Heading into Houston, the Cardinals secondary has been ravaged by injuries. Cornerback Max Melton will miss his third consecutive game with a heel injury. They will also be without safeties Jalen Thompson (hamstring) and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle). This will mark the fifth game Taylor-Demerson has been sidelined.
Within Nick Rallis’ defense, the defensive backs play a huge role. According to TruMedia, the Cardinals play in dime packages 20.1 percent of the time, third most in the NFL behind the Rams and Chargers.
This will be safety Budda Baker’s first time in more than a year not playing with Thompson.
“It’s a little different for me, not having my bro in there,” Baker said, adding that he and Thompson typically know what each other is thinking because of how long they’ve shared the field together. “The communication presnap has to be on 100 if JT doesn’t play and then we play football from there.”
Rookie Kitan Crawford is likely to see his second career start this weekend. While typically a special teamer, Crawford will have to prepare to face a Texans offense that features tons of speed with Nico Collins and Christian Kirk.
Gannon doubled down on the importance of communication with Baker, Garrett Williams as the nickel cornerback, and the linebackers.
“The first thing I look at in the safety position is the mental, and since he’s been here, (Kitan) has done a really good job on increasing that part of his game,” Gannon said. “The next level that I think I’ve seen him start to get to is anticipating what is happening and where you got to put your body in what type of positions to make plays.
“He’s got the physical skill set, he just needs time on task, but he’s played well when he’s been in there.”
When Johnson and Burke are looking across the line of scrimmage, the quarterback is one they are familiar facing. C.J. Stroud, an Ohio State Buckeye, practiced against Burke daily. Johnson had eight tackles when he faced Stroud in the annual Michigan-Ohio State meeting.
But just like those games are in the past, so too is last weekend’s game against the Rams.
Each time he’ll trot into the huddle, there is a hope from Johnson that Stroud looks his way.
“You’ve got to continue to pick your battles,” Johnson said, “and then you got to win your battles.”
