The Arizona Cardinals got a bit of good news this afternoon on Deone Bucannon.Ian
Rapoport is reporting that the Arizona Cardinals linebacker has no structural
damage
Black Benson Mayowa Jersey , ligaments and cartilage are intact, and only has some minor injuries:While a hyperextended knee can take a week or two to
heal completely, it’s early enough in camp that it should not hinder him too
much as we get a little closer to the season.The slightly more concerning aspect
is the bone bruise on the knee cap, which can just be an annoyance that he has
to find a way to deal with, as it likely won’t be healed in the same time as the
hyperextension.The question becomes, how much does it hurt whenever it gets
knocked by an opponent or teammate.It’s been a week and things are going well,
let’s hope it continues for the Arizona Cardinals over the rest of training camp
and into the regular season.Over Before It Was Over (McCrane Just Another Camp
Body) I wince every time the Cardinals announce the signing of an undrafted free
agent and I read a fan in response write “just another camp body.” That always
sticks in my craw—-because every player who gets signed with a chance to compete
for spot on an NFL roster has his own unique journey and success story. Just ask
Kurt Warner.This morning I find myself wincing about one of the comments Steve
Wilks made yesterday about recently cut kicker Matt McCrane. Wilks, when pressed
by the Arizona Republic’s reporter Bob McManaman as to why the Cardinals cut
McCrane, said that they sent McCrane out for the long field goals “to showcase
him” for other teams, with the belief that McCrane would make them.What Wilks’
comment more than suggests is that the kicking competition had been long since
decided in favor of Phil Dawson, who missed a total of 11 kicks (8 FGs and 3
Xpts) last year in addition to the two FGs (2/4) he missed this pre-season.
So—-when McCrane nailed his 54 yarder in the Superdome versus the Saints in
pre-season game 2—-according to his head coach
Youth Mason Cole Jersey , that was for showcasing him for other teams—-a head coach who vowed when he took the job that “there will be competition at
every position.”The same head coach has said repeatedly, “ I don’t care where
you are from or where you were drafted,” the “best players are going to win the
jobs.”Then—-a week later at AT&T stadium—-when McCrane nailed a 53 yarder
that split the uprights with about 10 yards to spare—-that again was to showcase
him for other NFL teams.Phil Dawson missed both of his field goals this
pre-season from the same distance and thus has done little to allay the
questions that some Cardinals’ fans have of him still being the reliable kicker
who made 24 of 27 FGs for the 49ers in 2015.The fact is, ln 2017, Phil Dawson
missed field goals in 5 of the 8 games the Cardinals lost and missed extra
points in 2 of the 8 games the Cardinals lost. Now—-I am not blaming Dawson for
those losses. But, as well all know, momentum is a tricky and fickle thing in
football, and there are few things more demoralizing and momentum-altering than
missed kicks and coming away empty on scoring drives. Plus, most of the time,
missed field goals give the opposing offense advantageous field
position.Speaking of blame—-as a captain of the special teams last year, Dawson
had the temerity to throw his coaches and teammates under the bus when he
publicly blamed his kicking woes on the poor blocking on the line
Youth Larry Fitzgerald Jersey , particularly the left side of the line—-which, as Dawson put it—-caused him to shorten his follow through. True
leaders don’t do that, even ones who find themselves embroiled in a toxic team
culture where public finger pointing at the players was repeatedly made by the
head coach.When the Cardinals called Matt McCrane during the draft, McCrane and
his agent, knowing that Phil Dawson was the incumbent kicker, were assured that
the kicking job was wide open. McCrane had been garnering interest from the
Raiders, Dolphins and Vikings, but the Cardinals made the winning pitch, so much
so that the second the draft was over, McCrane agreed to his contract and shut
the door on all other potential offers.Special teams’ coordinator Jeff Rodgers
worked out McCrane at Kansas St. Rodgers was the one making the calls to McCrane
during the draft. And with good reason—-McCrane was virtually automatic at
K-State from inside of 40 yards, making 95% of his field goals and 99% of his
extra points. He was 5/8 on kicks over 50 yards. In today’s NFL with the extra
point no longer being a chip shot
http://www.authenticsarizonacardinals.com/cheap-phil-dawson-jersey , high percentage kickers like McCrane, whose form is masterful in the way he
replicates it over and over, should be in vogue. Did you know that Matt
McCrane’s career field goal percentage ranks him 7th on the all-time NCAA
division 1 list? The scouts questioned his ability to hit the 50+ yarders—-but,
not only did McCrane silence those critics with his two 50+ yarders this
pre-season—-it’s HOW he did it that should greatly impress anyone who studies
kicking. Just like in golf when one tees off an a par 5 hoping to land the ball
in range to go for the green in two, the temptation is to put that little extra
charge on the swing. Those of us who play golf know that over-swinging is
usually a sure way to duck hook the ball out of bounds.On both of Matt McCrane’s
50+ yard makes—-if you go back and watch—--his swing is smooth and steady, just
as if he’s attempting a 38 yarder. He makes these with relative ease all the
while knowing that one miss could mean the end of his dream to kick in the NFL.
Like Lee Trevino once said about handling the pressure on the PGA
tour—-”Pressure on the PGA tour? I will tell you about pressure—-it was playing
a five dollar Nassau with 3 dollars in my pocket. Now that was pressure.”If the
so-called kicking competition wasn’t officially over in week 2 versus the
Saints, it certainly was over before the week 3 game—-because on national
TV—-NBC broadcaster Al Michaels, having previously said he dined the night
before with some Cardinals’ officials—-proclaimed that the kicking job was Phil
Dawson’s and that there was no way that young rookie Matt McCrane was even a
consideration.That was moments before McCrane went out and nailed the 53 yarder
with 10 yards to spare.With McCrane and the Cardinals—-it wasn’t “over until
it’s over”—-apparently, it was over before it was over.To those whose say, well,
these are just meaningless pre-season games
http://www.authenticsarizonacardinals.com/cheap-jamar-taylor-jersey , ironically, they aren’t meaningless to Steve Wilks who was visibly upset with
the team for “not protecting the nest” versus the Broncos. Steve Wilks said
McCrane “did a tremendous job” and that he is certain that McCrane will be
kicking for some NFL team this season.Well, it was a good thing—-at least for
his sake—-that McCrane was well showcased for some other team.To me—-cutting
McCrane feels like picking Phil Mickelson over Justin Thomas for the 2018 Ryder
Cup team. McCrane wished Phil Dawson well and thanked the Cardinals for giving
him the opportunity.He lauded the Cardinals for being an “outstanding
organization.” One will never hear any sour grapes from him. Yup, at the end of
the day, why should anyone be upset? After all, this was just another camp body
riding away off into the sunset.
