Cardinals’ defensive line receives low ranking from USA Today
The Cardinals have most of their defensive line back from last year, but the one player not returning will be hard to replace, according to USA Today.
Losing Calais Campbell in free agency was a huge, if not expected offseason development for the Arizona Cardinals.
The mammoth 6-foot-8 defensive lineman was a stalwart on the Arizona line for nine seasons and had one of his best years in 2016, racking up eight sacks to go along with an interception, three fumble recoveries and his first professional touchdown.
He signed a big-money deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in March, one that will pay him $60 million over four years with half of that figure guaranteed.
USA Today’s Nate Davis ranked all 32 NFL defensive lines and had the Cardinals 30th, largely due to Campbell’s departure.
After making one tackle as a rookie, Robert Nkemdiche, a first-round pick in 2016, has the unenviable task of replacing Calais Campbell for an otherwise pedestrian bunch.
Nkemdiche and 2015 fourth-round pick Rodney Gunter were both drafted to help offset the expected loss of Campbell in free agency. Nkemdiche only played 89 snaps in his rookie season, while Gunter had 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks while playing in a rotation for defensive coordinator James Bettcher.
The Cardinals didn’t draft a defensive lineman this offseason, nor did they sign one in free agency — a sign that they’re confident in their depth at the position. Corey Peters, Ed Stinson, Xavier Williams, Josh Mauro, Frostee Rucker and Olsen Pierre will all see playing time in 2017 as returning players.
Davis ranked the Los Angeles Chargers’ line as the best in the league, while only the Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts came in lower than the Cardinals.
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Comments
6 Comments
"......a pedestrian bunch." I'm pretty sure he doesn't really know who's on the team.
One you didnt mention is Peters.. Dude is a straight wall, and now healthy..
We moved on from big Dan Willaims for Corey Peters..He is not a very good pass rusher, and that's not what is expected of him.. The man collapses the line and gaps big time vs the run..
Plus from how disruptive he is at the LOS he opens up holes for others to make plays.. He can ball.. Atlanta tried hard to resign him, but didnt have the $ to keep him..
His stats don't tell his story, but the stats by players around him does.. 6'4, 320 pound trench soldier.. He will help significantly with the loss of CC..
It does not matter what any of these so called experts say about any of the 32 teams in the NFL. The game is played and won/lost on the field. The Cardinals have a bunch of lineman that need to prove their worth. You said as much in your post with stats and hopes for success from each lineman you mentioned. The Cardinals have a great set of LB's and a very good secondary. Their DL will have to step up to keep this defense where it was last year... That's a fact and should not be seen as a slight. Who gives a damn about a preseason ranking!