The Complete Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Guide

Training camp is here, and it wouldn’t be like Bleacher Report to neglect covering it in every way possible. The Arizona Cardinals have undergone major surgery this offseason.

From top to bottom and all throughout the franchise, the organization has been remodeled.

Team president Michael Bidwill promoted Steve Keim to general manager, who helped hire Bruce Arians as the team’s new head coach. Arians assisted in the decision to trade for quarterback Carson Palmer, who will run Arians’ vertical attacking offense.

The defense will be slightly different as well under new coordinator Todd Bowles. It will still utilize the 3-4 scheme, but the philosophy has changed.

In this piece, we will go over every aspect of the roster by going over the training camp schedule, dissecting every player on the roster, highlighting some questions that need to be answered and much, much more.

So let’s get to it, shall we?

Training Camp, Preseason Schedule

All information provided by AZCardinals.com (all practices run 2-4:30 p.m.)

Arizona Cardinals' Training Camp Schedule

Thu, July 25 (Veterans report)	Tue, Aug 6
Fri, July 26	Wed, Aug 7
Sat, July 27	Mon, Aug 12
Sun, July 28	Tue, Aug 13
Mon, July 29	Thur, Aug 15
Tue, July 30	Mon, Aug 19
Fri, Aug 2	Tue, Aug 20
Sat, Aug 3	Wed, Aug 21
Mon, Aug 5	Thurs, Aug 22 (Camp Breaks)

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Arizona Cardinals' Preseason Schedule

Fri, Aug 9	@ Green Bay	5:00 p.m.
Sat, Aug 17	vs Dallas	1:30 p.m.
Sat, Aug 24	vs San Diego	7:00 p.m.
Thu, Aug 29	@ Denver	6:00 p.m.

Roster Breakdown

With 90 players on the training camp roster, you certainly have asked yourself, “Who’s that?” by the time the second half of a preseason game comes around.

Don’t be ashamed. We all have done that.

Before you find yourself lost in a jumble of third-, fourth- and fifth-string players who won’t be on the roster in a week, check up on them to find out their names and a little bit about them by clicking here.

Burning Questions

Every team has questions that need answering every offseason. Some have less pressing issues to sort out, while others have serious problems at certain positions.

Luckily for the Cardinals, there are no gigantic concerns. However, 10 important questions need to be resolved—ideally, before the regular season begins.

You can find them all right here.

Biggest Camp Battles

Training camp battles are an exciting part of every offseason. In years past, there have been epic competitions that come down to the last day of preseason practice. Others don’t last as long because of an injury to a player, or because one player clearly outshines another.

The best news for Cardinals fans this camp go-round is that there is no quarterback competition. Thank God for that.

Check out the biggest training camp battles by clicking here.

Rookie and UDFA Watch

The Cardinals drafted nine rookies and signed 16 more as undrafted free agents. The draft class has been praised by nearly everyone with a voice and an opinion, and even a few UDFAs have received high praise by experts.

Highlighting the draftees is the first-round pick, offensive guard Jonathan Cooper. He is going to play left guard for Arians’ offense, moving veteran left guard Daryn Colledge to the right side.

He must be good for coaches to trust him with Palmer’s blind side.

Find out more about Cooper—and about all draft picks and UDFAs—by clicking here.

Bubble Watch

Players on the roster bubble are those who are not guaranteed a spot once the regular season starts. They must fight for a precious few positions.

Roughly 40 players on the Cardinals' roster can consider their spot "safe." Simple math says that means the remaining 50 players will fight for 14 spots.

While the actual number may vary, a few players should be nervous for their jobs. Failing to wow coaches now may put some of these guys on the unemployment line. Click here to find out which players are on the roster bubble.

Projected Final 53-Man Roster

There is no room for 90 players per team going into the regular season. People have to be cut this time every year—it’s a necessary part of the game.

By the end of the final preseason practice, 1,184 men will have lost their jobs as NFL players. Just over 20 percent of them—256, to be exact—will be offered practice-squad contracts, and an even smaller percentage will be signed to other teams’ 53-man rosters as injuries occur throughout the season.

Find out which 53 players will don Cardinal Red in 2013 by clicking here.