Josh Sweat recently recounted a play in which he missed an opportunity for a turnover during a game. In a team meeting, safety Budda Baker commented on the play as they watched it together, saying, “Bro, get the ball!” Sweat responded, “I was like, ‘Oh man, ain’t no way I didn’t get it. The O-lineman, he was still on me and he knocked it away. I’m like, (expletive), I didn’t even know. I’m thinking, ‘You’re looking dumb as hell.'” He added that watching the film in slow motion made it clear what had happened: “The film was in slow motion. Of course you’re going to see that.”
Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis has emphasized throughout the offseason and again this week the importance of generating more takeaways and limiting explosive plays. The Arizona Cardinals have recorded four takeaways in their first four games this season. This total places them tied for 14th in the league; by comparison, Jacksonville leads with 13 takeaways so far this season. The Cardinals also have a plus-1 turnover ratio, which is tied for 10th place.
Of Arizona’s turnovers this season, three have been interceptions—a category coaches say is more controllable through pass rush pressure and tight coverage than fumbles are. Fumble recoveries often depend on unpredictable circumstances during a game. Referring to Sweat’s strip of Sam Darnold, Baker said: “That’s how the game goes. He had a great strip-sack. The ball was in his arm, but how fast the game is going, he was just trying to get the sack and get the ball out. It’s a millisecond… It didn’t bounce the right way.”
Baker explained there are situations where defenders must balance aggression with caution when pursuing turnovers: if isolated with a ballcarrier, making a secure tackle is critical; however, during pile-ups players should attempt to force fumbles. “We preach that every day,” Baker said.
Sweat remains surprised by how the play unfolded and noted that because quarterback Darnold fumbled forward instead of taking a loss on the sack, Arizona only gained one yard instead of six on that sequence. “You still gotta recover it,” Sweat said.
