Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
It will be interesting to watch what new DC Bill Davis does with the Cardinals' defense, a defense that last year was recently described by Ron Wolfley during his appearance on the NFL Network as "awful" in scoring defense, red zone defense and third down defense.
Gone are RDE Antonio Smith, a player who made big plays in some big games, but was quiet in others...OLB Travis LaBoy who started the season well, but spent the rest of the season battling injuries and offering subpar play because of them...CB Rod Hood, who was solid at times, but a liabiity at others, especially when he was picking up holding penalties and not looking back for the ball when in a position to make a play on it.
In Smith's place, the team is looking for the emergence of last year's 2nd round pick, RDE Calais Campbell of the U, a player who brings intriguing height, hustle and athleticism to the position...in OLB LaBoy's place is this year's 2nd round pick Cody Brown, the reigning Big East leader in sacks who played with his hand down at UConn...and in Hood's place is UFA CB Bryant McFadden, who started versus the Cardinals in the Super Bowl, a big physical corner, who plays angles well and forces the run with a bang.
Added to the mix are FS Rashad Johnson of Alabama, a super smart centerfielder who can immediately take over as the nickel and dime FS...CB Greg Toler, the Cardinals' 4th round pick, a 4.3 speedster with decent size...DE Rodney Leslie, a big rugged interior lineman who has the strength to bottle up the run and collapse the pocket...OLB Will Davis an edge pass rusher who struggled through a disappointing senior year after leading his team at Illinois in sacks as a junior.
The rest of the starting defense remains intact:
LOLB: Clark Haggans...active, smart competitor who needs to shake the injury bug.
LDE: Darnell Dockett...dynamic interior player when motivated.
NT: Gabe Watson...mammouth run stopper, who need to be healthy this year.
RDE: Calais Campbell...tall, athletic and rangy, who needs to rip his way to the ball with greater consistency.
ROLB: Chike Okeafor...physical and quick edge player who needs to be turned loose more often.
LILB: Gerald Hayes...good downhill tackler when he's coached to run downhill.
RILB: Karlos Dansby....active athlete who makes big plays but tends to give up them too.
LCB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie...super speedy and well-sized CB who dazzled atheltically at times as a rookie, but got readily fooled at others.
FS: Antrel Rolle...playmaker who thrives as a nickel corner,
SS: Adrian Wilson...the nails, brings a ton of heat wherever he goes, but needs to be more of a fixture as a pass rusher.
RCB: Bryant McFadden...big, physical player who loves to be aggressive, but needs a pass rush and a good FS to do so.
With the following situational players in tow: OLB/DE Bertrand Berry, NT Alan Branch, DE Kenny Iwebema, NT/DE Bryan Robinson, OLB Victor Hobson, LB Ali Highsmith, CB Ralph Brown, CB Greg Toler, and SS Aaron Francisco.
Changes?
One of the very smart things Bill Davis has done this off-season is eliminating the flip-flopping to the strength of formation or wide side of the field last year's defense used to do. Haggans will be anchored at LOLB with Okeafor on the backside ROLB. Okeafor played the backside very well when Bertrand Berry was out two years ago. There are good reason to get excited about him back there.
The reason why this change is so smart is that it seemed on numerous occasions last year the defense while flip-flopping was having a hard time getting set and properly positioned at the snap.
Tackling?
Must be stressed from day one this year. Fundamentals need to be hammered into these players' heads. If they aren't, we will see more of the same defensive ineptitude.
The Chess Game?
While the front five will be more stationary, Davis has the ability to move around and maneuver a trio of Queens, LB Karlos Dansby, SS Adrian Wilson and FS Antrel Rolle into surprise attack alignments, with a true Bishop and deep angle FS in Rashad Johnson in the back.
The Philosophy?
This is what concerns me a little having recently heard Davis talking about a "bend, but don't give up the big play" philosophy. What would impress me more is a philosophy of trying everything this defense can to get the ball quickly back into the hands of the team's elite offense. The premium should be put on forcing three-and-outs and turnovers. If the defense gives up a big play here and there while being ultra aggressive, in my way of thinking that is fine, because being ultra aggressive is teaching a defense how to win. But the last thing the Cardinals need is a defense that stays on the field for inordinate chunks of time while the offense rusts on the sidelines.
Thus, the more aggressive this defense is, the better. If they give up three big plays that result in 17 points, but are aggressive enough to force several three-and-outs and a couple of turnovers, the Cardinals are going to be consistently winning games 31-20. The reality is, the more times the defense puts the ball into the offense's hands, the better the chance the Cardinals will have to win and win big.
By moving the three Queens around and creating havoc up front for the offenses, the Cardinals' defense could be very fun to watch. Here should be plenty of big plays and highlight reel hits.
No more playing on its heels, please Bill Davis. No more stupid three man rushes. In fact, where Pendy used to rush three, you rush five. Put the pedal to the metal, especially with the games on the line. Teach these players to shine in primetime.
Gone are RDE Antonio Smith, a player who made big plays in some big games, but was quiet in others...OLB Travis LaBoy who started the season well, but spent the rest of the season battling injuries and offering subpar play because of them...CB Rod Hood, who was solid at times, but a liabiity at others, especially when he was picking up holding penalties and not looking back for the ball when in a position to make a play on it.
In Smith's place, the team is looking for the emergence of last year's 2nd round pick, RDE Calais Campbell of the U, a player who brings intriguing height, hustle and athleticism to the position...in OLB LaBoy's place is this year's 2nd round pick Cody Brown, the reigning Big East leader in sacks who played with his hand down at UConn...and in Hood's place is UFA CB Bryant McFadden, who started versus the Cardinals in the Super Bowl, a big physical corner, who plays angles well and forces the run with a bang.
Added to the mix are FS Rashad Johnson of Alabama, a super smart centerfielder who can immediately take over as the nickel and dime FS...CB Greg Toler, the Cardinals' 4th round pick, a 4.3 speedster with decent size...DE Rodney Leslie, a big rugged interior lineman who has the strength to bottle up the run and collapse the pocket...OLB Will Davis an edge pass rusher who struggled through a disappointing senior year after leading his team at Illinois in sacks as a junior.
The rest of the starting defense remains intact:
LOLB: Clark Haggans...active, smart competitor who needs to shake the injury bug.
LDE: Darnell Dockett...dynamic interior player when motivated.
NT: Gabe Watson...mammouth run stopper, who need to be healthy this year.
RDE: Calais Campbell...tall, athletic and rangy, who needs to rip his way to the ball with greater consistency.
ROLB: Chike Okeafor...physical and quick edge player who needs to be turned loose more often.
LILB: Gerald Hayes...good downhill tackler when he's coached to run downhill.
RILB: Karlos Dansby....active athlete who makes big plays but tends to give up them too.
LCB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie...super speedy and well-sized CB who dazzled atheltically at times as a rookie, but got readily fooled at others.
FS: Antrel Rolle...playmaker who thrives as a nickel corner,
SS: Adrian Wilson...the nails, brings a ton of heat wherever he goes, but needs to be more of a fixture as a pass rusher.
RCB: Bryant McFadden...big, physical player who loves to be aggressive, but needs a pass rush and a good FS to do so.
With the following situational players in tow: OLB/DE Bertrand Berry, NT Alan Branch, DE Kenny Iwebema, NT/DE Bryan Robinson, OLB Victor Hobson, LB Ali Highsmith, CB Ralph Brown, CB Greg Toler, and SS Aaron Francisco.
Changes?
One of the very smart things Bill Davis has done this off-season is eliminating the flip-flopping to the strength of formation or wide side of the field last year's defense used to do. Haggans will be anchored at LOLB with Okeafor on the backside ROLB. Okeafor played the backside very well when Bertrand Berry was out two years ago. There are good reason to get excited about him back there.
The reason why this change is so smart is that it seemed on numerous occasions last year the defense while flip-flopping was having a hard time getting set and properly positioned at the snap.
Tackling?
Must be stressed from day one this year. Fundamentals need to be hammered into these players' heads. If they aren't, we will see more of the same defensive ineptitude.
The Chess Game?
While the front five will be more stationary, Davis has the ability to move around and maneuver a trio of Queens, LB Karlos Dansby, SS Adrian Wilson and FS Antrel Rolle into surprise attack alignments, with a true Bishop and deep angle FS in Rashad Johnson in the back.
The Philosophy?
This is what concerns me a little having recently heard Davis talking about a "bend, but don't give up the big play" philosophy. What would impress me more is a philosophy of trying everything this defense can to get the ball quickly back into the hands of the team's elite offense. The premium should be put on forcing three-and-outs and turnovers. If the defense gives up a big play here and there while being ultra aggressive, in my way of thinking that is fine, because being ultra aggressive is teaching a defense how to win. But the last thing the Cardinals need is a defense that stays on the field for inordinate chunks of time while the offense rusts on the sidelines.
Thus, the more aggressive this defense is, the better. If they give up three big plays that result in 17 points, but are aggressive enough to force several three-and-outs and a couple of turnovers, the Cardinals are going to be consistently winning games 31-20. The reality is, the more times the defense puts the ball into the offense's hands, the better the chance the Cardinals will have to win and win big.
By moving the three Queens around and creating havoc up front for the offenses, the Cardinals' defense could be very fun to watch. Here should be plenty of big plays and highlight reel hits.
No more playing on its heels, please Bill Davis. No more stupid three man rushes. In fact, where Pendy used to rush three, you rush five. Put the pedal to the metal, especially with the games on the line. Teach these players to shine in primetime.
