Haason Reddick is seeing things. Not delusions, but formations.
In recent weeks, the Cardinals' second-year linebacker has peered over the line of scrimmage before a snap and felt an epiphany: I've defended this play before.
It gives Reddick an edge, allowing him to understand his responsibility and an offense's objective. It sounds like a small thing, but it is, in fact, a crucial step in his evolution.
"He's starting to really get it," defensive coordinator Al Holcomb said, "to understand how the pieces of the puzzle fit together."
Reddick was the Cardinals' first-round draft pick in 2017 because of his freakish athletic gifts. He was an athletic testing monster at the NFL Scouting combine, running faster and jumping higher than a human his size – 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds – should reasonably do.
There were flashes of success as a rookie, and Reddick was penciled in as a starting linebacker heading into 2018. However, he lost the job to veteran Josh Bynes in training camp because Reddick's athleticism was locked up by a mind that wouldn't let him play fast and free.
Reddick remained a little-used backup in the first four games, and while he admitted there was some concern as he rode the bench, it wasn't a full-blown panic.
It took Reddick time to transition from defensive back to defensive end at Temple, and he eventually blossomed into one of college football's best players. In the NFL, Reddick was going from defensive end to linebacker and felt like he could follow a similar trajectory.
"I know what I needed – more reps and more time," Reddick said.
Reddick has been a fixture in the starting lineup since Week 5, and while there has been inconsistency along the way, optimism abounds.
He had a standout game in Sunday's loss to the Lions, finishing with a team-high 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit.
"I don't want to say that's Haason's best game up to date, but he made a lot of plays," coach Steve Wilks said. "He was flying around. He was physical and doing some great things."
Reddick earned an 80.3 mark from Pro Football Focus for the performance, his highest grade of the season. He was stout against the run and defended well in coverage, showing off the versatility that made him such a hot commodity in the draft.
The Cardinals do not have a great track record of hitting on first round picks in recent years, and there were early whispers that Reddick would join the underachievers. While the jury is still out, Reddick believes he is on the right path.
"I'm coming along and I feel like everything's clicking," Reddick said. "I'm going to be that guy soon. I'm going to be who I'm meant to be."
The Cardinals have one player from the 2017 draft – safety Budda Baker – who has established himself as a foundational building block on defense. Reddick aches to join him, and the more he grasps before each play, the easier it will be to envision it happening.
"I feel like I'm getting better," Reddick said. "My confidence, I feel better. The thing now is to keep going and turn myself into a star, a clear-cut, household name."
Images from past matchups between the Cardinals and this week's opponent, the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Scott Campbell (10) hands off during a 34 - 21 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Nov. 29, 1987 at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta.
Phoenix Cardinals quarterback Gary Hogeboom (5) breaks up field between Atlanta's Jessie Tuggle (58) and Tim Green (99) to pick up a first down, Oct. 23, 1989 in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated Atlanta 34-20.
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders looks towards the stands from the field during a timeout against the Phoenix Cardinals in the Falcons' last game of the season at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Jan. 2, 1994.
Arizona Cardinals defensive backs Kwamie Lassiter (42) and Brent Alexander (46) gang tackle Atlanta Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler (12) in December 1997 in Tempe, Az.
Atlanta Falcons' Byron Hanspard (24) falls into the endzone for a touchdown despite the efforts of Arizona Cardinals' Mark Maddox (53) and Ronald McKinnon (57) in the third quarter at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Dec. 26, 1999. The Cardinals called for a replay since Hanspard came down without the ball, but the touchdown was upheld, as it was ruled that the ball crossed the plane of the goal line before he came down.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Bryant Johnson (80) gets first half yardage under pressure from Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jason Webster (36) at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004.
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Kevin Mathis (23) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) in the end zone during second half play at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick (7) is brought down by Arizona Cardinals end Peppi Zellner (94), left, and end Calvin Pace (97) during first half play at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004.
Atlanta Falcons fullback Justin Griffith (33) is brought down by Arizona Cardinals cornerback David Macklin (27), left, and end Kyle Vanden Bosch (93) during first half play at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004.
Arizona Cardinals running back Emmitt Smith (22) is tied up by the Atlanta Falcons defense including linebacker Chris Draft (54), second from right, and safety Scott Bryan (24), right, during second half play at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is brought down by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking (56) and safety Lawyer Milloy (36) in the football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick takes it to a first-half first and ten on the keeper under pressure from Arizona Cardinals safety Robert Griffith (34) during the football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006.
Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson (24) takes off on his 99-yard touchdown run after picking off a first-half Atlanta Falcons' Michael Vick pass during the football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006.
Arizona Cardinals' Edgerrin James (32) runs past Atlanta Falcons' Michael Boley (59) in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz.
Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abraham gets a hand on the facemask of Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James, left, during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 30-27 in overtime.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin, right, stiff-arms Atlanta Falcons safety Chris Crocker as Boldin runs along the sideline after making a reception in the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 30-27 in overtime.
Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin (81) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Reggie Wells (74) as Atlanta Falcons' Michael Boley (59) and Lawyer Milloy (36) look away during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, top, tries to dive for the first down marker after making a catch as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Domonique Foxworth, bottom, makes the tackle during the fourth quarter of an NFL wild-card playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 30-24.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass as Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) defends during the second quarter of an NFL wild-card playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner is pressured by Atlanta Falcons' Lawyer Millory, left, during the first quarter of an NFC wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals' Karlos Dansby loses his helmet while tackling Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner during the second quarter of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 30-24.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt gets doused by his players during the fourth quarter of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Atlanta Falcons Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 30-24.
Arizona Cardinals defensive end Antonio Smith, center, sacks Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) in the end zone for a safety as Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Todd Weiner, right, applies a late block during the fourth quarter of an NFL wild-card playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 30-24.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez (88) catches the ball as Arizona Cardinals' Adrian Wilson (24) defends in the first half of their NFL football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010.
Atlanta Falcons running back Ovie Mughelli, center, is stopped by Arizona Cardinals defenders Paris Lenon (51) and Adrian Wilson (24) in the second half of their NFL football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Clark Haggans in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, in Atlanta.
Arizona Cardinals running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (36) runs as Atlanta Falcons free safety Thomas DeCoud (28) misses the tackle during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Atlanta.
Arizona Cardinals running back William Powell (33) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Vance Walker (99) during an NFL football game, Sunday, November 18, 2012, in Atlanta. The Falcons won 23-19.
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Stephen Nicholas (54) tackles Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) for a sack as Arizona Cardinals fullback Anthony Sherman (35) blocks during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Atlanta.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes his 800th career catch as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Daryl Washington (58) celebrates his interception against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, left, throws as Atlanta Falcons defensive end Osi Umenyiora defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) looks to run against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas (83) runs into Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Larry Foote (50) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Atlanta.
Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Dan Williams (92) applies pressure to Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Atlanta.
Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) is it by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Atlanta.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes a one-handed catch against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brian Poole (34) during the first of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Atlanta.
Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs near Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins (32) during the first of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Atlanta.
Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marcus Cooper (41) during the second of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Atlanta.
