Isaiah Simmons – The Dime Linebacker

Isaiah Simmons has the potential to be the missing integral link to a successful Arizona Cardinals defense in a new role in NFL defenses.

As those who know me know I’m not a fan of Vance Joseph mostly because of his player management, scheme, and player usage.  Not least his usage of Isaiah Simmons. For the past 2 years in a row, the first-round pick of the draft was a LB and in both instances, there was a sort of “redshirt” year.

The first of the two linebackers was #8 overall pick, Isaiah Simmons.  In 2020, Isaiah was on top of my board, as well as many, who thought that if he slipped that it would be a real steal and one must rush to the podium to make the selection.  Three years later many fans regret not selecting CeeDee Lamb or Tristen Wirfs instead.

Unfortunately, that is the case as both Lamb and Wirfs have shown that they are part of the elite or becoming the elite.

In Year 3, I hope that Simmons is unleashed in the way I always dreamed.  Below is a video by Brett Kollmann titled “Worst to First”.  In said video, Isaiah Simmons is the missing piece in Vance Joseph’s 3-4 hybrid defense built for Simmons to take on the Dime/Mo/Nicklebacker position.

This gives me hope that Isaiah will flourish but up to this point, his utilization has been more of a way to move him out of the way instead of using him as the queen on the chessboard.  Vance has shifted Isaiah from the WILL to the SAM and vice versa mostly because of the unfortunate departure of Haason Reddick (who was the perfect SAM Linebacker).

The results are mediocre at best as you can see below.

If you watched the film, Isaiah Simmons is lining up at the line of scrimmage and while his reported weight is 238 lbs, that’s usually not an issue in today’s NFL.  He carries a build of being more of an overgrown defensive back than an Outside Linebacker. Unfortunately being so top-heavy allows tackles, guards, centers, tight ends, and even running backs to move him around.

That’s not ideal, and a sign that you are not utilizing your player’s skills to their top potential abilities.

What is Isaiah Simmons’ perfect role?

If you paid attention to Brett Kollmann’s video, Isaiah is more of a closer/finisher.  He has unparalleled speed at his size and weight matched by one other LB who plays for Dallas (*cough* Micah Parsons).  In order to maximize that potential, he needs to generate speed as you saw in the “worst to first” video but also below.

Force = Mass x Acceleration and luckily Isaiah has tons of it. It comes as no shock that Isaiah was used sparingly to blitz between the C gaps.

The Dime Linebacker role is mostly that of a rover or a QB spy in Dime packages where Isaiah is seen more as the 3rd LB in the 2nd Level of the defense.

You can say Budda Baker played more of that role in past years (2019 and 2020) but last year Budda Baker was used in more of a coverage role than a box safety.  In today’s NFL where 10 or 11 personnel have become the new base, so too has nickle for defenses in order to match today’s passing schemes.

Since Budda has become the 2nd safety in the 2 high safety scheme, Isaiah needs to fill that vacant spot as the Linebacker/Safety.  This will allow him to disguise his usage like bringing him on a delayed blitz, drop him into a deep third, or rob the under routes.  Even if he is tasked to rush the edge it’s better for him to start on the 2nd Level. Doing so will force offenses to change plays at the line of scrimmage or give Isaiah a clear shot to the quarterback.

All in all, last year it seemed Vance wasn’t trying to disguise Isaiah and due to that, offenses took account of where he was at all times.

It’s time to unleash Isaiah Simmons.