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Jurecki's Observations of First Days of Camp
by: Mike Jurecki
As a local radio personality, the opinions expressed in Mike Jurecki’s columns are not necessarily those shared by the Arizona Cardinals.
Greetings from Flagstaff where the weather has provided us with picture postcard days, and where the Cardinals are conducting their 16th annual training camp.
Keep in mind, around the league thirteen of the 32 teams are training at their facilities, which is the same place they workout at during the season. When it comes to camp, you won't find a better situation than Flag. The environment is ideal for the players because of the cool weather and lack of humidity, plus not to mention the clean air.
On the flip side the altitude is something the players must get acclimated to. Going into the season this team will have been pretty well conditioned by practicing in the thin air in northern Arizona.
Birdseed...
Cracking the whip…
Head Coach Dave McGinnis has been vocal when it comes to calling out players amd it's been a breath of fresh air. In the past, this Cardinal team was much younger, but today there are many veterans who fill up the roster, which is why McGinnis feels they should be held accountable. This voice of authority is something that McGinnis needed to do at the start of training camp and he has done that. Example: on Sunday during a 9 on 7 drill both sides of the ball were jumping off sides, McGinnis had enough
and told the team "Go to the next damn drill". It appears that this Cardinals team has a chip on their shoulder and they would prefer to be known as a nasty team. Now I must admit that's music to my ears…
Planes, Trains and Automobiles… This is my eighth camp covering the Cardinals and times are changing. I've seen former Redbird Larry Centers cruising the N.A.U. campus on his moped, Pat Tillman riding his bicycle and now Leonard Davis brought up his four-wheeler. Hey Lenny do you have a helmet for that four-wheeler?
After further review…
A few months ago in this very column space I stated that Leonard Davis weighed in at 394. Opps… and for the screwup I probably should buy him lunch. How much will that set me back? I work in radio! Davis told me as of Sunday 5:30 pm he was 370 lbs. Keep in mind, that was before dinner.
Reggie WHO…
The sixth round pick from Clarion (Pa) has been turning some heads in the first three practices. Reggie Wells is sporting number 74 and is getting a chance to play left tackle. It helps that the starter L.J. Shelton started out the season on the P.U.P list as he recovers from ankle surgery that took place in May. Wells, a very smart young man with good feet, doesn't seem fazed by the fact he going up against NFL talent. Coming from a small school, it is a little surprising. This rookie is holding his own against the veterans… Just ask Kyle Vanden Bosch!
Ding…Ding… Ding…
First camp fight was between safety Adrian Wilson and wide receiver Kevin Kasper. I will take Wilson in a TKO.
Can I buy a vowel…?
Undrafted free agent Punter Brian Simnjanovski, 6'4 187 from San Diego State, could be the sleeper when it comes to kick-offs. Can the Cardinals afford to keep a player just for kick-offs? Can you say field position? Veteran Scott player is this teams best punter and isn't going anywhere. In the past, kcikers Bill Gramatica and Tim Duncan have struggled in this area.
Check back with me…
Offensive coordinator Jerry Sullivan mentioned that to start the preseason, he plans on being in the booth and having Geep Chryst, the quarterbacks' coach, on the sidelines. However, Sullivan made his point very clear that if it doesn't work out, he is going back to the sidelines and Chryst will go back up to the booth. If you look around the league there are a lot of coordinators who like the view from the booth verses the sidelines.
This guy can do it all…
The coaches have been pleased with 2nd round pick Auquan Boldin is fielding punts and will give heavy competition to first round pick Bryant Johnson. Boldin has a little juice in his feet and usually make the first player miss, which is important after you field the punt. As long as Johnson continues to hold out, Boldin will gain the edge.
Emmitt speaks…
Over the weekend Emmitt Smith hit on some interesting topics with the media.
Q- You' re aware of perceptions of you coming (to the Cardinals). Did you have serious questions before you met (team officials)
A-"You always have serious questions. Questions, and then you have some answers. The only thing you can do is take someone's word as to the direction they're trying to go. Either their word is true, or their word is fake. It's just that simple. And to show people you're trying to do the right things by your actions, not necessarily by your voice. That's the way I look at it. One thing I do know for sure, in this organization, is (head coach) Dave McGinnis is one of the solid things they have. I like playing for him, I like working with him, and if there's any goal I've had for this organization is to get back to the playoffs, and to see him get some of the benefits he deserves. Because a great coach like that, the great motivator he is, the way he takes care of his players… to me, that's the kind of coach I want to play for. And I hope some of my other teammates feel the same way."
Q- Anything special about the preseason opener (vs. Dallas, August 9 at Sun Devil Stadium)?
A-"No, it's just a preseason game. They don't count worth nothing."
Q- Do you get any people close to you saying, why the Cardinals?
A-"All the time. Why the Cardinals? Why not the Cardinals? I think it's a tremendous opportunity here."
Emmitt Smith has been the perfect leader for this football team… After speaking with some of his new teammates he's getting rave reviews.
Jurecki's Observations of First Days of Camp
by: Mike Jurecki
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As a local radio personality, the opinions expressed in Mike Jurecki’s columns are not necessarily those shared by the Arizona Cardinals.
Greetings from Flagstaff where the weather has provided us with picture postcard days, and where the Cardinals are conducting their 16th annual training camp.
Keep in mind, around the league thirteen of the 32 teams are training at their facilities, which is the same place they workout at during the season. When it comes to camp, you won't find a better situation than Flag. The environment is ideal for the players because of the cool weather and lack of humidity, plus not to mention the clean air.
On the flip side the altitude is something the players must get acclimated to. Going into the season this team will have been pretty well conditioned by practicing in the thin air in northern Arizona.
Birdseed...
Cracking the whip…
Head Coach Dave McGinnis has been vocal when it comes to calling out players amd it's been a breath of fresh air. In the past, this Cardinal team was much younger, but today there are many veterans who fill up the roster, which is why McGinnis feels they should be held accountable. This voice of authority is something that McGinnis needed to do at the start of training camp and he has done that. Example: on Sunday during a 9 on 7 drill both sides of the ball were jumping off sides, McGinnis had enough
and told the team "Go to the next damn drill". It appears that this Cardinals team has a chip on their shoulder and they would prefer to be known as a nasty team. Now I must admit that's music to my ears…
Planes, Trains and Automobiles… This is my eighth camp covering the Cardinals and times are changing. I've seen former Redbird Larry Centers cruising the N.A.U. campus on his moped, Pat Tillman riding his bicycle and now Leonard Davis brought up his four-wheeler. Hey Lenny do you have a helmet for that four-wheeler?
After further review…
A few months ago in this very column space I stated that Leonard Davis weighed in at 394. Opps… and for the screwup I probably should buy him lunch. How much will that set me back? I work in radio! Davis told me as of Sunday 5:30 pm he was 370 lbs. Keep in mind, that was before dinner.
Reggie WHO…
The sixth round pick from Clarion (Pa) has been turning some heads in the first three practices. Reggie Wells is sporting number 74 and is getting a chance to play left tackle. It helps that the starter L.J. Shelton started out the season on the P.U.P list as he recovers from ankle surgery that took place in May. Wells, a very smart young man with good feet, doesn't seem fazed by the fact he going up against NFL talent. Coming from a small school, it is a little surprising. This rookie is holding his own against the veterans… Just ask Kyle Vanden Bosch!
Ding…Ding… Ding…
First camp fight was between safety Adrian Wilson and wide receiver Kevin Kasper. I will take Wilson in a TKO.
Can I buy a vowel…?
Undrafted free agent Punter Brian Simnjanovski, 6'4 187 from San Diego State, could be the sleeper when it comes to kick-offs. Can the Cardinals afford to keep a player just for kick-offs? Can you say field position? Veteran Scott player is this teams best punter and isn't going anywhere. In the past, kcikers Bill Gramatica and Tim Duncan have struggled in this area.
Check back with me…
Offensive coordinator Jerry Sullivan mentioned that to start the preseason, he plans on being in the booth and having Geep Chryst, the quarterbacks' coach, on the sidelines. However, Sullivan made his point very clear that if it doesn't work out, he is going back to the sidelines and Chryst will go back up to the booth. If you look around the league there are a lot of coordinators who like the view from the booth verses the sidelines.
This guy can do it all…
The coaches have been pleased with 2nd round pick Auquan Boldin is fielding punts and will give heavy competition to first round pick Bryant Johnson. Boldin has a little juice in his feet and usually make the first player miss, which is important after you field the punt. As long as Johnson continues to hold out, Boldin will gain the edge.
Emmitt speaks…
Over the weekend Emmitt Smith hit on some interesting topics with the media.
Q- You' re aware of perceptions of you coming (to the Cardinals). Did you have serious questions before you met (team officials)
A-"You always have serious questions. Questions, and then you have some answers. The only thing you can do is take someone's word as to the direction they're trying to go. Either their word is true, or their word is fake. It's just that simple. And to show people you're trying to do the right things by your actions, not necessarily by your voice. That's the way I look at it. One thing I do know for sure, in this organization, is (head coach) Dave McGinnis is one of the solid things they have. I like playing for him, I like working with him, and if there's any goal I've had for this organization is to get back to the playoffs, and to see him get some of the benefits he deserves. Because a great coach like that, the great motivator he is, the way he takes care of his players… to me, that's the kind of coach I want to play for. And I hope some of my other teammates feel the same way."
Q- Anything special about the preseason opener (vs. Dallas, August 9 at Sun Devil Stadium)?
A-"No, it's just a preseason game. They don't count worth nothing."
Q- Do you get any people close to you saying, why the Cardinals?
A-"All the time. Why the Cardinals? Why not the Cardinals? I think it's a tremendous opportunity here."
Emmitt Smith has been the perfect leader for this football team… After speaking with some of his new teammates he's getting rave reviews.