Wrapping Up the Arizona Cardinals Weekend Mini-Camp
by Hawkwind on May 4, 2009 8:34 AM MDT
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PrintThe first Arizona Cardinals mini-camp of 2009 is officially in the rear view mirror. The weekend was eventful with a Fan Fest that attracted record crowds (that even required security?) and some 'seasonal injuries' that raised some eye brows. Here's a wrap-up of the weekend (with audio, thanks to KTAR) and a look ahead.
- The biggest story line of the weekend centered around the 'injured' hamstrings of Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett, but Whiz isn't worried about them. He said that he hasn't reviewed their MRI's but called the injuries, seasonal injuries. It's very likely that we won't see either Q or DD at any OTA's over the summer and we'll start the countdown clock to see if they report to training camp on time (Boldin says it's too early to know what he'll do).
- Chris "Beanie" Wells was certainly a head-liner at practice this weekend not only because he's the first round pick and possible future at running back, but also because he'll miss most, if not all, of the team's OTA's. The challenge for him won't be maintaining his physical conditioning, but instead learning the plays and mental side of the game.
- Kurt Warner surprised some by being able to work in 7-on-7 drills over the weekend. He's ahead of the recovery schedule but the coaches have had to work to hold him back from over doing it too early. It sounds like he should have no problem being 100% by training camp.
- One of most wide open position battles of the summer will be the tight end spot and although there was no word on who was actually running with the first group this weekend, I'm sure we'll see quite a rotation throughout OTA's and training camp. Despite being one of the newest guys on the block, Anthony Becht thinks that his prowess as a blocker might give him a leg up on the starting job.
- There were some surprises on the offensive line where Herman Johnson (who tipped the scales at 370 this weekend) was lining up at right tackle with the third team. The coaches still say they'll work him at both guard and tackle but they wanted to try him at tackle first because he looked 'natural' at the position. His eventual home could possibly depend a great deal on his weight as I highly doubt he can handle speed rushers on the outside if he's anywhere north of 350.
- Last year's promising seventh round pick, Brandon Keith, spent the weekend lining up at right guard with the second team. Most still expect him to move to tackle at some point in the future but I wouldn't be surprised if he's at guard to challenge Lutui for a starting spot this season.
- Oliver Ross, who was signed right before the weekend started was running with the second team at right tackle which could very well be a serious indictment of the Cardinals depth at tackle. Elliot Vallejo was the second team left tackle.
- On the defensive line, Gabe Watson is still recovering from a second surgery on his knee, although he's expected to recover much quicker this time, so he watched from the sidelines. That left Bryan Robinson as the starting nose tackle with Branch running with the second team. The rest of the defensive line was Docket and Campbell as the starters at defensive end with Iwebema and Keilen Dykes (keep an eye on him) backing them up, respectively.
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The Cardinals won't take the field again until May 19-21st, which kicks off 14 days of OTA's, and those practices should have much less drama, since we don't expect to see Boldin or Dockett. It'll be interesting to see if some other 'fringe contract' guys like Karlos Dansby and Adrian Wilson miss any days. Until then we'll continue to look ahead and cover every last, little detail. Anyone make it out to Fan Fest this weekend? Anyone surprised about the two deep on the offensive and defensive lines?
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2 ??s
1. With RG already 3 deep and RT 2 deep, where does Elton Brown fit in?
2. Who is taking snaps as the 2nd and 3rd C?
Elton can do it all
Plugged in at LG for practice, Brown already has plenty of reps at RG, RT, LT and even a few at C over the years. Proficient in all, master of none. The o-line depth charts seen this past weekend are very idealised to say the least. Still have to figure Elton is the top back-up at nearly every position on the line with the expectation that the others will step up and fill specific roles.
Ben Claxton was second-team C and Donovan Raiola was third.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
+1
Elton could fill in just about anywhere on the line, he even lined up at tight end during the playoffs (namely the CAR game on that late drive where they pounded the ball). He’s a valuable backup who could step in be a fill in starter at any of the five spots on the line.
I hope Keith really pushes Lutui at RG this year. Lutui drives me nuts and I’d like nothing more than to see him either finally put it together or take a seat on the bench. It seems like he’ll dominate one play then follow that up by jumping off sides or holding on the next play. Consistency, consistency, consistency.
+ 287,304
I’m so sick of Deuce getting penalized. The last two years he was a lock for 1-2 false starts a game. Hopefully Russ Grimm can fix this, or bench his ass
by CardsDefense on May 4, 2009 12:24 PM MDT up reply actions
Yeah, looked solid in the playoffs too.
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
I think as a second rounder, he's done just about enough to justify it.
With a better/stronger center beside him, Lutui would look a lot better as a player. He was by no means the weakest link out of that unit.
by Irishcardinal on May 4, 2009 5:32 PM MDT up reply actions
More Importantly
I wish Anquan would shut up and stop harming the team at this stage. He has no leverage in any way to speak of, and this has been solely down to his own actions.
Had Boldin quietly let the team know he wanted out, instead of moaning in the media, the other teams around the league would have jumped at the chance to secure the services of a Pro-bowl receiver. Instead he comes out of this with no leverage, unhappy playing under a contract he signed under the direction of Rosenhaus, and looking like a prima donna wideout at that.
We all know that Boldin is not like the alter ego he has created for himself in the media, but on the PR front, Graves and Whisenhunt have played him like a bitch. In both the public’s, (millionaire whining really does not hold much ater in today’s economic climate) and his contemporaries’ eyes, Boldin looks like the bad guy.
Not showing up at camp would exacerbate this, what team would want to throw millions at a guy who holds out from a team where he seemingly has it all? Boldin needs to take a new approach.
Sit down with graves, take a slight pay increase (with undisclosed terms so he doesnt lose face) and get back to doing what he used to do best, cementing his status as a respected, tough receiver who inspires not only me, but thousands of others who have ever had the privilage of playing the greatest position football has to offer.
Competition is Good
Lots of bodies competing for starting spots (let alone roster spots) on the O-line, D-Line and TE. And that’s a good thing.
I wouldn’t worry about who was running with which unit during an initial minicamp – the players themselves will start sorting things out and better players will begin separating from lesser players once the fur starts flying as the offseason moves along.
One of the invisible factors that will not show up in a Preview Magazine or scouting write-up has to do with "whos developing (or not developing) during the off-season – strength & conditioning-wise and technique-wise. (We really won’t know whether someone like Brandon Keith is outdistancing Elton Brown at either tackle or guard (or whether Early Doucet or Tim Hightower has gotten bigger or stronger) until we see them in pads in Flagstaff.
CHICKEN LITTLE WAS RIGHT!
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