2021 Training Camp Thread

SoonerLou

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#1. Rondale Moore continues to impress

Moore was already getting rave reviews after a solid first day but today seemed like a “breakout” practice.

With Andy Isabella and KeeSean Johnson on the Covid list, he had a chance to shine and...he took advantage of it with a few deep catches (one in traffic between two defenders) and another for an open deep touchdown out of the slot from Kyler Murray.


I’m not saying that Andy is going to be Wally Pipp’d, but it IS interesting as in the Purdue offense he played in in college, Moore wasn’t a “downfield” specialist like Andy Isabella was coming out of college. He wasn’t used much on downfield throws, but man was he productive againt big competition in the Big 10 as a true freshman.

He’s small (so small that 5’9 Chase Edmonds dwarfed him in mass) but had seemingly no issues with getting open and getting free off the line. That’s something Isabella hasn’t been able to do as well.


2. Jordan Phillips was missing

The defense saw a few backups (I didn’t see Rashard Lawrence out there but did see Leki Fotu) though more were on the offensive line, with more on that in a minute.

But Jordan Phillips was brought in as a 10+ sack guy from the interior a year ago and battled injuries and missed time. While he and J.J. Watt have been brought in to create a whole new Arizona pass rush, the fact neither has been practicing might cause a few eyeballs to glance Steve Keim’s way.

Still, I’m not as concerned at this point but Watt has produced at a high level this past decade. Phillips’ one good year will look like a standout if he can’t get back to that 2019 form.

3. AJ Green looked like 2015 A.J. Green and...could a backup for him be on the roster?

Man, Green has been maybe, for some, the biggest surprise of camp given that he has been an afterthought for the last two years in Cincinatti. He’s looked similar to the outside big WR that made pro bowls and while Hopkins still looks like the superior athlete out there, Green’s showcased some outside separation and solid route running. If he and Hopkins and Kirk/Moore make up the team’s 11 personnel and he stays healthy...injury might be the only thing that can derail that offense.

Speaking of Kirk, he moved inside and there was a lot more intermediate/over the middle and it might be that Kyler’s weakness in the middle of the field last year (outside of targeting Dan Arnold) might be boosted in that regard.

Before I move on, though, Kirk moving inside creates a problem given how Rondale Moore has been responding.

If Hopkins is an outside guy along with Green and Kirk is in the slot...if either Hop or Green goes down, Kirk can move outside. But where does that leave room for Isabella? Moore is reportedly taking more special teams reps on punt and kickoff return, after all.

And #33, Antoine Wesley, looks to be a HUGE player on the outside at 6’5, 210. Lengthy and with the solid hands he showed today, it’ll be interesting if he can (surprisingly) land a spot on the active roster. He’s bounced around the league from Baltimore and has been on a few practice squads, but he’s back in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

As a Texas Tech player he had some 1,000+ yards and close to 10 TD’s but didn’t seem to be embraced by the NFL. He might be limited in that regard to comebacks, contested catches (he didn’t get much separation over the top but had a nice snag) and straight go-routes. He was second-team already and showed nice rapport with both Murray and McCoy.

Well....that’s what Kliff’s offense IS for outside guys. If Wesley can prove himself to be a backup on the outside, it might leave little room for a guy like Andy Isabella if Rondale Moore keeps making spectacular catches as he has been.

Food for thought.

4. Kliff’s offensive structure looks...unchanged from 2020.

Many thought Kingsbury would be shifting more of his pieces around this year and moving guys like Green or Hopkins into the slot.

Instead we’re kind of seeing a lot of similarities to what the Cardinals ran last year.

Outside, lot of comeback routes or deep balls, with a few back-shoulder. Inside, some crossing/mesh routes in or downfield.

Some deep throws out of the slot and a few short throws to RB’s or Tight Ends, with the occasional post or drag over the middle.

gen_204


The offense itself, however, might have some of the right talent personnel-wise now, Moore/Kirk inside and Hopkins/Green outside look like 10 personnel in the making with Maxx Williams as the lone TE. Darrell Daniels was TE2 and while a few other receivers were involved, you get the feeling that the offense is going to prove whether Kingsbury’s approach simply needed to upgrade from the 3-13 2018 Cardinals or if his Air Raid needs more than the concepts that he’s tossing at it.

Based on camp, we will see this season but things are off to a solid start even with no Dan Arnold or a certain #11 out there.

5. The 10 personnel means OL is important and...it wasn’t the best up the front today

With Lamont Galliard traded and Justin Pugh/Pro Bowl C Rodney Hudson out, Max Garcia was the guy snapping to the first team’s quarterback Kyler Murray, and Kyler...seemed to be under pressure more often than not on some plays.

The Cardinals’ blitzes were more exotic than maybe it should be in a practice but the highlight was how they seemed to generate pressure with 5 would have counted for a few sacks.

Of note, Isaiah Simmons was an edge rusher at times, with Jordan Hicks on the field next to Zaven Collins

6. Zaven didn’t seem like the job was too big for him

He had a pass breakup and filled the holes nicely from what I saw, no gaping mental errors (but of course, maybe there were and being an outsider I simply do not know without the firsthand ability to glance at a playbook and know assignments for individual plays).

But I think that it’s easy to see that he’s a natural MIKE and didn’t look uncomfortable at all as several rookies the Cardinals have drafted over the years have. Good to keep him in the position he played in college.

7. Murphy Moving Outside?

Byron Murphy was the starting corner opposite Malcolm Butler. I don’t know if this was simply the design or if he shifts into the slot/mirrors the team’s top WR but he certainly seemed to be the guy on the depth chart. A big year for him as he’s entering Year 3 of his rookie 4 year deal and the Cardinals would love for him to become a top-flight cornerback this season...and pay him in kind.

For the other corners, Alford played some with the first team that I saw but Jace Whittaker had a few nice plays and it really feels like Marco Wilson and Tay Gowan are ahead of the guys they brought in off the street. The depth of the Cardinals’ secondary isn’t great so the hopes are that Murphy and Butler are able to lock guys down.

8. James Connor’s “big back” replacement and the speedster that time forgot

Two guys who weren’t even on the Cardinals last year got a lot more snaps with the one’s than many thought would. Both also are similarly named to an extend in Jonathan Ward and JoJo Ward. The former, wearing Chase Edmonds’ old 29, took a few handoffs in the #3 and 4 role, rotating with Eno Benjamin.

Given that Chase and Eno are smaller backs and Conner participated in walkthroughs and installs (my guess at the end) but not practice, I wonder if there was some sort of ankle or head issue that kept him out of it. In any case, JoJo Ward also made a few nice snags and looks to be a guy who knows how to use his hands and get open close. He wasn’t utilized deep but adds to the plethora of slot receivers that Arizona has.

gen_204


9. Questions on Kickoff:

The plan seems to be Matt Prater kicking off and Andy Lee punting.

However, perhaps a wrench in this equation might be the fact that Prater didn’t kickoff for the last few years. And during the aptly named “kickoff” drills, P Tyler Newsome mimicked a leg sweep for the jug machine which then launched a ball into the endzone for the likes of Ward and others to run back.

It might be due to Newsome, who has a booming leg, and the more accurate but older Prater being guys who can compliment each other’s current skill sets while still letting Andy Lee remain the punter.

However, that’s probably a poor use of a roster spot for a kickoff specialist, and Kingsbury’s said that the plan is still Prater as the kickoff man. We will see if that changes, as I don’t think Lee’s spot is in jeopardy at all.

10. Maxx effort this season

Maxx Williams looked to be moving better than I’ve seen in a long time, making a nice deep catch or two on the day. The Cards seem to still need help at the tight end position and frankly, it might be that they shift away from them being primary pass-catchers altogether with Hopkins/Green/Kirk/Moore being the talents there.

But Williams still has a vital role to play as he was one of, if not the best, run-blockers on the team in 2019, and even when he did play in 2020. The Cardinals offense went from “bleh” to functional against the Niners in Week 1 after he came back on the field, and it took some time to adjust to life without him being fully capable.

Arizona at one point had the #1 rushing attack in the league last year and ADDED Rodney Hudson to it. If Williams can get back to form, then he’s in great shape.
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BullheadCardFan

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Sounds like the same offense that the others teams had figured out last year

Lot's of hope for different results, but I'm not buying it

KK needs to revamp the O and put some motion and put some wrinkles in the game plan or once again we will be too easy to predict what's coming
 

TaylorSwift

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Murray and Green have looked sharp.
 

Arz101

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Sounds like the same offense that the others teams had figured out last year

Lot's of hope for different results, but I'm not buying it

KK needs to revamp the O and put some motion and put some wrinkles in the game plan or once again we will be too easy to predict what's coming

At practice yesterday, there were at least three passes behind the line of scrimmage too. 11-on-11 practice felt like a recap of 2020 offense. Yeah, it will be interesting to see how this offense will work once season starts. May be they are banking on improvement from Murray PLUS AJ Green and Moore to bring a spark?
 

Proximo

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@Krangthebrain Throwing off his backfoot cost em two big plays. Its ok to do it if you're gonna consistently make the throw, but..
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I'm thinking Steve Smith.

Am I missing something here, why is this video suppossed to be a hype video for Moore, when he dropped a very catchable ball?
 

Proximo

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At practice yesterday, there were at least three passes behind the line of scrimmage too. 11-on-11 practice felt like a recap of 2020 offense. Yeah, it will be interesting to see how this offense will work once season starts. May be they are banking on improvement from Murray PLUS AJ Green and Moore to bring a spark?

Were you really expecting the offense to change? Why?

Yes, they think improving the line and skill position players will improve the passing offense. I am a bit worried about the running game though.
 

SoonerLou

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I guess no practice today?
At practice yesterday, there were at least three passes behind the line of scrimmage too. 11-on-11 practice felt like a recap of 2020 offense. Yeah, it will be interesting to see how this offense will work once season starts. May be they are banking on improvement from Murray PLUS AJ Green and Moore to bring a spark?
I mean..

1st 9 games of the season Murray + a legit 4.2 threat instead of Isabella and a fountain of youth AJ Green instead of Larry Fitz at the end sounds scary.

Kyler might be a guy that wont be "complete" till about year 5 or 6 for all we know. This is just to be good now.
 

Solar7

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33 Year old AJ Green running by Malcolm Butler...
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Week 1 will tell us a lot.

I will say that Karlos Dansby? said that he has never seen a guy practice as hard as AJ Green. At Purdue they said Moore practiced so hard they feared he was going to get injured. His mph/volume of reps were insane.

So they are basically the opposite of DHOP when it comes to practice, lol. Lets hope it translates to games for AJ/Moore this year.
Butler's always been slow and I'm not liking the idea of him being even older and covering #1s. Very very scared about CB. Not a surprise to anyone, but still.
 

BigRedRage

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Sounds like the same offense that the others teams had figured out last year

Lot's of hope for different results, but I'm not buying it

KK needs to revamp the O and put some motion and put some wrinkles in the game plan or once again we will be too easy to predict what's coming
I saw quite a bit of motion with rondale Moore at Saturdays camp
 

BigRedRage

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Am I missing something here, why is this video suppossed to be a hype video for Moore, when he dropped a very catchable ball?
I saw him catch some amazing balls. I only saw one poor drop and I think it's a video I posted. He was wide open so I felt it was still worth posting
 

tnmike

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Sounds like the same offense that the others teams had figured out last year

Lot's of hope for different results, but I'm not buying it

KK needs to revamp the O and put some motion and put some wrinkles in the game plan or once again we will be too easy to predict what's coming
Yes because after only a couple of days all the new plays and players should be totally up to season speed.
 

football karma

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total speculation:

lots of zone play for the defensive secondary

they couldnt do it last year because P2 was a free lancer and a poor tackler (and its just not his strength)

Murphy and Butler (and Alford) are all solid tacklers. Simmons and Collins give Vance some pieces to mix different coverages in --
 

Arz101

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Were you really expecting the offense to change? Why?

Yes, they think improving the line and skill position players will improve the passing offense. I am a bit worried about the running game though.

Cardinals (and every team) need to evolve from season to season. If Cardinals assumption is "it was going great until Murray got hurt in 2020. We got Murray back now. Added Moore, Green and we got an improved line....let's do more on what we did in 2020" IT is a recipe for 2-4 start.

Early indications from Camp so far is Cardinals are going get their traning camp reps and go into 2021 with same game plans and plays as 2020.
 

Proximo

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Cardinals (and every team) need to evolve from season to season. If Cardinals assumption is "it was going great until Murray got hurt in 2020. We got Murray back now. Added Moore, Green and we got an improved line....let's do more on what we did in 2020" IT is a recipe for 2-4 start.

Early indications from Camp so far is Cardinals are going get their traning camp reps and go into 2021 with same game plans and plays as 2020.
Well I'm not surprised, because at this point I think very poorly of Kliff.

Quite frankly I am expecting this to be a wasted year till he gets replaced.
 

tnmike

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Cardinals (and every team) need to evolve from season to season. If Cardinals assumption is "it was going great until Murray got hurt in 2020. We got Murray back now. Added Moore, Green and we got an improved line....let's do more on what we did in 2020" IT is a recipe for 2-4 start.

Early indications from Camp so far is Cardinals are going get their traning camp reps and go into 2021 with same game plans and plays as 2020.
Early indications from who? Some Chimbo that went to the practice ? It's been less than a week of practice. Lots of things can change before the season starts.
 

BritCard

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Were you really expecting the offense to change? Why?

Yes, they think improving the line and skill position players will improve the passing offense. I am a bit worried about the running game though.

Why? Because by mid season every team knew exactly what we were going to do and when and how to stop us.
 

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