Training camp battles ahead for the Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
With Arizona Cardinals camp just around the corner competition will be fierce for both starting positions and roster spots
Bruce Arians seems like a happy man these days. Being the head coach of possibly the deepest group of players this organization has ever had can have that effect.
With camp just a few weeks away there are a few questions that will need to be answered. Arians and his coaching staff will have tough decisions to make. Decisions that will be dictated by ultra-competitive warriors fighting for starting spots and in some cases their football lives.
One of the more interesting battles will be over who starts at center. As of now the job appears to be A.Q.Shipley’s to lose. Rookie Evan Boehm and newcomer to the position Earl Watford will have something to say about that.
Another spot up for grabs is the cornerback spot opposite Patrick Peterson. Incumbent Justin Bethel has the job for now but he will be pushed by rookies Harlan Miller and Brandon Williams. Bringing in veteran insurance is not out of the question, some names still available include Leon Hall, Antonio Cromartie and Cortez Allen.
Assuming the team doesn’t decide to employ just two quarterbacks, a battle for the third spot will be waged between Matt Barkley and Jake Coker. Barkley would seem to have a leg up having already spent a year learning the offense but Coker’s size and pedigree are certainly intriguing.
If the staff decides to keep only three tight ends as opposed to four, an interesting battle for that third spot could feature Troy Niklas and Ifeanyi Momah. Jermaine Gresham and Darren Fells will hold down the first two spots.
One final position worth mentioning is safety. Possibly the deepest position on the team, numbers wise at least. Would the team consider hanging on to five safeties as opposed to four?
Tyrann Mathieu and Tyvon Branch will occupy the first two spots. The next two or three spots will be decided from a group consisting of Tony Jefferson, D.J. Swearinger, Chris Clemons and rookie Marqui Christian.
So the stage is set for some heated competition. One thing is for sure; there will be some good football players released by the Arizona Cardinals come late August, early September. A testament to an outstanding job done by GM Steve Keim and his scouting staff.