azdad1978

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Thrust into a starting position as a rookie, Arizona Cardinals center Alex Stepanovich has had to learn on the fly. He wouldn't have it any other way.

"It's the only way to grow up, I think," Stepanovich said Wednesday. "It's been fun."

A year ago, Stepanovich was finishing up a stellar career at Ohio State. But things happened fast after the Cardinals drafted him in the fourth round. When training camp opened on Aug. 1, unpredictable coach Dennis Green made one of his quixotic decisions and cut center Pete Kendall, the most respected offensive lineman on the 2003 team.

The terse explanation: A rookie from a prestigious program like Ohio State's should be able to handle an NFL job.

The translation, of course, was that Stepanovich had been impressive in minicamps and summer school. And, Green isn't afraid to use untested players -- linebacker Karlos Dansby, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and defensive tackle Darnell Dockett are other rookie regulars on the 2-5 team.

"I think he's doing what you'd expect a first-year player to do," Green said about Stepanovich. "I think all four of the guys that are playing for us are giving a good account of themselves."

Seven games in, Stepanovich now speaks with a veteran's savvy about future opponents, especially the Miami Dolphins (1-7), who beat St. Louis 31-14 on Oct. 24 and then went flat in a 41-14 loss to the New York Jets on Monday, losing linebacker Junior Seau for the season.

"You never want somebody to be out because they're hurt, but, yeah, that's obviously something we're not mad about," Stepanovich said. "But still, they have guys on that defense, a lot of Pro Bowlers left, veteran guys who've played a lot of football, and they're going to be ready."

The Jets' offense thrived behind the blocking of five-time Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae, who found a way time after time to get past his first block and take care of Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas.

Stepanovich has done his homework in that regard.

"I watched that film already," he said. "That's a good film to look at on how they ran the ball and how they not only took care of the first level but also got to the second level and sealed the guys off."

Right tackle L.J. Shelton frequently did that Sunday, but his effort was obscured by a 38-14 defeat at Buffalo, where bad weather contributed to Cardinals mistakes. Shelton believes Arizona can follow the Jets' game plan, though.

"We definitely think we have the personnel to do that, but we have to execute," Shelton said. "You know, you have put yourself in position to do that -- not have stupid penalties and taking the ball back and losing yardage and giving away the yards on the pickup."

Stepanovich, the only member of the line who hasn't been moved around, acknowledged that the season has held some surprises.

He now has Jeremy Bridges, a former reserve, on his right elbow, with L.J. Shelton beyond Bridges. Shelton, last year's starting left tackle, was on the bench until he was given the job at right tackle a few weeks ago.

Stepanovich accepted last week's shocker -- the demotion of offensive line coach Bob Wylie and the promotion of assistant Everett Lindsay after just a month of coaching experience -- with equanimity.

"I've got a job to do," Stepanovich said. "I go out there and just focus on what I've got to do, and I'm ready to battle, whoever is next to me. There's some things that you never expect to see, and you realize how hard this league really is and how good these players are."


http://www.azcardinals.com/news/news....html?iid=2357

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DevonCardsFan

Yeah the interior of the O-Line looked pretty solid last Sunday

Mulli

Next week the article will be on Anthony Clement veteran solid at RT

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Russ Smith

I will say this though, it's unfair to Step that he got thrown in so quickly, with such inexperienced guards next to him and a young QB. He was set up to fail. Jake Grove is just now going to play in Oakland, with a veteran QB, and Grove may play guard this week.

Green put Step in before he was ready.

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“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo

SECTION 11

I'm glad he's in. A lot of our moves seem geared toward next season anyway. I'm cool with it.

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Run like an antelope,
Roll like a cantaloupe.

DevonCardsFan

Yeah I agree guys getting some wxperience and should be fine by next season. I do like the move just laughing at the headline.

spanky1

Russ,

And his choices were?

Mulli

<insert another Kendall argument here>


::threadlock::

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DevonCardsFan

LMAO

spanky1

Section 11,

I agree. The last thing I want is to have a situation like the Panthers......where you win a lot of games by three points in OT yet it is more fortuitious versus deserved.

When we start to win, I want to win because we are clearly the better team. I'm happy with a 7-9/8-8 season this year.

Russ Smith

Could've kept Garcia around for a few games while Step got his feet wet.

All I can tell you is we would have been a better team the first few weeks with a more experienced C. I do agree with Sec 11 longterm it's good for Step to get PT, but I also think there's something to be said about watching and learning.

If this were monday I could easily grab the quote from Grove about how glad he was he didn't get thrown in right away because there's just so much to process as a rookie playing Center. Admittedly he had less camp time because of his contract but not much less, and he has 2 veteran QB's around and a veteran C to learn from. That quote was in the Monday SJ merc but they archive every day and I can't be bothered to look it up.

__________________
“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo

azdad1978

lmao

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Russ Smith

yeah I mean that's gotta suck playing in the Superbowl, getting primetime games, having free agents and rookies WANT to play for you.

I agree much rather go 7-9 than have to deal with all that winning.

__________________
“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo

spanky1

The biggest problem with Steph has been that he's playing along side of two rookie G's.......that's alot of unnecessary pressure. Personally, outside of the Bills game, I think he's done admirably under the circumstances.

Garcia wouldn't have won us any additional games.

Russ Smith

Guys playing guard for the first time yes, Wells of course is not a rookie but wasn't a guard originally.

I think he's doing admirably too but part of the "circumstances" is his own play. Green readily admitted Josh was making the linecalls at the start of the year because STep couldn't, and again part of the reason we don't use the shotgun more is Step.

Who knows, look at all the sacks in FG range and ask yourself if Garcia just once in awhile might make a difference in a linecall or block that would have kept us IN FG range in some of those situations, or avoided a fumble?

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“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo