Could Patrick Peterson not start for the Arizona Cardinals

The NFL lockout has stressed everyone in the NFL. Yet, it may cause even more stress to teams with new coaches and coordinators.

The Arizona Cardinals are among these teams and new Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton admits his defense may take some time for the players to learn.

“There’s a tremendous learning curve,” Horton said in an interview with the team’s website prior to the lockout. “We have found in Pittsburgh that very few rookies start because the system is so complicated and very few start on the back end because if the defensive backs make a mistake it’s a touchdown. So there is a learning curve and with no potential offseason, that’s going to put us behind the 8 ball.”

While learning curves may be perfectly normal and acceptable, Cardinals fans may have reason to worry about Horton’s reluctance to start rookies in the secondary.

After all, the Cardinals did invest their first round pick, fifth overall, on LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.

If there is any truth to the rumors the Cardinals are considering trading Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Peterson may be forced to start immediately.

However, there have also been rumors the Cardinals are interested in free agent Ike Taylor, who has spent the last eight seasons in Pittsburgh and may aid Peterson’s adjustment to the NFL.

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