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Power ranking the NFL defenses for 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – JULY 25: Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones (55) looks on during the Arizona Cardinals training camp on July 25, 2019 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – JULY 25: Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones (55) looks on during the Arizona Cardinals training camp on July 25, 2019 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

28. Arizona Cardinals

2018 Review: To be fair, the Arizona defense didn’t get much support from its offensive counterparts. This unit was on the field far longer than it should have been in 2018. One of the results of that imbalance was the fact that the Cardinals finished dead last in the league in rushing defense. Under head coach Steve Wilks, the team utilized the 4-3 defense and the team just wasn’t built to handle that change. There were some bright spots in relentless pass-rusher Chandler Jones (13 sacks) and second-year safety Budda Baker, who finished with 100 tackles.

2019 Key Additions: The new defensive coordinator is Vance Joseph, who just spent two years as head coach of the Denver Broncos. You may recall that the Cardinals got off to an early start to free agency in the form of picking up Atlanta Falcons’ castoffs Brooks Reed and Robert Alford. There’s a new middle linebacker in Jordan Hicks (Eagles) while ageless Terrell Suggs joins the club after 16 seasons and 132.5 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens.

Analysis: The cupboard is far from bare here. But first things first and the Cardinals will be without perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson for the first six games after he violated the NFL’s policy for PEDs. Still, Joseph has his work cut out for him and has to hope Hicks and Hasson Riddick can help against the run. Despite 49 sacks in 2018, Arizona managed only 17 takeaways and not having Peterson all season certainly doesn’t help in that area.

Next: No. 27

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