No matter the level, college or professional, football practices tend to look alike. Players drive blocking sleds. Receivers and defensive backs talk trash. Coaches yell and curse.
But Cardinals and Sun Devils practices this preseason have a different look and sound. Other than the music played during individual drills, voices aren’t raised that often. Profanity is heard even less.
For the Cardinals especially, it’s a dramatic change from the last five years under Bruce Arians, whose mantra was to coach 'em hard and hug 'em later.
A few years ago, reporters told tight end Troy Niklas that Arians had complimented him in a news conference.