ARIZONA CARDINALS

Reunited with Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals tackle Max Starks looking forward to new challenges

Aug 22, 2014, 10:23 PM | Updated: 10:24 pm

LISTEN: Max Starks, Cardinals offenisve lineman

The Arizona Cardinals are expecting veteran tackle Max Starks, who signed with the team in early August, to fill in at both left and right tackle this season.

Starks has plenty of experience at both positions — and although he’s played most of his NFL career at left tackle, he says those expectations are just fine with him.

“I think (playing right tackle is) more challenging because obviously the best guy on defense more often than not is usually going to be that weak-side rusher,” Starks said Friday on the Doug and Wolf show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “That was a challenge, and I did it for seven years — played a lot of games at left tackle — but I got my start in this league at the right tackle position. I got over 30 starts at that position, so it’s something that I’m very familiar with…

“I actually enjoyed the right side because you could run the ball more on that side as opposed to being the back-side cutoff guy.”

Starks suffered an ankle injury during the Cardinals’ 30-28 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.
While the NFL has been penalizing defenders more often this preseason for using hands to the face, he said officials missed a glaring infraction on the play in which the injury occurred.

“During that play, (a Vikings defensive end) had hands inside of my facemask, and nothing (was called),” he said.

“It’s one of those things that it has to be a very obvious one, I think, to get called, but you obviously don’t want to bait (players into) that because hands to the face, it knocks you out and you kind of get stunned as far as what your responsibilities are in trying to get a guy stopped.”

Starks, who spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, said he signed with the Cardinals in part because of his familiarity with head coach Bruce Arians, who was the Steelers’ wide receivers coach from 2004-06.

Starks said he’s enjoyed watching Arians’ progression from position coach, to offensive coordinator and interim head coach with the Indianapolis Colts, to head coach.

“I think (his playbook has) expanded obviously since he’s left Pittsburgh and he had his time in Indianapolis, and now here, I think he’s amassed a wider array of offensive plays… very similar terminology, very similar plays, but they’re expanded and there’s more options inside of this offense now than there was before,” he said.

“I think that’s an awesome thing and it’s good to see that progression, and I think it allows for a lot of versatility and a lot of success.”

Starks is also relishing the chance to play alongside his old AFC North division rival, former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. Starks said he met Palmer, who won the Heisman Trophy at USC in 2002, before his NFL career began.

“The funny thing is I actually met Carson when I was a high school kid on my official visit to USC, and I thought he was a cool guy then,” he said. “Even when we played against Cincinnati — even when I was hoping he’d get sacked or hoping he’d throw an interception to his old college roommate, Troy Polamalu, I knew he was a good guy, and it only reaffirmed it once I came here.

“Carson’s been consistent — just a cool, calm, collected dude, and very easy to talk to, very approachable. Nothing really changed in my mind except for rooting for him instead of rooting against him.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

2 days ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

2 days ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

3 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

3 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

3 days ago

Reunited with Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals tackle Max Starks looking forward to new challenges