National Football League

GM Steve Keim values upgrading, improving the trenches

Published Jun. 3, 2015 5:58 p.m. ET

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Arizona Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim has a strategy for building his team and it is through the trenches. The Cardinals are the only team in the NFL to rank in the top-7 in salary at both the offensive and defensive line.

“Going back to individual philosophy, for me, you win and you lose the games in the trenches,” Keim said to the Arizona Cardinals official website. “Part of it could be, too, for the amount of time I’ve spent here with this organization (since 1999 as a scout), I feel like we’ve, to some degree, neglected the offensive line. When you look at the big picture and you think about the value of the offensive linemen, it’s not only to create balance and to create movement at the point in the run game, but to be able to protect your assets where you have your money – your quarterbacks, running backs who have had some injuries.

“You have to put an emphasis up front, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. To me, to be able to take what was once a glaring weakness and to potentially make it a strength is what can pay huge dividends for us in the future.”

The Cardinals struggled running the ball last season, but hope guys like Mike Iupati and first-round pick D.J. Humphries will help solidify their run game. 

Keim is hoping all the early draft picks and spending for the guys up front will not only pay dividends this year, but establish an identity for years to come.

(h/t Arizona Cardinals)

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