ROTB All-Cardinal Team: Defensive Tackles
It's late but it's here. After a short break for the draft, ROTB can now return to finishing their all-Cardinal team. We last left off with the defensive ends, where Simeon Rice won the starting nod, along with Freddie Joe Nunn earning 2nd on the depth chart. It should also be noted that fan favorite, Bert Berry earned a well amount of votes so he does get honorable mentions here. We now move on to the interior part of the defensive line with the defensive tackles. As we've stated before, sacks weren't recorded as a stat till 1982 so it is difficult to measure a franchise leader on the defensive line. We did try our best to include the top nominees, and if you feel somebody should be added, drop a comment with who and why.
Eric Swann DT ('91-'99): 45.5 Sacks, 2 INT, 6 FF-8 FR, 376 Tackles, 2 Pro Bowl, 2 2nd Team All-Conf, 6th pick 1991 Draft
Swann played for the Cardinals from '91 to '99 and was a pro bowl & all pro during '95 & '96 season. He is the franchise leader in sacks from the defensive tackle position and is on the leader board for consecutive games with a sack at four (1995). Swann was the rare modern day NFL player who never attended college. He was drafted off of semi-pro team after not having the grades to attend North Carolina State, but that certainly didn't stop him from having one of the most prolific careers of any Arizona Cardinal player in franchise history. Knee problems ended his career at the age of 30 but Swannie, as recently as last year, is still trying to get back in the NFL.
David Galloway DT ('82-'89): 38 Sacks, 1 INT, 6 FR
Played for the Cardinals from '82 to '89 and was a second round pick in the '82 draft. He has the second most sacks for a defensive tackle in Cardinals history (36) and his 12 sack season in 1983 still ranks as the best sack season for any defensive tackle in franchise history (and 8th overall). In that '83 season he also added a safety and a pick. After three injury plagued seasons (missed 24 games) Galloway was traded to the Denver Broncos after the '89 season and the next season in the NFL would be his last. He never lived up to the expectations that he made for himself after that great season in '83 but when he was healthy he was a force in the middle of the defensive line.
Chuck Walker DT ('64-'71):
Walker played for the Cardinals from '64 to '72 and was voted to a pro bowl in '66, and was voted to the first team All-Pro in 1969. Walker could have easily been one of the first real run-stuffers as he stood 6'3 and weighed over 260 pounds in his time. He was also a more dependable defensive tackles as he played in 96 games as a Cardinal. Since sacks weren't recorded when he played, the only stat to track was that he recovered 15 fumbles in 9 years as a Cardinal, which does indicate that
he was consistently around the ball carrier.
Sam Silas DT ('63-'67):
Another defensive tackle during the sixties in Sam Silas, played for the Cardinals from '63 to '67 and was voted to a pro bowl in '65. Silas, just like Walker, was also a large clog in the middle weighing 255 pounds and standing 6'4 during his time. He was also a secure starter as he never missed a game during his tenure as a Cardinal.
Darnell Dockett DT ('04-): 19 Sacks, 3 INTS, 173 Tackles, 6 FF
The final addition to the nominees is the current defensive tackle in Darnell Dockett. Although he's recently made news by requesting a trade, for the most part, he's been a favorite on the team, and a steal for being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2004 draft. We all know that Dockett can be unstoppable when he wants to be, evidence being in the Super Bowl as he single-handedly stopped a couple Steeler drives. He also tied a Super Bowl record with 3 sacks. Dockett can be a dominant defensive tackle at times, and is also underrated in his durability, as he's started 79 out of his 80 career games.
Who makes the cut on your All-Time team?
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9 comments
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Comments
any of our "more experienced" fans care to talk about the older guys
I never saw Walker, Silas or Galloway play.
by Bezekira on May 12, 2009 10:38 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I wish I could
Even I voted for Swann, his numbers are too good.
Plus I was at a really bad strip club just across the Salt River in Tempe and Swann and someone else was there his rookie season. It was 18 and up so I’m pretty sure that’s the only reason he was there. It was odd to say the least.
by KDean75 on May 13, 2009 8:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow its a land slide so far
Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds
by Andrew602 on May 12, 2009 11:17 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Remember a lot of fans have only been around 5-7 months w/ regards to DD
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson
by Red Reign on May 12, 2009 4:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
this one is easy!
swann by a mile! there was no guard in the league that could block this man child when he came in the league. the guy was going to be a 5-8 time pro bowler. he was so physically dominant, guys like espn’s mark schlereth had to routinely chop block him and go for his knees all the time to block him! if he got his hands on you, he would simply drive you to the backfield. sadly knee injuries got the best of him but had he stayed injury free, we’re talking a border line hall of famer! that’s how physically gifted he was. to this day when i think how good the cards should have been had injuries and greed not ruined what would have been a potential great d-line with swann, wadsworth and rice. man!
by lifelongcardfan on May 12, 2009 6:16 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
also
galloway was a key member of some very good d- lines in the early to late eighties. had he not decided he had to weigh 300 pounds and get woefully out of shape, he should have been to the pro bowl a few times. he was the anchor along with greer and baker when they led the nfl in sacks as a unit. in my opinion, he was a better player than dockett.
by lifelongcardfan on May 12, 2009 6:24 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah this one was over before it started.
Although it would be hard to not vote for Swann.
Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds
by Andrew602 on May 13, 2009 9:32 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
true, I actually thought that DD would get more votes
Maybe his recent actions actually hurt his case, but I’m assuming that you’re taking the top two, right?
by Bezekira on May 13, 2009 9:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds
by Andrew602 on May 13, 2009 9:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

















