1 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: Welcome Bird Gang. On today's show, Free Agency. We are 2 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: just a little over four weeks away from when free 3 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: agency begins, and with that in mind, it's time to 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 1: dig into what the Cardinals free agency needs might be 5 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: a position by position look, starting with running backs. But first, 6 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: Larry Fitzgerald was back on the golf course yesterday. It's 7 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: Cardinals Cover two, Episode three ninety three, and it starts now. 8 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to Cardinals Cover two with Craig Grigolu and Mike Jarecki. 9 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hun Day, proud partner 10 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts, Visit 11 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,919 Speaker 1: acy Cardinals dot Com, Slash Podcasts. Murray rolls to the right, 12 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: throws near sight of Fritz Bob Head. He's into the 13 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: enside for the touchdown. Here's Craig Griolou and Mike Jarecki. 14 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: So twice now in three years, Larry Fitzgerald has won 15 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: the Pebble Beach Pro Am. There is no pro am 16 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 1: this year, MJ. Yet fitz still found a way to participate. 17 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: He and Bill Murray teamed up on Wednesday for the 18 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: eighteen t Every Shot Counts charity Challenge. Some background here, 19 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: burgang three celebrity pairings and a five whole match play tournaments. 20 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: Fitz and Murray one of the teams. You had Steve 21 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: Young as the official scorekeeper. Jim Nadden's the event host, 22 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: and I had a hard time figuring out or finding 23 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: I guess I should say some results for this event, 24 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: but I did see and read one rite up and 25 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: we can inform everyone that Fitz and Bill Murray did 26 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: not win, although every team, all three teams had a 27 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: chance at winning heading into the final hole, and it 28 00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: was actor Alfonso Ribeiro and musician McLamore who won this 29 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: charity challenge in lieu of the entire pro am which 30 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: fits has trophies for winning twice. So once again we 31 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 1: see Larry Fitzgerald on the golf course. He did not 32 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: say anything to my knowledge about whether we will see 33 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: him on a football field though later on this year. Yeah. 34 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 1: Normally you know before COVID, you know whether Larry made 35 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: his decision, and normally would you know he would be 36 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: going outside the country bunging, jumping, climbing glaciers. I mean 37 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: getting a tour guide to go to the Safari and 38 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: see animals up close I mean things that you and 39 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: I couldn't do. And he obviously loves to travel over 40 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 1: a hundred countries. And now I think he's negated to 41 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 1: only playing golf because this is a good thing. He 42 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,959 Speaker 1: likes to do it, loves it, and he's gotten better 43 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: over the years. And you know, he gets invited to 44 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: all these opportunities and really at the end of the day, 45 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: they're they're raising money and Larry's willing to go out. 46 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: But you know the fact that he golfed with Obama 47 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: had a hitting a hole in one, Like, how does 48 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: that happen? I mean, Cliff always says, this guy's figured 49 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 1: out life, and you know, it's good to see him. 50 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:19,679 Speaker 1: He's he told that the Phoenix Open excuse me that 51 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: he's feeling good even though he's been golfing probably since 52 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: the end of the season, So that's good to know. 53 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: Now we're starting to see him at Sons game. So 54 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: Larry being Larry, he pops up every now and then, 55 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: whether it's Florida, California, Arizona. But I don't know if 56 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: he's going to be leaving the US anytime soon, But 57 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: who knows. I guess it all depends on what he 58 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: decides to do. I do hope, and this is just 59 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: me hoping that the longer this plays out and that 60 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: we're going to talk about this every single show Bird Gang. 61 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: But the longer this plays out, it's either one he's 62 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: really conflicted or two is he's leaning one way or 63 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: the other. And I think the longer it goes, the 64 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: more APPE would be to come back for an eighteenth season. 65 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: But that's just me reading the tea leaves and not 66 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: knowing anything outside of that. Yeah, I mean, I guess 67 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: we're all speculating, but you wonder if he's fighting with 68 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: himself what he was thinking in September and October, November 69 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: and now you let, like anything else, you know, you 70 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: let the dust settle, you evaluate the season. Sure, he 71 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 1: wanted to put up better numbers, but he's about winning 72 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 1: at this point in his career. So yeah, don't I 73 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: don't know if it means, you know, by him waiting, 74 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: you know again, I just wonder what he was thinking 75 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: in September and what is he thinking in February. Just 76 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: getting started here on this edition of Cardinals Covered two 77 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: presented by Hyunday, proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals or 78 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: reminder burd Gang. If you enjoy this show, you can 79 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:57,160 Speaker 1: get all of your favorite Arizona Cardinals podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, 80 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:01,119 Speaker 1: Google Podcasts that You're and SoundCloud. Just that subscribe button 81 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: and then you can listen to all of your favorite 82 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: shows on the go, like Cardinals Underground, The Big Red Rage, 83 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: The Cardinals, Red Zea Report, and of course this show 84 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: Cardinals Cover two. Just go to Azy Cardinals dot com 85 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: slash podcast for more information. Hey Craig, before we get 86 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: into Carts cover two, give it the latest on the 87 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,239 Speaker 1: Cardinals and some of our thoughts on certain positions, including 88 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: the running back position. But you know, I turned. I 89 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 1: was born in nineteen seventy, so you can do the math. 90 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 1: I'm fifty plus okay, and I actually got what everyone 91 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: talks about it once you get fifty. I got that 92 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: AARP envelope in the mail yesterday and I had to 93 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: do a double take. I thought nothing against people that 94 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: are fifty. I thought it was like, when you get 95 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: to fifty five or sixty, I'm fifty, then I'll be 96 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 1: fifty one. Did you get I mean, is this something normal? 97 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: Are you're asking me for? I'm younger than you are 98 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: and Jay, you're the old man in here on this podcast, 99 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: not me. You have to change the name cards cover 100 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: two with the with Grilu and the old man or 101 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: you know Cardinals cover one plus one and with a 102 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 1: little Okay, you know, yes you are younger, but I 103 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: was I was alluding to. Have you ever heard when 104 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 1: somebody gets a certain age, you get the cart or 105 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: they send you the cart. No, I don't have any 106 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 1: old friends, just you. But now I don't aggress though, 107 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: But it was like, you know, when you get your license, 108 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: you're exciting. You get to drive, you know, and you 109 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: get to twenty one, Um, you know, you get to 110 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 1: have some pops and you get to do more things. 111 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 1: You know, you run a car and you've got to 112 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: be like twenty seven now and all those other stuff. 113 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: So there's there's benchmarks, but that's not what I wanted 114 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 1: to get in the mill. Well, then you can qualify 115 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: for all of these senior citisen discounts, which can only 116 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: help you your family and of course all of your friends. Yeah, 117 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: God willing, but you know, recently had a physical and 118 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: you never know in life, but I feel good, and 119 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 1: then I don't. I think the new fifty one is forty. 120 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: Let's hope, so let's keep our fingers crossed and that 121 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: Mike Direck he can get through this show and maybe 122 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: a couple of more shows before he loses. Well, whether 123 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: his hearing, you know, his voice, his sights, you know, 124 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 1: maybe you know, says Harry, everything that you associate when 125 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: you grow old. So it's the old man, Mike Direck. 126 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: He joining us here on Cardinals Cover two. Well, we 127 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: do know this as we get closer and closer to 128 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: the starts free agency again the new league year. It's Wednesday, 129 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: March seventeenth, also happens to be Saint Patrick's Day, and 130 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: we know the Cardinals will be active as all thirty 131 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: two teams. Well, but we thought here as a lead 132 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: up to that date, we've got just over four weeks 133 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: that we would go position by position. We've done this 134 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: the past couple of years, but looking specifically at what 135 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: the Cardinals did at certain position groups, what they need 136 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: to do better, and then whether they address it in 137 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: free agency or the draft. And we're going to start 138 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: and this is all random, there's no specific reason that 139 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: we chose this position group to go with starting, but 140 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: we're going to look at the running back group, because 141 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: I know a lot of people it's quarterback, the wide receiver. 142 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: But this team m J big picture I think we saw. 143 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: And it goes back to a little bit how the 144 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen season closed. But when this team is successful offensively, 145 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: they are able to run the football and it's not 146 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: one hundred fifty two hundred fifty yards, but they are 147 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: doing it efficiently and effectively to where defenses have to 148 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: play up near the line of scrimmage, which opens up 149 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: the run game. And when the Cardinals were good in 150 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, those eight wins, they ran the ball. Those 151 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: eight losses not quite as effect of running the football. Yeah, 152 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: and we can look at the numbers and when they 153 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: are ranked first overall in total yards, they were able 154 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: to run the football, as you pointed out in the wins, 155 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: are able to control the line of scrimage. But they 156 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: didn't pass the eye tests for me down the stretch. 157 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: And you know, obviously they won a three game losing 158 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: streak at one point, and then they got to eight 159 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: and six, and then they lose the last two games 160 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: against San Francisco, which is a banged up team, a 161 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:32,839 Speaker 1: third string quarterback, and we know what happened in the 162 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: Rams game, but they started rotating guys and I understand 163 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: why they were doing it. At right guard with j R. Sweezy, 164 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: he was starting to break down. Give him a ton 165 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,439 Speaker 1: of credit. He played a lot of snaps since he's 166 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,079 Speaker 1: been with the Cardinals. He brought some physicality to the group. 167 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: But they needed to get a little bit younger and 168 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: more athletic with Justin Murray. And then I thought Calvin 169 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: Beecham did find and maybe Max Williams was dealing with injuries, 170 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: so they just didn't pass the eye tests. And I 171 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 1: think Coop obviously knows a lot more than we do, 172 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:06,439 Speaker 1: probably more at least for me, and I think he 173 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: was looking for, you know, guys that can come in 174 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: and play, because you know, sometimes Pugh would get off 175 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: for a possession. You know how I feel about the 176 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 1: left side. I think from the center, you know, that 177 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,199 Speaker 1: has to be looked at. And then depending on what 178 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: they do at right tackle, and I'm intreague with Josh Jones, 179 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 1: but they got to get somebody that's going to hit 180 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: the whole and not try to dance outside, and they 181 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: have to win into the line of scrimmage. So Kenyan Drake, 182 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: I thought after the trade, I think he showed something 183 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: for eight weeks, and last year there were highs and 184 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: lows and putting the ball in the carpet. Some mental 185 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: errors just seem like he was trying to get the 186 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: home run and you got to let the defense dictate that. 187 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: I'm glad you brought up the offensive line because this 188 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: is a marriage. When you do talk about running backs 189 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 1: and how effective they are running the football, you do 190 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: have to account for the offensive line. And I know 191 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 1: when we talk running backs and the run game with Cardinals, 192 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: you have to also account for Kyler Murray. But when 193 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: you just look at the running back position, here are 194 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: the Cardinals three running backs that they have on the roster, 195 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 1: and then there's a fourth. But here are the three 196 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: running backs that we know definitely on the roster right 197 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: now for twenty twenty one, Chase Edmonds, Eno Benjamin and 198 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: Jonathan Ward. The fourth is Calfani Muhammad, who signed a 199 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: futures contracts. You've got those four and then two other 200 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 1: running backs due to become unrestricted free agents. You talked 201 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: about Kenyan Drake and then DJ Foster. We like Chase 202 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: Edmonds and several times Over the course of the past 203 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: couple of seasons, MJ, We've always talked about, hey, maybe 204 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: Edmonds needs some more touches, whether that's in the run 205 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: game or in the pass game, because he's great catching 206 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: the ball out of the backfield. If you're going into 207 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 1: next year with Chase Edmonds as your guy, at least 208 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: going to hand him the ball and say, you know what, 209 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: you're running back number one, This team does no need 210 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: a compliment to him because very specific this is a 211 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: one two running back dynamic. I don't think you're going 212 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: to get to the point, at least in this offense 213 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 1: where you have just one running back carrying the ball 214 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five times. I just don't think that's what 215 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 1: Cliff Kingsbury likes to do. He rides the hot hand. 216 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: But you knew need that change of pace back. And 217 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: the question is if Drake doesn't come back, you've got Edmonds, 218 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 1: But then who else do you have? What else can 219 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:32,239 Speaker 1: this team do to improve being a better, more effective, 220 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: efficient running game. All right, let's take a look of 221 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: the guys that are on the roster. Chase Edmonds, you 222 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: have some numbers for us. I mean, one thing that 223 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 1: he is obviously more excels as is being targeted in 224 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: the passing game, so he'll be that dual running back 225 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,319 Speaker 1: where he can do both. He's improved in past protection. 226 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: He's a guy that can run up the middle. You 227 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 1: know Jonathan Moore six feet, about two hundred pounds. He's 228 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: more of a special teams player. Kind of finds me 229 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,839 Speaker 1: of Andre Ellington. He's kind of got the same size, 230 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: number thirty eight. He could be your short yardage guy. 231 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: But again, I don't know if he's he's more of 232 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: a special teams player, So I don't know if he'd 233 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: probably be third on the depth chart if he had 234 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,079 Speaker 1: to ask me. And then the guy that I'm kind 235 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: of intrigued with, and I know he got a ton 236 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:19,839 Speaker 1: of questions last year, and I'm not surprised that he 237 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 1: was drafted on the third day, was you know Benjamin 238 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 1: He kept his mouth shut. I didn't check out his 239 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,559 Speaker 1: social media account, and he said this is going to 240 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: be his year. Maybe he wins the kickoff return job, 241 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: because if Chase Sevens is going to be your starter, 242 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: you know's going to have to play on special teams. 243 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: And then you know Jonathan Ward was active last year. 244 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 1: He plays on teams, but he didn't play a lot 245 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: on offense, so you got to play on teams first, 246 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: and then you look at you know, DJ Foster, he's 247 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: been three seasons with the Cardinals, mainly on special teams. 248 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: But I do think the Cardinals will draft the running back. Now. 249 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: You know people are going to think, you know, sixteen overall, 250 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,679 Speaker 1: you're gonna probably have a couple backs there. What do 251 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: you do? They got more pressing needs. We know on 252 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: paper going into the season, Chase Edmonds will be the starter, 253 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: whether they announced that or competition. I'm looking at the 254 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: second or third rounds, and I know there's two top 255 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: backs that everyone would like to have. It's not fantasy football. 256 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: It's about getting the best player at number sixteen and 257 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: maybe address in the trenches or a pass rusher or 258 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: a corner. So when I look in the second round, Craig, 259 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: I like the young man from North North Carolina, Javonte Williams. 260 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: He's five ten and two twenty and you and I 261 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 1: have talked off air where this team needs a guy 262 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 1: that's going to get those grunt yards. Nothing against Edmunds, 263 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: He's willing to run up the middle, but they need 264 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: a guy that's going to get the third and two, 265 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: third and three like you see in the league right 266 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: now with some bigger backs like a mark Ingram and 267 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: we'll get into free agency. So I really believe the 268 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: Cardinals wool draft to running back and that running back 269 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: because of the nature of the position, you got to 270 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: learn the different protections. But you can plug in play 271 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: in certain areas, and I think that's one area they 272 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: can do it. You want someone who can run between 273 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: the tackles, lower the shoulder pad, get low, and not 274 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: be afraid of contact. Not that Edmonds can't do it 275 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: I just don't know if he can do it for 276 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: an extended period of time. I just think because of 277 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: his speed, he's better app to get to the edge, 278 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: get to the outside and really use his speed in space. 279 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: And then the course his ability to catch the ball 280 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: out of the backfield. Fifty three catches for four hundred 281 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: and two yards. He was targeted sixty seven times MJ. 282 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: At least from a wide receiver pass catcher, he might 283 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: have been your second best option, especially late in the season, 284 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: right next to DeAndre Hopkins. So if you have Edmunds 285 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: lined up in the slot or split wide, then all 286 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: of a sudden that leaves someone that needs to share 287 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: the backfield with a kaylerm And I wonder you bring 288 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: up Jonathan Ward. I wonder if he might be that 289 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: short yardage back, or maybe you try Eno Benjamin. Yeah 290 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: he's smaller than a Chase Edmonds, but maybe just the 291 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: way he's built. And you know, I'm a little hesitant 292 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: to draft a running back right now, just because you 293 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: only have a handful of picks, and this team has 294 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: so many needs, and maybe you can go out to 295 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 1: free agency and find someone maybe a little bit more experienced, 296 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: but on a cheaper contract. And I just don't know 297 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: if investing a draft pick in a running back might 298 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: be the way to go, unless, of course, you're accumulating 299 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: extra picks and you have an extra pick and there's 300 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: someone that you like on day or Day two or 301 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: day three. I'd be hard pressed to see this team 302 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 1: drafting a running back on Day one, even at sixteen 303 00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: or if you drop into the twenties. Yeah, I'm not 304 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: drafting a running back in the first round. I'm gonna 305 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,360 Speaker 1: make They're very clear. So you know the Cardinals right now, 306 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: you know they're gonna have five draft picks, and you 307 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: know sitting at sixteen. If four or five quarterbacks go 308 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 1: off the board, then they're going to get a really 309 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: good player. And I think after twelve, Craig picking sixteen, 310 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 1: you get the same player at twenty two or twenty three. 311 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: Now by moving down a few slots and you're gonna say, well, 312 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: they're gonna get the fourth best cornerback or the fourth best, 313 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: you know, outside linebacker, which it's not loaded their bad 314 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 1: example on my part, but you don't know that. I mean, 315 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: we do we know how the Cardinals had the offensive 316 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:42,719 Speaker 1: lineman ranked last year? Do we know how they had 317 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: the wide receivers ranked. I think everyone thought it was Lamb, 318 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: Judy and Rugs, And based on Jerry Sullivan being with 319 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 1: the Cardinals, I got to think Justin Jefferson could have 320 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 1: been higher run there. So it's depending on what you're 321 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: looking for a length size, but I'm not going to 322 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: draft the running back. But with sixteenth overall pick, you 323 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 1: start moving down. But I think the Cardinals, if they 324 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: moved down not too far, can get an extra third 325 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 1: round pick this year and now go a long way 326 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: you bring up first round running backs. And I know 327 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: this became talking points earlier in the month of January 328 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: because we get these mock drafts, and one of the 329 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 1: names that we follow is Todd McShay well. His first 330 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 1: mark draft after the National Championship Game had the Cardinals 331 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: at number sixteen, selecting Travis Etn out of Clemson, and 332 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: that certainly raised a lot of eyebrows. He's certainly a 333 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: dynamic player, but is he any better than h Chase 334 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: Edmonds as far as height, weight and his ability to 335 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 1: not only run but catch the ball out of the backfield. 336 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 1: And then we've seen the history of running backs in 337 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 1: the first round. MJ. They're just it's not great. Yeah, 338 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 1: maybe you get a year or two. But a Christian 339 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: McCaffrey played three games this past season. Say Quon Barkley 340 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 1: has played fifteen games of the past two seasons. Yes, 341 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: if you've got a dynamic running back that you like, 342 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 1: you go ahead and grab them. If you're going to 343 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: make your offense around that running back all Tennessee and 344 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 1: Derrick Henry Cardinals aren't going to do that with a 345 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 1: running back. Their offense is based off of Kyler Murray 346 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: and DeAndre Hopkins and that passing game. They're not going 347 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 1: to make a running back a focal point, and you 348 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: do that if you take a running back in the 349 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: first round at pick number sixteen. Yeah, I mean, obviously 350 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 1: at this point we have no idea which any team 351 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: is due. We can speculate on the top five teams 352 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 1: just based on needs and quarterback. Everything we're talking about 353 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 1: is the free agencies first. So and it doesn't preclude 354 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: them from bringing an eventually running back. I mean, usually 355 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: they'll have six running backs in training camp. You know, 356 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: as you pointed out, they get a futures guy, you 357 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: can get an undrafted free agent. But I do think 358 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 1: you know that Jonathan Ward will likely be the backup 359 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: because he knows the system. But you know, I do 360 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: think they're gonna draft a running back. Now, let's get 361 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: into some of the free agents, because even though I 362 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: don't think they'll address that to be the backup, there 363 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,160 Speaker 1: are some guys that have some experience, and you don't 364 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: want to bring in too many young guys, considering Chase 365 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 1: is still, you know, reaching his um he's not even 366 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: close to reaching his ceiling. But you'd like to have 367 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: some veteran presents that if you can. But they also 368 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: do have a veteran running backs coach. You look at 369 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,200 Speaker 1: some of the free agent names, and there's a there's 370 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: a lot out there that are going to hit the 371 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: market on March seventeenth. But all you have to do 372 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 1: is look within the division. At the NFC West San Francisco, 373 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: Tevin Coleman scheduled to become a free agent. He's a 374 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: bigger back, more like a Kenyan Drake. The Seahawks have 375 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: two that are expected to hit free agency, Chris Carson 376 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 1: and Carlos Hide. I'd be fine with any one of 377 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,439 Speaker 1: those three. Now, again, I don't know what it's going 378 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: to cost, but you certainly would like to have someone 379 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: that's a little bit bigger than a Chase Edmonds. And 380 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 1: then you look at maybe some of those veterans a 381 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 1: little bit longer in the tooth, if you will. Mike 382 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 1: Davis from the Carolina Panthers. The Cardinals very familiar with him. 383 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 1: He's twenty eight years old. And then you bring up 384 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: Mark Ingram, he's thirty one. Now he's on the other side, 385 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: he's on the back half, if you will. But if 386 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: you're looking for someone that's not afraid of context, and 387 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: maybe you limit his snaps, and I know Ron Wolfley 388 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 1: is big on Mark Ingram, or at least brought him 389 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: up when it was known that he was not going 390 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 1: to come back to the Baltimore Ravens that he might 391 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,439 Speaker 1: be an intriguing name out there. And again, it's all 392 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: about price one and then fit, and you have to 393 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: convince these running backs if you're coming in that Hey, 394 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 1: we've got Chase Edmonds, we like Eno Benjamin, We're pretty 395 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 1: intrigued with Jonathan Ward. So here's where we see you fitting. 396 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: Is that okay with you right now? For some guys 397 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: in their mid to late twenties, that's not going to 398 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: be okay because they want to be on the field 399 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: or the pitches. Hey, come on board, prove us wrong, 400 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: or let's see what you do in competition with this 401 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 1: offense and we'll see maybe it is you become more 402 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: of a focal point as opposed to a Chase Edmonds. Yeah, 403 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: and let's not bury the lead. You know, they did 404 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:26,879 Speaker 1: promote Sean Kugler to basically running game coordinator, and so 405 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: there's going to be emphasis on and it all starts 406 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 1: up front right here, sitting here right today. I don't 407 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: know if we can project the five we can give 408 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: you five names. I think we know maybe sixty percent. 409 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: It could be between Murray Pugh and DJ Humphreys. And 410 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: again Marcus Gilbert is under contract, couple of beaches a 411 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: free agent. They want to win at Alant of Scrimmage. Yeah, 412 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:53,680 Speaker 1: I do think, and you know how I feel is 413 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: I think we're an agreement here. The run sets up 414 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 1: the pass and the Kingsbury offense, so you have to 415 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 1: win at Thelant of scrim Is. Now, some of these 416 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 1: names you sent over to me. You know, Chris Carson's 417 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 1: twenty six, He's probably gonna get, you know, a little 418 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 1: bit money in the market. You know, Kenyan Drake. We'll 419 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: see how much he gets. I don't think Kenyan Drake's 420 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 1: coming back. I think the Cardinals are committed to Chase Evans. 421 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:21,400 Speaker 1: That's just my thoughts. We'll see Carlos High. I liked 422 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 1: he's bounced around a little bit, six feet two hundred 423 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 1: and twenty nine pounds, and I will know Wolf's been 424 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,479 Speaker 1: banging on this. They need a bigger back that can 425 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 1: get those two three four yards. Now you look at 426 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 1: Gus Edwards twenty five, he's two thirty eight. So, like 427 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: I said, the Cardinals will bring six running backs to camp. 428 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: As you pointed out, really you have Edmund's, you know, 429 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: Benjamin Award, and they're really excited about all three guys, 430 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: even though we haven't seen a lot of Benjamin. Again, 431 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 1: he was a seventh round pick, no offseason, no preseason. 432 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 1: He actually looked well in the in the red and 433 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: Way practice. But how does that carry over? So they 434 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: could be in a veteran But I don't think that's 435 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: going to be a movie seat right away in free agen. 436 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:09,639 Speaker 1: See it, those guys are going to be hanging around, 437 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 1: and if you're a team that drafts one, now you 438 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: don't need one. And if they're gonna do virtual, you 439 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 1: really don't have to have six guys lining up on 440 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: the field for reps. And with the Cardinals and this 441 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 1: running back position, in terms of free agency, it could 442 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: be not the second wave, the third wave, but maybe 443 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:33,879 Speaker 1: July August, closer to training camp, depending on what this 444 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: offseason looks like, and then depending on what happens in 445 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 1: the draft, or maybe even those undrafted rookie free agents 446 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,199 Speaker 1: that might be out there as well, that become more 447 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 1: intriguing than perhaps paying someone to come on board. You 448 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,680 Speaker 1: get these guys young, and it goes back to Kenyan Drake. 449 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,640 Speaker 1: I remember this conversation a year ago. At this time, 450 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 1: after it was known that Drake was coming back on 451 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: the transition tag, I was full throttle run him into 452 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,160 Speaker 1: the ground. He was not going to be a part 453 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: of the plan at least at that time with this 454 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: Cardinals team in twenty one twenty twenty two. I don't 455 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 1: see it. I'm in agreement with you. I was a 456 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:16,920 Speaker 1: little disappointed in what Drake did this season, especially how 457 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,439 Speaker 1: he dropped off at the end of the year. Now 458 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 1: was that him was at the offensive line? Was that 459 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: opposing defense? I don't know, but I was expecting more 460 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: from Drake, one because of how much he was getting paid, 461 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,439 Speaker 1: and two how well he ran during those eight games 462 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: when he was acquired mid season in twenty nineteen. Well, 463 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: I mean I was looking at him and you know, 464 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 1: for the third consecutive year, and he's never really been 465 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 1: the guy. You know at Alabama, he you know, he 466 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: shared reps in Miami, shared reps and here came in 467 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 1: here and did a nice job and reward himself with 468 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: the tag. But he didn't get to a thousand yards. 469 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 1: And I know that there were times have to throw 470 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: it and Kyler take a lot of those reps wayer 471 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: design runs. He finished from nine to fifty five and 472 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: he had two hundred and thirty nine carries, ten rushing touchdowns. 473 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,199 Speaker 1: But the thing that really sticks out, as you mentioned 474 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: that Chase Edmons was targeted sixty seven times, fifty three catches, 475 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: four touchdowns. Kenyan Drake had twenty five catches and he 476 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 1: and they threw the ball more, maybe in December to 477 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:26,159 Speaker 1: him than they did earlier in this season. Yeah, it 478 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 1: was Edmonds who became more of the pass catcher as 479 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 1: opposed to Kenyan Drake. And I'm not exactly sure what 480 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: Drake is expecting. I know he was hoping that this 481 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:39,400 Speaker 1: was going to be the season he wanted that one 482 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: thousand yard mark. He wanted to be able to cash in. 483 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: I just don't know one if there's going to be 484 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: any running backs that are going to be able to 485 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 1: cash in this offseason, because one, how people look at 486 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,480 Speaker 1: the running back position, and then two, based off of 487 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 1: the salary cap and it not being over two hundred 488 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: million and keep going forward, it's going to drop to 489 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 1: least one seventy five, maybe eighty one, but that's certainly 490 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,920 Speaker 1: going to leave less money to devote to a position 491 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 1: that not a lot of teams again outside of the 492 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 1: Tennessee Titans that put a lot of stock and running backs. 493 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: You need a running game. I just don't know if 494 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: you need a top flight running back. Are the Giants 495 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: happy with Sequon Barkley? Has he elevated them? No? Christian McCaffrey, No, 496 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:30,400 Speaker 1: But they invested first round picks on those two players, 497 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:33,399 Speaker 1: and then you know, are you going to invest a 498 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: second contract? Then I just don't know if that's worth 499 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:40,360 Speaker 1: or the correct way to spend money. And this new 500 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: age NFL, if you will, well, it's all about the 501 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:46,200 Speaker 1: quarterback and throwing the football. Yeah. Two things to keep 502 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 1: in mind here are always injuries, okay, and then a 503 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 1: lot of these guys, I mean, I think if you 504 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 1: look at Marlon Mack twenty four years old, you could 505 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:56,920 Speaker 1: see him getting a two or three year you know, 506 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: Mike Davis has bounced around. James Connor story there, he's 507 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 1: only twenty five. Chris Carson puts them all on the 508 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 1: carpet a little bit twenty six years old, very light 509 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 1: feat you know. So you look at those ages, you know, Carlos, 510 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:14,239 Speaker 1: those guys are taking minimum deals. Craig and if they 511 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:17,919 Speaker 1: rush for X amount of yards or they get they 512 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,639 Speaker 1: you know, we're starting to see this maybe over the 513 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 1: last five years. If you're active on gain day, not 514 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:25,960 Speaker 1: ounder fifty three. If you're active, we're gonna let you 515 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 1: get you know, make fifty to seventy five thousand per game. 516 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:31,360 Speaker 1: So in other words, if you're not active, we're willing 517 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 1: to keep you, but we're not going to pay you 518 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:36,159 Speaker 1: like we would another guy. So these guys are going 519 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: to sign one year deals. You know, Kevin Coleman's bounced around, 520 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 1: you know, HIGs bounced around, you know, Edwards getting his 521 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 1: first opportunity. Now it's easy to go back and do 522 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: this because say Quon Barkley, I know they'll get criticized, 523 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 1: but Dan him getting Daniel Jones, We'll see if he's 524 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:59,959 Speaker 1: the guy Judge wants to run the football physical arcts 525 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: been hit with the injury bug. So it's kind of like, 526 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: you know, but Rashad Penny similar Sony Michelle. You know, 527 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 1: you don't see Belichick usually drafted Leonard Fournette. He's on 528 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 1: his second team. You mentioned the McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott. Over 529 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 1: the last year and a half, people are starting to 530 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 1: question the money he got. Maybe it's because Dak's not 531 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 1: there at least the last season where takes pressure off 532 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 1: of him. But you look at Delvin Cook, Alvin Kamara 533 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 1: and I can do this all day. You can get 534 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 1: these backs in the second and third and fourth round. 535 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 1: I hate to say it, but they've been undervalued and 536 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 1: underappreciate it. And you're gonna have a You're gonna have 537 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: a team that feels like they're, you know, a Bell 538 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:48,680 Speaker 1: cot Away if they want to run the ball. So 539 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: I'm just hesitant to draft running back in the first round. 540 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: And I just think the running back position you talked 541 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 1: about being undervalued. I just don't know that teams want 542 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 1: to put an emphasis on the running game because these 543 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:06,239 Speaker 1: young quarterbacks that are coming out of college and we're 544 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 1: seeing around the NFL, they have that ability to run 545 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 1: as well. So maybe you don't need that Adrian Peterson 546 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 1: type to where you're handing him the ball thirty two 547 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:20,200 Speaker 1: thirty five times because it's running back by committee, including 548 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 1: your quarterback. And that brings us to Kyler Murray because 549 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 1: you can't have a running back conversation without bringing up 550 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray. You don't want him to run a lot. 551 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:32,600 Speaker 1: But when this team was better moving the football up 552 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: and down the field, it was because you had to 553 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: account for Murray in the pocket and his scrambling ability, 554 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 1: and then those design runs if you will to try 555 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: to catch a defense off guard, especially when you're trying 556 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: to spread the field and the middle is wide open, 557 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 1: he would gain ten, twelve, fifteen yards. Craig, I'm glad 558 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: you brought Kyler Murray up, but I'm glad we didn't 559 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 1: talk about Kyler Murray's or running back. It's a luxury. 560 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 1: And granted he was on pace for four thousand yards 561 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: and a thousand yards rushing. Came close in both, maybe 562 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 1: a little bit closer in the passing, definitely improved on 563 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 1: the touchdown interception ratio, definitely cut down on the sacks. 564 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: But the last two seasons, you know, a week sixteen 565 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,320 Speaker 1: and seventeen, he's had injuries, and this is what it's 566 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 1: going to happen. I'm not going to say RG three 567 00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: different frame, but when you can put yourself out there 568 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 1: and he's taking some hits now the shoulder, the hamstring, 569 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:37,680 Speaker 1: you know, so again you like the lineup and just 570 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:40,880 Speaker 1: run the football, and when that play breaks down. You 571 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 1: want him to run, and he's going to be doing 572 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:45,640 Speaker 1: much better job throwing on the run. I'm surprised with 573 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:48,680 Speaker 1: his baseball background. I see these quarterbacks in the postseason, 574 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: not Brady, but Rogers. They throw on the run, they 575 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:53,800 Speaker 1: don't have to stop. That's something that comes in natural 576 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:57,120 Speaker 1: to him. So what I'm getting at is I'm glad 577 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 1: we didn't mention him here because that position as a 578 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 1: whole has to get better, the running back position. Yeah, 579 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: last resort for Kyle the Murray to run the football 580 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 1: and more focus on the running back running with the 581 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 1: football and just going back to Chase Edmonds and I 582 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 1: go back and forth, and yeah, you'd like to see 583 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:18,880 Speaker 1: him with the ball in his hands and you think 584 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:20,600 Speaker 1: he can be the guy, and then all of a sudden, 585 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:25,240 Speaker 1: you give him that opportunity and he doesn't produce. It 586 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 1: was week nine he had two stars. One was week 587 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 1: nine when Kenyan Drake was out with an ankle injury 588 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:34,960 Speaker 1: and Edmonds carried the ball twenty five times for seventy yards. 589 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 1: That's not a great average yards per carry. Yet could 590 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:43,120 Speaker 1: you see a Chase Edmonds be the guy from week 591 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 1: one all the way through sixteen games? Through week seventeen, 592 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 1: be that guy to where yeah, you ride the hot 593 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,200 Speaker 1: hand and then on occasion he comes out for that 594 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 1: bigger back or those shortage yard situations. Yes, and I 595 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 1: think he could be a little bit different where you know, 596 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:06,200 Speaker 1: the guys like Drake and depending on if you draft 597 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 1: that bigger back, they kind of got to get into rhythm. 598 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 1: I think he's more of a guy that when he 599 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 1: gets the ball, he makes things happen. But also but 600 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:17,480 Speaker 1: he was playing through some injuries and it really affected 601 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:22,160 Speaker 1: his elusiveness, you know, you know after that, I mean 602 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: he was the Buffalo game or something like that, I 603 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,240 Speaker 1: can't remember which one, but then he missed some time. 604 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:32,240 Speaker 1: But yeah, I mean that's but the thing is, is 605 00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:34,480 Speaker 1: he going to run a twenty five times? The thing 606 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 1: you want to do is do you want him to 607 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:41,080 Speaker 1: be targeted and touches somewhere between eighteen and twenty two 608 00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 1: and then you know, see who the backup is and 609 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:46,480 Speaker 1: maybe the Titan ends more involved in the offense. But 610 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:50,000 Speaker 1: I just think if he gets a chance to start 611 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 1: the game, you could have some more positive yards in 612 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:55,880 Speaker 1: first and second down than Drake trying to figure out 613 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 1: what hole is going to go to We continue here 614 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:02,560 Speaker 1: on Cardinals Cover two presented by Hunday, proud partner of 615 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals. A reminder Bird Gang, if you haven't already, 616 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:09,320 Speaker 1: update to the ledest version of the Cardinals mobile app today. 617 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 1: The update features and all new redesign home screen experience. 618 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 1: Visit easy Cardinals dot com slash app for more information. 619 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:19,000 Speaker 1: I want to look some of the numbers by this 620 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: Cardinals offense as far as running the football, because as 621 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 1: much as we focus on Kyle Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, 622 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 1: this team has been the past two years a very 623 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:33,800 Speaker 1: good running team overall. And then I'll drive into or 624 00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:36,480 Speaker 1: dive into the second half of the season because there 625 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:39,400 Speaker 1: was a considerable drop off in twenty twenty when it 626 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:42,960 Speaker 1: came to running the football, but the Cardinals finished eighth best, 627 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:47,280 Speaker 1: tied for eighth best as far as average yards per carrier. 628 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:49,759 Speaker 1: They were the seventh best rushing team as far as 629 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,320 Speaker 1: yards per game and almost one hundred and forty and 630 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 1: their twenty two rushing touchdowns fourth most in the league. 631 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 1: And then I found this interest because we talk about 632 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 1: balance running the football and throwing the football. Cardinals almost 633 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:06,839 Speaker 1: had thirty rushing attempts per game, it was twenty nine 634 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:10,439 Speaker 1: point nine, So let's round up thirty rushing attempts per game, 635 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:14,680 Speaker 1: sixth most in the National Football League. Again, some of 636 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:17,399 Speaker 1: this is Kyler Murray, but it does show that there 637 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 1: is a commitment to run in the football. And then 638 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:23,520 Speaker 1: you brought up Sean Coogler as the run game coordinator, 639 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:27,359 Speaker 1: a new title to his offensive line coach duties. How 640 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: much more do you think this team will run the 641 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 1: football this coming season? I do, and I think it 642 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 1: all starts up front. And the fact is that the 643 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 1: Kylo's got to be a He's got to do a 644 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:42,600 Speaker 1: better job sitting in the pocket, making throws, step it 645 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 1: up in the pocket, don't drift like Patrick Mahomes in 646 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. We've seen that over the last couple 647 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:49,359 Speaker 1: of years, and need to run around like your head's 648 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:52,440 Speaker 1: cut off. So if they can protect him, I think 649 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:56,279 Speaker 1: it's very important. They want to be physical, and that's 650 00:35:56,320 --> 00:35:59,880 Speaker 1: where it all starts. I mean, you know, it's blocking 651 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:02,840 Speaker 1: and tackling, but game usually comes down to the trenches. 652 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:05,920 Speaker 1: So I don't know how many. I mean that usually 653 00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:08,719 Speaker 1: if you run the ball thirty times in a game 654 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:12,480 Speaker 1: and you average it, you're you're gonna have a winning 655 00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:15,040 Speaker 1: record because at some point you're controlling the line of 656 00:36:15,040 --> 00:36:17,600 Speaker 1: scrimmage and at some point you're protecting the league. And 657 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:20,239 Speaker 1: that's something they weren't able to do. And that's that's 658 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:23,120 Speaker 1: part of learning how to finish and learning how to win. 659 00:36:24,080 --> 00:36:25,560 Speaker 1: But I do think there's gonna be a more of 660 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: an emphasis on lining up and running the football versus 661 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:31,600 Speaker 1: and a lot of it's gonna hinge on you know 662 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:34,000 Speaker 1: what down and distance it is. You know, are they 663 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 1: a third and short and third and long? But there's 664 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: a reason why I think. I think they're really going 665 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:40,759 Speaker 1: to get committed to run the football and then have 666 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,919 Speaker 1: Kyler do his thing when it comes to throwing the ball, 667 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:47,960 Speaker 1: with better options and more playmakers. You look at the 668 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: season and these sixteen games, and you divide it in half, 669 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:56,160 Speaker 1: the first nine games and that six and three record, 670 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: and then we know the team stumbled and tripped over 671 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:03,120 Speaker 1: them selves those finals seven games, and not that this 672 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:06,560 Speaker 1: is the answer to what happened. But I went back 673 00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:09,760 Speaker 1: and looked at the numbers, and those first nine games, 674 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:13,759 Speaker 1: this team averaged on the ground per carry almost five 675 00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 1: point three yards a touch, which is phenomenal. I mean 676 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:20,600 Speaker 1: two carriers. You got a first down the last seven games, 677 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:25,440 Speaker 1: though the Cardinals averaged three point seven five yards per carry, 678 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:29,320 Speaker 1: less than four yards a carry those final seven games. 679 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:33,840 Speaker 1: My big question is why what happened? They're still running 680 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:37,640 Speaker 1: the football, there's still those Russian attempts. Was it the defense, 681 00:37:38,239 --> 00:37:41,800 Speaker 1: was the defenses that they faced, or was it just 682 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:47,239 Speaker 1: a lack of the running backs finding room either either 683 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: choosing as far as missing the holes that were open, 684 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:53,920 Speaker 1: or the offensive line didn't do its job. And those 685 00:37:53,960 --> 00:37:56,800 Speaker 1: are questions M did that I just don't have without 686 00:37:56,880 --> 00:37:59,360 Speaker 1: sitting there looking at the all twenty two film of 687 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:02,560 Speaker 1: every single running play. You know, that's why a Sean 688 00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:05,560 Speaker 1: Coogler gets paid to do what he does. And this 689 00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:08,480 Speaker 1: is a big offense or a big big offseason. As 690 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:11,440 Speaker 1: far as trying to figure out what happened at the 691 00:38:11,719 --> 00:38:14,839 Speaker 1: end of twenty twenty whereas this team did not get 692 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:17,840 Speaker 1: into the postseason and the failure to run the football 693 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:22,120 Speaker 1: effectively might be at the top of that list, well, 694 00:38:22,160 --> 00:38:25,640 Speaker 1: I think a couple of things. You know, they didn't 695 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:29,360 Speaker 1: start moving Hopkins around. Um you know he was lining 696 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:31,320 Speaker 1: up on the left side of the majority of the season, 697 00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:33,879 Speaker 1: and that's normally where an ex receiver lines up, you're 698 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:36,640 Speaker 1: hoping he gets one on one coverage, very similar to 699 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:41,919 Speaker 1: Scottie Miller before the half in the conference championship game. 700 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:45,920 Speaker 1: But you know they're they're playing that Musch defense and 701 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:48,720 Speaker 1: so they weren't able to run and you know, Kyler 702 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:51,440 Speaker 1: obviously got hit a little bit, but those are that's 703 00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:54,680 Speaker 1: about adjustments at that point. You know, I'm glad you 704 00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:57,640 Speaker 1: brought these numbers up because again the eye test told 705 00:38:57,680 --> 00:38:59,960 Speaker 1: me they weren't as effective, and they were. They were 706 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,759 Speaker 1: rotating players and some players are breaking down. I think 707 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:05,880 Speaker 1: Mason Cole he was getting pushed around a lot, and 708 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:08,240 Speaker 1: that's where Kyler wasn't able to step up in the pocket. 709 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:10,799 Speaker 1: But you know, the thing is, over the last couple 710 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:13,760 Speaker 1: of years, they were averaging over five yards per carry 711 00:39:14,320 --> 00:39:19,080 Speaker 1: there in the top five. It's not a huge drop off. 712 00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:21,480 Speaker 1: But to me, I thought that was the strength of 713 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:25,120 Speaker 1: the offense, the offensive line. You know, clearly it wasn't 714 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:27,960 Speaker 1: the wide receivers. Besides, hop tight ends still have a 715 00:39:28,040 --> 00:39:30,680 Speaker 1: long ways to go running back was you know, you 716 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:33,240 Speaker 1: thought it was top heavy but didn't get the production 717 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:35,160 Speaker 1: on a drake. But I thought the offensive line was 718 00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:39,200 Speaker 1: their strength, and I still do, but just they didn't 719 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:42,480 Speaker 1: pass the eye test and they ever get listen, they 720 00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:45,240 Speaker 1: got beaten the trenches. We could talk about them getting 721 00:39:45,239 --> 00:39:48,280 Speaker 1: out coaching out played. They got beaten the trenches against 722 00:39:48,320 --> 00:39:51,360 Speaker 1: the Rams in forty nine ers in week sixteen and seventeen, 723 00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:53,960 Speaker 1: and that normally don't see that from a Sean Coogler 724 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:58,279 Speaker 1: Brinson Buckder group. It was two seasons in one if 725 00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:01,560 Speaker 1: you will, to account for the discrepancy from the first 726 00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:06,040 Speaker 1: nine games to the last seven games, because overall, yeah, 727 00:40:06,120 --> 00:40:09,879 Speaker 1: this team a top ten rushing offense, and that's all 728 00:40:09,960 --> 00:40:13,560 Speaker 1: you need in this game, especially if your quarterback is 729 00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:15,839 Speaker 1: going to throw the football well, and I think Kyle 730 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:19,520 Speaker 1: Murray's only getting better in that aspect. But if you 731 00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 1: break it down per week, something dramatically changed in those 732 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:26,880 Speaker 1: seven games, and I think that has got to be 733 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:30,080 Speaker 1: the focal point. And you look at twenty twenty in 734 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:34,000 Speaker 1: part one, what we do well? And then part two 735 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:38,120 Speaker 1: what didn't we do well? And more importantly, why didn't 736 00:40:38,239 --> 00:40:41,560 Speaker 1: we do it well? Were we just stubborn trying to 737 00:40:41,640 --> 00:40:44,960 Speaker 1: do the same thing and not adjusting to what opposing 738 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:48,160 Speaker 1: teams had figured out on how to stop us or 739 00:40:48,480 --> 00:40:53,160 Speaker 1: was there this battle amongst coaches and players big picture 740 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:55,800 Speaker 1: in it here? Burgang that Yay, this is what we 741 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:58,239 Speaker 1: do and we're just going to continue to do it. 742 00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:02,480 Speaker 1: And I wonder, with John Coogler now getting the added title, 743 00:41:03,280 --> 00:41:08,080 Speaker 1: does that mean an larger louder voice as far as 744 00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:12,399 Speaker 1: putting together game plans and more importantly on game day 745 00:41:12,440 --> 00:41:14,600 Speaker 1: as far as what they do as far as play 746 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:17,560 Speaker 1: calling is concerned. Well, I mean, if if, if you're 747 00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:19,840 Speaker 1: talking about that, and I really didn't think about it 748 00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:21,800 Speaker 1: over the last you know, a couple of weeks and 749 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:25,400 Speaker 1: it made the announcement, is I think it's gonna be 750 00:41:25,480 --> 00:41:27,799 Speaker 1: on Coog's when it comes to short yard of situations. 751 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:32,360 Speaker 1: I mean, now, I wanted to make sure I was 752 00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:36,080 Speaker 1: able to bring this up. I know everyone talks about 753 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:37,800 Speaker 1: when Kyler came back in the game and it was 754 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:41,800 Speaker 1: a third and eighteen call and they ran that option. 755 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:46,719 Speaker 1: There was a miscommunication on that play. I think it's 756 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:49,680 Speaker 1: I think it's fair to say, because everyone was on Kingsbury, 757 00:41:50,080 --> 00:41:52,000 Speaker 1: why would he call that play? In that moment? He 758 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:54,759 Speaker 1: was just you don't. But here's the thing, MJ. Even 759 00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:57,200 Speaker 1: if there was a miscommunication or blocking a sement, you 760 00:41:57,280 --> 00:41:59,520 Speaker 1: don't call an option play with a quarterback who's less 761 00:41:59,520 --> 00:42:01,840 Speaker 1: than one hundred when you need eighteen yards and then 762 00:42:01,960 --> 00:42:04,239 Speaker 1: punt the ball on fourth. No, but I'm saying, I mean, 763 00:42:05,480 --> 00:42:07,839 Speaker 1: i don't know if that was the actual call. I'm 764 00:42:07,880 --> 00:42:10,439 Speaker 1: just saying there was a miscommunication where at that point 765 00:42:10,480 --> 00:42:13,920 Speaker 1: it's hot potato. So what I'm getting at is I 766 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:17,959 Speaker 1: think Kugler would be more involved in the short yardage stuff. 767 00:42:18,080 --> 00:42:20,600 Speaker 1: Is you know, instead of the jet sweeps. I mean 768 00:42:20,719 --> 00:42:22,719 Speaker 1: that's part of a maybe you do that in first 769 00:42:22,719 --> 00:42:25,319 Speaker 1: and second down so you get positive yards, but they 770 00:42:25,520 --> 00:42:29,440 Speaker 1: have to convert on these fourth and ones, third and threes. 771 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:34,040 Speaker 1: You know, they can't kick field goals because they weren't 772 00:42:34,080 --> 00:42:35,840 Speaker 1: able to convert on a fourth and one at the 773 00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:38,879 Speaker 1: one yard line. That's got to change, and I think 774 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:41,960 Speaker 1: that's going to come more on Kugler to where that's 775 00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:44,120 Speaker 1: part of the running game during the week, that's what 776 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:47,440 Speaker 1: hiding in the running backs coach. But I think when 777 00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:52,040 Speaker 1: it comes to game day, let's do this where ultimately 778 00:42:52,160 --> 00:42:54,480 Speaker 1: Cliff has to say, and he has the final say 779 00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:56,600 Speaker 1: because he's a head coach and play caller, but he 780 00:42:57,160 --> 00:43:02,440 Speaker 1: has more input in the offense. Sean Kugler's influence is 781 00:43:02,520 --> 00:43:05,719 Speaker 1: going to be interesting to see and whether we get 782 00:43:05,760 --> 00:43:09,360 Speaker 1: it vocally, We're not going to know for certain until 783 00:43:09,480 --> 00:43:13,480 Speaker 1: games start being played in September and October. But for me, 784 00:43:13,760 --> 00:43:16,840 Speaker 1: that might be one big question that I have this 785 00:43:17,160 --> 00:43:20,600 Speaker 1: entire offseason. You didn't bring in an offensive coordinator and 786 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:23,600 Speaker 1: not to call plays. Kingsbury is not going to give 787 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:27,960 Speaker 1: up play calling, but what that run game coordinator title 788 00:43:28,120 --> 00:43:31,600 Speaker 1: means and just how much of an influence an offensive 789 00:43:31,640 --> 00:43:34,960 Speaker 1: line coach might have to this offense as far as 790 00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:38,520 Speaker 1: moving the football, making sure you're gaining first downs and 791 00:43:38,680 --> 00:43:42,600 Speaker 1: not punting the football. Yeah, I mean there's times when 792 00:43:43,200 --> 00:43:46,040 Speaker 1: you know Cliff will go to those guys and listen, 793 00:43:46,360 --> 00:43:47,919 Speaker 1: at the end of the day of the offensive line, 794 00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:50,640 Speaker 1: they want to run the ball. They want to line 795 00:43:50,719 --> 00:43:53,240 Speaker 1: up and run the ball and run right down your throat. 796 00:43:54,120 --> 00:43:56,239 Speaker 1: And sometimes you know, Kugler's got to say, you know, 797 00:43:56,400 --> 00:43:58,680 Speaker 1: if the defense has win three and out and Cliff 798 00:43:58,800 --> 00:44:01,400 Speaker 1: knows this, we need to run the ball. We need 799 00:44:01,440 --> 00:44:04,040 Speaker 1: to get those guys a break. And again, when it 800 00:44:04,120 --> 00:44:08,120 Speaker 1: comes to those short yardist situations, whether Kylo's undersenter or not, 801 00:44:09,120 --> 00:44:11,440 Speaker 1: they have to they have to execute it and get 802 00:44:11,480 --> 00:44:13,640 Speaker 1: it done, and that starts up front. So I think, 803 00:44:14,280 --> 00:44:16,680 Speaker 1: you know, we're going to see this offense line up 804 00:44:16,719 --> 00:44:18,839 Speaker 1: and try to run the football instead of being cute 805 00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:21,800 Speaker 1: uncertain downs. And you know, he's got to play in 806 00:44:21,880 --> 00:44:24,200 Speaker 1: his playbook that you know he thinks is going to work. No, 807 00:44:24,520 --> 00:44:27,080 Speaker 1: just line up and play football execution. All eleven guys 808 00:44:27,160 --> 00:44:29,759 Speaker 1: do their job. It works. So I think we're going 809 00:44:29,840 --> 00:44:32,680 Speaker 1: to see a difference in just the short yardage situations 810 00:44:32,760 --> 00:44:36,400 Speaker 1: where hey, let's not get cute here, let's let's get 811 00:44:36,440 --> 00:44:39,400 Speaker 1: the first down and then avoid the negative place. We 812 00:44:39,560 --> 00:44:43,680 Speaker 1: all want answers MJ. But I don't know this particular 813 00:44:43,920 --> 00:44:46,000 Speaker 1: topic and discussion point. I don't think we're going to 814 00:44:46,040 --> 00:44:48,920 Speaker 1: get any answers until the start of the season. No, 815 00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:54,080 Speaker 1: And you know Kogler's you know, I guess by title 816 00:44:54,280 --> 00:44:58,520 Speaker 1: we usually talk to you know, Cliff and then Advance 817 00:44:58,640 --> 00:45:00,880 Speaker 1: and Jeff Rogers. So I'll see how that works. But 818 00:45:01,400 --> 00:45:04,840 Speaker 1: he's not a guy that's rale Rob. He kind of 819 00:45:04,920 --> 00:45:07,200 Speaker 1: does this thing and he's got a lot of respect 820 00:45:07,280 --> 00:45:09,640 Speaker 1: in that room. But I think he knows they need 821 00:45:09,760 --> 00:45:13,239 Speaker 1: more from their starters, and that's something that will be 822 00:45:13,360 --> 00:45:16,000 Speaker 1: drilled down again. I trust him. He's one of the 823 00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:18,719 Speaker 1: best in football and there's a reason why they they 824 00:45:18,800 --> 00:45:21,879 Speaker 1: gave him the promotion. Again, I think it's more about 825 00:45:21,960 --> 00:45:25,040 Speaker 1: being physical and winning those one on one matchups in 826 00:45:25,120 --> 00:45:28,640 Speaker 1: short yard of situations and just making this offense more balanced. 827 00:45:29,280 --> 00:45:32,960 Speaker 1: Any last words here before we wrap up this discussion 828 00:45:33,160 --> 00:45:36,480 Speaker 1: on running backs, whether it's who's here on the roster, 829 00:45:36,760 --> 00:45:39,719 Speaker 1: who might be here on the roster, whether you bring 830 00:45:39,840 --> 00:45:42,880 Speaker 1: back Kenyan Drake or address the running back position in 831 00:45:43,040 --> 00:45:45,759 Speaker 1: free agency or the draft. As we put a bow 832 00:45:46,239 --> 00:45:50,520 Speaker 1: on this first position by position look headed into twenty 833 00:45:50,640 --> 00:45:54,399 Speaker 1: twenty one, the official start of the new league. Yere, Well, 834 00:45:54,520 --> 00:45:56,440 Speaker 1: when you when you look at your offense, you know 835 00:45:56,520 --> 00:45:58,719 Speaker 1: who's your quarterback, and I think the Cardinals can check 836 00:45:58,760 --> 00:46:00,920 Speaker 1: that box. Got to get better. I think when you 837 00:46:00,960 --> 00:46:02,960 Speaker 1: look at the number one wide receiver, they can check 838 00:46:03,040 --> 00:46:05,680 Speaker 1: that box. And I think Chase Edmonds. We need to 839 00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:08,359 Speaker 1: wait and see. But I'm not drafting or running back 840 00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:11,520 Speaker 1: in the first round. That we are an agreement here 841 00:46:11,880 --> 00:46:14,600 Speaker 1: on Cardinals cover two and we'll see what kind of 842 00:46:14,640 --> 00:46:18,480 Speaker 1: addressed the Cardinals do with that running back position, whether 843 00:46:18,560 --> 00:46:22,399 Speaker 1: it is free agency and we're talking third, fourth, fifth wave, 844 00:46:22,520 --> 00:46:25,719 Speaker 1: maybe late in the summer or it's done at the 845 00:46:25,840 --> 00:46:28,920 Speaker 1: end of April during the draft. On that note, we 846 00:46:28,960 --> 00:46:32,200 Speaker 1: will put a lid on this edition of Cardinals Cover two, 847 00:46:32,320 --> 00:46:36,520 Speaker 1: presented by Hunday, partner of the Arozona Cardinals. As always, 848 00:46:36,520 --> 00:46:39,279 Speaker 1: special thanks to our executive producer Jim I'm a Hundre 849 00:46:39,640 --> 00:46:42,160 Speaker 1: for Mike Jarecki. I'm preg Riel Loup. We'll talk to 850 00:46:42,200 --> 00:46:44,640 Speaker 1: you next time here on Cardinals Cover two.