Waiting and seeing

[Phrazbit]

Agree every room is better than last year, period.

I’d agree with that, however, it isn’t the comparison.

 

[phillycard]

I have to agree that on paper we're probably not a top twenty defense.

We don't appear to have anybody on that side of the ball who has the the ability to change to momentum of a game. No JJ, or a C. Jones or a Dansby (I see you Budda!).

If we have any hope of making the playoffs, I think one of two things has to happen:

1. One of the defensive rookies emerges as a big-time playmaker. Like, DROY-level playmaker, or

2. Gannon and Rallis can find a way to make the whole defense (significantly) better than the sum of its parts.

I keep telling anyone who will listen that I believe Kyzir White will be a difference-maker this year. Maybe not in terms of sacks or INT's but his presence on the field will be a booster to the overall play. That's good enough to put us in a position to perhaps win a game or two we shouldn't.

 

[kerouac9]

I keep telling anyone who will listen that I believe Kyzir White will be a difference-maker this year. Maybe not in terms of sacks or INT's but his presence on the field will be a booster to the overall play. That's good enough to put us in a position to perhaps win a game or two we shouldn't.

We were an awful defense with him last year.

 

[CardNots]

We were an awful defense with him last year.

but he was good

 

[kerouac9]

but he was good

He was the best thing about a bad defense, but sometimes diamonds in the rough turn out his to be quartz.

 

[Krangodnzr]

He was the best thing about a bad defense, but sometimes diamonds in the rough turn out his to be quartz.

White can play. Too bad that he didn't play with enough good players.

Luckily he'll have more (mostly unproven) talent in 2024.

 

[CardNots]

He was the best thing about a bad defense, but sometimes diamonds in the rough turn out his to be quartz.

agreed but Gannon saw something in White most didn’t see.

I’m hoping he is a rough diamond needing only cutting and polishing.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I keep telling anyone who will listen that I believe Kyzir White will be a difference-maker this year. Maybe not in terms of sacks or INT's but his presence on the field will be a booster to the overall play. That's good enough to put us in a position to perhaps win a game or two we shouldn't.

Yeah I'm really interested to see what Kyzir can do if he has some guys in front of him that can keep the opposing offensive line a little more honest!

Vs. 2023 maybe he'll get the opportunity to blitz a little more!

 

[ajcardfan]

To have a good year the defense needs to step up into the middle of the NFL. And it isn't hard to figure out where the improvement HAS to come from.

The defense was 32nd against the run, and 31st in points allowed.

Believe it or not, our pass defense was 18th, and our sacks were 18th in the league last year. Of course, you don't need to pass a lot when it is so easy to run the ball. This is why I have been beating the drum for run stuffers for about 10 years now.

 

[kerouac9]

To have a good year the defense needs to step up into the middle of the NFL. And it isn't hard to figure out where the improvement HAS to come from.

The defense was 32nd against the run, and 31st in points allowed.

Believe it or not, our pass defense was 18th, and our sacks were 18th in the league last year. Of course, you don't need to pass a lot when it is so easy to run the ball. This is why I have been beating the drum for run stuffers for about 10 years now.

We were 28th in net YPA. 30th in pressure percentage.

I don’t know where you’re getting 18th in sacks. I see 29th.

I see us 19th in sacks ALLOWED.

 

[ajcardfan]

We were 28th in net YPA. 30th in pressure percentage.

I don’t know where you’re getting 18th in sacks. I see 29th.

I see us 19th in sacks ALLOWED.

Yes, thank you.

 

[Chopper0080]

The best argument for defensive improvement is a better run defense. AZ was 2nd in the league in run yards allowed per attempt at 4.7. Also 19 rush TDs allowed.

Also, AZ was 2nd in the league in % of drives ending in scores at 44%.

I don't believe the Cardinals will likely see a drop in defensive snaps. They ended 2023 21st with 1060, and the 32nd team allowed 1004.

Essentially, an improved rush defense will likely drop the Cardinals from #1 in rush attempts allowed but also raise their position as 31st in the NFL is pass attempts faced. The best case scenario is the increase in pass attempts will result in more negative plays (penalties, sacks and turnovers) and neutral plays (incompletions) which will put the defense in more advantageous positions where they have a better chance to be successful.

(the alternative view is that offenses will just be more successful throwing the ball because of the poor pressure rate, and completion % allowed.)

 

[Crimson Warrior]

We were 28th in net YPA. 30th in pressure percentage.

I don’t know where you’re getting 18th in sacks. I see 29th.

I see us 19th in sacks ALLOWED.

That's what I'm most concerned about for the 2024 version of our defense.

Where are the sacks going to come from?

 

[Chopper0080]

That's what I'm most concerned about for the 2024 version of our defense.

Where are the sacks going to come from?

The hope is the increase in talent up front and at CB to take advantage of better defensive situations.

 

[Stout]

The hope is the increase in talent up front and at CB to take advantage of better defensive situations.

The hope is thin at edge, sadly.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

The hope is the increase in talent up front and at CB to take advantage of better defensive situations.

Agree and maybe JG/NR have enough talent this year so that they can actually scheme some sacks.

Still scary though. When you talk about opposing offenses throwing more this year if we're better against the run that's scary.

 

[kerouac9]

That's what I'm most concerned about for the 2024 version of our defense.

Where are the sacks going to come from?

I’m not going to get in to this again.

The hope is the increase in talent up front and at CB to take advantage of better defensive situations.

There were a lot of guys running free in the secondary last year. Oof.

 

[Chopper0080]

I’m not going to get in to this again.



There were a lot of guys running free in the secondary last year. Oof.

Yeah. Not much resistance defensively. Someone could probably argue that the defense could be twice as good and still be ranked in the bottom 12 of the league. Best jump that I could see as "arguable" is a move from 29-32 to 20-22. Any greater improvement IMO would be a "sum greater than the parts" scenario.

 

[kerouac9]

Yeah. Not much resistance defensively. Someone could probably argue that the defense could be twice as good and still be ranked in the bottom 12 of the league. Best jump that I could see as "arguable" is a move from 29-32 to 20-22. Any greater improvement IMO would be a "sum greater than the parts" scenario.

I think you want them to be better at the end of the season than the beginning. Maybe I’ll start tracking the rolling three-game average for rushing YPA and passer rating. We could end the season ranked 26th but be playing like the 16th best defense by the end of the year.

Onboarding ~eight defensive starters with a bunch of rookies is not going to be easy.

 

[Chopper0080]

I think you want them to be better at the end of the season than the beginning. Maybe I’ll start tracking the rolling three-game average for rushing YPA and passer rating. We could end the season ranked 26th but be playing like the 16th best defense by the end of the year.

Onboarding ~eight defensive starters with a bunch of rookies is not going to be easy.

Outside of the EDGE situation, this is the biggest issue IMO. A lot of inexperience to overcome.

(Agree with the above part as well)

 

[Redsz]

I keep telling anyone who will listen that I believe Kyzir White will be a difference-maker this year. Maybe not in terms of sacks or INT's but his presence on the field will be a booster to the overall play. That's good enough to put us in a position to perhaps win a game or two we shouldn't.

It will be great to have him back but returning from an ACL injury takes time.

 

[Redsz]

Outside of the EDGE situation, this is the biggest issue IMO. A lot of inexperience to overcome.

(Agree with the above part as well)

Agree could take until the middle of the season before the defence fully gels. I just hope the new personnel give us a step change in the level of play before then.

 

[CardNots]

It will be great to have him back but returning from an ACL injury takes time.

ACL?

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White (biceps) is expected to be "pretty much full tilt" when the Cardinals begin their offseason program, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
White suffered a torn biceps Week 11

 

[Stout]

Outside of the EDGE situation, this is the biggest issue IMO. A lot of inexperience to overcome.

(Agree with the above part as well)

Yeah. One of the reasons I don't think we'll get into the playoffs. Between the inexperience, lack of playmakers on D, the edge room, and our early schedule, it's going to be tough sledding, even with my faith in Rallis. Really counting on the O to shine.

 

[football karma]

one thing that is clear listening to player interviews: their expectations are super high.