Arizona Cardinals training camp: All-Access with Bruce Arians, Aug. 1

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Head coach Bruce Arians, now in his fifth 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.

“Jurecki is afraid to come back again, huh? He’s got gassers coming up.

“I thought this was a very, very good practice after yesterday. I knew they’d bounce back. It’s a different setting out there. That heat and humidity can get to you quick. But, split fields today so that we could get a ton of reps with our young guys who are going to play in this game; also, get some really good conditioning work with our veteran guys. Solid practice. The last two minutes of practice we had some young guys who could not get lined up in a two-minute drill and then obviously we catch a ball and don’t get out of bounds and lose the game. Those are things, hopefully, you learn from in camp because if you can’t learn it after I get after you, you’re in trouble anyway.”

Are there any veterans in particular you want to see play in the Hall of Fame Game or is this preseason game all about the young guys?

“All about young guys.”

Those mistakes the young players are still making, is that a surprise this late into camp? 

“Well, you put them in those critical situations, you never know how they’re going to act. Run a great route, get open, fall down and catch it and don’t get up and try to—get out of bounds; there’s only nine seconds left. Those are things you hopefully learn from and then they don’t show up again but everybody else should learn from them also.”

Aren’t those things players should come into the league knowing? 

“No, they don’t come into the league with anything. You can’t assume they know a thing anymore.”

Is there a young player that’s been catching your eye that you’re anxious to see in a game?

“There’s really not one. There’s so many, especially defensively and special teams. I’m really anxious to see to them cover and block and return kicks.”

Is Drew Stanton playing? 

“Drew is not playing, no.”

So how are you splitting playing time between Blaine Gabbert and Trevor Knight?

“It’ll be half. Gabbert will have the first half and Trevor will have the second half.”

What’s the reasoning behind Stanton not playing on Thursday? 

“He doesn’t need to play. He’s got plenty of preseason games coming. He don’t need to get hit.” 

Will Haason Reddick play?

“He’s not going to play a ton. He’s going to play, though. Injuries at some positions could cause guys have to play more than I want them to play; that’s the problem.”

David Johnson won’t play? 

“No starters are playing.”

Will you try to get Tramon Williams a lot of reps? 

“No, he won’t play. I think he knows how to play corner. He needs to learn the defense first.” 

What are you hoping to see out of Gabbert?

“You want to see them in live bullets. I see the talent in practice. Games are different. A different secondary, a different front, all those things and how do you react to it. Can you put all those pieces together in one day because that’s all we practiced for these guys was one day.”

What does it mean for Gabbert to get this opportunity?

“It’s great for his future. You play really, really good or you play really, really bad. You got one or the other.”

Are you surprised that Justin Bethel practiced?

“No, I knew he’d be back. He wanted to come back sooner. That was great to see him out there today. He was flying around. He was full speed.”

Did he have to talk you into practicing?

“No, not at all.”

How is your injury situation at inside linebacker?

“It’s thin. It’s really thin right now. We lost Gabe (Martin) yesterday and we don’t know how long that’s going to be but it looks like it has some length to it and Philip (Wheeler) went down today but we think that’s just day-to-day.”

Is Martin’s injury an ankle?

“Achilles, but it’s not torn.”

What have you seen from David Johnson as far as pass protection thus far in camp?

“Really good so far. He puts his body in much better position. He’s much more aware of who’s coming, how they’re coming. He’s doing real well with that.”

Is that the last piece for him to become a complete running back?

“He did OK last year. He just missed too many blitzes last year.”

What have you seen from Chad Williams so far and his role this season?

“Until he gets in better condition he won’t have a role. But, he’s big, strong and can catch. He’s just still feeling his way.”

Is the extra practices the biggest benefit to playing in the Hall of Fame Game?

“Yes, there’s no doubt about it. You get to be in pads four or five more times than we would’ve had anyways so our young guys—that’s invaluable.”

Are you looking forward to hearing some of the Hall of Fame speeches?

“We don’t be there. We’ll be here practicing.”

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