azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Darren Urban, Tribune
August 21, 2005
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It had been a long time — December of 2003, to be exact — since Marcel Shipp played in a football game. The Cardinals’ veteran running back not only was anxious to play but anxious to prove he still could play a major role on the team.
So while rookie J.J. Arrington struggled for a second straight week Saturday night against Kansas City, Shipp ripped off runs of 7 and 26 yards the first two times he was handed the ball.
"I just wanted to produce," said Shipp, who finished with 56 yards on seven carries and is the team’s leading rusher through two preseason games. "I just do what I do. When I get an opportunity, I want to do a good job. (Who starts), that’s their call."
The Cardinals again had trouble running on the opponent’s first-team defense, gaining just 28 yards on the ground in the first half. Arrington fumbled on his second carry — after fumbling in the opener — and got crushed trying to block Chiefs rookie linebacker Derrick Johnson, who pressured quarterback Kurt Warner into an incompletion.
Arrington and Warner also failed to connect on another handoff, leading to another fumble. Arrington finished with 24 yards on nine carries, and he said he felt much better than in Week 1.
"(The game) slowed down a lot," Arrington said.
The running back battle may be sorting itself out. Josh Scobey had just two carries, and more importantly, no kickoff returns. James Jackson didn’t even play.
Q’S CATCH AND THROW
Receiver Anquan Boldin also got his first action of the preseason, although he had a 49-yard touchdown reception called back on a holding penalty.
"Ahh man, it’s a good thing it’s preseason," Boldin said.
Boldin was so jacked up after the TD catch — in the middle of a frustrating night for the first-team offense — he turned to the end zone and tossed the ball fastball-style at the wall. The problem was that Boldin was high, and the ball sailed into the stands and apparently clocked a fan.
"I tried to hit the wall and I ended up hitting somebody," Boldin said with chuckle. "If the NFL sends me a note (to fine him) . . . Hey, I’m a first time offender. I didn’t mean it."
EXTRA POINTS
Rookie cornerback Eric Green is making strides toward becoming the nickel cornerback with his 27-yard interception return for a touchdown. "Anything is possible," Green said. "I am not concentrating on that. I am figuring out my role, whether it is special teams or being a backup . . . that’s all I need to worry about." . . .
J.R. Redmond is apparently close to clinching both the punt and kickoff return jobs, after going back for every kick in the first three quarters. . . .
Kicker Neil Rackers left the game with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to be OK.
Calvin Pace again shined, with two sacks and a strip of Chiefs quarterback James Kilian.
Defensive tackle Kenny King sat out the game with a still problematic sore wrist.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=46529
August 21, 2005
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It had been a long time — December of 2003, to be exact — since Marcel Shipp played in a football game. The Cardinals’ veteran running back not only was anxious to play but anxious to prove he still could play a major role on the team.
So while rookie J.J. Arrington struggled for a second straight week Saturday night against Kansas City, Shipp ripped off runs of 7 and 26 yards the first two times he was handed the ball.
"I just wanted to produce," said Shipp, who finished with 56 yards on seven carries and is the team’s leading rusher through two preseason games. "I just do what I do. When I get an opportunity, I want to do a good job. (Who starts), that’s their call."
The Cardinals again had trouble running on the opponent’s first-team defense, gaining just 28 yards on the ground in the first half. Arrington fumbled on his second carry — after fumbling in the opener — and got crushed trying to block Chiefs rookie linebacker Derrick Johnson, who pressured quarterback Kurt Warner into an incompletion.
Arrington and Warner also failed to connect on another handoff, leading to another fumble. Arrington finished with 24 yards on nine carries, and he said he felt much better than in Week 1.
"(The game) slowed down a lot," Arrington said.
The running back battle may be sorting itself out. Josh Scobey had just two carries, and more importantly, no kickoff returns. James Jackson didn’t even play.
Q’S CATCH AND THROW
Receiver Anquan Boldin also got his first action of the preseason, although he had a 49-yard touchdown reception called back on a holding penalty.
"Ahh man, it’s a good thing it’s preseason," Boldin said.
Boldin was so jacked up after the TD catch — in the middle of a frustrating night for the first-team offense — he turned to the end zone and tossed the ball fastball-style at the wall. The problem was that Boldin was high, and the ball sailed into the stands and apparently clocked a fan.
"I tried to hit the wall and I ended up hitting somebody," Boldin said with chuckle. "If the NFL sends me a note (to fine him) . . . Hey, I’m a first time offender. I didn’t mean it."
EXTRA POINTS
Rookie cornerback Eric Green is making strides toward becoming the nickel cornerback with his 27-yard interception return for a touchdown. "Anything is possible," Green said. "I am not concentrating on that. I am figuring out my role, whether it is special teams or being a backup . . . that’s all I need to worry about." . . .
J.R. Redmond is apparently close to clinching both the punt and kickoff return jobs, after going back for every kick in the first three quarters. . . .
Kicker Neil Rackers left the game with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to be OK.
Calvin Pace again shined, with two sacks and a strip of Chiefs quarterback James Kilian.
Defensive tackle Kenny King sat out the game with a still problematic sore wrist.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=46529
