ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals VP of player personnel Terry McDonough excited about seeing young guys play for first time

Aug 8, 2014, 3:58 PM | Updated: 7:04 pm

Follow @VincemarottaPresented By...

LISTEN: Terry McDonough, Cardinals VP of player personnel

The Arizona Cardinals open their four-game 2014 preseason schedule Saturday night against the Houston Texans at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

It’s not only an opportunity for players to finally hit somebody wearing a different-colored jersey; it also serves as the first time 20 Cardinals rookies will ever lace up their cleats in an NFL game.

Cardinals vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough is looking forward to see how the diverse group reacts under the bright lights of a live game for the first time.

“Deone Bucannon, our first pick, when the pads came on, he was flying around, hitting people all over practice,” McDonough told Doug and Wolf Friday morning on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “(Second round pick) Troy Niklas has been slowed a little bit with his hand injury. He’s had a cast on and he’s dropping a lot of balls because he can only use one hand. I think a lot of fans don’t realize the guy’s had a cast on his hand the entire practice.”

Bucannon and Niklas were the Cardinals’ top two picks in the NFL Draft in May and are expected to make big contributions this season. But McDonough’s enthusiasm about players goes deeper on the Cardinals’ draft list.

“Our two third-round picks really have done a nice job,” he said. “Kareem Martin has been consistent all camp. That’s a good guy for the fans to watch, if they want to look at number 96, a rookie defensive end — he’s going to play a lot (Saturday) night. Obviously John Brown has been talked about a lot.

“And Logan Thomas. He’s been steady the entire camp and I think he gets better each day. We were charting quarterbacks and he actually threw his first interception of camp last week and he had a 61 percent completion rate up until the other day, so he’s really progressed and I’ll be excited to watch him play.”

Carson Palmer will start at quarterback, and should take about 15 snaps before giving way to second-stringer Drew Stanton. Thomas should play a large portion of the second half in his debut.

“And we’ve had some undrafted guys that have jumped out, so it’s a competive roster,” McDonough continued. “Offensively, I think we’ll be much improved and defensively guys that have filled in for other guys who have left have done a nice job.

“We’re excited to see what happens (Saturday) night.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

21 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Cardinals VP of player personnel Terry McDonough excited about seeing young guys play for first time