Arizona is still without a defensive coordinator which is most likely their top priority for the time being. Despite not having a DC, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com mentions that finding someone that can help the teams pass rush is much needed.
The team drafted O’Brien Schofield in the fourth round of last years draft with the hope that he could develop into a solid pass rusher in the NFL. Despite his lackluster rookie season, Schofield had his only two sacks in the teams final two games which could be a positive sign moving forward.
This years group of Free Agent Linebackers includes some of the leagues best pass rushing linebackers (LaMarr Woodley and Tamba Hali) but the real problem for teams like the Cardinals is that both linebackers are more likely to get the franchise tag or longterm contracts than they are to reach free agency.
Arizona best chance at finding a pass rushing OLB is the upcoming draft. The team currently has the No. 5 overall pick which will given them some great options to choose from. One player that fits the teams pass rushing needs and is rising fast in NFL draft analysts rankings is Texas Tech’s Von Miller. Miller could play either DE or OLB for the Cardinals and could also be the best available player at that point in the draft.
But the real predicament that the Cardinals find themselves in, is that despite their glaring need for a pass rusher, the team needs a quarterback more than anything else. Drafting Miller would certainly help their defense in the years to come but the teams offense is so bad that it would be hard to imagine them finishing any better than 3-13 if they choose to go into 2011 with one of Max Hall or John Skelton. On a side note, we have the Cardinals taking Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert in our most recent 2011 NFL Mock Draft.
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