Upgrading the defensive line was a clear focal point of the Arizona Cardinals front office this offseason, adding several pieces to a position group that was ranked among worst in the NFL last season.
While adding Josh Sweat was certainly a splash, the biggest piece – literally – was 6’3″, 335 pounder and eight-year veteran Dalvin Tomlinson.
“I’d say my weight right now is about 340 or so, and I’m leaning out more throughout training camp and I’m gonna be a lean machine come Week 1,” Tomlinson said on Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Friday.
Dalvin Tomlinson’s secret versatility
While those numbers would imply that Tomlinson is built more for a position on the interior of the defensive line, he says he prefers bumping out over the guard or tackle in a five technique and adds that the revamped defensive line has enough depth to fill the holes on the interior if defensive coordinator Nick Rallis wants to get creative at the line of scrimmage.
“I love getting back on the edge,” he said. “All offensive tackles hate when you’ve got a big strong guy on the outside, it makes their life a lot harder.”
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“I play inside mostly now, but I can also get to the outside and get some good rushes in, too. It’s kind of a plot twist when you see a big guy at 330 plus coming in off the edge. It’s like, ‘hold on now.’ But ya, I like moving around. I don’t like just sitting in one spot.”
Tomlinson is expected to man the front with Calais Campbell and second-year pro Darius Robinson.
Campbell rejoined the Cardinals this offseason after playing nine years in Arizona from 2008-2016.
While the 18-year vet is an old face to many fans and members of the organization, he provides a fresh, new face to the defensive line.
Robinson is fairly green to opponents, too, after seeing just six games of action last season.
“We’re gonna have a few tricks and stuff you’re gonna see throughout the year, I feel like,” Tomlinson said.
Cardinals d-line depth
In addition to those three, Justin Jones, Dante Stills, L.J. Collier, Zaven Collins and Sweat are all expected to see time either on the d-line or at EDGE.
First round draft pick Walter Nolen III, B.J. Ojulari and Bilal Nichols are also expected to contribute but all three of them have been placed on the PUP list to start the season.
That’s 11 guys who could all potentially contribute to the defensive front, harassing quarterbacks and building a wall at the line of scrimmage to enclose running backs.
“As a unit, the chemistry were building right now is essential because I feel like the sky is the limit with what we have in this d-line room,” Tomlinson said.
Now the question is if they can put it all together.
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