The Arizona Cardinals have revamped their defense this offseason. They signed three starters in free agency and drafted four defensive players.
After being one of the worst defenses in the league a year ago, there is some optimism for how good the unit can be in 2020.
One of the newcomers is linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. He likes what the team has put together defensively.
“There’s very little weakness on our defense, if any at all,” he told reporters in a video conference. “We have everything we need.”
He thinks they are good at all levels of the defense.
“We have a strong secondary. We have two really good corners,” he continued. “We have a great safety in Budda (Baker) and we have a really good front seven.”
That doesn’t guarantee a great defense or great success, though. He recognizes the talent but knows they have to come together as a unit.
Campbell is unique with his experience because he, along with cornerback Robert Alford, know what it is like to play on a Super Bowl team and what it takes to be great. They both were members of the Atlanta Falcons when they made it to the Super Bowl and lost to the New England Patriots after having a 28-3 lead.
“The one thing I have learned about playing on a Super Bowl-caliber team, it doesn’t matter how talented you are,” Campbell said. “You have to have everyone clicking together. If everybody is on the same page and everybody has the right mindset, there’s not much we can’t accomplish.”
That will be this team’s greatest challenge. They have not been able to rep any plays on the field. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, they have been limited only to virtual meetings.
The Cardinals offense has a lot of continuity but added DeAndre Hopkins. The defense has many new faces. They will have to learn to play as a unit and, if they do, this Cardinals could be tough to deal with.
That is a big if, though.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 267
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