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News | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com

What They're Saying: Arizona Cardinals

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The Washington Redskins (1-4) on Sunday travel to Glendale, Ariz., where they'll take on the Arizona Cardinals (3-1) in Week 6 action at University of Phoenix Stadium.

On Wednesday, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians and cornerback Patrick Peterson spoke to the Washington, D.C., media via conference call about the upcoming matchup with the Redskins.


Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians:

On the plan for the Cardinals at quarterback this week:
"Yeah, we really don't have any plans right now. Everything is up in the air. We have got a game plan, and we'll find out who can play quarterback as the week unfolds. Logan Thomas will take most of the snaps today. Carson [Palmer] is attempting to throw again today. He threw yesterday, and Drew [Stanton] is going through the protocol trying to pass his test. So, we'll take the guys as they come back off of injury or we'll go with Logan."

Top images from the Washington Redskins' practice on Oct. 8, 2014, at Redskins Park in Loudoun County, Va.

On quarterback Logan Thomas' performance this season:
"He's doing fantastic. He's a hard-working kid. He's got a ton of talent. It's coming on him a little faster than we all would hope to because we think he's going to be a heck of a player. So, we'll put him in the best positions to be successful for him. He can make all the throws as he obviously made the other day. He's just got to make the easy ones a little better and control his eyes. His big thing is controlling his eyes because they take his feet all over the place. "

On how much the Redskins have changed between quarterbacks Robert Griffin III to Kirk Cousins:
"Well yeah, you defend a different type of quarterback. I don't think they change that much in what they do. You lose some of the improv, but then the ball might come out faster. Kirk looks extremely confident to me. He's obviously tougher than nails. So, I've been very impressed with him. Robert, you have to defend the scramble stuff. They really didn't have the read option back in the package that much. So yeah, it's different, but it's still the same offense."

On Redskins wide receiver Andre Roberts:
"He's a great kid. He's a fiery competitor and I love him. He's just a super human being off the field and on the field. You're going to get everything you got. I know he's going to have his chinstrap tight this week and ready to go. He competes every week, but he'll have a little extra this week."

On Roberts' departure from Arizona:
"Oh yeah, I love him. You just can't pay them all. I was so happy when he got the money and got a contract and got into a heck of a good situation for him. "

On if linebacker Lorenzo Alexander's approach in Washington has translated in Arizona:
"There's no doubt. He got voted as captain both years. You don't have to say anything else. When you get voted by your teammates as a captain, that speaks volumes."

On Alexander's impact on his teammates:
"He's not afraid to speak his peace and get everybody fired up. And his play speaks its peace. He plays great on special teams for us and if needed, we could still use him at inside or outside linebacker."

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson:

On playing against Redskins wide receiver Andre Roberts:
"Oh yeah, it is going to be a pleasure going up against Andre when it is for real now. I haven't gone up against him for three years, my first three years here, like one-on-one in practices and all that stuff. I am kind of familiar with the way he moves and all that stuff, but now it is going to be different actually going up against him when it actually means something. But I know Andre is going to be hyped up to get back here to Arizona. It is going to be a blast."

On his growing pains upon entering the league and what he learned from them:
"Honestly, understanding the game as far as how guys want to attack you and how they keep you in their eyes and focusing on obviously one part of the game. Obviously getting into the classroom obviously slows the game down a lot. That is the most important thing, understanding what you are doing when you are out there on the field, it actually slows the game down a lot. After that, you've just got to start working on your craft and let your athletic ability and technique takeover and I believe that is what helped me become a better corner. It slowed the game down for me."

A look back at some of the top images in games between the Washington Redskins and Arizona Cardinals.

On if he likes that his team blitzes as much as they do:
"When you blitz a lot, obviously it puts a lot of pressure on your corners. And that goes to show as a D- Coordinator, he has a lot of trust in his corners on the outside but it comes with a lot of pressure with that because sometimes it can get home and sometimes they get the ball quicker. Teams are starting to scheme against me – against us – with us being a blitzing team, so we just have got to hold up that much longer and try to stop those quick balls. But for the most part, it is just a lot of pressure on us but I believe it is something I can handle and us as a secondary something that we are always up to the task. So far we have been doing pretty good at it and we just want to continue to sharpen up a little bit of the loose ends and see what we can do here against Washington."

On what stands out about Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins:
"Strong arm. He has got a big arm. He throws the ball tremendously well down the field. He can make those outside throws and a quarterback that can make those throws are dangerous and obviously talented. He has a big arm, he knows what he is doing with the ball. Obviously he is a dropback quarterback but he has – they haven't shown much, but he has wheels. I believe he has escape ability, so that is something we will have to account for under the routes. But as far as weaknesses, I am not Mel Kiper, I don't want to put out his weaknesses, but as far as strengths, he looks pretty good with the ball. The offense moves pretty well with him because they are a down the field offense and he has been putting the ball down the field in pretty good spots."

On playing against wide receiver DeSean Jackson and his past matchups against him:
"Me and DeSean definitely have some history. It is always a blast going up against him because he is so freaking fast and you know he is always running around all over the place. So every time I get a chance to go up against DeSean, it is always a pleasure. As he is accustomed to how I play, I am accustomed to how he plays. It is kind of familiar – this offense is kind of familiar to Philadelphia – the Andy Reid Philadelphia offense where they takes those shots downfield and have him run on those deep overs and deep posts and stuff like that. It kind of reminds me of that old Andy Reid. It is going to be a blast once the game comes and going up against him and I can't wait to see [call unintelligible] on Sunday."

On linebacker Lorenzo Alexander:
"It is fun to be around Lorenzo. He has meant a lot, not only to the organization but to this locker room. I mean, just showing these young guys the way and he is the captain for a reason, he has been that from Day 1. He has shown leadership, even when he was hurt, putting these young guys under his wing and showing them how to be a true professional, how to take the job serious when the opportunity is given to them."

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