Arizona Cardinals Head coach Jonathan Gannon - Norm Hall/Getty Images
For years, the Arizona Cardinals have been classified as bottom-feeders in the NFL. Arizona has only appeared in the playoffs once in the last eight seasons. They’ve finished among the bottom ten teams in the league in each of the last two seasons. This year, so far, has been a completely different story. The Cardinals are leading the NFC West at 6-4 with an inside track to return to the postseason. On offense, big names like Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., James Conner, and Trey McBride lead the way. However, most NFL fans would be hard-pressed to name a Cardinals’ defender other than Budda Baker. Despite this severe lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball, Arizona is allowing only 22 points per game, which ranks 11th in the league. These numbers have improved significantly in recent weeks. In the last four games, Arizona has allowed just 14.25 points per game. So, how is the Cardinals defense accomplishing this?
Three-High Safety Looks
Throughout the history of the NFL, offensive and defensive schemes have evolved in response to each other. In the 2010s, defenses primarily used single-high safety looks. This strategy allows defenses to have more players near the line of scrimmage to stop the run and relies on defensive backs winning one-on-one matchups. As offenses have grown to seek out explosive plays more and more, defenses around the league have transitioned to using two-high safety looks as their base coverage with the intent of limiting explosive plays. The Arizona Cardinals are taking this trend one step further.
This season, Arizona has lined up with three deep safeties more often than any other team in the NFL. Many defenses use these looks on third-and-long, but the Cardinals have begun to line up like this on early downs. By making this switch, they’ve significantly limited the amount of explosive plays they concede. This season, Arizona has allowed only 24 passing plays of more than 20 yards. That number ranks eighth in the league.
Red Zone Stops
Of course, lining more players up away from the line of scrimmage leads to openings in the run game and short yardage passing game. Arizona has allowed the sixth-most rushing yards in the NFL this year. Teams have been able to slowly push the ball down the field with some consistency. However, Arizona is producing red zone stops at a high level. Opposing offenses have scored touchdowns on just 48% of red zone opportunities against the Cardinals. In the last three games, that number has dropped to 37%, which ranks fourth in the league. Because of this “bend, don’t break” philosophy, the Cardinals’ defense is performing far above expectations. A defense that is perhaps the least talented unit in the NFL is playing at a top 15 level.
Safety Budda Baker has been the key to the success of Arizona’s defensive strategy. He’s the only Pro Bowl-caliber player in this unit, and his coaching staff knows it. Jonathan Gannon and his staff have deployed their star defender in a way that highlights his best qualities. When the Cardinals’ defense lines up with three deep safeties, Baker is typically at the center of the trio. He is able to roam all over the field, sniffing out runs and taking away crossing routes. He currently ranks seventh in the NFL in total tackles with 100. Baker’s elite ability to pursue the ball carrier has led to many of Arizona’s red zone stops this season.
Can This Continue?
The impact that this shift in defensive strategy has had on Arizona’s season thus far is undeniable. The more pressing question is whether it will hold up in the playoffs. Limiting explosive plays and producing red zone stops are crucial against any opponent. These factors serve to keep games competitive, even when a team is significantly outmatched. If the Cardinals can continue the trends they’ve shown so far this year, they should be able to keep games close in January. However, the Cardinals’ lack of talent hinders their ability to adjust to different styles of offense. Three-high safety looks have been effective against offenses predicated on finding explosive plays, including the Dolphins and Jets. However, Arizona’s lack of talent on defense has shone through against superior offenses like the Packers and Commanders. Without versatile and capable defenders, the Cardinals are limited in the adjustments they can make to an opponent’s game plan. Whether the defense continues to play at a high level in the playoffs or not, Jonathan Gannon deserves credit for what he’s been able to get out of this group.
Cards’ defense is a huge improvement over last year, so they’re definitely doing something right.