Arians: Reddick, Baker didn’t play well vs. Bears
Coach unhappy with running backs, too
After reviewing the game film of the Cardinals’ 24-23 loss to the Bears last Saturday, this is what coach Bruce Arians had to say when he met with the media Monday afternoon:
“As poorly as I thought we played, we were winning 7-3 when I took the starters out of the game,” Arians said. “I did not like the way we started but liked the fact that when they left the game we were winning.”
Arians said some of the Cardinals’ young players “did not play as well as I hoped.” Among them: Arizona’s top two draft picks, rookie linebacker Haason Reddick and rookie safety Budda Baker.
“(Haason) blew a couple of coverages that led to easy receptions,” Arians said. “Budda got victimized with his eyes in the backfield on a bootleg and he was too far off on the touchdown pass (Mike Glennon’s 7-yard TD to Kendall Wright). He and Haason will both get better the more they play.”
The Cardinals rushed 19 times for just 40 yards. Some contributing factors, according to Arians: The offensive line played “OK,” the tight ends “didn’t play very well” and “I don’t think our running backs ran very well.”
Chris Johnson had just eight yards on four carries, but Arians dismissed a question as to whether the veteran running back has lost his burst.
“I’ve seen it in practices. There’s been a bunch of times he’s exhibited it,” Arians said, adding that Johnson was “pressing” in trying to bounce runs to the outside rather than “cram it up in there for four or five yards.”
Some players who stood out to Arians: Linebacker Kareem Martin, defensive tackles Robert Nkemdiche and Olsen Pierre, wide receivers Chris Hubert and Jeremy Ross and quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
Backing the backers
Arians said he’s not concerned about the inside-linebacker position because he expects veteran free-agent-acquisition Karlos Dansby (leg) to be ready for the regular season and fourth-year pro Deone Bucannon (ankle) to start practicing the final week of the preseason. Bucannon could be activated off the physically unable-to-perform list this week to participate in walk-throughs.
“I don’t look at it as a gloom-or-doom thing because I think Karlos will be fine,” Arians said.
Dansby’s presence will help Reddick, Arians added. One example: In Saturday’s game Reddick, without a veteran to guide him, wasn’t sure whom to cover on a few plays.
“When he’s on the right guy he’s doing very well,” Arians said. “When he doesn’t have Karlos in there saying, ‘That’s your guy, go get him,’ he struggles a little bit.”
Arians said Josh Bynes, who had six tackles, a forced fumble and a halfsack in the preseason win over the Raiders before sitting out Saturday with a hamstring injury, could factor into the rotation as well.
Return on investment
There are still two games left in the preseason but Arians made it sound as if running back Kerwynn Williams will be his punt and kickoff returner.
“He’s pretty fearless back there and it’s different tackling a running back than it is a receiver,” Arians said. “A guy that can make you miss, got some tackle-breaking ability and he has that.”