Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur knows how he wants to handle playing time in the Hall of Fame Game this week on Thursday. He just isn't telling anyone yet.
Why the secrecy?
Well, it isn't to hold onto some so-called competitive advantage, it is about practice.
On Sunday, without being asked about it, he told reporters that he was going to wait to talk about playing time and who would and would not play.
"I want these guys to only focus on now," he said. "In the preseason, those games matter in the moment, but what really matters in the preseason is the practice that we're preparing for, and that's where I want these guys at, so the guys that do play, it's their first time out there where coaches aren't right behind them."
A player who knows
he isn't playing in the game might focus a little less in practice. LaFleur doesn't want that happening. He wants practice reps to mean something.
On Monday, he told reporters that the information will come out Tuesday, again focusing on the practice aspect.
"The focus is this practice," he said. "This is from just a rep standpoint, just kind of how we believe we're doing business in terms of coming off an off day. Two days ago, a little bit lower, and then today, building this thing up in that third block. Their focus solely had to be on this day and not what's ahead in Canton."
Don't expect the starters to play. After all, this is an extra preseason. The Cardinals get four instead of three.
So guys who are a little banged up won't play. Starters won't likely play.
At quarterback, it will probably be a lot of rookie Carson Beck and Kedon Slovis.
We will be waiting for news on Tuesday about who will and will not go.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals still mum on playing time for Hall of Fame Game
