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"The Tugboat"
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/car...ardsnb0504.html
Defense's challenge is to get quality from quantity
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
May. 4, 2003 12:00 AM
The Cardinals don't have a proven playmaker on the defensive line, but they do have numbers and may have to use them to manufacture a pass rush this season.
Coaches are considering using a five-man line in certain situations, something they implemented a few years ago but rarely used last season.
Also, the versatility of some of the linemen may give the club added options in nickel packages.
It's one area the coaches are evaluating in this weekend's minicamp.
"It's experimentation," coach Dave McGinnis said Saturday. "We'll do it up in Flag (Flagstaff), too, to see how it fleshes itself out."
Ends Calvin Pace, a first-round pick this year, and Kenny King, a fifth-rounder, are accustomed to playing inside, so they could play tackle in nickel situations. Fred Wakefield, the returning starter at left end, occasionally moved to tackle last year in passing situations.
Their flexibility could allow coordinator Larry Marmie to play four or five defensive ends on some passing downs. That could help the Cardinals improve a pass rush that has produced just 40 sacks in two years.
Last year the club played Wendell Bryant at both tackle and end. This year the plan is to keep Bryant at tackle, although he and Russell Davis will play both the left and right sides.
Bulking up
Strong safety Adrian Wilson has gained 13 pounds, up to 223, this off-season in an effort to become stronger and avoid injury.
He concentrated on improving the strength in his shoulders after a dislocation caused him to miss the first game of last season.
Wilson wasn't satisfied with his play last year, his first season as a starter.
"I'm not a finished product," he said. "It's a matter of me being injury-free this year and playing up to the potential I can play at.
"My main concern is not putting on weight, but maintaining my body so I won't get injured."
Inspector Gadget
Defensive line coach Joe Greene has turned cinematographer in this minicamp.
Greene has been videotaping some of the one-on-one drills so he can review footwork technique with players after practice.
All of the Cardinals' practices are videotaped from atop scissor lifts, but sometimes there aren't enough cameras to go around. Greene's videotapes are edited to individualize them for each player.
"We're trying to replace bad habits with good habits," Greene said. "That's where it all starts, the stance, the get-off. Hopefully, you can show them specific things without just giving them words."
Greene is a bit of a gadget junkie, McGinnis said.
"I've owned a few of them," Greene said, smiling. "When they don't work, I throw them out."
Looking around
The Cardinals have just two veteran reserve corners and will be in the market for a third after June 1.
That's when teams can cut players and absorb the salary-cap hit over two seasons, instead of one.
Renaldo Hill and Coby Rhinehart are the backups to Duane Starks and David Barrett.
The two other corners on the roster, Robert Cromartie and Rhett Nelson, are undrafted free agents.
"I like the guys we having working," McGinnis said. "I like having a healthy Duane Starks out there. He's making plays all over the field. But you can never have too many of those guys, especially in the division we're playing in."
Numbers game
Starks is wearing No. 5 in this minicamp but will switch to a number in the 20s by the time training camp opens.
Starks wore No. 22 but gave it up to running back Emmitt Smith.
So why No. 5?
"I've completed five years (in the NFL)," Starks said.
Defense's challenge is to get quality from quantity
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
May. 4, 2003 12:00 AM
The Cardinals don't have a proven playmaker on the defensive line, but they do have numbers and may have to use them to manufacture a pass rush this season.
Coaches are considering using a five-man line in certain situations, something they implemented a few years ago but rarely used last season.
Also, the versatility of some of the linemen may give the club added options in nickel packages.
It's one area the coaches are evaluating in this weekend's minicamp.
"It's experimentation," coach Dave McGinnis said Saturday. "We'll do it up in Flag (Flagstaff), too, to see how it fleshes itself out."
Ends Calvin Pace, a first-round pick this year, and Kenny King, a fifth-rounder, are accustomed to playing inside, so they could play tackle in nickel situations. Fred Wakefield, the returning starter at left end, occasionally moved to tackle last year in passing situations.
Their flexibility could allow coordinator Larry Marmie to play four or five defensive ends on some passing downs. That could help the Cardinals improve a pass rush that has produced just 40 sacks in two years.
Last year the club played Wendell Bryant at both tackle and end. This year the plan is to keep Bryant at tackle, although he and Russell Davis will play both the left and right sides.
Bulking up
Strong safety Adrian Wilson has gained 13 pounds, up to 223, this off-season in an effort to become stronger and avoid injury.
He concentrated on improving the strength in his shoulders after a dislocation caused him to miss the first game of last season.
Wilson wasn't satisfied with his play last year, his first season as a starter.
"I'm not a finished product," he said. "It's a matter of me being injury-free this year and playing up to the potential I can play at.
"My main concern is not putting on weight, but maintaining my body so I won't get injured."
Inspector Gadget
Defensive line coach Joe Greene has turned cinematographer in this minicamp.
Greene has been videotaping some of the one-on-one drills so he can review footwork technique with players after practice.
All of the Cardinals' practices are videotaped from atop scissor lifts, but sometimes there aren't enough cameras to go around. Greene's videotapes are edited to individualize them for each player.
"We're trying to replace bad habits with good habits," Greene said. "That's where it all starts, the stance, the get-off. Hopefully, you can show them specific things without just giving them words."
Greene is a bit of a gadget junkie, McGinnis said.
"I've owned a few of them," Greene said, smiling. "When they don't work, I throw them out."
Looking around
The Cardinals have just two veteran reserve corners and will be in the market for a third after June 1.
That's when teams can cut players and absorb the salary-cap hit over two seasons, instead of one.
Renaldo Hill and Coby Rhinehart are the backups to Duane Starks and David Barrett.
The two other corners on the roster, Robert Cromartie and Rhett Nelson, are undrafted free agents.
"I like the guys we having working," McGinnis said. "I like having a healthy Duane Starks out there. He's making plays all over the field. But you can never have too many of those guys, especially in the division we're playing in."
Numbers game
Starks is wearing No. 5 in this minicamp but will switch to a number in the 20s by the time training camp opens.
Starks wore No. 22 but gave it up to running back Emmitt Smith.
So why No. 5?
"I've completed five years (in the NFL)," Starks said.
