Richard

Marshall

Marshall was a free-agent pickup last offseason but ended up starting at both cornerback and safety after Kerry Rhodes missed nine games due to injury. His three interceptions and 78 tackles ranked first and third on the Cardinals respectively. Marshall is likely to see an increase from $3.5 million he earned last season.

Coming off a season where he saw heavy snaps at both corner and safety, the Cards were apparently focusing on Marshall as their third cornerback. He’s expected to get a chance to start in Miami, pushing RCB Sean Smith.

It’s fair to wonder if Marshall would have hit the open market if not for Arizona’s pursuit of Peyton Manning. Deemed the defensive MVP by coordinator Ray Horton last season, Marshall saw time outside, in the slot, and at safety while recording 69 tackles, two sacks and 11 passes defended.

A cornerback in name, Marshall played outside, in the slot, and at safety last season as coordinator Ray Horton’s anointed defensive MVP. Marshall could compete with Sean Smith at corner, with the loser seeing time at nickelback and perhaps at free safety. It’s a strong signing, and one the Cardinals may have made if not for Peyton Manning’s drawn-out recruiting process.

Marshall went so far as to call the Cardinals himself, but they declined. Capable of playing almost anywhere in the secondary, Marshall is a big loss for a team that sported an improved pass defense in 2011.

Marshall played quite a bit of free safety last season in Arizona, but he will compete for a starting job at corner with the Fins. RCB Sean Smith should consider himself on notice. For now, the Dolphins plan to let Chris Clemons, Reshad Jones, and Tyrone Culver battle it out for the two safety positions.

The Cardinals chose to use Patrick Peterson on the speedy Torrey Smith and Jefferson on the physical Anquan Boldin. It didn’t work. Boldin went off for 145 yards a drew three pass interference calls in the end zone. Richard Marshall replaced Jefferson deep in the fourth quarter.

Marshall showed impressive versatility in his first season with Arizona, first supplanting A.J. Jefferson as the team’s starting left cornerback and then moving to safety in many defensive packages to help compensate for FS Kerry Rhodes’ broken foot. Marshall is in a contract year, so Horton is helping his free agent stock. Entering Week 17, Marshall has racked up 71 tackles, ten pass breakups, two sacks, and two interceptions.

Marshall came on for a struggling Jefferson in Week 8 and then started ahead of him in Week 9. In nickel and dime packages, Marshall moved to safety and Jefferson came on as a corner. The Cardinals rank 29th against the pass through eight games.

The new coaching staff is trying to send Davis a message. Supremely talented but maddeningly inconsistent, Davis is listed behind offseason pickup Richard Marshall. Davis will regain the starting left corner job before Week 1 if the Fins want to field their four best DBs, but he’s going to have to earn it back.