Cardinals look to improve pass blocking in final week of camp
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The No. 1 priority for the Arizona Cardinals' offensive line is to keep Carson Palmer upright.
And there were issues in that area in last weekend's 22-19 preseason loss to San Diego.
Palmer, a 35-year-old quarterback coming off ACL surgery, played less than a quarter and was sacked twice. Backup Drew Stanton was sacked four times. All six sacks occurred in the first half.
Coach Bruce Arians, speaking Monday as the final week of training camp got under way, said the problems were a combination of getting beat physically and making mental errors.
"We had two mental errors that we just turned guys loose," Arians said. "(Right tackle) Bradley (Sowell) got beat on a spin move and (left tackle) Jared (Veldheer) got beat on the snap. Now whether or not the guy (Melvin Ingram) was offsides, you can argue with the officials on that one, but I've never seen Jared get beat like that without the guy being offsides."
General manager Steve Keim, in his weekly radio appearance on Monday, said the Cardinals can have an explosive offense but Palmer has to be given time to pass the ball.
"If we can protect Carson, we have some guys who can not only create separation, but can be explosive," Keim said.
Running backs shared the blame with the offensive line.
"It's one thing to get beat physically, but to blow assignments mentally is unacceptable," Keim said.
There are two changes on the line since camp began. With Mike Iupati out for several weeks following surgery to repair a torn meniscus, Ted Larsen stepped into the left guard spot.
Arians said Larsen played well except for a "dumb" personal foul penalty.
With Bobby Massie facing a suspension of probably three games, Sowell has moved into the right tackle spot. But he could be pressed by Earl Watford, who has had a good camp. Watford didn't gain any ground Monday, though, because he sat out practice with an ankle injury.
First-round draft pick D.J. Humphries, subject of much criticism by Arians for his inconsistency and effort, will get some work at left tackle this week after playing exclusively at right tackle up to this point.
"He's going to be backup tackle for us," Arians said, "so if he's going to dress on Sunday, he's got to be able to play (right and left), so we've got to get him a little left tackle work. That's his natural position so it shouldn't take him long to re-establish his footwork, and then we'll get him right back to (the right side)."
Arians expressed concern about the continued absence of inside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Signed as a free agent with the idea of making him a leader at that position, Weatherspoon has yet to practice due to a hamstring injury. Arians said Weatherspoon probably will be out most of this week.
"I need to see a lot. I haven't seen anything yet," Arians said.
Weatherspoon missed all of last season with an Achilles injury.
Arians praised the play of rookie quarterback Phillip Sims against the Chargers. It remains a tight battle between Logan Thomas and Sims for the No. 3 quarterback spot, Arians said. "It's two dogs, one bone."
And the competition remains close at center between A.J. Shipley and Lyle Sendlein. Someone asked Arians how much input Palmer had on which of the two centers gets the job.
"None," Arians said. "Their butts are about the same."
NOTES: Arians said Jerraud Powers is shut down for a time due to a hamstring problem. ... Running back Chris Johnson has been upgraded and he could be back at practice in the next few days. Arians had said the newly signed back would be out one to two weeks. ... Arians said the starters will get extensive playing time Saturday night at Oakland, although not all will play into the third quarter.
