Arizona Cardinals Defense Could Take a Huge Step Backwards

The Arizona Cardinals defense could be much worse in 2017 than it was in 2016

The Arizona Cardinals are known, in general, for their offense. Led by Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald, they have been one of the NFL’s most exciting offenses for a number of seasons. It has been a big factor in their success.

However, the defense has been no slouch. In 2014 and 2015, the defense was ranked fifth and eighth in the league in points allowed. It’s no surprise, then, that they went a combined 24-8, and made the playoffs in both of those seasons.

Last season, the Cardinals took a step back on defense. They ended the season ranked 14th in points surrendered, and finished the season with a sub-.500 record, and missed the playoffs. Going into 2017, things could get even worse.

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This offseason, the Cardinals lost a lot of what made it so good. The losses start up front where they lost, perhaps, the most important player on defense in Calais Campbell. They also lost Kevin Minter, who had developed into a nice inside linebacker. From the backend, Tony Jefferson, DJ Swearinger, and Marcus Cooper are gone. Jefferson, in particular, will be missed in the secondary..

As those players signed deals elsewhere, general manager Steve Keim did make a few acquisitions to try and replace what they lost. Linebacker Karlos Dansby returned for his third stint with the team that drafted him, and veteran safety Antoine Bethea was brought in as well.

Bethea comes from San Francisco, where he spent the last three years. He was a Pro Bowler in 2014, but hasn’t played particularly well since. He’ll turn 33 this summer, and is unlikely to play as well as Jefferson did last year. Dansby is even older, at 35, and is coming off a season in Cincinnati where he looked his age.

Going into the season, there are questions all over the defense. Not only are the Cardinals working with downgrades at linebacker and safety, but they are still in need of a number two cornerback, and they haven’t replaced Campbell. It’s going to be hard to duplicate even their 2016 season, much less the defense from the two playoff years before it.

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Hopes are still high in Arizona. With Palmer and Fitzgerald returning, and a healthier set of weapons, the offense might improve. However, the defense could struggle mightily. Patrick Peterson and Chandler Jones will be back, but defensive coordinator James Bettcher will have his work cut out for him. If he’s not able to get the most out of the defense, it could wind up being a long season in Arizona.