ARIZONA CARDINALS

Dallas native Sam Acho has ‘wised up’

Nov 30, 2011, 10:28 PM | Updated: 10:31 pm

Being from Dallas, of course Sam Acho is a Cowboys fan.
Or at least, was a Cowboys fan.

“Growing up I was a Cowboys fan. As I got a little older
I wised up,” he said with a laugh.

Acho and his new favorite team, the Arizona Cardinals,
host his former favorite team Sunday at University of
Phoenix Stadium. He, though, is not making this week any
more special than the previous eleven.

“I mean every game is big,” he said after practice
Wednesday, “especially with our record being what it is
right now. We want to keep on getting better.”

The Cardinals made Acho, a three-time all-conference high
school player and star at the University of Texas, a
fourth round pick in last April’s draft.

He played defensive end in college but has made the
transition to linebacker in the NFL. It would appear
given his play over the last month the transition has been
a smooth one.

Not so.

“I was overwhelmed. Without a doubt I was overwhelmed,”
Acho explained. “I’d never seen a playbook this big and I
knew my playbook at Texas was huge.”

Acho credits safety Adrian Wilson for helping him
translate the number of defensive schemes and assignments.
“He kind of walked me through it and taught me concepts.
Once you get the concepts then you’ll be able to break
down play by play.”

Acho, who continues to pick the brain of veterans Joey
Porter, Clark Haggans, Vonnie Holliday and Nick Eason, had
his best game to date last week at St. Louis. He posted
two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. On
the season, his five sacks tie with him Calais Campbell
for the team lead.

“I definitely set high goals,” he responded when asked if
had surprised himself with his play, “so part of it’s a
surprise but part of it’s what you expect as an athlete.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

13 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

16 hours ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

1 day ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Dallas native Sam Acho has ‘wised up’