Arizona

What did we learn from Cardinals' joint practices with Colts?

Published

1 year ago

August 16, 2024

What did we learn from Cardinals' joint practices with Colts?

WESTFIELD, Ind. — A lot of work was had across two days of joint practice between the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday and Thursday.

But what were the biggest takeaways from Colts headquarters ahead of a Saturday night preseason game? Let’s dive in now that we’re fully dry:

Arizona Cardinals wide receivers came to play

There wasn’t a more consistent position group than Arizona’s wide receiving corps throughout practice.

Marvin Harrison Jr. continued to look as advertised with extended reps against another team, getting the better of starting cornerbacks Kenny Moore II, Jaylon Johnson and other Colts defenders regularly.

Marvin Harrison Jr. just shook Kenny Moore II out of the frame during 1-on-1s. #AZCardinals #Colts pic.twitter.com/FuCun9fgd2
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 14, 2024

“I think it’s cool for him and all our receivers to go against different DBs,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said Thursday. “Kenny looks one way and the next guy (Harrison) goes against looks the complete opposite way. That’s good. That’s what it’s going to be week in and week out on Sunday. Good to get the exposure to that in these two days.”

As for in the slot, Greg Dortch continues to show off his confidence in a regular offensive role.

Much like Harrison, Dortch flashed his route-running, ability to separate and athleticism throughout joint work.

“My confidence has always been high,” Dortch said Thursday. “I’m very confident. I’m not the biggest guy — in fact, I’m probably the smallest guy out here — so I gotta bring some type of confidence to my game. Hopefully, when I play you can see it.”

Second-year pro Michael Wilson was his consistent self, while Dan Chisena continued to make plays after leading all Cardinals pass catchers with five catches for 63 yards in Saturday’s preseason loss to the New Orleans Saints.

It also looked like quarterback Kyler Murray’s chemistry with veterans Zay Jones and Chris Moore, who was also getting special teams looks, is developing.

And although he’s not listed as a wideout, tight end Trey McBride didn’t miss a beat through most of the practices outside of a dropped pass during two-minute drills.

Cause for concern?

The biggest negative from the past two days was Arizona’s inability to finish practices on a high note, specifically the first-team offense and defense.

Much like the first-team offense’s ending on Day 1, Murray and Co. looked out of sorts through two two-minute drills on Thursday.

Whether it was the incompletions, penalties or pressure from the Colts defensive line, Arizona was held out of the end zone. The weather didn’t help, but it was definitely not the ending Gannon was hoping for, especially knowing Murray won’t play in any of the remaining preseason matchups.

Arizona’s first-team defense wasn’t able to buck the late trend, either.

There was an uptick in the secondary’s play during Day 2. Garrett Williams, Starling Thomas V and Sean Murphy-Bunting had their moments during 7-on-7 work, but overall, it was a struggle trying to contain the Colts offense led by second-year pro Anthony Richardson.

During one last two-minute drill against Richardson and Co., the first-team defense could do little to keep the Colts out of the end zone. The drive started with a pair of first-down strikes to Michael Pittman Jr. and Adonai Mitchell before Murphy-Bunting got popped with a pass interference penalty to set up a short touchdown run by Richardson.

Arizona certainly added more talent to the roster with Murphy-Bunting and rookie Max Melton looking like integral parts of the defense moving forward. That doesn’t sidestep the fact that there’s still going to be a massive microscope on the Cardinals’ cornerback situation in 2024.

Now, there are still a few weeks to fine-tune things before the regular season. Gannon is hoping the lessons learned this week can translate over to when the bullets go live.

“You’re really not game planning like a game,” Gannon said Thursday. “(Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing) said it best in the offensive meeting. Maybe if we would have game-planned a little bit different (maybe it would have looked different), but we gotta have SOPs, standard operation procedures, and then we gotta be able to handle and think on the run, too, on different things, because that’s what a game can be.

“You’re not going to get every look and know what’s going on and be able to get to things that can handle that stuff. It’s a really good learning experience for our guys. That’s why I love these things.”

Trench work

Important pieces to Arizona’s defensive line brought it during the two-day stretch.

Rookie Darius Robinson was quick to stand out during Day 1 of practice. His forklifting of starting guard Quenton Nelson during 1-on-1s was a good example of what he brought to the table this week.

#AZCardinals DL vs #Colts OL drills:
-Rookie DL Darius Robinson vs 6x Pro Bowl OG Quenton Nelson pic.twitter.com/1Z6M1pUDbP
— Paul Calvisi (@PaulCalvisi) August 15, 2024

Khyiris Tonga also deserves some credit for his play, especially getting some extended looks throughout Day 2.

Khyiris Tonga vs. Josh Sills. #AZCardinals #Colts pic.twitter.com/mkhqpjSVYb
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 15, 2024

Both Robinson and Tonga are vying for meaningful roles in the trenches.

Robinson’s biggest competition appears to be Bilal Nichols, Justin Jones and L.J. Collier.

Tonga meanwhile is battling alongside Roy Lopez, a player who has seriously impressed throughout training camp.

On the other side of the ball, Paris Johnson Jr.’s transition to left tackle seems to be on an upward trend with work still to be done. Seeing more consistency out of Evan Brown and Jonah Williams could further solidify a line that is expected to block for a top rushing attack in 2024, too.

Clayton Tune widens gap

When it comes to the QB2 battles between Tune and Desmond Ridder, the former remains out in front following two days of joint practice.

Both had their ups and downs, but Tune managed to at least move the ball down the field some during his final two-minute showing.

The same can’t be said for Ridder, who threw an interception on his first pass attempt in the two-minute drill, effectively ending his joint practice action with Tune taking over immediately following.

Tune wasn’t nearly on his mark like he had been — he was bailed out by Colts defenders on two risky throws that could have been picks — but hung in there.

Another strong preseason showing from Tune could solidify his spot as QB2 behind Murry.

Chippy yet disciplined

After seeing a few dustups in Arizona’s training camp work at State Farm Stadium, a lot of those around the team expected some tempers to flare.

There were some heated moments between the Cardinals and Colts but nothing that could be classified as fighting.

As for the chippiest part of the program? That belonged to the special teams, where DeeJay Dallas had a couple of collisions that didn’t sit well with the Colts.

“It got a little feisty but I think you expect that especially in Day 2 of joint practice,” linebacker Krys Barnes said Thursday. “I think we handled it pretty well even with it getting a little chippy. Thankfully they probably ended it right before it got out of hand. I think we got the work we needed.”

Still, no punches were thrown and no one was ejected, a big positive in the books of Gannon and Colts head coach Shane Steichen.

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Arizona

ASU, state of Arizona launch initiative to power up the public workforce

Published

3 hours ago

November 7, 2025

Press Room

ASU, state of Arizona launch initiative to power up the public workforce

Arizona’s public employees keep the state moving — maintaining infrastructure, supporting families and serving communities.

Through a new initiative from Arizona State University and the state of Arizona, these employees have the opportunity to strengthen key skills and apply them in service to their communities.

This statewide initiative brings together a broad portfolio of professional learning offerings developed by ASU’s schools and colleges — spanning business, data analytics and visualization, collaboration, leadership and more — to meet the evolving needs of Arizona’s workforce.

Participating ASU schools and colleges

The collaboration was created in response to employee engagement survey feedback that professional learning and development ranked among employees’ top priorities. Data also showed that employer-paid certifications are among the most valued workplace benefits, evidence that continued learning builds both satisfaction and performance in the workplace.

Due to its strong alignment with the needs of Arizona state employees, the program reached capacity just two weeks after launch. More than 1,000 employees expressed interest, and 600 have already enrolled. Additional enrollment will be offered as more space or funding becomes available.

In collaboration with their supervisors, employees were able to choose what fits their goals, such as a short course to sharpen computer application skills or a longer certificate that builds leadership, data and technology expertise. Every option is flexible, practical and available to eligible employees at no cost.

“Arizona’s state employees are the heart of public service. This partnership invests in them — helping our workforce strengthen its skills, stay adaptable and continue delivering the best possible service to the people of Arizona,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said. “The incredible demand for the program shows how much state employees value high-quality professional development and the opportunity to earn a credential, which will generate a strong return on investment for the state.”

Preparing Arizona’s workforce for the future

Across industries, work is being reshaped by new technologies, automation and artificial intelligence.

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 “Future of Jobs Report,” nearly 40% of job skills will change within the next five years, while more than 170 million new roles will emerge globally as others evolve or disappear.

Arizona’s public agencies are navigating that same transformation. The ASU-Arizona partnership provides a structured, accessible way for employees to build digital fluency, strengthen leadership and enhance problem-solving skills relevant to their roles in government.

ASU, ranked No. 1 in the nation for innovation by U.S. News & World Report for 11 consecutive years, already has supported more than 1 million learners worldwide through its continuing and professional learning programs.

A leader in workforce development, the newest Global Employability University Ranking and Survey, or GEURS, again ranked ASU second among public U.S. universities for employable graduates — ahead of UCLA, the University of Michigan and Purdue. That same expertise now supports Arizona’s public workforce, offering learning experiences that help employees meet today’s challenges while preparing for those ahead.

“As a lifelong Arizonan, I’ve seen firsthand the impact public employees have in every community across our state,” said Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost. “Arizona will continue to thrive thanks to programs like this one, which ensures that our public employees have opportunities to learn and grow throughout their careers. This partnership reflects ASU’s commitment to transforming the university experience into a lifelong relationship that empowers people at every stage of life.”

Practical learning with measurable value

Eligible employees were able to participate in one of two program types designed to meet different professional goals:

Skills-based courses, focused primarily on digital and project management skills — including areas such as data analytics, agile project management and technology-enabled collaboration — many of which can be completed in eight hours or less.
Career certificate programs, providing deeper study in leadership, strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making.

Each offering provides practical, job-relevant tools that employees can apply immediately in their work. Upon completion, participants earn a digital credential from ASU, which can be shared in professional portfolios or annual performance evaluations.

The partnership also includes up to eight keynote sessions throughout the year, led by ASU experts, on leadership, innovation and managing change — giving employees a chance to learn together and share ideas across agencies.

By connecting the state’s workforce goals with ASU’s learning resources, the collaboration strengthens leadership and innovation across public service and supports Arizona’s capacity to adapt, grow and shape what’s next.

Learn more

While the program is at capacity, eligible employees can visit hr.az.gov/asu-careercatalyst-program to explore available offerings and join an interest list.

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Arizona

Hamilton vs. Chandler: Watch live Arizona high school football showdown Friday night (11/7/2025)

Published

21 hours ago

November 6, 2025

Press Room

Hamilton vs. Chandler: Watch live Arizona high school football showdown Friday night (11/7/2025)

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The undefeated Hamilton Huskies (9-0, 3-0) travel to take on the red-hot Chandler Wolves (8-1, 3-0) in a pivotal 6A Fiesta League regular-season finale showdown on Friday night. With both teams sporting impressive resumes, this matchup is a can’t-miss battle for supremacy in one of Arizona’s top high school football rivalries.

The Huskies have been dominant all season, most recently cruising to a 63-0 victory over Cesar Chavez. Sophomore quarterback Jax Sculley tossed three touchdown passes, while fellow sophomore Jake Disanti added two more scoring strikes, and senior signal-caller Daniel Vaita also found the end zone through the air in the rout.

Chandler enters this clash riding a seven-game winning streak after last week’s 28-22 triumph over Pinnacle. Junior quarterback Will Mencl was the catalyst, throwing for 338 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for two scores. Sophomore running back David Douglas chipped in with a rushing touchdown of his own in the victory.

Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT on Friday, November 7 with a live TV broadcast on NFHS Network.

• WATCH: Hamilton vs. Chandler football is livestreaming on NFHS Network

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