Is Isaiah Simmons a bust?

[tnmike]

He has has a rough stretch for a while now. Little to no impact plays.

Has he been worth the top 10 pick? I don’t think so.

What are your thoughts?

I guess he's next in line to be crapped on by this board. What a surprise

 

[Russ Smith]

The kid is talented, jmho but I think the VJ system is too complicated for him. He's been dealing with a shoulder injury the last few games. I'd rather have him than not on this defense cause of his speed, something you cannot coach. I've read several times that Jerry Sullivan begged the Cardinals to draft Justin Jefferson & his insight on that kid was spot on. Imagine having Jefferson now that Hopkins is out, or having the 2 of them at the same time?

Yeah I remember that coming up on this board. At the time I wanted Jeudy but knew as soon as we got D Hop we weren't taking a WR in the first round.

Last year when he wasn't playing i kept joking we should move Simmons to TE, I do think physically he'd be a hell of a TE prospect but in all seriousness I think he's a 4-3 LB playing in a 3-4. He's probably an outside LB in a 4-3, in a 3-4 he can't play outside he's likely way too small but he's not really big enough to play inside either because he's not physically strong enough.

My hope last year is he'd be more like Erick Kendricks who's undersized(height and weight) but so athletic it doesn't matter. But Kendricks plays MLB in a 4-3 for the Vikings and clearly we're not going to switch to a 4-3 just for Simmons and Simmons has not shown he could play MLB anyways.

He's not a bust but he's not as good as we need him to be going forward. Hopefully the shoulder gets healthy.

 

[GatorAZ]

Simmons is average. When I think of bust guys like Robert Nkemdiche and Jonathan Cooper come to mind.

 

[BritCard]

Agreed. He is not a pro bowler but closer to that than a bust. He needs to find a better role IMO but the dude is immensely talented.

For arguments sake - there wasn't a ton of talent after we picked Simmons.

Should we have picked Wirfs instead - as of today, yes. Time will tell. There were many banging the table for him.
CeeDee Lamb would have been nice as well.
Justin Jefferson - obviously. Gotta love the draft - 4 other teams took a WR before Jefferson.

Who else would you have preferred?

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You can argue every other ILB taken in round 1 has been better than Simmons

 

[Stout]

You can argue every other ILB taken in round 1 has been better than Simmons

Zaven?

 

[Phrazbit]

The young linebackers that the Cardinals franchise and fan base decide to give up on, who then go onto long and fruitful careers is long, distinguished and... sad for any Cards fan.

Simmons is not a problem. He is a good player, in the right situation I expect him to become a great player.

 

[BritCard]

Zaven?

In his draft. Murray, Queen, Brooks.

 

[Dayman]

A lot of people thought Reddick was a bust after his second year, too. Turns out he was just playing the wrong position. I think the same will be true with Simmons.

Looking back at the draft profiles for Simmons, coming to AZ might have been the worst possible scenario for him. His read and react skills as a LB were a known work-in-progress, as were his instincts when playing near the LOS. Those are the two traits he is expected to use the most in his current role.

I think the bigger question is why was he drafted here in the first place? BPA doesn't matter if you are going to misuse the guy. It seems like Keim and VJ just are on different pages way too often.

 

[juza76]

A lot of people thought Reddick was a bust after his second year, too. Turns out he was just playing the wrong position. I think the same will be true with Simmons.

Looking back at the draft profiles for Simmons, coming to AZ might have been the worst possible scenario for him. His read and react skills as a LB were a known work-in-progress, as were his instincts when playing near the LOS. Those are the two traits he is expected to use the most in his current role.

I think the bigger question is why was he drafted here in the first place? BPA doesn't matter if you are going to misuse the guy. It seems like Keim and VJ just are on different pages way too often.

Well said
I guess if he was for Keim the coordinator Vance Joseph wouldn't have kept his job
I never heard a gm calling his first round pick the starter the day after the selection
Waa clearly a message to his coach after the way Simmons was displayed on the field last season

 

[DaHilg]

I would love to hear a candid behind the scenes with management, player and coaches from the roster down the line. I think it would be wildly entertaining. Give credit for the franchise for keeping any issues in-house.

 

[DVontel]

In his draft. Murray, Queen, Brooks.

Nah, Kenneth Murray has been atrocious. I know a good bit of Charger fans & watch a good bit of their games.

 

[DaHilg]

Nah, Kenneth Murray has been atrocious. I know a good bit of Charger fans & watch a good bit of their games.

Ya he was a solid run stopper year 1 that they had to sub out on any passing down…and he’s gotten worse since.

 

[WeBlitz]

The young linebackers that the Cardinals franchise and fan base decide to give up on, who then go onto long and fruitful careers is long, distinguished and... sad for any Cards fan.

Simmons is not a problem. He is a good player, in the right situation I expect him to become a great player.

What has he proven to be a good player? Are people just saying that because they initially loved the pick so much that they refuse to say anything otherwise? We have to remember that this guy is a top 10 pick & not a 3rd rounder. He needs to show a lot more, IMO.

 

[tnmike]

I would love to hear a candid behind the scenes with management, player and coaches from the roster down the line. I think it would be wildly entertaining. Give credit for the franchise for keeping any issues in-house.

Soooo, if they are all issues kept in house and none escapes doesn't that mean that pretty much all of the stuff on this message board is lies, BS, and crap that people with nothing better to do made up to get attention?

 

[DaHilg]

Soooo, if they are all issues kept in house and none escapes doesn't that mean that pretty much all of the stuff on this message board is lies, BS, and crap that people with nothing better to do made up to get attention?

Maybe? No clue, we aren’t behind the scenes.

 

[FB94]

I don’t think he’s a bust at all. Does he take a bad angle or false step once in a while, sure but who doesn’t. Is VJ using him the best way to maximize his ability, probably not. I’m more worried about Collins not playing at all than Simmons

 

[Absolute Zero]

No

 

[tnmike]

Maybe? No clue, we aren’t behind the scenes.

Exactly

 

[AZCB34]

The kid is talented, jmho but I think the VJ system is too complicated for him. He's been dealing with a shoulder injury the last few games. I'd rather have him than not on this defense cause of his speed, something you cannot coach. I've read several times that Jerry Sullivan begged the Cardinals to draft Justin Jefferson & his insight on that kid was spot on. Imagine having Jefferson now that Hopkins is out, or having the 2 of them at the same time?

If the defense is too complicated for him, isn’t that as much an indictment of Simmons as it is of Vance?

To me that means either Simmons is not intelligent enough to understand and play within the system or it means he doesn’t put in the proper amount of study time to understand and play within the system.

One thing I firmly believe is that it is less Vance and more an issue of the LB coach whose job is to develop those in the position group. Given the current Zaven issue, I think that is the weak link.

 

[DVontel]

What has he proven to be a good player? Are people just saying that because they initially loved the pick so much that they refuse to say anything otherwise? We have to remember that this guy is a top 10 pick & not a 3rd rounder. He needs to show a lot more, IMO.

I honestly think people forget he was a top 8 pick & not a 2nd rounder.

 

[JeffGollin]

Simmons has the physical talent.

He just plays a limited/dummass mental game.

Can he grow out of it?

 

[SoonerLou]

Nah, Kenneth Murray has been atrocious. I know a good bit of Charger fans & watch a good bit of their games.

Queen has been awful a well.



Also do you count Justin Jefferson as a #1 WR or no? Not talking at the time of the draft, but now.

 

[DVontel]

Queen has been awful a well.



Also do you count Justin Jefferson as a #1 WR or no? Not talking at the time of the draft, but now.

Absolutely lol he’s a top 3 WR in the league.

 

[SoonerLou]

Absolutely lol he’s a top 3 WR in the league.

See I think he's really good as well, but not seeing this huge separation between him and Lamb. He gets the volume that Lamb doesnt in the Cowboys system.

 

[DVontel]

See I think he's really good as well, but not seeing this huge separation between him and Lamb. He gets the volume that Lamb doesnt in the Cowboys system.

Could also say Lamb doesn’t get the attention Jefferson does. Jefferson flourishes with & without Thielen.

Honestly, Jefferson is a top 3 WR while I don’t think Lamb is even top 10.