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Adrian Wilson - Arizona Cardinals Safety
The safety position continues to evolve as players are being asked to do more to protect the defensive secondary.
"The safety position is becoming more and more of a corner position," says New England Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK. "There were times when some of the safeties, particularly the strong safeties, fit more like linebackers than they did as defensive backs. The demands of that position have changed."
Teams are looking to find players who can guard against the deep throws and disrupt receivers coming over the middle but also make the key tackles as the last line of defense.
Among the checklist of things that teams look for in a safety are versatility, athleticism, toughness, speed and the ability to read and react to different offenses.
Arizona safety ADRIAN WILSON, the longest-tenured Cardinal in his ninth season with the team, says that one of the keys to his success has been recognizing formations.
"The most important thing for me is knowing the difference between the different formations," says Wilson. "Formation recognition is very important and knowing the scheme of your defense enables you to make plays within that framework. When an offense lines up at the line of scrimmage, I'm always looking at their formation. I observe the wide receiver splits and compare that with the film I studied during the week."
The two-time Pro Bowl selection helped the Cardinals reach the Super Bowl last year for the first time in franchise history. In his career, he has 19 sacks and 18 interceptions and is closing in on becoming just the 10th player in NFL history – and only the fifth defensive back – to record at least 20 sacks and 20 interceptions.
"I'm a better safety now than I was as a college player," Wilson says. "I've become a better player because I learn things throughout the course of each season. You mature as a player and it allows you to be a little more focused on what you need to get done at this level."
In last year's NFL Draft, six safeties were selected in the first three rounds. Among those was Cardinals safety RASHAD JOHNSON, who was drafted in the third round (No. 95) out of Alabama.
"To be like Adrian, who is a franchise player and a leader, is something I will work for day in and day out," says Johnson.
Wilson, who was also a third-round draft choice (No. 64 in 2001), has stressed to Johnson and other young players the importance of hard work.
"Just work hard," Wilson says about his message to the younger players on the Cardinals. "It takes a lot of hard work to become a good safety in this league. The most important thing is to stay in the film room and make sure you understand what your team's scheme is. That's key for a safety."
Coming into the league in 2001, Wilson shaped his game after Pro Football Hall of Famer ROD WOODSON, now an NFL Network analyst.
"Rod Woodson was a big part of how I evolved as a player because he could do everything," recalls Wilson. "I wanted to emulate my game after some of the great ones that were able to do everything: cover, blitz, be solid in the run game and also in the pass game."
Drew Brees Saints QB
Pats & Bucs Meet in London Plus 3 Unbeatens in Action
NFL 2009 Week 7 Preview
The Patriots-Buccaneers' meeting is the third regular-season game at Wembley Stadium.
Meanwhile, back home stateside, three of the remaining four unbeatens – Indianapolis (5-0), Minnesota (6-0) and New Orleans (5-0) – will be in action. Denver (6-0) has a bye in Week 7 after a 34-23 win at San Diego on Monday night.
Execution is Key in Short-Yardage Situation
NFL 2009
Every inch is earned in the NFL and a physical rushing attack is required to excel in short-yardage situations. NFL Network analyst and former All-Star running back Marshall Faulk knows the importance of executing on short-yardage opportunities. Faulk totaled 12,279 career rushing yards in 13 NFL seasons (1994-2006) and says finishing on short-yardage opportunities can be the difference in a team being a pretender or contender.
Picks, Selections & Latest Line
NFL 2009 Week 7
NFL 2009 Week 7 Schedule
(All times local)
Green Bay at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Chicago at Cincinnati, 4:15 PM
San Francisco at Houston, 12:00 PM
Atlanta at Dallas, 3:15 PM
San Diego at Kansas City, 12:00 PM
N.Y. Jets at Oakland, 1:05 PM
New Orleans at Miami, 4:15 PM
Minnesota at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Indianapolis at St. Louis, 12:00 PM
New England at Tampa Bay, 5:00 PM (GMT)
Buffalo at Carolina, 4:05 PM
Arizona at N.Y. Giants, 8:20 PM (NBC)
Philadelphia at Washington, 8:30 PM (MNF - ESPN)
Bye Week: Baltimore, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, Seattle, Tennessee
NFL 2009 Week 6 Results
(Home Team in CAPS)
Houston 28, CINCINNATI 17
OAKLAND 13, Philadelphia 9
GREEN BAY 26, Detroit 0
Arizona 27, SEATTLE 3
JACKSONVILLE 23, St. Louis 20 (OT)
NEW ENGLAND 59, Tennessee 0
MINNESOTA 33, Baltimore 31
Buffalo 16, N.Y. JETS 13 (OT)
NEW ORLEANS 48, N.Y. Giants 27
ATLANTA 21, Chicago 14
PITTSBURGH 27, Cleveland 14
Carolina 28, TAMPA BAY 21
Kansas City 14, WASHINGTON 6
Denver 34, SAN DIEGO 23
Bye Week: Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, and San Francisco
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