Horton's Plan With Regard to Defensive Personnel

Mitch · May 5th, 2012, 05:57 AM

Heading into free agency and the recent NFL Draft many of us figured that at the top of the defensive personnel priority list was adding one or two edge linebackers/pass rushing threats.

The primary phases of free agency and the draft came and went, and not a single OLB was signed or drafted.

As it turns out, OLB was apparently not a priority---

The true priority was adding talent, depth and versatility to the secondary.

Why? What's the deal?

I mean---aren't two of the three key figures in the Steelers' vaunted defense their prolific outside linebackers, James Harrison and Lamar Woodley? The third is SS Troy Polamalu, right?

While youngsters Sam Acho (6-3, 257, 2, Texas) and O'Brien Schofield (6-3, 242, 3, Wisconsin) showed promise last season, can they realistically come even close to doing for the Cardinal defense what Harrison and Woodley do for the Steelers'?

A question remains, as well, as to whether either Acho or Schofield is suited to play the strong side OLB position---as both of them were used primarily on the weak side last year.

The team has yet to re-sign wizened veteran and recent SOLB mainstay Clark Haggans (6-4, 243, 13, Colorado St.)---yet one must wonder how much tread the stalwart Haggans has on his tires.

There are some intriguing youngsters on the roster such as Antonio Coleman (6-2, 258, 2, Auburn), Brandon Williams (6-3, 250, 3, Texas Tech) and recent UCFA signees Broderick Binns (6-0, 258, R, Iowa) and Zach Nash (6-3, 252, R, Sacramento State). Is the Cardinals' starting SOLB among these four?

Yet, what about Stewart Bradley? Bradley (6-4, 258, 6, Nebraska) has the size, strength and athleticism to be a factor on the edge--and the coaches have mentioned Bradley's versatility in the past---could he have been their SOLB plan all along?

The coaches are happy with Paris Lenon (6-2, 240, 11, Richmond) and Daryl Washington (6-2, 230, 3, TCU) as the starters inside---and with good reason. Thus, if Bradley is going to start for this team is would appear his best chance is on the outside.

So, what about the pass rush?

We know that the Cardinals feel very good about the six man rotation in the interior: DE Darnell Dockett (6-4, 290, 9, Florida St.), NT Dan Williams (6-2, 327, 3, Tennessee), DE Calais Campbell (6-8, 300, 5, Miami), DE Nick Eason (6-3, 290, 10, Clemson), NT/DE David Carter (6-5, 300, 2, UCLA), DE Ronald Talley (6-3, 286, 2, Delaware)...as ought they should.

Acho and Schofield have been developing as good situational edge pass rushers---and the hope will be that Bradley and one of the youngsters Coleman, Williams, Binns or Nash, will give the Cardinals good depth.

There may be times as well in the 4 man rush where Ray Horton uses Dockett and/or Campbell at DE when he can rush Carter, Eason, Williams and/or Talley from the inside DT spots. When Horton did this last year on a few occasions he loved to run them on loop stunts in order to have Dockett or Campbell looping hard up the middle.

Yet---having said all of this---what Horton counts on is not a traditional 4 man rush on passing downs---by then he has a hybrid type of defense on the field consisting of 3 safeties and 3 cornerbacks and 1 nickel linebacker---

And this was the area that Horton has focused the off-season on.

Horton's hybrid is deceptive---rarely will Horton stick to a traditional 4 man rush---he is usually going to send 5 or 6 players after the QB---what we and the opponents don't know on any given snap what 5 or 6 are going to bring the pressure.

The featured pressure players in this hybrid are LB Daryl Washington (6-2, 230, 3, TCU) and S Adrian Wilson (6-3, 230, 12, North Carolina St.). Washington is a prolific blitzer who shows outstanding timing and burst off the snap. Wilson's aggressiveness from the edge and from angles in the interior make him a prodigious force to be reckoned with.

With the rest of the personnel in the secondary, Horton wants versatile athletes who can blitz with a flourish and bang when called upon---who can play press man AND zone coverage---who can invert and play deep coverage---and most of all, who can tackle with suddenness and pop.

This is exactly why CB/S Crezdon Butler (6-0, 191, 3, Clemson) was added at the beginning of last year---why CB/S William Gay (5-10, 190, 6, Louisville) was the premier free agent Horton added this off-season---why CB/S Jamell Fleming (5-11, 202, R, Oklahoma) was selected in the 3rd round (#80)---and why CB/S Justin Bethel (6-0, 196, R, Presbyterian) was selected in the 6th round (#177). All four of these players bring the size, versatility and aggressiveness that Horton wants.

Given the priority, Horton wanted to square away this vital aspect of his defense.

Horton also fortified the depth at the safety position by signing S James Sanders (5-10, 210, 8, Fresno St.) in free agency to add to the trio of Wilson, Kerry Rhodes (6-3, 212, 8 Louisville) and the steadily improving Rashad Johnson (5-11, 204, 4, Alabama).

The expectation at CB to start the year is that Patrick Peterson (6-1, 219, 2, LSU) with a year's experience under his belt will quickly mature into a Pro Bowl caliber corner and that Greg Toler (6-0, 196, 4, St. Paul's) back from injury will compete with A.J. Jefferson (6-1, 190, 3, Fresno St.) for the starting backside corner---both Toler and Jefferson have the size, the flexibility and the tackling ability to be effective in that role. Toler has to shake off the rust and assimilate well into the system and Jefferson has to show renewed confidence after getting his feet wet last year.

CB Michael Adams (5-8, 181, 6, Louisiana-Lafayette) remains a valuable asset as one of the STs ace and nickel corners. Adams's aggressiveness and forceful tackling and blitzing ability belie his diminutive size.

CB Marshay Green (5-10, 175, 3, Mississippi) and CB Korey Lindsey (5-10, 194, 2, Southern Illinois) will have to prove that they have the aggressiveness, covering and tackling ability, and versatility that Horton wants if they are going to play their way into roster consideration.

There's also a chance that one of the young inside linebackers could join the aggressive a good ST LB Reggie Walker (6-0, 244, 4, Kansas St.) as one of the backups. Last year's 6th round pick Quan Sturdivant (6-1, 241, 2, North Carolina) will have to stave off an impressive group of undrafted ILBs in Colin Parker (6-1, 223, R, Arizona St.), Paul Vassallo (6-3, 240, R, Arizona) and Marcus McGraw (5-10, 236, R, Houston)---it could well be that the best STs player in this group makes the roster, that is if the Cardinals are indeed moving Stewart Bradley to the outside. It's possible that, in order to save a roster spot, that the Cardinals would think of Bradley as depth on the inside even if he is the starter on the outside.

Pushing for some attention on the interior line will be Ricky Lumpkin (6-4, 306, 2, Kentucky), Conrad Obi (6-3, 290, R, Colorado) and Tevita Finau (6-4, 288, R, Utah).

Trade Prediction: S Kerry Rhodes to the Philadelphia Eagles for OLB Brandon Graham (6-2, 268, 4, Michigan). Graham is now healed from his ACL tear, but while he's been out the Eagles have been loading up on pass rushers---and they need help at safety.

Plan B: Rhodes to the Texans for OLB Brian Braman (6-5, 248, 2, West Texas A&M).

There's a very good chance that Rashad Johnson is going to beat Rhodes out, regardless of a trade.

Ray Horton's Roster

Just as building up the secondary was this year's priority---it will show very much so on the roster decisions (with STs consideration as well)

NT (2): Williams, Carter

DE(4): Dockett, Campbell, Eason, Talley

LB (8): Acho, Washington, Lenon, Graham, Schofield, Bradley, Walker, Binns

CB (6): Peterson, Jefferson, Toler, Gay, Fleming, Adams

S (5): Wilson, Johnson, Sanders, Butler, Bethel

THERE IS A "D" IN CARDINALS!

Crazy Canuck · May 5th, 2012, 06:38 AM

Good stuff!

Predictions:

1. Haggans and possibly Holiday will be part of mix.
2. Kerry Rhodes - starting Safety 2012

spanky1 · May 5th, 2012, 07:00 AM

Mitch,

You are adding real value with this thread. It is clearing up stuff that I have been wondering about. Bravo

Duckjake · May 5th, 2012, 07:13 AM

Keep an eye on Brandon Williams. He came out early and his college coach had this to say about him:

Quote:

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach thought Williams could have used another year in Lubbock developing his strength and toughness before entering the NFL Draft. He told The Dallas Morning News, "It's not like the market is going to go down. The money only goes higher every year. He probably would have been drafted sooner. I just think as far as developing a level of strength and toughness, it probably would have helped him."

So maybe two seasons and this off season will be what he needed. He's a speed rusher who had 11 sacks as a Junior at Tech.

Quote:

Wade Phillips had even drawn comparisons between Williams and Ware, saying that his explosiveness off the ball was something that you didn't see everyday.

Williams has had some knee problems which is why Dallas cut him and we don't know if he can cover as an OLB. But we sure can use a speed rusher.

spanky1 · May 5th, 2012, 07:17 AM

With the additions of Fleming and Bethel, my guess is that Money Mike is the odd man out....both of these two are ST aces.

pinetopred · May 5th, 2012, 07:19 AM

Thanks for the work

I think you see our LB's as being alot better then I do, we are IMO putting a awful lot of faith that an UDFA will not only make our roster but also be able to perform at a high enough level to possibly start in case of injury. I do like your trade idea to add depth there, but IMO we didn't improve anything about our LB's this offseason and when you play a 3-4 that is the one area you should be trying to improve every year. We should be alot stronger in secondary with the draft picks and FA pick ups. On a side note if we draft another CB or WR (man we have spent alot of draft picks on those spots recently) over front seven players high in next years draft I'm throwing something thru my TV

BEERZ · May 5th, 2012, 07:25 AM

I don't think anyone beats out Rhodes. But I envision one or two of our more physical corners being groomed for both safety spots with in the next year or two. We going to be a more coverage type D to match the pass happy NFL.

Vermont Maverick · May 5th, 2012, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanky1

With the additions of Fleming and Bethel, my guess is that Money Mike is the odd man out....both of these two are ST aces.

Noooooooooooooooooooo !!!

Money is my favorite Non-star on this team.

Catfish · May 5th, 2012, 08:21 AM

Nice work-up Mitch. Horton must be salivating at the idea that he is about to have a full off-season to work with these new tools in his lineup. I can't wait to see how this group matures during the off-season and pre-season. Opening day should be a blast. Thanks for your insight into the possibilities here.

Cardiac · May 5th, 2012, 08:36 AM

Good write up Mitch.

My hope is that Acho is our SOLB and Scho our WOLB with Bradley taking over for Lenon.

A major difference between us and the Steelers is that they don't have the pass rushing talent at DE that we do. This is why I'm not as concerned about our OLBer's uncertainty with pass rushing. I do want us to continue to look for a pass rushing demon for those spots but I think we already have one in Acho.

I don't agree with your take on Rhodes and I not as hopeful for Johnson to replace him as you are. I think Butler and Bethel are being groomed as Rhodes eventual replacement.

Happy and sad day for me when Money Mike is cut. Happy because it should mean we have upgraded our # 4/5 CB slots and Sad because I really like his toughness and special teams play.

juza76 · May 5th, 2012, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch

Heading into free agency and the recent NFL Draft many of us figured that at the top of the defensive personnel priority list was adding one or two edge linebackers/pass rushing threats.

The primary phases of free agency and the draft came and went, and not a single OLB was signed or drafted.

As it turns out, OLB was apparently not a priority---

The true priority was adding talent, depth and versatility to the secondary.

Why? What's the deal?

I mean---aren't two of the three key figures in the Steelers' vaunted defense their prolific outside linebackers, James Harrison and Lamar Woodley? The third is SS Troy Polamalu, right?

While youngsters Sam Acho (6-3, 257, 2, Texas) and O'Brien Schofield (6-3, 242, 3, Wisconsin) showed promise last season, can they realistically come even close to doing for the Cardinal defense what Harrison and Woodley do for the Steelers'?

A question remains, as well, as to whether either Acho or Schofield is suited to play the strong side OLB position---as both of them were used primarily on the weak side last year.

The team has yet to re-sign wizened veteran and recent SOLB mainstay Clark Haggans (6-4, 243, 13, Colorado St.)---yet one must wonder how much tread the stalwart Haggans has on his tires.

There are some intriguing youngsters on the roster such as Antonio Coleman (6-2, 258, 2, Auburn), Brandon Williams (6-3, 250, 3, Texas Tech) and recent UCFA signees Broderick Binns (6-0, 258, R, Iowa) and Zach Nash (6-3, 252, R, Sacramento State). Is the Cardinals' starting SOLB among these four?

Yet, what about Stewart Bradley? Bradley (6-4, 258, 6, Nebraska) has the size, strength and athleticism to be a factor on the edge--and the coaches have mentioned Bradley's versatility in the past---could he have been their SOLB plan all along?

The coaches are happy with Paris Lenon (6-2, 240, 11, Richmond) and Daryl Washington (6-2, 230, 3, TCU) as the starters inside---and with good reason. Thus, if Bradley is going to start for this team is would appear his best chance is on the outside.

So, what about the pass rush?

We know that the Cardinals feel very good about the six man rotation in the interior: DE Darnell Dockett (6-4, 290, 9, Florida St.), NT Dan Williams (6-2, 327, 3, Tennessee), DE Calais Campbell (6-8, 300, 5, Miami), DE Nick Eason (6-3, 290, 10, Clemson), NT/DE David Carter (6-5, 300, 2, UCLA), DE Ronald Talley (6-3, 286, 2, Delaware)...as ought they should.

Acho and Schofield have been developing as good situational edge pass rushers---and the hope will be that Bradley and one of the youngsters Coleman, Williams, Binns or Nash, will give the Cardinals good depth.

There may be times as well in the 4 man rush where Ray Horton uses Dockett and/or Campbell at DE when he can rush Carter, Eason, Williams and/or Talley from the inside DT spots. When Horton did this last year on a few occasions he loved to run them on loop stunts in order to have Dockett or Campbell looping hard up the middle.

Yet---having said all of this---what Horton counts on is not a traditional 4 man rush on passing downs---by then he has a hybrid type of defense on the field consisting of 3 safeties and 3 cornerbacks and 1 nickel linebacker---

And this was the area that Horton has focused the off-season on.

Horton's hybrid is deceptive---rarely will Horton stick to a traditional 4 man rush---he is usually going to send 5 or 6 players after the QB---what we and the opponents don't know on any given snap what 5 or 6 are going to bring the pressure.

The featured pressure players in this hybrid are LB Daryl Washington (6-2, 230, 3, TCU) and S Adrian Wilson (6-3, 230, 12, North Carolina St.). Washington is a prolific blitzer who shows outstanding timing and burst off the snap. Wilson's aggressiveness from the edge and from angles in the interior make him a prodigious force to be reckoned with.

With the rest of the personnel in the secondary, Horton wants versatile athletes who can blitz with a flourish and bang when called upon---who can play press man AND zone coverage---who can invert and play deep coverage---and most of all, who can tackle with suddenness and pop.

This is exactly why CB/S Crezdon Butler (6-0, 191, 3, Clemson) was added at the beginning of last year---why CB/S William Gay (5-10, 190, 6, Louisville) was the premier free agent Horton added this off-season---why CB/S Jamell Fleming (5-11, 202, R, Oklahoma) was selected in the 3rd round (#80)---and why CB/S Justin Bethel (6-0, 196, R, Presbyterian) was selected in the 6th round (#177). All four of these players bring the size, versatility and aggressiveness that Horton wants.

Given the priority, Horton wanted to square away this vital aspect of his defense.

Horton also fortified the depth at the safety position by signing S James Sanders (5-10, 210, 8, Fresno St.) in free agency to add to the trio of Wilson, Kerry Rhodes (6-3, 212, 8 Louisville) and the steadily improving Rashad Johnson (5-11, 204, 4, Alabama).

The expectation at CB to start the year is that Patrick Peterson (6-1, 219, 2, LSU) with a year's experience under his belt will quickly mature into a Pro Bowl caliber corner and that Greg Toler (6-0, 196, 4, St. Paul's) back from injury will compete with A.J. Jefferson (6-1, 190, 3, Fresno St.) for the starting backside corner---both Toler and Jefferson have the size, the flexibility and the tackling ability to be effective in that role. Toler has to shake off the rust and assimilate well into the system and Jefferson has to show renewed confidence after getting his feet wet last year.

CB Michael Adams (5-8, 181, 6, Louisiana-Lafayette) remains a valuable asset as one of the STs ace and nickel corners. Adams's aggressiveness and forceful tackling and blitzing ability belie his diminutive size.

CB Marshay Green (5-10, 175, 3, Mississippi) and CB Korey Lindsey (5-10, 194, 2, Southern Illinois) will have to prove that they have the aggressiveness, covering and tackling ability, and versatility that Horton wants if they are going to play their way into roster consideration.

There's also a chance that one of the young inside linebackers could join the aggressive a good ST LB Reggie Walker (6-0, 244, 4, Kansas St.) as one of the backups. Last year's 6th round pick Quan Sturdivant (6-1, 241, 2, North Carolina) will have to stave off an impressive group of undrafted ILBs in Colin Parker (6-1, 223, R, Arizona St.), Paul Vassallo (6-3, 240, R, Arizona) and Marcus McGraw (5-10, 236, R, Houston)---it could well be that the best STs player in this group makes the roster, that is if the Cardinals are indeed moving Stewart Bradley to the outside. It's possible that, in order to save a roster spot, that the Cardinals would think of Bradley as depth on the inside even if he is the starter on the outside.

Pushing for some attention on the interior line will be Ricky Lumpkin (6-4, 306, 2, Kentucky), Conrad Obi (6-3, 290, R, Colorado) and Tevita Finau (6-4, 288, R, Utah).

Trade Prediction: S Kerry Rhodes to the Philadelphia Eagles for OLB Brandon Graham (6-2, 268, 4, Michigan). Graham is now healed from his ACL tear, but while he's been out the Eagles have been loading up on pass rushers---and they need help at safety.

Plan B: Rhodes to the Texans for OLB Brian Braman (6-5, 248, 2, West Texas A&M).

There's a very good chance that Rashad Johnson is going to beat Rhodes out, regardless of a trade.

Ray Horton's Roster

Just as building up the secondary was this year's priority---it will show very much so on the roster decisions (with STs consideration as well)

NT (2): Williams, Carter

DE(4): Dockett, Campbell, Eason, Talley

LB (8): Acho, Washington, Lenon, Graham, Schofield, Bradley, Walker, Binns

CB (6): Peterson, Jefferson, Toler, Gay, Fleming, Adams

S (5): Wilson, Johnson, Sanders, Butler, Bethel

THERE IS A "D" IN CARDINALS!

just a correction mitch..i dont know why the site(arizonacardinals.com) listed acho as a 6'3..he is 6'1 5/8 and schofield 6'2
i like the braman kid..was leading the taxas in sack in preseason..then he played very well on special team..he did also an helmet to no helmet hit..cause he lost the helmet...do u know his suspension about posession of hallucinogen mushrooms

Lagerfilled · May 5th, 2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEERZ

I don't think anyone beats out Rhodes. But I envision one or two of our more physical corners being groomed for both safety spots with in the next year or two. We going to be a more coverage type D to match the pass happy NFL.

Which means the 9ers will continue to bludgeon our run defense with their 3TE sets. Yikes!

Crazy Canuck · May 5th, 2012, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagerfilled

Which means the 9ers will continue to bludgeon our run defense with their 3TE sets. Yikes!

They were 11 of 38 on third down with that bludgeon, and perhaps why they're 10 deep at w/o going into camp.

overseascardfan · May 5th, 2012, 10:50 AM

If we had our 2nd rounder we could have addressed the issue by taking Vinny Curry. But we did have a chance in Round 6 to take Ryan Davis out of Bethune-Cookman who was the FBS DPOY. I would have taken him over Bethel and supposedly ARZ was linked to him. That was my only disappointment with the Cardinal's draft, not taking Ryan Davis.

JeffGollin · May 5th, 2012, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overseascardfan

If we had our 2nd rounder we could have addressed the issue by taking Vinny Curry. But we did have a chance in Round 6 to take Ryan Davis out of Bethune-Cookman who was the FBS DPOY. I would have taken him over Bethel and supposedly ARZ was linked to him. That was my only disappointment with the Cardinal's draft, not taking Ryan Davis.

If we went away from our MO and drafted for need, the whole structure of our draft could have changed (i.e. we might have passed on Floyd because we'd pretty sure we could get a good WR in the next round).

But if we stuck with our BPA strategy, all that would have happened is we'd draft another BPA with our 2nd pick, and he could have turned out to be a TE or a QB or maybe a pass rushing LB (or maybe not).

In either case, there's no guarantee that we would have drafted a pass rusher if we had that 2nd round pick.