Arizona Cardinals training camp: All-Access with Bruce Arians

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Head coach Bruce Arians, now in his third year with the Arizona Cardinals, meets the media each day during training camp.

Here, in this space, we’ll highlight many of the key topics and personnel conversations he has with reporters following the morning walk-through.

First though, Arians updated the injury list saying Michael Floyd (hand), Jonte Green (hamstring), Shaq Riddick (hamstring), Sean Weatherspoon (hamstring) and Rob Crisp (knee) remain out, while Jerraud Powers (oblique) and Mike Iupati (knee) will be limited.

Arians also announced players with 10 or more years of experience will be given the day off, saying, “You get a bone when you have 10 years every now and then.” So those players not on the practice field will be Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald, Cory Redding, Frostee Rucker, Mike Leach and Dave Zastudil.

“I was very pleased with yesterday’s work. I think it’s excitement heading into the game. Guys practiced very well. Today’s walk-through was spirited, so it’s very good. We’re making nice strides. I like where we’re at right now.”

What were your first impressions of Chris Johnson at practice?

“Yeah, I thought he had some explosive first-step stuff still a couple of times. He’s still learning what he call things. But, the plays that he’s run natural all his life he still runs pretty natural.”

With his addition, how close do you feel you are to getting to that team speed you want?

“Well, adding him to the mix with Andre (Ellington) and David (Johnson) and the rest of our guys, we have an element of speed offensively right now that’s pretty potent. It’s close to where we want to be, especially with the tight end group.”

How do you feel about the depth at offensive line?

“Like I said last week, our second-team line had three starters, a first-round pick and a young guy that’s been here a long time and is fighting for a starting job. If we do have injuries, I feel very comfortable that we have the depth to not just get five guys out there, but still have six or seven.”

How much of a chance do you give Jaxon Shipley to make the team?

“That’s an outside chance, but he has a chance. He continues to show the return ability. He’s got to play special teams because your fourth, fifth receiver, they’re special teams guys. Jaron Brown is a core-special teamer. (Brittan Golden) is a return guy and also has ability to be a gunner, so just being a returner might not quite be enough. But I like what I’ve seen so far.”

When Dan Williams left, were you guys looking for a specific type of nose tackle?

“We like to have somebody that can play more than 25-percent of the time and not come out in nickel. To have the big nose guard that just takes up two guys, we feel like we still have that but these guys can also play end and rush the passer.”

What’s your stance on in-practice fighting?

“We don’t tolerate it, whatsoever. If you even think about, just start running. If it’s a two-man fight, those two guys will run. We’ve had one incident in the last three years where we’ve had more than one. We just stopped and started running. It’s not tolerated here. There’s no place in the game for it. Coaches that believe that, they need to get new jobs.”

Does the potential for fighting make you less willing to hold a joint-practice with another team?

“No. It’s who you work with. I’ve been part of many, many joint practices in my years. There was once or twice those incidences. It’s up to the coaches to make sure that stuff doesn’t happen. I bet my life there won’t be on in New England and New Orleans because coaches won’t allow it. Other coaches breed it.”

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