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Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians talks with the media during the NFC coaches breakfast at the annual NFL football meetings at the Arizona Biltmore, Wednesday, March 20, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
How did things taste at the NFC Coaches Breakfast Wednesday morning at the Biltmore here in Phoenix? No clue. Hey, I was too busy interviewing Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians before bolting back to KTAR to be on-air. (I mean, how do you think I maintain my nickname -- Paulie Pencilneck?!)

Enough of that, I had a chance to chat for a few minutes with Bruce Arians. So, let's run the no-huddle Q&A with the Cardinals new head coach.

And let's get specific. Since Drew Stanton hasn't taken a regular season snap in two years, what can Arians tell us about his former Colts backup?

"Extremely bright. Very competitive. Can make all the throws. Is a little bit too tough for his own good sometimes. He'll go running up in there and take some guys on. He's a fiery competitor and that's what it takes to play the game," Arians said. "I've been around him for a year and I've never seen one (QB) improve his, I call it ‘swing,' just like a golfer, in a year as much as he did. His accuracy was off the charts by December."

Of course, last year, the Cards had a QB competition that spanned the entire offseason and five-game preseason. This season, it appears the QB competition will be decided before Mother's Day.

"There will be NO quarterback competition," Arians said when I asked the proverbial quarterback question. "If you have two, you have none. We will have a quarterback set by May 1st."

Speaking of QBs, Coach Arians told the assembled media that he sees a half-dozen quarterbacks in the upcoming draft that will play a "long time" in the NFL, right?

"I do. I think they'll play a long time," Arians confirmed. "How soon? I don't know. How dynamic will they be as rookies will totally depend on the team and the system."

As for the offensive line, I asked Arians what he sees when he flips on the game film from last season?

"I see a revolving door. Every film you turn on there's five different numbers up there, so you're not going to be very good because it takes some continuity and cohesiveness to play as a group," Arians said. "We have good depth. We're going to have some good competition. And with that competition, we should have a pretty good offensive line. Now, we throw one more guy into that mix and we could have a really good offensive line. And that's what it's going to take for our division."

Of course, as a direct result of the O-line woes up front, the Cardinals wound up last in the NFL in rushing. So, what does Rashard Mendenhall bring to the Cards backfield?

"Dynamic player," said Arians, who coached Mendenhall in Pittsburgh. "He's still young, he's only 25. Carried us to the Super Bowl. He's an every down player. He's 230 pounds with 180 pound feet. He's got unbelievable jump cut ability. He can catch the football. He pass protects. He never has to come out of the game. We rode him to the Super Bowl in Pittsburgh."

Paul Calvisi, Morning Sports Anchor - 92.3 KTAR/Arizona Sports 620

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    Tom S. wrote...
    Two Takeaways
    One: he's a bit delusional about the state of the OL. Two: he's doing some serious wishful thinking in trying to translate Stanton's practice accuracy to how he will do with physical freaks trying to rip his head off after going around or over the sorry OL.
  • Abuse
    StubbyJ23 wrote...
    @Tom S.
    You're a fan. Not a coach. This guy has 30+ years of coaching experience, I'm sure he can see exactly what he needs to see from his future players. He's probably been studying film on them since January. What you are saying goes beyond speculation to just doubting an incoming coaches abilities. Wait until the season starts in September before you decide that BA doesn't know football.
  • Abuse
    mike245 wrote...
    30+ years means nothing
    Hearing this coach talk about wanting a QB to just stand in the pocket (Like Arians has) and not really interested in a mobile QB like Kapernick (sp?) or Wilson means he's unwilling to change with the game. Maybe the game has passed him by? But to listen to him essentially echo the same statements about the O-line that Wisenhunt and Grimm did for years (all the while the QB's are getting destroyed) spells trouble. The stats don't lie Bruce, open your eyes or your stay in Arizona will be very short.
  • Abuse
    mjpayne55 wrote...
    Paulie Post-it
    I heard a snippet on D&W on the way home, but would LOVE to hear the whole thing. You had great questions, and love the way you fire them off with no hesitation. Please post the audio!
  • Abuse
    ASUinNY wrote...
    Offensive Line
    Looking at the numbers In the first 8 games of the season: The Cards allowed 39 Sacks, 61 QB Hits, and only rushed for 632 yards. In the last 8 games of the season: The Cards allowed 19 sacks, 37 QB Hits, and rushed for 572 yards. Bobbie Massie began starting in week 4 and Nate Potter began starting in week 11. The young guys seemed to really improve as the season continued. In fact, the final 8 games projected over a full 16 games would put us ranked in the middle of the league in Sacks, and QB Hits. I will concede though, something needs to be improved for the run offense.
  • Abuse
    sayswho wrote...
    common guys,
    are sacks the only stat that you fixate on? the Packers were second worst in the NFL and still won 11 games. Arians, by his own admission, plans to add help through the draft. Then after the draft, you have another cutdown period. And lets face it, when Brown got hurt, the O line turned into a revolving door. Since the games don't start until September, I sure as heck aint going to worry about it in March. I, for one, am going to give a new coach and a new front office time to build a team before I decide whether to worry about it or not. You might try a little patience yourselves.
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