GLENDALE, Ariz. — The second day of Arizona Cardinals Training Camp gave fans their first opportunity to see the team in action at State Farm Stadium. Second-year head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters on Thursday that he was impressed with the players’ retention since OTAs and the attention to detail was where it needed to be at this point of the year. Here are five takeaways from Thursday’s practice in Glendale:
1. The connection between quarterback Kyler Murray and center Hjalte Froholdt is getting stronger
This is the first training camp the pair have had together as Murray spent most of 2023 recovering from ACL surgery and didn’t play a game until Week 10 last season. Murray and Froholdt have played eight regular season games together but having a full offseason to work on their communication has been beneficial for the offense as a whole.
“They know what each other's thinking… When Hjalte does something, Kyler understands the why behind it. And then when Kyler trumps him, Hjalte understands the why behind it, which is what you want,” Gannon said. “They have a really good relationship… they're very comfortable with one another, and I think it's just going to get better and better and better.”
2. Details matter and every second counts
What kind of details are we talking about? Everything from how Gannon marks his scripts so he can communicate clearly, to the movements and spacing on the field, to the structure of drills at practice as whole; Gannon is focused on efficiency and maximizing his practice time.
“I'm a believer in the details matter. You can go one of two ways: nothing matters, or everything matters. You just gotta know when to pick the one. But when you're in here, everything matters… I think our guys understand that if they want to feed their families, they know the details matter,” Gannon said. “I think every rep's important. Every rep is a learning experience for them… Because there's not a lot to go around right now. There are time constraints with practice, we can't be out there for four hours a day. There's a finite amount of reps… They have to maximize those reps. They're gold.“
3. Discussions about who makes the 53-man roster are happening every day
For Gannon, deciding how many players to keep at a specific position doesn’t happen in a vacuum and the competition to make the roster will be fierce. Quarterbacks Clayton Tune and Desmond Ridder are fighting to be the backup to Murray, but, how many quarterbacks will the team decide to keep, and how will that affect depth at other positions? It’s a numbers game that he and General Manager Monti Ossenfort will have to sort through during camp.
“There's a trickle-down effect to the entire roster. We talk about competing for your role. Okay? So, I'm a DB, and I'm competing versus these other DBs, right? I'm also competing against that receiver, that tight end, that back,” Gannon said. “A lot of those decisions are made not just with each group, it's the entire team. And you guys know we're always going to make what we think is the best decision for the team.”
4. Players and coaches approach learning on and off the field with enthusiasm
Rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson made quite the impression at the NFL Draft when he detailed his weekly preparation routine ahead of each game at Missouri. The first-round pick has maintained that same level of discipline in the offseason with the way he studies his playbook. The Mizzou product recently earned his master’s degree in education with an emphasis on positive coaching and athletic leadership, which he hopes to utilize once his playing career is over. But right now, Robinson is looking forward to putting the schoolwork aside in order to focus on learning how to be a pro and performing on Sundays.
“I tried to lift at least five days. Wednesdays would be my off day. I’d do D-line work three times a week, and sometimes I’d get crazy after two-a-days and just watch a lot of tape. That was my thing every night. I made sure I watched 10 clips of [Cardinals] games last year, and then I went through our install for that night. I just kept going over and over and over so that I can be here and be ready for fall camp,” Robinson said.
5. A connected (and healthy) team is a dangerous team
The observation is a take on Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo’s rallying cry during Arizona’s magical run to the World Series in 2023. Murray has been healthy throughout the offseason and so have his top targets. This year’s fourth overall draft pick Marvin Harrison Junior, Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, James Conner and Zay Jones are just some of the weapons at K1’s disposal. The six-year NFL veteran expedited the process of connecting with his offensive teammates by organizing trips and training sessions throughout the offseason. Murray already told reporters over the summer that his expectation this season is to win the Super Bowl – which would be a big leap from the four-win season the Cardinals recorded in 2023. But we’ve seen Arizona teams make big leaps from dismal seasons in recent years, haven’t we?
“I honestly think it's awesome what they did this off-season, Kyler obviously being the lead guy on that. And they had some fun, too… That's always good for those guys to see and to get a little break and get away. But, you know, they’ll go to dinner together, have a little fun together, but put in the work together too. They know what's at stake,” Gannon said.
The Cardinals host the New Orleans Saints for their first preseason game on August 10. The Cardinals open the regular season at Buffalo on September 8.
Follow the conversation with Lina Washington on X and Instagram: @LWashingtonTV. If you have a sports story idea, email Lina at LWashington@12News.com
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