The Arizona Cardinals added defensive lineman Jordan Phillips in free agency, filling one of their biggest needs of the offseason. What type of players are the Cardinals getting?
I reached out to Bills Wire managing editor Nick Wojton to give a bit of a scouting report on Phillips.
This is what he had to say.
If he’s anything in Arizona like his Buffalo days, the No. 1 thing you’ll see from him is passion. The guy is always trying to get the crowd into it and is a big ‘team’ guy. His pass-rushing skills really came together last season. He led the Bills with 9.5 sacks. You’ll see PFF say he’s not as good as his numbers, but what they seem to forget is Buffalo plays a big rotation along their defensive line, so he didn’t get that number on full-time snaps. At one point he was even starting over first-round rookie Ed Oliver he was doing so well.
On the flip side, he’s not the best run defender you’ll see out there. He was usually in the 3-tech spot trying to get to the quarterback along the Bills’ 4-3 defensive front. But he did have 13 tackles for loss, though. So he did flash as a capable player against rushers. So what’s his biggest knock? He was certainly a streaky player. Of his 9.5 sacks, he had three in one game and he just disappears at times. But when he’s on, you won’t have to point him out.
It would appear they got a big personality on the defensive line. That will be fun to watch. And he should make some splash plays. At 6-6 and 340 pounds, he will be noticed on the field.
The hope is his production stays roughly what it was last season. He won’t have to be a nine-sack player. From the defensive interior, if he gets between four and seven sacks, that is a fantastic season.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
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