The Ghost of Bruce Arians

During the middle of the season, rookie QB Josh Rosen alluded to the “ghost”...and said it was still “swirling around the building.”

Well, what happens with BA this off-season could have a significant impact on the Cardinals’ new coaching staff.

Word is circling around NFL media sites that Tampa Bay Bucs’ GM Jason Licht wants to interview Arians for their vacant head coaching job.

BA, who previously said he only wanted to interview with the Cleveland Browns, has already indicated that because he knows Jason Licht, he will listen.

In fact, the more BA thinks about coaching in Tampa, it’s a short ride to his dream home in Georgia, which would likely thrill his wife, Christine.

If Licht tabs BA—-one would expect BA to hire Freddie Kitchens or Byron Leftwich as his OC—-and hire Todd Bowles, of course, as his DC.

The one way for the Cardinals to interrupt that potential inevitability would be to hire Kitchens or Bowles as head coach.

If Kitchens is the guy—-then, the question becomes who his DC would be. If Gregg Williams doesn’t get a head coaching offer, he will be in high demand. If Kitchens cannot lure Williams, then perhaps he could tab Vance Joseph or Teryl Austin (Bengals’ DC).

If Bowles is the guy—-then, he most likely would want to bring OC Jeremy Bates and RBC Stump Mitchell with him. Bates is a West Coast offensive QB/OC guru whom many praised this year for the job he did with rookie Sam Darnold. Imagine that—-in one year going from Darnold to Rosen?

If reports are true that Steve Keim is being retained as GM, then Kitchens and Bowles would likely be high on his list, due to his familiarity with them and their mutual affinity for BA.

Keim would like that comfort zone.

The question is—-would Michael Bidwill?

What are your thoughts?

Would you welcome past members of BA’s coaching tree such as Kitchens and/or Bowles?

Or—-would you prefer a fresh start in a different direction, like with Adam Gase, Matt LaFleur, Pete Carmichael, Dirk Koetter or Zac Taylor?

Or—-would you want a highly innovative college coach like Dabo Swinney (Clemson—-long shot, but hey, if he wins a 2nd NCAA Championship? Who knows?), Chris Peterson (Washington) or Matt Campbell (Iowa St.).