In the typical offseason, teams will have classroom learning, then they will do walkthroughs and then rep the plays in practice. Because of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arizona Cardinals and the rest of the NFL are unable to do anything on the practice field.
All their offseason work has been done virtually.
However, the Cardinals have managed to do walkthroughs virtually recently. According to linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who signed as a free agent this offseason, it was the first time they had done it.
How did it work when they couldn’t be on the field?
Campbell explained in a recent video conference with reporters.
“VJ (defensive coordinator Vance Joseph), he’ll put up a play and then he’ll go position by position and he’ll ask you what your responsibility is,” Campbell explained. “If there are adjustments within the play, he’ll be like, ‘OK, you know your assignment, but what if this happens or what if that happens?’
“You talk them through it and everybody is making their separate calls. The safeties are making their calls. We as linebackers, we’re making our calls. The corners are making their calls. We’re getting the D-line set.”
Campbell said, “it went really well for us all being together for the first time.”
He also said it was good for him to be able to vocalize the things he has been learning about the defense for the last few weeks.
“I feel like I’m in a good space, considering we haven’t been able to do anything in person.”
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 267
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