National Football League

Patrick Peterson says DC James Bettcher 'knows the expectations'

Published Jun. 16, 2015 6:29 p.m. ET

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Arizona Cardinals new defensive coordinator James Bettcher understands he inherited one of the best defenses in the NFL from former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. The pieces are in place for the defense, but it will be up to Bowles to lead the team through the treacherous NFC West.

“Bettcher has been in the system for three years now,” cornerback Patrick Peterson said, via the Cardinals official website. “He knows the expectations."

Bettcher knows those expectations are a Super Bowl, but that does mean he plans on differing too much from Bowles' systems and schemes from last year.

“it’s their defense,” Bettcher said. “It ain’t my defense, it’s their defense.”

He does not want to complicate anything for a defense that was already one of the best in the league. He will make the necessary adjustments throughout the course of the year, but knows this defense is good enough to take them a long way.

"It’s a Cardinal defense,” Bettcher said. “There may be things along the way you’d do on a yearly basis regardless of having a new coordinator or not – how people are attacking, how people are doing stuff – and you find some adjustments you need to make."

(h/t Arizona Cardinals)