Kvb Will Deliver.

[Redheart]

Cards DE poised to fulfill potential

Vanden Bosch free from injuries

Tim Tyers
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 7, 2003 12:00 AM


FLAGSTAFF - Experts have judged Cardinals defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and found him guilty of not being a premier pass rusher in the NFL.

They might be right . . . or, just as easily, absolutely wrong. The truth is, it's totally unfair to judge Vanden Bosch on his first two NFL seasons.

For openers, his mates along the defensive line did little to restrict opponents from giving him extra attention last year, when he played on 1 1/2 legs. Second, his total of "healthy" games is his first three as a rookie in 2001.

"Last year was very tough on him, and I don't know if many people could have pulled that off the way he did," Cardinals defensive line coach Joe Greene said. "He played 16 games after coming off a very, very serious knee injury.

"He didn't complain about it and didn't miss any practice time or playing time. But he wasn't as strong, fluid or quick as he was the year before. He is back to that now, and we expect Kyle to be Kyle."

Few will question that Vanden Bosch's intensity and work ethic might rank at the top on the Cardinals, as Greene's obvious respect indicates. Yet, just how good he can be remains a mystery, a work in progress.

Despite last year's limitations, the 6-foot-4, 282-pound former Nebraska star still led the Cardinals' woeful pass rush with four sacks, nine hurries and eight tackles for loss.

Consider the numbers he put up in those first three games as a rookie: six solo tackles, one sack, one hurry, one defended pass and a fumble return for a touchdown. He did that before an ankle and knee injury requiring reconstruction ended his season.

"Sometimes, you wonder what could have been, and sometimes you wonder why did it have to happen to me?" Vanden Bosch said of his abbreviated rookie season. "It's just part of the game. It's a physical game and injuries are a part of it, and you have to overcome that."

Vanden Bosch and Greene said they believe the techniques he was forced to learn and employ while playing at less than 100 percent last year will only make him a better player at full strength.

"I don't want to make any excuses for last year, but coming into this year I feel like I have a fresh start and there is nothing holding me back," Vanden Bosch said. "I can just go and play now. Last year, there were times when there were pileups and I was looking around making sure nobody was going to fall on my knee.

"I didn't feel I was as explosive, and it was frustrating. There were times when I felt I should have made plays that I didn't make. This year I will make those plays."

The Cardinals drafted Wake Forest defensive end Calvin Pace with the second of two first-round picks this year. Both are working primarily on the right side in camp, but in the best of all worlds the Cardinals would like Pace to show he can handle the right side, so Vanden Bosch can be moved to the left side. He already is playing the left side on the No. 1 nickel and dime defenses.

If last year's first-round draft pick, Wendell Bryant, can provide a needed inside push, it'll be a much better world for Cardinals ' defensive backs.

"We've thought of moving him," coach Dave McGinnis said. "All of our defensive ends need to be able to play both sides. You can't get into a situation where you're only locked into one side, so I think it's very important that we cross-train our people not only there, but at linebackers and receivers, as well. We have four preseason games to decide that."

The Cardinals have altered their defensive approach, going from a read and react gap-control team, to a more aggressive penetrating attack with their front seven. It's a development that Vanden Bosch believes can only enhance putting more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

"We'll have a better pass rush," he said. "From what I've seen in practice so far, it seems like we're getting a lot more push up the middle from the inside guys, and the guys working on the outside are really collapsing the pocket.

"We sat on our heels more last year and tried to read the block, and now we're getting up the field faster and making linemen adjust to us. It gives us a better chance to make plays in the backfield.

"We were a good defense last year on first and second down. The big thing this year is getting off the field on third down."

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Word!

I really hope KVB puts it together this season and kicks opposing O-Linemen around like a soccer ball in a Venezuelan school yard!

 

[spanky]

I'm reading that his weight is up to 282 lbs. That's a VERY good weight for a DE. Man if Pace is the real deal and Bryant shakes the sophmore jinx, we could be damn competitive up front. I'd prefer Bell over Davis but may the best man win

 

[red desert]

I'll say it again . . .

KVB is going to be a player that other teams are going to have to contend with. The only thing is, I hope the Cards sign him to an extension before he "gets off" this year.

 

[az240zz]

Originally posted by spanky
Bryant shakes the sophmore jinx, we could be damn competitive up front. I'd prefer Bell over Davis but may the best man win

I think bryant has to beat the Freshman jinx!!!

Az240z

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

How Times Change

This article sounds like some (other than me) feel that a healthy KVB can be a top pro NFL DE.

At least one of the so-called experts on here gave me some flack for even considering the possibility.......some on here as early as just a few months ago sounded off that KVB will be nothing more than an average or below-average journeyman DE.

 

[Shane]

I llove KVB and his attitude and his work ethic he is one of my favorites!

With that being said. Its odd that when you look at a guy who is a three year pro and he doesnt even have the pass rush skill of a rookie like Pace? KVB does good but doesnt have the speed to be an elite rusher and he never will!

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Shane H
I llove KVB and his attitude and his work ethic he is one of my favorites!

With that being said. Its odd that when you look at a guy who is a three year pro and he doesnt even have the pass rush skill of a rookie like Pace? KVB does good but doesnt have the speed to be an elite rusher and he never will!

I think he could be a solid 6-7 sack per year guy, but that's about all he can do at this level. He lacks the speed, and the great hands of elite pass rushers.

 

[Shane]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
I think he could be a solid 6-7 sack per year guy, but that's about all he can do at this level. He lacks the speed, and the great hands of elite pass rushers.

Which is really all we need thats why Im happy with him. Say he can average 6-7 a year and Pace becomes our 12+ guy then we should be ok. Throw in Wendell and we just might have something!

 

[arthurracoon]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
I think he could be a solid 6-7 sack per year guy, but that's about all he can do at this level. He lacks the speed, and the great hands of elite pass rushers.

That's the problem...

He is NOT an elite pass rusher...

He was NEVER an elite pass rusher...

He will NEVER be an elite pass rusher...

He WILL be a solid LE who can stop the run and generate some pass rush...

 

[Redheart]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
That's the problem...

He WILL be a solid LE who can stop the run and generate some pass rush... [/B]

That's a problem? It sounds like a major NEED for us.

 

[arthurracoon]

Originally posted by Redheart
That's a problem? It sounds like a major NEED for us.

sortof.

It is a good problem.

 

[AndyO]

Elite or not, we need good, solid lineman first and foremost. If KVB never develops into the premier pass rushing DE of the NFL, so be it. He is developing into a talented, hard working DE who does well against the run amd better than average, potenially, against the pass. Why would we be disappointed in that?

 

[cardzfan]

A healthy, injury free KVB will be playing in the backfield this year. He is a non stop player with a motor that does not quit.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by cardzfan
A healthy, injury free KVB will be playing in the backfield this year. He is a non stop player with a motor that does not quit.

Exactly. He is the type of role player and successful team needs.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
Exactly. He is the type of role player and successful team needs.

And what everyone has forgotten is he is the type of player who can force a QB to step up anr slide the other way and hoeepfully that will be into the arms of another Cardinal who is crashing in from the right side or collapsing the pocket up the middle. A fully unleashed KVB will force teams to be cognizant of him and it will not allow them to simply take him one on one but may force them into chip blocking him which of course frees up someone else or takes a player out of the pattern.

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by AZCB34
And what everyone has forgotten is he is the type of player who can force a QB to step up anr slide the other way and hoeepfully that will be into the arms of another Cardinal who is crashing in from the right side or collapsing the pocket up the middle. A fully unleashed KVB will force teams to be cognizant of him and it will not allow them to simply take him one on one but may force them into chip blocking him which of course frees up someone else or takes a player out of the pattern.

Actually, that sounds like the definition of an elite player. I think that the "role player" that Krag was talking about was the one who "takes out the trash" when the QB tries to re-establish himself in the pocket.

What I'm wondering, Krang, is if KVB finally becomes that "solid role player" for 6-8 sacks a season, did we bust on a #2 pick, even if he becomes a solid player. Isn't solid players what 3rd and 4th round picks are for?

 

[Redheart]

Oh Frick...I'm READY!!!

UNLEASH THE HOUNDS!!!