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Championship!!!!
Notebook: Gandy's return could give offensive line all five starters
By DARREN URBAN
The Cardinals hope to have left tackle Mike Gandy (right) back this weekend after Gandy hurt his calf in Washington.
The Cardinals’ offensive line could be back to normal Sunday.
Starting left tackle Mike Gandy returned to practice Wednesday after hurting his calf in Washington. If Gandy continues to work, that would allow rookie Levi Brown to take back his spot at right tackle.
That would return Elton Brown to the bench, and give the Cardinals their season-opening starting offensive line in Tampa Bay for the first time since the opener in San Francisco.
“That will be a function of how many reps they get in practice this week,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
Whisenhunt said that Levi Brown will return to the starting lineup if he can get enough practice at right tackle. If Gandy struggles with his calf, Levi Brown would have to get work in at left tackle and that would increase the chances Elton Brown will start again.
“(The offensive line is) doing a good job but we still have a ways to go,” running back Edgerrin James said. “We still have guys in different positions, but the (good) thing is they are practicing in those different positions and we are prepared for something to go wrong.”
The Cardinals also will likely get back Aaron Francisco, who was able to practice for the first time after suffering a knee sprain against Carolina. Francisco said he was able to practice without a brace and would rather not use a brace in a game.
Linebacker Karlos Dansby hasn’t progressed as much. Dansby, who also has a knee sprain, did not practice. While Whisenhunt said he was day-to-day, it seems unlikely Dansby will be ready this weekend.
LEINART’S PROGRESS
Injured quarterback Matt Leinart was at the Cards’ complex Wednesday taping a short message for Nike and doing his weekly radio show. Now almost four weeks removed from breaking his collarbone, Leinart is finally without a sling.
“It’s been frustrating not being able to be out there with my teammates but I am doing what I can to stay positive and stay involved,” Leinart said.
Leinart said his rehab will begin in another week or two, but acknowledged because it is a broken bone not much can be done until it is completely healed.
“The frustrating part is I just can’t do anything excessive -- ride a bike, which is boring,” Leinart said. “It’s still very stiff and sore.”
Without the sling, however, Leinart is finally able to drive and get around, “just at a slower pace.”
BYE THE WAY
The Cardinals and Buccaneers come into their matchup on either side of the bye week. The Cardinals had had a week off, while the Buccaneers have their week off following the game.
The Cards have had recent success after their off week. Until last season, when the Cowboys came to town and beat up the Cards, 27-10, Arizona had won four straight post-bye week games.
“We have to get this one,” defensive end Bertrand Berry said. “It is the first game out of the bye week which is really important. You always want to come out of the bye week with guns blazing.”
Interestingly, this is the first time since 1998 – and only the fourth time in 18 seasons with bye weeks – that the Cards’ first game after the bye has been on the road.
The Bucs, meanwhile, have 13 players on injured reserve and remain beat up – as good a reason as any to possibly overlook the Cards while waiting for time off. Yet linebacker Derrick Brooks said that isn’t the case.
“I think it is the opposite, realizing how big this game is as far as an NFC opponent, wanting to stay in the race for the division lead,” Brooks said of the 4-4 Buccaneers. “There are a lot more reasons to stay focused and detail-oriented than there are to be distracted because of the bye week. Our emphasis will be more on the details, more wired in than ever before, rather than be distracted.”
EXTRA POINTS
The Cardinals lead the Buccaneers in the all-time series, 8-7, although the teams have played just once since 1997. The Cards won that game, 12-7, in the 2004 regular-season finale. …
In his career, kicker Neil Rackers has successfully converted 50 percent of his onsides kicks: 7-for-14. He has two successful onsides kicks this season.
Contact Darren Urban at [email protected]. Posted 10/31/07
By DARREN URBAN
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The Cardinals hope to have left tackle Mike Gandy (right) back this weekend after Gandy hurt his calf in Washington.
The Cardinals’ offensive line could be back to normal Sunday.
Starting left tackle Mike Gandy returned to practice Wednesday after hurting his calf in Washington. If Gandy continues to work, that would allow rookie Levi Brown to take back his spot at right tackle.
That would return Elton Brown to the bench, and give the Cardinals their season-opening starting offensive line in Tampa Bay for the first time since the opener in San Francisco.
“That will be a function of how many reps they get in practice this week,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
Whisenhunt said that Levi Brown will return to the starting lineup if he can get enough practice at right tackle. If Gandy struggles with his calf, Levi Brown would have to get work in at left tackle and that would increase the chances Elton Brown will start again.
“(The offensive line is) doing a good job but we still have a ways to go,” running back Edgerrin James said. “We still have guys in different positions, but the (good) thing is they are practicing in those different positions and we are prepared for something to go wrong.”
The Cardinals also will likely get back Aaron Francisco, who was able to practice for the first time after suffering a knee sprain against Carolina. Francisco said he was able to practice without a brace and would rather not use a brace in a game.
Linebacker Karlos Dansby hasn’t progressed as much. Dansby, who also has a knee sprain, did not practice. While Whisenhunt said he was day-to-day, it seems unlikely Dansby will be ready this weekend.
LEINART’S PROGRESS
Injured quarterback Matt Leinart was at the Cards’ complex Wednesday taping a short message for Nike and doing his weekly radio show. Now almost four weeks removed from breaking his collarbone, Leinart is finally without a sling.
“It’s been frustrating not being able to be out there with my teammates but I am doing what I can to stay positive and stay involved,” Leinart said.
Leinart said his rehab will begin in another week or two, but acknowledged because it is a broken bone not much can be done until it is completely healed.
“The frustrating part is I just can’t do anything excessive -- ride a bike, which is boring,” Leinart said. “It’s still very stiff and sore.”
Without the sling, however, Leinart is finally able to drive and get around, “just at a slower pace.”
BYE THE WAY
The Cardinals and Buccaneers come into their matchup on either side of the bye week. The Cardinals had had a week off, while the Buccaneers have their week off following the game.
The Cards have had recent success after their off week. Until last season, when the Cowboys came to town and beat up the Cards, 27-10, Arizona had won four straight post-bye week games.
“We have to get this one,” defensive end Bertrand Berry said. “It is the first game out of the bye week which is really important. You always want to come out of the bye week with guns blazing.”
Interestingly, this is the first time since 1998 – and only the fourth time in 18 seasons with bye weeks – that the Cards’ first game after the bye has been on the road.
The Bucs, meanwhile, have 13 players on injured reserve and remain beat up – as good a reason as any to possibly overlook the Cards while waiting for time off. Yet linebacker Derrick Brooks said that isn’t the case.
“I think it is the opposite, realizing how big this game is as far as an NFC opponent, wanting to stay in the race for the division lead,” Brooks said of the 4-4 Buccaneers. “There are a lot more reasons to stay focused and detail-oriented than there are to be distracted because of the bye week. Our emphasis will be more on the details, more wired in than ever before, rather than be distracted.”
EXTRA POINTS
The Cardinals lead the Buccaneers in the all-time series, 8-7, although the teams have played just once since 1997. The Cards won that game, 12-7, in the 2004 regular-season finale. …
In his career, kicker Neil Rackers has successfully converted 50 percent of his onsides kicks: 7-for-14. He has two successful onsides kicks this season.
Contact Darren Urban at [email protected]. Posted 10/31/07
