Jonathan Gannon roster building and Pat Tillman scout-team award returns

So much of the focus in the NFL is on the first-team players, and for good reason.

However, it is also true that games can turn on one play by a backup who was claimed on waivers or elevated from the practice squad.

It is often said the difference in many games is four or five plays and they all aren’t accomplished by the best players on the field.

The intricacy of roster building is something the Cardinals take very seriously.

Having said that, unlike last year when the Cardinals were assigned six players on waivers the day after the cut to 53 and one the following day, this year there were none on either day, although it’s possible they put in claims that weren’t fulfilled. Still, it’s highly unlikely if they did, it was more than one or two. The overall roster is in a much better place than it was at this time in 2023.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Wednesday, “When you do that, you have to be pretty convicted what that guy’s going to do for you when he walks into the building. And we’ve had conviction on that. Last year, look at the guys that made the team right now that are going to be impactful players for us. Higgy Bear (tight end Elijah Higgins), Star (cornerback Starling Thomas V), guys off the top of my head, Trystan Colon, a lot of those guys.

“There are 365 days you’re trying to upgrade the roster as much as you can and do the best thing for the team. It’s every day.”

The Cardinals did add an edge rusher to the practice squad, Julian Okwara, who played four seasons for the Lions and was released by the Eagles on Monday. He very well could be a better fit in Arizona than he was in Detroit’s 4-3 scheme.

Gannon said, “He can rush, set a violence edge, a little bit of drop, football character is good. Excited to get him here and add him to the program.”

Meanwhile, decisions within the roster mechanics of cutting down and then adding to the practice squad can be affected by two practice-squad elevations for each game, which provides some flexibility in that someone on the 53 doesn’t have to be part of the game-day roster.

Digging into the weeds of the 17-player squad, Gannon said, “There’s a couple reasons to keep guys, but the main reason for me is they have to be ready to play on game day. To have a jersey and be ready to play offense and special teams, defense and special teams. That can be on a Friday. That can be on a two-day trip to Buffalo. That could be on a Saturday. Someone wakes up sick. You don’t get one rep, you don’t think you’re going to get a jersey, you’re on the practice squad and, all of a sudden, ‘Hey, you’re up and playing.’ (Clicks fingers).

“They’ve got to prepare just like they’re on the roster. The other thing during the practice week, they’ve got to practice the right way, which our guys do, because they are running some cards, or do twos vs. ones, ones vs. twos, we have developmental periods. There’s time for those guys to improve their game, which they need to do if we’re going to have success as a team.”

As for that flexibility, Gannon concluded, “There are guys that you will see on our practice squad; they know they have a role in a game if this happens, if this happens. They know the reasons why. Every spot that we have at our disposal is very important.”

The importance of the scout team during regular-season preparation was amplified last year when the coaching staff named a Pat Tillman Scout Team Player of the Week. That player wore Tillman’s No. 40 jersey during practice the following week.

Asked if that will happen again this year, Gannon said, “Absolutely. I love that. We’re actually putting a little sauce on that too. This year, you’ll like what you see.”

Stay tuned!

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