ARIZONA CARDINALS

Dockett: Now is time to improve selves, chemistry

Apr 16, 2012, 9:53 PM | Updated: 11:16 pm

TEMPE, Ariz. — For Darnell Dockett, the chance to get
together with his
teammates for workouts is a chance to get better.

“The biggest thing for us right now is to try to build
some
chemistry in this offseason,” Dockett said after working
out
at the team’s facility Monday. “Football is going to come
regardless, but if we don’t have chemistry it really won’t
mean nothing.

“Each day is very important to us, whether we sit in the
locker room for an hour and talk before, after, or go get
something to eat; I think that’s the biggest thing to us
is
the communication and just developing a friendship with a
lot of new guys and a lot of old guys.”

One of the team’s leaders, Dockett is about to enter his
ninth NFL season — all with the Cardinals — and he does
so with confidence that the team’s defense can build off
the success it had in 2011.

“I think we kind of got the concepts of what our coach was
trying to do for us last year,” he said. “Are we at where
we need to be? No, not by far. But we are still learning
it, and with a year under our belt seeing the good things
that can happen is huge for us.”

So, he said, now is about just getting in shape and
learning as they go.

“We’re going to be a defense that’s very exciting this
year,” he said, adding that the big thing will be just
staying healthy and being stronger than their opponents.

That process, in a way, started Monday.

“The divisions that we play this year are much tougher so
we’ve got to really take a counter to that and really
give it extra effort.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort talks to reporters...

Tyler Drake

Monti Ossenfort keeping trade options open as Cardinals’ draft board nears completion

The Arizona Cardinals have about 95% of their draft board completed about a week out from the NFL Draft and continue to look at all avenues.

17 hours ago

Monti Ossenfort looks on during the 2023 NFL Draft Combine...

Tyler Drake

Daniel Jeremiah: NFL Draft is Cardinals’ moment to set up franchise for years to come

The 2024 NFL Draft marks a big set-your-franchise-up situation for the Arizona Cardinals, says NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.

22 hours ago

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill speaks at a press conference...

Tyler Drake

Michael Bidwill: Cardinals ‘aligned on getting this thing right’ in 2024

Michael Bidwill believes the Cardinals aren't that far off from really turning things around under Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort.

2 days ago

Marvin Harrison Jr....

Nick Borgia

Marvin Harrison Jr. remains Cardinals top pick in latest ESPN mock

With the 2024 NFL draft just around the corner, ESPN's latest mock draft details what could be in store for the Cardinals' first six picks.

3 days ago

Rome Odunze...

Kevin Zimmerman

Peter Schrager’s NFL mock draft has a surprising Cardinals trade-down with Giants

Peter Schrager believes the New York Giants could trade with the Arizona Cardinals, who move down to the No. 6 pick to select Rome Odunze.

3 days ago

Trey McBride works out...

Tyler Drake

Tweaked process, same message: Cardinals begin strength and conditioning program

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon isn't the biggest believer in picking up where you left off, especially on a year-to-year basis.

4 days ago

Dockett: Now is time to improve selves, chemistry