Arizona Cardinals Secondary: Toughest Job in the NFL

“You live by the blitz and you die by the blitz,” that right their can be the Arizona Cardinals defensive motto. While the run defense is playing the best they have ever played, the secondary isn’t playing like what most people were expecting. The Arizona Cardinals are ranked dead last against the pass and the only team giving up an average of 300 yards. The Statistics would tell you most of these players just aren’t playing that well.

If you think that, you are kind of right. This defense isn’t playing that well but it’s not just because of the secondary. Its because of the scheme and play call. Todd Bowles, defensive coordinator for the Cardinals, understands that his team doesn’t have a great individual pass rusher or a front 4 who can consistently put pressure on the quarterback. Because of this Bowles needs to send the blitz almost on every single play. This makes up for the lack of a pass rush and  helps make the rush defense that much more lethal.

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However, like most things in sports, there is a backlash to this, the secondary is all by themselves. Patrick Peterson is constantly going up against the opponents best receiver by himself with no help what so ever. The safeties have to defend either a man or a quarter of the field or both. Most of the time, the secondary is in man, while the front seven expect at times maybe one free linebacker is sending the heat nearly every other play.

When I see Peterson get burned (which is rare) it’s because he made a simple mistake and unlike most teams, he doesn’t have a safety backing him up. If someone burns Cromartie or Peterson, unless Bucannon or Mathieu can put on the jets, it’s going to go for six. When the Arizona Cardinals play zone, this team is a lot better against the pass but  that lack of pass rush eventually allows the quarterback to find the weak spot.

Most of the time this they usually can deal well in man coverage, only once in a while will they get burned. This probably how the Arizona Cardinals will play for the remainder of this season unless Peterson is hurt or their defense gets someone on their team who can rush the quarterback by himself that can make a huge impact.