Simmons’ versatility gives Hicks more time
Remember midway through Cardinals training camp when Isaiah Simmons said he wanted he and rookie Zaven Collins to become one of the most feared inside linebacker tandems in the NFL?
Well, Simmons isn’t necessarily changing positions but toward the end of camp, he began working in individual drills with the team’s defensive backs. He also took practice reps at outside linebacker. Much like a portion of his rookie season a year ago, he’s dabbled once again as a slot cornerback, a pass rusher and a Tyrann Mathieu-like monster back.
It was expected Simmons would see time in multiple positions once again during Saturday’s final preseason tune-up until the game against the Saints in New Orleans was cancelled due to Hurricane Ida's expected impact on the region.
“He’ll be where we want him to be,” coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “Week in and week out, where we can maximize him versus that opponent, we will use him accordingly.”
Though Simmons still will get most of his snaps alongside Collins in the middle of the Cardinals’ defense, his versatility to move around and play multiple positions will allow veteran Jordan Hicks to see more time than perhaps expected at inside linebacker.
Hicks was the club’s starting MIKE linebacker the past two seasons, but was told he would no longer be able to compete for the job after the selection of Collins with the 16th overall pick in this year’s draft. Hicks was also informed by the club that he was free to negotiate a trade somewhere else.
Hicks is still on the roster ahead of Tuesday’s mandatory cut-down deadline to 53 players and he isn’t expected to go anywhere. Especially now that Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph seemed to have opened the door for more playing time for him.
But that wouldn’t have happened had the Cardinals, who will resume preseason practice on Monday at their Tempe training facility, not decided to move Simmons around like a chess piece.
“We have him in different spots,” Kingsbury said. “He’ll be covering at times, so we want to continue to work on that, work him at pass-rush stuff, work his backer stuff. He’s a guy who is going to have a very important, impactful role at a number of different positions.”
Hicks met with reporters once during training camp and said at the time that he was only hoping for an opportunity to compete, something he conveyed directly to General Manager Steve Keim, who had previously told him that wasn’t going to happen.
“Every player understands the business side of the
game we play, of the NFL,” he said. “And so there’s a part of you that is pissed off because all you want is to have an opportunity to compete. But at the same time, you understand it. You understand that Steve is doing his job and is doing what he has to do to further the team, per se, in his opinion.
“I respected the fact that he told me straight up. He told me he was going to work with me to try to honor a trade. There’s a part of you that respects it, but then there’s a part of you that just wishes you had an opportunity, which is all I ask for.”
As for Collins, he said last week that Hicks has been a true professional in every sense of the word.
“Jordan is awesome,” he said. “He gives great advice every day. … He’s been a great leader and role model for the team. He’s been super helpful, and we have a good relationship. We try to work with each other every day.”
They’ve also had a private conversation about Collins being anointed by Keim and Kingsbury as the starting MIKE linebacker over Hicks, a team captain last year.
“Yeah, we talked and stuff,” Collins said, “and everything’s fine.”
Hopkins No.8 on top 100 list
Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is ranked No.8 overall in this year’s NFL Network Top 100 players list, the second straight year he has landed in the No.8 spot.
In his debut season with the Cardinals last year, Hopkins tied a career high and set a franchise record with 115 receptions, second-most in the league behind the Bills’ Stefon Diggs (127). Hopkins finished third with 1,407 receiving yards.
Cardinals safety Budda Baker didn’t hesitate when asked last week what’s the best part of Hopkins’ game.
“His hands,” he said. “He catches everything. Wherever the ball is, he’s going to go get it. A defensive player can be in the perfect position, have his hand in the right spot and do everything perfect. But D-Hop will still get that catch. It’s that ‘it’ factor, that X factor, as Madden players would like to say. Whenever that ball is in the air, nine times out 10 he’s going to go get it.”
Hopkins was the fourth Cardinals player on the Top 100 list. He joins defensive end J.J. Watt (No.66), quarterback Kyler Murray (No.39) and Baker (No.19).