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Arizona Cardinals right tackle Bobby Massie appears to be in the lead for the starting right tackle job. The reason? He has cut down on mental errors and he is simply doing a better job.
While splitting first team reps with Bradley Sowell and Nate Potter during OTAs, Massie got all the first team work in mini-camp.
Head coach Bruce Arians said that Massie doesn't really have the same issue with mental errors, telling reporters "he's been much better."
Quarterback Carson Palmer says he has no issue trusting Massie.
"When you don't notice a guy, that's a good thing, and you don't notice a guy coming free or a guy coming clean," Palmer explained. "And that's what I've noticed about Bobby -- it's that I haven't noticed him, and that's exactly what you want from your tackles."
Palmer did indicate that Massie was put in a "weird spot" last year when the team signed Eric Winston at the start of training camp. "His reps got cut down, so you don't get as many opportunities to improve and to make those mental strides," he said.
With the whole season to learn the offense and a strong offseason, Massie is in a good spot. Now he needs to do it with the pads on in training camp.
He is the guy fans want to win the battle. He has the most physical talent and he was a guy that general manager Steve Keim had in drafting, even when it was while he was not the general manager at the time.
If Massie can do it, it will give the Cardinals two physically imposing tackles on both ends of the line. It is the way you would draw things up if you could.
Do you think Massie is up for the task in training camp?
