Professor

Cardinals notebook: Whisenhunt to implement zone blitz packages | EastValleyTribune.com

excerpt:

While in Pittsburgh, Ken Whisenhunt watched the Steelers play a 3-4 alignment on defense. It’s been a popular theory that the Cardinals will themselves switch to such a look.

But Whisenhunt said Wednesday during the NFC coaches breakfast at the Arizona Biltmore the Cardinals will be a 4-3 team — although there will be “elements” of the 3-4 philosophy.

That makes sense, given that defensive ends Calvin Pace, Chike Okeafor and even Bertrand Berry could be used as linebackers in certain situations.

Whisenhunt also emphasized the need to use Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson as a blitzer and said the Cards will incorporate some of the zone blitz packages the Steelers made famous.

“You’ll see a couple of different fronts, a couple of different packages off the blitzes that will help keep people on their toes,” Whisenhunt said.

The coach added he has had to tell defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast to “get out of my office” because Pendergast has been so excited to talk about the new defensive schemes.

“I like the direction we are going defensively,” Whisenhunt said.

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Manster

I think that they might switch to the 3-4 but it will take a couple of years to get the right players to be able to do it.

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