Arizona Cardinals Pre-Training Camp Roster Projections: Inside Linebackers

by Hawkwind on Jun 17, 2009 7:10 AM MDT in 2009 Camp & Preseason Comment 10 comments

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby (58) participates in drills during minicamp. (AP Photo/Matt York)

We've looked at the Arizona Cardinals safeties and corner backs, but today we take a look at the inside linebackers. The good news with the inside linebacker group is that the starting duo of Karlos Dansby and Gerald Hayes are not only set in stone, they're dependable (60 starts combined in the past two seasons) and have the potential to be very good. The bad news is that there is very little experienced depth behind either starter. Some of the backup linebackers will likely provide depth on the inside and outside but the club should carry at least four middle backers and could carry an additional one if needed (they carried four last year).

Locks

Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes

On the Bubble

Ali Highsmith, Victor Hobson, Pago Togafau

No Chance

Reggie Walker, Chase Bullock

Obviously at least two of the three bubble guys will make the roster, if another player isn't brought in to compete, and it's not out of the question for all three to make the final 53. The status of those three will very likely come down to two factors: (1) ability to star on special teams and (2) the ability to play both inside and outside.

Ali Highsmith: Highsmith was last year's most popular undrafted free agent and he was having a good year on special teams before a torn ACL ended his season prematurely. Highsmith's health, or lack thereof, is probably the only reason that he wouldn't make the roster coming out of camp but with ACL injuries you'd think that nine months is enough time to be very close to 100%. The worst case scenerio for Highsmith would be for him to start the season on the PUP list but I doubt the team would take the risk of stashing him on the practice squad if he's not fully healthy by the end of camp.

Victor Hobson: In a three year span from 2005 to 2007 Hobson started 46 games and totalled 242 tackles, nine sacks and an interception so it sounds weird to talk about him as a 'bubble' player for the Cardinals, but that's the reality. Hobson was signed the week of the regular finale and projects as possibly the top backup at nearly every linebacker position. He's got experience on the outside and most recently has played on the inside but he'll have to prove that he can handle multiple assignments, as well as play special teams in order to beat out Highsmith and Togafau.

Pago Togafau: Togafau was signed last year after Highsmith went down and he produced immediate results with 12 tackles in six games while playing mostly special teams. He was an undrafted free agent in 2007 and spent last year's training camp with the Cardinals. His lack of size (5'10 240) will always work against him and he's probably restricted to playing inside but if he's able to have a very good camp he might unseat Hobson.

Reggie Walker: Walker was a three year starter at Kansas State, although he did lose his job at one point in 2007, but he never really distinguished himself as a play maker. He averaged 49 tackles, four for loss and just under two sacks per season as starter. He's got decent but not great size (6'0, 246) and he's not the best athlete, but he's tough and physical. Walker is most likely fighting for a job on the practice squad with Chase Bullock and it would be interesting to see what he can do in year after spending some time in John Lott's program.

Chase Bullock: Bullock's a complete unknown because he didn't have much of a college career thanks to injuries. He only played in 28 games at Maryland, totalling just 58 tackles, and most of those games he wasn't even a starter. He's got decent size (6'2 240), but we'll have to see what kind of player he is during camp. I would imagine a key to his success would be to stay healthy but I can't imagine him challenging for a roster spot.

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I tend to think the top four is pretty much locked in with Dansby, Hayes, Highsmith and Hobson but the health of Highsmith could be a major tipping point. If his knee is still tender midway through camp, will the Cardinals be forced to carry five or maybe put him on the PUP list and keep Togafau? Will Hobson play more on the outside, with Highsmith and Togafau on the inside? Will either of the undrafted rookies, Walker and Bullock, make waves during camp?

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This is Not Good...

Uh….wait a minute. You’re saying that (a) Dansby and Hayes are our starters, (b) Ali Highsmith, Victor Hobson, Pago Togafau are “on the bubble” and © Reggie Walker, & Chase Bullock have “no chance?”

We’re talking about a high-impact/collision position here. To expect KD and Hayes to play all 16 regular season games (plus hopefully a few more in the playoffs and Super Bowl) is not very realistic. Add to this the inclination to move Dansby around to various spots on the field), and we are seriously in the need of depth.

Unless – (a) Hobson plays better than a “bubble player” , (b) Scott Haggans (who weighs 242 and can stuff the inside run with the best of them) can be moved inside if necessary (thereby clearing the way for B-Train to reclaim his starting ROLB spot and Highsmith (hardly a load at 223) can step up and fill expectations.

Let us pray…

CHICKEN LITTLE WAS RIGHT!

by JJeff88 on Jun 17, 2009 7:48 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I normally agree with just about everything you write and I see your point but....

(A) – it’s not out of the question for Hayes and Dansby to be healthy, Hayes has missed two games in the last three years and Dansby has never played less than 14.

(B) – I think the ‘bubble’ title on Highsmith, Hobson and Togafau was sort of explained in the last paragraph where Hawk talks about the health of Highsmith and that, if healthy, it’ll probably be Highsmith and Hobson with Togafau only making it if they carry five ILB’s. And as far as Hobson’s ‘bubble’ status, we shouldn’t forget he was cut by two different teams last year and was literally walking the streets looking for a job in late December so it’s hard, at least in my mind, to say he’s a stone cold lock to make the roster.

© – It’s an interesting point you bring up on Haggans (assume you’re talking about Clark) though who could fill in on the inside if KD or GH went down for a significant period of time. I’m sure that move would have a lot to do with how he’s playing at OLB and whether or not Berry is capable of doing everything that a starting OLB needs to do.

Overall though I agree that the depth, four undrafted free agents and one guy who was a street free agent in late December, isn’t something to brag about. Kind of makes me long for Monty Beisel now that I think about it.

by Bezekira on Jun 17, 2009 8:04 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Our depth at ILB worries me a bit

Hayes and Dansby have been the model of health the past two years (God Bless John Lott!) but each had their share of injury bugs to start their careers so there’s a precedence of missing games. I’ll play pessimist: Hayes goes down, we’re likely comfortable with Hobson stepping in considering his body of work with the Jets before defensive schemes were changed; Dansby goes down and Hobson comes in…same level of confidence? Hayes and Dansby go down, tell me honestly you’re not breaking a sweat at the prospect of Hobson & Highsmith/Togafau. Can Adrian Wilson play ILB for a significant stretch?

Think of “on the bubble” as not meaning “they may not make the 53 man roster” (though one is likely not to pending Special Teams developments; Pago was signed after Ali was hurt if you’ll remember for his ST ability) but rather our dreams of Super Bowl returns “pop” if any of these guys have to play a significant number of downs without the Cards nurturing a 30-point lead. Granted this can be said about any group of backups (duh, that’s why the backups) BUT I have to say I was much more comfortable with Monty Beisel filling in (hell, give me Darryl Blackstock and James Darling!). Being “on the bubble” means “easily replaceable” and I’m sure the waiver wires will be watched closely by the team, especially if #58 hasn’t signed a contract by July 15th.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Jun 17, 2009 9:40 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Geez, i get chills just from thinking about hayes and KD going down

Here’s a question…..would they have to switch back to a 4-3 if they had significant injuries to either or both? That would give them one less LB spot to fill and we’ve got some decent line depth to accommodate the 4-3. I wouldn’t be a fan of it b/c I like the 3-4, but the thought of Highsmith and Hobson manning the middle is downright scary.

by Bezekira on Jun 17, 2009 9:56 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depends on how much of Clancy's 4-3 material is still in the playbook

The Cards are practicing 3-4 alignments but there’s enough guys familiar with 4-3 packages that some of Clancy’s “hybrid” defenses could be seen. I shudder to think. I’ll keep the rose-tinted shades on and keep my head in the sand on the “what-if” injury front until it’s staring us in the face. Should make article writing a cinch. ::smirk:: The injury bug that always plagued the Cards seems to have faded dramatically (::knocks on wood::) the past couple of years and I hope that trend continues. I hope Mr. Lott got a raise this year…

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Jun 17, 2009 10:06 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why I Like Hybrid More Than Either a 3-4 or 4-3 Base

In a perfect world (at least inside the insane mind of Clancy P and hopefully, Billy D), the Cardinals would be able to put 11 defensive guys on the field who could all do the same thing – stuff the run, fill in the gaps, contain to the outside, cover speedy receivers, match up physically with TE’s and RB’s etc.

And then use all 11 guys interchangeably. Line ’em up wherever you want on any given play.

Drive opposing OC’s nuts.

Lacking that, I still love the idea of presenting a variety of fronts and schemes on any given down – that will make the defense “think” , cause the QB to wait that extra split-second, force an unecessary time-out or cause a penalty.

What scheme should we use? Doesn’t matter. Whatever works.

CHICKEN LITTLE WAS RIGHT!

by JJeff88 on Jun 18, 2009 8:29 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boss Bailey just released???

Now I dont think he’s an ILB I think he’s an OLB but he’s younger than berry, haggans, and okeafor. Would he fit into a MLB role with our “D”? He was injured basically half the year last year and was just released by Denver after playing 5 seasons with Detroit. Signing him to a 1 year deal and providing some competition wouldn’t be a bad idea if we can cough up a little cash.

by azcardswinez on Jun 18, 2009 10:10 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hobson probably works for filling Beisel’s role. What I’m thinking about the depth is that Highsmith had nothing to do all year but stretch and read the playbook; Hobson is experienced and Togafau has been around the system a while, as well. Considering the age of Bert, Haggans and Okeafor, it’s not like our LBs will be clueless out there if the middle goes down. Someone will step up.

If we carry 4 ILBs into the season, does Togafau get cut or go back to the practice squad?

by tw3kr on Jun 18, 2009 1:28 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Pago has accrued enough active roster time to be ineligible for PS...I think.

Nine occassions of game day 45-dressed is all it takes…and that includes playoffs. There was a great PS eligibility post a year ago on the Pats Pulpit, I’ll repost that sucker since PS will be heavily upon our minds in the next couple of months.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Jun 18, 2009 6:22 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only a couple years younger (29-30) and significantly less productive… Even in a Keith Lewis-type role I think I prefer sticking with the young guys (this is the time for Togafau, Highsmith, Davis and Brown to distinguish themselves behind the vets we already have,— it’s crowded enough!). Actually, he might make a good alternative to Hobson, who may not have much of a future with the team/league… I don’t know very much about either player but neither seems very exciting.

by tw3kr on Jun 18, 2009 10:07 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs