Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Heading into free agency and the recent NFL Draft many of us figured that at the top of the defensive personnel priority list was adding one or two edge linebackers/pass rushing threats.
The primary phases of free agency and the draft came and went, and not a single OLB was signed or drafted.
As it turns out, OLB was apparently not a priority---
The true priority was adding talent, depth and versatility to the secondary.
Why? What's the deal?
I mean---aren't two of the three key figures in the Steelers' vaunted defense their prolific outside linebackers, James Harrison and Lamar Woodley? The third is SS Troy Polamalu, right?
While youngsters Sam Acho (6-3, 257, 2, Texas) and O'Brien Schofield (6-3, 242, 3, Wisconsin) showed promise last season, can they realistically come even close to doing for the Cardinal defense what Harrison and Woodley do for the Steelers'?
A question remains, as well, as to whether either Acho or Schofield is suited to play the strong side OLB position---as both of them were used primarily on the weak side last year.
The team has yet to re-sign wizened veteran and recent SOLB mainstay Clark Haggans (6-4, 243, 13, Colorado St.)---yet one must wonder how much tread the stalwart Haggans has on his tires.
There are some intriguing youngsters on the roster such as Antonio Coleman (6-2, 258, 2, Auburn), Brandon Williams (6-3, 250, 3, Texas Tech) and recent UCFA signees Broderick Binns (6-0, 258, R, Iowa) and Zach Nash (6-3, 252, R, Sacramento State). Is the Cardinals' starting SOLB among these four?
Yet, what about Stewart Bradley? Bradley (6-4, 258, 6, Nebraska) has the size, strength and athleticism to be a factor on the edge--and the coaches have mentioned Bradley's versatility in the past---could he have been their SOLB plan all along?
The coaches are happy with Paris Lenon (6-2, 240, 11, Richmond) and Daryl Washington (6-2, 230, 3, TCU) as the starters inside---and with good reason. Thus, if Bradley is going to start for this team is would appear his best chance is on the outside.
So, what about the pass rush?
We know that the Cardinals feel very good about the six man rotation in the interior: DE Darnell Dockett (6-4, 290, 9, Florida St.), NT Dan Williams (6-2, 327, 3, Tennessee), DE Calais Campbell (6-8, 300, 5, Miami), DE Nick Eason (6-3, 290, 10, Clemson), NT/DE David Carter (6-5, 300, 2, UCLA), DE Ronald Talley (6-3, 286, 2, Delaware)...as ought they should.
Acho and Schofield have been developing as good situational edge pass rushers---and the hope will be that Bradley and one of the youngsters Coleman, Williams, Binns or Nash, will give the Cardinals good depth.
There may be times as well in the 4 man rush where Ray Horton uses Dockett and/or Campbell at DE when he can rush Carter, Eason, Williams and/or Talley from the inside DT spots. When Horton did this last year on a few occasions he loved to run them on loop stunts in order to have Dockett or Campbell looping hard up the middle.
Yet---having said all of this---what Horton counts on is not a traditional 4 man rush on passing downs---by then he has a hybrid type of defense on the field consisting of 3 safeties and 3 cornerbacks and 1 nickel linebacker---
And this was the area that Horton has focused the off-season on.
Horton's hybrid is deceptive---rarely will Horton stick to a traditional 4 man rush---he is usually going to send 5 or 6 players after the QB---what we and the opponents don't know on any given snap what 5 or 6 are going to bring the pressure.
The featured pressure players in this hybrid are LB Daryl Washington (6-2, 230, 3, TCU) and S Adrian Wilson (6-3, 230, 12, North Carolina St.). Washington is a prolific blitzer who shows outstanding timing and burst off the snap. Wilson's aggressiveness from the edge and from angles in the interior make him a prodigious force to be reckoned with.
With the rest of the personnel in the secondary, Horton wants versatile athletes who can blitz with a flourish and bang when called upon---who can play press man AND zone coverage---who can invert and play deep coverage---and most of all, who can tackle with suddenness and pop.
This is exactly why CB/S Crezdon Butler (6-0, 191, 3, Clemson) was added at the beginning of last year---why CB/S William Gay (5-10, 190, 6, Louisville) was the premier free agent Horton added this off-season---why CB/S Jamell Fleming (5-11, 202, R, Oklahoma) was selected in the 3rd round (#80)---and why CB/S Justin Bethel (6-0, 196, R, Presbyterian) was selected in the 6th round (#177). All four of these players bring the size, versatility and aggressiveness that Horton wants.
Given the priority, Horton wanted to square away this vital aspect of his defense.
Horton also fortified the depth at the safety position by signing S James Sanders (5-10, 210, 8, Fresno St.) in free agency to add to the trio of Wilson, Kerry Rhodes (6-3, 212, 8 Louisville) and the steadily improving Rashad Johnson (5-11, 204, 4, Alabama).
The expectation at CB to start the year is that Patrick Peterson (6-1, 219, 2, LSU) with a year's experience under his belt will quickly mature into a Pro Bowl caliber corner and that Greg Toler (6-0, 196, 4, St. Paul's) back from injury will compete with A.J. Jefferson (6-1, 190, 3, Fresno St.) for the starting backside corner---both Toler and Jefferson have the size, the flexibility and the tackling ability to be effective in that role. Toler has to shake off the rust and assimilate well into the system and Jefferson has to show renewed confidence after getting his feet wet last year.
CB Michael Adams (5-8, 181, 6, Louisiana-Lafayette) remains a valuable asset as one of the STs ace and nickel corners. Adams's aggressiveness and forceful tackling and blitzing ability belie his diminutive size.
CB Marshay Green (5-10, 175, 3, Mississippi) and CB Korey Lindsey (5-10, 194, 2, Southern Illinois) will have to prove that they have the aggressiveness, covering and tackling ability, and versatility that Horton wants if they are going to play their way into roster consideration.
There's also a chance that one of the young inside linebackers could join the aggressive a good ST LB Reggie Walker (6-0, 244, 4, Kansas St.) as one of the backups. Last year's 6th round pick Quan Sturdivant (6-1, 241, 2, North Carolina) will have to stave off an impressive group of undrafted ILBs in Colin Parker (6-1, 223, R, Arizona St.), Paul Vassallo (6-3, 240, R, Arizona) and Marcus McGraw (5-10, 236, R, Houston)---it could well be that the best STs player in this group makes the roster, that is if the Cardinals are indeed moving Stewart Bradley to the outside. It's possible that, in order to save a roster spot, that the Cardinals would think of Bradley as depth on the inside even if he is the starter on the outside.
Pushing for some attention on the interior line will be Ricky Lumpkin (6-4, 306, 2, Kentucky), Conrad Obi (6-3, 290, R, Colorado) and Tevita Finau (6-4, 288, R, Utah).
Trade Prediction: S Kerry Rhodes to the Philadelphia Eagles for OLB Brandon Graham (6-2, 268, 4, Michigan). Graham is now healed from his ACL tear, but while he's been out the Eagles have been loading up on pass rushers---and they need help at safety.
Plan B: Rhodes to the Texans for OLB Brian Braman (6-5, 248, 2, West Texas A&M).
There's a very good chance that Rashad Johnson is going to beat Rhodes out, regardless of a trade.
Ray Horton's Roster
Just as building up the secondary was this year's priority---it will show very much so on the roster decisions (with STs consideration as well)
NT (2): Williams, Carter
DE(4): Dockett, Campbell, Eason, Talley
LB (8): Acho, Washington, Lenon, Graham, Schofield, Bradley, Walker, Binns
CB (6): Peterson, Jefferson, Toler, Gay, Fleming, Adams
S (5): Wilson, Johnson, Sanders, Butler, Bethel
THERE IS A "D" IN CARDINALS!
The primary phases of free agency and the draft came and went, and not a single OLB was signed or drafted.
As it turns out, OLB was apparently not a priority---
The true priority was adding talent, depth and versatility to the secondary.
Why? What's the deal?
I mean---aren't two of the three key figures in the Steelers' vaunted defense their prolific outside linebackers, James Harrison and Lamar Woodley? The third is SS Troy Polamalu, right?
While youngsters Sam Acho (6-3, 257, 2, Texas) and O'Brien Schofield (6-3, 242, 3, Wisconsin) showed promise last season, can they realistically come even close to doing for the Cardinal defense what Harrison and Woodley do for the Steelers'?
A question remains, as well, as to whether either Acho or Schofield is suited to play the strong side OLB position---as both of them were used primarily on the weak side last year.
The team has yet to re-sign wizened veteran and recent SOLB mainstay Clark Haggans (6-4, 243, 13, Colorado St.)---yet one must wonder how much tread the stalwart Haggans has on his tires.
There are some intriguing youngsters on the roster such as Antonio Coleman (6-2, 258, 2, Auburn), Brandon Williams (6-3, 250, 3, Texas Tech) and recent UCFA signees Broderick Binns (6-0, 258, R, Iowa) and Zach Nash (6-3, 252, R, Sacramento State). Is the Cardinals' starting SOLB among these four?
Yet, what about Stewart Bradley? Bradley (6-4, 258, 6, Nebraska) has the size, strength and athleticism to be a factor on the edge--and the coaches have mentioned Bradley's versatility in the past---could he have been their SOLB plan all along?
The coaches are happy with Paris Lenon (6-2, 240, 11, Richmond) and Daryl Washington (6-2, 230, 3, TCU) as the starters inside---and with good reason. Thus, if Bradley is going to start for this team is would appear his best chance is on the outside.
So, what about the pass rush?
We know that the Cardinals feel very good about the six man rotation in the interior: DE Darnell Dockett (6-4, 290, 9, Florida St.), NT Dan Williams (6-2, 327, 3, Tennessee), DE Calais Campbell (6-8, 300, 5, Miami), DE Nick Eason (6-3, 290, 10, Clemson), NT/DE David Carter (6-5, 300, 2, UCLA), DE Ronald Talley (6-3, 286, 2, Delaware)...as ought they should.
Acho and Schofield have been developing as good situational edge pass rushers---and the hope will be that Bradley and one of the youngsters Coleman, Williams, Binns or Nash, will give the Cardinals good depth.
There may be times as well in the 4 man rush where Ray Horton uses Dockett and/or Campbell at DE when he can rush Carter, Eason, Williams and/or Talley from the inside DT spots. When Horton did this last year on a few occasions he loved to run them on loop stunts in order to have Dockett or Campbell looping hard up the middle.
Yet---having said all of this---what Horton counts on is not a traditional 4 man rush on passing downs---by then he has a hybrid type of defense on the field consisting of 3 safeties and 3 cornerbacks and 1 nickel linebacker---
And this was the area that Horton has focused the off-season on.
Horton's hybrid is deceptive---rarely will Horton stick to a traditional 4 man rush---he is usually going to send 5 or 6 players after the QB---what we and the opponents don't know on any given snap what 5 or 6 are going to bring the pressure.
The featured pressure players in this hybrid are LB Daryl Washington (6-2, 230, 3, TCU) and S Adrian Wilson (6-3, 230, 12, North Carolina St.). Washington is a prolific blitzer who shows outstanding timing and burst off the snap. Wilson's aggressiveness from the edge and from angles in the interior make him a prodigious force to be reckoned with.
With the rest of the personnel in the secondary, Horton wants versatile athletes who can blitz with a flourish and bang when called upon---who can play press man AND zone coverage---who can invert and play deep coverage---and most of all, who can tackle with suddenness and pop.
This is exactly why CB/S Crezdon Butler (6-0, 191, 3, Clemson) was added at the beginning of last year---why CB/S William Gay (5-10, 190, 6, Louisville) was the premier free agent Horton added this off-season---why CB/S Jamell Fleming (5-11, 202, R, Oklahoma) was selected in the 3rd round (#80)---and why CB/S Justin Bethel (6-0, 196, R, Presbyterian) was selected in the 6th round (#177). All four of these players bring the size, versatility and aggressiveness that Horton wants.
Given the priority, Horton wanted to square away this vital aspect of his defense.
Horton also fortified the depth at the safety position by signing S James Sanders (5-10, 210, 8, Fresno St.) in free agency to add to the trio of Wilson, Kerry Rhodes (6-3, 212, 8 Louisville) and the steadily improving Rashad Johnson (5-11, 204, 4, Alabama).
The expectation at CB to start the year is that Patrick Peterson (6-1, 219, 2, LSU) with a year's experience under his belt will quickly mature into a Pro Bowl caliber corner and that Greg Toler (6-0, 196, 4, St. Paul's) back from injury will compete with A.J. Jefferson (6-1, 190, 3, Fresno St.) for the starting backside corner---both Toler and Jefferson have the size, the flexibility and the tackling ability to be effective in that role. Toler has to shake off the rust and assimilate well into the system and Jefferson has to show renewed confidence after getting his feet wet last year.
CB Michael Adams (5-8, 181, 6, Louisiana-Lafayette) remains a valuable asset as one of the STs ace and nickel corners. Adams's aggressiveness and forceful tackling and blitzing ability belie his diminutive size.
CB Marshay Green (5-10, 175, 3, Mississippi) and CB Korey Lindsey (5-10, 194, 2, Southern Illinois) will have to prove that they have the aggressiveness, covering and tackling ability, and versatility that Horton wants if they are going to play their way into roster consideration.
There's also a chance that one of the young inside linebackers could join the aggressive a good ST LB Reggie Walker (6-0, 244, 4, Kansas St.) as one of the backups. Last year's 6th round pick Quan Sturdivant (6-1, 241, 2, North Carolina) will have to stave off an impressive group of undrafted ILBs in Colin Parker (6-1, 223, R, Arizona St.), Paul Vassallo (6-3, 240, R, Arizona) and Marcus McGraw (5-10, 236, R, Houston)---it could well be that the best STs player in this group makes the roster, that is if the Cardinals are indeed moving Stewart Bradley to the outside. It's possible that, in order to save a roster spot, that the Cardinals would think of Bradley as depth on the inside even if he is the starter on the outside.
Pushing for some attention on the interior line will be Ricky Lumpkin (6-4, 306, 2, Kentucky), Conrad Obi (6-3, 290, R, Colorado) and Tevita Finau (6-4, 288, R, Utah).
Trade Prediction: S Kerry Rhodes to the Philadelphia Eagles for OLB Brandon Graham (6-2, 268, 4, Michigan). Graham is now healed from his ACL tear, but while he's been out the Eagles have been loading up on pass rushers---and they need help at safety.
Plan B: Rhodes to the Texans for OLB Brian Braman (6-5, 248, 2, West Texas A&M).
There's a very good chance that Rashad Johnson is going to beat Rhodes out, regardless of a trade.
Ray Horton's Roster
Just as building up the secondary was this year's priority---it will show very much so on the roster decisions (with STs consideration as well)
NT (2): Williams, Carter
DE(4): Dockett, Campbell, Eason, Talley
LB (8): Acho, Washington, Lenon, Graham, Schofield, Bradley, Walker, Binns
CB (6): Peterson, Jefferson, Toler, Gay, Fleming, Adams
S (5): Wilson, Johnson, Sanders, Butler, Bethel
THERE IS A "D" IN CARDINALS!
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