Arizona Cardinals: Who is on a Hot Streak or a Cold Streak After Week 1?

Sep 8, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Larry Foote (50) against the San Diego Chargers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Hot streak; Larry Foote (1)

With four of it’s best players from 2013 not taking the field for various reasons, there were questions about how the Cardinals defense, one of the elite defenses in recent seasons, would hold u[. One new addition rose to the challenge in a major way. Larry Foote took the lead for the Cardinals in their win over San Diego. The former Steeler notched a team best 8 tackles, and two for a loss. He also was involved in the play that sealed the W, getting a hand on Phillip Rivers’ desperate final pass.

Foote demonstrated the high value of veteran instinct on the defensive side. In the first quarter, he took down Chargers RB Ryan Matthews for a loss. The way he did it, however, was notably clever. Foote attacked the line of scrimmage at a bad angle, so he knocked one of San Diego’s linemen into Matthews’ way, tripping him up. The Cardinals need that kind of quick thinking on defense to keep winning games.

Footes new teammates took notice of his contribution. Patrick Peterson, probably the best defender on the team, said “I truly think he is going to be the MVP of this defense” . That’s high praise after just one game. It’s true Foote, with over a decade of experience, has proved his value repeatedly, notching three 100 tackle seasons as a Steeler. That said, after coming off a season where he only played one game, it is a very welcome sight to see that he has apparently not lost his luster.

If Foote can put up this kind of production week in and week out, the loss of Daryl Washington and/or Karlos Dansby may prove to be trivial concerns.