This offseason is different than almost all previous offseasons because no team has been able to get on the field for any sort of practice or reps. This is the time off the offseason when teams are holding OTAs and minicamps, which gives teams 13 practices to rep the things they learn in the classroom.
This offseason, all the Arizona Cardinals can do meet virtually, which they have been doing.
This presents an extra challenge for the rookies. they lose out on more because they did not get the three-day rookie minicamp that included practice time on the field.
“Rookies, that’s what you feel like they’re missing out on is reps, first and foremost,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury said in a video conference with reporters. “When the vets get back or when they are around the vets, they’re obviously not going to get as many, and so those rookie minicamp reps are really invaluable. It’s tough for them to not have those, but those guys have just got to work really hard at the mental part of it and obviously study their playbooks relentlessly to be prepared for their opportunities.”
They get classroom instruction and can study the playbook, but Kingsbury doesn’t know exactly whether they understand the concepts.
He won’t know for sure until they can get on the field, which still won’t be for a while.
“That’s the one hesitation about the zoom meetings, everyone’s going to nod and say, ‘yes sir, I got it,’ and when you get out there sometimes they don’t got it,” Kingsbury said. He said that once players get on the field, the first thing to know is whether they know where to go on the field to line up.
He believes he and the other coaches might have to temper expectations for the rookie class this year.
“When you look at the opportunities they’re going to get, it’s not going to be what it would have been rep wise because. guess what? Our vets haven’t played football in a year as well,” he explained. “Whenever we get our hands on them, it’s going to be a longer time than we anticipated, so they’re going to need the work as well. So I think we have to understand things are going to be moving really quickly for these guys when we do get to work with them and we probably do need to anticipate guys maybe not being as prepared as they have in the past.”
The Cardinals mostly have brought back players from last season, especially on offense. That side of the ball should not be as affected. With three new free agent starters on defense and a draft class with four defensive rookies, there might be some growing pains early on.
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Ep. 267
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Ep. 266
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