Arizona Cardinals’ Carson Palmer: The read-option ‘not my forte’

GLENDALE — Colin Kaepernick. Russell Wilson. Robert Griffin III.

They all run the read-option, and do so very well.

Carson Palmer. Could he be next?

“It’s been since, like 1996 was probably the last time, in high school when I was doing stuff like that,” Palmer said. “I don’t know if that’s exactly my forte, but I think now that it’s on film; Coach (Bruce) Arians has realized that it’s not my forte.”

Palmer ran the read-option a couple of times during the first padded practice of training camp Sunday, each time pitching the ball to receiver Andre Roberts.

“I don’t think we’ll be doing as much as, you know, Colin and Russell and the other teams in the NFC West, but I think it’s one of the things we can throw in our offense, and just have a little trickery,” Roberts said. “Carson is a pocket passer. We’ll keep him in there. We like, as receivers, receiving yards more than rushing yards. I’m sure we’ll have those types of plays in there for the receivers, but most of the time we’ll be catching the ball.”

Arians seemed to agree.

“I don’t see Carson going around that corner very often,” he said Monday. “It’s more for the defense. The surprise element for our defense, knowing how to defend it.”

Other teams, like the Kansas City Chiefs for example, are experimenting with the read-option during camp.

“It gives our defense a chance to see it because we’re going to see it a lot,” Palmer said. “You’re helping out the defense by giving them different looks and making sure guys are in the right spots and covering the right guys.

“You’ve got to prepare for anything,” he continued, “and that’s one thing that this coaching staff does is they don’t leave a stone unturned. We cover every situation. We’ve run every type of play you can possibly run so that there is no surprises when you get to Sundays. You’ve at least seen it in a walkthrough or in practice.”

There is another benefit: Putting the play on film now puts it on the minds of your opponent.

“It’s another dimension of our offense,” Palmer said. “We’re going to try anything and everything to be as good as we can.”

“We might use it. We might not. I’ve always had it. I’m an old wishbone quarterback,” said Arians.

Though Palmer in the open field is probably not something anyone wants to see.

“Yeah, I’m not trying to turn up field on anybody,” he said.

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