Renz
An Army of One
Familiar Faces Return
Kate Brandt
azcardinals.com
As the Arizona Cardinals returned to the practice field Wednesday morning after their opening weekend victory over San Francisco, some familiar faces were back out on the field with the rest of the team. Linebacker Karlos Dansby and tackle Oliver Ross both practiced and are listed as probable for Sunday’s match up against the Seattle Seahawks.
“They got a lot of work in today and hopefully they’ll be able to get more and more work in,” said Head Coach Dennis Green following the morning practice session. “We’re hopeful they will be able to play.”
“It is a totally different beast; football shape versus running,” commented Ross on getting used to the speed of practice again. “I took a lot of reps today and I’m just trying to get back in the flow of things and get it going.”
Ross, who started 12 games at right tackle in 2005, suffered a knee injury the first week of training camp and underwent surgery in New York soon after. For the second straight season the eight year veteran was injured in the preseason and has had to fight and rehab his way back onto the playing field.
“You try to stay positive,” commented Ross on the frustrations he has endured the past two seasons. “I just wanted to get out there today and try to get on the same page as the guards and get the work in. If I don’t end up playing I just want to try to help in any way I can. Whether it is telling the guys something I see from the sidelines or something like that.”
Green admitted the team has yet to determine what role Ross will play if he is ready on Sunday.
On the other side of the ball, Karlos Dansby worked out with the team for the first time since last season.
“He is a good athlete, so he did a solid job out there,” stated Green on the linebackers return. “I think he showed that he can move around.”
Similar to Ross, Green has not determined what role Dansby would play this weekend but said he was pleased with the work he put in Wednesday.
“It felt alright,” stated Dansby after practice. “I’m just trying to get back into the swing of things and take it one step at a time. You have to crawl before you walk.”
Dansby is coming off an impressive sophomore NFL season where he recorded 103 tackles in and added four sacks and three interceptions. Two of his three interceptions were returned for a touchdown, making him the only Cardinals linebacker in team history to return two interceptions for a touchdown in a single-season. He was also one of only five players in the NFL in 2005 to record more than three sacks and three interceptions.
The former Auburn standout feels his situation has often been misconstrued and when the time comes for him to step back out on the field, he will be ready.
“I need to test the pads first before I play so I’m just taking it a day at a time and a step at a time so hopefully I’ll get back out on the field as soon as possible,” continued Dansby. “Right now I’m feeling pretty good and when I get back out on the field it is going to show. I think my game is going to be better. I’m trying to go to the next level.”
In Dansby’s absence, fourth year player Calvin Pace has been filling in at linebacker and has impressed the Cards coaching staff in his transition from defensive line to linebacker this season. Pace suffered a high ankle sprain against the 49ers last Sunday but participated in practice Wednesday.
“I was surprised,” exclaimed Green on the amount of progress Pace made from Sunday to Wednesday. “He worked very hard. Calvin represents what we really want to represent, which is a player that works to develop and become a player, and he wasn’t going to give up easy. He worked very hard with the trainers to get the swelling down and was able to go out and he was fine today so that was a big plus for us.”
“When you’ve watched enough football like me, one little bump isn’t going to keep me out,” added Pace, who spent a large portion of the 2005 season on the reserve non football injury list. “On top of that, I’ve got Karlos coming back and I know he’s trying to get in there so I can’t just give it up. I’ve had a sprained ankle before so this is just one of those things you have to fight through.”
Pace admitted to having stiffness in his ankle at the start of Wednesday’s practice but said it was to be expected.
“When it comes time for the game, the adrenaline will kick in and it will be fine.”
The Cards will keep their fingers crossed to have both Dansby and Ross back in the line up for Sunday’s division game at Qwest Field.
http://www.azcardinals.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=1164
Kate Brandt
azcardinals.com
As the Arizona Cardinals returned to the practice field Wednesday morning after their opening weekend victory over San Francisco, some familiar faces were back out on the field with the rest of the team. Linebacker Karlos Dansby and tackle Oliver Ross both practiced and are listed as probable for Sunday’s match up against the Seattle Seahawks.
“They got a lot of work in today and hopefully they’ll be able to get more and more work in,” said Head Coach Dennis Green following the morning practice session. “We’re hopeful they will be able to play.”
“It is a totally different beast; football shape versus running,” commented Ross on getting used to the speed of practice again. “I took a lot of reps today and I’m just trying to get back in the flow of things and get it going.”
Ross, who started 12 games at right tackle in 2005, suffered a knee injury the first week of training camp and underwent surgery in New York soon after. For the second straight season the eight year veteran was injured in the preseason and has had to fight and rehab his way back onto the playing field.
“You try to stay positive,” commented Ross on the frustrations he has endured the past two seasons. “I just wanted to get out there today and try to get on the same page as the guards and get the work in. If I don’t end up playing I just want to try to help in any way I can. Whether it is telling the guys something I see from the sidelines or something like that.”
Green admitted the team has yet to determine what role Ross will play if he is ready on Sunday.
On the other side of the ball, Karlos Dansby worked out with the team for the first time since last season.
“He is a good athlete, so he did a solid job out there,” stated Green on the linebackers return. “I think he showed that he can move around.”
Similar to Ross, Green has not determined what role Dansby would play this weekend but said he was pleased with the work he put in Wednesday.
“It felt alright,” stated Dansby after practice. “I’m just trying to get back into the swing of things and take it one step at a time. You have to crawl before you walk.”
Dansby is coming off an impressive sophomore NFL season where he recorded 103 tackles in and added four sacks and three interceptions. Two of his three interceptions were returned for a touchdown, making him the only Cardinals linebacker in team history to return two interceptions for a touchdown in a single-season. He was also one of only five players in the NFL in 2005 to record more than three sacks and three interceptions.
The former Auburn standout feels his situation has often been misconstrued and when the time comes for him to step back out on the field, he will be ready.
“I need to test the pads first before I play so I’m just taking it a day at a time and a step at a time so hopefully I’ll get back out on the field as soon as possible,” continued Dansby. “Right now I’m feeling pretty good and when I get back out on the field it is going to show. I think my game is going to be better. I’m trying to go to the next level.”
In Dansby’s absence, fourth year player Calvin Pace has been filling in at linebacker and has impressed the Cards coaching staff in his transition from defensive line to linebacker this season. Pace suffered a high ankle sprain against the 49ers last Sunday but participated in practice Wednesday.
“I was surprised,” exclaimed Green on the amount of progress Pace made from Sunday to Wednesday. “He worked very hard. Calvin represents what we really want to represent, which is a player that works to develop and become a player, and he wasn’t going to give up easy. He worked very hard with the trainers to get the swelling down and was able to go out and he was fine today so that was a big plus for us.”
“When you’ve watched enough football like me, one little bump isn’t going to keep me out,” added Pace, who spent a large portion of the 2005 season on the reserve non football injury list. “On top of that, I’ve got Karlos coming back and I know he’s trying to get in there so I can’t just give it up. I’ve had a sprained ankle before so this is just one of those things you have to fight through.”
Pace admitted to having stiffness in his ankle at the start of Wednesday’s practice but said it was to be expected.
“When it comes time for the game, the adrenaline will kick in and it will be fine.”
The Cards will keep their fingers crossed to have both Dansby and Ross back in the line up for Sunday’s division game at Qwest Field.
http://www.azcardinals.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=1164
