Safety Yeremiah Bell (right) wipes the sweat from his brow during Thursday's outdoor practice in Tempe. Cornerback Jerraud Powers stands next to Bell. The team returns to University of Phoenix Stadium for practice Friday and Saturday.
In the shadows of their new practice bubble, the Cardinals found out what Bruce Arians meant when he talked about the "dog days of camp."
The team relocated to the Tempe practice facility Thursday because University of Phoenix Stadium was overtaken for the day by a soccer match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Madrid. Awaiting them outdoors were temperatures hotter than 106 degrees.
"Get a little toughness work in the heat," Arians said.
Modifications were made for the outdoor practice, the first of three Arians said would happen
during camp. After camp breaks on Aug. 22, the team will alternate between outdoor practices in Tempe and its new bubble.
"We cut practice down a little bit, we got to be smart with it," Arians said. "But there's some dog days of camp that need to happen and it's tough to get it in the air conditioning."
Cornerback Patrick Peterson doesn't mind the heat, having grown up in Florida and playing his college football in Louisiana. He said, though, that it's a shock for some Cardinals who went to college or whose previous stops in the NFL were in cooler climates.
"I'm really used to it," Peterson said. "I don't mind it.
"Coach wanted to get us used to it."
OFFICIALS PRACTICE, TOO
Thursday was the first day the Cardinals hosted an officiating crew at practice and it benefitted both sides.
The officials knocked some rust off and they were able to help the Cards with a variety of issues such as alignments and procedures.
"All the things that we beat ourselves with, we want to eliminate and they help us along that way," Arians said. "And it's going to make them better, too."
Arians wants the officials at practice at least twice a week.
"It's huge because on Sundays that's who we play with," Peterson said.
O-LINE A WEEK AWAY
Even though Arians said there's no rush, he would like to decide on the five guys who will make up his offensive line within seven or eight days, right around the time the Cardinals would be in Green Bay for their first preseason game.
"I'm hoping after that," he said. "If the competition is still wide open we'll let it go. It's not going to make that big of a difference. As soon as a guy turns an ankle another guys in there."
Arians is mixing and matching the line during the first few weeks of camp to evaluate and get everyone a chance to play alongside quarterback Carson Palmer. Right tackle Eric Winston was slotted with the first-team this week for that reason.
"Nothing's set in stone yet," Arians said. "I like the way we're competing. And each guy is getting better and I think each one sees that he has a chance. And that's what you want."
WHAT'S RED AND WHITE ALL OVER?
Saturday's Red and White Scrimmage will be a normal practice, Arians said.
"We will move the ball like we have been and put a lot of situations in there but there will be no tackling of any time," he said. "Hopefully, the crowd will be good and everyone will be enthused."
The practice starts at 2 p.m. Saturday at University of Phoenix Stadium.
EXTRA POINTS
RB Ryan Williams (knee) missed practice and is expected back Friday. … G Daryn Colledge (calf) is about a week away from returning from a nerve injury. … TE Jeff King (knee) is a couple days away. … TE Kory Sperry (ankle) may return in a week. … LB Karlos Dansby sat out practice with an undisclosed issue. … The Cardinals will return to University of Phoenix Stadium on Friday.
