Dealing Cards: Ready for ‘Red & White Practice,’ Reddick continues studying

GLENDALE, Ariz. – His nights are spent studying as if he were back in school. His mornings and afternoons, too.

Rookie linebacker Haason Reddick is learning as much as he can. Perhaps too much, according to head coach Bruce Arians, who put Reddick in the same sentence as former Cardinal Daryl Washington in terms of the potential impact they have on a defense.

Right now, though, Reddick is playing too cautious “because I’m not trying to make so many mistakes,” he said. “I’m trying to learn as much as I can and once you know what you’re supposed to do, when you really know, that’s when you can let loose.”

So, is Reddick studying too much?

“Yeah, that’s a thing,” Dansby said. “That sponge gets full sometimes so you got to be able to squeeze it out and you got to be able to know when to squeeze it out and let some water out of it. He’s soaking it all up right now; and that’s a good thing, that’s a great thing.”

And if you’re Reddick, there’s not many better people to learn from than Dansby and his position coach, 13-year veteran Larry Foote, who Reddick often stands next to in the end zone, behind the defense, when not on the field.

Combined, Dansby and Foote have nearly 30 years of playing experience.

“I’m always learning,” Reddick said. “In the classroom with Foote, learning; when I come off on the sideline I’m next to Foote, learning. It’s just always pointers that he’s teaching me. Same thing when I’m on the field when I’m with ‘Los, I’m learning. I’ll hear Foote when I’m on the field sometimes, too. I’m constantly learning and listening to the both of them. I got one in his ear and one in the other ear.

“Having them two has been the best thing that could’ve happened to me as a rookie.”

PALMER DOES NOT THROW

A day before the annual “Red & White Practice”, the Cardinals ditched the pads, that they had worn the prior three practices, in favor of shells for their work on Friday.

And early on it was sloppy work, at least offensively; though that may have had more to do with No. 3 not practicing.

Quarterback Carson Palmer dressed for practice and at times had his helmet on but he never attempted a pass, leaving Drew Stanton in charge of the first-team offense.

Palmer also did not practice on Thursday.

Notable

— Too many thrown passes landed on the field, especially in red zone work. Brandon Williams and former Arizona State Sun Devil Gump Hayes nearly had interceptions.

— During 11-on-11, both Karlos Dansby and Antoine Bethea picked off Stanton.

— The offense performed better later in practice when they worked on late-game situations. With 22 seconds left and the ball on the 19-yard line, the Cardinals scored three times with D.J. Johnson, Ifeanyi Momah and Kerwynn Williams scoring touchdowns.

— Phil Dawson put on a kicking display. He was good from 48, 52 (hit the left upright and went in) and 56 yards away on field goals; the latter ended practice some 16 minutes early.

— Ronald Zamort, on the practice squad last season, saw first-team reps at cornerback as Justin Bethel watched from the sidelines. It’s not known what’s wrong with Bethel but he did have a sleeve on his right leg.

— Special teams work at the start of practice focused on kickoffs. Among those deep to receive were Andre Ellington, J.J. Nelson and rookie T.J. Logan.

Injury update

It may be a few days, perhaps longer, before wide receiver John Brown sees the field again. He hurt his quad in Thursday’s practice, according to Arians, who added Aaron Dobson, a free-agent wideout, will be sidelined longer with a hamstring injury.

Linebacker Ironhead Gallon (knee) practiced on a limited basis.

Not practicing at all were cornerback Elie Bouka (ankle), linebacker Alani Fua (knee) and defensive tackle Ed Stinson (hamstring). Linebacker Deone Bucannon (ankle) remains on the physically unable to perform list and linebacker Jarvis Jones (quad) on the non-football injury list.

 

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