Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer flawless throughout first preseason drive

Aug 10, 2014, 1:08 AM | Updated: 4:19 am

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It might have been a preseason drive in early August, but Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer looked to be in midseason form Saturday night.

In the team’s opening drive against the visiting Houston Texans, Palmer took the Cardinals down the field with relative ease, completing all five of his passes for 84 yards and a touchdown to Pro Bowl wideout Larry Fitzgerald.

“Just everyone’s confidence is so different than it was last year,” Palmer said of the offense’s continuity. “There’s not that half a second of unsureness if that’s a word in the back of your mind right before the ball gets snapped. That little bit of timidness where you’re not quite sure which way to step or what the adjustment is post-snap. All that stuff is gone. The confidence level is very high.”

On the drive, Palmer connected with five different receivers, including a 38-yard strike to Rob Housler and a 25-yard toss to John Brown.

Second-year receiver Jaron Brown also hauled in a 10-yard pass for a first down inside the red zone before the former Heisman Trophy winner finished off the trip with a seven-yard throw to Fitzgerald.

Palmer’s precision helped the Cardinals overcome two early offensive line mistakes — right guard Jonathan Cooper was badly beat by defensive end J.J. Watt on a seven-yard sack and center Ted Larsen committed an illegal hands to the face penalty to negate a 13-yard touchdown pass to John Carlson.

“We overcame a couple of big holes we put ourselves in, so it was just good to get that first drive out,” said Palmer. “It was nice to see some of those young guys make plays.”

After Arizona’s defense forced a quick three-and-out, Palmer was replaced by back-up quarterback Drew Stanton.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown stretches prior to the Cardinals' NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien, left, and Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians watch warm-ups prior to an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) warms up prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) runs onto the field prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals place kicker Jay Feely talks to Houston Texans punter Shane Lechler, left, before a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Rob Schumacher) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes a catch prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald scores a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) defends against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) is tackled by Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws as Houston Texans nose tackle Jerrell Powe (95) defends during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antonio Cromartie (31) intercepts a pass between teammates Larry Foote (50), Tony Jefferson (22) and Matt Shaughnessy (91) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) tackles Arizona Cardinals running back Stepfan Taylor (30) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) works against Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Brittan Golden (10) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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