http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/0609cardsnb0609.html
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 9, 2005 12:00 AM
It's football practice. In June. With temperatures near triple digits.
Those factors can tend to make minds wander, so Cardinals coach Dennis Green is taking measures to keep his players' attention.
Rather than go through two hours of mindless drills during each practice, Green and his staff are starting to prepare for this fall's opponents. The Cardinals will spend two days on each NFC West foe: St. Louis, Seattle and San Francisco. They have games against each of those teams in the first month of the season. advertisement
"I don't feel you can come out for four weeks of (practice), in shorts, for four days a week and not have the players get bored," Green said. "I think you always have to have a focus. It breaks the monotony."
Family guys
Defensive end Peppi Zellner is practicing this week after missing last week's workouts to be with his mother, who underwent back surgery.
The only player still not participating in these voluntary drills is backup running back Troy Hambrick, who is hardly a sure thing to make the team.
When asked if Hambrick also had a family issue, Green replied: "Well, they always do. I'm not being facetious."
Many NFL players come from single-parent homes, Green said, which creates demands on the players.
"Most of the burden falls on most of those guys," Green said. "We have to be understanding of that, because now is the time to take care of it. When the season starts, then it has an effect on the ballclub."
Making it
Harold Morrow, a nine-year veteran signed earlier this week, is officially listed as a fullback. But what he really does is play special teams.
"He's one of the top special-teams players in the game," Green said.
So if Morrow makes the Cardinals roster, it will be because of his special-teams skills, not his offensive prowess.
Morrow spent his first seven seasons with Minnesota, where he played for Green, and played the past two years in Baltimore.
Jet lag
Six of the seven players the Cardinals allocated to NFL Europe have completed their seasons. Safety Adrian Mayes plays for the Berlin Thunder, which meets the Amsterdam Admirals Saturday in the World Bowl.
Mayes started nine games and is second on the team in tackles.
Here's a breakdown of how the other six Cardinals fared.
Tight end Bobby Blizzard, Hamburg - started 10 games, caught 34 passes and scored two touchdowns.
Running back Larry Croom, Hamburg - started six games, rushed 92 times for 303 yards (3.3 yard average) and one touchdown.
Cornerback Clarence Curry, Rhein - played in 10 games and had two interceptions.
Quarterback Chris Lewis, Cologne - played in nine games, completed 34 of 75 passes for 412 yards. He had no touchdowns and was intercepted three times.
Cornerback Tyrone Sanders, Cologne - played in 10 games and had no interceptions.
Defensive end Antonio Smith, Hamburg - started nine games and had six sacks.
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 9, 2005 12:00 AM
It's football practice. In June. With temperatures near triple digits.
Those factors can tend to make minds wander, so Cardinals coach Dennis Green is taking measures to keep his players' attention.
Rather than go through two hours of mindless drills during each practice, Green and his staff are starting to prepare for this fall's opponents. The Cardinals will spend two days on each NFC West foe: St. Louis, Seattle and San Francisco. They have games against each of those teams in the first month of the season. advertisement
"I don't feel you can come out for four weeks of (practice), in shorts, for four days a week and not have the players get bored," Green said. "I think you always have to have a focus. It breaks the monotony."
Family guys
Defensive end Peppi Zellner is practicing this week after missing last week's workouts to be with his mother, who underwent back surgery.
The only player still not participating in these voluntary drills is backup running back Troy Hambrick, who is hardly a sure thing to make the team.
When asked if Hambrick also had a family issue, Green replied: "Well, they always do. I'm not being facetious."
Many NFL players come from single-parent homes, Green said, which creates demands on the players.
"Most of the burden falls on most of those guys," Green said. "We have to be understanding of that, because now is the time to take care of it. When the season starts, then it has an effect on the ballclub."
Making it
Harold Morrow, a nine-year veteran signed earlier this week, is officially listed as a fullback. But what he really does is play special teams.
"He's one of the top special-teams players in the game," Green said.
So if Morrow makes the Cardinals roster, it will be because of his special-teams skills, not his offensive prowess.
Morrow spent his first seven seasons with Minnesota, where he played for Green, and played the past two years in Baltimore.
Jet lag
Six of the seven players the Cardinals allocated to NFL Europe have completed their seasons. Safety Adrian Mayes plays for the Berlin Thunder, which meets the Amsterdam Admirals Saturday in the World Bowl.
Mayes started nine games and is second on the team in tackles.
Here's a breakdown of how the other six Cardinals fared.
Tight end Bobby Blizzard, Hamburg - started 10 games, caught 34 passes and scored two touchdowns.
Running back Larry Croom, Hamburg - started six games, rushed 92 times for 303 yards (3.3 yard average) and one touchdown.
Cornerback Clarence Curry, Rhein - played in 10 games and had two interceptions.
Quarterback Chris Lewis, Cologne - played in nine games, completed 34 of 75 passes for 412 yards. He had no touchdowns and was intercepted three times.
Cornerback Tyrone Sanders, Cologne - played in 10 games and had no interceptions.
Defensive end Antonio Smith, Hamburg - started nine games and had six sacks.
