Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Defections:
OLB/DE Alex Okafor---the Cardinals said they wanted to re-sign Okafor. Despite tearing a tricep, Okafor played through it and was used creatively inside and outside in Bettcher's 4 man rush. He recorded 3.5 sacks. However, Okafor signed a 1 year deal with the Saints with $1M guaranteed and a base salary of $935K, plus incentives that could earn him $1M more. Basically the deal is 1 year at $1.935M.
That salary does not seem all that prohibitive if the Cardinals truly wanted to re-sign Okafor, as they kept telling everyone. Perhaps the $1M in guaranteed money was the sticking point, seeing as Okafor was injury prone the last couple of years. Regardless, the reality is, the Cardinals really did not want him back.
Additions:
OLB Jarvis Jones---seemingly minutes after Okafor signed with the Saints, the Cardinals signed Jarvis Jones to a similar 1 year prove it deal. Okafor had more sacks in one year (8) than Jarvis (the #17 pick in the 2013 draft) had in 4 years at Pittsburgh (6). However, a fresh start in AZ without the burden of the 1st round expectations may be just what Jones needs. The Cardinals can use him on the edge from time to time in the base 34. Jones is an effective edge setter. Then they can move him around in their various blitz schemes in passing situations. Because Jones is a solid edge setter, the Cardinals can do what the Patriots did at times with Chandler Jones, which is to slide him down into the 5 technique---the spot currently vacated by Calais Campbell. Thus, adding Jones gives the defense added flexibility and hopefully will help the Cardinals on STs. The Rams were very interested in adding Jones to their new 34 defense, but the Cardinals kept him in town and sealed the deal. Now the Rams are zeroing in on Connor Barwin.
Perhaps James Bettcher, Tom Pratt and Bob Sanders can help Jarvis Jones improve as an edge rusher. However, it was curious that the Cardinals set their immediate sights on Jones with more prolific pass rushers like Marion Williams, Connor Barwin and Dwight Freeney available. Clearly, the Cardinals need to add a situational pass rusher either by adding another UFA or by drafting one.
Paycuts:
CB Justin Bethel---having just gotten Tyvon Branch to accept a paycut, the Cardinals did the same with Justin Bethel to create another $1.5M in cap room. In return for taking a $2M paycut, Bethel was able to void the last year of his contract and will become a UFA in 2018. What is somewhat surprising is why Bethel wouldn't just demand his release right now. The guy tried to play through a broken foot, was deemed a "failure in progress" as a CB by his head coach and now agrees to accept a paycut to stay another year in AZ. If Bethel's improved play the last two games as a nickel CB is an indication of how he responds to criticism, then his response to the latest humbling could be very impressive. After all, he is a 3 time Pro Bowl ST player and 2 time 1st team All-Pro STs ace. Plus, maybe this is the year he becomes a success in progress as a CB, especially now that he is healthy and able to compete in training camp.
The Cardinals have basically done an all-out assault on the secondary---they have let Tony Jefferson, Marcus Cooper and D.J. Swearinger sign elsewhere in FA and they have gotten Tyvon Branch and Justin Bethel to accept paycuts. The curious thing here is that the secondary, aside from the inconsistency at the RCB position was one of the strongest and most successful units on the under-achieving 2016 team. Jefferson led the team in tackles and was the best tackler on the team. Plus, he was vastly improved in coverage versus TEs. Swearinger was the first FS in ages to make WRs, TEs and RBs think twice about catching the ball over the middle---plus he even started making interceptions and getting his hands on a number of balls. Cooper led the team in interceptions with 4.
Adding SS Antoine Bethea for leadership and production was a good move, if Bethea can remain hungry and durable. But, what about RCB and FS? Those positions remain in total flux. Apparently, the Cardinals have been showing interest in CBs Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and Jerraud Powers. Adding Carr or Claiborne as the starting RCB could be a boon. Then, what about FS? Some are speculating that Tyvon Branch will start there, but Branch is not physical enough or rangy enough to be a starter. Nickel FS, maybe. Branch was signed to be a nickel CB on tall WRs and TEs. Mathieu has insisted he is not a FS and Bethea, like Mathieu, thrives in the box. Maybe they coaches are thinking that Bethea can be the FS? Again, does that really suit his game? He can handle the run support and physical job of FS...but can he be a factor in deep to intermediate coverage? Can he be an effective defender in space?
OLB/DE Alex Okafor---the Cardinals said they wanted to re-sign Okafor. Despite tearing a tricep, Okafor played through it and was used creatively inside and outside in Bettcher's 4 man rush. He recorded 3.5 sacks. However, Okafor signed a 1 year deal with the Saints with $1M guaranteed and a base salary of $935K, plus incentives that could earn him $1M more. Basically the deal is 1 year at $1.935M.
That salary does not seem all that prohibitive if the Cardinals truly wanted to re-sign Okafor, as they kept telling everyone. Perhaps the $1M in guaranteed money was the sticking point, seeing as Okafor was injury prone the last couple of years. Regardless, the reality is, the Cardinals really did not want him back.
Additions:
OLB Jarvis Jones---seemingly minutes after Okafor signed with the Saints, the Cardinals signed Jarvis Jones to a similar 1 year prove it deal. Okafor had more sacks in one year (8) than Jarvis (the #17 pick in the 2013 draft) had in 4 years at Pittsburgh (6). However, a fresh start in AZ without the burden of the 1st round expectations may be just what Jones needs. The Cardinals can use him on the edge from time to time in the base 34. Jones is an effective edge setter. Then they can move him around in their various blitz schemes in passing situations. Because Jones is a solid edge setter, the Cardinals can do what the Patriots did at times with Chandler Jones, which is to slide him down into the 5 technique---the spot currently vacated by Calais Campbell. Thus, adding Jones gives the defense added flexibility and hopefully will help the Cardinals on STs. The Rams were very interested in adding Jones to their new 34 defense, but the Cardinals kept him in town and sealed the deal. Now the Rams are zeroing in on Connor Barwin.
Perhaps James Bettcher, Tom Pratt and Bob Sanders can help Jarvis Jones improve as an edge rusher. However, it was curious that the Cardinals set their immediate sights on Jones with more prolific pass rushers like Marion Williams, Connor Barwin and Dwight Freeney available. Clearly, the Cardinals need to add a situational pass rusher either by adding another UFA or by drafting one.
Paycuts:
CB Justin Bethel---having just gotten Tyvon Branch to accept a paycut, the Cardinals did the same with Justin Bethel to create another $1.5M in cap room. In return for taking a $2M paycut, Bethel was able to void the last year of his contract and will become a UFA in 2018. What is somewhat surprising is why Bethel wouldn't just demand his release right now. The guy tried to play through a broken foot, was deemed a "failure in progress" as a CB by his head coach and now agrees to accept a paycut to stay another year in AZ. If Bethel's improved play the last two games as a nickel CB is an indication of how he responds to criticism, then his response to the latest humbling could be very impressive. After all, he is a 3 time Pro Bowl ST player and 2 time 1st team All-Pro STs ace. Plus, maybe this is the year he becomes a success in progress as a CB, especially now that he is healthy and able to compete in training camp.
The Cardinals have basically done an all-out assault on the secondary---they have let Tony Jefferson, Marcus Cooper and D.J. Swearinger sign elsewhere in FA and they have gotten Tyvon Branch and Justin Bethel to accept paycuts. The curious thing here is that the secondary, aside from the inconsistency at the RCB position was one of the strongest and most successful units on the under-achieving 2016 team. Jefferson led the team in tackles and was the best tackler on the team. Plus, he was vastly improved in coverage versus TEs. Swearinger was the first FS in ages to make WRs, TEs and RBs think twice about catching the ball over the middle---plus he even started making interceptions and getting his hands on a number of balls. Cooper led the team in interceptions with 4.
Adding SS Antoine Bethea for leadership and production was a good move, if Bethea can remain hungry and durable. But, what about RCB and FS? Those positions remain in total flux. Apparently, the Cardinals have been showing interest in CBs Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and Jerraud Powers. Adding Carr or Claiborne as the starting RCB could be a boon. Then, what about FS? Some are speculating that Tyvon Branch will start there, but Branch is not physical enough or rangy enough to be a starter. Nickel FS, maybe. Branch was signed to be a nickel CB on tall WRs and TEs. Mathieu has insisted he is not a FS and Bethea, like Mathieu, thrives in the box. Maybe they coaches are thinking that Bethea can be the FS? Again, does that really suit his game? He can handle the run support and physical job of FS...but can he be a factor in deep to intermediate coverage? Can he be an effective defender in space?
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