8-15-11: Bird Droppings - Training Camp Updates

As training camp moves along, here are some links.

Word From the Birds Blog - Back to practice in Flag
Sunday afternoon the Cardinals got back on the field for the first time since the Oakland game. It was, coach Ken Whisenhunt said during his lunchtime presser, a chance to go over the mistakes the Cards made against the Raiders. What was noticeable in the work that just lasted over an hour (in the Walkup Skydome, after it rained — hard — most of the afternoon) was the intensity that crept in by the final 11-on-11 work.

A Nose Under The Right Conditions
Notebook: Dan Williams working to plug the middle

Pressuring The Passer
Young players, Horton's scheme key to getting to opposing quarterbacks

Arizona Cardinals getting production from tight ends
Over the past four years, the Cardinals didn't invest many valuable resources in trying to upgrade the tight-end position. Instead, they hoped someone among a group of journeyman free agents and low-round draft picks would emerge. No one did, and the team apparently decided this off-season that if it wanted a quality tight end, it was going to have to pay for it. So the Cardinals drafted Rob Housler in the third round, then signed Todd Heap and Jeff King in free agency. With Jim Dray and Stephen Spach returning, the position is among the deeper ones on the team.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton showing promise - ArizonaSports.com
Last football season was ugly and the Arizona Cardinals' disastrous quarterback situation was to blame. There, I said it. But this year things are turning around with the acquisition of former Philadelphia Eagle Kevin Kolb and a decent backup being developed in John Skelton.

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - From the film room
Here are a few observations and impressions after watching television replays Thursday night's game:

Word From the Birds Blog - Hamza’s excellent adventure
It took a moment for Hamza Abdullah to think of his biggest highlight of visiting the White House last Wednesday night, before flying cross country back to Oakland to play against the Raiders the next night. But it came to him. "This is the highlight," the safety remembered. "Basically, his personal assistant came to me and said, his exact words, ‘The President cannot wait to meet you. And you’re actually sitting at his table.’ That was the quote of the night.

Cardinals Daily: Abdullah Visits White House
Video Gallery - azcardinals.com

Camp Unfiltered: 1-on-1 Pass Rush Drills
Video Gallery - azcardinals.com

Arizona Sports News:

Diamondbacks sweep New York Mets, lose Jason Marquis
The Diamondbacks finished a rousing homestand in which they reclaimed first place in the National League West, but they departed Sunday for what could be a treacherous road trip with another hole to address in their starting rotation. Right-hander Jason Marquis suffered a fractured right fibula after being hit by a line drive in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the New York Mets at Chase Field, meaning the unit the Diamondbacks had bolstered at the trade deadline just two weeks ago suddenly is in need of another facelift.

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Jason Marquis likely out for season
Diamondbacks starter Jason Marquis felt pain as soon as his lower right leg was struck by a line drive off the bat of the New York Mets' Angel Pagan on Sunday, but it wasn't enough for him to leave the game. So Marquis finished the third inning and trudged out there for the fourth. But when he delivered an 0-2 pitch to Josh Thole that hit Thole near his right knee, the pain in Marquis' leg magnified, and he fell to the ground. A few hours later he was strapped with a boot on his right foot and using crutches, diagnosed with a fractured right fibula. Manager Kirk Gibson said Marquis will miss at least four to six weeks.

NFL News:

Next step: NFC West improvement areas - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Where each NFC West team should expect improvement following preseason openers:

Defending NFC West wideouts tall order - NFC West Blog - ESPN
NFC West wide receivers are casting longer shadows these days. Division teams have added three wideouts standing at least 6-foot-3 this offseason, led by Sidney Rice in Seattle and Braylon Edwards in San Francisco. The NFC West now has more receivers listed at 6-5 than it has listed at 5-10.

San Francisco 49ers to bring in Daunte Culpepper for workout - ESPN
The 49ers are adding Daunte Culpepper to their quarterback mix.

John Harbaugh calls new kickoff rule a "yawner" | ProFootballTalk
In Thursday night’s preseason opener between the Ravens and the Eagles, six of seven kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. And so Baltimore coach John Harbaugh (who spent years as a special-teams coordinator) isn’t a fan of the new rule that moves the kickoff point from the 30 to the 35.

Daunte Culpepper? A few 49ers thoughts - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper and San Diego's Jim Harbaugh were the starting quarterbacks for a Vikings-Chargers preseason game on Aug. 12, 2000. That was a long, long time ago by NFL standards. Enough time has passed to encompass nearly all of Culpepper's playing career, and for Harbaugh to have held three head coaching jobs in the interim. Culpepper, now 34 and out of the NFL since the 2009 season, seems an unlikely candidate to provide veteran depth for the Harbaugh-coached San Francisco 49ers.

NFL.com news: Kubiak hopes backup Leinart can revive career as starter
When the topic of Matt Leinart came up during Gary Kubiak's session with reporters Saturday, the Houston Texans coach had some revealed some interesting opinions on the former top-10 pick turned backup. Not only does Kubiak hope Leinart makes his way back as a starter, he believes the 28-year-old has qualities necessary to lead an NFL team.