ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals focused on special teams fundamentals during bye

Nov 8, 2016, 7:38 PM | Updated: 7:40 pm

(AP Photo/Matt York, File)...

(AP Photo/Matt York, File)

(AP Photo/Matt York, File)

The Arizona Cardinals spent a much-needed bye week resting up. The second half of the season continues this Sunday when Bruce Arians’ team hosts the San Francisco 49ers, this time with Colin Kaepernick taking snaps opposed to Blaine Gabbert, who was at the helm when Arizona won 33-21 in the teams’ first meeting.

Arians made his weekly appearance on Sirius XM NFL Radio’s Late Hits show to talk about where things stand after practice resumed Tuesday. The head honcho of the Cardinals talked about the injury situation, his staff’s special teams focus and Kaepernick’s performance after his third start of the year.

***

Special teams focus is on fundamentals and not scheme. Arians said that injuries to the likes of Jaron Brown and other key special teams contributors is one of the hardest things to deal with. “We lost some really core special teams players in the last month,” the Cardinals coach said. “But those in-game substitutions — because we have a lot of starters that play specials teams — those in-game substitutions are the hardest thing for a special teams coach to handle.”

The Cards used the break to get healthy. Among the good news: Carson Palmer is the healthiest he’s been all year, according to the head coach, and new starting left tackle John Wetzel can fill in well for the injured Jared Veldheer. “Every time we’ve given John a chance he’s played extremely well for us,” said Arizona’s head coach. “He’s practiced all this time as a tackle, threw him in there as a guard (for Mike Iupati). Just have to have a trust factor with our guys, just have to let him know we trust him.”

Arizona will face a different beast in its second game against the 49ers. Arians believes big plays out of hit-and-run plays by San Francisco are a worry for his Cardinals defense. “They hit some short ones that they took to the house (against the Saints last week),” Arians said. “You really have to play great assignment defense to stop that running attack. I think (Kaepernick is) getting healthier, he’s getting into a nice flow. His legs and fact that he’s won is giving them more confidence offensively.”

Arians had a special relationship with former Alabama coach Bear Bryant. “The last words we said to me were, ‘Coach them hard and hug them later,’ and that’s been my philosophy ever since,” Arians said.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

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.

22 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 focused on special teams fundamentals during bye