First Minicamp Practice

[RugbyMuffin]

Here is Somer's Blog on it:
http://www.azcentral.com/blogs/index.php?blog=194&blogtype=Sports

This was interesting. They are "No Names" but sill interesting;

One player, tight end Troy Bienemann, is here on a tryout basis. He is a Washington State product that didn't play in the NFL in 2006. An offensive lineman, veteran Qasim Mitchell, will arrive tomorrow and practice on the same basis.
Mitchell, a guard, has been with the Browns and Bears

 

[BigWatson]

Kendrick Clancy was at noseguard

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Bio on Troy Bienemann: ( I know one thing, he is not wearing 81 for the Cards)

http://wsucougars.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bienemann_troy00.html

BIENEMANN'S HIGH SCHOOL CAREER

Coached by Mike Mitchell at St. Francis High...played both tight end and defensive end...also played basketball...during JUNIOR season earned first team all-league honors...made over 60 tackles and two sacks...SENIOR year earned league co-MVP honors on defense...finished with 72 tackles and one sack...on offense, caught 27 passes at tight end for 313 yards and one touchdown...named by Prep Star as the #5 tight end on the West Coast...named by the TNT to the Western One Hundred...first team all-league...all-San Jose Mercury News...first team all-Mid Peninsula....all-metro team...National Football Hall of Fame scholar-athlete honoree...also selected to the Super Prep Far West team.

BIENEMANN'S WSU CAREER

FRESHMAN (2001-02): Delayed enrollment until January, 2002...participated in spring drills.

FRESHMAN (2002-03): V-letter...Games - 11...Starts - 11...all 15 of his receptions have came in the last seven regular season games, including six for 64 yards against Washington...had three for 66 yards at Arizona...only TD came on a 1-yard pass against ASU...enrolled in January, 2002, participated in spring drills and earned the starting spot in fall camp...also handled WSU's deep snaps in punt formation...suffered a pinched neck nerve and did not play against MSU and California...earned the following weekly team awards: Specialist of the Week - Nevada...Most Disciplined Special Teams - Oregon; Cougar Claw - Washington.

SOPHOMORE (2003-04): V-letter...Games - 12...Starts - 12...earned the following weekly team awards: Most Disciplined Offense - Idaho/Stanford/UCLA...earned All-Pac-10 second team honors...named to the Pac-10 academic first team and to the CoSIDA District 8 academic first team...five receptions at Stanford for 51 yards...caught TD passes against Oregon and UCLA...four receptions against Notre Dame and Oregon...was able to handle deep snaps against Oregon State, but because of a sore back did not see much tight end action...missed the USC game the next week because of the back problem, but then returned for the UCLA game...caught at least one pass in all but the OSU and USC games...caught two passes against Texas in WSU's Holiday Bowl win.

JUNIOR (2004-05): V-letter...Games - 11...Starts - 9...Special Teams: FG/PAT kicks...named to the Pac-10 academic first team...selected to the ESPN/CoSIDA academic all-district first team...does double duty as WSU starting tight end and handles deep snaps...had at least three receptions in each of the games first five games when he played the tight end position...suffered a bruised lower left leg against Arizona and was not able to play in the second half...only action against Oregon was late in the game when he came in to handle the last WSU punt...the next week against Stanford caught three passes...had one reception at Oregon State and only handled center snaps against USC as leg injury continued to limit action...returned to regular duty at UCLA and caught one pass, but is still hampered by the injury...made four catches for 38 yards in WSU's win over Washington, including one TD reception.

PERSONAL: Troy Michael Bienemann...born February 19, 1983 in Minneapolis, Minn...parents Thomas and Gail Bienemann...father self employed and mother a nurse practitioner...one sister Cassandra...prep GPA 3.87...high school member of the national and the foreign language honor society...interested in a communications major at WSU.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Quasim Mitchell's Bio: (watch out Elton Brown)

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/303573

 

[Duckjake]

Cardinals vs Detroit, Nov. 11th - tickets for sale cheap.

 

[Skkorpion]

Steenking 3-4 defense. I hate it. It's also a three year rebuild.

 

[kerouac9]

The EVT has a fairly similar report, except that it adds a quote from Berry suggesting that too much is being made of a 3-4 transition and that Edge "went to a club that night" after he got his knee drained.

 

[kerouac9]

Darnell Dockett is not going to be on this team for more than 2 years if he's forced into playing DE in a 3-4. First, because he's too short to be effective (If you stand next to him, he only might be 6' tall), and second because he doesn't tie up blockers and never has been good at that. He uses his quickness to shoot gaps, which is the opposite of what a 3-4 DE does.

So, scratch one of our top 5 defensive players off now.

 

[abomb]

Berry suggesting that Edge "went to a club that night" after he got his knee drained.

You dont need good knees to get a lap dance.

 

[Mitch]

Steenking 3-4 defense. I hate it. It's also a three year rebuild.

Skkorp: The Cards have been running a 3-4 at times the last couple of years and it has helped them slow down running teams (it's actually more like a 5-2 monster). Even Bertrand Berry said today of the 3-4: "It's really nothing new."

I think you are absolutely right that the weakness of it is in pass coverage...but I think the Cards will try to stack the 3-4 in running situations and run in the three safety combination defense in passing situations (with Wilson up and Francisco and Holt covering the deep halves).

 

[AzCards21]

You dont need good knees to get a lap dance.

That's my kind of rehab.

 

[joeshmo]

The EVT has a fairly similar report, except that it adds a quote from Berry suggesting that too much is being made of a 3-4 transition and that Edge "went to a club that night" after he got his knee drained.

Another interesting note from the EVT article -

"James also dismissed the idea he would have any problems running behind a fullback."

http://eastvalleytribune.com/story/87761

I also think the Cards playing mostly 3-4 could turn into something it is not by the fans. I agree with Berry. The team already knows how to run Pendys 4-3 D for the most part, and the opnly real new pieces are DB's who should have almost the same roles in either the 4-3 or 3-4. If they really are going to run a lot more 3-4 might as well make that a priority early and often at least until the training camp. I think we will see the 4-3 phased back in more after each practice.

 

[BigWatson]

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[kerouac9]

Really couldn't have asked for a nicer day to start minicamps. I hope the coaches and new players don't get used to it...

 

[Gambit]

Cardinals vs Detroit, Nov. 11th - tickets for sale cheap.

Good ol' Armistice Day

 

[jefftheshark]

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Thanks BW for the pics.

Leinart looks like he's put on some weight.

The Shark

 

[CardLogic]

Darnell Dockett is not going to be on this team for more than 2 years if he's forced into playing DE in a 3-4. First, because he's too short to be effective (If you stand next to him, he only might be 6' tall), and second because he doesn't tie up blockers and never has been good at that. He uses his quickness to shoot gaps, which is the opposite of what a 3-4 DE does.

So, scratch one of our top 5 defensive players off now.

That and having Okefor and Pace as the OLB's in a 3-4! That's askin' for trouble. Dansby on the inside is not a good move either. Karlos can probably handle the assignment ok, but you are negating his strengths at that position.

Ugh!

 

[CardLogic]

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What's Grimm wearing? I guess it's not, but it looks like a Raiders shirt...

 

[perivolaki]

That and having Okefor and Pace as the OLB's in a 3-4! That's askin' for trouble. Dansby on the inside is not a good move either. Karlos can probably handle the assignment ok, but you are negating his strengths at that position.

Ugh!

I don't know how Pace will do but Chike looked pretty good when the team essentially went to a 3-4 at the end of last year. He was very active and productive from a standing position.

 

[kerouac9]

That and having Okefor and Pace as the OLB's in a 3-4! That's askin' for trouble. Dansby on the inside is not a good move either. Karlos can probably handle the assignment ok, but you are negating his strengths at that position.

Ugh!

Actually, since Bert was inactive, I'm guessing that Pace is a backup. As long as he's not starting, I don't really care. I've talked about Dansby on the inside already and don't want to go into it again.

It's weird that Antonio Smith is starting at the other end position. I thought he was a little short before, but I guess he's 6'4"?

Although Dockett's listed at 6'4", as well. I saw him at the Best Buy in Ahwatukee the day before training camp started, and he might be 6'1". Maybe.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

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What's Grimm wearing? I guess it's not, but it looks like a Raiders shirt...

It sure does look like a Raider's shirt.

 

[kerouac9]

What's Grimm wearing? I guess it's not, but it looks like a Raiders shirt...

That's the NFL Equipment logo. Matt wears a similar shirt under his jersey on game days...

 

[Jim O]

That's the NFL Equipment logo...

Correct.

 

[joeshmo]

I don't know how Pace will do but Chike looked pretty good when the team essentially went to a 3-4 at the end of last year. He was very active and productive from a standing position.

Same thing happened in 2005 when Berry went down with injury as well. Okeafer excelled as a stand up DE/OLB in a semi 3-4 type alignments. Thats were he made most of his plays. He has also played LB more then Pace has as well. He was called an elephant LB (what ever that means) when he was with the niners.

I tink Okeafer would do very well in that formation, it is Berry I would be worried about. Gaines Adams would look great opposite of him though. Adams was a man amongst boys during the LB drills at the combine.

 

[Evil Ash]

Same thing happened in 2005 when Berry went down with injury as well. Okeafer excelled as a stand up DE/OLB in a semi 3-4 type alignments. Thats were he made most of his plays. He has also played LB more then Pace has as well. He was called an elephant LB (what ever that means) when he was with the niners.

I tink Okeafer would do very well in that formation, it is Berry I would be worried about. Gaines Adams would look great opposite of him though. Adams was a man amongst boys during the LB drills at the combine.

Agreed but unfortunately I doubt he'll be available at 5. The Lions and Bucs run the cover 2 and Gaines is a perfect fit for that defense