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Friday afternoon was the first public practice of Arizona Cardinals training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium. The team still is unable to practice in pads (that won't happen until Sunday). So it was practice in shorts, much like OTAs.
The crowd number was good. The team announced that about 8100 people were in attendance, which is much more than would attend an afternoon practice in Flagstaff, even being the first day.
It is hard to tell anything after one practice in shorts, but here are a few things that stood out to me.
1. Daryn Colledge was absent. According to Kent Somers, it was for personal reasons.
2. With Colledge and Jonathan Cooper, who is still unsigned, out, the guards working with the first team were Chilo Rachal at left guard and Paul Fanaika at right guard. At the tackle positions, Levi Brown was the first team left tackle and Bobby Massie was the first team right tackle, despite the arrival of Eric Winston.
3. There were a few nice plays and a few mistakes, as can be expected on the first day. The only presnap penalty I saw from the offensive line was a false start by Nate Potter. That was the only one I saw.
4. I know Alex Gottlieb is not the most intriguing player, but he is both a tight end and ling snapper. He was worked at both spots.
5. Robert Gill made a few very nice plays, including a touchdown that got the crowd's attention.
6. John Abraham and Lorenzo Alexander both played first team, but Abraham saw time in nickel packages.
7. The running backs looked good, but again, it was not full contact.
8. Linebacker Colin Parker intercepted a pass that bounced off the facemask of receiver LaRon Byrd.
9. Tight end Jeff King, who did not participate in OTAs or mini-camp after offseason knee surgery, was on the field and working with the first team.
10. Although Levi Brown has lost weight, he is still a big guy. Another big guy? Eric Winston. If Brown and Winston end up the starters at tackle, the team will have two really big guys as bookends on the line.
Bonus...Larry Fitzgerald was fielding punts! OK, that was probably just for fun. Patrick Peterson, Michael Floyd and a bunch of other cornerbacks (Javier Arenas, Jerraud Powers and Antoine Cason) all fielded punts.
That's it for now. There is not much to analyze yet. I have some player quotes from earlier in the day and after practice, but I will write those later tonight and going into tomorrow. I'm on my way back to the East Valley.
More from Revenge of the Birds:
- John Abraham signing: What will his role be, and how productive will he be?
- Why Letting Go of O'Brien Schofield Was a Bad Move
- Ryan Swope retires from NFL, gives statement, may try to return
- Carson Palmer has 'never' played in an offense like Bruce Arians'
- 2013 Arizona Cardinals training camp: Bruce Arians 'extremely pleased' with run test
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