Sorting out the Cardinals’ 2025 secondary

Cardinals should try to capitalize on the young talent

Right off the bat, there are, imo, three major reasons why, imo, changes need to be made to the Cardinals’ secondary this year.

1. Budda Baker, Garrett Williams and Dadrion Taylor-Dermerson should be on the field for close to 100% of the snaps. Last year’s snap count percents: Budda-98.2%; Garrett-76.3%; Rabbit-23.7%.
2. The coaches should come to the realization that the best string of defensive efforts this past season came when Garrett Williams, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Max Melton were on the field more often.
3. If the coaches are still going to insist playing 60% of their pass coverages in zone, then they have to start boundary CBs who have the length, speed and level of physicality it takes to shut down their areas of the field. This is the main reason why I have been skeptical about Asante Samuel Jr., because he is not a great fit at boundary CB in this system. Now, where he could be a good fit is as a slot CB and in nickel and dime packages where the coaches can assign him to one of the opponents’ best WRs. But I believe that Monti Ossenfort has already acquired the right amount of talent —- if that talented is properly utilized in areas where they most excel.

Here is how, imo, the Cardinals should arrange the secondary.

I think it would best for the team to try to trade Sean Murphy-Bunting (56.6). The young talent on the roster has created stronger options for the defense. If there are no takers on a trade, then release him. It’s roughly a $7M dead cap hit, post June 1st.

Fact: SMB had twice more penalties (9) than any player on the defense (next highest was Zaven Collins with 4) and almost twice as many as all of the other CBs combined (5). He took close to 75% of the snaps in the 15 games he played last season.

Monti has a decision to make today about Jalen Thompson. JT’s $2M roster bonus is due on the 5th day of the new league year —- which is tomorrow. If JT is on the roster after tomorrow, then his 2025 cap hit will be $13.7M. If they release him, then the dead cap figure is roughly $8M. If the coaches want to keep JT as insurance behind Budda Baker at SS, where, imo, they are best suited, that is fine, as long at JT is amenable to accepting a more limited role. JT played 97.8% of the snaps in his 15 games. He played his best at SS in the box. His play in the box was noticeably stronger than the level of his play at FS.

2025 Plan for Cardinals’ Starting Secondary: Two deep (keeping 10):

• LCB: Garrett Williams, Darren Hall
• SS: Budda Baker, (Jalen Thompson, if he is retained), Jammie Robinson
• FS: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Joey Blount
• RCB: Elijah Jones, Starling Thomas V
• SCB: Max Melton, Kei’Trel Clark

Rationale:

• JG/NR prefer to play 60/40% zone/man coverages, which is why they prefer CBs with length and break-to-the ball- twitch speed, which Garrett Williams and Elijah Jones epitomize. In certain passing situation Garrett Williams can slide down to the slot and Max Melton can move up to the boundary.
• So happy they have kept Darren Hall in the mix because if you watch his zone and man LCB play at San Diego St. it is textbook, so much so, that he reminds me a lot of Quinyon Mitchell in that role.
• Starling Thomas V fits the bill as RCB2.
• In Cover 3 we have Rabbit in the deep middle. Rabbit is about as gifted a FS with regard to instincts and quick breaks on the football as one will find. Plus, few fans may not know this yet, but if the coaches need a key stop on a star WR from the slot, he can slide down and get it done. Texas Tech fans can attest.
• Joey Blount has played well at FS when asked. Remember his game sealing INT vs. PHI?
• At SS Budda Baker is the Lord of the Box. He’s like having an extra TFL linebacker versus the run.
• Behind him Jammie Robinson will impress you with his quickness to the ball versus run and pass.
• In the slot, Max Melton has the quickest feet and recovery speed. His game is tailored to the role. Same for Kei’Trel Clark who is physical in press and is an all-out dawg in trail technique.
• This is the most excited I have been in a Cardinals’ secondary, talent and depth-wise, in decades.

Should Garrett Williams be used strictly as a slot CB?

Full tweet:

In 2 seasons Garrett Williams has started 17 games. Why would you ever take him off the field? Truth is that the coaches have been moving him around like a queen on the chessboard. He has not strictly been a slot. It was mistake by Vance to pigeonhole Byron Murphy as a slot CB because he’s so good on the boundary. Same is true for GW. He won’t give up the absurd amount of cushion that SMB did, he will bait and bolt to the ball. You look at his Syracuse play a LCB in zone and man and it makes you drool. The Cardinals need that especially in our zones if they are ever going to work. Then, of course, you can always slide him down to play in the slot when it’s most advantageous.

What’s most impressive about Garrett Williams is his versatility. The Cardinals should utilize him the ways that Syracuse did. Start him at LCB and then at times, depending on down and distance, slide him down to the slot and occasionally play him in tandem with Rabbit as the Cover 2 safeties.

Again, to pigeonhole Garrett Williams as strictly a slot CB is a mistake.

Thise are my thoughts. What are yours?

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How did you vote and why?