Revenge Of The Birds Exclusive Interview With Cardinals WR Onrea Jones

Onrea: I've mostly just been running. Get in better shape, a little bit more prepared then last year. I know I might have a bigger role this year. As far as the preseason, a little more time spent on the field. I worked out in Dallas with Mike Adams, cornerback, and we did a lot of sled work, did a little explosion. I think that's the biggest thing I've been working on. Hands, route running, one on ones with Mike Adams in Dallas. Just hands and all that. Just mostly getting in shape. That's the biggest thing I was concentrating on.  

Onrea: I feel like everything happens for a reason. When big changes like that happen in the offseason you know you have a good team. A lot of guys want to steal the guys you have from the previous team. That's what you see with the Cowboys and Patriots and all those other teams that have good players. Other teams want to get those players to enhance their team. I feel like we had a good team last season and the year before. I just feel like everything happens for a reason. It's giving us young guys a shot to show what we can do in the league now. I feel like we are prepared mentally, like Matt Leinart and those guys. They're ready to step up, and work hard in the offseason. Larry is taking over the leadership role. Steve Breaston has also taken that role when Anquan left. As for the DBs and LBs, you got some veterans that came in. The LBs in Porter, the DBs in Kerry Rhodes. Those guys and Adrian Wilson, they are taking over the DB's section. They are focusing on leadership. That leadership is what's going to carry us through.

Onrea: It feels a little bit[different] just for the fact that Anquan is a good guy -- another good guy we lost in the locker room. I feel like Early Doucet can take that role. He had a good offseason, good OTAs, minicamp, and all that. He's proven himself in the playoffs that he can also take that role. As far as on the field, I don't see a missed beat. I feel like he's[Early] taking over the steps that Anquan left off at. Anquan is a great player. I learned a lot from him. You have to move on. I feel like Early is ready. As far as playing ability, receiver wise, I don't think we are going to lose a step in the line up. But Anquan was great in the locker room.

Onrea: Yeah. I've been working with him in unit 1s and 2s. He and Derek  Anderson have been going head to head which is good. They end up pushing each other. Leinart is definitely ready. He's focused. He knows what he has to do. He's a great guy in the locker room and so with that we've developed that chemistry with him and all the receivers. We're going to continue with that in preseason and training camp and I know it's going to get a lot better then. He has a lot of upside to him. He hasn't had a lof of opportunities -- well he has when he first got in the league -- but since Kurt got in his opportunities have been shortened. He's got the opportunity, and he's taken full advantage of it. I honestly feel like he's ready to take that next step in the quarterback role.

Onrea: I've been around so many good wide receivers it's crazy. I've been from team to team. I try to take a little bit from everybody. Andre Johnson, when I came in as a rookie with the Texans. San Diego with Vincent Jackson. Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. I was in Green Bay for a month or so. I learned a little bit from Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. Of course being out here the longest with Larry and Anquan, and Anquan really showed us when I first got there, route running. Larry showed me adjustments on the ball and how to attack the ball, and work-ethics, he has great work-ethics. I just grabbed a little bit of everything from all of those guys. I can't single out any particularar guy I learned form. They all bring a different thing to the game. I just try to grab a little bit of everything. 

Onrea: All of our corners are good. They all bring different techniques to the game. All of our corners are quick. They don't let you out of your break. Especially Rodgers-Cromartie, Mike Adams, and Greg Toler. Those guys are so fast in and out of their break, it makes you bring your A-game every time you line up across from them . The rest of the guys, they bring something different. I haven't lined up against all of them, well I have, I've lined up against all of the corners, but not enough to where I know their technique. I know there's no slouch out there. You can go out there and expect to play. You have to bring your A-game for every DB for the Cardinals. All of those guys are great. 

Onrea: We stay on the video games -- college football, Madden, NBA 2k. Every Tuesday during the offseason we go bowling as a little group. We have our own little crew. We go bowling every Tuesday and invite several people out. Have fun and kick it. That's probably the biggest hobby -- bowling. 

Onrea: I'm really anxious. I could say I'm in a different mindset then in the past camps. I'm more relaxed. I feel like I'm closer to a goal then I have been. [As far as what he's looking forward to]We are going to Tennessee, and I'm from Tennessee. There's going to be a lot of family members that I'm going to have to get into the game that have never actually got to see me play in college or high school. Going into the preseason to play the Titans, and also one of my college teammates plays for the Titans.

Onrea: Yeah and it will be on Monday night. That's kind of a big deal for me. For family to see me play. And also we'll be out there practicing for an extra week after the game. So I get time to see my family. I'm ready for that.