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.

Again, first, Arians updated the injury list, and it remains lengthy.

Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (hamstring) suffered “a little setback” in his rehab yesterday.  “He wasn’t quite where we thought he was.”  Those that will not practice, include cornerback Darren Woodard (groin), safety Chris Clemons (groin), linebacker Zack Wagenmann (foot), linebacker Shaq Riddick (hamstring), linebacker Darryl Sharpton (hip flexor), wide receiver Michael Floyd (hand), offensive lineman Rob Crisp (knee), running back Marion Grice (hamstring) and running back David Johnson (hamstring).

Running back Andre Ellington (hamstring) remains limited in his work.

“I thought yesterday was one of our better practices in shorts and shoulder pads, so we’re going to do it again today.  We got good work done, a lot of guys were not on the ground and was very pleased with the effort and still got the physicality that we needed to get in that practice.  A lot of big plays made on both sides of the ball.  Other than that, it was something that we’ve started to stack really solid practices on top of each other.”

Will the length of time Carson Palmer has been out affect how much he plays in the first preseason game against the Chiefs

“He’ll play one series, whether it lasts one play, three plays or 10 plays and that’s it.”

How will you rotate in the other quarterbacks

“Drew (Stanton) will play the rest of the first quarter and then Logan (Thomas) will play the second and third, Phillip (Sims) will play the fourth.”

Has Thomas or Sims made any strides in separating themselves for the No.3 quarterback spot

“Yeah, I mean they’re both getting better, but then at the same time they go right back down and then they come back up.  They got to stay up.  They can’t go back down and start from scratch again, so it’s a big, big test for both of them.”

With the news that’s come out regarding Bobby Massie how do you approach his loss

“I don’t know of any news that’s came out other than a report.  I haven’t been notified from the league so I can’t comment on that.”

How does it affect your running back situation when you have to use your third, fourth and fifth players

“It’s a pain in the pass when you’ve got two guys that aren’t out there practicing and you’ve got packages for them and you can’t install them because it’s not fair to the other guys because that’s not their skill-set.  You modify your practice and all your scripts to do something that’s beneficial for those guys.”

How much of the offense is based around Ellington at this point

“That’s the whole focal point are the two running backs.  Without them in there the other runners run different runs better and they’re damn sure aren’t the receivers those two guys are so you’re not practicing a lot of things you really want to use during the season.”

How much stock do you put in preseason games compared to what you see in practice

“A ton.  Some guys are just, when the lights comes on they’re special, other guys shutter.  That’s what you’re always looking for, when those lights come on, how do they handle it.”

How is Kareem Martin progressing at outside linebacker

“He’s doing a very good job.  He’s had nice rushes on the passer, he’s played OK in pass coverage.  This game and these next three games will be huge for him to get to the quarterback.”

What kind of progress have you seen from Glenn Carson

“Glenn is solid, and he’s really improved his deep snapping which adds to his value, but as a linebacker, he’s a thumper, he’s a down-hill guy.  He’s another guy that, he needs pads on to look good.”

How did the Pro Bowl help Calais Campbell and his confidence?

“He’s got a different swagger, just the way he walks around and he should.  He went and worked out with Jay Glazer on the martial arts stuff, and I can see the hand-violence is better with him on his pass rush.  He’s still working on his craft and getting better every day.”

Is he too nice a guy, how do you make a nice guy mean

“That’s another way to make a million dollars.  That question has been asked for about 50 years in coaching.  It’s just something—he’s mean enough out there on the field.”

With Weatherspoon out, do you have an every down linebacker

“Ah, yeah, Deone (Bucannon).”

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