Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Begins With QB Controversy (Competition?) And Questions At RB

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Arizona Cardinals Sign Rookie DL Everette Thompson, Cut Braedon Clayson

The Arizona Cardinals made a roster move on Saturday just before they headed out to Ohio for the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. The move involved cutting undrafted rookie guard Braeden Clayson and signing rookie free agent defensive lineman Everette Thompson.

According to the team's press release, Thompson is a rookie free agent who played collegiately at Washington. He tried out with the Cardinals during their rookie mini-camp on May 11-13. He was a two-year starter at defensive end with the Huskies who finished his career with 101 tackles (52 solos), seven sacks, 17 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in in 46 games played (26 starts). Thompson started all 13 games as a senior in 2011 and had a career high 41 tackles and two sacks.

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Channing Tatum Mania Takes Over Cardinals Practice

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Training Camp Update: Coach Whisenhunt Thursday Afternoon Presser

Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt reiterated the fact that at times the offense looked good and at times the defense looked good during last night's practice, but was excited about the spirited session overall. He said that he really liked the goal line session at the end, but there is still work to be done. He hesitantly commented that he saw some good things from his quarterbacks last night, but it didn't sound overwhelmingly positive. Coach believed that he felt the protection for the quarterbacks was good, which allowed them to operate and do some things that they needed the quarterbacks to do, such as checks into certain runs or getting out of things, but that "The real test is going to be Sunday." He went on to say, "I see a little bit of progress, but don't mistake that for saying that we're there. It's unfortunate that we had a couple interceptions. Those are the things that we've got to get rid of." Coach emphasized that by no means are they all the way there yet, and finished by saying "We got a lot of work to do."

The Cardinals took the morning off, at least from practicing, but will still have their scheduled afternoon session. The team is scheduled to have one additional practice tomorrow morning in Flagstaff before leaving for their Sunday game in Canton, Ohio, where they will take on the New Orleans Saints.

As far as the starting lineup and number of plays or minutes each player will have, Coach Whiz has not even though about it yet. He said that he will probably review this with the coaches Saturday morning and inform the team Saturday night. Sunday will be a good gauge for the Cardinals to see how far along they are.

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Arizona Cardinals Night Practice Brings Mixed Results

One thing is for sure about last night’s practice, the Arizona Cardinals are ready to play against somebody else. It was a common theme among all the players who spoke of the practice, as all the players seemed tired of going up against their teammates. Although the intensity was high, there were mixed results from the play.

The offense started off by going three and out on their first two drives, but then revved it up and had some big plays, including a long touchdown pass from Kevin Kolb to tight end Rob Housler. Towards the middle of the practice, Kolb threw two interceptions on back-to-back possessions, with Patrick Peterson picking off the first one. The competition grew as the evening progressed, with the offense and defense going after each other both verbally and physically. Both sides were taking great satisfaction at the success they were having, as the momentum shifted from defense to offense throughout the night.

During the goal line drill at the end, the offense picked it up again. Larry Fitzgerald made a juggling catch for a touchdown, followed by a naked bootleg by John Skelton that fooled the entire defense. The defense did not appreciate the way Skelton practically walked into the end zone holding the ball outstretched in his hand. After that embarrassing defensive play, things really heated things up, and the intensity of the night went to an entirely new level. The competition was fierce at the end, with players diving all over the field. The defense finished strong by forcing a fumble on the last play, and coach Whisenhunt decided to call it a night before somebody got hurt.

When asked about who won, the players came up with different responses. Calais Campbell said "I play defense, of course I thought we won." When Kevin Kolb was asked about who won, he provided the politically correct answer by saying "We tied. We were asking for a tiebreaker but Whiz wouldn’t give it to us." Larry Fitzgerald provided a psychological answer by saying "probably defense… they had a lot of spirit… they competed well," hoping to motivate the offense even more. Jeremy Bridges, who was definitely one of the more vocal players throughout the evening, probably said it best when he was asked who won by simply stating "The Cardinals."

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Arizona Cardinals Reportedly Looking To Extend Contracts Of Daryl Washington, LaRod Stephens-Howling

It is only the start of the preseason and the Arizona Cardinals are still looking ahead to their future, as well as their present. According to CBS Cardinals blogger Craig Morgan, the team is looking to extend the contracts of linebacker Daryl Washington and running back/kick returner LaRod Stephens-Howling.

Washington is a budding star. He led the team in tackles a season ago with 107, and had five sacks and two interceptions to go with it. He is one of the centerpieces of the defense this year and will be used all over the field. He is starting his third season in the league.

It is rare that teams will try to renegotiate the contract of a player just two years into his rookie deal. "Most of the time, no. Certainly not recently. It shows you how much value we put on Daryl Washington," general manager Rod Graves said. "He's a core player," Graves said. "We haven't sat down to talk contact, but we anticipate doing that soon. He's under consideration like several others. The main point is to keep the group together."

Considering the potential he has, doing a new deal is very wise. He is quickly becoming one of the best in the league at his position.

Stephens-Howling is in his fourth season with the team and was signed to a one-year restricted free agent tender. As seventh round pick originally, he was tendered with second-round protection last offseason.

It is more interesting that he would be a priority for a contract. He is the team's most dangerous playmaker in the open field, but gets very few touches. He returns kicks, but rules changes have diminished the value of someone in that position.

It would likely be to lower his cap number for his role with the team and keep him in Arizona, which is a great thing because of his contributions to the team. However, perhaps it is signaling the fact that he may be getting more touches on offense and the team plans on using him in more ways to impact games.

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Coach Ken Whisenhunt On Tonight's Game-like Practice

Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt is looking forward to tonight's practice, as it will be a good opportunity for the coaches to get in some more evaluations, and some more playing time for the guys. He says the practice tonight "will be a little bit more like a game situation," and "we really need that after last Saturday," sensing some frustration from Coach Whisenhunt as a result of the outcome of the Red and White practice.

The format tonight will be different than last Saturday, but there will be a similar section to the Red and White practice at the end. The offense with have three drives; one starting from the 30, one from the 40, and one from the plus 20. The offense will be given 10 plays, and if they get a first down, the drive will continue. Whisenhunt says another objective of the practice is to work on the communication from the sideline to the huddle, getting the players to line up properly, and having them execute the play in more of a game-like situation. There will also be a live goal-line at the very end, which will surely get the players amped up.

Coach Whisenhunt on tonight's practice: "It will be interesting to see the tempo."

As for Kevin Kolb, he will play tonight, but may be a bit limited in what he is capable of doing. Ryan Williams will probably sit out tonight's practice, but Coach Whisenhunt is hopeful that he may see a few snaps on Sunday. Replacing Williams will be LaRod Stephens-Howling. First round draft pick Michael Floyd, although not in the starting lineup, is also a player to look for on offense. He is an improving young player who has impressed Coach Whisenhunt with his speed, and strength. The rest of the starting offense, according to the depth chart, should be ready to play.

Defensively, the team is pretty much intact, with William Gay, who came over from the Pittsburgh Steelers this year, starting opposite Patrick Peterson. Sam Acho is slated as the starting right outside linebacker in only his second year with the Cardinals. The rest of the starters on defense should look similar to last year.

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Deadspin Explains Why Arizona Cardinals Are Not Going To Win Much

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Training Camp Update: Wednesday Morning Walk-through

You could tell that the players were energized during this morning's walk-through in anticipation of tonight's practice at Lumberjack Stadium. Although the Cardinals had their annual Red and White practice last Saturday, July 28, tonight's practice is expected to have more of a game-like atmosphere.

The Cardinals have been at training camp for a week and a half now, and with only four days remaining until their first preseason game, they are more than ready to take the field and get after one another. This will be the second opportunity for the younger players to impress their coaches and show them how far they have come since camp began. Production in practice is one thing, but showing that you can produce during a game is another. For the older, more experienced players, it just gives them another opportunity to hone their skills in preparation for the upcoming game. Moving the practice to a different location and different time will allow Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt see how players can adapt to the disruption of their normal routine.

After the morning walk-through, tight end Todd Heap said that the night practice will be a nice change of pace. He also noted that "It's been getting a little chippy out there," on the practice field. He says that for him, training camp has been going well. On the defensive side of things, linebacker Sam Acho said that he is excited, and "looking forward to playing under the lights."

Kevin Kolb went through the morning walkthrough with the first team offense, and is scheduled to play tonight.

Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton emphasized that even though it was only a walk-through this morning, he expected there to be no mistakes. He later told the defense that he would not be able to call certain defensive schemes if the players were unable to execute.

Tonight's practice, which is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m., will be a good gauge to see if there has been any progress on the offensive side of the ball since the Red and White scrimmage last Saturday. As usual, the defense is ahead of the offense at this time during training camp, but with a game against the New Orleans Saints just around the corner, there's no time like the present to get the offense going.

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Arizona Cardinals Ink Thomas Clayton, Rich Ohrnberger, Release Stanley Arukwe, Ryan Bartholomew

The Arizona Cardinals made a number of roster moves on Wednesday as the team announced the signing of running back Thomas Clayton and guard/center Rich Ohrnberger, while also announced the release of wide receiver Stanley Arukwe and center Ryan Bartholomew.

Clayton (5-11, 222) played in just in three games with the Celveland Browns last season and had eight carries for 12 yards. He also played in three games in 2010, one with New England and two with Cleveland. Clayton was a sixth round choice by the San Francisco 49ers back in the 2007.

Ohrnberger (6-2, 300) has spent the past three years with the New England Patriots, seeing time in five games. He missed the 2011 season after he was placed on injured reserve last September. He entered the league with the Patriots as a fourth round selection (123^rd) in the 2009.

Clayton will wear jersey #31 and Ohrnberger will wear jersey #72.

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Arizona Birdgang Podcast From Training Camp Talking Adrian Wilsion, Quarterbacks

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Training Camp Update: Cardinals Get Wet While Kevin Kolb Sits

The big question at the Arizona Cardinals training camp today was, 'How is Kevin Kolb feeling?' Kolb was removed from practice towards the end of yesterday’s scrimmage when he took a knee to his right thigh from defensive tackle David Carter. Team representatives said that this type of injury is typical for this time of year, as players get more and more amped in anticipation of their first preseason game. The removal of Kolb from the remainder of yesterday’s practice was only a precautionary measure, but Kolb was noticeably limping around practice this afternoon. His injury has been labeled as a right quad contusion, but Kolb is expected to resume practice as early as tomorrow.

As the afternoon practice began, dark clouds hovered overhead and lightning struck in the not too far distance. During the walkthrough, the rain began to fall, but that did not deter the Cardinals from practicing outside. After about fifteen to twenty minutes, the rain subsided, but many of the players were having a difficult time getting their footing on the wet field. It made for a sloppy practice, but there were some good signs as well, as Larry Fitzgerald and rookie wide receiver Michael Floyd made some nice plays.

During practice, Kolb rode a stationary bike for a while, threw a few passes without dropping back or moving his legs much at all, and the rest of the time he basically watched his teammates practice. John Skelton and Richard Bartel took almost all of the snaps at quarterback, while rookie QB Ryan Lindley did get in some reps during some of the drills. Both Skelton and Bartel looked better today as their consistency continues to improve, yet there are still some plays where a receiver is standing all alone, and the ball is either under or over thrown. Much of the inconsistency is due to the mad rush the defense puts on the quarterbacks in practice, causing them to step up or move out of the pocket on almost every play. Hopefully the accuracy and the time given the quarterbacks to complete their passes will both improve throughout the weeks ahead.

Now that the Cardinals are into the second week of training camp, they have officially released their first depth chart, and Kevin Kolb is listed as the starting quarterback. If things progress as planned, and practice goes well tomorrow and the remainder of the week, Kolb will be starting and playing in the Cardinals first preseason game on Sunday, August 5, against the New Orleans Saints. The amount of playing time for each quarterback during the game has yet to be determined.

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp: Cardinals Sign Running Back Thomas Clayton

The Arizona Cardinals have signed running back Thomas Clayton, if anything to give them a body to practice with in training camp.

Running back's Beanie Wells, Ryan Williams, and Javarris James are all struggling with injuries. Wells is expected back in time for the preseason games as he recovers from surgery last year. Williams is still recuperating from a torn patella tendon he suffered in a preseason game last year, and James isn't at full health after injuring an abductor muscle.

Cardinals signed running back Thomas Clayton, according to a league source

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) August 1, 2012

Clayton played with the Cleveland Browns last year and was signed quickly because the team was short running backs for a practice game on Sunday.

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Kevin Kolb's Injury In Practice Raises Red Flags

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Arizona Cardinals' First Depth Chart Offers Little Surprise, Should Be Similar To Start Season

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp: Beanie Wells Likely To Begin Practice Next Week, Will Play In Preseason

Running back Beanie Wells has yet to participate in training camp workouts because of a recovering knee. He had an offseason scope of his knee and has not participated in any practices. He has not said what exactly what the procedure was other than a "scope".

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt spoke to the media after morning practice on Monday and gave some news that will be optimistic.

"He will probably start doing some work next week," Whisenhunt said. "We'd like to get him involved in preseason games, probably a little bit later. We'll see how it goes."

Wells knows he needs to get his legs under him, but he doesn't want to do too much in the preseason and in practice.

Until he is back, there will be doubts, but is he can come back effective, it will be a huge boost to the offense and it will be his opportunity to show fans that he is ready to go.

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp: Kolb Knocked Out of End Of Practice With Quad Injury

Kevin Kolb is battling it out for the starting quarterback position this year, and nothing makes it a bit harder than being forced out by injury.

#Cards officials calling Kolb injury a quad contusion. He was hit towards the end of practice during a drill. Update tomorrow. #CardsCamp

— Eric Sorenson (@Eric_Pros2Preps) July 30, 2012

Kolb took a knee to the thigh by David Carter and left the training camp practice as a precautionary move. The Cardinals camps labelled Kolb's injury as a quad contusion.

As Kolb and John Skelton duke it out for the starting spot, any extended time Kolb may miss will obviously be hard to overcome. Kolb's tenure with the Cardinals so far has been marred by injuries, where he only played in nine games last season. A stable quarterback situation would go a long way in helping the Cardinals win the NFC West.

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp: Is The Defense Good Or Is The Offense Just Bad?

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Kevin Kolb Has More Positives, More Negatives In Training Camp Scrimmage

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp: Defense Dominates In Saturday Scrimmage

On Saturday morning in Flagstaff, an estimated 14,500 fans showed up to get team autographs and watch the annual red and White practice. What they saw was a lot of defensive domination. Only one touchdown was scored in the scrimmage, which cam on the final play, when Kevin Kolb hit Rob Housler.

Neither Kevin Kolb nor Skelton stood out as looking very good. Kolb looked better overall, but also threw two interceptions. He was 9/16 for 91 yards. Skelton was only 2/10 for 25 yards. He did not throw the ball well. He was frequently off target -- usually overthrowing his guys down the field.

Ryan Williams had the highlight of the scrimmage with a 44-yard scamper. However, in seven other carries, he only picked up another 17 yards.

Rookie receiver Michael Floyd made a couple of catches.

The offensive line gave up some pressure to the defensive line.

Jay Feely hit all three field goals he attempted. The longest attempt was 43 yards.

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Yes, The Arizona Cardinals Can Really Win The NFC West

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp: How The QBs Fared On Friday

On Friday when one would think that the Arizona Cardinals took things down a notch in intensity, they didn't, even though they will have a physical practice on Saturday that will be in front of thousands of fans. But the biggest question at the end of practice by fans is always, "which quarterback did better?"

Here are the observations of Kent Somers from the Arizona Republic.

It was Kevin Kolb's turn as starter today, and the first unit didn't do much against the first defense in the opening red zone session. John Skelton fared better when it was backups against backups. Kolb played better, I thought, in his second session of the period.

Kolb played well, too, in the two-minute offense later in practice. He lobbed a nice, long pass to Larry Fitzgerald, who caught it over cornerback A.J. Jefferson.

If Skelton plays better against backups, it doesn't really help him much, especially if Kolb is solid against the first team. Still, no one is saying which one is in the lead.

How will both fare in front of the biggest crowd of camp? We will see on Saturday.

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Preseason Power Rankings Have Arizona Cardinals Ridiculously Low

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Cardinals Training Camp 2012: Cornerback A Competition To Watch

Because quarterback is such an important position in the game of football, it tends to get a lot of the attention from media and fans. Cornerback, however, is another extremely important position because a large part of their job is limiting what those opposing quarterbacks can do. For the Arizona Cardinals, the cornerback position seems to have some nice depth. As the AP's Bob Baum points out, Greg Toler, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, free agent signee William Gay, former starter A.J. Jefferson, promising rookie Jamell Fleming, and Michael Adams will all be challenging for a roster spot.

Baum passed on some comments from coach Ken Whisenhunt, from Thursday's news conference. "There's going to be a player or two that we're going to have to release that's going to be able to play for another team," Whiz said. "That's not something that we've always faced in the last few years, but we'll see how it all pans out."

"I feel very good about the quality of cornerbacks that we have competing for spots out there. We've got some very good young players. We've got some strong leaders. I think not necessarily just the corners but the secondary in general has got a chance to be a strength for us."

It's an underrated position of strength for the Cardinals going into 2012, and one to watch during the rest of training camp.

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Is John Skelton Just A 'Plot Device' To Push Kevin Kolb?

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Arizona Cardinals Sign Russ Hochstein

The Arizona Cardinals continue to try and bolster their ranks on the offensive line after a horrid season trying to protect the passer and keep their quarterback upright. They've gone into the offseason with the mission of improving the big men up front along the line, signing the 11-year veteran Russ Hochstein (this year will be his 12th int he league). Hochstein will likely be slated in as an offensive guard, as he spent most of last season playing right guard last year.

Hochstein was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and most recently played for the Denver Broncos in the last three seasons. Hochstein enjoyed his most success with the New England Patriots, where he played from 2002 to 2008 and participated in three Super Bowls, winning two of them.

Here's the press release of the Hochstein signing.

CARDINALS SIGN
RUSS HOCHSTEIN

Tempe, AZ – The Arizona Cardinals Football Club today announced that the team has signed guard RUSS HOCHSTEIN (HOKE‐stine). In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Hochstein (6-4, 305) is entering his 12th season in the NFL after playing with the Denver Broncos (2009-11), New England Patriots (2002-08) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001-02). He played the past three seasons with the Broncos including in 2011 when he appeared in 15 regular season games and started both postseason contests at right guard.

He originally entered the league with Tampa Bay as a fifth round selection (151st overall) in the 2001 NFL Draft out of Nebraska. For his career, he has appeared in 138 regular season games with 36 starts and 15 postseason contests with six starts. During his career, he has made starts at center, guard, tight end and fullback. He also owns two Super Bowl rings as a member of the Patriots during the 2003-04 seasons.

Hochstein will wear jersey #65.

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Preview: Will Sam Acho, O'Brien Schofield Step Up In LB Corps?

We continue our rundown of the positions on the Arizona Cardinals as training camp continues. We move on to the linebackers, who are key in Ray Horton's defensive schemes. They are the playmakers. This year's personnel is made up of most of the same guys. Joey Porter is retiring, but Clark Haggans is back at OLB. The team signed free agent Quentin Groves to add depth at the OLB position and to hopefully give him a jumpstart to what has been thus far a disappointing NFL career.

The key to this year's group lies with second year player Sam Acho and third year player O'Brien Schofield. Both showed in limited time last season that they can be disruptive forces. Acho was a starter last season. Schofield is expected to start this season as well. If they are able to get pressure on the quarterback from the edge, the team's defense will be even better than a season ago.

On the inside, Daryl Washington is on the verge of becoming a star. He is the playmaker of the group, the guy who can do it all. He is an effective pass rusher. He makes stops around the line of scrimmage. He can drop into coverage. He is fast and always seems to be where the ball is.

The other inside position was held by veteran Paris Lenon, who continues to prove doubters wrong in his career. He was a team captain a season ago and was productive, so much that he kept Stew Bradley, who was signed to a pretty big free agent contract last offseason, from cracking the rotation.

Antonio Coleman and Brandon Williams will try to make an impact and make the roster.

this year is important for Bradley, who also struggled with the adjustment to a 3-4 scheme. He took a paycut, but needs to make more contributions. The team values his versatility. He can play both inside and out, and if he is not starting, expect to see him playing both positions.

Quan Sturdivant, drafted by the team in 2011 and special teams stud Reggie Walker are likely vying for teh final spot in the group, while undrafted players Colin Parker, Paul Vassallo and Marcus McGraw try to catch somebody's eye.

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Preview: The Secondary Finally Has Some Depth

The main story going into training camp pertains to Adrian Wilson, a long time Pro Bowl safety for the Arizona Cardinals, and the new four-year deal he just signed. That will keep him under contract through 2015 and likely have him retiring as a member of the Birdgang.

So Wilson is there for the long haul, but how about the guys joining him in the background this season? Luckily for the Cardinals, they have plenty of depth and a nice mix of youth and veterans in the secondary this year.

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Arizona Cardinals Players Refute Report That Teammates Prefer John Skelton

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp: Everyone Passes Run Test, Dan Williams At Weight Target

The first day of practices of training camp in Flagstaff began for the Arizona Cardinals with their run test, to see if all the players were in condition. As it goes, if you don't pass, you don't practice, which is bad news. Ken Whisenhunt told reporters after the workout that everyone was good on their run test, which is a very good start to camp. There was one other bit of good news that Arizona Cardinals fans will be glad to hear -- nose tackle Dan Williams is where he needs to be with his weight.

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Preview: Can The Defensive Line Dominate?

Practices start today for the Arizona Cardinals in training camp and we continue with our positional previews, moving to the defensive side of the ball. We start with the defensive line, where there is both consistency and uncertainty all at once.

Darnell Dockett is the anchor of production. He will be there doing what he does. He disrupts and occupies, but will probably not get the sack numbers he has had in years past because of the defense's scheme. On the other end is Calais Campbell with his new lucrative contract, who the team hopes will duplicate and improve upon his 2011 campaign, where he got sacks, tackles, tipped passes and blocked field goals.

The question mark is in the middle, at nose tackle. Dan Williams is coming off of a season in which he came to camp out of shape, but not overweight. His conditioning and effort was an issue at the start of the season and so he did not get as many snaps as the team had hoped. Once his production went up, the defense started to dominate, but then his season ended.

As a talent, he is perfect for the 3-4 scheme. However, the question is whether or not he can produce. A smaller, quicker David Carter showed some flashes at the position early in the season. He will likely push Williams, but in the end Williams will get the starting job.

As for depth, there is both experience and youth. Carter is a second year player. Then there are veteran returners Vonnie Holliday and Nick Eason. Ronald Talley and Ricky Lumpkin showed promise last preseason.

The team brought in Landon Cohen as well in free agency and undrafted rookie Zack Nash.

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John Skelton Might Have Teammates On His Side, But That Doesn't Matter Yet

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Beanie Wells and Jeff King Placed On PUP List

The Arizona Cardinals announced today that running back Beanie Wells and tight end Jeff King have been placed on the physically unable to perform list. Both have been expected for quite some time now.

Whisenhunt said RB Beanie Wells and TE Jeff King are on PUP but both were expected. Not concerned with Beanie. Neither expected down long.

— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) July 25, 2012

Wells is recovering from knee surgery he had last January, and the team expects him back on the practice field relatively soon. His timetable for return has been a bit vague since his surgery and the Cardinals are just playing it safe by keeping him out of organized team activities.

King tore one of his quads while working out over the offseason, and like Wells, it was expected that the team would place him on the PUP list. King is obviously not quite ready for training camp, but the team is anticipating that barring any setback the back-up tight end will be ready in time for the start of the season.

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Arizona Cardinals Give Adrian Wilson Four-Year Contract Extension

The Arizona Cardinals have made a move that both saves the team money and locks up the senior-most defensive player to what is probably the end of his NFL career. Safety Adrian Wilson and the Cardinals have agreed to a four-year contract extension that wipes out the last two years of his previous deal and signs him through the 2015 season.

Arizona Republic reporter Kent Somers found out some of the details of the contract.

Wilson's deal was extended two years until the end of the 2015 season. He received a $1.5 million signing bonus and his salary will be around $1.5 million, according to NFL sources. That's less than the $6.5 base salary he was due to receive. Wilson has a chance to earn more money through several incentives in the new contract, including bonuses for sacks and interceptions.

Wilson's cap number will be significantly lower than the $7.5 million figure he previously carried.

Both the team and Wilson were happy to do the deal. It gives the team financial flexibility this season and in the future. Wilson wants to finish his career as a member of the only team he has played for.

Wilson has been to the Pro Bowl five times. He has been the past four years. Last season he had one of his best seasons overall and is looking to an even better one now that he is acclimated to defensive coordinator Ray Horton's defensive schemes.

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• 11 months ago
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Getting Ready For Arizona Cardinals Training Camp [Podcast]

• 11 months ago
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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Preview: Looking At A (Hopefully) Improved Offensive Line

The Arizona Cardinals offensive line has been maligned for the better part of 20 years. This year's offseason moves do not change that in the media, but the team is hoping for a better showing than a season ago, when Cardinals quarterbacks were sacked 54 times.

This season, the returning starters are left tackle Levi Brown, left guard Daryn Colledge and center Lyle Sendlein.

Gone are Rex Hadnot and Brandon Keith.

The team signed Adam Snyder to a free agent contract to take the right guard spot and Jeremy Bridges, a holdover from last season, currently is listed as the number one right tackle -- the position he likes playing best.

In the draft, the team took tackle Bobbie Massie in the fourth round, guard Senio Kelemete in the fifth and tackles Nate Potter in the seventh.

The biggest storylines going into camp start with Levi Brown, whom the team re-signed this offseason. He has been the whipping boy by the fans for five seasons, but put together a solid second half of the year -- so much so that the team gave him a five-year deal. If he plays like he did at the end of last year, then all is well. If he reverts, then he will reach whipping boy status again.

The other storyline is the right tackle position. Massie was drafted, projected to be a right tackle. Bridges is a journeyman, but is average at best. Most feel that Massie ought to be able to take over the job at some point in 2012, but Bridges is not going to just hand it to him. He plays with an edge and chip on his shoulder. Massie has been criticized for his mental toughness coming out of college.

Other players coming to camp are center Ryan Bartholomew (practice squad last season), holdover tackle D'Anthony Batiste, guard Chris Stewart, tackle D.J. Young (on the 2011 practice squad almost all season) and undrafted rookies Braeden Clayson, Blake DeChristopher, Scott Wedige.

Arizona has lacked youth on the line. It looks like they finally have addressed that.

Whether or not the unit is better than a season ago is the big question. That will yet to be determined.

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• 11 months ago
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Arizona Cardinals Offering 'Protect The Nest' Ticket Packages

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Preview: Tight Ends

The tight end position has been yet another area that the Cardinals have always seemed to struggle finding talent in. Last year was supposed to be the season where that all changed. After picking up Todd Heap and Jeff King in free agency, while drafting Rob Housler in the third round, the tight end corps was completely transformed.

As a whole, the position did turn out better, but they did not live up to the expectations that many had for them.

Heap was supposed to be the acquisition that completely revitalized the position for the Cards and allowed them to make their offense more diverse. He would have provided a great third down and red zone option had it not been for the slew of injuries that found him sidelined for six games. In all, Heap started just 4 games in 2011 and caught 24 passes, just one of them for a touchdown. If he does not improve this season, he will not be receiving another contract from Arizona.

Rob Housler was not as good as expected either. He has all the tools to be a great wide receiver/tight end mold much like Jimmy Graham or Aaron Hernandez, but his blocking and route running must improve. If the quarterbacks can get in better sync with him, he should be fine in his sophomore season.

Jeff King was truly the biggest surprise for the team. Many assumed he would be brought in solely for a blocking role, much like Jim Dray, another tight end currently on the roster. Instead, King provided a blocking and solid receiving option. He had 27 receptions and three touchdowns in 2011.

Another name to look out for is Steve Skelton, a tight end and brother of quarterback John Skelton. Steve Skelton will try and push Dray for that fourth spot (the expected number of tight ends on the roster).

Staying healthy, creating targets and helping to spark the run game are all things that the Cardinals' tight ends need to do in 2012 for the team to be successful. That all begins off the field and in training camp, which begins today.

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• 11 months ago
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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Preview: How Will The Wide Receivers Pan Out?

Training camp is just three days away and fans are getting antsy to see not only how their team looks and the product they will be fielding this year, but also the various positional battles throughout the roster. We know about the quarterbacks and the running backs, but how about the wide receiver position? How does that all figure to work out?

Well, we all know about the superstar, Larry Fitzgerald. He will be the #1 receiver on the roster. But after that, things get a little murky. The team has third year player Andre Roberts on the roster, who spent the majority of the time at the #2 spot across from Fitz in 2011. But then there are two others that figure to challenge him for that prestigious honor.

Early Doucet is another player that has some very good physical tools and could figure to see some time at the second spot as well, forcing Roberts to the slot receiver position.

Oh, and let us not forget about the rookie, Michael Floyd. The young Notre Dame phenom, although a rookie, will be fighting for that spot as well. That is one of the bigger storylines going into camp.

Since the Cards typically like to carry about six wide receivers on their roster, that leaves two more available positions. Stephen Williams, DeMarco Sampson, Isaiah Williams, Jaymar Johnson, LaRon Byrd, Stanley Arukwe, Gino Crump and Tre Gray will all be battling one another.

It will be interesting to see who snags one of the final two spots, but due to past performances, Sampson and Stephen Williams would seemingly be the favorites as of today. Still, there is definitely nothing set in stone for the final two pieces.

The wide receiver position is not just one of great importance to all NFL teams nowadays given their propensity to pass, but it is also one full of drama to see who makes the cut and how the pieces fall.

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• 11 months ago
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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Preview: The Running Backs Have Something To Prove

The Arizona Cardinals start training camp practices on Wednesday. They have some certainty as to the personnel, but what they will be able produce definitely has some questions.

Last season, they went into training camp with Beanie Wells, second round pick Ryan Williams, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Alfonso Smith and some camp bodies. Williams got hurt in his very first preseason game and was lost for the season with a torn patella tendon.

Wells had his finest season as a pro, gaining over 1000 yards and shed the label of not being tough. However, he did not shed the label of being injury prone. He had offseason knee surgery.

Stephens-Howling carried the ball 43 times in 2011, but 20 of those carries came in a Week 17 start. He also produced the two longest plays from scrimmage of the season.

Alfonso Smith got some looks in one game but was replaced by veteran Chester Taylor in the rotation as the season went on.

This year, the expectation is that Wells, Williams, LSH and Smith will make the roster. However, with Wells and Williams both recovering from knee surgeries, their production is up in the air. However, the coaching staff has put some pressure on Wells to be ready for training camp.

There are no real postional battles. Wells is expected to be the starter. Williams is expected to take away carries in a two-back setting. LSH will get occasional looks on offense and Smith might see the field besides on special teams.

The team's only fullback on the roster is 2011 fifth round pick Anthony Sherman. He will, barring injury, be the guy again and will get snaps on offense and make significant contributions on special teams.

The team has William Powell (previous member of training camps past), Javarris James (related to former Cards RB Edgerrin James and undrafted rookie Jared Crank.

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NFL Offseason Grades: Cardinals Secure B-Minus From SportsIllustrated

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Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Countdown On Birdgang Podcast

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Arizona Cardinals Announce Flagstaff Training Camp Schedule, Will Practice With Chiefs

At long last, the Arizona Cardinals have released the full schedule for their training camp in Flagstaff Arizona. They previously released the information that they would report on July 24 and have their first practice on the afternoon of the 25th. The earliest they could have reported was July 21, based on the fact that they play their first preseason game (of five) against the New Orleans Saints August 5 in the Hall of Fame Game.

The team will in fact have a Red and White practice. That will occur on the first Saturday, July 28. there will be an autograph session before the practice and end with a goal-line session. There will also be a night practice in NAU's remodeled Walkup Skydome stadium.

In the case of rain or other inclement weather, practices will be moved inside the stadium, but, unlike last year when there was construction going on, fans will be able to go inside and watch, just as it was in years previous to last.

There will be a week in which the Cards will not practice in Flagstaff. After the Hall of Fame Game, they will travel to St. Joseph, MO to practice jointly with the Kansas City Chiefs prior to their preseason contest on Aug 10.

If you are headed up north for any part, get your reservations now. They tend to fill up. Beat the Phoenix heat and watch the Cardinals (and the QB battle).

Here is the full schedule:

Wednesday, 7/25/12: 3:05-5:00 PM
Thursday, 7/26/12: 9:00-10:15 AM (walk-through), 3:15-5:00 PM
Friday, 7/27/12: 9:00-10:15 AM (walk-through), 3:15-5:00 PM
Saturday, 7/28/12: 11:30 AM-1:20 PM (Red and White Practice)
Monday, 7/30/12: 9:00-10:15 AM (walk-through), 3:15-5:00 PM
Tuesday, 7/31/12: 3:15-5:15 PM
Wednesday, 8/1/12: 9:00-10:15 AM (walk-through), 7:15-9:15 PM (Lumberjack Stadium)
Thursday, 8/2/12: 3:15-5:15 PM
Friday, 8/3/12: 9:00-11:00 AM

Trip to Canton, OH for Hall of Fame Game & Kansas City for Chiefs game

Monday, 8/13/12: 9:00-10:15 AM (walk-through), 3:15-5:00 PM
Tuesday, 8/14/12: 3:15-5:15 PM
Wednesday, 8/15/12: 9:00-10:15 AM (walk-through), 3:15-5:00 PM
Monday, 8/20/12: 9:00-10:15 AM (walk-through), 3:15-5:00 PM
Tuesday, 8/21/12: 8:45-10:20 AM

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