Pendergast Out as Arizona Cardinals' Defensive Coordinator

by Hawkwind on Feb 7, 2009 10:17 AM MST in News Comment 7 comments

Clancy Pendergast, one of two coaches initially retained from Dennis Green's staff by Ken Whisenhunt, will not be part of the Arizona Cardinals' plans moving forward into the 2009 NFL season. With Pendergast's removal, the Cardinals are now without their lead coordinators with Todd Haley becoming the Kansas City Chiefs' 11th head coach the same day.

Pendergast, who had led the Cardinals to a 19th-defensive ranking in his fifth season, had devised creative defensive plans throughout the 2008 playoffs and seemed to have had the defense playing their best defense in a decade. Yet after a last minute game winning drive by the Pittsburgh Steelers, the lasting memory is a defense that lost the Cardinals a world championship title in Super Bowl XLIII.

With the college combine fast approaching, the Cardinals will need to have their coordinator positions filled quickly. This fuels speculation that Ken Whisenhunt was prepared to lose Haley and Pendergast's departure was premeditated. The question is who will be their replacements?

Bill Davis is the Cardinals' current Linebacker Coach and came to the Cardinals with Whisenhunt. The previous two seasons Davis was the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator so he does have experience running the defense. His familiarity with the players and plays makes him the most likely in-house candidate.

The name that seems to carry the most weight for assuming Pendergast's position is Keith Butler, the Steelers' current Linebacker Coach. When Whisenhunt was assembling his staff in 2007, he was denied permission by the Steelers to interview Butler for a Cardinals position. Butler certainly is familiar with the 3-4 defensive scheme that Whisenhunt favors, having opportunities to master it under Dick LeBeau for the past six years.

Regardless of who becomes the Cardinals defensive coordinator, it is whether the 3-4 scheme becomes the standard of the Cardinals' defense that will affect the team's offseason personnel moves. This is a topic for another day and after we have more information to mull over here at Revenge of the Birds.

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Glad to see Clancy go

It made sense for Haley to go right now and to capitalize on taking his team to the Super Bowl. Clancy was calling good games, especially during the playoffs, but there was fundamental problems that showed up throughout the year.

I’m hoping we get to bring in a little more of the Pittsburgh staff!

by CardsFan08 on Feb 7, 2009 8:09 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I'm a Packer fan

but throughout your guys playoff run, I couldn’t help but notice how clueless Pendergast was. He was aggresive for the sake of being aggresive. You guys have alot of talented players, and if you just re-sign Dansby and replace Francisco, you could have a very good defense next year.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Feb 8, 2009 3:36 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

wow, and i didn't have to pay you for that comment.

i agree totally.

by hevchv on Feb 8, 2009 6:06 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t understand.

by jobe on Feb 8, 2009 6:11 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he means you were right on.

Addressing a 3rd string safety who is reliable is probable one of the most important needs in FA. Fransisco consistantly frustrates me.

Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Feb 8, 2009 6:35 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks andrew.

sorry jobe. the normals on this blog understand my wierd humor. but andrew is right. i was simply saying that it only took you a few games to see what we’ve debated over throughout the season. since preseason we’ve wondered was he a capable safety or a perennial special teamer. sorry again for the confusion jobe.

by hevchv on Feb 9, 2009 4:39 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs