Arizona Cardinals: Defeat Denver Broncos, cuts loom
By Scott Allen
Sep 3, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Gabe Martin (50 tackles Denver Broncos wide receiver Isaiah Burse (19) in the fourth quarter of a preseason game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 22-20. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
As for the defense, tough decisions loom as well. Cornerback, safety, defensive line, and linebacker all will see tough decsions made.
Cornerback:
I originally had five making it. Patrick Peterson, Jerraud Powers, Justin Bethel, Cariel Brooks, and Jimmy Legree. I am sticking with that. Legree made a nice strip of a ball, which originally was a turnover but then probably incorrectly overturned. Either way, Legree was playing all out and never gave up on the play. Jonte Green and C.J. Roberts, are likely cut.
Safety:
One guy I initially said would be cut now could make the team. Chris Clemons was a guy I thought was on the fence and probably still is. However now I see one foot on this side of the fence instead of the outside of the fence. He played great on Thursday night. He had two really good passes defensed. Say goodbye to Harold Jones-Quartey and Anthony Walters.
Linebacker:
Guys on the bubble in my estimation, like Kareem Martin and Shaq Riddick both played well Thursday night. It will be tough to part with either. I think Riddick will stay for now. Cards haven’t seen enough of him yet. Martin might have had his best game of the preseason. He was all over the place. Another Martin, Gabe Martin had a good game with four tackles, one sack, one pass defensed. He might have made the team tonight.
Defensive line:
I think my original prediction of Matt Shaughnessy saying goodbye will hold true. They have nine defensive linemen. One or two may have to go here. But who? Even Shaughnessy is a tough call. I’m also sticking with Alameda Ta’amu being cut. Xavier Williams outplayed him this preseason.
Of course we could find out I am way off-base with all of these predictions. That’s why they call them predictions though. I only go off what I see. I’m not the coach and they will look at other factors I would never consider. That’s why I sit here and they get paid to do what they do. Still fun to make an educated guess.