Arizona Cardinals: How Many Interceptions Will Patrick Peterson Register?
By Baily Deeter
Dec. 16, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson celebrates an interception against the Detroit Lions at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Peterson is known as a shutdown corner, and it’s largely because of his seven interceptions in 2012.
However, for him to be seen as a shutdown corner one year from now, he’s going to have to put up good numbers and shut down top-notch wide receivers once again in 2013. If Yahoo Sports’ Shaun Church is correct, Peterson will continue to do that.
Church predicted that Peterson will defense 22 passes and intercept six passes in 2012, which would definitely be good for the third-year star. Church also predicted that Peterson will return two of his interceptions for touchdowns, which is definitely possible.
Peterson can light up a crowd with an electrifying play, and so can safety Tyrann Mathieu. Church thinks that Mathieu will please Cardinals fans multiple times in 2013, as he has Mathieu intercepting four passes.
If Church is right, Arizona’s secondary players will combine for 14 interceptions. Church expects the dynamic duo of Mathieu and Peterson, both former cornerbacks at LSU, to combine for 10 of those interceptions, which would definitely spark the secondary.
Church also expects Rashad Johnson and Yeremiah Bell to intercept one pass apiece, and he predicts that cornerback Antoine Cason, who will likely start alongside Peterson, will snatch two interceptions. Cason is likely to start alongside Peterson, and he’s likely to help out in multiple ways.
One of those ways is racking up tackles. Church thinks Cason will accumulate a respectable 62 tackles, and he has four players finishing with 62 tackles or more.
Of course, Peterson tops them all with 76.
Arizona’s secondary is poised to do some big things, and if Mathieu can develop into a key contributor, the secondary will perform even better. Church is a believer in Arizona’s secondary, and he’s certainly not alone.