Arians says this spring was more fun for Cards players
Coach Bruce Arians likes to say the Cardinals don’t become a team until September. Until then, they are 90 or so individuals just trying to make the roster.
Despite that belief, Arians noticed something different about this group during offseason practices, which concluded on Thursday.
These players seem looser, more at ease, and as a result, practices were more fun, he said.
“I think last year was a lot more business-like,” Arians said. “They worked hard. The expectations were higher from the outside, and rightfully so, and from the inside. They are always high from the inside.”
That statement implies the 2016 Cardinals’ didn’t handle those expectations well, which a 7-8-1 record supports. They were coming off an appearance in the NFC title game and considered a favorite to take one more step the next season.
It’s only June, but there appears to be less pressure on the Cardinals as they prepare for 2017. There are questions about quarterback Carson Palmer’s arm strength, a re-shuffled offensive line and the loss of five starters on defense.
“They don’t have them (expectations) from the outside because nobody is picking us to win more than seven games,” Arians said, “but they damn sure have them from the inside because those expectations never change.”
Arians’ observation of this year’s group having more fun hasn’t resonated with everyone. Palmer said he hadn’t thought much about the differences between the teams, but agreed that last year’s offseason was “very workmanlike, very serious. There was a lot of expectations on us and maybe too much pressure.
“I think after going through the last couple years, this core group of guys has really learned to enjoy it. I think there have been more enjoyment, more celebration, maybe a little less pressure.”
Outsiders, including reporters, aren’t allowed to attend all practices so judging the Cardinals’ enthusiasm for practice is difficult for them.
What Palmer liked this offseason was the Cardinals' ability to bounce back from a bad practice. On Tuesday, the offense struggled, he said, but was much better on Wednesday.
“You can’t stack bad practices back to back,” Palmer said. “I think that’s a sign of a mature football team, a good football team.”
Veteran players don’t have to return until training camp starts in late July. Rookies will work at the team’s facility for two more weeks, then go on summer break.
Arians will leave soon for his home in Georgia, and judging by his comments on Thursday, he will have little to worry about between now and the start of training camp.
“I thought our veterans really improved,” Arians said. “Our young guys have a ton of talent and they just have to learn what the hell they’re doing.”
The Cardinals made it through the spring with only one serious injury. Starting inside linebacker Deone Bucannon underwent surgery on a lingering ankle problem, and likely will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
It’s questionable whether Bucannon will be ready for the start of the regular season.
“We had great participation,” Arians said. “Guys worked extremely hard. Really couldn’t ask anything more of them work-wise. And they’re learning to work smarter.”
That means learning how to play well in critical situations, something last year’s team often failed to do. Spring practices were filled with attempts to recreate game situations.
For instance, on Wednesday the Cardinals offense started on the 8-yard line and had to drive for a field goal within a short time frame. It handled the situation well.
The defense’s goal was to stop the offense from getting into Phil Dawson’s field-goal range, which is about the 37yard line.
“We put them in situations where there were 12 seconds left in a game, you’re down by eight and no timeouts,” Arians said. “Can you get two plays run? The same thing defensively. You have to be able to make that call, that second play quickly and get things adjusted.
“Just putting those guys in those situations over, over and over.”
All of this will be repeated at training camp. The entire offensive and defensive schemes will be re-installed, and players who haven’t studied during the break will be exposed.
“I thought our veterans really improved, especially, all spring,” Arians said. “Young guys have a lot of talent; they just have to learn what the hell they’re doing.”