2015 NFL offseason: 4 questions for Arizona Cardinals defense entering 2015

We addressed some questions that face the Arizona Cardinals offense earlier in the week, based on what Darren Urban, Kyle Odegard and Damien Anderson discussed on the Cardinalss Underground podcast. They also recently got together and recorded a new episode dedicated to the defensive side of the ball.

So what are the biggest questions entering the 2015 season?

What does Arizona have in James Bettcher and can they continue the defensive success the team has had?

Todd Bowles left to be head coach of the Jets. Bettcher is now the man in charge, but he has never called a game. What he does have is the trust of Bruce Arians, which should be enough for the players to know his ideas are worth following. His particular style is unknown. He said he will keep some of what Bowles did, but will have his own pieces he installs.

Where will the pass rush come from?

Yes, they got eight sacks from Alex Okafor, but as was said on the podcast, "no one is confusing him with DeMarcus Ware." Moving Kareem Martin outside and signing LaMarr Woodley have a little bit of potential, but Martin hasn't shown anything yet in his career and Woodley is three years removed from real playing success. Urban believes, as many do, the Cardinals will draft a pass rusher in the first round. But will that be enough? How much will the defense have to blitz again in 2015?

How will the new pieces in the front seven fit in 2015?

Dan Williams, Darnell Dockett and Sam Acho are gone. John Abraham probably is as well. Sean Weatherspoon, Corey Peters, Cory Redding and LaMarr Woodley are in. They are more versatile, but will they all work out? That is a lot of change.

Where will Deone Bucannon play?

The second year player played almost exclusively at linebacker in dime packages in 2014, but that was because they didn't have another player who could provide the speed they needed there. Will he play more safety and pair up with Tyrann Mathieu,  or will both move around again?