Tempe, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) – The Arizona Cardinals named James Bettcher
defensive coordinator on Wednesday.
Bettcher replaces Todd Bowles, who left the position to become head coach of
the New York Jets in mid-January.
Bettcher, 36, coached the Cardinals outside linebackers the past two seasons
after working in the same capacity with the Indianapolis Colts in 2012.
He was part of a defensive coaching staff that helped the Cardinals finish
with the NFL’s top ranked run defense (84.4 yards per game) in 2013 while
collecting 47 sacks, the third-highest total in franchise history.
In 2014, Arizona’s defense allowed just 18.7 points per game, the fifth-lowest
average in the league while allowing 20 points or fewer in an NFL-high 13
games.
The Cardinals also named Bob Sanders linebackers coach and Wesley Goodwin
assistant to the head coach, and promoted Mike Chiurco to defensive
assistant/assistant defensive backs coach.
