TEMPE, Ariz. - Six games into his second season in the NFL, Arizona Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby has made a name for himself where it counts _ with his teammates and opposing offensive coordinators.

"The coaches are starting to (notice)," Cardinals coach Green said Thursday, adding that Arizona's 2-4 record has kept Dansby from greater renown.

Green believes that will come the same way it came to defensive end Bertrand Berry, who made the Pro Bowl after leading the NFC in sacks last season.

"Bertrand was able to get his part out," Green said. "Karlos needs to keep on making plays, get out there and get some results. I think people will begin to respect him and recognize who he is."

A second-round pick from Auburn in 2004, the 23-year-old Dansby started 12 games as a rookie but sat out whenever Arizona went into its nickel defense. This year, he plays in every defensive alignment and on every down.

"I expected it," Dansby said about his progress. "Like I say, I think I was overlooked last year, but I've been getting a lot of opportunities for a lot of people to recognize me, and I'm trying to take advantage of every last one."

He gained confidence early, starring at every level of the game. In high school in Birmingham, Ala., Dansby was a two-way player with the speed to play wide receiver while earning all-state laurels at linebacker.

He played strong safety as a freshman at Auburn but switched to linebacker when he showed signs of growing into his current 6-foot-2, 243-pound frame, and finished his three-year college career with similar numbers in sacks (10), interceptions (8) and fumbles caused (7).

He began the season with a sack and two interceptions against the New York Giants' Eli Manning, returning one for a touchdown, and is the only linebacker in the league with three sacks and two pickoffs.

Dansby leads the Cardinals in tackles (47) and fumbles forced (2), causing the second while sacking Tennessee's Billy Volek on Sunday in a 20-10 victory over the Titans _ one of his career-high 11 tackles.

"It's just a huge boost for us to have one extra playmaker on our defense," said safety Adrian Wilson, who is second to Dansby in tackles with 40. "He makes so many impact plays and changes the game a lot."

"Clancy does a great job of utilizing his playmakers, and (Dansby) does a great job of doing it," Wilson said. "He's never going to line up in the same place twice, so a lot of teams have got to stay adept of where he's at, and if you don't it could cost you."

Dansby was kept out of practice Wednesday because of sore knees, but practiced Thursday and said he was looking forward to playing in Texas Stadium.

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