Coach talks free agents, inside linebackers and BMI

Darren Urban

PALM BEACH, Fla. The NFL world has revolved around The Breakers resort this week, all the team owners, GMs and coaches gathered to talk about the game at the annual spring meeting.

Jonathan Gannon likes the idea because he is a man of ideas. The Cardinals coach appreciates such gatherings to challenge his thought process.

"It opens up your mind to think differently and think critically about things," Gannon said Tuesday morning during the NFC coaches breakfast session. "You're always trying to learn. Things that I am convicted on, when you hear a different view on it, makes you poke some holes in your own viewpoint. Or you think you've turned over every stone with a topic or a rule and someone says something in that room and you're like, 'I never thought about it like that.'"

Over 30 minutes, Gannon addressed a number of topics. Here are five of the most noteworthy.

JOSH SWEAT AND DALVIN TOMLINSON ARE "THE RIGHT KIND OF GUYS"

The relationship between Gannon and new outside linebacker Josh Sweat from their Philadelphia days is well known. The Cardinals knew enough about defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson that there was a comfort level there too.

But the Cardinals added both not because of previous knowledge but because they made sense in the Gannon ecosystem.

"All about ball, team-first guys and a lot of production," Gannon said. "The additions of those guys, both as Cardinals stepping into the locker room and the players that they are (matters.)"

Tomlinson is yet another veteran addition to the defensive line, which already had Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols and L.J. Collier.

"Everyone plays a little bit of a different role, everyone has a little bit different of a skillset, where they are at in their career, but Dalvin brings an element of leadership and experience," Gannon said. "He is very smart and he'll help the younger guys grow as players."

GANNON HAS CONFIDENCE IN ZAY JONES

Jones, the veteran receiver, didn't have a huge impact last season. He finished with eight catches for 84 yards in 11 games after serving a five-game suspension to start the year. But Gannon doesn't believe the suspension necessarily led to Jones' slow start, and expressed optimism he can have a greater impact this season.

"I felt good about Zay," Gannon said. "We can expand his role too. He's a smart guy, he's team-first, he's productive, he can play all the different spots. He gets open and catches it. I'm ready to see him compete and pick up where he left off and help us."

INSIDE LINEBACKER CHANGES COMING

While doors are not yet completely closed on players returning (like Kyzir White and/or Krys Barnes), the Cardinals did add a pair of new inside linebackers in Akeem Davis-Gaither and Mykal Walker to pair with holdovers Mack Wilson Sr. and Owen Pappoe.

Gannon said tweaks will always happen year-to-year. He is also hopeful Davis-Gaither and/or Walker could have a similar jump in play in the Nick Rallis defense as Wilson did when he arrived as a free agent.

"Both those guys are versatile pieces that are both very smart," Gannon said. "It does you no good if a guy can do a couple things but mentally can't do it. I thought Mack did an excellent job of that this year. We'll get in the lab and see what we are thinking and get on the grass and see if they are comfortable with it first, and then always look to expand that role. Each year is going to look a little different."

THE CARDINALS ARE COUNTING ON BARON BROWNING

The Cardinals spent a sixth-round pick trading for Browning last season, and because they re-signed the outside linebacker, they hope it will pan out as a better-than-expected draft addition after what Browning did last season. He had two sacks but was rated as one of the better EDGE players at pressuring the quarterback.

Combining him with Sweat, the rehabbed BJ Ojulari and Zaven Collins should help the Cardinals in an area that they wanted to improve.

"It was awesome to acquire him when we did, knowing it wasn't going to be this skyrocket jump because there is a lot of things you have to do when you get there midyear," Gannon said. "But we're excited about him as a player. The person checks out and that's why we re-signed him. But yeah, I think he's going to take a jump."

GANNON PAYS ATTENTION TO BMI

The topic of Body Mass Index came up, and when hearing it, Gannon smiled. As he talked about it when it came to players, it was apparent it was an important subject to him.

"There is a range I think each position should be in, and if you're above that, we will dig a little deeper of the why behind it," Gannon said. "I tell our guys all the time, if you are in that range, you give yourself a chance to decrease some injuries. Performance, you can increase your performance. I'm into it, our players know I'm into it, that's in their health bucket."

For a former player who still looks like he could take the field, it isn't surprising Gannon leans into that aspect of the game.

"For us we want our guys to continually improve that part of their game," Gannon added. "They know I don't love overweight guys."