NFL 2009 | Adrian Wilson Cardinals Safety
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."

NFL 2009 Talent & Athleticism Changing Game at Safety Position