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Adams is money when it comes to tackling

It’s been mentioned more than a few times that cornerback Michael Adams is pound-for-pound perhaps the best tackler the Cards have on defense. Now there are some stats to back it up. A new study by FootballOutsiders.com shows the defensive players who are most effective in making the tackle after a pass reception, and “Money Mike” is listed as the second-best cornerback in the NFL, percentage-wise, in 2010. Adams is credited with 47 percent “successful” tackle rate (14 in 30 chances), behind only the Eagles’ Asante Samuel.

(Clarification: The success rate means of the 30 tackles Adams made on pass catchers, 14 were considered successes. FO’s Aaron Schatz said Adams had three missed tackles last year, about average.)

Adams has shortcomings because of his size, but there are good reasons why he has stuck on the roster. One is his superb special teams play. Another is his fundamental tackling skills, which would only seem to help in his quest to stick around seeing that new defensive coordinator Ray Horton has professed his love for defensive backs who can tackle.

The Cards actually had a handful of defenders who landed on the “best” lists for tackling on pass plays. Adrian Wilson was on the best list for safeties (although third safety Rashad Johnson was on the “worst” side) while Paris Lenon tied for the best percentage (54) among linebackers and Daryl Washington also ended up on the best linebackers list.