Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
The NTs and DEs in Todd Bowles' attacking scheme are the key to the defense. First and foremost, they are responsible for bottling up the run, which they did as well as ever last season. Just as importantly, they are what makes the Cardinals' pass rush so fierce because Bowles' primary strategy is to pressure up the middle with the front three and often blitzing the A & B gaps with linebackers or safeties.
NT:
* Dan Williams (6-2, 327, 27, 5, Tennessee) is heading into his contract year after what was his best season. He had to cope with the heartbreaking loss of his father, and rallied up like a champion. He appears to be in the best shape of his career, and it shows in his game, as he is a tough and fluid athlete in the middle of the defense who can outmuscle his way to the ball in his gaps, nimbly slide, chase and finish with a bang on running plays down the line, and now shed his man and make quick rushes to the quarterback.
* Alameda Ta'amu (6-3, 348, 23, 3, Washington) was an excellent waiver wire addition in September last year. The way he played, it is hard to imagine why the Steelers let this 2012 4th round draft pick go. Not only is Ta'amu a huge physical presence in the middle, he is exceptionally agile for a player his size---and he packs a punch finishing off ball carriers with jarring tackles. He's still recovering from his late season knee injury---but appears to be on track to be a contributor once again this season, either by week one or after the bye week.
In the interim the Cardinals can use the versatile Frostee Rucker (6-3, 280, 30, 9, USC) as a rotational NT/DE. Rucker got stronger as the season went on last year, he has pass rush potential and he's an effective leader in the clubhouse.
There are three younger players on the roster who have a golden opportunity to make the roster if Ta'amu's rehab lingers into the regular season:
* Christian Tupou (6-2, 300, 25, 3, USC) could be this year's surprise addition, as could practice squad holdover Anthony McCloud (6-2, 314, 21, 1, Florida St.) or UCFA DT Bruce Gaston (6-2, 308, 22, R, Purdue) who played well at the East-West Shrine game, but was a Combine snub.
DE:
* Darnell Dockett (6-4, 290, 33, 11, Florida St.) remains the fiery vocal leader of The Birdgang, who is getting to the point in his career where it would do him well to split snaps in oder to keep his legs fresh. He is a nice fit in Bowles' attacking scheme---but was not quite as productive in his new role last year, likely because of stamina issues due to age.
* Calais Campbell (6-8, 300, 27, 7, Miami FL) has emerged as the blue chipper up front for the Cardinals. He is coming off a highly productive year and admits that his production would have been higher had he not missed a number of added tackle and sack opportunities. He has helped to revolutionize the 34 DE position for teams that now see the value of having taller, more athletic options in that role.
Just as the Cardinals under Steve Keim and Bruce Arians have made a conscious effort to build the strength and athleticism of the offensive line, this year they added two draft picks to solidify and upgrade the depth up front on defense.
* Kereem Martin (6-6, 272, 22, R, North Carolina) is a third round pick who is coming off a very productive senior year in the ACC. Martin has an intriguing combination of length, strength and agility and would seem a natural at 34 DE and a possible edge rusher in the nickel.
* Ed Stinson (6-3, 287, 24, R, Alabama) is an interior run plugger who played solidly at Bama last year despite nagging injuries. Practicing the past few years versus Chance Warmack and Anthony Steen has prepared him well to play in the NFL What remains to be seen is whether Stinson, this year's fifth round pick, can muster a pass rush and adapt to Bowles' attacking style.
An UCFA to keep an eye on is Justin Renfrow (6-6, 310, 24, R, Miami FL) who has excellent size and above average, albeit untapped athletic ability.
The way the Cardinals are set up under Arians and Keim is for the interior lines to play good, hard, physical football. The Cardinals currently have the horses up front on defense to be a dominating defense. The depth of this unit should be tested this season---it will be interesting to see what Bowles, Tom Pratt and Brentson Buckner can do to the accelerate the veteran's production and the growth of the younger players.
NT:
* Dan Williams (6-2, 327, 27, 5, Tennessee) is heading into his contract year after what was his best season. He had to cope with the heartbreaking loss of his father, and rallied up like a champion. He appears to be in the best shape of his career, and it shows in his game, as he is a tough and fluid athlete in the middle of the defense who can outmuscle his way to the ball in his gaps, nimbly slide, chase and finish with a bang on running plays down the line, and now shed his man and make quick rushes to the quarterback.
* Alameda Ta'amu (6-3, 348, 23, 3, Washington) was an excellent waiver wire addition in September last year. The way he played, it is hard to imagine why the Steelers let this 2012 4th round draft pick go. Not only is Ta'amu a huge physical presence in the middle, he is exceptionally agile for a player his size---and he packs a punch finishing off ball carriers with jarring tackles. He's still recovering from his late season knee injury---but appears to be on track to be a contributor once again this season, either by week one or after the bye week.
In the interim the Cardinals can use the versatile Frostee Rucker (6-3, 280, 30, 9, USC) as a rotational NT/DE. Rucker got stronger as the season went on last year, he has pass rush potential and he's an effective leader in the clubhouse.
There are three younger players on the roster who have a golden opportunity to make the roster if Ta'amu's rehab lingers into the regular season:
* Christian Tupou (6-2, 300, 25, 3, USC) could be this year's surprise addition, as could practice squad holdover Anthony McCloud (6-2, 314, 21, 1, Florida St.) or UCFA DT Bruce Gaston (6-2, 308, 22, R, Purdue) who played well at the East-West Shrine game, but was a Combine snub.
DE:
* Darnell Dockett (6-4, 290, 33, 11, Florida St.) remains the fiery vocal leader of The Birdgang, who is getting to the point in his career where it would do him well to split snaps in oder to keep his legs fresh. He is a nice fit in Bowles' attacking scheme---but was not quite as productive in his new role last year, likely because of stamina issues due to age.
* Calais Campbell (6-8, 300, 27, 7, Miami FL) has emerged as the blue chipper up front for the Cardinals. He is coming off a highly productive year and admits that his production would have been higher had he not missed a number of added tackle and sack opportunities. He has helped to revolutionize the 34 DE position for teams that now see the value of having taller, more athletic options in that role.
Just as the Cardinals under Steve Keim and Bruce Arians have made a conscious effort to build the strength and athleticism of the offensive line, this year they added two draft picks to solidify and upgrade the depth up front on defense.
* Kereem Martin (6-6, 272, 22, R, North Carolina) is a third round pick who is coming off a very productive senior year in the ACC. Martin has an intriguing combination of length, strength and agility and would seem a natural at 34 DE and a possible edge rusher in the nickel.
* Ed Stinson (6-3, 287, 24, R, Alabama) is an interior run plugger who played solidly at Bama last year despite nagging injuries. Practicing the past few years versus Chance Warmack and Anthony Steen has prepared him well to play in the NFL What remains to be seen is whether Stinson, this year's fifth round pick, can muster a pass rush and adapt to Bowles' attacking style.
An UCFA to keep an eye on is Justin Renfrow (6-6, 310, 24, R, Miami FL) who has excellent size and above average, albeit untapped athletic ability.
The way the Cardinals are set up under Arians and Keim is for the interior lines to play good, hard, physical football. The Cardinals currently have the horses up front on defense to be a dominating defense. The depth of this unit should be tested this season---it will be interesting to see what Bowles, Tom Pratt and Brentson Buckner can do to the accelerate the veteran's production and the growth of the younger players.
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