All-Access with Bruce Arians: Drew Stanton ‘progressed more’ Wednesday

TEMPE, Ariz. – Head coach Bruce Arians, now in his fifth year with the Arizona Cardinals, meets the media several times leading up to gameday.

Here, in this space, with help from the Cardinals’ media relations staff, we’ll highlight many of the key topics and personnel conversations he has with reporters following practice.

Opening statement:

“Alright, the only guy not practicing was Corey Peters. Drew (Stanton) progressed more today. Blaine (Gabbert) took the majority of the snaps, but he has made really nice progress, more than I thought he would.

“It’s always a great practice when you put the pads on. Had some really good looks by the show teams, because they do run such a unique offense, more of a college read offense when Braxton Miller is the quarterback. It’s hard to get ready for two of them, but the show team did a hell of a job.”

On if players such as QB Drew Stanton who don’t receive regular playing time fight harder to stay on the field:

“Oh yeah. Heck yeah. He doesn’t want to give that up, and Blaine’s having a heck of a week. So, like I said, whichever one is available, if they’re both available, we’ll see how it goes.”

On when he expects to make the decision on the Cardinals starting quarterback:

“Probably Friday. After Friday’s practice.”

On what he has seen that he likes from QB Blaine Gabbert’s week of practice:

“He can flat throw the ball, and how fast he picked it up was amazing to me. He makes throws against our defense and our scout teams that make you go ‘wow’ every day. Now, within our offense, he’s not making blatant mistakes. He knows the ball’s going where it’s supposed to go, so he’s got a chance to be successful.”

On if there was a point in the season where he felt OK about Gabbert stepping in at quarterback:

“Oh, yeah. Yeah, probably the third preseason game. He was impressive in each one, and that’s the reason we kept him, because we thought he had a future.”

On if he’d start Stanton if he isn’t 100 percent:

“It depends on what not 100 percent means. If he’s mobile enough to protect himself and everything, yes.”

On NFL teams, like the Texans, adapting college offenses to fit their needs:

“With Deshaun (Watson), it was just a natural fit for him. Now he’s hurt. No one else can run it. So, you wasted a lot of time, unless Braxton Miller can actually play quarterback for you, which we have to face that.

“There are guys coming out of college that you’re going to have to adapt to. Now, how much you adapt to it, like I’ve always said, the more you put them in harm’s way, the more harm’s going to come to them.”

On if he’d ever consider doing that to his own offense:

“Oh yeah. Yeah, if I had the right guy or two guys. That really decides who your backup quarterback’s going to be, too.”

On how much Gabbert’s prior NFL experience helps him:

“It should help him a bunch. Gosh, he’s started and he’s played in so many offenses, so it’s not like you’re throwing a rookie out there or a guy that’s never played before. I can honestly say that this is the best feeling I’ve ever had about playing a third quarterback. If he plays, I feel really good about it.”

On if he remembers days when playing a third quarterback didn’t work out so well:

“Yeah, there aren’t very many that do. There are very, very few that do.”

On if he has ever had a third quarterback with as much starting experience as Gabbert:

“No, never.”

On if it could be a healthy thing to have a player like Gabbert chomping at the bit to start:

“Yeah, there’s no doubt. Like I said, not just chomping at the bit, but very talented. It’s not like this was your first round draft pick and you’ve been waiting to play him and all of a sudden, he’s thrown out there. This guy is a seasoned veteran.”

On why Gabbert has received a bad rap after being a high-first round draft pick:

“He was on really (expletive) teams. He’s had eight head coaches, seven coordinators. That ain’t a recipe for success. He was in (former 49ers head coach) Chip’s (Kelly) offense, which he really didn’t fit, but he beat out everybody that did fit. He lost the job, but he beat them all out.”

On how T Jared Veldheer has looked at left tackle:

“Fine. There’ll be a little … It’s going to be a tough job blocking (Jadeveon) Clowney if you’re out there all year. But yeah, he looks fine.”

On if he’s seen the progress that he wanted to see from S Tyrann Mathieu in the last few weeks:

“Yeah, I have. He got his hands on, had like two or three interceptions today, and he’s made more plays in the games.”

On Mathieu saying that the bye week helped him mentally:

“Yeah, I think it helped a bunch of us. But yeah, I think it helped him a bunch.”

On what he knows about Texans QB Tom Savage:

“I watched him coming out of Pitt. (He’s) a classic pocket guy with a big, strong arm. If you allow him to stay in the pocket and sit there, he’ll beat the hell out of you.”

On the looks scout team LB Connor Harris has given him and his thoughts on Harris:

“He’s a football player. He’s a throwback football player. He gives us great pictures. He might be short, but he ain’t little. He’ll knock the (expletive) out of you. I like him as a football player.”

On what has contributed to CB Tramon Williams’ effectiveness as a starter:

“He’s a pro. He’s a 10-year vet. He’s had a ton of success, won a Super Bowl. Just fitting in our system, and he does now. He’s the perfect fit opposite Pat (Peterson) right now.”

On how comfortable he is with S Budda Baker starting at safety:

“Extremely. Like I said, once it’s November, you’re not a rookie anymore. He’s had all those snaps, played really well in those 40 plays the other night, and we anticipate him to play extremely well.”

On the root of the offensive holding penalties:

“I don’t know if we’ve had any more than we’ve ever had, but I’m sure there are stats out there – a good defense or just poor technique.”

On DL Corey Peters’ injury:

“He’s got a high ankle sprain. It could be a little bit of time.”

On if there’s a certain player he’d like to fill in for Peters:

“I know Rodney (Gunter) and Xavier (Williams) played really well, and he’s now coming off of his knee. So, he’s 100 percent. He was playing really good. So, Rodney will step in there, and those two guys will just rotate and roll it.”

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