and politics in the entertainment section

They can’t be serious. A musical for Luigi Mangione?

Art imitates art? 

Several years ago, Mel Brooks created a play called “The Producers” about a Broadway impresario and his accountant who scheme to get rich by fraudulently overselling investment interests in a Broadway musical they know will flop. Their scheme depends on the play going belly up on opening night so they can walk away with all the invested dollars. 

To ensure its failure, they set about writing and casting the worst, most tasteless production they can imagine — “Springtime for Hitler.” 

The play, however, turns out to be a comedy hit. Audiences love it. It goes on extended run and they lose their shirts and go to prison. 

Today, producers in San Francisco are staging a musical called “Luigi” about Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering a health-care CEO in New York City. 

Apparently, these real-life producers are serious.

Charles Lopresto, Phoenix

We are waging a fight against fascism

Thank you so much for featuring the Phoenix demonstration for May Day on the front page. Of course, there were other demonstrations in Arizona, including in Gilbert, Tucson, Tempe and Sedona. 

It is important that mainstream media recognize the popular resistance to the current administration and its policies. 

The 47th president and his followers are gleefully destroying the government, including essential programs for families, veterans, seniors and health care.

The separation of powers is dying. The administration’s lack of empathy and authoritarian impulses should be alarming to all citizens. 

My father fought in World War II to defeat fascism. We may be called upon to do the same.

Gerri Chizeck, Chandler

Here’s my idea to reduce heat deaths

I can’t believe I’m writing this, but Phil Boas wrote a brilliant column. His analysis of the tragic death of an elderly woman whose power was shut off by APS was thoughtful and inquisitive.

While he acknowledged that her death shouldn’t have happened, he also suggested that APS is not a social service agency and shouldn’t bear sole responsibility for what happened. He closed with an important question: “So, what’s our next step?”

I remember first hearing about the woman’s death and blaming APS. It was a sudden and visceral reaction. But Phil’s piece made me sit back and think it through. By the time I got to his final question, I had come to a possible answer.

Before someone’s power is disconnected for nonpayment, APS or SRP must notify the city of residence. They must have a plan to conduct a wellness (physical and/or financial) check.

It could be through the police or other agency. The city would already know if the person is paying his or her utility bills. The process then needs to include a plan on how to help the person involved.

And the power companies can only stop service when authorized by the city. It would involve coordination, but it’s worth it. 

Thanks, Phil.

Dan Peel, Scottsdale

What’s on your mind? Send us a letter to the editor online or via email at opinions@arizonarepublic.com.

The Arizona Cardinals didn’t necessarily need to add a linebacker during the 2024 NFL Draft, but it didn’t stop them from selecting Cody Simon. The longtime Ohio State standout got a full-time opportunity to shine last season and didn’t disappoint within All-Big Ten Conference season.

Simon played with an edge in his final collegiate season and as a player after serving in a reserve/heavy rotational roll. He would go on to lead the Buckeyes to a CFP National Championship win and even walked away with the game’s defensive MVP award.

There’s plenty to like here with Simon, who has aged like a fine wine in Columbus after choosing to stick it out with the program instead of entering the transfer portal. Now that he’s in the pros, he has a chance to get even better.

We know how Arizona feels about the linebacker position, but perhaps Simon can change that narrative a bit and force the Cardinals into committing to a guy full-time.

Accomplishments

2025 NFL Draft Profile

What the tape shows

Simon is clearly a player who was given the time of day to develop. By the time he was a full-time starter and leader of the defense last season, you could see all of the work he put in on and off the field finally pay off.

The veteran Ohio State linebacker operates in the middle of the field with confidence and can set up his teammates to complete their assignments. Simon is also an aggressive run defender who can move up and down the field and get to the ball carrier quickly and efficiently.

One area where Simon struggled was pass coverage, and he’ll need to do some polishing in that department.

But as a whole, Simon has shown enough to prove he deserves a spot on the field and not just as a role player. With next level coaching, he will be able to unlock his best possible self.

Role for 2025

Predicting a role for Simon in year one for Arizona isn’t as cut and dry as you would prefer. The team loves to rotate their linebackers, and there isn’t one guy in the room who should command a lion’s share of snaps.

This opens up a perfect opportunity for Simon to get on the field right away. However, it is a double edge sword as it will be hard for Simon to stay on the field, too.

The best chance for Simon to get on the field as often as he would like? He should put his focus into being a great special team player. It’s an easy opportunity for a player of his caliber and once he’s earned the trust of the coaching staff, he will find more playing time on defense.

I think Simon will one day be a full-time starter at linebacker for the Cardinals, but it could take a little bit longer than we may prefer.