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Best season over the last three years:
- Dre Kirkpatrick: 6-2, 196, 4.51, Alabama, R1/2012
2017 CIN: 63.5 (overall); 47.7 (tackling); 61.8 (coverage):
14 games: 82-targets/46-comps/564-yds/12.2-ave/5-td/1-int/8-pens
- B.W. Webb: 5-11, 188, 4.51, William & Mary, R4/2013
2018 NYG: 61.3 (overall); 75.5 (tackling); 60.3 (coverage)
16 games: 66-targets/39-comps/530-yds/13.6-ave/1-td/1-int/10-pens
- Ken Crawley: 6-1, 180, 4.43, Colorado, CFA/2016
2017 NO: 73.4 (overall); 69.3 (tackling); 74.1 (coverage):
15 games: 105-targets/55-comps/524-yds/12.2-ave/4-td/1-int/14-pens
Overall Grades in 2019:
- Kirkpatrick (6 games-CIN): 61.7
- Webb (16 games-CIN): 55.7
- Crawley (4 games-MIA): 55.7
Best Cover Man: Kirkpatrick
Best Tackler: Webb
Best Length: Kirkpatrick
Best Speed: Crawley
Most Experienced: Kirkpatrick
Least Experienced: Crawley
Games Played Last 3 Years: Webb (46); Kirkpatrick (33); Crawley (30)
How the CB Room Stacks Up (in my opinion):
- CB1: Patrick Peterson—-starter at LCB, poised to have big season
- CB2: Dre Kirkpatrick—-starter at RCB, like Peterson, wants a big bounce back year
- CB3: Byron Murphy—-nickel CB who aims to thrive in that role
- CB4: Chris Jones—-better in coverage than Webb and comparable tackler, could challenge Kirkpatrick for starting job at RCB
- CB5: Jace Whitaker—-wins the backup nickel job and contributes well on STs.
PS Candidates: Kevin Peterson, B.W. Webb, Ken Crawley, Zane Lewis
Biggest Concern: Tackling
With Dre Kirkpatrick opposite Patrick Peterson and outside of Byron Murphy in the slot, the Cardinals’ man pass coverage should be improved this year. However, while Murphy is a good tackler, Peterson and Kirkpatrick will be tested because of poor tackling reputations.
It’s a very good thing that the Cardinals have improved their tackling ability at linebacker and that their safeties are very good tacklers. The Cardinals have a history of being weak tacklers on the perimeter—-so expect opposing OCs to continue to run a variety of sweeps, reverses, bubble screens, swing passes and delayed RB slip screens to the outside.