AP

Not every coach is a fan of having more information at his fingertips.

In fact, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians thinks the latest innovation that’s being tried this preseason is a bit of a crutch.

The Cardinals had sideline video at their disposal for their game against the Raiders, and Arians was not a fan.

“It helps bad coaches,” he said, via Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic.

Arians said that in his view, it helps offenses more than defenses, since there are fewer distinct blitzes or defensive plays.

“Defensively, you spend a lot of hours and time on a blitz and a guy can sit there, watch it on tape, show it to his guys and fix it in the first quarter,” Arians said. “That’s not what it’s all about.”

Arians also joked that sideline video would increase scrutiny on officials, as he spotted a holding call during a game and told the nearest official: “This would be your worst nightmare if I had this on the sideline.”

But his main point about the in-game function is one held by other coaches. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said earlier this offseason he thought it diluted the value of preparation through the week. Patriots coach Bill Belichick wasn’t opposed to it after his first look, and it will be interesting to see how the coaches as an industry feel after getting a chance to test-drive it this preseason.

Of course, Microsoft is giving the owners a pile of money so their Surface tablets (which many coaches still hilariously refer to as iPads) can be featured on NFL sidelines. And since owners will occasionally send coaches out to play golf while they vote on rules changes, coaches who are opposed to the idea might have a hard time putting the technological toothpaste back in the tube.