CARDINALS PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Entering his third NFL season, many observers are tabbing DE Calais Campbell as the Cardinals player most ready to have a breakout season. A regular in the Cardinals weight room and at workouts during the offseason, Campbell is ready to build on his impressive 2009 season, his first as a full-time starter.
Campbell started 15 of 16 games in ‘09, totaling 53 tackles, along with 7.0 sacks, five passes defensed and a forced fumble. His 7.0 sacks tied Darnell Dockett for the team lead. Campbell played particularly well towards the end of the last season. Against the Rams in week 16, he recorded three tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and a QB pressure.
In week 14 in San Francisco he had another outstanding game when he recorded five tackles, a tackle for loss and his sixth sack of the season (second in as many games).
Campbell’s value isn’t limited to the defensive line. At 6-8 and 300 pounds, he is a vital contributor to special teams as well. In week two of ’09 in Jacksonville, he blocked a 38-yard FG attempt, his first of two blocked FGs on the season. The blocked kick was recovered and returned 83 yards for a TD by Antrel Rolle. His second blocked FG attempt of the season came in week five against the Houston Texans.
If preseason play is any indication, Campbell is ready to pick up where he left of in ’09. Despite limited reps, Campbell recorded both a sack and a blocked FG in preseason, both coming against Chicago. Heading into the season opener at St. Louis, watch for Campbell to work well with Dockett to put pressure on Rams rookie starting quarterback Sam Bradford. The pair bookend a revised Cardinals defense that should be the team's strength in 2010.
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