Bruce Arians impressed with the Arizona Cardinals backup QBs

It’s safe to say the first team offense struggled in the first half of the Arizona Cardinals preseason game against the Oakland Raiders.

Quarterback Carson Palmer threw two interceptions and the offensive line couldn’t figure out how to handle the Raiders pass rusher Khalil Mack.

“Offensively, there were a lot of issues, to say the least,” general manager Steve Keim told Doug and Wolf Monday morning on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “I think, to some degree, it was a great wake-up call. This team has read for the past several weeks about its potential, but potential doesn’t mean anything if you don’t execute, if you don’t make plays and if you don’t play physical.”

As the team battled back in the second half, head coach Bruce Arians told Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that he was excited about how his backups looked under center.

Phillip Sims had a touchdown drive of 10 plays and 59 yards and Drew Stanton had 12-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown.

“He just dinked and dunked and took us right down the field and threw the touchdown to Dave against their first team defense, Arians said of Stanton’s performance.

It was Logan Thomas, though, who sealed the deal with the final touchdown drive that got the Cards the win.

“We purposely put him in that situation in case there was a two minute drive to win the game,” Arians said of Thomas. “He took us down the field and got a touchdown.”

More than the touchdown, Arians liked the teancity of his third string QB.

“He took a big shot on his leg (on the last play). Earlier in the drive he took a shot in the face. He showed his toughness and rifled something down the middle.”