Arizona Cardinals: Blitzing Broncos QB Peyton Manning
By Scott Allen
Sep 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) breaks a tackle by Arizona Cardinals free safety Tony Jefferson (22) during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
On ESPN’s NFL Insiders on Wednesday afternoon, Ed Werder indicated he had spoken to Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles earlier in the day. The plan against Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning? Blitz him.
It is an interesting plan, not from the sense that the Cards plan on blitzing but from a perspective that they plan on blitzing Manning. Many teams stay away from blitzing him, many times for obvious reasons.
However Bowles indicated he will blitz Manning 25 to 35 percent of the time this Sunday. Whether that holds true or not of course all depends on how the game is progressing. The Cards want to stay true to who they are and they clearly think they can be successful in blitzing. Head coach Bruce Arians said the other day the Cards have been preparing for this game since February when they first watched tape of Manning and the Broncos as they prepared for the 2014 season.