Using redis cache plugin alongside phpredis extension

[leem32]

I'd like to use Geocoder, but have a couple of quick questions first.

1. Is there any reason why I couldn't use the Redis cache plugin from the Geocode cookbook example alongside the phpredis extension?
   I mean using both in the same file. I wonder if this could cause a bug somehow.

2. Could I use the phpredis extension for caching instead of a cache plugin?
   I ask this question because I notice in the Redis cache example in the Geocode docs it uses RedisCachePool, but there doesn't seem to be anything similar in phpredis. Maybe that's the default in phpredis, not sure though.