3-4 OR 4-3?
Media types often refer to the Cardinals' 3-4 defense. Opponents see things differently.
"When you face the Arizona Cardinals, you face a 4-3 scheme," Miami quarterback Chad Pennington pointed out in a matter-of-fact analysis.
The reason: the defensive position played by Travis LaBoy and Bertrand Berry - a defensive end/linebacker combination that stresses the pass rush - is considered a defensive lineman, not a linebacker, by opponents.
"We're facing a team this week that does an excellent job of penetrating the gaps, attacking, play an attack-style defense," Pennington said.
"They fly around to the football, all 11 guys. You'll see six, seven, eight guys around the football at once, and they're shooting gaps or darting in and out.
"Their safeties are extremely aggressive, so you're looking at a really aggressive defense."
PRAISE FOR WILSON
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano calls himself an admirer of Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson.
"I think he's a tremendous player. ... He does a great job," Sparano said.
That Wilson can apply pressure on the quarterback from the secondary is one reason the Cardinals' defense is tough to attack, the Dolphins coach said.
"He's a big guy and he's been a good blitzer and a good pressure player."
Also, he noted that linebacker/defensive end Travis LaBoy "played a tremendous game this past weekend."
Add in linebackers Karlos Dansby and Chike Okeafor and "you've got to be careful with your protections ... and you've got to know where they are all the time.
"From a mental standpoint, that can tax you a little bit in your offensive line, so you need to be a little bit simpler with what you're doing."
