Cardinals new regime excited about fresh start
Arizona starts first NFL training camp under first year head coach Jonathan Gannon on July 25th
TEMPE, Ariz. ( KYMA, KECY-TV ) - The Arizona Cardinals wrapped up five weeks and OTAs and minicamp on June 15th. Heading into the summer break ahead of training camp, first time and first year head coach Jonathan Gannon likes the direction his Cardinals are heading.
"A lot of work to be done this summer but I think we set a good foundation and when we come back here, it's going to be ratcheted up just a tad," Gannon said.
Gannon isn't the only new face high on the Cardinals totem pole. Monti Ossenfort enters as the team's new general manager.
"The communication is obviously critical between he and I," Gannon said. "He does a great job with his staff and with all the coaches. No one is in the dark ever. Everyone knows exactly what he's thinking and moves he's thinking about making."
Gannan says he and Ossenfort talk about the team's players everyday.
"It's been really cool to have a general manager that is that open, honest and clear with his communication," Gannon said.
One of the new faces making a big splash during minicamp is third round pick Michael Wilson.
“I have a really good feeling about being here," Wilson said. "I love this organization and I'm proud to be the draft class that hopefully with the new coaching staff can help turn this organization around and bring some championships here.”
Wilson shared what his NFL experience has been like so far and how he's adjusting coming from the college game at Stanford.
"Honestly it's been everything I could've imagined and more," Wilson said. "I absolutely love the organization from the top down. Love the coaching staff, love my teammates, love my receiver coach. I don't feel like there was much of a learning curve. I was able to come in and hit the ground running."
Wilson says the biggest challenge is learning all the positions as the Cardinals envision using him in multiple formations.
During the break ahead of spring training, Jonathan Gannon plans to catch up on a few important duties he's put on the backburner.
"Be a dad," Gannon said. "I'm excited about that. My wife knows she's kind of a single mom during the season but, just in the transition in coming here, we really didn't have an offseason. So, she's been a single mom for a while now. They're here now and I'll do some things with all of them. Some individual things with each of them."
Gannon and his wife are celebrating their 10 year wedding anniversary this summer.
The entire Cardinals roster, rookies and veterans report to training camp on July 25th.
The Cardinals first preseason game is on August 11th at State Farm Stadium against Denver. Arizona opens regular season play on the road at Washington on Sunday, September 10th.
