Bertrand Berry

Berry will engage in a hot training camp battle with Travis LaBoy for a starting role. Berry has been plagued by injuries over the last three seasons, missing eight, six and seven games, respectively. His days as a double-digit sack threat are probably over, but he is a decent sleeper if he can win a starting role and stay healthy.

Here's a new phrase: "4-3 defense with 3-4 tendencies." New coach Ken Whisenhunt describes his defense that way, and it sounds like Berry will be used as an outside linebacker at times. That likely means more tackling but a drop in sacks. Berry can handle the position because he is a demon in pursuit, a highly mobile animal who never gives up on a play. Perhaps bigger than the possible change in how he's used is his health. He missed eight games in 2005 to a torn left pectoral muscle and six more last year with a torn right triceps muscle. He had surgery to repair the latter and has skipped some minicamps because the team is being cautious to make sure he's healthy for 2007. His prior statistical profile (few total tackles but double-digit sacks when he plays 16 games) goes out the window if the team really does use him as an outside linebacker for a significant amount of time. Remember, though, this is just "3-4 tendencies," so a healthy Berry should largely be the Berry we already know.

Berry has really come into his own in the past few seasons, so it was a shame to see him miss half of last year to a torn pectoral muscle. Just two years earlier, in 2003, he became an every down lineman for a full season for the first time, registering 11.5 sacks but just 24 solo tackles. He improved to 39 solos and 14.5 sacks in 2004. He clearly was getting to quarterbacks, but his energetic approach to the game was bubbling over into the run-support arena. He showed particular skill in chasing down backs rushing away from him. Last year he was on pace for 50 solos and 12 sacks, which would have earned him sixth place in the year-end lineman standings. We’ve seen Michael Strahan return successfully from a torn pectoral muscle, so expect Berry to pick up where he left off.

It took seven years, but Berry finally got to be a full-time starter in 2003 and responded with 11.5 sacks for Denver. He got even better in Arizona in 2004 and this year will benefit from having Chike Okeafor on the opposite end. Previously used as a pass-rush specialist, Berry thrived playing every down and moved his solo tackle numbers up from a paltry 24 in 2003. Berry’s second half last year was especially impressive, since he had only two games without a sack and one of them he barely played in due to a bruised thigh. Second in sacks in the NFL last year, he projects to be among the best again this year.

Berry has 115 solo tackles and 25 quarterback sacks in an 88 game career. As a 16-game starter for the Broncos in 2003, he led the team with 65 tackles and 11.5 sacks. Signed as a free-agent in the off-season, it would be easy to dismiss 2003 as a contract, career-year, save for the fact the Cardinals are desperate for a pass rush and the 29-year-old will be counted upon in every situation to apply pressure.

Berry is currently battling Reggie Hayward for the weak-side defensive end starting job.