GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Mental errors, particularly by Arizona’s first-team defensive front, irritated coach Bruce Arians in the aftermath of the team’s 30-28 preseason loss at Minnesota.
The starters only were in for a couple of series, but that was enough to leave Arians dissatisfied as he reviewed the game on Monday.
”Some veteran guys were in the wrong gaps,” he said. ”It’s inexcusable to play 10 plays and have three or four mental errors.”
The first-team offense escaped criticism, and Arians had special praise for Ted Larsen, who was filling in for injured starting center Lyle Sendlein.
Larsen has 13 career starts at left guard, four at right guard and 11 at center.
”To see him play center so well is really pleasing, to know that he added quality depth,” Arians said. ”When Lyle comes back, there’s a real good chance he (Larsen) will be our starting left guard.”
The Cardinals began their final week of camp Monday. They will have Tuesday off, then hold three days of practice before breaking camp. The team is home against Cincinnati on Sunday night.
Sendlein could be back on Wednesday, and Larsen would start ahead of Jonathan Cooper, the first-round draft choice who has been slowed by injuries in camp as he works his way back after missing all of his rookie season with a broken leg a year ago.
Cooper sat out Saturday night’s game and missed practice on Monday with a toe injury.
Arians said he counted about 70 mental errors in the game, only one by the first-team offense. The defense, though, was another matter.
”For the little bit we played (the starters on defense), I was not pleased with our production up front,” the coach said. ”We had chances to get sacks, didn’t get the guy down, let the QB out and run. We’ve got to start making those plays.”
Defensive tackle Frostee Rucker, part of the defensive line’s regular rotation, understood Arians’ criticism.
Rucker said the Cardinals’ defensive front considers itself one of the NFL’s best ”and that’s why every single thing needs to be right.”
”The bar’s set high,” he said. ”We set a standard last year how we play and we can’t go up and down like a roller coaster. It’s not in our DNA here.”
Another player to draw praise from Arians is wide receiver Jaron Brown, who made two big plays in the game, including a spectacular catch over Vikings defender Xavier Rhodes.
”He’s playing better than some of our starters,” Arians said. ”There’s some guys that need to get out of the training room.”
The only wide receiver out is Michael Floyd, who has missed both preseason games with a groin injury.
Outside linebacker John Abraham, who arrived at camp last Thursday after an absence due to ”personal reasons” following a June arrest on a DUI charge, will be working with the starting unit once he gets back into playing shape, Arians said.
Jay Feely is in a tough fight to retain his kicking job against rookie Chandler Catanzaro. Catanzaro kicked in the preseason opener, going 3 for 3 on field goals and booming soaring, deep kickoffs. Feely, who altered his technique to add distance to his kickoffs, didn’t get to try a field goal Saturday night. His kickoffs were a mix of pretty good to not so good.
”Our coverage units were terrible,” Arians said, ”but he has extended his kickoffs a little bit with the new technique he’s using.”
At 38, Feely is 15 years older than Catanzaro, an undrafted rookie out of Clemson.
”As you get older, you’re not going to kick the ball as far,” Feely said. ”That’s just the reality.”
If Feely is cut, he will look to hook up with another team.
”You’re not just competing with the guys in this locker room and I’m not competing for just this job,” he said. ”That’s just the reality of kicking in the NFL.”
Arians said that Catanzaro and Feely may split kicking duties Sunday night.
NOTES: Arians said the performance of quarterback Ryan Lindley was ”up and down.” Lindley is competing with rookie Logan Thomas to be the No. 3 quarterback. … Arians said the starters will play no more than one half against the Bengals. … ILB Kevin Minter remains out with a pectoral muscle injury.
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