- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 434,623
- Reaction score
- 44
Between them, Arizona Cardinals defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson have played 386 regular-season games with 367 starts in 25 NFL seasons. Campbell has missed only 15 games in his career, while Tomlinson has missed seven.
Both were signed in the last six weeks and even though Campbell signed a one-year contract and Tomlinson two, the mentoring component is expected to be a key presence, especially with the addition of Walter Nolen in the first round of the draft.
General manager Monti Ossenfort said Thursday night, “I think anytime, whether it’s in that room (or not), that’s why we put a big priority on the type of people on this team. JG (head coach Jonathan Gannon) and his staff do a great job of laying out expectations on how we do things, but first-hand knowledge and watching their peers work, there’s no replacement for that.
“We have a bunch of veterans on this team, not just in that room, but in the entire locker room. Anybody that comes in this organization has no choice but to see and absorb that. That’s why we put such a high emphasis on the type of guys that we bring into this organization.”
When Ossenfort was asked specifically about Campbell helping, he said, “That’s going to be on each individual to do that (develop). Budda (Baker), everyone, it doesn’t stop (there). James Conner, (Mack) Wilson. The entire unit - our defensive unit, our offensive unit. There are plenty of examples. Our players do a great job of doing what we want them to do, and Walter is going to be no different. Walter is going to come in here and not miss a beat.”
When Campbell talked to the media recently after signing, he was asked how big a part is leadership in his job description.
“It's kind of been who I am anyway, right?” he said. “I don't think I can go somewhere and not be that. I've been a captain at all levels, everywhere I've been. But that's a big part of it, it's a huge part of it. I know when GMs and decision-makers, they're looking for me to come into a building, they know that I come with a lot of leadership capabilities and a prestige that a lot of those young guys respect, which is really cool. So I don’t take that lightly, I take that with a lot of pride and I try to do the best I can. I've always been a servant leader.
“So I want to just help guys, really good one-on-one, working with younger guys, helping them elevate their game, watching tape, and learn how to care of their bodies, stuff outside of football. And then in the group setting, talking to the team, being there, trying to inspire guys to give the best version of themselves.”
At his introductory press conference at the team facility Friday, Nolan said of the team’s veteran linemen, “I just want to learn their process. I still get to be a little kid a little bit because I’ve got all the OGs (old guys) in the room. Just getting there, learning their process, learn how they do things and implement it into my process and my daily schedule.”
Meanwhile, Gannon is hyped by what the D-line looks like now.
“We’ve got guys,” he said. “I would say the guys that have been here, obviously, they have a role and they’re going to be competing for their roles. Everyone is in that phase of the season. We’re all competing for our roles. I think that we have a couple guys that can play different spots. They all have their own skill set, and I feel really good.
“We added some quality pieces. We have guys coming back who have really high ceilings that can help us win, that have shown that they can play winning football for us. Now add Walter into the mix and we’ll see where it’s going to go.”
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals expect Walter Nolen to learn from team’s veterans
Continue reading...
Both were signed in the last six weeks and even though Campbell signed a one-year contract and Tomlinson two, the mentoring component is expected to be a key presence, especially with the addition of Walter Nolen in the first round of the draft.
General manager Monti Ossenfort said Thursday night, “I think anytime, whether it’s in that room (or not), that’s why we put a big priority on the type of people on this team. JG (head coach Jonathan Gannon) and his staff do a great job of laying out expectations on how we do things, but first-hand knowledge and watching their peers work, there’s no replacement for that.
“We have a bunch of veterans on this team, not just in that room, but in the entire locker room. Anybody that comes in this organization has no choice but to see and absorb that. That’s why we put such a high emphasis on the type of guys that we bring into this organization.”
When Ossenfort was asked specifically about Campbell helping, he said, “That’s going to be on each individual to do that (develop). Budda (Baker), everyone, it doesn’t stop (there). James Conner, (Mack) Wilson. The entire unit - our defensive unit, our offensive unit. There are plenty of examples. Our players do a great job of doing what we want them to do, and Walter is going to be no different. Walter is going to come in here and not miss a beat.”
When Campbell talked to the media recently after signing, he was asked how big a part is leadership in his job description.
“It's kind of been who I am anyway, right?” he said. “I don't think I can go somewhere and not be that. I've been a captain at all levels, everywhere I've been. But that's a big part of it, it's a huge part of it. I know when GMs and decision-makers, they're looking for me to come into a building, they know that I come with a lot of leadership capabilities and a prestige that a lot of those young guys respect, which is really cool. So I don’t take that lightly, I take that with a lot of pride and I try to do the best I can. I've always been a servant leader.
“So I want to just help guys, really good one-on-one, working with younger guys, helping them elevate their game, watching tape, and learn how to care of their bodies, stuff outside of football. And then in the group setting, talking to the team, being there, trying to inspire guys to give the best version of themselves.”
At his introductory press conference at the team facility Friday, Nolan said of the team’s veteran linemen, “I just want to learn their process. I still get to be a little kid a little bit because I’ve got all the OGs (old guys) in the room. Just getting there, learning their process, learn how they do things and implement it into my process and my daily schedule.”
Meanwhile, Gannon is hyped by what the D-line looks like now.
“We’ve got guys,” he said. “I would say the guys that have been here, obviously, they have a role and they’re going to be competing for their roles. Everyone is in that phase of the season. We’re all competing for our roles. I think that we have a couple guys that can play different spots. They all have their own skill set, and I feel really good.
“We added some quality pieces. We have guys coming back who have really high ceilings that can help us win, that have shown that they can play winning football for us. Now add Walter into the mix and we’ll see where it’s going to go.”
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals expect Walter Nolen to learn from team’s veterans
Continue reading...
