Kyler Murray famously breathed a public sigh of relief when Aaron Donald decided to retire, a notion likely shared by pretty much every quarterback across the NFL. But it also underscored the importance of teams building up a pass rush and push on the interior of the defensive line, a concept that has only seemed to grow in importance in the NFL over the past decade.
The Cardinals host the struggling Titans on Sunday, but one player not having any issues making an impact is Tennessee veteran defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, who remains one of the best interior guys in the league and an issue for any QB he goes against.
"Speaking about it in general, I feel like internally (on the line) it's probably worse no matter who it is, right?," Murray said. "Obviously, (Simmons) is a great player. I'd probably rather have a guy coming off the edge. That'd be my vote. Internally it happens so fast, happens and it's in your face. As far as coming off the edge, (you have) angles and it's probably easier to escape in a sense."
Calais Campbell, at 39 still off to a fast start as one of those interior wreckers for the Cardinals, said the middle of the pocket is the most important part of the pocket. For offense and for the defense.
"If you can get guys getting penetration up front it makes it harder for every quarterback," Campbell said. "He sees that pressure much quicker. Off the edge he might not see the guy with eyes downfield and it might lead to more turnover opportunities -- in front of him, he can protect the ball -- but it's tough to throw the ball over big tall dudes like DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, myself. The last 10-plus years, the big guys in the middle, we've been tough."
There has been Donald and J.J. Watt at the top of that food chain. But there is a reason the Cardinals have spent first-round picks in back-to-back seasons not on edge rushers but guys who they hope can provide interior problems in Darius Robinson and Walter Nolen III. Or why they signed Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson.
"The most important part of the pass rush is the guy in the middle who can crush the pocket," Campbell said. "A guy can step up to avoid outside rushers but if you crush the pocket, there is nowhere to step up. Production goes up for everybody."
