Cardinals should adopt the Hurricane's High pressure "ESV" Defense
By Walter Mitchell
Burns and Gambo are already conceding that the 2026 Cardinals will automatically go 0-6 in the NFC West again and, at most, will only be able to win 5 games.
Check out their take:
https://x.com/BurnsAndGambo/status/2034457330608230786?s=20
My visceral reaction:
I think it is very dangerous to assume the Cardinals are going to automatically go 0-6 in the division again this season and, that at best, they will be a 5-win team.
There is so much talent and potential in the Cardinals' roster, potential that has been stifled and grossly mismanaged by poor coaching.
It got so bad that, not only did the Cardinals' defense quit playing after 10 games, the players appeared to be neutered of their love of the game.
If there are any signs of quit again in this year's team, you can stick a fork in Monti and Mike LaFleur. There will be no coming back from this.
This coaching staff MUST get the team to play hard for 60 minutes every game. They HAVE to earn the players' respect and confidence.
The Cardinals have an offense that, to a man, played as hard as they could under Jacoby Brissett. With the added talent and depth they have added on top of returning a prolific receiving trio of Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and marvin Harrison Jr., there's a solid chance that the offense can score 24 points or more per game.
The Cardinals' defense HAS to do its part this season. Nick Rallis has a great opportunity to collaborate with Teryl Austin, Pete Kwiatkowski, Zac Etheridge and Rod Wilson to create a brand new defensive identity and a far more aggressive philosophy.
The "caution and cushion" defense HAS to be Green Bay's albatross now and no longer Arizona's.
The Cardinals' defensive players HAVE to be assured of the following:
1. The old philosophy and its ultra-conservative rules have now been completely erased.
2. The theme of the new defense will be "step forward" not "step backward."
3. EVERY player gets a clean slate.
4. ALL starting jobs have to be earned.
5. if you don't TACKLE, you don't play.
6. If you do not bust your ass on every play, you don't make the team.
7. After a teammate makes a tackle, you go lift him up and run as a team back to the huddle.
Excitement, Swarm, Violence ("ESV") Philosophy
Enter the Cardinals' new CB coach, Zac Etheridge of the Miami Hurricanes.
No football team in America last season had more fun playing defense than the Miami Hurricanes.
Here's why:
university of miami defensive scheme - Google Search
The 2025-2026 Miami Hurricanes defense, led by coordinator Corey Hetherman, is an aggressive, high-pressure "ESV" (Excitement, Swarm, Violence) system. It features a versatile 4-3 base that acts as a four-down, one-gap penetrating scheme, focusing on speed and "positionless" hybrid players in the secondary, resulting in elite sack numbers and a dominant, fast-paced turnover-generating unit.
- Aggressive Front-Seven:The defense relies on a "Bench Front" (boundary front) where defensive ends like Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor act as elite pass rushers. The scheme favors "one-gap" penetration rather than sitting back, utilizing 4-3 personnel that play more like a 3-4 hybrid. Check out this video:
- Ideal Draft:
- Or start with ED David Bailey but. make sure you find a way to draft Keionte Scott.
I agree, on paper this has the potential to be a 24+ point offense. In 2025, the Rams(30) and Hawks(29.2) were the two best in the NFL. Even the 49ers were 11th best at 24.5 PPG. I think it all comes down to how fast the new coaching staff gets up to speed. I predicted a 5-win season and one division win season. If the Cards were back in the NFC East I would double the number of wins. Its crazy to think that McBride, Wilson and MHJ could all have 1000+ yard seasons and this team could miss the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteGambo's clip of Cardinals losing being led by Monti just bothers me. When was the last time any of our division foes had losing seasons multiple years. The Cardinals under Monti are: 4-13 (2023); 8-9 (2024); and 3-14 (2025). Fact is the Cardinals are an under-performing NFL team for all of history, while our three division foes are winning NFL teams for the last two decades (3 in case of SF). Our division foes have seldom need a full roster rebuild, it is about drafting right talent, developing said talent, and hiring competent coaches. The Cardinals on the other hand use the losing formula rookie coaches, failed draft picks, and under-developed players (who always excel elsewhere - what do you bet all the FA we let go have better years with their new found teams (Kyler- Minn; Emari - KC; Dortch - Det; JT - Dallas just to name a few). Its an age old story that goes back before I was born.
ReplyDeleteWinning teams do not lose to develop roster, they instill a winning attitude, and play to best of ability to try to win every game (even when out-manned - ie. Campbell turn-around of that other perennial loser in Detroit). Bidwill (neither Bill or Mikey) has ever turned the reins over to a GM and HC to build a winning team. Until Bidwill takes a role as investor instead of President of Football Operations the team will continue to bask in the depths of poor decisions, weak coaching, and under-developed players.
We expected 2025 the team to win a min of 8-10 games - result 3; its not talent that is problem. Te problem is accepting another losing season, accepting Front Office staff, coaches and players who are willing to give-up and not work harder... remember the chants of tank for Kyler, tank for Marv... tanking for a player (any player) is not worth the affect it has on the organization as a whole.
The Cardinals are a losing organization because they instill a losing attitude! That has permeated the organization and its locker room for decades.
Well said! I just don't see wins right now playing the 4th toughest schedule in the league's toughest division. Maybe a good draft, spending the remaining $31m on remaining top talent, and kids so hungry to win will make me wrong. I'm not optimistic when it comes to the Cards, not since Arians and squad left and that's way too damn long. My expectations are focused on competitive improvement-simple stuff like better tackling, players in position to make plays, smart timely play calling and once in a while, enjoy watching an entertaining non embarrassing game plan and effort. It really comes down to improvement in coaching-how they use and develop what talent they have. I'm quite aware that we have a better staff (despite Rallis and Hackett). We’ve patched a few of the obvious weak spots that cost us games, but the roster still lacks the overall talent needed to seriously compete—both in the division and across the NFC.
DeleteWe tend to agree more oft then not Since. My rant was attitude of losing more than predictions. I accept Cardinals have a tough schedule, but that is what it is. I would say a fair goal for this coaching staff is a 9-8 record and 3-3 in Div. It is doable, even with current roster - easy no, but with parity in NFL no team should be starting season with an expectation of 3 or 4 wins; that is the point of attitude and the Cardinals attitude seems to be in the 4-5 win seson more oft than not. I'm not overwhelmed by retainment of Rallis or hiring of Hackett either. If the coaches do their jobs this should be a .500 team as is.
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