Behind Enemy Lines: Cardinals takes by expert Aarron Van Buren

How’s the post-Chandler Jones pass rush?

Ramblin Fan: Losing Chandler Jones seems to be a huge loss. How will the Cardinals’ defense compensate for losing such a dominating pass rusher? Will the team regret losing him to the Raiders?

Raizing Zona:
I’ve been on record that losing Chandler Jones isn’t that big of a deal. When Jones got hurt in Week 5 of the 2020 season, he only had one sack on the year. What did Vance Joseph do without him?

He guided the Cardinals’ defense to nothing the fourth-most sacks in the league with a defense that was approaching the “No-Name defense” in terms of people (not talent) knowing who these guys were. On top of that, Joseph has been able to make Dennis Gardeck who was more of a special teamer have some shining moments when he was healthy.

Jones did have 10.5 sacks last season, but five of those came in Week 1. Jones hasn’t been the same since the 2019 season when he had 19 sacks.

Rookies Myjai Sanders and Cam Thomas are the long-term answers to replace Jones. In the meantime, Zach Allen will need to step up and confirm to the organization that he can be that disruptor on the edge. And if J.J. Watt can get to suit for at least 10 games this year, the Cardinals pass rush will be just fine without a declining Chandler Jones.