Arizona Cardinals' Robert Nkemdiche making a mark

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Even without pads, Arizona Cardinals rookie Robert Nkemdiche is making a mark during Organized Team Activities (OTAs). He was so active during the first series of offseason workouts, in fact, that coach Bruce Arians had to pull him off the field and scold him for knocking down a handful of offensive lineman.

Arians playfully even threatened the big defensive tackle with a fine.

"That got his attention real quick," Arians said.

Since then, Nkemdiche has buried his head in the playbook, has been a sponge around the established players on the team's defensive line, and has participated in on-field drills with as much energy and jump as anyone on the roster.

"It's going great," he said Tuesday. "I'm just taking it day by day, trying to get better and getting used to the plays. But it's good."

Even without pads and the allowance to hit somebody?

"You can still get the job done," Nkemdiche said. "You can't get physical, but you can still make it work. You can on technique, hand placement, work on your moves.

"I want to improve on the technical things like hand placement, hip flex, things like that. Just the pre-snap things."

Nkemdiche, who figures to see plenty of action his rookie season after being taken with the 29th overall pick in draft, admits he's still got a lot to learn.

"Honestly, it's just learning the plays, really," he said. "There's a lot of plays to learn and a lot of different terms for the same exact same deal, so you really just have to lock in and figure out what you do every single play. You really just have to slow things down and just get used to it."

It's coming along fast enough thanks to his teammates on the defensive front. Nkemdiche said he's been seeking advice from all of them and filing all the information away.

"It's amazing how Calais (Campbell), Corey (Peters), X (Xavier Williams), Ed (Stinson), Josh (Mauro), everybody -- they're all great people -- they all want to see me succeed. They help me daily and do everything possible to help me be the greatest player I can be."

Make no mistake: Being the best is what motivates Nkemdiche, who knows he could have been a potential Top 5 pick in the draft had it not been for some off-the-field issues.

"It's my goal to be the most physical person on the field, the most aggressive and bring the most energy," he said.