Josh Weinfuss
@joshweinfuss
Some notes from Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon's third training camp press conference:
- Gannon is "very enthused" with where second-year CB Kei'Trel Clark is a few days into camp after coming of a roller coaster of a rookie season. "He took it the right way, took it on the chin, saw the good, saw the bad, improved his game and he's out there competing," Gannon said.
- Kyler Murray's playing time during the preseason is "kind of an ongoing talk all the time," Gannon said.
- Gannon likes where the Cardinals are at with the installs, retention and execution of everything so far, and is pleased with the progress in Week 1 of training camp, but said there's still "a long way to go."
- Gannon gave us an interesting nugget about Paris Johnson Jr.'s transition to left tackle. Gannon said that Johnson Jr. "ultimately wanted to do" the move contributed to the team's decision.
- Gannon talked to both Will Hernandez and Mac Wilson Sr. about their brief scuffle during yesterday's practice, which was the result of Hernandez throwing Wilson Jr. to the ground. "They're good to go," Gannon said.
- Gannon said rookie RB Trey Benson is a "very serious person" and won't move off his personality even when Gannon tries to give him a hard time. "I try to joke around with him at times and he doesn't, kind of pisses me off at times," Gannon said jokingly. "But, he's committed to doing everything he can. He's just taking it all in."
- With a 17-player practice squad, Gannon is relying on ST coordinator Jeff Rodgers to help manage the ins and outs of the PS. "Jeff Rodgers is a mastermind at it," Gannon said.
- Gannon said CB Starling Thomas V, who has been getting first-team reps so far during camp is "just more confident." The second-year CB who Arizona signed just before last season started has "maximized his reps" and is "learning from his reps," Gannon said.
- Gannon said he likes to insert second- and third-team players into first-team drills during camp to expose those players to different situations with different people around them. "It's real-time football. That's what could happen," Gannon said.