It was only one pre-preseason game, but players on the Arizona Cardinals are trying to make an impression on the coaching staff in either getting more playing time or simply making the team. In the game against the New Orleans Saints, some players helped their stock, some hurt their stock and others did not change.
Who were those players in their positional battles?
First of all, at QB, there is the starting QB position battle between Kevin Kolb and John Skelton. Kolb went 1/4 for four yards, an interception and left the game with an injury. Skelton was 4-6 for 32 yards -- nothing special. Does Skelton move up on the depth chart? Maybe. But he likely would have started the game against the Chiefs anyway, even if Kolb had not gotten hurt. The two players have been splitting reps with the first team since the start of camp.
At right tackle, many hope rookie Bobbie Massie can overtake Jeremy Bridges. Massie struggled. The depth chart should not change.
At cornerback, there is a battle to determine who should be the Cardinals' other starting player. William Gay holds that position right now and did not stink completely. He did, though, miss a tackle, but then again, so did practically everyone on the defense during the first drive. No one else close in the depth chart made a better impression.
At linebacker, Stew Bradley made the biggest impression. Paris Lenon left after the first drive was over -- partly because of injury and partly because he would have come out anyway. When Bradley came in, he was perhaps the brightest spot of the game. He logged six tackles and a sack, and he looked great in coverage breaking up what could have been a touchdown. Should he overtake Lenon in the depth chart? Not yet. But it could be happening soon.
Preseason game two for the Cardinals is on Friday. Keep an eye on those positional battles.
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