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Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker finally has the supporting cast he needed to help propel his career as a defensive playmaker. The Cardinals have been nothing short of tenacious on defense in 2025, and their upcoming matchup with the Tennessee Titans this Sunday could be another opportunity to put on another dominant performance.
The Cardinals currently rank No. 8 in opponent rush yards allowed per game and No. 5 in points allowed per game. The deployment of inside linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. has been notable, as has the return of defensive tackle Calais Campbell and the addition of edge rusher Josh Sweat, who have combined for six sacks through four games. Although the Cardinals are currently a mid-tier team versus the pass, their secondary has had to adjust due to the injury to rookie defensive back Will Johnson and veteran cornerback Garrett Williams. Both Johnson and Williams are chess pieces inside of defensive coordinator Nick Rallis’ overall scheme and will help Baker when they return.
With stout play at the cornerback position, and safety Jalen Thompson playing as a Cover 1 ball hawk, Baker is able to roam around the line of scrimmage to help versus the run or blitz opposing quarterbacks. Even if Rallis simply uses Baker as a pre-snap shell decoy, opposing offenses will have to account for both him and the physical pass rush the Cardinals bring with their defensive fronts on the field. Baker has just 2.5 stuffs so far in 2025 but he will be looking to tally in more, and potentially some sacks as well. As for now, Baker can only smile having prepared to propel the Cardinals defense to one of the elite units in the NFL.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Cardinals' Budda Baker is handling task with a new supporting cast
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The Cardinals currently rank No. 8 in opponent rush yards allowed per game and No. 5 in points allowed per game. The deployment of inside linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. has been notable, as has the return of defensive tackle Calais Campbell and the addition of edge rusher Josh Sweat, who have combined for six sacks through four games. Although the Cardinals are currently a mid-tier team versus the pass, their secondary has had to adjust due to the injury to rookie defensive back Will Johnson and veteran cornerback Garrett Williams. Both Johnson and Williams are chess pieces inside of defensive coordinator Nick Rallis’ overall scheme and will help Baker when they return.
With stout play at the cornerback position, and safety Jalen Thompson playing as a Cover 1 ball hawk, Baker is able to roam around the line of scrimmage to help versus the run or blitz opposing quarterbacks. Even if Rallis simply uses Baker as a pre-snap shell decoy, opposing offenses will have to account for both him and the physical pass rush the Cardinals bring with their defensive fronts on the field. Baker has just 2.5 stuffs so far in 2025 but he will be looking to tally in more, and potentially some sacks as well. As for now, Baker can only smile having prepared to propel the Cardinals defense to one of the elite units in the NFL.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Cardinals' Budda Baker is handling task with a new supporting cast
Continue reading...
