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Some notes from Fridays practice including an injury to backup corner Crezdon Butler, and just stuff on getting ready to face the Skins tomorrow.
Looking For 2-0
Cardinals face Washington with chance to get off to fast start
Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Redskins scouting report
Kent Somers breaks down Sunday's Week 2 matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins at FedEx Field.
Arizona Cardinals encouraged by Early Doucet's return
Cardinals receiver Early Doucet did not appear on the injury report this week and is expected to play Sunday in the second game of the season. That sentence lacks impact unless you know that Doucet, in his fourth season, has never played in Week 2. A third-round pick out of LSU in 2008, Doucet missed almost all of training camp that year because of a hamstring injury and was inactive the first four games. In 2009, he suffered injuries again in camp, the most serious to his ribs, and was inactive the first seven games. In 2010, he suffered a groin injury in Week 1 and missed the next four games.
Word From the Birds Blog - Friday before the Redskins
It was hard not to notice back in training camp. Tight end Jeff King had scored a touchdown in a practice, and he leaped afterward and spiked it through his legs. He said it was his trademark – kinda funny, since King is known as a blocker – but he followed through. There King was, scoring on his 48-yard TD reception last weekend and, boom, a spike between the legs. He even recounted the play this week, saying that on his mind as he sprinted for the end zone "I was just thinking I have to spike it at some point." "It’s been a constant throughout my career," King said. "I think was that number 10, so that was my 10th spike." King knows his TDs. That was indeed his 10th career touchdown, and he certainly went between the legs last season when he scored against the Cards when he was playing for the Panthers. The tight ends have been let loose in Arizona.
Arizona Cardinals LB Daryl Washington, RB LaRod Stephens-Howling questionable for Sunday's game
Inside linebacker Daryl Washington (calf) and running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (hand/wrist) are listed as questionable for Sunday's game. But neither practiced all week, and Stephens-Howling is wearing a heavy wrap/cast on his right hand. If Washington can't play, either Stewart Bradley or Reggie Walker will start against the Redskins. Cornerback Crezdon Butler suffered an ankle injury in practice Thursday. The Cardinals aren't commenting on the severity of the injury, but it doesn't look good. Butler has been ruled out of Sunday's game.
azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Friday practice update
Inside linebacker Daryl Washington (calf) and running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (hand/wrist) are listed as questionable for Sunday's game, and I would be surprised if either played. They have not practiced this week, and Stephens-Howling has been wearing a heavy wrap/cast on his right hand all week. If Washington can't play, either Stewart Bradley or Reggie Walker will start. Cornerback Crezdon Butler suffered an ankle injury in practice on Thursday. The Cardinals aren't commenting on the severity of the injury, but it doesn't look good. Butler has been ruled out of Sunday's game.
Word From the Birds Blog - Washington questionable; Butler out
Linebacker Daryl Washington (calf) missed practice for a third straight day but he is listed as questionable for Sunday. Same goes for running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (hand) and wide receiver DeMarco Sampson (hamstring), who missed practice but are questionable. The only two players already out are tight end Jim Dray (pectoral) and cornerback Crezdon Butler. Officially, Butler is just inactive for Sunday, but it’s going to be a lot longer than that after Butler dislocated his ankle during Thursday’s practice. It wasn’t pretty, and it’s unfortunate for a young player. Butler was on crutches headed into the Cards’ locker room Friday. Everyone else is healthy enough to play, including linebacker Joey Porter (knee) and punter Dave Zastudil (calf).
Finding Big Pass Plays Again
Notebook: Cards counting on "big explosives"; Grossman reintroduced to Cards
Rex Grossman brings up old memories for Cardinals - ArizonaSports.com
The last time Rex Grossman played the Arizona Cardinals a famous quote was born. "They are who we thought they were." That came from the result of a 20-point halftime lead blown by Dennis Green's Cardinals to the visiting Chicago Bears back in 2006. Everyone will remember that night for Green's reaction in the post-game press conference. Coors Light even made a commercial out of it. The Cardinals are a much different team since then. They have a different coach, a different quarterback and are a franchise now with a Super Bowl appearance.
XTRA910 audio: NFC West Week 2 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Mike Jurecki, Dan Bickley and I ran through NFC West issues and matchups during our weekly conversation Friday.
18 things to know about the Week Two injury report | ProFootballTalk
1. Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington looks ready for a breakout season, but he may not suit up this week. He’s questionable with a calf injury after missing practice all week.
Deep passes in focus heading into Week 2 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A few things I found interesting when sifting through ESPN Stats & Information breakdowns heading into Week 2:
Mailbag: Carroll's approach to building - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Mike from Scottsdale makes a good point about the apparently misguided roughing-the-passer penalty against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Richard Marshall and its impact on national perceptions. The play wiped out the interception Cam Newton threw on the play. Newton would have finished with considerably less than his 422 yards, and he would have had two interceptions, not just one. Daryl Washington would have finished the game with two picks, not one, and he could have been a consideration for defensive player of the week in the NFC.
East coast has not been kind to the Cardinals - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals travel to the nation's capital Sunday to face the Redskins, but there's one obstacle the team must overcome if it's expecting to leave with a win. The east coast. Including the 2008 season the Cardinals have gone 5-9 when playing back east, a stretch including some blowout losses, including what is probably the worst football game played last season, a 19-12 loss in Carolina to the Panthers. Since the east coast has been less than pleasant for the Cardinals, head coach Ken Whisenhunt knows that the game won't be an easy win.
DC Ray Horton knows patience is key - ArizonaSports.com
Cardinals new Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton is less than one week removed from his first NFL game as a defensive coordinator and he's trying to remember that his two starting cornerbacks are new to this too.
Second year DT Dan Williams progressing for Cardinals - ArizonaSports.com
The one bright spot about the Cardinals defense against the Panthers, if you could pick a bright spot, was how they fared against the run. They kept the dual threat attack of DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart in check, holding them to only 56 combined yards rushing. "We played well against the run last week," defensive tackle Dan Williams said. "It was a team effort and everybody was gap sound, we were just able to be in the right place at the right time." Williams, who is part of that front four, got his first career start on Sunday. The 24-year-old was the Cardinals 1st round pick in 2010, he played in 15 games last season and compiled 38 total tackles.
Cards Arrive in Washington DC, Offense Has Options
The Cardinals arrived at their team HQ in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday night. QB Kevin Kolb found multiple receivers against Carolina. Will that continue against the Redskins?
First Look: The Ken Whisenhunt Show @ WAS
Check out a short preview of The Ken Whisenhunt Show. The KWS with Ken Whisenhunt and Ron Wolfley airs Saturday at midnight following SNL on 12 News.
Arizona Sports News:
Diamondbacks' bats go cold in series-opening loss to Padres
One thing that can be taken away from Friday night's 2-0 loss to the San Diego Padres is that the Diamondbacks won't be clinching a playoff spot here this weekend, news that can be viewed in a variety of ways, depending on your affiliation. Whether Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers cares to admit it, it's almost certainly disappointing, considering he could have clinched in front of the folks who sent him packing two years ago. And for the handful of Padres executives with Diamondbacks ties, it might have been a development worthy of a fireworks display over Petco Park.
NFL News:
Peyton Manning and Colts face end of career possibility - ESPN
There is a possibility -- admittedly, as slim as a tassel waving from the top of a goalpost upright -- that Jan. 8, 2011, will go down as Peyton Manning's final appearance in an Indianapolis Colts uniform. And if that possibility becomes reality, it will have happened for one of two reasons:
Giants’ Rolle fined $20,000; Phillips fined $10,000 | ProFootballTalk
The New York Giants’ starting safeties have been fined a total of $30,000 for a pair of hits in Sunday’s 28-14 loss to the Washington Redskins. Antrel Rolle was fined $20,000 for spearing, while Kenny Phillips was fined $10,000 for striking an opponent in the head and neck area.
Jim Caldwell’s tough spot | ProFootballTalk
When the Colts made the Super Bowl two years ago, coach Jim Caldwell was viewed as an accessory. When they won 10 games last year with a banged up roster, there was some chatter Caldwell should lose his job. Now Caldwell is seemingly stuck in a no-win situation. Without Peyton Manning, the best the Colts can probably hope for is mediocrity. Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star has an intriguing column Friday in which he looks at Caldwell’s difficult predicament.