Before there was Walter Nolen III as a first-round pick, there was Darius Robinson. And Robinson, in Year 2, is looking to get to the levels he couldn't in his injury-abbreviated rookie season.
The man mountain that is Robinson is all smiles these days. He is doing well. He had a single rep against left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. during Friday's practice and it left him wanting to battle PJJ more. Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis said he likes where Robinson is with his run defense. The pass rush is a work in progress.
"He is getting a good grasp of his identity and what he wants to do as a rusher," Rallis said. "That's one of the things I have an eye on. ... So much of being a rusher is being a technician."
Robinson is that guy who is supposed to develop into the interior disruptor on the defensive line every team seeks these days. He has the tools. He needs to get there.
"Getting sacks and rushing, it's hard," Robinson said. "I want to make sure I have that confidence in my approach. This is the time to grow and get better."
It would've been nice to have he and Nolen finding that out together, but Nolen remains on the PUP list with a calf injury -- the same body part that kept Robinson out of 11 games a year ago. Robinson doesn't want to compare the injuries, and there is optimism Nolen won't be out nearly as long.
Rallis also is confident in Nolen's learning curve once he returns to the field.
"That's something we can gauge when the time comes," Rallis said. "One of the things I am constantly reminding Walt, because he's dying to be out there, is that you control those controllables.
"Whether we ease it back or put the pedal to the metal is something we can judge in that moment, but it's not going to take long for him to get going."
In the meantime, Robinson just wants to get back to the level he was at in training camp last year, before his calf derailed what looked to be a potentially good rookie season.
"This is Day 8 of camp, and I definitely think I am better this year on Day 8," Robinson said, "but there is so much more ground I need to cover."
-- No Marvin Harrison Jr. for a second straight practice, although he did come out midway through to watch his teammates. Given that the Cardinals have an off day Sunday and then just a walkthrough on Monday, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sit again Saturday at the Red & White (padded) practice and maximize his time off. We will see.
-- The receiving corps could be thin Saturday. Late in Friday's work, Michael Wilson laid out for a deep pass and as he dove his head and shoulder area clipped the leg of safety Budda Baker. Baker seemed OK, but Wilson was down for a moment. He eventually got up and walked off the field, but was taken back to the locker room.
-- Injuries aside, assistant GM Dave Sears was asked after practice about looking to improve the wide receiver room, which has been a topic of conversation all offseason. "Right now we're very happy with the wide receivers," Sears said.
-- The Cardinals released cornerback Jaden Davis from Injured Reserve on Friday with an injury settlement, according to the NFL transaction report. Gannon had previously said Davis, who hurt his knee, could potentially return this season. This would be the mechanism after going on IR; getting released and then eventually signing back if the team so chooses.
-- Among the highlights from Friday's padded practice, rookie cornerback Will Johnson had a play that isn't going to be on SportsCenter, but he diagnosed receiver Tejhaun Palmer's route so well it was as if Johnson was the receiver on the play. The throw went low and incomplete when it was clear Johnson had it blanketed.
-- Cornerback Darren Hall also had an impressive PBU. Hall, even with all the new cornerbacks, is still one to watch. He was a surprise make of last year's 53-man roster.
-- Palmer got one back on the final play of practice, catching a bomb from Clayton Tune with cornerback Keni-H Lovely draped all over him. Wideout Trishton Jackson also had a nice afternoon, including hauling in a deep moon ball from Jacoby Brissett.
