Who stood out for the Arizona Cardinals with (most of) their regular players on the bench for the season opener?
Theo Mackie and Bob McManaman react to the Cardinals’ preseason loss to the Saints
Earlier this week, Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon laid it all out for the players battling not only for the final spots on the 53-man roster and perhaps practice squad spots, but also for those still trying to carve out a role as a starter, primary backup or part of a rotation.
Some of those decisions will be made in the days following the final game of the season on Sunday in Denver against the Broncos, but for much of the group, the situation is already dire, and the stakes could be even higher when that game rolls around.
“You have to give your best every second,” he warned on Monday, noting that there are still plenty of spots available in all areas. “It’s a lot. What happens this week in training and then in the game. … There are a lot of guys going to play and they’re playing for a reason.”
After Friday’s sessions at the team’s training center in Tempe, the training week is coming to an end, with only kickoff on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. For many players, this is the last real chance to make their case for why they should stay or whether they will have to move on when cut day arrives on Tuesday.
When asked if he sensed any nervousness among his players at the start of the week, Gannon replied: “I wouldn’t say they were nervous. I would say they are eager to practice and play. Repetition is gold and they know they need it to show what they can do.”
He also said that while the final evaluation of the team will take into account all of the players’ work, “the most important evaluation tool for me is the pre-season games.”
With that in mind, here are 5 things to look out for in the game against the Broncos:
1. Will it be Tune Time or Ridder at QB2?
All we know for now is that quarterback Clayton Tune will start against the Broncos and Desmond Ridder will step in as starter Kyler Murray’s replacement at some point in the ongoing competition for the spot. So far, Tune, the second-year pro, appears to have the upper hand over Ridder, the former part-time Falcons starter the Cardinals acquired in a trade for receiver Rondale Moore in March.
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said there shouldn’t be too much emphasis on how the Cardinals divide playing time between Tune and Ridder, adding that it doesn’t matter who starts the game and who finishes it.
“Competition at every position is going to come down to the final cuts, that’s the nature of this business,” he said. “I look forward to seeing these guys play at a high level and I expect them to do that regardless.”
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport wrote Thursday that sources told him the Cardinals are considering keeping all three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Gannon, who said he wants to see consistency and good plays from his backup QBs, did not deny that possibility when asked about it Friday morning.
“All options are on the table,” he said. “We will find the 53 that best suit us.”
2. Cornerbacks under observation
You probably won’t see Sean Murphy-Bunting or Garrett Williams handling at least two-thirds of the primary duties in any capacity, but no one seems to have staked a real claim to the third option yet. The top candidates there are Starling Thomas V, rookie Max Melton and Kei’Trel Clark, all of whom have had their moments.
Depending on who plays and who doesn’t, that spot could be decided after Sunday’s game, but coaches plan to take a closer look at freshmen Elijah Jones and Jaden Davis, as well as Divaad Wilson and Bobby Price for the reserve positions. Delonte Hood and Michael Ojemudia will really have to shine to have a chance.
“Ultimately, we have to decide in Week 1 what the role is,” defensive coordinator Nick Rallis said. “We’re not there yet. It’s still a really good competition and I’ve seen everyone in that room improve.”
3. The running back dilemma
Everyone knows that James Conner will be the running back, rookie draft pick Trey Benson is considered his likely successor, and DeeJay Dallas was signed as a free agent on a two-year contract to help in the return game and provide depth at the tailback position.
But it feels like the last chance for Michael Carter and Emari Demercado to at least secure a spot at third-down back — and heading into Sunday’s game, it appears to be neck and neck. It’s also likely the last chance for Hassan Hall and Tony Jones Jr. to be considered again.
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said Thursday that the competition overall remains “very close,” adding, “The reality is they all do different things well.”
“I think that’s what makes them dynamic as players and what makes the decision so difficult.”
4. Rookie edge rusher Xavier Thomas
There’s no doubt that the fifth-round pick, who played at Clemson for six seasons due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been able to flash in nearly every game since arriving. Not only is it clear that he has earned a spot on the roster, but he will push for regular playing time once the season begins.
Assuming he plays on Sunday and performs well again – once again demonstrating his ability to get to the quarterback and generally create havoc – who’s to say he won’t challenge Dennis Gardeck for a starting job over Zaven Collins.
“He’s got to keep developing in every aspect of his game,” Rallis said, “but I’m most pleased with him just running on game day. A lot of times you see rookies that are a little slow, and I told him early in camp, ‘Hey man, just open up.’ Have you ever seen anything like dog racing, where the door opens and they run? I said, ‘Open the door and run,’ and he ran.
“He plays hard, he plays fast, I really appreciated that. He’s definitely a natural pass rusher. He just has a natural feel for getting off the ball, he’s fast and he’s going to keep his legs moving throughout the entire rush, which isn’t easy. … His motor is hot.”
5. Find enough representatives for the right people
That’s easier said than done. Gannon and Rallis have embraced the situation. If certain players who may be undecided still have a real chance to earn a spot on the roster or even make the practice squad, then they have earned the right to some quality playing time.
That could be difficult due to all sorts of circumstances, which could put additional pressure on Gannon and all three coordinators, including special teams guru Jeff Rodgers.
“I don’t know if it adds extra pressure, but you definitely have to think very carefully about how you want to allocate your appearances in every preseason game, not just the last one,” Rallis said. “You’re using more players than you normally would in a game, so you have to think carefully about how many appearances the players get.”
“Between series, you have to constantly talk about rotations, who comes in, who steps in when someone has to go out, to make sure everyone can go out there and compete and show what they can do to make this team.”
You can reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azbobbymac and listen to him live on Roc and Manuch every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 910-AM.
