Arizona Cardinals training camp: All-Access with Bruce Arians

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Head coach Bruce Arians, now in his fourth 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.

“Not practicing today from yesterday would be (cornerback) Mike Jenkins, who broke a bone in his hand; really no prognosis yet on how long before it heals up to where he can play in a cast. (Defensive tackle) Red Bryant has got a little soreness in his Achilles, but it’s nothing serious. We’ll give him the day off. And (tight end) Jermaine Gresham has a tight hamstring. We’re waiting for an MRI. I don’t think it’s anything serious, but he will not practice today.

“Thought we had a really, really good practice yesterday. The tempo of the practice was outstanding. We finished early. Good competition; probably too much competition at times to be in shorts. You always worry about the first day, you’re in shorts, the crowd is out there, everybody is jacked up and you have run drills and you just hold your breath that nobody does get hurt. But, we’ll go back at again today and finally play football tomorrow.”

How frustrating is it having these injuries at cornerback

“It never fails. Justin (Bethel) got his setback and Mike comes in and was looking good and breaks a hand. But, it’s just more opportunities for the young kids to get out there and play.”

Any update on rookie Robert Nkemdiche

“It’s looking more like two weeks. It’s a high ankle sprain.”

How did rookie Brandon Williams look to you

“Brandon had a hell of a day. He got beat by ‘Smoke’ (John Brown), but he was there. He just turned a little bit the wrong way and got off balance, but broke up some good balls. The nice thing about it is after the touchdown he came back and competed his ass off.  Some guys would go in the tank.  That’s what I liked about it the most.  He really came back and looked really good.”

Do you have two of the meanest guards in the league in Mike Iupati and Evan Mathis

“I think they’re two of the most physical, yeah; that’s what I like about them. I think off the field they’re probably pussycats, but off the field, nah, not so fast.”

What can you learn from your two long snappers, Kameron Canaday and Daniel Dillon, in practice

“We put them in the hardest test we can put them is that you get a day off if you two snap four perfect ones; jumping and hollering at them but it’s still not the same as out here. You got to see them under the lights in real pressure. We may kick more long field goals or whatever just to put them in pressure situations. I hope we have a lot of those situations in the preseason.”

How is the competition at the safety position with Tyrann Mathieu sidelined

“Oh, it’s great. They’re getting a lot of exposure; Marqui (Christian) also is getting a ton more reps than he would normally get, and he’s growing.  It’s nice seeing the communications between those guys.  Tyvon (Branch) is a vocal guy too, and he’s very smart so he’s not afraid to talk.  Normally, the hardest thing is you’re afraid to talk because you don’t want to make a mistake.  The communication back there is really, really good.”

Mathieu must be one the best you’ve seen communicate in the secondary

“You know, he was one of the worst. He never said (expletive) his first year. He had to learn to be because Rashad (Johnson) said everything. He didn’t have to. He knew how smart Rashad was and he wasn’t going to make a mistake, but now he’s very, very good at it.”

What have you been able to see from Matt Barkley

“I think he’s made steady improvement. I still would like to see him do a better job with his hots and sights. He missed one yesterday that he shouldn’t have missed and those get you knocked out as a quarterback. You have to take care of yourself first, and that’s where your eyes should be first. As much as he’s grown, he’s still not making the progress I’d like to see him make.”

What about Jake Coker

“It’s the same thing. He’s never thrown the ball this much. He’s handed it off to those big backs they had at Alabama. Footwork and all the fundamental stuff, he’s improving on each day but he’s got a way to go.”

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