SportingNews.com - NFL - Cardinals Team Report
Bertrand Berry worked hard on his conditioning in the offseason, losing 15 pounds. He's down to 256 now and he feels as quick and fast as he did in 2004, when he had 14.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl. Berry felt the extra weight affected his conditioning, and he wasn't the force late in games that he once was. Injuries caused him to miss 14 games the past two seasons. At 32, Berry feels good enough, he said, to play several more years. Berry will move to outside linebacker in the 3-4, but he won't drop into coverage much, if at all. Coaches want him rushing off the edge. ...
Coaches have been pleasantly surprised by the play of LT Mike Gandy. They expected a steady player when they signed Gandy as a free agent, but he's looked better than that in training camp.
NEWCOMER REPORT: NT Alan Branch has shown flashes of outstanding quickness, especially for someone 6-5 and 334 pounds. But he's learning some new techniques, too, and there have been some rough spots. Branch has occasional trouble keeping his balance, but overall coaches are encouraged by the second-round pick's performance. For now, Branch is concentrating on nose guard, but it's possible he could move to tackle or end in some passing situations as he develops. Branch certainly has the size to do that, and he's deceptively quick for someone his size.
SCOUTING REPORT: RB Edgerrin James has always worked hard in the offseason, but he concentrated this year on adding strength to his upper body. He took a pounding last year and felt he wore down in the first half of the season. James has looked quick in training camp and hasn't had trouble adjusting to running behind a fullback for the first time since college. He's getting a ton of work in camp behind a renovated offensive line and likes the new offensive system implemented by coach Ken Whisenhunt. If James gets 325-350 carries as expected, he'll produce 1,300 to 1,400 yards.