Who in your opinion is the best defensive player on the Cards?

[DaisyCutter]

No way in hell Watson, Hood, or Rolle should be ahead of Hayes.

I agree with Rolle for sure, and probably Watson. But Hood? According to FootballOutsiders, Hood was one of the best 2 cornerbacks in the NFC. Hayes isn't one of the 2 best middle linebackers in the NFC West.

Hood plays a more difficult position, and plays it better, than Gerald Hayes.

As for the first question, I'd say that Dansby is the best, followed by Wilson, Hood, Dockett, and Okeafor.

 

[Totally_Red]

When he is healthy and comes to play, Karlos Dansby is the premier defensive player on the Cardinals without question. He is a three-down linebacker who makes plays all over the field and has really come into his own in Clancy's 3-4 schemes. He can blitz, cover in the pass defense and is the best or second-best open field tackler on the team. It will be criminal if Rod Graves and Michael Bidwill can't get a deal done with him IMO.

Adrian Wilson is an intregral part of Clancy's schemes and he knows how to use him. Offenses have to account for him, and he is a pro-bowl caliber player and a fierce competitor. Probably the second best defender.

Then you get to Chike Okeafor, Darnell Dockett, and Gerald Hayes, who all are vitally important to the defense. Hayes is probably the hardest hitter on the team. He's a solid run defender and good tackler. Dockett gives great effort, and should be even better when used in a rotation and with Okeafor lining up beside him.

I've seen nothing from Gabe Watson to think he needs double-teaming by opponents, and that is the mark of a good to great nose tackle IMO. On the contrary, teams were double teaming Dockett a lot last season.

 

[cardsfanmd]

When he is healthy and comes to play, Karlos Dansby is the premier defensive player on the Cardinals without question. He is a three-down linebacker who makes plays all over the field and has really come into his own in Clancy's 3-4 schemes. He can blitz, cover in the pass defense and is the best or second-best open field tackler on the team. It will be criminal if Rod Graves and Michael Bidwill can't get a deal done with him IMO.

Adrian Wilson is an intregral part of Clancy's schemes and he knows how to use him. Offenses have to account for him, and he is a pro-bowl caliber player and a fierce competitor. Probably the second best defender.

Then you get to Chike Okeafor, Darnell Dockett, and Gerald Hayes, who all are vitally important to the defense. Hayes is probably the hardest hitter on the team. He's a solid run defender and good tackler. Dockett gives great effort, and should be even better when used in a rotation and with Okeafor lining up beside him.

I've seen nothing from Gabe Watson to think he needs double-teaming by opponents, and that is the mark of a good to great nose tackle IMO. On the contrary, teams were double teaming Dockett a lot last season.

I agreed with the whole thing until; you got to the last paragraph. Watson forced teams to double him practically all game for the first eight weeks. I think him losing wind hurt Dockett more than Dockett getting tired. Watson was a force in the beginning of the year, and suffered from not having any depth behind him.

 

[CardLogic]

According to FootballOutsiders, Hood was one of the best 2 cornerbacks in the NFC.

It may be arguable as to who is the Cardinals "best" defensive player...

Rod Hood is unquestionablly the "most underrated!"

 

[earthsci]

Based on previous play, Dansby. By mid-season this year many will be touting Antrell.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Based on previous play, Dansby. By mid-season this year many will be touting Antron.

FTFY

 

[earthsci]

FTFY

Thank you.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Dansby
Okeafor
Dockett
Wilson
Hayes
Hood
Rolle
Watson

 

[Totally_Red]

I agreed with the whole thing until; you got to the last paragraph. Watson forced teams to double him practically all game for the first eight weeks. I think him losing wind hurt Dockett more than Dockett getting tired. Watson was a force in the beginning of the year, and suffered from not having any depth behind him.

Good point! I hope he's back for training camp.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Good point! I hope he's back for training camp.

You and me both. I am really intrigued by the guy. He was a first round talent coming out of college and fell due to a suspect work ethic. He has erased all of those doubts IMO. The man was working out on his own time when he hurt his knee. Lets hope Branch can follow in those footsteps (aside from the whole injury part). Those two could be a lethal combo at NT. Having the two of them rotating to keep each other fresh for 60min a week would be huge.

I am relly excited about where our D line is headed. I think D-Dock will walk eventually, but if Campbell and develop into a quality starter and Iwebema and Smith can steadily man the other side we should very good.

I am also excited about Highsmith and expect him to make the 53 man roster this year


LBs
Dansby
Chike
Hayes
LaBoy
Berry
Haggans
Highsmith
Beisal

 

[FArting]

Adrian Wilson

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I vote for the guy who Graves has about 5 weeks left to work out a contact with.

 

[Totally_Red]

I vote for the guy who Graves has about 5 weeks left to work out a contact with.

Yeah, I don't like our chances if KD plays the season and enters free agency next February.

 

[Darth Llama]

According to FootballOutsiders, Hood was one of the best 2 cornerbacks in the NFC.

And they are absolutely right. It still baffles me how most people over look Rod Hood, he was a great addition to this team. You know you can't even buy his jersey? I want one, but it's just not sold, I have to have it custom made. I can get a Marcell Shipp jersey but not Hood? Give me a break.

On topic though, my pick is still A-Dub. A-Dub does more for this team then anyone, and I consider him our best defensive player followed by Dansby and Hood.

 

[PoolBoy]

DRC baby!

but for now, wilson

 

[DaisyCutter]

I agreed with the whole thing until; you got to the last paragraph. Watson forced teams to double him practically all game for the first eight weeks. I think him losing wind hurt Dockett more than Dockett getting tired. Watson was a force in the beginning of the year, and suffered from not having any depth behind him.

Interesting, but I'm not sure it was a case of Watson getting worn down. I'm sure that contributed to it.

I really think that the main cause of Dockett losing impact in the late stages of the season was that Bertrand Berry got hurt, and so Dockett was the recipent of at least double-team blocks and at least help from a tight end or back.

The impact of Bertrand Berry >>>> Impact of Joe Tafoya or Darell Blackstock.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I agreed with the whole thing until; you got to the last paragraph. Watson forced teams to double him practically all game for the first eight weeks. I think him losing wind hurt Dockett more than Dockett getting tired. Watson was a force in the beginning of the year, and suffered from not having any depth behind him.

Agree 100%.

 

[WildBB]

Based on previous play, Dansby. By mid-season this year many will be touting Antrell.

I think where they're going to put him Rolle indeed has the chance to make the biggest impact of anyone this season. I'm expecting big things.

 

[red desert]

Tough call indeed.

My vote:

1- Darnell Dockett

2- Karlos Dansby

3- Adrian Wilson

4- Gabe Watson

5- DRC

 

[40yearfan]

Who in your opinion is the best defensive player on the Cards?

Rick Ankiel

 

[WisconsinCard]

Who in your opinion is the best defensive player on the Cards?

Rick Ankiel

.1/5

 

[Bigdez22]

I would go with A-Dub

People on this board and most crads fans i talk to(when i can find them) seem to undervalue Hayes and overvalue KD.

Hayes is a very good LB but does not get the glory because he is a run stuffing LB. KD is good but not the greatest thing since sliced bread that everyone thinks he is.

1.A-Dub
2.Watson
3.DD
4.KD
5.Chike(could move up)
6.Hayes
7.Hood
8.Smith
9.green
10.Rolle
11.Laboy/Haggens

 

[joeshmo]

I really think that the main cause of Dockett losing impact in the late stages of the season was that Bertrand Berry got hurt, and so Dockett was the recipent of at least double-team blocks and at least help from a tight end or back.

That is exactly why I think Dockett is slightly overratted. What seperates the good ones from just the above average ones is those that can still produce even though they become the focus of the opposing team. That is not Dockett, and he proved that this past season when he went into a hole when he became the focus and got 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss in 7 games after Berry went down and teams paid more attention to Dockett. If Dockett can only be productive when he is not the focus then he is only just above average and can never be in the Good to great category for me. Good Players are productive with or without the double teams.

Dansby - I honestly dont even think it is close that he is the most talented on the squad.

On Hayes - He doesnt get enough credit for having some pretty good coverage skills and he and Dansby are the main reason why we were close to tops in the league in holding RB's and TE's recieving. That and the players of the team voted Hayes out of everyone else as their defensive captian, that has to count for something.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Who in your opinion is the best defensive player on the Cards?

Rick Ankiel

damn skippy!!!!!!!!!

 

[black]

Who in your opinion is the best defensive player on the Cards?

Rick Ankiel

Albert P. .998 fielding %