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Arizona Cardinals Weekly Flock: Let the Camp Countdown Commence Edition

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Quickhits_medium

First, make sure that you check out Ken Whisenhunt on the set of NFL Network's Total Access Show.

  • Winners, losers from 2008 NFC West drafts  - Sando looks back at the 2008 draft and says that the Cardinals got the best choice of any NFC West team when they took Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with the 16th overall pick. He also mentions ROTB-favorite Brandon Keith after we gave him a subtle nudge.
  • NFC West training camp travel schedule - NFC West training camps open in about one week and here's a look at when each team opens camp.
  • Cards-Boldin talks still weeks away - Serious contract talks with Anquan Boldin are still at least a couple of weeks away according to Cards GM Rod Graves, who prefers to negotiate after regular season is well under way.
  • Looking for a runner - Tim Hightower enters training camp as the starter but will have to hold off rookie Chris Wells to hang on to the job. Hightower emerged from his rookie season as a bit of an enigma. He was very productive in goal-line and short-yardage situations. And he made two impressive plays in the game-winning drive in the NFC title game. But Hightower didn't produce after becoming the the starter in the eighth game.
  • A look at the QBs - The second installment  of position analysis heading into the opening of camp next week: Quarterbacks This is a very solid group. Sure, there would be concerns if Kurt Warner misses time with injury, but that's true for almost any team that loses at starting QB
  • The virtual Cardinals - Darren Urban has some screen shots of your favorite Cardinals from Madden 2010.
  • Vallejo enters crucial third year with Cardinals - Elliot Vallejo realizes that either he takes the next step and proves the Cardinals investment in him is worthy or his time in Arizona could be short. Vallejo didn't necessarily get stronger or faster in the off-season — just wiser. He worked on his footwork, technique and timing as well as reviewed the team's playbook. Vallejo believes he gained ground as a player from a mental standpoint during the off-season.


  • Haley gets his shot - NFP takes a look at some of the challenges facing Todd Haley in his first season as a head coach and this was pretty interesting: I like Clancy Pendergast as a person, I really do. But last year in Arizona, I felt he tried to be too complex and run too many schemes in his defense. This attempt to be overly creative resulted in too many mistakes, fundamentally unsound play and too many big plays allowed. Luckily for the Cards, their offense was able to overcome their poor defensive play. Haley must keep a firm hand on the defense and must make sure it limits overdoing the scheme and becomes a fundamentally sound team. He can’t give Pendergast, who followed him to K.C., a free hand to coach the defense. If he does, he’s going to wish he was more involved.