TEMPE, Ariz. -- It’s either because the Arizona Cardinals learned a hard lesson last season or there is enough talent to warrant it, but Arizona will have a deep defensive line rotation in 2015, according to coach Bruce Arians.
Arians said the Cardinals could keep eight or nine defensive linemen on their 53-man roster and compensate by cutting back at other positions. By Week 17 last season, Arizona had seven defensive linemen on the roster mainly because of injuries.
"It’ll be very interesting in the defensive line and outside linebacker, in the numbers that we keep," Arians said. "It may be we go short in another position. We’re going to keep the best 53.
"If that’s eight defensive linemen or nine defensive linemen or six outside (linebackers), we’ll keep the best players and get roles for everybody."
The Cardinals have 10 defensive linemen on the roster, and seven appear to have a secure spot on the 53-man: Calais Campbell, Rodney Gunter, Cory Redding, Frostee Rucker, Matt Shaughnessy, Ed Stinson and Corey Peters. That leaves Josh Mauro, Alameda Ta'amu and Xavier Williams to compete for the final one or two spots.
During the three weeks of organized team activities, the defensive line rotation was constant. Lineups of Campbell, Rucker and Peters were interspersed with four-man fronts that included Redding, Stinson and Mauro. Last season the defensive line accounted for 15 of Arizona’s 35 sacks, but the Cards lost three of those with Dan Williams (one sack) signing with Oakland, Tommy Kelly (one) not getting re-signed and Kareem Martin (one) switching to outside linebacker.
But Arizona added 5.5 sacks between free-agent signings Redding and Peters.
"Rotating is the plan," Campbell said. "We’ve already been practicing with different groups in there so we get a feel for each other. That’s the way it’s going to be. We’re going to be rotating and have fun and stay as fresh as we can and dominate."
