Raising Zona
FanSided

Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks ranked second best

By Vijay Singaraju

Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) celebrates with free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) after returning an interception for touchdown during the second half against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) celebrates with free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) after returning an interception for touchdown during the second half against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Pro Football Focus ranked the Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks as second best in the league.

Cornerback is expected to be a position of doubt for the Cardinals this upcoming season. The guys at PFF think otherwise. In their rankings of best cornerbacks by team, they have  Arizona at number 2 behind the defending champion Denver Broncos.

From Pro Football Focus:

"Top CBs: Patrick Peterson, Justin Bethel, Tyrann MathieuKey stat: Peterson averaged 19.5 coverage snaps per reception last season.No cornerback went more snaps between allowing a reception last season than Peterson, who after a subpar 2014, was back to his imperious best in 2015. Paired with fellow LSU alum Tyrann Mathieu, the Cardinals have a devastating weapon at outside corner and in the slot to shut down a variety of opposing receivers. The sole weak spot in this trio last season was Bethel, who surrendered at least 75 yards in each of the Cardinals’ final four games."

Patrick Peterson rebounded from a sub-par 2014 with an outstanding 2015 season. Over the course of the year, Peterson shut down some of the best wide receivers in the league including Antonio Brown and A.J. Green. Through the first 13 games of the season, only 48% of the passes thrown in Peterson’s direction were completed.

Tyrann Mathieu was an absolute beast on the field for the Cardinals, and was arguably the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year. In 14 games played, Mathieu put up 80 total tackles, 5 interceptions, 1 return touchdown, 1 sack and 17 passes defended.

Behind All-Pros Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu, the cornerback depth is average at best.

Justin Bethel filled in after Mathieu went down with a season ending injury, and got feasted on by opposing cornerbacks. It is somewhat troublesome that Bethel is the third best corner on the team. Bethel will also have to fill in for a significant part of the season with Mathieu still nursing his knee injury.

Bethel seemed to improve towards the end of the season, and with some more work he can give Arizona good production while he fills in for Mathieu. We know what to expect from Patrick Peterson and with Tyrann Mathieu on the road to recovery the Cardinals defense should look to emulate the success they had last year.

Home/Cardinals News