Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is taking a back seat for the second game in a row in the preseason.
Normally the offensive play caller, he let offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin handle the offense in the Hall of Fame Game last week, something he allowed Goodwin to do last preseason as well.
This weekend, against the Oakland Raiders, it will neither be Arians or Goodwin. First year quarterbacks coach Byron Leftwich will call the plays on offense, Arians told the media on Wednesday.
Arians often uses the preseason and the offseason to help his coordinators and position coaches take steps in the coaching development. This is just another one of these opportunities.
Arians believes Leftwich will move quickly through the coaching ranks, so he wants to give him the chance to add things to his resume.
As for quarterback Carson Palmer, who will have a different voice in the helmet this week, he is “looking forward to it.”
“Byron doesn’t have a ton of, or much, history calling plays but just his knowledge of the offense, his knowledge of being the guy that is hearing it through his headset is going to serve him and give him some experience.”
