Coach Ken Whisenhunt hasn't had any down time in the weeks since Super Bowl XLIII, thanks to the need to make over his coaching staff.
Whisenhunt had to replace both coordinators and a quarterbacks coach, and since he likes to promote from within, that created even more openings.
In the end, Whisenhunt feels like he was able to maintain continuity in important staff positions while also maintaining a good chemistry among coaches.
The defensive changes are simple. Whisenhunt fired coordinator Clancy Pendergast soon after the season ended. It was a surprise to many outsiders, but Pendergast was always on loose ground.
He and Whisenhunt didn't know each other before Whisenhunt took the job, so it wasn't a surprise that Whisenhunt eventually wanted to hire his own man.
He did that, promoting Bill Davis from linebackers coach. Quality control coach Matt Raich moves in the linebackers job.
Under Davis, the Cardinals will implement more traditional elements of the 3-4 scheme, which Whisenhunt prefers.
The biggest changes came on offense, where Whisenhunt had to replace coordinator Todd Haley, who left to become the Chiefs head coach.
Haley was more than just an overseer. He worked daily with the quarterbacks and also spent considerable time with receivers.
Whisenhunt ended up splitting the job between two people. Assistant head coach/offensive line Russ Grimm will coordinate the run game while receivers coach Mike Miller was promoted to passing game coordinator.
Whisenhunt will call plays, but Miller and Grimm will have a large input into game planning. John McNulty, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Rutgers, will coach receivers, and former NFL quarterback Chris Miller was hired to coach quarterbacks, replacing Jeff Rutledge, who was fired.
