The Arizona Cardinals played 2019 relying on a three rookie defensive backs for much of the season — cornerback Byron Murphy and safeties Jalen Thompson and Deionte Thompson. The defense will have starting cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Robert Alford returning to play a full season, but with no new additions made to the defensive secondary in free agency or the draft, these now second-year players will be counted on to be major contributors.
“I’m looking forward to those guys taking huge steps,” defensive coordinator Vane Joseph said in a video conference last week.
He spoke about each of the three players.
Byron Murphy
Joseph noted Murphy played more than any rookie defensive back last season. “That’s going to pay dividends,” he said.
“Last year I thought he got run down a little bit,” he explained. “He played his best ball early and kind of sluffed off late. But I think what he did last year as far as playing that many reps is going to benefit him this year.”
Murphy had 78 tackles, one interception and 10 pass breakups.
Jalen Thompson
Joseph pointed out how Thompson, who was selected by the Cardinals in the supplemental draft last July, had his first day with the team in training camp. He spent the whole season learning the defense on the fly. His learning paid off late in the year.
“I thought Jalen Thompson last year in the last month, month and a half of the season played really good football,” Joseph said. “As our defense played better, he played better.
“He obviously played good football late for us. He’s a great open-field tackler and he’s going to play the ball better.”
He finished the season with 57 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups.
Deionte Thompson
“I think with D.T., playing some last year and getting his feet wet at the dime spot and at the safety spot, he’s going to come back and play better,” Joseph said.
Thompson played the least of all the 2019 rookie defensive backs. He was pushed out of the lineup when he got hurt and missed a couple of games and then Jalen Thompson progressed as a player.
He finished his rookie campaign with 18 tackles.
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