Cards notebook: Tight end position bolstered for Cards

The Cardinals’ tight-end spot is back in good shape. Though Leonard Pope remains out with an ankle injury, the Cardinals should have three tight ends ready for Sunday’s game at St. Louis.

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The Cardinals had only one tight end, Jerame Tuman, at Carolina.

But Ben Patrick, who has had a sore knee, was able to practice Friday and should be ready to go. They’ve also got recent acquisition Stephen Spach.

“It looks a lot better,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “It won’t be as uneasy a feeling going into this game from the tight end position.”

The tight-end supply gives the Cardinals options in the run game, which was virtually non-existent at Carolina.

Whisenhunt said the pass-dominated approach was more because the Panthers played the Cardinals to run (which surprised the Cards, considering their tight-end situation), than the lack of tight ends, Whisenhunt said.

But had the Panthers dropped more into coverage, “It maybe would have been difficult to go to a power run offense because we only had one tight end. This week we’re in a better position for that.”

Pope appears to be the only Cardinal who will miss Sunday’s game.

MAKE THE TACKLES

After a week of practicing tackling techniques, the Cardinals are hoping for better results in St. Louis than in Carolina, where poor tackling help cost them the game.

“I know it’s been more of a focus,” Whisenhunt said. “It’s been more in the conscience of our players.

“I’m expecting us to have a much better game tackling this week.”

NEWEST CARDINAL

If fans spot No. 83 on Sunday, that would be tight end Spach, who was picked up this week.

Spach’s last team was New England; the Patriots’ offense is somewhat similar to the Cardinals, which has helped him pick up the offense.

“I’m just trying to do what I can to get on the field so I can help this team,” Spach said.

IGNORE THE NOISE

As is the case on Fridays in preparing for road games, the Cardinals brought out their noise machine.

The simulated crowd noise forces the Cardinals to work on a silent snap count on offense.

While crowd noise can’t exactly be duplicated, “It helps,” Whisenhunt said of the noise.

“It helps us focus. If it increases your concentration level at all in practice, it will benefit you in a game. That’s what it’s all about.”

The team’s false starts have been down from last year.

IMPACT ROOKIE

The Rams big weapons, of course, are Steven Jackson, Marc Bulger, Torry Holt ... and Donnie Avery?

The rookie receiver looks like the real deal so far.

“I see a guy who is making plays, man,” Holt said. “The main thing for him is to continue to stay focused, which I think he’s doing, continue to stay humble, which he’ll do, and take coaching and then go out on Sunday and just relax and make plays.

“He’s going to get plenty of opportunities. We’re going to ride Donnie and we’re going to ride Steven Jackson’s and Marc Bulger’s backs.”

EXTRA POINT

Running back Tim Hightower got snaps with both the first and second units Friday.