azdad1978
Championship!!!!
The Cardinals first-team offense was embarrassing at Kansas City, where the Chiefs have dedicated themselves to rebuilding their defense.
But there may be better days ahead for the Big Red with the return of receiver Anquan Boldin and running back Marcel Shipp from injuries.
Boldin missed the preseason opener because of a broken nose, but came back against the Chiefs to snag two passes for 27 yards. It was the first time that new Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has had his three top receivers on the field together.
Shipp, working mostly with the second unit, averaged an eye-opening 8.0 yards a carry (7-56) in his return from a lower-leg fracture and dislocated ankle that required surgery a year ago and wiped out his entire 2004 season. That answered questions regarding whether he could still hit a hole and take a hit.
Shipp had been the team's rushing leader in 2003 and 2002. His future appeared uncertain after the Cardinals drafted J.J. Arrington in the second round in April.
Arrington has played like a rookie in his first two games with the first team. After gaining 12 yards on four rushes and fumbling against Dallas, he gained 24 yards in nine carries and fumbled against Kansas City. The man who gained 100 yards in every game at California last year and was the only collegian to rush for 2,000 yards has yet to average 3 yards a tote as a pro.
That's not totally unexpected and the team is anything but disappointed in Arrington, whose job it remains to lose despite Shipp's strong comeback.
Youth at tight end, where no one has more than a year of experience, and injuries in the offensive line have caused the first unit to leave the gate slowly.
Starting center Alex Stepanovich is out with a broken hand for a couple more weeks. His backup, Nick Leckey, suffered a hand injury at Kansas City. It is not known yet how serious that might be. The team signed veteran center Bill Conaty for depth. Conaty, depending on the severity of Leckey's hand injury, might be in the lineup this week against Oakland.
Right tackle Oliver Ross (knee) has yet to make his preseason debut. He was signed to be the run-blocking stud of the line.
Rookie right guard Elton Brown made his first start. While he appears to have a ton of upside, he's still learning.
So at the midpoint of the preseason schedule, the Cardinals are undefeated, but have been considerably less than the high-scoring, explosive unit they believe they will be when it counts.
CAMP CALENDAR: The Cardinals continue training at their makeshift camp in Prescott, Ariz. The team was forced to move to Prescott from their longtime training headquarters in Flagstaff at Northern Arizona University following an outbreak the week before their scheduled arrival of a virus that produced flu-like symptoms and forced several people staying in dorms that the Cardinals were to use to be hospitalized. The Cardinals break camp in Prescott on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Although Aaron Galloway started at TE (he was on the Chiefs practice squad last year and knows their defense), un-drafted rookie Adam Bergen appears to be the team's best receiving tight end among a very inexperienced group.
"I think Adam has started to separate himself from a receiving standpoint," QB Kurt Warner said. "When Eric (Edwards) went down, Adam got more opportunities and really has emerged as a guy that we think can be successful for us and do some things from that position for us, from a receiving standpoint."
—TE Eric Edwards opened camp with the first team, but he has been out the past two weeks with a torn pectoral muscle.
—RB J.R. Redmond is close to locking up the punt-return job. He followed a 15-yard average (2-30) in the preseason opener with a 16-yard runback in his only try against the Chiefs.
"I think J.R. Redmond showed that he can do a lot of different things," Green said. "The more things you can do, the better chance you are going have to help the ball club. He is a kickoff guy, a return guy, a cover guy and obviously he can still run the football. We're looking for guys that are multidimensional and that are going to be able to help us in a bunch of different ways."
—CB Antrel Rolle, after breaking up an end-zone pass with the second unit to save a TD in the preseason opener, was promoted to first team, where he was expected to play all along. The eighth pick in the draft fell behind after missing the opening 15 practices during contract negotiations.
—CB Robert Tate, who kept the spot warm for Rolle, becomes the nickel back.
—MLB Gerald Hayes had a scope job on a knee and is out eight weeks. He was the projected starter.
Veteran James Darling, the team's 2004 tackles leader as a starter outside, becomes the starter in the middle until Hayes returns.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The thing that was frustrating was the mental mistakes. I don't mind if I've got a guy in my face if I get the ball off. It's frustrating when you can't even get back and get set up. Those are things we need to clean up as a unit." — QB Kurt Warner, following the first-team offense's dismal showing in the second preseason game at Kansas City — although Cardinals quarterbacks did not suffer a sack nor an interception in the win over the Chiefs.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
BATTLE OF THE WEEK: After veteran David Macklin was flagged three times for pass interference with the first team and rookie Eric Green intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown against Kansas City with the second team, the battle was on. Macklin was the starter last season. Green is a third-round draft pick. The other cornerback spot will be manned by a rookie, first-round pick Antrel Rolle.
OTHER BATTLE FRONTS: Tight end remains a jumbled mess. The group was young and inexperienced to begin with, but after first-teamer Eric Edwards suffered a pectoral muscle tear that has him shelved indefinitely, no one has taken ownership. Adam Bergen, the first-game starter, appears to be the best receiver of the group. Aaron Golliday, the second-game starter, appears to be the best blocker. Bobby Blizzard, an all-NFL Europe pick, appears to be the biggest disappointment. The job opened when the Cardinals declined to offer veteran Freddie Jones a new contract and subsequently did not place great emphasis on finding a replacement.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: DE Calvin Pace made two sacks and forced a fumble that sealed a win in the second preseason game at Kansas City. Pace also had two sacks in the preseason opener. It is quite a comeback for the 2003 first-round pick, who lost his job and nearly was cut in 2004. He remains on the second team behind Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor.
ROOKIE REPORT: The class is beginning to show up in a big way. CB Antrel Rolle, the first-round pick, is on the first team after breaking up an end-zone pass to save a score in the preseason opener... RB J.J. Arrington, a second-round pick, remains on the first team, although through two games he is not yet averaging 3 yards a carry (13-36) and has fumbled twice... CB Eric Green, a third-round pick, returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown in the second preseason game and is pushing veteran David Macklin hard for the starting job... RG Elton Brown, a fourth-round pick, was promoted to first team last week and is expected to hold the job. He was regarded as the best guard in the draft.
INJURY REPORT:
— LB Gerald Hayes (knee surgery) is out 8 weeks... C Alex Stepanovich (hand surgery) is out at least 2 more weeks... TE Eric Edwards (torn pectoral muscle) is out another week or two... T Oliver Ross (knee), S Robert Griffith (thigh), DT Kenny King (wrist), K Neil Rackers (ankle), C Nick Leckey (hand), RB Troy Hambrick (foot), T Adam Haayer (hip), RB James Jackson (shoulder) and TE Bobby Blizzard (back) are all day-to-day.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/cards/home.htm
But there may be better days ahead for the Big Red with the return of receiver Anquan Boldin and running back Marcel Shipp from injuries.
Boldin missed the preseason opener because of a broken nose, but came back against the Chiefs to snag two passes for 27 yards. It was the first time that new Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has had his three top receivers on the field together.
Shipp, working mostly with the second unit, averaged an eye-opening 8.0 yards a carry (7-56) in his return from a lower-leg fracture and dislocated ankle that required surgery a year ago and wiped out his entire 2004 season. That answered questions regarding whether he could still hit a hole and take a hit.
Shipp had been the team's rushing leader in 2003 and 2002. His future appeared uncertain after the Cardinals drafted J.J. Arrington in the second round in April.
Arrington has played like a rookie in his first two games with the first team. After gaining 12 yards on four rushes and fumbling against Dallas, he gained 24 yards in nine carries and fumbled against Kansas City. The man who gained 100 yards in every game at California last year and was the only collegian to rush for 2,000 yards has yet to average 3 yards a tote as a pro.
That's not totally unexpected and the team is anything but disappointed in Arrington, whose job it remains to lose despite Shipp's strong comeback.
Youth at tight end, where no one has more than a year of experience, and injuries in the offensive line have caused the first unit to leave the gate slowly.
Starting center Alex Stepanovich is out with a broken hand for a couple more weeks. His backup, Nick Leckey, suffered a hand injury at Kansas City. It is not known yet how serious that might be. The team signed veteran center Bill Conaty for depth. Conaty, depending on the severity of Leckey's hand injury, might be in the lineup this week against Oakland.
Right tackle Oliver Ross (knee) has yet to make his preseason debut. He was signed to be the run-blocking stud of the line.
Rookie right guard Elton Brown made his first start. While he appears to have a ton of upside, he's still learning.
So at the midpoint of the preseason schedule, the Cardinals are undefeated, but have been considerably less than the high-scoring, explosive unit they believe they will be when it counts.
CAMP CALENDAR: The Cardinals continue training at their makeshift camp in Prescott, Ariz. The team was forced to move to Prescott from their longtime training headquarters in Flagstaff at Northern Arizona University following an outbreak the week before their scheduled arrival of a virus that produced flu-like symptoms and forced several people staying in dorms that the Cardinals were to use to be hospitalized. The Cardinals break camp in Prescott on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Although Aaron Galloway started at TE (he was on the Chiefs practice squad last year and knows their defense), un-drafted rookie Adam Bergen appears to be the team's best receiving tight end among a very inexperienced group.
"I think Adam has started to separate himself from a receiving standpoint," QB Kurt Warner said. "When Eric (Edwards) went down, Adam got more opportunities and really has emerged as a guy that we think can be successful for us and do some things from that position for us, from a receiving standpoint."
—TE Eric Edwards opened camp with the first team, but he has been out the past two weeks with a torn pectoral muscle.
—RB J.R. Redmond is close to locking up the punt-return job. He followed a 15-yard average (2-30) in the preseason opener with a 16-yard runback in his only try against the Chiefs.
"I think J.R. Redmond showed that he can do a lot of different things," Green said. "The more things you can do, the better chance you are going have to help the ball club. He is a kickoff guy, a return guy, a cover guy and obviously he can still run the football. We're looking for guys that are multidimensional and that are going to be able to help us in a bunch of different ways."
—CB Antrel Rolle, after breaking up an end-zone pass with the second unit to save a TD in the preseason opener, was promoted to first team, where he was expected to play all along. The eighth pick in the draft fell behind after missing the opening 15 practices during contract negotiations.
—CB Robert Tate, who kept the spot warm for Rolle, becomes the nickel back.
—MLB Gerald Hayes had a scope job on a knee and is out eight weeks. He was the projected starter.
Veteran James Darling, the team's 2004 tackles leader as a starter outside, becomes the starter in the middle until Hayes returns.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The thing that was frustrating was the mental mistakes. I don't mind if I've got a guy in my face if I get the ball off. It's frustrating when you can't even get back and get set up. Those are things we need to clean up as a unit." — QB Kurt Warner, following the first-team offense's dismal showing in the second preseason game at Kansas City — although Cardinals quarterbacks did not suffer a sack nor an interception in the win over the Chiefs.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
BATTLE OF THE WEEK: After veteran David Macklin was flagged three times for pass interference with the first team and rookie Eric Green intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown against Kansas City with the second team, the battle was on. Macklin was the starter last season. Green is a third-round draft pick. The other cornerback spot will be manned by a rookie, first-round pick Antrel Rolle.
OTHER BATTLE FRONTS: Tight end remains a jumbled mess. The group was young and inexperienced to begin with, but after first-teamer Eric Edwards suffered a pectoral muscle tear that has him shelved indefinitely, no one has taken ownership. Adam Bergen, the first-game starter, appears to be the best receiver of the group. Aaron Golliday, the second-game starter, appears to be the best blocker. Bobby Blizzard, an all-NFL Europe pick, appears to be the biggest disappointment. The job opened when the Cardinals declined to offer veteran Freddie Jones a new contract and subsequently did not place great emphasis on finding a replacement.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: DE Calvin Pace made two sacks and forced a fumble that sealed a win in the second preseason game at Kansas City. Pace also had two sacks in the preseason opener. It is quite a comeback for the 2003 first-round pick, who lost his job and nearly was cut in 2004. He remains on the second team behind Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor.
ROOKIE REPORT: The class is beginning to show up in a big way. CB Antrel Rolle, the first-round pick, is on the first team after breaking up an end-zone pass to save a score in the preseason opener... RB J.J. Arrington, a second-round pick, remains on the first team, although through two games he is not yet averaging 3 yards a carry (13-36) and has fumbled twice... CB Eric Green, a third-round pick, returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown in the second preseason game and is pushing veteran David Macklin hard for the starting job... RG Elton Brown, a fourth-round pick, was promoted to first team last week and is expected to hold the job. He was regarded as the best guard in the draft.
INJURY REPORT:
— LB Gerald Hayes (knee surgery) is out 8 weeks... C Alex Stepanovich (hand surgery) is out at least 2 more weeks... TE Eric Edwards (torn pectoral muscle) is out another week or two... T Oliver Ross (knee), S Robert Griffith (thigh), DT Kenny King (wrist), K Neil Rackers (ankle), C Nick Leckey (hand), RB Troy Hambrick (foot), T Adam Haayer (hip), RB James Jackson (shoulder) and TE Bobby Blizzard (back) are all day-to-day.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/cards/home.htm
