Cardinals GM Steve Keim lists ‘creating a pass rush’ as top priority
Jan 25, 2016, 3:41 PM
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton throws during the second half the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
For the most part, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton had all day to throw the football Sunday.
Newton completed 18-of-29 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers dismantled the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 in the NFC Championship Game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Arizona managed just one sack, and that came on a play where Newton slipped while trying to escape Cardinals defensive lineman Ed Stinson. Newton was hit just twice in the game.
That lack of pass rush made things very difficult on the secondary, who also did not play well.
The architect of the 2015 Cardinals, general manager Steve Keim, says moving forward, improving in that area is a big priority moving into next season.
“Create a pass rush,” Keim answered when asked what the biggest need is by Doug and Wolf Monday morning on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “I don’t care who it is, whether it’s Cam Newton or Aaron Rodgers, you have to affect the quarterback on a lot of snaps and we weren’t able to do that.
“Our back end, I don’t think, played particularly well, but again, you have to give those guys some help as well. I don’t think we created any pressure. We have to get more physical up front and that starts with me. I have to a better job. I will certainly answer the bell and get that started today and try to put a team on the field that all our fans can be proud of.”
The Cardinals’ pass rush was mediocre all season long. Arizona ranked 20th in the NFL with 36 sacks — a quarter of which came in a Week 16 win over the Green Bay Packers. They were tied for 10th in the league with 108 quarterback hurries.
It remains to be seen how Keim and the Cardinals will address the issue personnel-wise. Arizona will have the 29th pick in the first round of the draft, and could select a pass rusher there. Many of the players considered elite at the position will be off the board at that point and a lot can change between now and late-April, but Ohio State’s Darron Lee, Georgia’s Leonard Floyd and Eastern Kentucky’s Noah Spence could be available.
Free agency is also a possible avenue for Keim to explore. Denver’s Von Miller, Kansas City’s Tamba Hali and Seattle’s Bruce Irvin are among the best edge rushers that could hit the market in February.
