Player Spotlight: DE Calais Campbell
Calais Campbell has been standing out as a defensive star for the Arizona Cardinals for the better part of seven years.
I’m not only speaking about his play making abilities. The man literally stands out, even amongst other NFL players, due to his 6-8 300 lbs. frame.
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But when you get back to his work on the field you wont be disappointed. Campbell has racked up 36.5 sacks placing him at tenth on the Cardinals all-time list. During the 2013 season Campbell had probably his best season. He totaled 71 tackles and a career best 9 sacks. He posted five passes defended, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and 27 quarterback pressures.
2013 marked his fifth straight year of at least 50 tackles and 6 sacks. He is the only player in Cardinals history to accomplish such a feat.
The Cardinals will need production out of him. Big thing going into this is season is who will be playing in the middle of the Cardinal defense. Fans were bracing for the return of Darnell Dockett but now he’s in San Francisco (much to the chagrin of cardinal fans).
They were expecting Daryl Washington and Sean Witherspoon to be back this season. Witherspoon is practicing after missing all of last year after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Washington WOULD be coming off of serving a year long abuse to do NFL’s substance abuse policy but, he’s also waiting to hear back on any discipline from a domestic violence incident in 2013.
Campbell is only 28 years old so it would be safe to say he’s in the midst of his prime. A season like 2013’s may seem like it’s asking for too much but it’s completely possible. He’s been a dominant, physical force who’s been able to use leverage very well despite his height. Calais Campbell is a vital part of a playoff caliber team that will need all it can in order to make it back, out of a physical NFC West.