Everyone can agree that the most glaring problem the Cardinals have on defense is the pass rush. But that's the biggest componant of a defense and all other areas are suffering for it.
Our linebackers are good, athletic players who are solid tacklers. The reason they haven't made a name for themselves as a unit is because the guys in front of them aren't getting it done. You hear it even with the superstars--teams like Chicago and Baltimore want players up front to get the blockers off of Urlacher and Lewis. We need playmakers on the defensive line for our linebackers to be more effective.
Our defensive backs have faced offenses that have had up to 12-15 seconds to throw the ball. A pair of Deon Sanders' couldn't cover for that long. We need a pass rush to force offenses to rush a play, to play the game on our terms, not theirs.
The defense held up remarkably well lagainst the run ast year at the beginning of the season, despite not having any sembalance of pass rush. If we can sign a pass rushing DE (Holliday, Colvin, Suggs) and/or possibly add another tackle (Kennedy, Wilkinson) we'll see all aspects of the defense click into place and become, dare I say, dominant.
The pass rush is the key because it speeds up the timetable on which the offense depends. The LBs come free because the OLine is worried about the Dline and the CBs can cover effectively and come up with more interceptions on forced balls. We have many of the peices in place for a very good defense.
Flame away....
Our linebackers are good, athletic players who are solid tacklers. The reason they haven't made a name for themselves as a unit is because the guys in front of them aren't getting it done. You hear it even with the superstars--teams like Chicago and Baltimore want players up front to get the blockers off of Urlacher and Lewis. We need playmakers on the defensive line for our linebackers to be more effective.
Our defensive backs have faced offenses that have had up to 12-15 seconds to throw the ball. A pair of Deon Sanders' couldn't cover for that long. We need a pass rush to force offenses to rush a play, to play the game on our terms, not theirs.
The defense held up remarkably well lagainst the run ast year at the beginning of the season, despite not having any sembalance of pass rush. If we can sign a pass rushing DE (Holliday, Colvin, Suggs) and/or possibly add another tackle (Kennedy, Wilkinson) we'll see all aspects of the defense click into place and become, dare I say, dominant.
The pass rush is the key because it speeds up the timetable on which the offense depends. The LBs come free because the OLine is worried about the Dline and the CBs can cover effectively and come up with more interceptions on forced balls. We have many of the peices in place for a very good defense.
Flame away....
