This should kick the hornets’ nest. At about this time last year I was writing about how excited I was to see the revised defense with impactful additions. However, once the season started there was little exciting about the defense. IMO on the surface the Cards had significantly improved their defense. Especially, I was expecting a killer pass defense. They signed Sweat, Campbell and Tomlinson. They had drafted Nolen and Johnson, which was like getting 2 round 1 choices. They also added another good rusher in Burch. Clearly that impacted defense didn’t happen.
Campbell actually had one of his best seasons. Sweat had a career year. Johnson started the season as the number 1 CB and early on looked the part. However, it wasn’t all good news. Tomlinson was just okay against the run and could no longer collapse the pocket. Nolen was struck by the Cards’ major injury curse. Johnson suffered continual nagging injuries and was no longer the ballhawk he’d been in college. Burch was a preseason demon, who never seemed to find his way once games counted. Holdovers, like Browning and Robinson, were of little use. Collins remained an underachiever. Thompson was not good enough to be resigned for 2026. Baker still couldn’t cover receivers and declined as a disruptive force against the run. Williams who had impressed everyone as the slot CB in 2024, somehow seemed less capable in coverage and suffered another injury. Melton seemed to never get going. Wilson was playing great at LB, then he too suffered a season ending injury. ADG never emerged as an impact player. Beyond Campbell and Nolen for a couple of games the remainder of the Dline failed to distinguish themselves. In the end this was a pitiful defense.
Going into this season Gannon, hired based on his defensive prowess, was fired. Most thought Rallis would suffer the same fate, but he was retained. I have to believe that only makes sense if Rallis threw Gannon under the bus. Rallis must have said something like Gannon restricted Rallis’ options with instructions like the 4 man pass rush. Perhaps also personnel usage was an issue. Otherwise it makes no sense they kept Rallis.
If Gannon really did dictate the defense then maybe we’ll see a different strategy from Rallis. I think they get Campbell back if they want him, but Proctor reduced the odds. If Nolen’s girlfriend is to be believed Nolen should be 100% at the start of the season. I don’t expect great things, but Robinson should be better. The CBs will be a little deeper and more experienced. If Johnson and Williams are fully recovered the unit could be decent. This would be almost certainly the case if the pass rush is more aggressive.
I think, as strange as it sounds, that the Cards believe thay actially fixed the defense last year. That’s why they focused on the offense so heavily in free agency and the draft. They believe this defense can compete.
Campbell actually had one of his best seasons. Sweat had a career year. Johnson started the season as the number 1 CB and early on looked the part. However, it wasn’t all good news. Tomlinson was just okay against the run and could no longer collapse the pocket. Nolen was struck by the Cards’ major injury curse. Johnson suffered continual nagging injuries and was no longer the ballhawk he’d been in college. Burch was a preseason demon, who never seemed to find his way once games counted. Holdovers, like Browning and Robinson, were of little use. Collins remained an underachiever. Thompson was not good enough to be resigned for 2026. Baker still couldn’t cover receivers and declined as a disruptive force against the run. Williams who had impressed everyone as the slot CB in 2024, somehow seemed less capable in coverage and suffered another injury. Melton seemed to never get going. Wilson was playing great at LB, then he too suffered a season ending injury. ADG never emerged as an impact player. Beyond Campbell and Nolen for a couple of games the remainder of the Dline failed to distinguish themselves. In the end this was a pitiful defense.
Going into this season Gannon, hired based on his defensive prowess, was fired. Most thought Rallis would suffer the same fate, but he was retained. I have to believe that only makes sense if Rallis threw Gannon under the bus. Rallis must have said something like Gannon restricted Rallis’ options with instructions like the 4 man pass rush. Perhaps also personnel usage was an issue. Otherwise it makes no sense they kept Rallis.
If Gannon really did dictate the defense then maybe we’ll see a different strategy from Rallis. I think they get Campbell back if they want him, but Proctor reduced the odds. If Nolen’s girlfriend is to be believed Nolen should be 100% at the start of the season. I don’t expect great things, but Robinson should be better. The CBs will be a little deeper and more experienced. If Johnson and Williams are fully recovered the unit could be decent. This would be almost certainly the case if the pass rush is more aggressive.
I think, as strange as it sounds, that the Cards believe thay actially fixed the defense last year. That’s why they focused on the offense so heavily in free agency and the draft. They believe this defense can compete.
