Arizona Cardinals getting pass rush from several individuals
By Jim Koch
The Arizona Cardinals defensive unit is now filled with individuals who are capable of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks
For the past few seasons, the Arizona Cardinals pass rush has been dependent on one individual. Chandler Jones, a former first-round draft pick of the New England Patriots, has generated a multitude of quarterback sacks for the Cards defensive unit. Since he was acquired back in 2016, the 30-year old Jones has leveled the opposition’s passers a sensational 61 times for the club.
If the first three games of 2020 are any indication, Jones will be getting a great deal of help in that area this fall. The Arizona defense has registered 11 sacks thus far this season, but Jones has contributed only one of them. After years of counting on Jones, has the Cardinals pass rush finally become a joint effort?
Through the first three weeks of the current campaign, seven different defenders have recorded at least one sack. Opposing offenses now have to account for much more than Jones when they’re formulating a plan to handle the Cards pass rush.
Heading into week four, four members of the Arizona roster are tied for the team lead in sacks. Devon Kennard, Corey Peters, Jordan Phillips and Haason Reddick have put quarterbacks on the ground two times apiece. Kennard and Phillips are newcomers to the organization, while Peters and Reddick have been with the Cardinals for several years.
Besides Jones, the Cards have two additional players, Zach Allen and Angelo Blackson, who’ve been credited with one sack. The organization believes that Isaiah Simmons, the eighth-overall selection of this past April’s NFL Draft, will eventually add to the team’s pass rush as well.
Last season, Jones was far and away the Cardinals best sack artist. The 6’5, 265 pounder posted 19 quarterback takedowns, the second-highest mark in pro football. It doesn’t appear that Jones will get close to that total this year, but Arizona does have several other individuals who are capable of picking up the slack.