National Football League

1st-round pick Bucannon making strides in camp

Published Aug. 6, 2014 5:18 p.m. ET

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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) Now that he isn't trying so hard to prove he deserved to be a first-round draft pick, Deone Bucannon is looking more and more like one.

Coach Bruce Arians says the strong safety from Washington State was too hard on himself in offseason workouts, trying to be perfect.

Teammate Tyrann Mathieu told him just to ''relax, man'' and realize he'd get his chance to make plays.

Bucannon seems to have heeded the advice, and the plays have come. Twice in recent workouts he's intercepted passes. He's also impressed coaches with his quick adjustment to the ''dollar'' linebacker role in certain defensive sets.

Arians says Bucannon is ''very comfortable in the defense'' and ''improving by leaps and bounds every day.''

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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