Building the Cardinals' Defense to Utilize the Personnel

[Mitch]

Forget the Steelers' mold...at least for now. The Cardinals don't have the personnel to mirror it.

What the Cardinals do have is some intriguing options should Bill Davis decide to cater his defense to the strengths of the personnel...and should management make a commitment in the draft to build on the current strengths.

The Cardinals, if they are creative, can play the ultimate hybrid of hybrids on defense this year. And, IMO, they have to change their defensive philosophy in order for this defense to be superb.

For starters, the current way the Cardinals use the NT is, IMO, ill-advised.
The Cardinals should play a quicker, more athletic NT, who is asked to wreak havoc on the strong side A gap. No more sitting and plugging. This time we attack that gap with the intention of making plays in the backfield before plays can develop. There's already a player in the fold who would be outstanding at that and he is Double D, Darnell Dockett.

The DEs need to be head-up athletes who can punish the offensive tackles on the snap and fight thier way to the ball. On the strong side, I like Gabe Watson and Alan Branch to anchor down the B and C gaps. On the weak side I like Calais Campbell and Kenny Iwebema to be do the same.

People talk about having monster NTs to clog the middle...but, guess what, few teams ever run right up the middle. Hardly ever. Yes, big NT could command a double team just because he is lined up in the A gap and would naturally occupy the center and guard. But...and this is a big but...when the NT is simply a clogger in the middle where teams aren't going to run much anyway, what opponents often do is have the guard chip on the NT to get him secured with the center and then release to the second level to block the ILB.

Now let's look at the OLBers...the Steelers want smaller more pudgy guys to leverage the corner...which is fine...but in this hybrid, what I want is an edge attacker on each side who brings speed and height...so as to not only pressure the QB, but to disprupt the passing lanes. This is exactly why Karlos Dansby, with his speed and height, belongs on the outside. Dansby is better suited, IMO to play the weak side as he can have a simple assignment to rush that edge as fiercely as he can.

On the strong side, we need a tall, strong and active LB...which is why I like Paul Kruger of Utah so much. This guy is an attack player who is smart, reads plays quickly and impacts plays before they have a chance to develop.

On the inside...we need attack linebackers. Someone need to change Gerald Hayes' approach to football. He at times plays in a tuxedo...thinking he can just hang back and let the play come to him. Sorry, but this is why the Cardinals' philosophy of defense is so wrong. All he needs to do is read his guard...if the guard takes a the hard step forward, Hayes charges the gap ready to take out the first flash of color...if the guard take the false step or fan blocks Hayes drops into coverage. It's very very simple. No more hanging around...no more sitting back.

At the weak ILB spot...we need another attacker...not a chaser...which is why an attacker like Adrian Wilson could be so dominant there. A WILB in a 3-4 doesn't have to have huge size to be effective...he just has to have an attack mentality...because he too simply has to read the guard in front of him...hard step is run: charge the gap, attack first flash of color...false step is misdirection or play action: survey flow, fan block is pass: drop back into coverage. Plus, Wilson can be moved around from that spot to blitz play after play...and had the Cardinals done that with him on the last defensive series in the Super Bowl they, IMO, would have been champs. Wilson is the best attack blitzer in the NFL, bar none.

And I think that Ali Highsmith can play this ILB role well, sharing some time there...and the player in this draft that I think is made to order for it is Nic Harris of Oklahoma. This kid has a forward gear...and he puts ballcarriers away.

The CBs in this system HAVE to have the freedom to jump plays and play aggressively underneath...which requires this defense to have a fast and instinctive FS behind them to cover their backs. No one on the current roster fits that mold.

This is why, as hard as it is to bypass other good players, if there are no trades that result in extra 2nd round draft picks, I don't mess around...I get the guy who can make everything work: Louis Delmas of Western Michigan. He's a rangy, faster Brian Dawkins.

So if this defense is to be built, I draft:

1. Louis Delmas, FS, Western Michigan.

2. Paul Kruger, 34OLB, Utah. (if he's gone...take Lawrence Sidbury of Richmond).

3. Nic Harris, LB, Oklahoma.

Three of the very best attack defenders and fundamental tacklers in this draft....and I come right back with:

4. Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh.

The rest of the draft:

5. RB

6. FB

7a. Stryker Sulak, 34OLB, Missouri.

7b. G/C

No big name RB, I know...but, hey, do you really think Wells or Moreno will be available at #31? But...if we don't dare to be great on defense, it's all a moot point anyway. Keep the offense intact, which is what the Cardinals have done and cater this defense to the personnel's strengths.

 

[binkar]

Mitch that make us way to small in the middle IMO. Let me make sure I am understanding you, you are saying DD at nose tackle in a 3-4 front with Hayes and Wilson being the ILB? And if we blitz Wilson play after play we are blitzing him inside? I think that leaves the middle of our defense very vulnerable.

Does it improve our pass rush? Maybe. Would it hurt our run defense? Undoubtedly.

 

[Pariah]

Here's where I insert my obligatory post about stopping the madness that is playing Wilson at LB. He's a probowl SS on a superbowl team. What more do you people want from him?

 

[SuperSpck]

Here's where I insert my obligatory post about stopping the madness that is playing Wilson at LB. He's a probowl SS on a superbowl team. What more do you people want from him?

Ronnie Lott?

 

[perivolaki]

Does it improve our pass rush? Maybe. Would it hurt our run defense? Undoubtedly.

I agree with you on this. I don't even think it helps our pass rush as DD is our best pass rushing lineman and will be much easier to double team playing the nose tackle.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Ah, Mitch.

This all sounds good in theory but in real life sports speed and quickness is not the be all, end all. This ain't Madden.

But don't worry cause people across the nation forget this time and time again.

In contact sports POWER AND STRENGTH come into play, and they are just as valuable.

If the defense was set up the way you described then on every single running play our defensive line would be pushed 3 to 4 yards off the line of scrimmage. Thus that means the opposing team's running back would have 3 to 4 yards before he even got to the line of scrimmage.

Being an athlete who relied on the power aspects of contact sports I will tell you the advantages.

1. And the end of the game, speed is a little less fast but I can still throw a carcass around as easily as I did at the begining of the game.

2. A quick guy can "make a move" and hope I fall for it. So, it might make me miss him at some percentage of the time. But when I go straight for you, I am overpowering you every single time.

Speed is your big play, and power is your consistancy. You need a good mix or your squad will get slaughtered. Maybe not by all teams, but you won't be able to compete against anyone.


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A couple of other points:

1. If your NT is not a "plugger" then he is not blocking the Guard and Center. Thus the guard and center (near 300lb men usually) are on your 240/250 lbs ILB. Once again look above, and no man is going to win a battle with at guy who has 60 lbs on him on a football field.

2. In that same veiw Adrian Wilson would get eaten alive playing SILB. Agree Gerald Hayes is not the prototypical SILB, but then again he does have some decent size at 250 lbs. Your ideal ILB would be Levon Kirkland for a 3-4. Big, atheletic, and can take on OLinemen need be. Wilson could maybe pull off playing WILB where Dansby plays but no way could he play SILB.

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3. NFL team do run up the middle. This ain't college. You have absolute BEASTS blocking in the NFL. When play goes up the middle and it "looks" like it went off tackle is because the tackle took the DE and gave him a free ride to the other side of the field. Not to mention the cut back lanes that open up most the of the time for the same reason. Again these are defensive linemen that range from 260lbs to 300 lbs that have problems holding back a surging offensive line. Doubt getting smaller is going to help fight against huge cut back lanes either.

 

[Mitch]

Ah, Mitch.

This all sounds good in theory but in real life sports speed and quickness is not the be all, end all. This ain't Madden.

But don't worry cause people across the nation forget this time and time again.

In contact sports POWER AND STRENGTH come into play, and they are just as valuable.

If the defense was set up the way you described then on every single running play our defensive line would be pushed 3 to 4 yards off the line of scrimmage. Thus that means the opposing team's running back would have 3 to 4 yards before he even got to the line of scrimmage.

Being an athlete who relied on the power aspects of contact sports I will tell you the advantages.

1. And the end of the game, speed is a little less fast but I can still throw a carcass around as easily as I did at the begining of the game.

2. A quick guy can "make a move" and hope I fall for it. So, it might make me miss him at some percentage of the time. But when I go straight for you, I am overpowering you every single time.

Speed is your big play, and power is your consistancy. You need a good mix or your squad will get slaughtered. Maybe not by all teams, but you won't be able to compete against anyone.


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A couple of other points:

1. If your NT is not a "plugger" then he is not blocking the Guard and Center. Thus the guard and center (near 300lb men usually) are on your 240/250 lbs ILB. Once again look above, and no man is going to win a battle with at guy who has 60 lbs on him on a football field.

2. In that same veiw Adrian Wilson would get eaten alive playing SILB. Agree Gerald Hayes is not the prototypical SILB, but then again he does have some decent size at 250 lbs. Your ideal ILB would be Levon Kirkland for a 3-4. Big, atheletic, and can take on OLinemen need be. Wilson could maybe pull off playing WILB where Dansby plays but no way could he play SILB.

You must be registered for see images

3. NFL team do run up the middle. This ain't college. You have absolute BEASTS blocking in the NFL. When play goes up the middle and it "looks" like it went off tackle is because the tackle took the DE and gave him a free ride to the other side of the field. Not to mention the cut back lanes that open up most the of the time for the same reason. Again these are defensive linemen that range from 260lbs to 300 lbs that have problems holding back a surging offensive line. Doubt getting smaller is going to help fight against huge cut back lanes either.

Darnell Dockett would wreak havoc at the NT position, and would do far more to warrant double teams than any other Cardinal defensive lineman...and thus give the ILBers free shots at the ball. The key is attacking the A gap, instead of just sitting in it.

The other thing is with Gabe Watson controlling the strong side B and C gaps, the run defense would be stronger.

Adrian Wilson thrives in the box where he busts up plays better than any player on the team. People seem to forget that he is 6-3 and 236 pounds.

Moving him around as a rover would pose significant problems for opposing offenses...at WILB he's have more flexibility to be moved around, as he and Hayes can flip flop at times or Hayes can slide to the middle here and there to allow for a 5-1 Monster scheme, with Wilson as Monster.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, not sure if all your assumptions are correct, but your main premise, IMO, is correct. We have to address DEFENSE FIRST. And by that I mean our Day One picks.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Darnell Dockett would wreak havoc at the NT position, and would do far more to warrant double teams than any other Cardinal defensive lineman...and thus give the ILBers free shots at the ball. The key is attacking the A gap, instead of just sitting in it.

The other thing is with Gabe Watson controlling the strong side B and C gaps, the run defense would be stronger.

Adrian Wilson thrives in the box where he busts up plays better than any player on the team. People seem to forget that he is 6-3 and 236 pounds.

Moving him around as a rover would pose significant problems for opposing offenses...at WILB he's have more flexibility to be moved around, as he and Hayes can flip flop at times or Hayes can slide to the middle here and there to allow for a 5-1 Monster scheme, with Wilson as Monster.

Ok, well that makes a little more sense, but I believe the Cardinals already use the formation were Dockett is used more as an under tackle and Gabe Watson is next to him as a NT tackle. Being way less specific, it is why they call our defense a hybrid because it is more like Watson and Dockett are both DT's.

The flexibility that Watson, Dockett and Berry provide allow for the Cardinals to give a 3-4 or 4-3 look in the snap of your fingers. Furthermore, when Dockett is used at that under tackle position he wreaks HAVOC. He is almost unblockable.

Using Wilson as a monster.........I like that idea. Kinda what the Bucs did with John Lynch.

 

[cgolden]

Sounds great in theory, I just don't think it's that simple. We'd have an amazingly small defense and it sounds even more 'gimmicky' then the hybrid we've had for the past two years. Maybe it could work on a limited basis but if you're talking about using it as a base defense, maybe you've been spending too much time around Clancy Pendergast.

 

[john h]

Here's where I insert my obligatory post about stopping the madness that is playing Wilson at LB. He's a probowl SS on a superbowl team. What more do you people want from him?

That Wilson is but it appears to me he often steps up at linebacker depth and more or less plays like one. Maybe that is just my perception as I do not count the number of times he does this. When are we going to extend his contract or have we?

 

[SuperSpck]

Docket played NT a couple of times last season.
And got snuffed out.
The only play from that spot I remember him making an impact was the Carolina playoff game where he came in late and blew through the line without ever getting in his stance.

 

[WildBB]

Wilson is the best attack blitzer in the NFL, bar none.

Nice analysis of the possibilities Mitch. With Davis at the helm all things are open to discussion now. I really agree with the top statement and as much as AW plays in the box anyway as a hybrid attacker , I don't think your too far off base anyway. It's all what Butch Davis wants. But we take a RB early if we don't trade.

I like the Delmas pick btw, and think that it has the chance to propel the whole D forward the way Ed Reed was able to do for the Ravens. Even if Delmas can't match that caliber, he would advance the D, IMO;

A young secondary anchored by two successive 1sts and some solid vets, it would be exiting to watch them make plays.

 

[Shogun]

Nic Harris? In our front 7?

 

[Savage58]

Sorry Mitch, I usually like a few of your ideas, this isn't one of them. DD at NT would suck horribly! Espescially for our linebackers. The double team on DD and then sliding into a backer every single play on run plays, would be rough on the ILBs, injuries would mount up, ILBs can't take the pounding of a 300 lb lineman over and over during the course of a game. You can play DD at NT on obvious passing sitations but definately not an everydown option, I think you underestimate the running game in today's NFL, teams do rush up the middle, it's a gashing quick hitter, that can go for big gains quickly if blocked well.

Nic Harris, no thanks, he's a huge project, and as a 3rd rounder, an emphatic no. Espescially not in the 3rd, you're like 2 or 3 rounds early on this guy imo.

Delmas would be a nice addition and let ADub blitz more in a big nickel package, using Adub at ILB would be interesting, but only with a "plugger" in front of him, without it, he's eating a lineman and eventually on IR, not a good idea IMHO. Not to mention ADub would have to pack on 10 lbs or so which could change his game speed for all we know.

I'm off the Kruger bandwagon as well, he's mature and maybe a character guy but his ceiling is limited, I'd rather have Sidbury TBH, as he gets after the QB much better. Kruger has like 13 sacks in 2 years at Utah, just say no to Kruger.

McKillop would be awesome in the 3-4 as long as we protect him, he's a Zack Thomas type, his instincts and recognition skills are through the roof imo, I'd be very excited to see him in Cardinal red.

I doubt we draft a FB anymore with the Kreider signing as well.

Thanks for your time as usual, but I can't sign off on this one bud.