When Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim made the move to bring former second-round pick Markus Golden back to Arizona, even the most forward-thinking of Cards fans caught themselves casting their minds back to 2015 when Golden was drafted by the team. That season, Golden was a member of an Arizona Cardinals defense that brought the team to the NFC Championship game.
However, last season, the defense was ranked dead last in the NFL. In a 5-10-1 2019 season, the unit was a clear weakness through Kliff Kingsbury’s first season in the desert. Vance Joseph’s defense was criticized for its inability to defend the opposing tight end against the San Francisco 49ers, giving up two touchdowns to Ross Dwelley, the back-up in George Kittle’s absence, marked a significant need for development.
Fast forward to Week 8. The Cardinals sit second in the NFC West with a 5-2 record, their bye week coming after a stunning overtime win against MVP frontrunner Russell Wilson and the division-leading Seattle Seahawks. The blossoming relationship between Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins has led Hopkins to the top of the receiving yards chart. Murray’s seven rushing touchdowns have highlighted him as one of the most electrifying players in the league. However, the success of the offense should not overshadow the renaissance of the Arizona Cardinals defense, which has quietly become one of the top units in the league.
Assessing the Arizona Cardinals Defense Heading Into the Bye Week
Pass Rush
When outside linebacker and All-Pro talent Chandler Jones was lost for the season against the New York Jets, the team lost one of its most influential stars. An effective player in both pass and run situations, the Cardinals headed into the game with Seattle with a host of players, including Haason Reddick and special teams captain Dennis Gardeck, expected to shoulder the load.
Although the team managed two sacks against one of the league’s most elusive quarterbacks in Wilson, the team lacks a marquee pass-rush threat. Much of Jones’ effectiveness came from the attention that he garnered from opposing offensive linemen, allowing opportunities for others. Acquiring Golden from the Giants certainly gives the team more options in generating pressure, although Golden will likely be used as a situational pass rusher on third down and long-yardage situations. The Cardinals pass rush is lacking without its cornerstone in Chandler Jones, but the strength of this defence lies elsewhere.
Linebackers
The unit that has seen the best development this season is the team’s linebacking core. Free-agent signing De’Vondre Campbell has brought a balance to the group, offering a sideline-to-sideline ability in pass coverage that compliments tacking machine Jordan Hicks. Campbell’s strong performances have largely kept 2020 first-round pick, Isaiah Simmons, off the field.
Simmons is a curious case, struggling in Week 1 against the Niners but coming up with a game-sealing interception in overtime against the Seahawks. Solving the unit’s frailties from 2019 has seen the Arizona Cardinals defense eliminate a clear weakness in the team overall; better production out of the group has propelled the team to tenth in overall defense in the league. As for Simmons, the learning curve for an inside linebacker is steep, although hopes are that early-season struggles are behind the former Clemson star. As Campbell continues to impress as a starter, Simmons’ situational usage can be a useful tool for Vance Joseph going forward.
Budda Baker
In the off-season, the Cardinals made safety Budda Baker the highest-paid safety in NFL history with a four- year/$59 million deal. The former Washington Huskie has wasted little time in repaying the team that drafted him, already contributing performances that earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Month honours for October. In a dominant month, Baker snagged two interceptions, the first of his NFL career, including one against Russell Wilson. He leads his team, alongside linebacker Jordan Hicks, in tackles on the season.
An effective presence as a box safety, as indicated by his 59 tackles and two sacks, Baker’s versatility has proven him to be one of the Cardinals’ most important players in a defensive system renowned for generating pressure. In the Cardinals Week 3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Baker’s absence, due to a thumb injury, was seen in the unit’s inability to stop Teddy Bridgewater as the quarterback torched them for 276 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Patrick Peterson
Patrick Peterson has been one of the Cardinals best players for the best part of a decade. However, following a 2019 season that saw Peterson suspended for a violation of the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy, questions have been raised about the cornerback’s ability going forward. So far, Peterson has put forward a strong case for the Cardinals to renew his contract, as the All-Pro corner faces the prospect of free agency at the end of the year. Peterson’s performances have been reflective of the entire defence, playing his best games in those games wherein the whole team performs.
The early peak of Peterson’s 2020 is his lockdown showing against D.K. Metcalf, one of the league’s breakout stars this season. Shadowing the 6’4″ receiver in man coverage throughout the game, Peterson held one of Russell Wilson’s most productive targets to only one catch before intercepting an errant pass in the end zone to cap an impressive display.
Dre Kirkpatrick
Peterson is not a problem for the Cardinals, but there is a familiar Peterson-related issue for the team to consider. With Robert Alford out for the second successive season, the search for an effective tandem partner for Peterson continues. Dre Kirkpatrick has been average so far. The former Cincinnati Bengals starter did grab an interception, albeit against Andy Dalton and a depleted Dallas Cowboys roster.
However, whereas Peterson shone in the bright lights of Sunday Night Football, Kirkpatrick struggled against the Seahawks. Granted, in man coverage, Kirkpatrick drew Tyler Lockett. One of the league’s shiftiest and most underrated players, Peterson too was a victim of what was a stunning 200-yard, three-touchdown performance from Lockett. Unfortunately, while the broadcast crew lauded Peterson’s good coverage on plays where he was beaten by Lockett, the Seahawks receiver showed out on Kirkpatrick, particularly on his first touchdown.
Patrick Peterson remains reliable and productive as the team’s number one corner. With Byron Murphy entrenched in the slot, Kirkpatrick, for now, is the Cardinals second starter on the outside, although the team has continued to add depth. Bringing local product Prince Amukamara onto the team’s practice squad gives the Cardinals options if opposing teams continue to target and exploit Kirkpatrick.
Summary
After that 2019 season, the only way was up for the Arizona Cardinals defense. Surpassing expectations, the unit has soared to one of the top defenses in the NFL. The key going forward, somewhat obviously, is consistency. Fundamental to this is the continuing presence of Budda Baker, the star whose performances seemingly dictate the fate of the team. Steve Keim noted earlier in the season that “stars need to play like stars” and the Seahawks win saw that come to fruition, with Baker, Peterson, and Simmons all making significant contributions. The loss of a star like Chandler Jones cannot be understated, and Arizona’s pass rush will sorely miss him, but elsewhere, the Cardinals certainly have gained a star in Simmons. Campbell’s keeping Simmons off the field is a nice issue to have for Vance Joseph, who has seemingly corrected his defensive failures from last season. Kirkpatrick will have to improve upon his poor performance against the Seahawks to avoid becoming a black mark on this year, but if Joseph can work Simmons in amongst the continued production of the team’s other stars, then defense in the desert looks exciting for the rest of the season.
