Questions about Carson Beck’s arm strength? OC Nathaniel Hackett doesn’t get it

GLENDALE — One of the narratives surrounding Arizona Cardinals rookie Carson Beck focused on his arm strength and whether he could make all the throws required at the NFL level.

His torn UCL in 2024 and surgery that followed can largely be thanked for that despite Beck saying his arm has never felt stronger earlier this offseason.

But through rookie minicamp, organized team activities and a couple days of training camp, that’s been far from the case in offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s eyes.

The offensive coordinator doesn’t even get why it is a talking point.

“I don’t know where that came from. I sure enjoy watching him throw the ball down the field. He had a couple of really nice ones (Friday),” Hackett said Saturday.

“For him, tying his feet in and getting the timing of it and actually calling those things and getting those opportunities are things that we just can’t get enough for him, but up to this point, he’s been able to place the ball all over the field.”

 

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While it was certainly a mixed bag for Beck during the team’s first open practice of camp on Friday, the rookie had good velocity on the football.

It’s more so about cleaning up the little things and making the easy plays, something the quarterback struggled with at times.

His miss to running back Jeremiyah Love during 11-on-11 work in the end zone was among the biggest examples of where Beck can clean things up.

Beck hasn’t let the miscues impact him, though, with Hackett applauding his ability on not making the same mistakes twice and taking coaching to heart.

After all — as Hackett likes to remind the media just about every week — Beck is still very much a rookie. For Hackett, it’s much more about learning through those growing pains and preparing for when camp kicks up another level with pads next week.

“Carson works really hard. I don’t think I even knew from that standpoint how he would be and I think he’s done a great job learning as much as he possibly can and he’s really grasping it,” Hackett said.

“To get those reps is so critical at this position and even just with pads is going to be huge, because the live situations, practice, pads, no pads, it’s so different just on the timing of the routes, how people block, just everything is different. It’s just going to keep getting better, but he’s a very hard worker and I appreciate that from him.”

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