Forced into action, Cardinals’ cornerback Antoine Cason shines

Dec 16, 2013, 1:36 AM | Updated: 1:36 am

Antoine Cason had been a little-used piece of the Arizona Cardinals’ defense.

Before Sunday’s game at the Tennessee Titans, the sixth-year corner out of the University of Arizona had recorded just six tackles and no pass breakups or interceptions in five games played after signing with the Cardinals as a free agent following five years with the San Diego Chargers.

But after versatile defensive back Tyrann Mathieu was lost for the season in last week’s win over the St. Louis Rams, Cason was forced into a larger role with the Cardinals.

The 27-year-old couldn’t have responded better.

Cason picked off two passes — one came in overtime and he returned the other for a touchdown — while also recovering a fumble and making four tackles to help the Cardinals hang on for a 37-34 overtime win over the Titans.

“Those guys have been playing well all year,” Cason said of Arizona’s defense. “I knew I needed to come up big and step up just as good as they’ve been playing all year. Especially in my first week really being in the defense.”

Cason was one of few bright spots on a defense that gave up a season high in points and allowed the Titans to erase a 17-point deficit in less than four minutes. And after Tennessee rallied to force overtime, it’s easy to see how the Cardinals’ sideline could have been panicked.

Cason credited cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross for preaching to the defense to be confident and trust itself while getting back to the technique that had helped it become one of the league’s best units.

“That really helped me,” Cason said.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity. It’s great to see the coaches have confidence in me like I have the confidence in myself.”

Tampa Rays pitcher David Price is introduced as the Tennessee Titans 12th Man before an NFL football game between the Titans and the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. Price played baseball for Vanderbilt University in Nashville. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall (28) pushes past Tennessee Titans defensive end Ropati Pitoitua (92) as Mendenhall scores a touchdown on a 1-yard run in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall (28) celebrates with Kory Sperry (83) and Daryn Colledge (71) after Mendenhall scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run against the Tennessee Titans in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) passes as guard Paul Fanaika (74) blocks Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) gets past Arizona Cardinals defenders Karlos Dansby (56) and Rashad Johnson (26) as Chris Johnson scores a touchdown on a 25-yard pass play in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals on a 25-yard pass play in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) is congratulated by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (4) after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals on a 25-yard pass play in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall (28) gets away from Tennessee Titans linebacker Moise Fokou (53) in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (4) passes under pressure from Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker John Abraham (55) in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) celebrates after sacking Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) for a 9-yard loss in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) is congratulated by defensive end Kamerion Wimbley (95) after Casey sacked Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer for a 9-yard loss in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is sacked for a 7-yard loss by Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) and Derrick Morgan (91) in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) can't hang onto a pass as he is defended by Tennessee Titans cornerback Jason McCourty (30) and safety Bernard Pollard (31) in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (4) head to the sideline after Johnson scored a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals on a 25-yard pass play in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) 
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antoine Cason (20) is congratulated by Rashad Johnson (26) after Cason intercepted a pass and ran it back 20 yards for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Daryl Washington (58) breaks up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans fullback Quinn Johnson (45) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall (28) celebrates as he lies on top of Paul Fanaika (74) after Mendenhall scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Tennessee Titans wide receiver Michael Preston (14) catches a 10-yard pass for a touchdown as he is defended by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antoine Cason (20) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) Tennessee Titans wide receiver Michael Preston (14) scores a touchdown on an 8-yard pass play as he is defended by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) with 37 seconds left in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. The extra point tied the game to send it into overtime. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Michael Preston (14) scores a touchdown on an 8-yard pass play as he is defended by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) with 37 seconds left in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. The extra point tied the game to send it into overtime. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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