| The Cardinals' defense is very similar to the Packers. Coach Mike McCarthy says Green Bay knows what to expect when the Cardinals employ a 3-4 defensive scheme. (US Presswire) |
Packers coach Mike McCarthy was asked Wednesday what he saw when he looked at the Cardinals’ 3-4 base defensive scheme.
“Very talented scheme that we have some familiarity with, coming from the same history, the same roots,” McCarthy said. “They’re very aggressive, got some impact players on defense; the statistics speak for themselves, pressuring the QB, taking the ball away.”
The Cardinals, who travel to Green Bay on Sunday, are tied for the league lead (with the Packers) in sacks with 26. They*re fifth in the NFL in takeaways, with 15. As a whole, the Arizona defense is ranked No. 4 in points allowed, No. 6 in yards allowed and No. 4 in passing yards allowed.
“I’ll say this, their inside pressure is very impressive,” McCarthy said. “It’s very common, everything we’ve see on film, because that’s what our defense does, and (the Cardinals) do it very well. The two inside guys are impact players, the outside rush guys are good players. Their defense all the way through has impact players, but their scheme is very challenging.”
Besides the front three on the defensive line, McCarthy specifically singled out ILBs Daryl Washington, who is third in the league with eight sacks, and veteran Paris Lenon, a savvy former Packer.
Green Bay’s offensive line will be tested by Arizona’s stout, physical defensive line. RT Bryan Bulaga said the Packers benefit from going up against a 3-4 style similar to their own, but he stressed that “they have different pieces on that defense than we have, so we’ve got to be ready.”
On the other side of the ball, DT B.J. Raji sounded confident in his defense’s ability to stop a Cardinals offense that is also no stranger to the Packers. Green Bay played Arizona twice in 2009, first a 33-7 Packers win that got them into the playoffs and then a week later in a 51-45 loss in the first round of the playoffs.
“We’re pretty familiar with Arizona,” he said, “their scheme hasn’t changed too much since 2009. Personnel really isn’t that important if you know what the scheme is.”
But later, Raji, possibly remembering Arizona All-Pro WR Larry Fitzgerald, added that “I think they’re real dangerous.”
Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter: @CBSPackers and @jimmycarlton88.