Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis has to be exhausted knowing his unit left in all on the line in Week 3.
For three consecutive weeks, Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis has been asked to save the day, repeatedly. Even with the casualties that caused injuries to rookie defensive back to Will Johnson and Garrett Williams, his unit did its part by standing up to the San Francisco 49ers defense countlessly in Sunday's 16-15 loss.
With 5:19 left to go in Week 3, Rallis schemed a combo coverage to bait quarterback Mac Jones into an errand throw that allowed for Cardinals defensive back Dadrion Taylor-Demerson to grab his first career interception. Sequentially, the Cardinals' offense took over on their own 39-yard line, needing just a few first downs to push into enemy territory for a go-ahead score. Instead, Rallis found his defensive unit right back on the field again 90 seconds later.
With 3:15 to go in regulation, defensive tackle Calais Campbell pushed through in pursuit of Jones, looking for a sack. Guard Dominick Puni held him, drawing a penalty in the end zone, which resulted in a safety for two points and gave the Cardinals the lead. Again, Rallis had done his job, scheming his unit effectively and denying the opponent points.
Still, with 2:00 to go, the Cardinals' offense could not salt the game away and leave Levi's Stadium flying high. Instead, Rallis was forced to put his heavily fatigued defense back on the field, crossing his fingers and hoping to stop offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan for a third consecutive time. With stricken anxiety, rookie cornerback Denzel Burke committed an illegal use of the hands penalty, granting the Niners a first down and an opportunity to push into field goal range.
The gut-wrenching 16-15 loss stings, but Rallis has done his part to make a difference. The Cardinals currently rank No. 5 in the NFL in points allowed per game, but rank No. 19 in points per game. The clear contrast shouldn’t yield any head scratching. Rallis has been exceptional, but he can’t be asked to save the day every week.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Cardinals’ Nick Rallis can't keep being the hero with his headset
Category: Football
