A Two-Dimensional Plan for the Arizona Cardinals CB Unit

It was very tough to hear about Starling Thomas V's season-ending ACL injury on Day 3 of the Arizona Cardinals' training camp. Star's Cinderella ascension from tearing an ACL and losing his dear mom to cancer while at UAB to going undrafted in 2023 and after being claimed off waivers by the Cardinals becoming a 1st and 2nd year starter in the NFL is nothing short of compelling. 

My message to Star: 

https://x.com/WBJMItch/status/1949544884274090422

It was also difficult to hear that 2nd year CB Jaden Davis has been placed on the IR due to a knee injury. Jonathan Gannon said that Jaden has a chance to return to the field at some point this season. Davis had been making solid strides as a nickel CB and during OTAs he came through with a nifty TD-preventing interception while making a textbook break on the ball.

Now that three of the Cardinals CBs on the 2024 depth chart are on the IR, let's take a look at the top candidates to win the two starting CB spots and the slot CB position.

CB --- 2024 cover grades in zone and man

* Garrett Williams: 90.6 zone; 50.7 man. * Max Melton: 48.8 zone; 66.3 man * Kei'Trel Clark: 76.6 zone; 48.5 man * Elijah Jones (BC-2023): 64.8 zone; 90.8 man * Will Johnson (MICH-2024): 76.5 zone; 50.6 man * Denzel Burke (OSU-2024): 78.9 zone; 58.5 man

Zone Trios:

* Garrett Williams --- outside, slot zone

* Will Johnson (best zone CB in 2025 draft?)/Jaylon Jones (71.6 zone grade with CHI in 2024) --- outside

* Darren Hall/Denzel Burke --- outside

Man Trios:

* Elijah Jones --- outside

* Max Melton --- outside

* Dadrion Taylor-Demerson/Kei'Trel Clark --- slot man

Slot CB Wild Cards:

* Dadrion Taylor-Demerson --- last season, at times, Nick Rallis used Rabbit in the slot for man coverages --- like he was used here:

https://x.com/Rob__Paul/status/1843029342148088315

(Note: Clark as a rookie had the lowest QB/RTG on the team in man coverage at 67.2 as he gave up 5 catches on 8 targets for 25 yards. Brett Kollmann and I believe that KTC could develop nicely into a man slot CB. Thus far in camp, he's been currying strong favor with JG and Nick Rallis.

Obviously, there will be some mixing and matching of CBs given the nature of the opponents'' WR group, but it could be great for the Cardinals to have specialists at each type of coverage.

Garret Williams technically is not a slot CB, because he is rarely asked to cover the slot in man.

Play video:



Garrett Williams is a hybrid zone CB/S, whom the coaches like to play in a high safety stack or in a role as their intermediate bandit. His 90.6 zone grade, up from 58.7 as a rookie in 2023, ranked #1 of all NFL CBs in 2024.

However, in his 2 NFL seasons thus far, Garrett Williams' QB/RTG in man coverage has been 94.7 in 2024 and 116.9 in 2023. Those numbers are one that he really needs to improve, if he is to be considered as one of the league's best all-around cover CBs.

Do you think the coaches will play more of Garrett Williams covering the slot in man-to-man this season?

For future reference (2024 grades):

* Starling Thomas V: 67.1 zone; 54.2 man; tackling: 67.3

* Sean Murphy-Bunting: 46.7 zone; 64.3 man; tackling: 29.4




Comments

  1. RedrunJuly 28, 2025 at 12:29 PM

    I honestly feel this opens up the opportunity for our two rookie CBs (WJo & Burke) to get more reps in rotation. While I think we will miss STV, I don't see him being as critical as he was past two or three years. I do want to see GW in more of boundary and more time on field in general.

    I still feel like Rabbit is more complimentary than JT in the safety position. I hope we see him on more downs this year as well.

    Thank you for the time invested in the analysis and provoking questions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellJuly 28, 2025 at 1:43 PM

      Thank you, Redrun. Great to see you here. Rabbit is imo a top 5 talent on this defense. He had the total package as a modern-day FS/NCB.

      Delete
  2. Since 61July 28, 2025 at 1:26 PM

    geez those are some disturbing man cover grades!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellJuly 28, 2025 at 1:49 PM

      And, 61, JG cut his teeth as a CB coach. His CB's so often either play with an absurd amount of cushion, or when playing up tight, they lose leverage too quickly. In chase mode they don't run fast enough to recover, and they almost never get their heads turned out to see the ball on deep shots. The teaching of man-toman CB fundamentals has not been strong. And don't get me started on JG's cardboard figure zones.

      Delete
    2. Kualla83July 28, 2025 at 9:50 PM

      Pretty much spot on analysis of the last 2 years. Our CBs give first down cushion or play press only to be pushed aside and yep another easy first down.

      Delete
    3. Walter MitchellJuly 29, 2025 at 12:16 PM

      Yep. Passive aggressive coverage far too often.

      Delete
  3. Walter MitchellJuly 28, 2025 at 2:22 PM

    Such a high-quality rep from Denz, Marv and Kyler today at training camp:

    https://x.com/WBJMItch/status/1949942000565796865

    ReplyDelete
  4. TMAttyJuly 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM

    Hey Walter, just saw the news on ROTB and wanted to say I'm glad you're continuing over here, and especially with the Red Rain Podcast! The podcast feed has been silent and I was worried it wasn't coming back. Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellJuly 28, 2025 at 4:38 PM

      Hey thank you, TMAtty. So glad to have you here. I had to postpone the Red Rain Podcasts because of the intense writing load at ROTB and wanting to do my best to keep the readers well informed during the off-season. But now that I am on my own, Red Rain game coverages are coming back --- starting with the PS game 1 KC at ARI.

      Delete
  5. CardsFan4Life85July 28, 2025 at 7:51 PM

    Better believe I'm going to follow Walt wherever he goes. Great to see you all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellJuly 29, 2025 at 5:33 AM

      So glad to keep you at the table, CF4L85. Your voice matters.

      Delete
    2. tianruiJuly 29, 2025 at 6:49 AM

      My feelings precisely. I went to ROTB to read Walt more than anyone else and the comments section was engrossing. So glad you are here Walt. (ChinaCardsFan)

      Delete
    3. hevchvJuly 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM

      Guess we're all in the same boat. As soon as I read the article at RotB, I immediately came here and got setup. Keep writing Walt and I'll keep reading.

      Delete
    4. Walter MitchellJuly 29, 2025 at 12:15 PM

      So happy to see you here tianrui and hevchv. Let's keep growing the conversations about our beloved Cardinals.

      Delete
  6. Kualla83July 28, 2025 at 9:52 PM

    Should be interesting to see if we see improvement in CBs this year. With two 2nds and a third being used i am hoping we get respectable play from the position. Sure would be nice to see some development at the position and I am hoping the upgrades to the Dline make their jobs a little easier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellJuly 29, 2025 at 5:40 AM

      Hey Kualla83, it looks like JG/NR will be running zone heavy coverages which really need to be better coordinated, instructed and tightened up. An improved pass rush should help. But the zone schemes might be exploited through play action, which is a staple of McVay's, Shanahan's and Kubiak's defenses.

      Delete
  7. ZilfranJuly 29, 2025 at 2:13 AM

    I have a really hard time believing ill still go to ROTB with Walt gone. I guess the real time in game forum would be the other big draw still but Walts were really the only articles I ever read. Glad I'll continue to get that fix here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellJuly 29, 2025 at 5:42 AM

      Great to see you here, Zilfran. Take advantage of what ROTB and Red Rain Blog have to offer. You can be a valued member at both venues.

      Delete

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