Prescott practice notes 8-8-05 (merged)

[ActingWild]

8/8 Morning Practice

I just got back from camp and here's a few observations:

- Stepanovich was out there (without pads) snapping with his left hand. Not sure if he was just helping out or is trying to get the feel down for snapping lefty.

- The defense is still way ahead of the offense judging solely on this morning. Wilson made a couple of big hits, Huff and Dansby also had a couple of good stops. Okeafor snuffed out a run in the backfield as well.

- Offensive line didn't seem to give much room for the RB's. OL coach at one point yelled "horse sh*t!" and threw his clip board.

- Navarre made a beautiful laser beam throw between two deffenders for a long TD.

- Bryant Johnson looks really good.

-Boldin was out there throwing passes during receiver drills. He actually throws a nice ball.

- Warner struggled today. He had a string of 3 passes in a row that should have been picked (1 was) and had another that was too far behind Larry and another well underthrown to an open receiver. Hopefully it was the wet ball giving him problems.

- During 7 on 7's, just about the only completed passes by any of the QB's were little dump passes for 2-3 yards.

- Rookie TE Bronson is a beast. 260 lbs, big legs and took on a tackler and seemed completely unfazed by the blow. He just ran right over the guy. (I couldn't see who tried to tackle him).

- Arrington didn't have much room to run but did make a couple of nice swing catches and was very shifty and quick running after the catch.

- Marcel was out there and looked like himself again. Never stopped moving his legs and consitently pushed for more yardage.

- Not that this is news, but Rackers has a great leg.

Kurt, JJ, McCown, Rackers, E. Brown and a few others that I didn't recognize came out after the practice to sign. Very friendly but it was disappointing that more players didn't stop by to sign for the few fans that showed up in the rain. I asked Rackers if he planned on laying out any big hits this season and he said, "Nah, our coverage team's much better so I won't get a chance...plus they don't like me doing that."

 

[joeshmo]

I asked Rackers if he planned on laying out any big hits this season and he said, "Nah, our coverage team's much better so I won't get a chance...plus they don't like me doing that."

You should have asked him what he will do after breaking the longest field goal record up in the thin air of Mexico.

 

[abomb]

From my visit on Sat, I found that Elton Brown is a very nice guy. Doesnt suprise me that he stuck around for autographs today too.

A-Bomb

 

[CaptTurbo]

-Boldin was out there throwing passes during receiver drills. He actually throws a nice ball."

You do know he lit it up in a bowl game as a QB. Had awesome stats. We need him to throw on some reverses.


Great write up thanx man!

 

[ActingWild]

You do know he lit it up in a bowl game as a QB. Had awesome stats. We need him to throw on some reverses.


Great write up thanx man!

Yeah, I remember that he used to play QB in some sort of capacity, just couldn't remember where I'd heard that. Thanks, and my pleasure!

 

[40yearfan]

Great job AW. Keep up the good work.

 

[DakotaCardsFan]

Thanks for the info! Did you see DE Peppi Zellner out there today? I know he twisted his knee in the mock game and was wondering if it was anything long-term. I read one report that he was carted off the field on Saturday.

 

[Redheart]

Anybody notice how Cantu is doing?

He seems a little fat, but I hope he has the talent to make the team.

Rolando Cantu - South Of The Border Football
Monterrey native Rolando Cantu is leading the Cardinals' efforts to reach out to Mexican fans in advance of their October game in Mexico City.

Luke Sacks
NFLPLAYERS.COM
08/08/2005


The Arizona Cardinals will become the first NFL team in the 86-year history of the league to host a regular-season home game outside the United States when they take on the San Francisco 49ers on October 2 in Mexico City. But the team is reaching out to the Mexican community now with efforts spearheaded by Monterrey native Rolando Cantu.

Cantu was recently joined by Cardinals Director of Community Relations and former NFL kicker Luis Zendejas and quarterback Kurt Warner for a journey to Mexico to participate in a series of community activities.

The group visited Obregon in the Mexican state of Sonora and took part in two kids' clinics attended by over 800 children, an autograph session, and visited an orphanage and children's hospital.

"It was an awesome trip," Cantu said. "Those kids had never been in touch with a professional football player before so the whole city got involved and it was a whole event that the whole community and whole state of Sonora got involved with."

Cantu was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, located about eight hours from where the Cardinals and 49ers will square off on October 2 at Estasio Azteca. He expects to see plenty of familiar faces at the game which also will be broadcast worldwide on ESPN.

"I have a lot of family and friends and ex-teammates that I played with in college in Mexico that will be coming to the game," he offered. "I've been going back for quite a while now and the city is getting very excited for this game. They've experienced an American Bowl game but this is different. This is a regular-season NFL game and they want to show the NFL that Mexico City can do this and hopefully have a great event that will lead to something on a yearly basis there."

Cantu, who won the Mexican College Championship three out of his four years at ITESM Monterey, knows first-hand how much the popularity of the NFL has grown in Mexico. Other than soccer, he believes it is the most popular sport in the country.

"There are thousands of kids playing football in Mexico and emulating their favorite players. It's bigger than the NBA or baseball."
"You're talking about the second-largest fan base of NFL football behind the U.S.," he explained. "In my hometown there are 12,000 kids that play Pop Warner and there are huge leagues in Monterrey and Mexico City and all over. There are thousands of kids playing football in Mexico and emulating their favorite players. It's bigger than the NBA or baseball."

Cantu joined the Cardinals as part of last year's inaugural NFL International Developmental Practice Squad program. He was a member of a Berlin Thunder Team that captured World Bowl XII and spent last season on Arizona's practice squad.

The chance to participate in the first-ever regular-season game on Mexican soil is something that will be on Cantu's mind as he tries to earn a roster spot in training camp.

"It is extra motivation for me to have the chance to play for the Cardinals in Mexico," he said. "Being born and raised in Mexico and having the chance to be a part of something so special is not a chance that comes around very often. I want to play for my team in my home country."

I don't know why, but I think Mexico would fall in love with the Cardinals and embrace them if they could win. Something about the logo...

 

[nurnay]

Thanks for the report!

 

[Renz]

Thanks for the info! Did you see DE Peppi Zellner out there today? I know he twisted his knee in the mock game and was wondering if it was anything long-term. I read one report that he was carted off the field on Saturday.

Injury Update
DE Peppi Zellner (knee), DT DeVone Claybrooks (knee), RB Troy Hambrick (foot), TE Eric Edwards (pectoral), C Alex Stepanovich (hand), and SS Ernest Shazor did not participate in practice.

 

[DakotaCardsFan]

Injury Update
DE Peppi Zellner (knee), DT DeVone Claybrooks (knee), RB Troy Hambrick (foot), TE Eric Edwards (pectoral), C Alex Stepanovich (hand), and SS Ernest Shazor did not participate in practice.

Thanks, Renz!

 

[Reddog]

Yeah, I remember that he used to play QB in some sort of capacity, just couldn't remember where I'd heard that. Thanks, and my pleasure!

Wasn't he "Mr. Football" for the state of Florida as a QB?

 

[Totally_Red]

Prescott practice notes 8-8-05

There was a light, but persistent rain for the first half of morning practice. That held morning attendance to maybe 200, with about 300 or so for afternoon practice.

Morning practice focused on red zone offense. It was in pads and there were lots of solid hits. James Jackson took a couple of big hits, one from Adrian Wilson, and one from Orlando Huff. Jackson quickly bounced up both times.

WR Charles Lee took a solid hit from CB Robert Tate after catching a pass at the goal line. He did hold on to the ball. Tate made several good hits. He is tough, physical, competitive, tenancious, and overall is playing at a very high level.

At least 8 video and still photographers were on hand for the end of morning practice.

They worked on punt returns in the morning, featuring Dan Sheldon and Fabian Davis. In the afternoon it was kickoff returns with Leron McCoy.

The second team defense played with emotion in the morning. I don't think they were happy about the way they played Saturday. Or maybe the coaches weren't happy. Or maybe both. On the very first rushing attempt, the left side of the defensive line got a great surge and stuffed it for a two yard loss.


Bertrand Berry had a good morning.

The first team offensive line did a fairly good job of giving Kurt Warner time to throw.

Kevin O'Shea was working on teaching blocking schemes on punt returns with the linebackers in the morning (Including Isaac Keys among others)

Elton Brown pulled on a running play in the morning practice and completely neutralized one of the linebackers.

On one occasion Fitz was tied up by a cornerback. I saw Kurt talking to him afterward, offering advice, thoughts, etcetera. Then Denny Green came over to coach Fitz up on that situation. That's not to say Fitz wasn't sharp in both morning and afternoon. He is catching everything in sight.

Bryant Johnson had another good day, dropping just one ball all day.

Step was snapping with his left hand in the morning, and was replaced by Nick Lecky in the afternoon. Adam Haayer was handling the second team snaps.

Adam Bergen (part of the short yardage offense with Aaron Golliday) actually caught a pass or two in the morning.

On at least one occasion, J.J. Arrington lined up in the wrong place and was corrected by Kurt. This also happened once on Saturday.

In the afternoon, more of the same. Eric Green made a sparkling defensive play, breaking up a pass intended for Bryant Johnson.

Once again, second-team RDE Antonio Smith got some good pressure on a couple of occasions.

Kurt drew the second team defense (Pace) offside at least once maybe twice with the hard count. I don't ever recall seeing him use this before.

Overall, the first team offense was not as sharp in the morning practice as they were Saturday, but are still light years ahead of Flagstaff last year according to others I talked to.

Safety Ernest Shazor was observed at both morning and afternoon practices. I'm not sure if he is hurt or possibly being held out as a precaution. But the good news is that he is physically preseent.

Thanks for reading...

 

[BigRedArk]

Good stuff TR. Thanks.

 

[arthurracoon]

thanks!!!

 

[azdad1978]

 

[BigDavis75]

Good to hear Shazor is back.

 

[az1965]

Good report. Thanks!

 

[Codeofhammurabi]

Thanks, Really enjoy reading these things.

 

[Codeofhammurabi]

Totally Red did you drive all the way from Iowa to watch the camp? My wife is a Chiefs fan, and we are planning a vacation to River Falls next year, and hopefully to Prescott or Flagstaff the year after. I live across the river from Keokuk.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Reading that makes me giddy.

 

[Capital Card]

Very nice report. I thought it was one of the Republic or Tribune's pieces until I got to the end.