Great Cards article (Yahoo)....

[Divide Et Impera]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-cardinals-leinart&prov=ap&type=lgns

Comfortable Leinart sees more togetherness under new coach
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
May 12, 2007

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Matt Leinart says he sees more togetherness from the Arizona Cardinals as the team began its second mini-camp under new coach Ken Whisenhunt on a scorching Saturday.

Eighty-three players participated in two workouts at Cardinals headquarters, where temperatures hit triple digits during the afternoon session in front of a crowd gathered for the team's annual "Fan Fest."

"I'm getting more comfortable as we go," Leinart said after the morning workout. "This is only the first practice back since last mini-camp, but I already feel a better command of what we did. Everything we put in today was the same stuff we put in at last month's mini-camp. From here on out, we're going to keep adding new things."

Whisenhunt, offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers before taking the Arizona job, is installing an offense that will emphasize the run, and that's all right with his young quarterback.

"Obviously it's an offense where we're going to run the ball first," Leinart said. "We want to establish the run and be physical, but we're also going to utilize what we've got on the outside -- that's two of the best receivers in the NFL."

Whisenhunt said he understood Leinart's commitment to winning when the quarterback made it to every offseason weight room workout under new strength coach John Lott. In fact, nearly all of the players participated in those workouts, a big increase from previous seasons.

"It's a dramatic change," Leinart said. "The biggest key is the strength and getting better condition-wise. But the chemistry, you know, guys coming together, working out together, joking around, just getting a feel for each other. That's something we didn't have last year."

Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin agreed.

"Past years you'd probably have 15, 20 at the most, working out, staying around for the offseason program," Boldin said. "Right now we have pretty much 95 percent of the team here working out. Guys get a chance to see what the others are doing, see how hard his teammates are working. I think that builds camaraderie."

Wide-eyed rookies were among those taking part in Saturday's practice.

"Like I learned last year, these mini-camps, especially for the young guys, are about mental reps," Leinart said. "You have to take advantage of those. You're not going to get in every single snap. You might get one or two here or there. When you do, you've got to make sure you know your assignments."

The offensive line has been rebuilt and there is competition at most positions. First-round pick Levi Brown was playing right tackle behind Oliver Ross on Saturday.

"The biggest thing we've done is add depth," Leinart said. "Now Milford (Brown) and Nick Leckey are starters. There's Al Johnson, Mike (Gandy) from Buffalo, Levi, Oliver's back and healthy. We've got eight or nine quality guys that can play. That's something you need from the offensive line."

Offensive line coach Russ Grimm, who held the same post in Pittsburgh, has simplified things, Leinart said.

"Now they know what they're doing every single play," Leinart said, "and they're going to be very cohesive, I think."

A vastly improved line is necessary for a team that was one of the worst at running the football a year ago.

"I think coach Whisenhunt has a great understanding of this offense and understands the personnel that we have and all their strengths," Leinart said. "We're going to be able to run the ball effectively this year way better than last year, I think. We all know, even as a quarterback, if you can't run the football, it's going to be hard to win football games."

Leinart turned 24 on Friday and appeared at a pep rally for American Idol semifinalist Jordin Sparks in Glendale, where she led the crowd in singing "Happy Birthday" to him.

 

[CtCardinals78]

grwat article thanks. You are going to see abig difference in temrs of everyone playing together i hope it translate into more wins

 

[Skkorpion]

bah. Same pablum we read every year. Show us results on the field, then I'll drink the Kool-Aid.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Offensive line coach Russ Grimm, who held the same post in Pittsburgh, has simplified things, Leinart said.

"Now they know what they're doing every single play," Leinart said, "and they're going to be very cohesive, I think."

Its about time we had a coach to get these guys on the same page ... now if they can play as a unit then we may just have something ...

 

[Duckjake]

bah. Same pablum we read every year. Show us results on the field, then I'll drink the Kool-Aid.

Me too.

"Nobody is really comfortable in a position at all, other than Bert (Berry). It's forcing guys to be here. It's forcing guys to work out every day. It's forcing guys to go in and watch film. Guys are putting extra work in because you don't want to be the guy who gets left behind." -- DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, on new coach Dennis Green rebuilding the defensive line.


From late May 2004

 

[Scot1]

My own glass is half-full of Kool-aid. We've had good draft grades, picked up seemingly useful free agents, etc., how many years in a row? I've learned the excruciating way that those aren't trustworthy. It's good to see favorable signs, especially about our biggest problems--that brings hope. Trust--that'll have to come in September. But 4+ months of hope--much better than the usual feelings of October thru December.

 

[Redsz]

There is a difference between talking the talk and walking the walk.

Green may have preached the importance of offseason workouts, but Q only says twenty guys turned up. This year its pretty much the entire team turning up to work outs. So I wouldn't agree that it's the 'same old'.

 

[Duckjake]

There is a difference between talking the talk and walking the walk.

Green may have preached the importance of offseason workouts, but Q only says twenty guys turned up. This year its pretty much the entire team turning up to work outs. So I wouldn't agree that it's the 'same old'.

Well that's usually what we hear after the old coach has been fired. When he's the new coach it's all about how they are doing great things that have never been done in Arizona before.

Of course from what we've heard this year about the poor quality of the old weight room it's no surprise to me that only a handful of players would hang around Tempe to work out in year's past.

 

[nurnay]

Aw, heck, I'm chugging the Kool-Aid right now...

 

[JeffGollin]

bah. Same pablum we read every year. Show us results on the field, then I'll drink the Kool-Aid.

Baum is the AP Cardinals beat writer, so that article will probably pop up all over the place.

 

[BigRedFan]

I dont like this talk of emphasizing the run. Sure it should be improved but not become the main focus of the offense, with the QB and receivers we have. I think you should build a team around your strengths, but not neglect other areas such as the run etc.

 

[ajcardfan]

Well that's usually what we hear after the old coach has been fired. When he's the new coach it's all about how they are doing great things that have never been done in Arizona before.

Of course from what we've heard this year about the poor quality of the old weight room it's no surprise to me that only a handful of players would hang around Tempe to work out in year's past.

I think we've heard EVERY offseason for the past four or five that attendance at offseason workouts was up. Now, Q is saying only about 15-20 guys worked out here. We must've had like only one or two guys here working out at some point unless those stories were complete baloney.


I'm with Skkorp. It's "same old stuff, different year" until we win and make the playoffs. Then I'll believe we're walking the talk.

 

[crisper57]

John Lott...

John Lott is already paying off. Leinart is bigger, so hopefully that translates into a more durable QB. Watson is slimming down and we get regular reports that guys are in the best shape of their lives. Heck, even Rackers lost 20 lbs.

If nothing else, we will have a team that should be able to play the whole game and not fade in the final quarter, which was all too common last year...

 

[Gambit]

I dont like this talk of emphasizing the run. Sure it should be improved but not become the main focus of the offense, with the QB and receivers we have. I think you should build a team around your strengths, but not neglect other areas such as the run etc.

I feel the same way, but then, what do I know. Running the ball is key--I just hope we do it a lot in the 4th quarter.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

"The biggest thing we've done is add depth," Leinart said. "Now Milford (Brown) and Nick Leckey are starters.

Anyone but me find this interesting?