Rookie quarterback gets unexpected starting opportunity
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck expected to play in Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers, but he did not know he would be starting.
With the Cardinals resting regular-season starter Jacoby Brissett and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, Beck will take the first-team snaps in the preseason opener.
“I had no clue I was going to start,” Beck said Tuesday.
The third-round draft pick admitted he had no expectations heading into the week, given the demanding schedule of training camp, practices and meetings.
“Obviously, our schedule is absolutely crazy right now, practice, meetings with training camp and whatnot,” Beck said. “But, yeah, I’m looking forward to it. I’m really excited.”
Beck says he feels excitement, not nerves
Despite the significance of his first NFL start, Beck said he does not expect to feel nervous during Thursday’s nationally televised game, which is Arizona’s only nationally broadcast matchup of the season.
The quarterback said the last time he felt nervous before a football game was 15 years ago when he was 8 years old and preparing for a Pop Warner city championship.
“I don’t know, it’s a game at the end of the day, get to go out there, have an opportunity to have fun, play with your teammates, and again, play the game that I love,” Beck said.
“So, again, it’s what I love doing. So, not really any nerves, more excitement than anything.”
Execution will define Beck’s performance
A successful performance for Beck will not necessarily depend on the final score. Instead, the Cardinals will focus on his decision-making, command of the offense and ability to execute the fundamentals.
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said the key areas will include calling plays confidently, getting the offense lined up correctly, using proper cadence and making smart decisions.
“The guy’s been working really hard. I think everybody’s really excited for this first opportunity to have an extra opportunity. So, it’ll be fun to see him go out there,” Hackett said.
As Arizona begins its first of four preseason games, Beck’s ability to manage the offense at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Field in Canton, Ohio, will be the main focus.
Building chemistry remains the priority
Beck said success will come from operating efficiently within the offense and developing chemistry with his teammates.
“Can we be on the same page as an offense? Are my eyes in the right spot? Am I making the right decisions? Am I making the right reads? Am I getting through my progressions quickly?” Beck said.
He added that getting in and out of the huddle correctly and executing at a high level will be important indicators of progress.
College experience prepared him for NFL demands
Beck described the transition from college football to the NFL as completely different, even though some concepts remain familiar.
His experience at Georgia under Kirby Smart and at Miami under Mario Cristobal helped prepare him for the intensity of professional training camp. Both coaches come from the coaching tree of former Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
“Two coaches that came from that Saban tree and kind of that Saban way of doing things, which is, I mean, your fall camps are just hell,” Beck said with a smile.
He explained that the structure and demands of those programs helped him adjust to the challenges of preparing for an NFL season.
Rookie focused on development over results
Beck said his approach to training camp has been focused on the process rather than immediate results.
He explained that training camp provides an opportunity to test his limits, experiment and learn from mistakes. In a regular-season game, he might choose the safer option, but during camp he can attempt more difficult throws to understand what is possible.
“You’ll never know if you can make that throw or test [new] things,” Beck said. “And, again, it’s all trial and error, trial and error.”
For the rookie quarterback, these learning moments are essential as he continues developing within a new offensive system and adjusts to the NFL level.
