1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: So just how consistent how the San Francisco forty nine 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: ers been in recent years? Well, last season, the last 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: season was their first season since twenty twenty without making 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: the playoffs. God Zach Gershman with me. We'll be joined 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: by Matt Barrows, he covers the forty nine ers for 6 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: the Athletic. We continue our off season tradition taking a 7 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: look around the rest of the NFC West. It's Cardinals 8 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: Cover two, Episode eight ninety eight, and it starts now. 9 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 2: Welcome to Cardinals Cover two. 10 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 3: Poa Baker, What Heart? 11 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 4: What rent? 12 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 3: This guy's unbelievable. 13 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of 14 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 2: the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals 15 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 2: dot com slash podcast. 16 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: He's at the ten half of five peason again, so 17 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: more hurry magic. 18 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: Whow Here's Craig Griola. 19 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: So everyone had a good fourth of July. Hope it 20 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 1: was an extended holiday weekend. And yes, Zach, based on 21 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: our previous conversation, it did go outside. 22 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 4: I was just smart about it. 23 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 3: What do you mean smart about it? 24 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: Meaning you don't go out at the heat of the 25 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: day and you don't stay outside when it's one hundred 26 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,479 Speaker 1: and ten for more than five minutes. 27 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 5: So you went out at like nine thirty pm, that's 28 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 5: what you're saying. 29 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 3: Where'd you go house, Old Town. 30 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 4: Crag nine am? 31 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: If you want to give, if you really want to, 32 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: here's here's the trick in because you're not even up 33 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: by that time. 34 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,680 Speaker 4: I know that here's the trick though. If you really 35 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 4: want to enjoy, that's so wrong. 36 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 3: In the summer recond you have. 37 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:46,839 Speaker 1: To wake up early, sunrise and enjoy because by nine 38 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: thirty you're already close to ninety degrees ninety five degrees. 39 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 5: Ninety five degrees is still ninety five degrees. So I 40 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 5: would rather at least go out at night when there's 41 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 5: a little bit of a breeze, because the breeze is 42 00:01:58,360 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 5: not existing in the morning. 43 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: It's cooler in the morning, that is in the evening, 44 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: because in the evening all that sunshine has baked and 45 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 1: the concrete. 46 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 4: It's press me. 47 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 3: All right, you know what I need to do? 48 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 6: Now? 49 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 4: You need to set an alarm for six a second? 50 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 5: Why am I acting like this only applies over the weekend. 51 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 5: I walk into this building before nine o'clock every single 52 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 5: weekday at least I try. 53 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 4: To and when does that alarm go off? 54 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: Though during the week, in order to get in by 55 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: nine am, seven forty five. 56 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 4: See, if you. 57 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: Wake up early, then you can really enjoy the day, get. 58 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 4: Out for a walk. 59 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 5: Okay, you know what I'm gonna just start doing. Instead 60 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 5: of reading all these self help books because clearly they 61 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 5: don't help, I'm going to just have an audio recording 62 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 5: of Craig as the new alarm clock, and when I 63 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 5: wake up, it's just going to be you being the 64 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 5: Concrete's not that bad outside? 65 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 3: What are you doing? Go outside, Zach? 66 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 4: I do it during the season for Early Bird. 67 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 3: That is true. 68 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 5: I did get those text messages for our loyal cover 69 00:02:59,280 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 5: two listeners. 70 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 3: That's not We're not just making that up. I do have. 71 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 5: Receipts of Craig texting he at five thirty five, five 72 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 5: thirty You awake, Zach, and then I have to be 73 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 5: the one to tell him the next day when I 74 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 5: walk into the building. Sorry, Craig, I was still asleep. 75 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 4: You missed Early Bird? Not good? 76 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 3: But did I really miss it? 77 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 4: Yes? 78 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 5: You did because I get to talk Cardinals ball with 79 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 5: you all day every day. But actually, in this case, 80 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 5: we're talking about some San Francisco ball, so a little 81 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 5: bit different. 82 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, a little bit different. By the way, a good 83 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: conversation with John Boyle last week talking all things Seattle Seahawks. 84 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: If you missed it, can go to the archives this week. 85 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: As you mentioned, Zach, it's stopped number two on our 86 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: tour of the NFC West, the San Francisco forty nine Ers. 87 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: Matt Barrows, he covers the forty nine Ers for the Athletic, 88 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: will be joining us here momentarily. You can follow Matt 89 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: at Matt Barrows as this offseason he's had a lot 90 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: more time to work as far as off season because 91 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: for the first time in four seasons, the forty nine 92 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: Ers didn't make the postseason twenty twenty when they finished 93 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: last in the division coming off their Super Bowl run 94 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: is the last time they had this extended break. And 95 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: that's what happens when you finish six and eleven in 96 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: last place in the NFC West. 97 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 5: And for them, it provides a lot of different challenges 98 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 5: because when you lose that consistency of constantly playing in 99 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 5: the postseason, it forces you to reevaluate your roster, which 100 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 5: we'll talk a lot about with Matt, But it also 101 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 5: forces you to change your offseason plan in your programming, 102 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 5: because when you were playing football light into January into 103 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 5: early February, that changes how you approached the first few 104 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 5: phases of the offseason. Now, the San Francisco forty nine 105 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 5: Ers have had to go back in time and see 106 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,679 Speaker 5: what they previously did when they didn't make the playoffs, which, 107 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 5: as I mentioned, presents a lot of different challenges. 108 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: Speaking of going back in time, Robert sala is back 109 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: their fourth different DC in as many years, and just 110 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 1: like the Cardinals, they remodeled their defensive line. They did 111 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: take care of three key items, not allowing that to 112 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 1: stretch into the offseason into training camp, and that is 113 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: signing Brock party, George Kittle, and Fred Warner, in the 114 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: cases of Kittle and Warner the highest paid players at 115 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: their respective positions. And yes, brock Purty got paid deservedly, 116 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,799 Speaker 1: so what he has done within that forty nine Ers system. 117 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: And then what we'll talk about with Matt is I 118 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: think the one key factor for the forty nine ers 119 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,799 Speaker 1: coming into this season, at least for me, is Christian 120 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: McCaffrey and the fact that he is healthy. Cardinals didn't 121 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: see him at all. Last season, McCaffrey averages nearly eighty 122 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: three rushing yards when playing against the Cardinals with ten 123 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: total touchdowns. If he stays healthy, then all of a sudden, 124 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: this is a much different forty nine Ers team than 125 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: what we saw last season. 126 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,239 Speaker 5: That's when you start to start all the accusations about 127 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 5: brock Party being a checkdown quarterback because in a lot 128 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 5: of cases he doesn't need to be throwing the balls 129 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 5: deep when he has a guy like Christian McCaffrey over 130 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 5: there on these slant routes and these screen routes and 131 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 5: all these different plays where he could just be explosive, 132 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 5: and especially just by handing him the rock. When Christian 133 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 5: McCaffrey was on the field, he was somebody that the 134 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 5: Cardinals really struggled to cover and to tackle and to 135 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 5: bring down. That's just the type of running style that 136 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 5: he plays the game with. They're very fortunate to see 137 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 5: him last year, and I think it does help. Yeah, 138 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 5: the forty nine Ers had plenty of injuries. It was 139 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 5: not just Christian McCaffrey. You think about that Week eighteen matchup, 140 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 5: Josh Dobbs was the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 141 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 5: forty nine Ers. That team was depleted in a lot 142 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 5: of ways. The Cardinals went two and up against the 143 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 5: San Francisco forty nine. 144 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 3: Ers last year. That's great. 145 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 5: Now with a healthy team returning, Fred Warner is going 146 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 5: to have a new player he's going to be lining 147 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 5: up with as a new battery mate in that inside 148 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 5: linebackers room. George Kittle obviously is playing at the height 149 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 5: of his game. Brock Purty gets paid, and now that 150 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 5: is something that is an afterthought. This is going to 151 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:58,720 Speaker 5: be a different forty nine Ers team than the one 152 00:06:58,760 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 5: the Cardinals faced in twenty twenty. 153 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: For well, let's talk about all of it. Here's our 154 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: conversation with Matt. So before we talk football, Matt, how 155 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: about we talk about a book. 156 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 4: Your book, Muddy. 157 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: The Water, a book that you wrote with your sister, 158 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: your debut novel, a crime novel. Why why now? 159 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 6: Well why now? It was really why did we start 160 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 6: writing it in twenty twenty And it was because the 161 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 6: pandemic started and we said to ourselves, Okay, if we're 162 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 6: ever going to write this, we have to do it 163 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 6: now because we're both stuck in our respective homes, you know, 164 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 6: not able to do our normal things, and so we 165 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 6: set out to write this idea, which is about a 166 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 6: reporter who commits a series of murders. And it's not biographical. 167 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 6: I'll say that's right out. This is the work of fiction. 168 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 6: And you know, we finally finished actually a couple of 169 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 6: years ago, and then we went through the process of 170 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:08,239 Speaker 6: finding an agent and finding a publisher and it finally 171 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 6: came out in January, and we've been trying to raise 172 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 6: awareness about it ever since. 173 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: Well, you got a great endorsement from Peter King who 174 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: mentioned tremendous book. You'll be transfixed. So again, you're looking 175 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: for something to do on vacation here this summer before 176 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: the start of training camp. It's Muddy the Water, a 177 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,839 Speaker 1: crime novel and is Matt mentioned not biographical at all, 178 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 1: Thank god that's the case. 179 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,719 Speaker 6: But it is a good summer read and Peter was 180 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 6: an early reader of it. And you know, Peter King 181 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 6: is a has always been a huge champion of writers 182 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 6: and sports writers. So I was really happy that we 183 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 6: got a plug from the great Peter King in there. 184 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 4: Absolutely. 185 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: All right, let's get into a different type of writing. 186 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 1: What you've been writing this offseason about the forty nine 187 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 1: ers for the athletic number one story in your opinion, 188 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: is it contract extensions, the trades, the changes defensively or 189 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: something else. 190 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 6: Yeah, it was just a spring roster purge really. I 191 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 6: mean they got rid of a lot of their twenty 192 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 6: twenty four starters, some you know, on purpose, not resigning 193 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 6: guys or cutting guys, and and one guy who got 194 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 6: away from them, and Drake Greenlaw, they were just outbid 195 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 6: by the Denver Broncos for him. So a lot of, 196 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 6: you know, bigger names are gone from this team. Greenlaw 197 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 6: on the defense, Steve O. Samuel who really was probably 198 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 6: you know nationally, you know, the guy that you associated 199 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 6: with the forty nine ers the last four or five years. 200 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 6: And so it's gonna it's gonna be a new look 201 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 6: team in a lot of ways. They got younger. They 202 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:02,079 Speaker 6: had eleven draft picks, and they're really kind of relying 203 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 6: on a lot of those picks, a lot of rookies 204 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 6: to fill in the spots left from that that roster purge. 205 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,439 Speaker 5: We'll start on the defensive side of the ball because 206 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 5: with Drake Greenlaw leaving, that provides a big gap, especially 207 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 5: to have somebody next to Fred Warner. Who are you 208 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 5: expecting for that to be and how did they replace 209 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 5: that leadership voice from Drake Green from Drake greenlaw, Yeah, no, that's. 210 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 6: The that's the big thing. And he also, you know, 211 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:29,839 Speaker 6: was really a kind of feisty type of guy, a 212 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 6: pugnacious guy. Got him in trouble playing the Cardinals a 213 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 6: couple of times with late hits on Kyler Murray. That 214 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:43,839 Speaker 6: was a an opener a few years ago. But yeah, 215 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 6: it's it's a it's a good question because there is 216 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 6: going to be a competition between an incumbent uh D Winters, 217 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 6: who's really, you know, an incredible athlete, you know, one 218 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 6: of the fastest guys on defense, and then a guy 219 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 6: that they drafted in the third round, Nick Martin, out 220 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 6: of on the State. So that's going to be a 221 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 6: really good training camp competition. They liked Nick Martin's leadership 222 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 6: abilities to answer your question, and the Winters really was 223 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 6: one of the standout guys this spring. So I think 224 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 6: that's going to be a lively competition. It's gonna bring 225 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 6: out the best in both of those players. But one 226 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 6: of those two guys probably will be on the field 227 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,959 Speaker 6: when the forty nine and Cardinals beaten in week three. 228 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: When we talk about changes defensively, I went back and 229 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: looked at week eighteen Cardinals and forty nine Ers. Who's 230 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: still on the roster at that time versus now there's 231 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,679 Speaker 1: no Leonard Floyd, there's normally Collins, Drake green Law, as 232 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: you mentioned, was hurt. He's gone as our Tavarius Ward 233 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 1: talanoa Hufunga. This is gonna look now you still have 234 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: Nick Bosa, but this is going to look vastly different. 235 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 1: But on the flipsie, Robert Sawa is back, previously forty 236 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: nine Ers defensive coordinator, back after a stint as head 237 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 1: coach with the New York Jets. 238 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 4: So is what's old is new again? 239 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: Or I mean, does it seem like that much of 240 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,439 Speaker 1: a transition when yeah, the roster is different, but now 241 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: you've got a familiar face running the show. 242 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:24,079 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean Robert Sala was here in twenty seventeen 243 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 6: when Kyle Shanahan was hired and there was a big 244 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 6: revamp of the entire roster, including the defense at that time. 245 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,199 Speaker 6: I don't think that this one is quite as big, 246 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 6: but you know, it's the biggest one since those early 247 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 6: Shanahan days, and so you know, Shanahan made that point 248 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 6: when they rehired Robert Shawa. Is that Shala did this 249 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 6: in twenty seventeen at San Francisco, and then he did 250 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 6: a similar job with the Jets when he was hired 251 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 6: as head coach there. So somebody who's kind of familiar 252 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 6: with revamps. Nick Boseho obviously was not on the roster 253 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 6: in twenty seventeen. Fred Warner was a twenty eighteen draft pick, 254 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 6: Diamo or Leonor wasn't on the team. Those are sort 255 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 6: of the three tent poles, if you will, defensive line, linebacker, 256 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 6: and defensive backfield for this team. And the question is, 257 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 6: how quickly can these young guys, you know, four of 258 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 6: the first five picks in the draft or defensive linemen 259 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 6: for the forty nine ers, including Michael Williams with the 260 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 6: with their first round pick, How quickly can those guys 261 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 6: get up the speed and become contributors and or starters. 262 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 6: And that'll be Robert Shallow's biggest order of business this summer. 263 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 3: Kind of expanding on that a little bit. 264 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 5: The Cardinals also had a very similar playbook when when 265 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 5: it came to the draft, you know, five of their 266 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 5: first five picks in the draft were defensive players. How 267 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 5: much of that was by design on the forty nine 268 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,559 Speaker 5: ers front versus just how the board shook up in 269 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 5: the talent that was out there. 270 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:07,719 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, like I said, I think that they 271 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 6: really wanted to get Drake Greenlaw back in free agency 272 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 6: and when when he left for Denver, that position became 273 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 6: a big priority for them. So that's what they used there. 274 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 6: They had two third round picks, they used one on 275 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 6: a on a linebacker and then one on a on 276 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 6: a nickel cornerback. But yeah, I think that they looked 277 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 6: at the draft, you know, way back when the season ended, 278 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 6: realized that it was going to be a deep draft 279 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 6: on the defensive line, and you know that's that was 280 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 6: part of their strategy. So this was one of the 281 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 6: better defensive line drafts. And I'm sure that the Cardinals 282 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 6: have said that as well. And the forty nine Ers 283 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 6: had a certain number of guys that they liked and 284 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 6: they got They got two defensive tackles and a defensive 285 00:14:59,080 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 6: end in the. 286 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: You mentioned Michael Williams the eleventh overall pick, and now 287 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: you look potentially at him on one side, Nick Bosa 288 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: on the other side. I did find it interesting, and 289 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: maybe it's because of the number of different changes, but 290 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: Bosa was around much this offseason, which is unlike previous 291 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: off seasons. What did he say as far as the 292 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: reason why he was around. Was it because of all 293 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: the different pieces and maybe being a little bit more 294 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: of a veteran in that leadership role. 295 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 6: Yeah, for sure. I mean one was sort of a 296 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 6: more practical rational, which was that, you know, this was 297 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 6: a longer off season for the forty nine ers than 298 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 6: they've had in a long time. So he got his 299 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 6: usual time in Fort Lauderdale working with Joey Bosa and 300 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 6: doing messings that they do there, and he sort of 301 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 6: had that itch to come back and practice with the 302 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 6: forty nine ers. And the second part was exactly what 303 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 6: you described. He's a team leader. Now, He's never been 304 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 6: a really verbose guy, but he speaks up fairly regularly 305 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 6: these past few seasons. Kyle Shanahan taps him to talk 306 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 6: on the Saturday night before the game, and he usually 307 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 6: is very thoughtful about that, and you know that's this 308 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 6: is his his assignment now is to get Michael Williams, 309 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 6: you know they traded for Bryce Huff. Get those guys 310 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 6: up to speed and be part of that that leadership 311 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 6: group that you know that that he had with Eric 312 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 6: Armstead and DeForrest Buckner the Ford when he was drafted 313 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 6: back in twenty nineteen. Now now he's that guy. He's 314 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 6: part of that sort of elite veteran group that needs 315 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 6: to lead the. 316 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 5: Way you mentioned one of the guys I was just 317 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 5: about to ask about in Bryce Huff. I know of 318 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 5: his relationship with Robert solid from his time in New York, 319 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 5: and but when he went to Philadelphia, the numbers were 320 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 5: not there, the production was. They honestly did not really 321 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 5: use him much in Philadelphia and Vic Fangio's scheme. How 322 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 5: much of this transaction for him to now arrive in 323 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 5: the Bay with the forty nine ers was Robert Sala 324 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 5: banging on the table saying he wants. 325 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 3: His guy back. 326 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think a lot of it. And Robert Sala's 327 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:19,400 Speaker 6: take on the whole Eagles situation is that the Eagles 328 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 6: had him playing as a stand up linebacker, whereas he's 329 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 6: best as a hand in the dirt defensive end. And 330 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 6: that's what he did with the Jets obviously under Sala, 331 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 6: and that's what he'll do with the forty nine ers. 332 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 6: I mean, these guys always say that that's not quite 333 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:41,199 Speaker 6: as easy a transitions as you think it is. The 334 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 6: put work in the solid scheme. What Chris Kasuric, the 335 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 6: defensive line coach here, requires is very specific and it 336 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 6: takes half a season to either learn it if you 337 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 6: were a stand up linebacker or learned stand up linebacker 338 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 6: if you were a three point stance type. But he's 339 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 6: the you know, they're they're kind of quickest edge rusher 340 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 6: since D four. D Ford and Bosa were really great 341 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 6: together in twenty nineteen. D Ford started developing back issues 342 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 6: that year and really was never the same. So they've 343 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 6: been sort of chasing that that tandem since and have 344 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 6: had you know, varying success doing that. And this is 345 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 6: I think probably the best facsimile of that Bosa Ford 346 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 6: you know duo that they had. So I think it's 347 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 6: very clear that the forty nine ers want Bosa and 348 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 6: Bright Tough to be the pass rushing, you know, edge 349 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 6: rushers on on obvious passing downs. I think Michael Williams 350 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,199 Speaker 6: will be the guy on on bass downs and he 351 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 6: could even pop inside, you know, as a defensive tackle 352 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 6: the three technique on obvious passing downs. But you know, 353 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 6: like I said, I think they're trying to recapture twenty 354 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 6: nineteen Super Bowl year for the forty nine ers in 355 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 6: a lot of ways with that Bryce Huff move. 356 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, Huff just two and a half sacks in twelve 357 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 1: games last season, but a career high ten the year 358 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: before with the Jets and Robert Sala. All right, let's 359 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 1: switch it over to the offense and we'll get to 360 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: the contract extensions for brock perty and George Kittle, but 361 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 1: the Deebo Samuel trade to the Commanders. Brandon Ayuk still 362 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 1: rehabbing that knee. What does that wide receiver room look 363 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,239 Speaker 1: like now going into training camp and obviously as they 364 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,880 Speaker 1: get ready for Week one, Yeah. 365 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 6: It's a concern because of Ayuke's knee, and he a 366 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 6: little bit ahead of schedule. He suffered that ACL tear 367 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 6: on October twenty, I think it was Week seven, so 368 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 6: him returning one hundred percent is right around the start 369 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 6: of the season. So it's possible that he's ready for 370 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 6: Week one, but probably he starts the season on pop 371 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 6: and and comes back, you know, sometime at the end 372 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 6: of September early October, so you're missing him the other 373 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 6: piece is that they they talk to Marcus Robinson the 374 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 6: the x RAM in free agency, and he looked good 375 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 6: in the spring practices. He was a favorite target for 376 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 6: UH the top two quarterbacks, but he had a d 377 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 6: U I R S last year and there's a possibility 378 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 6: and maybe a good possibility, that he's suspended to begin 379 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 6: the season, and then there's no Deebo Samuel, so that 380 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:37,199 Speaker 6: beginning of the season wide receiving corps could look a 381 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 6: lot different. Juwan Jennings will be back, and he obviously 382 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 6: proves himself last year, but you know, the other guys 383 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 6: really haven't thus far. And that's Ricky Pearsall, that's Jacob 384 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 6: Cowing who played at the University of Arizona. And then 385 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 6: they they used one of their fourth round picks on 386 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,360 Speaker 6: Jordan Watkins out of Ole Miss, who looked really good 387 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 6: in the spring. Well. So it would be a fairly young, 388 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:10,359 Speaker 6: fairly unproven wide receiving corps if all those things happen 389 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 6: as we think they might. In early September and. 390 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 5: Once again in early September, the forty nine ers start 391 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 5: the season against the Seattle Seahawks and then play the 392 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 5: Arizona Cardinals in week three, So even though you can't 393 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,679 Speaker 5: win the division in September, you could definitely fall behind. 394 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:28,120 Speaker 5: So that's something that I know the Bird gang out 395 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 5: here is going to be looking at. With George Kittle 396 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 5: thirty one years old, but you know, beats out Trey 397 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:36,120 Speaker 5: McBride as the highest paid tight end in NFL history. 398 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,439 Speaker 5: Only gave him a month of enjoying himself holding that title, 399 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 5: Trey McBride, But with George Kittle, just how much more 400 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 5: does he have to give at thirty one because he 401 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,400 Speaker 5: still is playing at the top of his game. 402 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean he's coming off of two straight a 403 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 6: thousand yard seasons. You know, Unlike a lot of tight ends, 404 00:21:56,320 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 6: McBride is probably the exception here. Kittle plays a lot 405 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 6: in line too, so he's doing a lot of blocking 406 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 6: and probably you know, you know, taking a bigger toll 407 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 6: on his body than say a Travis Kelsey, who you 408 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 6: know basically is a big slot receiver for most of 409 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 6: the time. So he's been able to do that. He 410 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 6: hasn't been entirely healthy those last two seasons, but he's 411 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 6: played the majority of the games and he's made an impact. 412 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 6: You know, he was the team leader in receiving yards 413 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:31,400 Speaker 6: this past season, so in touchdowns as well, if if 414 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 6: I'm remembering correctly, so he's he's had a bigger and 415 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 6: bigger role in this offense the last two years, and 416 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 6: really early in his career he didn't score a lot 417 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,199 Speaker 6: of touchdowns, and most of his touchdowns were you know, 418 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 6: really long touchdowns, you know, eighty five yards, sixty five yards. 419 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 6: He's become more of a redstone threat. Last year they 420 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 6: had no Christian McCaffrey for most of the season. Christian 421 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:02,120 Speaker 6: McCaffrey scored a lot of touchdowns in twenty three and 422 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 6: it was really the It was really the kittle in 423 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 6: the tight end group that kind of filled that gap, 424 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 6: not so much the running backs, but you know, in 425 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 6: the passing attack. So, you know, to answer your question, 426 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 6: he looked really good last year, as good as he 427 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 6: ever did in you know, playing a big role both 428 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:26,359 Speaker 6: both as the blocker and as a receiver. 429 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 1: We've gone this long without talking a lot about Christian McCaffery, 430 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 1: but the fact that he's healthy is that the biggest 431 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 1: reason for a lot of optimism coming out of the 432 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 1: Bay Area. The fact that McCaffery only played four games 433 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: last season didn't even face the Cardinals last season, he's 434 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: had great success against the Cardinals, but getting him back 435 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 1: within that offense and how much better the forty nine 436 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: Ers can be overall this season. 437 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 6: Yeah, he's sort of symbolic of the team overall and that, 438 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 6: you know, just the beat up, fatigue team last year. 439 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 6: And you know, McCaffrey's issues started in the summer with 440 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 6: a with an achilles injury that he had a hard 441 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 6: time shaking, but he eventually did. And then you know, 442 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:15,679 Speaker 6: your listeners will probably remember a snow game in Buffalo 443 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 6: where it looked like McCaffrey was kind of coming out 444 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 6: of his funk. He looked like himself, he was on 445 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 6: his way to a big day and then sort of 446 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:28,119 Speaker 6: had a freak knee injury where he was tripped up 447 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,400 Speaker 6: sort of a shoe string tackle and felt very hard 448 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 6: on the knee and suffered a not a rare injury 449 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 6: but one that you know, isn't all that common for 450 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 6: NFL running backs. It just sort of kind of typified 451 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 6: the forty nine ers season, his season. But you know, 452 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 6: his point in the spring was that he just wanted 453 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 6: to make it through the spring healthy, take part in 454 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 6: every OTA practice, every mini camp practice and he did that, 455 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 6: and so I think that that was a big confidence 456 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:01,240 Speaker 6: boost for him. I think it was a big confidence 457 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 6: boost for the offense. Like I mentioned, you know, he 458 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 6: scored twenty something touchdowns in twenty three and they really 459 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 6: missed him in the red zone this past season. So 460 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 6: that alone, just being more confident that you can score touchdowns, 461 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 6: score six points instead of three when you're in the 462 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 6: deep red zone, I think that's going to be a 463 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 6: big boost to everybody. 464 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 5: We've gone around fifteen minutes with that, with barely even 465 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 5: talking about the quarterback. Brock Purty obviously gets his contract extension, 466 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 5: and I feel like when you look at brock Party 467 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 5: in the early part of his career, even though it's 468 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:40,639 Speaker 5: still very young, you always have that mister irrelevant title 469 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 5: tack to him. Now that he has this contract extension 470 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 5: and is not getting paid like mister irrelevant gets paid, 471 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 5: I think that the title starts to kind of get 472 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,440 Speaker 5: put to the side. What does a successful twenty twenty 473 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:55,640 Speaker 5: five season look like for brock Party, I mean. 474 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 6: It's it looks a lot like his last couple of seasons. 475 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 6: I think that the one the one issue with Purdy 476 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 6: is that his touchdown. The interception ratio, which which isn't bad, 477 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 6: but that's an area where he can improve. There's still 478 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 6: too many interceptions, you know, you know, especially for an 479 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 6: efficient offense. Now I say that he counter balances that 480 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 6: nicely with a lot of big plays. I mean the 481 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,400 Speaker 6: knock on Purty just from the surface is that he's 482 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:36,440 Speaker 6: not very big. He doesn't have a very big arm, 483 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 6: and you'd think that he's mister checkdown. Well he's not. 484 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 6: He usually leads the league in yards per attempt. He 485 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 6: really does push the ball downfield. But in pushing the 486 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 6: ball downfield, it does lead to I want to see 487 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,639 Speaker 6: a lot of interceptions, but probably more than the forty 488 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 6: nine ers would like. And so that's that's a big question. 489 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 6: And the question, you know, it relates to Ayuk, and 490 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:06,120 Speaker 6: that's a very good tandem. That's a very good deep 491 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 6: ball tandem for the forty nine ers. And when Ayuk 492 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 6: isn't in the rotation, teams tend to play a lot 493 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 6: more man coverage against the forty nine ers and that's 494 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 6: not a pretty specialty. So it has a real sort 495 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 6: of domino effect on the whole scheme when certain guys 496 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 6: are out. So that's why Pierce All Ricky Piersall is 497 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 6: such an important component. I mentioned Jacob Cowing he had 498 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 6: a really nice spring in those guys. If if Ayuk 499 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 6: is out for a month or maybe even six weeks, 500 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:43,439 Speaker 6: can those guys kind of duplicate some of the routes, 501 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:48,120 Speaker 6: some of the danger that Ayuk presents to defenses so 502 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 6: that they're not aggressive playing a lot of man demand, 503 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,359 Speaker 6: which was the case for for most of last season. 504 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:57,120 Speaker 4: Matt, good stuff. 505 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 1: Appreciate the time, all the information here, and again want 506 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:06,399 Speaker 1: to remind everyone the debut novel crime novel Muddy the Water, 507 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 1: great summer read, and then follow Matt's work on the 508 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 1: athletic It's going to be an interesting season ahead, not 509 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: only for the forty nine ers map, but I think 510 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 1: the Cardinals and maybe the entire NFC West to try 511 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 1: to figure out who's going to come out on top. 512 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 6: Yeah, you're right, and I agree with you. The early 513 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:26,160 Speaker 6: part of the season will certainly be important and set 514 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 6: the tone for the rest. 515 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 1: Appreciate it, Matt. Yeah, who can get off to a 516 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: good start is going to be key for every team. Matt, 517 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:35,639 Speaker 1: really appreciate it and look forward to seeing you this season. 518 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 6: Okay, thanks a lot, Thanks for having me on. 519 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 1: First time speaking with Matt Zach and I appreciate his 520 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: time first of all and all of the information. And 521 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: I do believe that I am going to go find 522 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: Muddy the water. I am very intrigued with a crime 523 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 1: novel in which, as he mentioned, it's not autobiographical, but 524 00:28:56,560 --> 00:29:01,640 Speaker 1: because it's a reporter who's i won't say a serial killer, 525 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: but committed to murder and all of a sudden is 526 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 1: not working for a newspaper and trying to lay low to. 527 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 5: Get it, I'm sure if we haven't read it yet 528 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 5: and what we're going to, I'm sure it's going to 529 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 5: provide a different outlook too into how some reporters in 530 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 5: different fields think, because just the thought process about it. 531 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 3: We're obviously in the sports. 532 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 5: Field, but doing something along those lines is totally different. 533 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 5: And it's also a different writing style for somebody who 534 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 5: writes for the athletic who it's a little bit more 535 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:31,080 Speaker 5: game stories, a little bit more features. This is going 536 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:34,120 Speaker 5: to be a different form of storytelling, and as storytellers 537 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 5: are ourselves, I'm sure we could appreciate. 538 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 1: That the story that we told towards the end of 539 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: that interview the fact that we took darn near the 540 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:46,719 Speaker 1: entire interview before we brought up QB one for San Francisco. 541 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 1: But I do believe the fact that teams if you're smart, 542 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 1: because it gets more expensive the longer you wait, and 543 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 1: then it becomes a distraction if it gets into training camp. 544 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 1: But the forty nine ers, we're smart taking care of 545 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,320 Speaker 1: party George Kittle and for Fred Warner. But the fact 546 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 1: that you get those questions done now before your off 547 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:10,400 Speaker 1: season break and then training camp, you just focus on 548 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: x's and oh is not worried about I'm worth this 549 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: or how old do we fit this guy into the 550 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 1: salary cap? Now, you take care of that as soon 551 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 1: as possible, like the Cardinals did with Trey McBride, so 552 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: it doesn't become a talking point every single day during 553 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 1: training camp. 554 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:28,440 Speaker 5: With Trade McBride, with Buddha Baker getting his contract extension, 555 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 5: with Yell Defrojold, James Connors, David Collins. The Cardinals have 556 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,640 Speaker 5: done a really solid job under Monti Austin Ford of 557 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 5: making sure that they get their guys under contract and 558 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 5: making sure that they're treated well in this facility. So 559 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 5: to see something like that good on the Niners for 560 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 5: recognizing what their players mean. George Kittle does a lot 561 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 5: more than just provide on the field. He does a 562 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 5: lot off the field, the tight end university stuff that 563 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:55,959 Speaker 5: he does, just the person that he is with his 564 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 5: personality and how a lot of media outlets love covering 565 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 5: him with Kyle Huschak bringing him back as well, knowing 566 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 5: how much the juice meant to that fan base. There's 567 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 5: things like that where good front offices recognize the talents 568 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 5: that they have and that the forty nine ers have 569 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 5: done a great job of being a successful front Officer's 570 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 5: a reason why this is the first time since twenty 571 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 5: twenty where they haven't been in the postseason. They do 572 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 5: a great job at recognizing talent. They found a diamond 573 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:25,959 Speaker 5: in the rough in Brock Party, and now they honored 574 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 5: mister Irrelevant with a pretty relevant and expensive contract. 575 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,600 Speaker 1: Cardinals will see Brock Party in company for the first 576 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: time Week three in San Francisco. The forty nine Ers 577 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,520 Speaker 1: will be at State Farm Stadium in Week eleven. One 578 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:43,120 Speaker 1: one particular matchup and we didn't bring it up with Matt, 579 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 1: but I do want to bring it up here on 580 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 1: Cardinals Cover two, and that is Week three. Provided knock 581 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 1: on wood, everyone is healthy, you will have eighteen year 582 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:58,120 Speaker 1: veteran Kalis Campbell going up against sixteen year veteran tackle 583 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: Trent Williams. The fact that they are still in the league, 584 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: and not just still in the league, but playing very, 585 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 1: very good football. You're lucky if you can get double 586 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:14,280 Speaker 1: digit years in the NFL. But approaching a second full 587 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:18,160 Speaker 1: decade for these two, I'm I'm gonna be paying a 588 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 1: little bit more attention to that wherever Kalais might be 589 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: lining up along that line of scrimmage. 590 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 5: Let alone double digit years in the NFL. You're lucky 591 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 5: if you get to a second contract in the NFL. 592 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 5: For a lot of these players, this is the most 593 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 5: challenging league for a reason. So to see Kalais in 594 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:39,360 Speaker 5: QRE eighteen Trent Williams in year sixteen. Trent Williams is 595 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 5: still one of the most feared offensive linemen. There's a 596 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:46,959 Speaker 5: reason why he has that enforcer nickname. He's somebody that 597 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 5: is very you know. I remember growing up and watching 598 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 5: him in Washington and seeing what Trent Williams did there. 599 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 5: There was no offensive lineman I hated watching teams go 600 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 5: up against than when he was out there because he's 601 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 5: a brick wall. He does not let anything get by him. 602 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,840 Speaker 5: But to see that that that that one on one matchup, 603 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 5: when it does happen, I'm excited to see who gets 604 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 5: the best. 605 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:13,960 Speaker 1: Of who, and it could be where they get the 606 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 1: best of each other. I mean it becomes maybe a 607 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:18,880 Speaker 1: stalemate or one guy does really well week three and 608 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 1: then it's up to the other guy in week eleven 609 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 1: to come back and even the score. 610 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:24,680 Speaker 5: All I hope is that if they decide to put 611 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 5: Kalays on that side of the line, Dalvin Tomlinson up 612 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 5: the middle, whatever whatever it takes to to stuff the run. 613 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,200 Speaker 5: That's that's also gonna be a difference. We talked about 614 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 5: Christian McCaffrey stats earlier in the game. He hasn't gone 615 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 5: up against this kind of Cardinals defensive line. You have 616 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 5: Darius Robinson. He hasn't met Darius Robinson before, at least 617 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 5: on the football field. Now that's gonna happen. Walter Nolen third, 618 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:51,240 Speaker 5: with his lateral quickness that continues to be talked about, 619 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:51,920 Speaker 5: and how. 620 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 3: Twitchy he is on the field. 621 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:54,840 Speaker 5: Just the explosiveness he plays the game with. 622 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:56,280 Speaker 3: That's gonna be something. 623 00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:56,880 Speaker 1: L J. 624 00:33:57,040 --> 00:34:01,040 Speaker 5: Collier is coming back, Justin Jones is coming back, Kawai's Campbell. 625 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 5: There's so many different pieces that. Yes, when Christian McCaffrey 626 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,920 Speaker 5: was with the forty nine ers, Cardinals still have JJ Watt. 627 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:11,280 Speaker 5: I understand that, but this is now a collective unit 628 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 5: of really strong, talented individuals. 629 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:16,799 Speaker 1: A different looking Cardinals defense, a different looking forty nine 630 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:20,040 Speaker 1: Ers defense. As we are now two thirds of our 631 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:23,680 Speaker 1: way through our tour of the NFC West, We've talked Seahawks, 632 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:26,600 Speaker 1: We've talked forty nine Ers. Next up next week, the 633 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Rams. 634 00:34:27,719 --> 00:34:29,719 Speaker 3: We got to ask about how the trip to Malli went. 635 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:33,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, we gotta figure out how the Cardinals can figure 636 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 1: out a way. 637 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:36,320 Speaker 4: Maybe it's maybe it's Canada. 638 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:40,720 Speaker 5: Maybe it is Canada. I'll go to Canada. 639 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 1: I'll throw it out there and we're gonna make that work. 640 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:45,640 Speaker 1: I mean, if the Rams can go to Maui, I 641 00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 1: don't know if we can. 642 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 3: Why don't we just go to Los Angeles? 643 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 1: To Los Angeles, San Diego, been there, done that before. 644 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 1: But yeah, teams are doing it, or at least the 645 00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 1: door is open now for teams to hold mini camp elsewhere. 646 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 5: And that's gonna be something that years down the line, sure, 647 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:02,080 Speaker 5: we're going to start to see it become a ticketed. 648 00:35:02,239 --> 00:35:06,080 Speaker 5: The NFL is a business, so if training camp or 649 00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:09,640 Speaker 5: mini camp rather becomes ticketed, that could be something that 650 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:11,839 Speaker 5: could be interesting. But I do know that Cardinals camp 651 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 5: at State Farm Stadium for training camp. Those are free tickets, 652 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:18,680 Speaker 5: free parking. Everything's on Azycardinals dot com for all that information, 653 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:23,920 Speaker 5: asycardinals dot com, slash camp tixs tix for free access 654 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:27,040 Speaker 5: to head to State Farm Stadium to watch your Cardinals 655 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,279 Speaker 5: get ready for the twenty twenty five season and to 656 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:32,560 Speaker 5: watch sech work. I'll be right there on the sidelines. 657 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:35,279 Speaker 5: If you see me or CRAIGGREELU, make sure to say 658 00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:35,640 Speaker 5: what's up. 659 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:37,799 Speaker 4: Speaking of work, You've got a lot of work to do. 660 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:41,720 Speaker 5: Just because we're back from July fourth, work doesn't stop. 661 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 5: We're still working over July PI. 662 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:43,719 Speaker 4: It does it? 663 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:44,120 Speaker 6: Does it? 664 00:35:44,239 --> 00:35:47,480 Speaker 1: The NFL never stops, and neither does Zach Ersman. 665 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:49,520 Speaker 5: Nope, which is why everyone should go check out Azycardins 666 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:50,920 Speaker 5: dot com for all the latest information. 667 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:51,600 Speaker 4: Well done. 668 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:53,400 Speaker 1: On that note, we will put a lid on this 669 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 1: edition of Cardinals Cover two presented by Hyundai probably partner 670 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:59,720 Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals As always, special thanks to our executive 671 00:35:59,719 --> 00:36:02,840 Speaker 1: producer Jim MoMA Henro, our associate producer Cuddy Fincher for 672 00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:05,080 Speaker 1: Zach Gershman, I'm Craig Rayalloup. We'll talk to you next 673 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 1: time you're on Cardinals. 674 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:06,640 Speaker 3: Cover two