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April 11, 2007 - 1:32PM
Whisenhunt: Defense will have look of 3-4 alignment
Darren Urban, Tribune
After saying recently the Cardinals will remain in a 4-3 defensive alignment, coach Ken Whisenhunt acknowledged Wednesday his defense will have many elements of a 3-4 look -- including using former Pro Bowl defensive end Bertrand Berry at linebacker, using outside linebacker Karlos Dansby inside and putting one-time defensive tackle Darnell Dockett at end.
"The defense is going to be a little bit different scheme-wise from what they were doing," Whisenhunt said. "Certainly there were things I was comfortable with in Pittsburgh that I want to incorporate and (defensive coordinator) Clancy (Pendergast) has been good at that, and the process of blending those things in with what he likes will be like a merger."
The Cardinals will hold their first minicamp this weekend, beginning Friday.
Whisenhunt said it was hard to categorize positions at this point because of the many different packages the Cards will use. But he said both Berry and fellow end Chike Okeafor will be "quasi-end/linebackers" who may rush from a three-point stance one play and stand up on another.
Calvin Pace will take a similar role, while Dansby will play inside with middle linebacker Gerald Hayes.
Whisenhunt also said the work will be "experimental." The minicamp this weekend will not be as intense as the one held two weeks after the draft with the filled-out roster.
Guard Milford Brown, who is getting married this weekend, is the only player Whisenhunt isn't expecting to be here. Whisenhunt said running back Edgerrin James, who had minor knee surgery to drain fluid on his knee after the season, could be limited in his work. Quarterback Matt Leinart, who had to rehab after hurting his shoulder in the next-to-last game of 2006, should be OK to participate but the Cardinals will monitor his progress.
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