5 big questions as they near training camp

The success of the Cardinals’ upcoming training camp will be determined by the answers to several questions, including the most important:

Did they emerge unscathed by injuries?

But there are other questions to answer and storylines to follow when the Cardinals begin training camp practice on Saturday at University of Phoenix Stadium. Here are five of them:

How much will they hit each other?

Coach Bruce Arians has promised it will be more often than the Cardinals did a year ago.

Arians thought he was too cautious with last year’s team, but there was good reason to be. It was a veteran group that went 13-3 in 2015.

So Arians backed off a bit in the hopes of avoiding injuries. What also happened, at least in his estimation, is that fundamentals weren’t emphasized enough. Tackling, he said, was especially affected.

When it comes to hitting in training camp, coaches are walking a slender line. It’s either hit more and hold your breath that someone will get injured, or hit less and hold your breath your team won’t be ready to play when the regular season opens.

Given the way his roster is built, Arians’ plan on how to manage contact will be intriguing.

How much contact is enough for running back David Johnson, around whom this offense is built? 

Does it make sense to subject older players to increased contact, guys such as linebacker Karlos Dansby, 35; defensive tackle Frostee Rucker, 33; receiver Larry Fitzgerald, 33; and safety Antoine Bethea, 32?

Or players coming off injuries, such as right tackle Jared Veldheer, safety Tyrann Mathieu and safety Tyvon Branch?

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Speaking of health…

The 2016 season was full of injuries and illnesses for the Cardinals. Have those who were affected recovered, including the head coach?

Arians was taken to the hospital twice last season, once in training camp and again in November. In February, he underwent surgery for renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).

Arians says he’s fine now and ready to go.

Receiver John Brown says the same thing after dealing all last season with symptoms associated with sickle-cell trait.

Mathieu says the same thing after a subpar season attributed to his second major knee injury.

And linebacker Deone Bucannon (ankle surgery) is expected to be placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list for the start of training camp.

Arians’ value to the team is obvious. With nine more victories, he will become the franchise leader in coaching victories.

And the value of the above three players is obvious. All can change the direction of a game.

How will the defensive pieces fit?

Five starters are gone from last season. None was bigger, figuratively and literally, than 6-foot-8, 300-pound defensive tackle Calais Campbell.

There is depth on the defensive line, but with Campbell gone, there is no proven, elite player. Robert Nkemdiche was drafted in 2016 to be that person but was a disappointment as a rookie.

Safety Tony Jefferson, like Campbell, departed via free agency. Jefferson played as well as any Cardinals defender a year ago, but it was going to be impossible to pay him big money with Mathieu signing a huge deal last summer.

The Cardinals must figure out a safety combination that works. If Mathieu is ready, it solves a lot of problems. He can play safety in the base defense and move to corner in nickel and dime.

Bethea, signed in free agency, could play a big role. And Budda Baker, the second-round pick, could become an impactful player as the season progresses.

What’s at the bottom of QB depth chart?

The top two spots aren’t likely to change. Carson Palmer’s the starter as long as he’s healthy, and Arians trusts backup Drew Stanton.

It’s doubtful Blaine Gabbert overtakes Stanton, but stranger things have happened.

This is an important preseason for Gabbert. He has a chance to prove to the Cardinals that he fits in their long-term future, at least as someone who can compete to become Palmer’s successor, perhaps as early as 2018.

Coaches also like what they have seen from rookie free agent Trevor Knight.

How will the O-line changes look?

The tackles are flipping spots, with Veldheer going to the right side and D.J. Humphries to the left. Coaches are taking a risk because Veldheer was underrated at left tackle, and Humphries has limited experience on the left side.

But Humphries is a bit more athletic, and flipping Veldheer to the right side gives guard Evan Boehm someone with considerable experience next to him.

Boehm’s natural position is center, but he played well at guard when pressed into duty late last season.

He’s added strength this offseason, plus he’s smart and willing to listen. The bet here is that he plays well.

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