Ray Horton said a very interesting this last year after the Steelers' re-acquired CB Bryant McFadden---he said, "we are going to have to get the Arizona out of him."
While Horton did not elaborate on the specifics of his remark---one who has followed the Cardinals closely for the past few years may likely be able to infer what "getting the Arizona" out of a defensive player means...as in:
1. A willingness to tackle.
2. A willingness to show proper technique in tackling, shedding blocks and playing good, solid coverage in man and zone.
3. Not folding in like a house of cards late in games.
4. Exerting one's will toward winning football games.
5. Showing up to play every practice.
6. Showing up to play every snap.
7. Showing up to play every game.
8. Not pointing fingers constantly at teammates.
9. Hitting to intimidate the opponent.
10. Not making a plethora of mental errors, blown assignments and coverages, etc.
Yup---that---pretty much---would be getting the Arizona out of a player.
Now that Horton has reviewed the game tapes and evaluated his personnel, he has already come to the conclusion that the potential to have a Top 5 defense is sitting right in front of them.
We have heard Top 5 prognostications before in Arizona. Haven't we?
Wasn't it first Buddy Ryan who guaranteed Cardinal fans a Top 5 defense and that they should be glad to finally have "a winner in town"?
Wasn't it then Denny Green who---upon his hiring---showed us pie charts of the history of his outstanding offensive production as head coach of the Vikings and then guaranteed us that the Cardinals would have a Top 5 offense as long as he was the coach?
What happened with Ryan was somewhat mind-boggling, to say the least. He showed such a disdain for his own offense that he basically allowed his defense to beat the crap out of the offense every day in practice---something Ryan actually relished, even as a head coach. As a result, because the offense came into games so demoralized, it sputtered frequently, which left Ryan's defense playing the majority of minutes on the field each game. And guess what---it's pretty difficult to have a Top 5 defense if it finds itself playing the majority of minutes every game.
What happened with Green is perhaps even more mind-boggling. Green coached in Arizona for a few years, and yet it would be difficult for any Cardinals' fan to discern what Green's offense actually was. Green ran though an array of offensive assistants---yet, it was never truly clear what Green's direction for the offense was---and even worse, Green spent most of his time in practices and games off to the side, away from the players, mumbling things to himself. Top 5 offense? What a farce.
So---how and why then---might things be different with newly hired defensive coordinator Ray Horton and his belief that he will have a Top 5 defense on his hands?
Well, first of all, Horton hasn't guaranteed anything.
What he has done is plant a very valuable seed in his players' minds.
He not only expects them to be good...he expects them to be very good.
In essence, he has raised the bar on expectations.
Good move.
The entire mentality of this defense needs to change and Horton knew this even last year as DB coach of the Steelers when he said he had to get the Arizona out of Bryant McFadden.
So---how is Horton going to get the old Arizona out of the defense---and replace it with his new version of Arizona?
First of all---he is coaching a system that is proven defensive system in the NFL. The Steelers' Dick LeBeau version of the 3-4 has passed the test of time with flying colors.
It is a defense that thrives on making the offense guess---it is a zone blitz oriented scheme---and the guessing part is about which players from which alignments will blitz and which players will drop back into coverage.
A play that epitomizes the nature of LeBeau's 34 defense was the now infamous play in the Super Bowl where OLB James Harrison, the best pass rusher on the field, did not rush Kurt Warner as expected and dropped into the inner slant pass zone where he picked Warner clean and then rambled 102 yards for a TD.
Yet, we also saw in the same game how this 34 defense can be exploited when the QB makes the right read. Warner hit a streaking Larry Fitzgerald on a quick slant pass that Fitzgerald ran over 50 yards straight up the middle with because the Steeler safeties were split to cover the deep thirds, thus leaving the middle wide open.
The point is this: when defenses gamble---shrewd, savvy QBs can exploit them---and that is the worry.
So---how and why then do the Steelers thrive year after year in this 34 system, taking all the calculated gambles that they do?
The answer is four-fold:
1. They pressure you from gun to gun.
2. They tackle you and they tackle you hard.
3. They intimidate you.
4. They exploit your weaknesses.
Herein lies Horton's greatest challenge---
The Cardinals' defenses of the previous 12 years have not demonstrated the ability or the hunger to accomplish any of the 4 criteria above...which is why Horton, as a Steelers' DB coach, talked about getting the Arizona out of one of his players.
So---how is Horton going to accomplish all of the above?
Well---it may take some time---that is if the current personnel doesn't embrace what Horton is teaching and preaching---because Horton won't waste his time with pretenders.
1. They pressure you. Horton has already told us he is going to blitz on the first play. This defense will be positioned to be extremely aggressive. This defense will not play on its heels.
Does Horton have the personnel to play the pressure game?
The good news is that his interior three Darnell Dockett, Dan Williams and Calais Campbell have the ability to be sensational. SS Adrian Wilson is one of the most prolific safety blitzers in the NFL. And 2nd year ILB Daryl Washington showed flashes of being a blitzing dynamo last year.
What Horton has to find are capable edge rushers. Clark Haggans and Joey Porter are past their primes---but could be reinvigorated by playing in schemes they once thrived in. Youngsters Will Davis, O'Brien Schofield, 4th round draft pick Sam Acho, Cyril Obiozor, Curtis Greenwood and Brandon Sharpe have a wide-open opportunity to impress---with Schofield looking to be the most promising of the bunch.
Because of the uncertainty on the edges, it would help Horton to get some reinforcements in free agency, as well as a couple of good roatation players for the interior DL.
2. They tackle you and they tackle you hard.This will be one of Horton's greatest challenges. Good tackling requires strong technique and prolific desire. The best hitters on the defense are Darnell Dockett and Adrian Wilson---but even they show improper fundamentals from time to time.
The surest tacklers are Paris Lenon, Michael Adams and Greg Toler---which is good news for all three of them because Horton has maintained, "I want little guys who can hit."
Then Horton must find a way to teach and motivate the poor, unwilling tacklers on the team---especially DRC, if he is not traded.
Horton loves his CBs to play good angles in relation to the the ball and the man or zone they are assign to cover---and then react swiftly to the play and deliver big hits on the opponent who touches the football.
In 1st round draft pick Patrick Peterson, 3rd year player Greg Toler and 2nd year UCFA A.J. Jefferson, Horton has three players who fit the profile---because of their size/speed/hitting ability ratios.
Add UFA CB Ike Taylor---Horton's and DeShea Townsend's favorite 34 CB to this mix---to be the teacher on the field---and the Cardinals may already have the makings of a Top 5 secondary.
3. They intimidate you. The Cardinals' idea of intimidation has been to run their mouths off---and to display hissy fits if someone from the other team plays extra physical. What this has resulted in is more boneheaded 15 yard penalties than actual intimidations.
What Horton has to convince his defense to do---is to stop running their mouths and let their hitting do the talking.
In Dockett and Wilson, Horton has two of the more potentially intimidating players in the NFL---that is, if both of them can stop incurring late hit or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
The player that Horton will need to work on the most in this regard is FS Kerry Rhodes. Horton likes his safeties to punish anyone who catches the ball over the middle or up the sidelines. That's one of the main intimidation factors Horton wants and needs. Rhodes is a savvy, clever player who has a penchant for making big plays, but when it comes to tackling in the open field, one could hardly call him an intimidator. In fact, the word finesse comes to mind.
Rhodes' backup at FS Rashad Johnson has been lifting with Adrian Wilson this off-season and has added good muscle. Johnson will have a great opportunity to turn some heads this year, especially in nickel and dime situations.
4. They exploit your weaknesses. Remember the game where the Cardinals injured Donovan McNabb to the point where McNabb could hardly walk, and yet McNabb stayed in and picked the secondary apart play after play without the Cardinals sending the ranch after him? With Ray Horton is command, those days are now long gone. Horton will send the dogs after any weak link. It's a Dick LeBeau imperative.
Just the same---there won't be teams exploiting his defense on the same play time and time again, such as how the Seahawks threw the slant pass to Mike Williams at will versus the hapless and poorrly prepared Cardinals for two straight games. Horton will have counter moves and will make a ton of in-game adjustments.
Most of all, Horton will study the opponents' offensive lines and will load up on the weakest side and weakest players. There will be very good preparation for this---and the Cardinals' defenders will feel like this gives them an edge. That in itself will be such a refreshing change.
In addition to the aforementioned challenges---one of the main challenges Horton will have to conquer is figuring out how to generate QB pressure from a 4 man rush in passing situations.
He and the Steeler coaches had the luxury of being able to slide 34 OLBers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley down to DE in passing situations....and still not skip a beat. With the Cardinals Horton is going to have to hope that he can acquire a couple of good situational rushers, because the current crop looks thin---or he is going to have to teach Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell to be DEs in a 4 man rush---which would likely take away from the interior rush.
Having to work around the lockout and then adding new players in to camp and his system when they arrive during the free agent signing period are going to make Horton's job even more challenging. But, Horton has the background and the charisma to get the right Arizona back into the Cardinals.
