Arizona Cardinals: Bruce Arians Calls Out Rookie

Jul 28, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Jim Dray (81) ands linebacker Sam Acho (94) collide with head coach Bruce Arians during training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

It is no secret that coach Bruce Arians does not hold back his feelings and probably makes for the best interview for the media, that did not change when Arians expressed his disappointment in his rookie 7^th round pick tight end DC Jefferson following the teams first preseason game Friday night.

Jefferson really struggled in his first game of live action, and it is apparent that coach Arians has high expectation for the young tight end. Jefferson had gotten reps in training camp with the first team and did well and it earned him first team reps on the second play of the first possession against the packers. Jefferson was in for a two tight end set to block in the running game and started off OK, but that would change quickly when the second team offense took the field.

Jefferson broke wide open on an out route that left him one on one with his own shadow, that’s how open he was, and his shadow won the battle. He apparently jumped in the air to soon to get the pass that did not require him to jump, and he stumbled over a defender and flipped over as he never secured the ball, and to add to the play he was hit in the back of the head late by a flying tackler while he was sitting on his behind. Sounds like a comic piece but for the rookie I’m sure he didn’t feel to good about it.

Later he found himself in the back of the end zone with an opportunity to redeem himself but it looked to me he may have stopped running through his route to early and decided to dive with one hand out to catch the ball. First I thought maybe quarterback Drew Stanton had over thrown him but the timing of the play suggested different. Nevertheless he added an injury to the disastrous start and had to leave the game with a hip pointer.

Coach Arians did not hold back the fireworks in his press conference later that night when he called out the rookie for his dropped touchdowns. “DC Jefferson left the game with a hip pointer and that’s what happens when you drop wide open touchdowns” Arians said.

This is definitely different from the previous coach who we all know would give you all the cliche’s you could handle, I just hope this style does not back fire and discourage some of the rookies and cause them to think to much, we have seen it happen more times than not.