TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -Arizona’s big-play offense is getting all the attention in the Cardinals’ first 2-0 start in 19 years. The overlooked defense has been just as good.
The Cardinals have allowed 23 points in victories over San Francisco (23-13) and Miami (31-10). That’s the fewest given up by the franchise in its opening two contests since 1977. The only touchdown the Dolphins scored on Sunday came in the final minutes with the outcome long since concluded.
“We’re playing well,” defensive end Bertrand Berry said. “We’ve been able to establish a style of play the first couple of games. We’re just trying to keep it going.”
Arizona is seventh in the NFL in yards allowed and tied for fifth in points given up heading into Sunday’s game at Washington. The team has a 5-0 advantage in turnovers, with all of them coming against the 49ers.
“We talked about that in defense, that we were excited about our defense,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “We have a number of players playing at a high level.”
and Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson back from injuries. Then the team added free agents including linebacker Travis LaBoy and a few rookies to give the defense much more depth than a year ago.
“We’ve got a lot of guys coming in and we’re fresh,” Berry said. “When you can have a rotation and guys can get rest and come back in and continue to play at a high level, then our chances of being a good defense go up.”
The leading candidates for big defensive plays are Wilson and linebackers Karlos Dansby and Gerald Hayes. The defensive line is anchored by Darnell Dockett, who made the Pro Bowl last season after originally being selected as an alternate. Arizona has been without its top two nose tackles in Gabe Wilson and Adrian Branch, but has gotten solid play at the position from Bryan Robinson.
Wilson, the longest surviving Cardinal with seven seasons in the desert, likes the hard-hitting nature of this team.
“We’re real physical more than anything,” he said. “We really have guys who want to get to the ball, want to make it a point to be physical every play.”
Defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, a holdover from the Dennis Green era, likes to throw a variety of schemes at opponents.
as making sure we fit the right gaps in the run game, technique things. But we’re working on those and getting better.”
Berry knows that the upcoming game against the Redskins will be the biggest challenge yet. The team will stay in suburban Washington next week rather than return to Arizona. The Cardinals are at the New York Jets on Sept. 27.
“It’s encouraging what we’ve done,” Berry said, “but it’s only a start. We have a good test this week with a very good offense. We’ll see what happens then.”
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