Confused by the Cardinals defense?

There has not been a more complex defense to scout in the NFL in the past two seasons than the Arizona Cardinals. They play anything and everything, and do so much out of it.

It's a common misconception that they are a 3-4 defense by trade. Most teams are easily designated 4-3 or 3-4, and with the Cardinals, it's never simple. If you don't believe me, search any article on Karlos Dansby, Arizona's stud linebacker. He plays primarily on the weak-side, yet some members of the media choose to designate him as inside linebacker, which is not true. Sort of.

PFW did a great job of breaking down the Cardinals defense, explaining the intricacies of it.

To clarify the Cardinals are a 4-3 "under" defense. What that means is that they are overloaded towards the strong-side of the offensive formation, near the tight end. The strongside linebacker in this defense acts as a jack of all trades, and he typically stands directly over the tight end. With four down linemen, and then a linebacker on the tight end, it becomes a psuedo-five man defense.

If this doesn't make sense on paper, visually this should help:

In this defense the tackles are playing a two gap assignment on virtually every play. You'll see why they are so key as we move on. In a two gap assignment, a defensive lineman typically lines up head with an offensive lineman, taking on the gaps to each side as his primary responsibility.


So when the Cardinals are in their base defense, this is how it breaks down :

4-3 under

RDE (Predator) - Travis LaBoy/Bertrand Berry

This is the pass rusher with the clearest path to the quarterback. As described by Edholm in the atricle, they are basically a linebacker in a two point stance.

RDT - Darnell Dockett

Dockett in this allignment is taking on a two gap assignment, typically between the left tackle and left guard.

NT - Bryan Robinson

Robinson's primary goal on most plays is to occupy the center and a guard. He is a pure two gap lineman.

LDE - Antonio Smith

As the strongside end, Smith usually is asked to take on the right tackle at the point of attack. He is playing him as a modified five technique.

SLB - Chike Okeafor

Playing what was Clark Haggans role before getting injured, Okeafor usually chucks the tight end at the line of scrimmage. He can either rush the passer then, or cover the flat.


MLB - Gerald Hayes

Lining up usually in front of the right guard, but back off the line, Hayes is mostly a run stuffer from this front.

WLB - Karlos Dansby

This is the "playmaker" of the front seven. Dansby's speed and athleticism are used as a way to flow to the ball. He typically is guarded up front by Dockett.

When the "Predators" start rushing the passer from a two point stance, it makes the defense look to be 3-4. It makes them appear to be linebackers, when in reality they are ends in a two point stance. It makes the defense look to be this:

RDE - Darnell Dockett
NT - Bryan Robinson
LDE - Antonio Smith
ROLB - Travis LaBoy/Bertrand Berry
RILB - Karlos Dansby
LILB - Gerald Hayes
LOLB - Chike Okeafor

Where the Cardinals thrive is creating the confusion of who is rushing, and where from, much like a 3-4 defense. While they do not always have four "down" linemen, they have replicated the success of the 3-4 in the 4-3, in a fairly common formation.