Rookie linebacker Markus Golden rushes the passer during a training camp practice.
Markus Golden isn't making any grand pronouncements. Ask him about running with the first-team defense in the dime package, and he simply says he's not sure where he is on the depth chart, only that he runs out there when the coaches tell him to do so.
His self-assessment is blunt, and not unusual for a rookie.
"I've got a lot to work on," the outside linebacker said.
The second-round draft pick has a real chance to get pass rushing reps for the Cardinals this season. Coach Bruce Arians likes what Golden is doing – "He's got high energy," Arians said – but there is a learning curve.
"If he'd just quit losing contain," Arians said. "I don't think they had contain (on the quarterback) where he came from."
Golden acknowledged he might be a little overanxious. "You know how it goes when you are first getting started with something," he said. But that's why the Cardinals didn't mind taking him high in the draft, despite a 6-foot-2 frame that might be a little shorter than ideal. His passion was a selling point, even if there have been times in camp when Golden jumps offsides, so eager to go.
"I've just got to calm it down, make sure I know what I'm doing before the play and then go hard," Golden said. "I've got to learn the plays better. I haven't been able to play as hard as I want to. That's what I'm focusing on now."
FITZGERALD'S FOOT SLOWS RECEIVER; POWERS LEAVES
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been limited Friday and Saturday because of a sore foot. Arians said someone stepped on Fitzgerald , and the coach wouldn't even call it an injury, saying he just wanted to be careful to not aggravate the soreness.
Cornerback Jerraud Powers left practice early Saturday, walking to the locker room on his own. While cornerback Darren Woodard went down later with a non-contact injury and needed some help up. Cornerback Shaq Richardson was sitting out with an unknown aliment.
Tight ends Jermaine Gresham (back) and Troy Niklas (hamstring) and continued the limited individual work Saturday. Wide receiver Michael Floyd (hand) is out.
Safety D.J. Campbell was the latest Cardinal to go down with an injury, suffering a hamstring issue. None of the already-injured Cards were able to return to practice yet: T D.J. Humphries (knee), T Rob Crisp (knee), LB Sean Weatherspoon (hamstring), LB Shaq Riddick (hamstring), LB Darryl Sharpton (hip flexor), LB Zack Wagenmann (foot), RB Andre Ellington (hamstring), RB David Johnson (hamstring) and RB Marion Grice (hamstring).
WOODLEY FEELS READY
Arians said veteran outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley is the type of player who was never going to truly show well until the Cardinals had pads on. He's a big bull rusher, Arians said, and being physical is his game.
More important, pads have provided the first chance to totally prove his health after he tore his biceps trying to make an arm tackle while playing for the Raiders last year against, coincidentally, the Cardinals.
"It was a good opportunity for me to test out my bicep and just see where it was," Woodley said. "It's totally fine right now."
NO FOOTE MEANS EXTRA BETTCHER WORK
Inside linebackers coach Larry Foote was excused from practice Saturday so he could attend the Hall of Fame induction of former Steelers teammate Jerome Bettis in Canton, Ohio. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher, who was outside linebackers coach before his promotion, took over the duties for individual drills, with help from intern Jen Welter.
BIG RED-WHITE CROWD
Saturday's Red-White practice drew a record crowd of 23,750. Last year's crowd was 19,500.
