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By Anne Erickson
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Carson Beck gave the Arizona Cardinals plenty to feel good about in his preseason debut, finishing 15-of-19 for 188 yards and a touchdown.
The numbers were solid, but what really stood out was how comfortable Beck looked running the offense.
That was especially encouraging after an inconsistent training camp. The Panthers kept things fairly simple defensively, without the disguises Beck would see in a regular-season game. Still, he had to recognize what was happening and make the right decisions, and he consistently showed the kind of command Arizona wants to see.
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One of the clearest examples came on a play when Beck noticed two linebackers sinking into coverage. Rather than immediately settling for his checkdown, he worked through his reads and found the third option on the backside of the play. It wasn't flashy. But, it was smart.
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Beck also showed good awareness in a third-and-3 situation. Carolina's cover-3 match coverage took away his receivers, but Beck recognized where the first-down marker was and took off, picking up the necessary yardage himself.
Accuracy was another positive. Beck delivered several well-placed passes throughout the night, including one particularly impressive throw where he recognized a dropping linebacker and put the ball toward the ground, allowing his receiver to avoid a potentially dangerous hit.
Of course, it wasn't perfect. Beck's arm strength remains a concern at times, and a few of his deeper throws floated more than you'd like. He also wasn't under much pressure, which matters because dealing with pressure was something he struggled with in college.
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Still, this was an encouraging performance. After an uneven stretch in training camp, Beck showed what he can do under pressure, and it was great.
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