azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Odeen Domingo
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 16, 2005 12:00 AM
Alex Stepanovich is not the savior.
But does he feel like one?
"A little bit," he said.
The Cardinals hope so. His return means they will have their projected starting center back in the lineup, and likely some much needed stability on the offensive line, when Arizona plays host to the St. Louis Rams Sunday at Sun Devil Stadium.
"No. I don't think we're going to come out and throw for 400 some yards and run for 500," he said. "But I said this before, that I bring something different to the table. I treat this as my unit."
The line hasn't been able to put together a solid outing yet, in preseason or in last week's season-opening loss to the New York Giants. Cardinals coach Dennis Green said Stepanovich, who was out six weeks with a right hand injury, will add familiarity that could help stabilize things.
"It's not just one man (who will make a difference)," Green said. "But we'll play better because we're now more accustomed to things."
Once training camp started in August, centers came and went like a fad. First, Stepanovich hurt his snapping hand during the team's mock game the first Friday of camp. Then backup center Nick Leckey injured his ankle during the first preseason game.
Green then switched backup tackle Adam Haayer to center and Haayer started the second preseason game. But he struggled so much that Green named Bill Conaty, who had signed with the team after Leckey's injury, the starter.
A day after that move, Conaty injured his left triceps, later going on injured reserve. That left Shawn Lynch, whom the Cardinals claimed off waivers from Minnesota in late August. Lynch, a first-year player, had never played a down in the NFL but started and played every snap during the last two preseason games and the first regular season game at Giants Stadium.
The less-than-mediocre play at center was noticeable. The Cardinals didn't have a single carry over three yards, and the Giants pass rush often exploited the middle.
The center position by nature is the leader of the offensive line. None of the centers who have played in a game so far this season have as much experience as Stepanovich, who played every down as a rookie last season.
"(Continuity is) important but it won't be as big a transition," Stepanovich said. "It's not my first year anymore. I'm not as battle tested as some guys are, but I'm used to playing now and I know what I need to do. I know what it's like being young and I know how to help guys out. I practiced with (left guard) Reggie (Wells) and (left tackle) Leonard (Davis) all spring and all last year.
"It's tough when you got a young tailback and two young linemen in there (Wells and rookie guard Elton Brown)."
Quarterback Kurt Warner tries not to worry about anything, not even about the player who lines up in front of him and directs the other players who protect him. But Warner does notice a difference in practice when Stepanovich is instructing the starting offensive line.
"Whoever gets me the ball gets me the ball," Warner said. "But I think there's a comfort level with our guys, knowing him (Stepanovich) before, knowing that he has knowledge and understanding of the offense. I feel a different confidence, a different feel from the guys up front knowing that he's there getting people in the right spot."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/0916cards0916.html
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 16, 2005 12:00 AM
Alex Stepanovich is not the savior.
But does he feel like one?
"A little bit," he said.
The Cardinals hope so. His return means they will have their projected starting center back in the lineup, and likely some much needed stability on the offensive line, when Arizona plays host to the St. Louis Rams Sunday at Sun Devil Stadium.
"No. I don't think we're going to come out and throw for 400 some yards and run for 500," he said. "But I said this before, that I bring something different to the table. I treat this as my unit."
The line hasn't been able to put together a solid outing yet, in preseason or in last week's season-opening loss to the New York Giants. Cardinals coach Dennis Green said Stepanovich, who was out six weeks with a right hand injury, will add familiarity that could help stabilize things.
"It's not just one man (who will make a difference)," Green said. "But we'll play better because we're now more accustomed to things."
Once training camp started in August, centers came and went like a fad. First, Stepanovich hurt his snapping hand during the team's mock game the first Friday of camp. Then backup center Nick Leckey injured his ankle during the first preseason game.
Green then switched backup tackle Adam Haayer to center and Haayer started the second preseason game. But he struggled so much that Green named Bill Conaty, who had signed with the team after Leckey's injury, the starter.
A day after that move, Conaty injured his left triceps, later going on injured reserve. That left Shawn Lynch, whom the Cardinals claimed off waivers from Minnesota in late August. Lynch, a first-year player, had never played a down in the NFL but started and played every snap during the last two preseason games and the first regular season game at Giants Stadium.
The less-than-mediocre play at center was noticeable. The Cardinals didn't have a single carry over three yards, and the Giants pass rush often exploited the middle.
The center position by nature is the leader of the offensive line. None of the centers who have played in a game so far this season have as much experience as Stepanovich, who played every down as a rookie last season.
"(Continuity is) important but it won't be as big a transition," Stepanovich said. "It's not my first year anymore. I'm not as battle tested as some guys are, but I'm used to playing now and I know what I need to do. I know what it's like being young and I know how to help guys out. I practiced with (left guard) Reggie (Wells) and (left tackle) Leonard (Davis) all spring and all last year.
"It's tough when you got a young tailback and two young linemen in there (Wells and rookie guard Elton Brown)."
Quarterback Kurt Warner tries not to worry about anything, not even about the player who lines up in front of him and directs the other players who protect him. But Warner does notice a difference in practice when Stepanovich is instructing the starting offensive line.
"Whoever gets me the ball gets me the ball," Warner said. "But I think there's a comfort level with our guys, knowing him (Stepanovich) before, knowing that he has knowledge and understanding of the offense. I feel a different confidence, a different feel from the guys up front knowing that he's there getting people in the right spot."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/0916cards0916.html
