Cardinals defense motivated to prove people wrong in 2015
Under Todd Bowles, the Cardinals loved to blitz.
Over the past 2 seasons the Cardinals have blitzed (brought 5 or more rushers) 97 more times than any other team. pic.twitter.com/lGiUmkHaJY
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) June 24, 2015
The statistics support that notion.
Heading into 2015, it likely won't change, even with Bowles now head coach of the New York Jets.
Calais Campbell, Alex Okafor, Frostee Rucker, plus offseason additions Corey Peters, Cory Redding and LaMarr Woodley make a formidable presence up front.
The Cardinals recorded 35 sacks as a unit in 2014, which ranked 24th in the NFL. Five more sacks would have put them in the top half of the league.
Campbell and Okafor combined for 15 sacks last season; Rucker recorded a career high five. Woodley has registered double-digit sacks three times in his career, but not since 2010.
Though the sack numbers might not show up in the box score, the Cardinals defense ranked fifth in points allowed per game (18.7) and 13th in rushing yards allowed per game (108.7).
When their offense struggled in 2014, it was the defense that was rock solid.
“If you look on paper, we don’t (have an elite pass-rusher)," Okafor told AZCardinals.com. "Calais (Campbell), he’s a hell of a player, but outside of him we don’t have the numbers. That’s why I think it drives the D-line and the ‘backers as a group, to get those numbers on paper and show people what we can do. I know we’re capable of it.”
(h/t AZCardinals.com)
-
2024 NFL Power Rankings: A post-draft look at where every team stands
Mahomes Mountain: Where do Caleb Williams, rookies land on Nick Wright's QB tiers?
Why Arizona Cardinals fans still can't buy a Marvin Harrison Jr. jersey
-
2025 NFL mock draft: Who are next year's top players — and how many QBs go high?
2024 NFL Draft grades: Analyzing all 32 teams' classes; Who gets top marks?
2024 NFL free agency tracker: Signings, updates, best players available
-
Super Bowl locations, dates for 2025, 2026, 2027
2024 NFL Draft order: Updated after Round 1
2025 Super Bowl LIX odds: Chicago's odds shorten after drafting Caleb Williams
-
2024 NFL Power Rankings: A post-draft look at where every team stands
Mahomes Mountain: Where do Caleb Williams, rookies land on Nick Wright's QB tiers?
Why Arizona Cardinals fans still can't buy a Marvin Harrison Jr. jersey
-
2025 NFL mock draft: Who are next year's top players — and how many QBs go high?
2024 NFL Draft grades: Analyzing all 32 teams' classes; Who gets top marks?
2024 NFL free agency tracker: Signings, updates, best players available
-
Super Bowl locations, dates for 2025, 2026, 2027
2024 NFL Draft order: Updated after Round 1
2025 Super Bowl LIX odds: Chicago's odds shorten after drafting Caleb Williams