The Cardinals have a lot of versatility in their defensive front seven

[BullheadCardFan]

The Cardinals’ new 3-4 defense is anything but rudimentary, but a few key offseason acquisitions have made Todd Bowles’ scheme even more flexible than it had been.

John Abraham has given the defensive coordinator the option to line him up as an outside linebacker or a down lineman off the edge and Matt Shaughnessy has worked with both the linebackers and the defensive line.

“It gives you the allowance to toy with some things and make the other guys better because you have guys who can do a bunch of jobs,” Bowles said.

The same can be done by Lorenzo Alexander and Sam Acho. Different packages will show off the versatility of the front seven, which will feature Darnell Dockett, Dan Williams and Calais Campbell as the primary down linemen, along with David Carter, Ronald Talley, Frostee Rucker and Everette Thompson. The linebackers include Abraham, Shaughnessy, Acho, Jasper Brinkley, Daryl Washington and Karlos Dansby.

Link.

 

[Duckjake]

Link.

which will feature Darnell Dockett, Dan Williams and Calais Campbell as the primary down linemen, along with David Carter, Ronald Talley, Frostee Rucker and Everette Thompson. The linebackers include Abraham, Shaughnessy, Acho, Jasper Brinkley, Daryl Washington and Karlos Dansby.

And that's not counting the rookies Alex Okafor and Kevin Minter.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

I don't think another team in football did as much for their defense as the Cards. John Abraham, Karlos Dansby, and Tyrann Mathieu more than offset losing Kerry Rhodes, Adrian Wilson and Greg Toler. Plus lots of depth on the d-line and linebacking core. If the newly-remodeled secondary can hold their own, this defense could be great.

 

[GuernseyCard]

I don't think another team in football did as much for their defense as the Cards. John Abraham, Karlos Dansby, and Tyrann Mathieu more than offset losing Kerry Rhodes, Adrian Wilson and Greg Toler. Plus lots of depth on the d-line and linebacking core. If the newly-remodeled secondary can hold their own, this defense could be great.

Add Powers, Cason and Arenas to your point.

 

[Sunburn]

Add Powers, Cason and Arenas to your point.

Secondary scares me a tad. Arenas is not very good. I fear Powers and Cason will leave something to be desired as well.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Secondary scares me a tad. Arenas is not very good. I fear Powers and Cason will leave something to be desired as well.

Mini-Mike, Toler, Gay vs Arenas, Powers, Cason is at worst a push at this point (imo)

 

[Duckjake]

Secondary scares me a tad. Arenas is not very good. I fear Powers and Cason will leave something to be desired as well.

They've got some big shoes to fill. Looking at the roster and the guys history I don't see how the Secondary has improved at all and in fact it has probably taken a step back. With a no contact camp its going to be really tough to tell who can play and who can't.

I can't remember the last time I had this much interest in our first pre season game.

 

[HotSauce]

I don't think another team in football did as much for their defense as the Cards. John Abraham, Karlos Dansby, and Tyrann Mathieu more than offset losing Kerry Rhodes, Adrian Wilson and Greg Toler. Plus lots of depth on the d-line and linebacking core. If the newly-remodeled secondary can hold their own, this defense could be great.

Lots of big names, but let's see how they play on the field first.


Abraham is 35 years old and learning a new defense. Tyrann Mathieu is a rookie with limited college experience, learning a new position, and hasn't played in a game in over a year. And Dansby who turns 32 this year wasn't let go because he was playing lights out in Miami.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I think it wise to wait and see...

 

[jeeperaz]

And Dansby who turns 32 this year wasn't let go because he was playing lights out in Miami.

2012 he led the team in tackles and set his career high. He was playing at the same level he did when he was here. Cutting him was nothing more than a cap move. He counted as $8.7m if the Dolphins had kept him.

 

[Buckybird]

Arenas is not very good.

I beg to differ

 

[D-Dogg]

Lots of big names, but let's see how they play on the field first.

Of course. Always sage advice.

Abraham is 35 years old and learning a new defense.

Not a new defense, he's ran it before. Already said he was comfortable in it. Had 10 sacks as a 34 year old, is in extraordinary condition. Not a point of concern.

Tyrann Mathieu is a rookie with limited college experience, learning a new position, and hasn't played in a game in over a year.

Very valid points. However, he was also a huge playmaker in college with a knack for the ball that has thus far borne out in practices. He's got a lot of rust to knock off, a lot of catching up to do and a lot of baggage to keep zipped up, but as a third rounder moving into a position where reading the play is more important than covering a guy, he might just be settling into a perfect spot.

And Dansby who turns 32 this year wasn't let go because he was playing lights out in Miami.

No, he was let go DESPITE playing lights out in Miami. Salary cap casualty, and had more than 100 tackles last year playing extremely well. Also knows Bowles defense, the stadium and some of the current players still.


Best LB corp we've had in a long while. Best depth at CB we've had in ages. ? at SS, and somewhat at FS. DL is solid.

I am not concerned with this D..I can't wait to see them start hitting people.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Lots of big names, but let's see how they play on the field first.


Abraham is 35 years old and learning a new defense. Tyrann Mathieu is a rookie with limited college experience, learning a new position, and hasn't played in a game in over a year. And Dansby who turns 32 this year wasn't let go because he was playing lights out in Miami.

Abraham says his role is little changed from that in Atlanta. Dansby had 132 tackles last season, the most in his career. Tyrann is playing bit of a rover role, which is similar to his role at LSU.

 

[Mulli]

All of you in the tribe of Abraham, please check his game logs from last season. 3 sacks against OAK, 2 against the Cardinals. Only 1 sack since the Cardinals game on 11/18.

http://www.nfl.com/player/johnabraham/2504171/gamelogs