Outside linebackers making Arizona Cardinals take notice
By Jim Koch
Outside linebackers Kareem Martin and Nordly “Cap” Capi are doing everything they can to impress the Arizona Cardinals’ coaches
Kareem Martin hasn’t made much of an impact since becoming an Arizona Cardinal in 2014. The product of North Carolina University has contributed just 27 tackles and three and a half sacks in his three seasons with the organization. Not an impressive resume to say the least.
However, Martin and fellow outside linebacker Nordly “Cap” Capi have been two of the most noticeable Arizona defenders this preseason. While neither has a chance to start (Chandler Jones and Markus Golden have those spots locked down), the pair are vying to be backups on the squad. The performance of both Martin and Capi thus far this summer is making the job of the Cardinals’ evaluators fairly easy.
Martin has found a home in opponent’s backfields this summer. He’s been quite a disruptive force, registering nine tackles and a half of a sack. The former third-round pick has flashed a skill-set during the exhibition contests that the franchise has been waiting to see.
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Capi, signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2015, has yet to appear in a regular-season game. However, the 6’3″, 249 pounder out of the University of Akron has been outstanding, with 11 tackles and one and a half sacks. Having entered this offseason as a major longshot, making the final roster would be quite a feat for Capi.
A former first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jarvis Jones, was signed by the Cards as an unrestricted free agent back in March. He’s been a disappointment since entering the league in 2013, but seemed to have a beat on one of the backup slots nevertheless. A lingering back ailment has kept Jones sidelined however, and his chances of sticking around have dwindled.
Nothing will be made official until cutdown day on Saturday, but Martin and Capi have to be feeling pretty good right about now. They’ve given the Cardinals’ brass plenty of reasons to reserve a spot for them when final decisions are made. There’s a good possibility that their fate may have already been decided.