Cardinals’ Campbell and Jefferson on Pro Football Focus’ All-Pro Team
Nov 11, 2016, 6:00 AM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin his hit by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Tony Jefferson (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
With Week 9 in the books, every NFL team has played at least eight games.
So at the midway point in the season, Pro Football Focus analyst Sam Monson revealed his midseason All-Pro Team, and two Arizona Cardinals made the cut — defensive lineman Calais Campbell and safety Tony Jefferson.
Campbell, the nine-year veteran, has been a steady force in the middle of Cardinals’ defense, leading the team’s linemen with 27 total tackles. According to Monson, Campbell has proved to be a major factor in the Cardinals’ pass defense.
Calais Campbell is quietly having arguably the best season of his career. He only has two sacks, but has recorded 24 total QB pressures and has taken over entire games, such as the Week 7 Sunday Night Football encounter with the Seattle Seahawks. Campbell is as disruptive of an interior force as you will find in the league outside of Aaron Donald this season.
Jefferson, a fourth-year safety, has yet to miss a tackle in the run game. So far, Jefferson has posted 56 total tackles, one sack and two fumbles.
There are other safeties with better coverage grades and numbers this season, but what Tony Jefferson has done against the run demands a space on this team. He has by far the best grade against the run among safeties, and his 22 defensive stops are second to Landon Collins at the position on 61 fewer snaps (a full game).
