Big Red
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- Mar 16, 2019
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Kylie Fitts has been fortunate in his NFL mentors.
In Chicago, he was able to learn from Khalil Mack. Now, he's getting advice from Chandler Jones.
"It's helped me tremendously," the linebacker said Thursday, as the Caridnals' training camp came to a close.
The Cardinals are set at their starting outside linebackers with Jones and Devon Kennard. The depth was something that was a question mark in an offseason where the team had no summer work, but both Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph sound more confident where the roster stands – in part because of Fitts' play.
"We've really been impressed with Kylie," Kingsbury said. "I think last year he bought into the system, the scheme, what we were asking him to do, whether it was on scout team or when he got his live reps and he's come back and he lost some weight, looks quicker, looks more explosive and has really done a good job throughout camp."
Fitts said he weighed about 267 pounds last year, when he was signed to the practice squad before the season after being released by the Bears at the end of the preseason. Going into his third season. Fitts thought he needed to be quicker in Joseph's defense, so he dropped about 12 pounds.
"I came (to camp) prepared," he said.
Kingsbury also said Haason Reddick, who moved from inside to outside linebacker late last year, looks more at home at the position. Joseph said Fitts has had a "great camp" and that Reddick and special teams ace Dennis Gardeck also can help – although with the latter two, Joseph admitted it being their first full year outside they "aren't there yet."
Reddick had said at the end of last season he was excited to get a chance to play on the edge, where he earned stardom in college. Gardeck too said he is more comfortable on the edge – it was his college spot – as opposed to the inside role he had previously.
Fitts has been off the edge the whole time. His transition with the Cardinals was more about his name – when someone says "Fitts" aloud in the locker room, it's usually meant for a future Hall of Famer instead.
"Last year it took me a little while to get used to," Fitts said with a smile. "Now, I'm like, OK, they're not talking to me."
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