Cards notebook: Pace gets nod at OLB for Cardinals

Calvin Pace has won the battle for the outside linebacker spot vacated by the injured Chike Okeafor.

Cards running game needs to catch up to passing game

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“The edge ultimately came down to Calvin having a little more starting experience,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said of his choice of Pace over Darryl Blackstock.

Both played well in games, but Pace “is a bigger guy,” Whisenhunt said. “He’s a force off the edge similar to Chike.”

In other position battles, Rod Hood and Eric Green will start at the corners over Antrel Rolle, and Terrence Holt edged Aaron Francisco for a safety spot.

“They’ve been good battles,” Whisenhunt said. “I think it’s made us a better team because we’ve had the competition and our guys have played at a higher level.”

LONGSHOT COMES IN

Early in the off-season, the Cards took a flyer on a longshot.

He was a guy who hadn’t been drafted and had missed all of last season after blowing out the same knee twice.

His name: Troy Bienemann (BEN-a-men), a former all-Pac-10 tight end at Washington State.

Recalling the decision to give him a shot, Whisenhunt said, “We took a chance on him with a workout.

“He earned a spot for training camp. He’s worked hard, And he’s shown up.”

Bienemann appears to have a roster spot locked up as the No. 2 tight end after catching four passes for 40 yards Saturday vs. San Diego.

The coach cautioned that Bienemann will continue to have to shake off rust because he’s hasn’t played much football in two years.

In Saturday’s game, he fumbled while fighting for extra yards after he’d already secured a first down. And he had a couple of assignment errors.

Yet, “As a whole, he’s improved week to week. He’s becoming a guy we can count on. That’s exciting.”

CARDS CUT EIGHT

The Cardinals released eight players Monday, including Hanik Milligan, who finished second on team last season with 22 special-teams tackles.

Milligan was named to the Pro Bowl in 2005 as a special-teams player for the San Diego Chargers.

Also released were wide receivers Todd Watkins and Greg Lee.

Watkins was a seventh-round draft pick last year who spent the first 15 games on the practice squad, then was promoted to the 53-man roster for the final game, when he was inactive.

Lee was an undrafted free agent last year who was released on the final cut but hooked on to the practice squad for the final four games.

Others released were cornerback Travarous Bain, defensive tackle Ray Blagman, tight end John Bronson, guard Jon Hameister-Ries and kicker Ricky Schmitt.

The team has also placed wide receiver Ahmad Merritt (ankle) and offensive tackle Oliver Ross (triceps) on injured reserve, meaning they’re out for the season. The Cards have delayed a decision on putting linebacker Okeafor (biceps) on injured reserve.

The Cardinals now have 74 players on the roster, one below the 75-man limit required by Tuesday.

The team kept one spot open in case they see somebody they like among the players who will be cut this week.

LEINART’S FOOTWORK

A significant concern for coaches is Matt Leinart’s footwork as he drops back to pass.

Leinart has had a habit of taking a side step as he drops back, which makes it difficult to drop back quickly to the proper depth.

The result: He can have unnecessary problems throwing over the defensive line.

Early in Saturday’s game vs. San Diego, “He made a couple bad throws,” Whisenhunt said. “That was a direct function of his footwork.

“We jumped on him on the sidelines. And then all of a sudden he responded.”