Arizona Cardinals

Nov. 25, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Most coaches, whether it be the NFL, college or high school, have the idea that teams need to have one base defense.  Why? Perhaps it is easier to assign players to positions and have them work on that one specific position.  Perhaps it makes scheming for other team easier. But what if you have the talent to run multiple fronts?  When I think of a defense I think of a boxer.  It is great to have a good jab, but what good is a jab if you do not have a straight to go behind it? Most boxing fans know that the jab is not a huge punch, but it is a great punch to gain rhythm. Having a straight power punch allows you to effectively use the jab. Then again perhaps you have a great jab and a good straight hand, and no hook or uppercut?  I am sure you see where I am going with this.  All great boxers are able to throw the jab, straight hand, hook and or the uppercut effectively.  It allows different types of combinations of punches to be thrown always keeping your opponent off-balance. The Arizona Cardinals’ defense is entering a year with a new defensive coordinator in Todd Bowles, who is used to running a 4-3 alignment.  The problem is, he is taking over a defense built to run a 3-4 alignment. Both are very effective when ran correctly and from a personnel standpoint makes sense to run both.  Most players coming out of college were groomed on the defensive side of the ball to run a four-man front. But you are seeing more and more that they are being taken from what they have known since youth football and thrown into a new alignment with expectations not only from the fans but from the owners and coaches as well. Now a paycheck is involved. For example, take O’Brien Schofield. He was a dominant force as a defensive end at Wisconsin in a four-man front.  And since he has been in the NFL, he has struggled to pick up the concept and positioning of a OLB in a 3-4 alignment. He is a below average defender in a 3-4 but may be a force in a 4-3. When looking at the guys up front the Cardinals have Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett and Dan Williams as the front three. Bringing down Schofield or Sam Acho from the OLB spot to the DE spot allows them to put their hand on the ground and play how they used to. Thinking is not a part of what comes naturally, so they would be able to do what the Cardinals expected them to do coming out of college; play strong and play fast. Dockett would serve better to play in a multiple-front alignment as well.  He was known as a beast in the middle prior to Horton coming in and moving him to the outside. With Bowles in place, the word is that Dockett will be played more on the inside, allowing him to beat guys off the line of scrimmage. Using a four-man front would allow the Cardinals to tinker with Dockett, Williams and Campbell. The secondary could benefit from a multiple-front as well, especially in third-down situations.  With Patrick Peterson coming off a Pro Bowl year and the addition of Antoine Cason and Jerraud Powers not to mention the addition of Tyrann Matthew, guys should be able to make plays due to pressure up front being provided by guys who are now in a more natural position. Eliminating the space the 3-4 can create by using a four-man front (a 4-3) will help reduce lanes for the opposing running back to choose from.  The Arizona Cardinals had one of the worse rush defense in the NFL last year so mixing up the fronts could provide an extra piece of confusion the opposing offensive coordinator would have to contend with. The Arizona Cardinals by using multiple fronts would provide the arsenal needed to improve on their already good defense. So, using different formations along with the scheming should help turn the defense from a fighter fighting on ESPN on Friday nights to fighting

As noted in an earlier ROTB post, the NFL is on the verge of moving the NFL Draft back into the month of May. The dates that are coming out change the weekend from year to year, but it would be the first of a few offseason calendar changes. In 2014, the NFL Draft, rather than the last weekend in April, will be May 15-17, and then moved to May 7-9 in 2015 and May 6-8 in 2016. The league has the power to change the date of the Draft without collective bargaining with the NFLPA, but other changes, including the date of the NFL Scouting Combine and the beginning of the league year, must be changed via negotiation. What is being proposed is that the Combine be moved from late February to mid March, after the beginning of the league year (this year the start was March 12). The start of the league year could also be pushed up a little earlier in March. While these are things that would have to be negotiated, it would appear that the NFLPA would be amenable to such changes. An earlier start to the league year means free agents get signed earlier and get paid earlier. By putting the Combine after the start of the year, then there can be more of a focus on the current NFL players in free agency, perhaps allowing more of the second and third tier free agents to find teams and get contracts before the teams are going all out with the draft. As for the draft, it allows teams a little more prep time, as well as players. The one thing that it would do, though, is give rookies less time with their teams, which has been something that has led to more and more rookies playing earlier. The effect? More mock drafts and speculation! It gives us a little less lag time between the Super Bowl and free agency. Then it gives us less down time between the draft and training camp. In the end, more football, more of the time. Keep up with Cardinals news and opinions when you are not on the site. Follow Revenge of the Birds on Twitter at @revengeofbirds and "like" us on Facebook. You can follow me individually at @senorjessroot.

The next step in the legal process for Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington is complete. As reported by the Associated Press, Washington had a hearing in court on Monday and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges of aggravated assault, which stem from a domestic violence complaint with the mother of his child. What is up next for Washington is a court date in July. On July 3, he is scheduled to go before Commissioner Lisa VandenBerg. For fans who were hoping to see some resolution sooner rather than later, this is the court system. Nothing happens quickly. This is clearly something, unless the charges are dropped at some point, that Washington's legal situation may creep into training camp and the preseason. Washington is already suspended for the first four weeks of the season under the NFL's substance abuse policy. Keep up with Cardinals news and opinions when you are not on the site. Follow Revenge of the Birds on Twitter at @revengeofbirds and "like" us on Facebook. You can follow me individually at @senorjessroot.

The Patrick Peterson debate continues on. The NFL wants to move things around in the offseason and Cardinals released their "Flight Plan" series. Cardinals: Word From the Birds Blog | Managing Palmer expectationsWhat does that mean for Palmer himself? Well, he’s playing in a much more difficult division than last season. He’ll have to up his game to match his numbers. But if he stays healthy — and assuming the offensive line makes strides forward, as everyone is expecting right now — that can happen. Word From the Birds Blog | Moving the draft laterAdam Shefter first reported a 2014 draft that would take place in May. That really isn’t a shock. To move the TV-ratings-rich draft into the sweeps month of May makes sense. Cardinals Flight Plan: Offseason SpecialCatch the offseason special featuring coach Arians wired for sound, Dansby's return and more. Including Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson in top CB talk - ESPN"If we have this discussion in a year, he is top three in the league and if not, No. 1," ESPN.com NFL scout Matt Williamson predicted Monday. NFL - John Clayton breaks down big spenders and big bargains in free agency - ESPNPlenty of teams made big splashes early in free agency, but keep an eye on those who waited for smart bargains, writes John Clayton. St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals took opposite approaches - ESPNWhile the Rams focused their UFA resources narrowly, the Arizona Cardinals added a long list of players at relatively low cost. Larry Fitzgerald: 2012 was most frustrating season I’ve ever had | ProFootballTalkStatistics don't always tell the entire story, but they do a pretty good job of providing everything you need to know about how 2012 went for Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. His 71 catches were his least for a season since 2006 and he never had a lower average than the 11. Can Carson Palmer play? Employ 4 C's ArizonaSports.comCalvisi Consulting has devised its own QB valuation system. NFL: Twists and slants: How to generate pressure with only 4 rushers - SBNation.comWant to win games in the NFL? Have a defensive front that can generate pressure all by itself. Here's how. The Robert Griffin III wedding registry: A tale of kitchen greatness - SBNation.comYou see a Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster Encore Dehydrator and Jerky Maker, and we see greatness Mario Williams says he didn't abuse painkillers - SBNation.comMario Williams denied abusing painkillers or having suicidal thoughts while saying the controversy surrounding text messages sent to his ex-fiancee has been taken out of context and blown out of proportion. NFL Draft tentative dates set for May, according to report - SBNation.comDates for a May NFL draft have emerged, changing the NFL schedule for the next three years. LeSean McCoy injury: Eagles RB leaves practice with knee issue - SBNation.comLeSean McCoy hurt his knee in a workout Monday, forcing him to the sidelines as the team tries to learn Chip Kelly's offense. The injury didn't seem to be very serious to those in attendance. Chargers shield Manti Te'o from media until training camp - SBNation.comThe Chargers said they made an "organizational decision" to shield rookie linebacker Manti Te'o from the media between the start of OTAs and minicamp. Mike Goodson doesn't practice at Jets OTAs - SBNation.comMike Goodson didn't participate in offseason workouts with the New York Jets Monday, days after the running back was arrested for alleged illegal drug and weapons possession. His status with the team going forward is uncertain. Darrelle Revis injury: Buccaneers CB should be ready for Week 1 - SBNation.comTampa Bay coach Greg Schiano said that things wear "gearing towards" Revis being ready for the start of the season. Alex Smith practices pistol formation at Chiefs OTAs - SBNation.comAlex Smith ran plays out of the pistol formation at Kansas City Chiefs OTAs on Thursday. Calvin Johnson admits playing with broken finge

Sep 16, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) breaks up a pass intended for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Michael Jenkins (84) at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Minnesota 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports After five years in Indianapolis, Jerraud Powers inked a 3-year deal worth up to $10.5 million dollars with the Arizona Cardinals on March 13, 2013. He is one of only a few free agents who the Cardinals signed to a multi-year deal. With that said, Powers should be looked at as a long-term solution to the CB position opposite of Patrick Peterson. He is currently the top choice to start across from Peterson and OTAs have solidified that notion thus far. Powers is only 25 years old and a former third-round pick out of Auburn in 2009. The knock on him has been durability. It seems as though he is consistently ending up in the injured reserved. At only 5’10” 190 lbs he plays physical subjecting his body to regular abuse. Powers adds to the slew of newly-acquired depth at the cornerback position, a position the Cardinals have not been particularly solid at recently outside of Peterson. Cardinal fans have seen a merry-go-round of CBs come through their doors to be welcomed with optimism, only to watch them exit relatively soon thereafter. Bryant McFadden, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Greg Toler come to mind instantly. The issues remained and always seemed to be one thing after another, injuries, penalties or a simple lack of desire to be great. Now, a revamped secondary consists of cornerbacks Peterson, Powers, Antoine Cason (free agent) and Javier Arenas (acquire via trade). Those players have combined for around 135 starts in the NFL,  and the Cardinals also have second-year players Jamell Fleming and Justin Bethel. In four years at Indy, Powers started all 42 games he played in. However, Powers has never made it past Week 13 and is averaging just over 10 games a year (out of 16 regular season games). That is not going to bode well long-term if he cannot stay healthy in the desert. The Cardinals are going to need Powers in particular to stay healthy and remain physical if they have any hope of being competitive in the very physical NFC West. The secondary would certainly be better if Cason and Arenas are able to float around in nickel packages. Unlike other moves, I think this was a bold signing by the Cardinals giving a 3-year deal to a guy who has not shown the ability the stay healthy. Arians’ familiarity with Powers in Indy I am sure played a role. I grade this signing as a solid B for year one, but the grade for the future could go up if Powers can stay on the field.

It's been known that the NFL has wanted to change their offseason calendar for quite some time now, but they could not seem to make any headway, only remaining a possibility and not much of an action. However a tweet and a report later by ESPN's Adam Schefter, it seems that it is finally coming to fruition. It is believed that the NFL will move the draft back into May for 2014 as a trial, leaving the rest of the schedule relatively intact. This comes as a scheduling conflict between the NFL Draft and the Radio City Rocketts are scheduled around the same time late in April. NFLPA's DeMaurice Smith and NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, have yet to sit down and officially discuss it, but have been in communication over the phone, and sources close to both parties says that the talks have been incredibly positive. One interesting tidbit is that the NFL does not need the NFLPA's permission to change the draft date, so even if talks went south, Goodell could move it on his own. The only time he would need permission is the official start of the league year. Personally I don't like the idea. It means that we have to wait longer for the big day, and as a blogger on ROTB it means less news to get out.

Aug 07, 2012; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver LaRon Byrd (17) catches a pass and runs as Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Kendrick Lewis (23) defends during the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals practice at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports In May, small injuries usually aren’t concerning. However, LaRon Byrd may have a bit of a problem. According to Yahoo Sports, Byrd, a second-year wideout out of Miami, is having neck issues. Head coach Bruce Arians said that Byrd returned to practice and is fine, but the report mentions that this could lead to recurring neck issues. Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebacker Jarvis Jones appeared to be a top-10 lock in the 2013 NFL draft before spinal stenosis issues arose, and he was picked 17th instead. Byrd isn’t expected to do much in 2013, but he’s an athletic receiver with the physical tools to succeed in the NFL. Byrd will likely be Arizona’s fifth receiver, behind Larry Fitzgerald, Ryan Swope, Andre Roberts and Michael Floyd. However, with Roberts and Swope likely to be primarily featured in the slot, Byrd should definitely see a good amount of sets as the third outside receiver. The wide receiver ran a 4.45 40-yard dash and is 6’4″, but he has never produced much on the field. Byrd caught a mere one pass in 2012, and he’s looking to do more in 2013. For a receiver overflowing with potential, this injury and the potential for worse things to come is definitely an obstacle.

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington has pleaded not guilty to his arrest earlier this month on assault charges stemming from an incident with his ex-girlfriend. According to the Associated Press, Washington entered the plea Monday. Per Phoenix

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, who authorities have said is the mother of his baby daughter.

Catch the offseason special featuring coach Arians wired for sound, Dansby's return and much more.