ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cards’ defense continues to earn praise

Jun 15, 2012, 6:27 PM | Updated: Jan 18, 2013, 10:18 pm

November 29, 2012: Rex Ryan the lastest in a long line to speak highly of the defense

It started Week 1; and it’s continued each week thereafter: NFL head coaches praising the Cardinals defense when speaking to the local media on the weekly conference call.

“They’re really a problem,” Pete Carroll said.

“They’re impressive,” Joe Philbin said.

“They will hit you,” Chan Gailey said.

“They create havoc,” Leslie Frazier said.

Call it coachspeak if you want—Bill Belichick rattled off nine different Cardinals defenders during his chat with reporters, but the message is always the same: praise and respect for one of the top defenses in the league.

“You see one of the best units in the National Football League is what you see (on film),” Andy Reid said before the Eagles visited University of Phoenix Stadium. “It’s hard to find weaknesses in them.”

The Cardinals defense has been one of the few bright spots in a season growing dim with each passing Sunday.

This week the unit was again a hot topic when Jets head coach Rex Ryan held his conference call:

“I look at the Arizona Cardinals, you look at that defense, and it’s one of the best defenses in the National Football League and an extremely talented group,” he said unsolicited. “To me, you have four or five Pro-Bowl players on that defense. There are two big guys up front with (Darnell) Dockett and (Calais) Campbell, and then you have Patrick Peterson, that might be one of the rarest athletes I think I’ve ever seen.”

It’s this kind of talk—from his peers, that has Ray Horton among the top names on the list of future head coach candidates.

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.

1 day 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.

1 day 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.

2 days 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

Cards’ defense continues to earn praise