1 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: Finishing game. The Cardinals have to be better. Got Danny 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: Surrek with me Bird Gang and I know it is 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: just week one, but if QB one is bothered by it, 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 1: then yeah, how the offense finishes games needs to improve. 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: We'll give you our thoughts. Plus we talk pass rush, 6 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: the loss of special teams, Captain Joey Blunt, look ahead 7 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: to Sunday's home opener against an opponent that has always 8 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: given the Cardinals trouble, and what's happening around the NFC 9 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: West heading into week two. It's Cardinals Cover two, Episode nine, 10 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: and it starts now. 11 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 2: Welcome to Cardinals Cover two. 12 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: Pud to Baker, What Heart? What rent? This guy's unbelievable. 13 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 2: Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of 14 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 2: the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals 15 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 2: dot com slash podcast. 16 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: He's ad a ten half of five. He's it again 17 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: some more Hurry magic. 18 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 2: Whow Here's Craig Trieler. 19 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: First things first, here, Danny, because I was outside just 20 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: as long as you are, or maybe not as long, 21 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: but the question has to be asked here on this Wednesday, 22 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: when it was ninety six degrees. Didn't hit triple digits 23 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: during practice, but very humid on Wednesday, which is never good, 24 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: especially in the az So have you cooled down from 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: this morning's practice? 26 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 3: It took a minute. I was outside for quite a 27 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 3: bit before practice, actually for something that I needed to handle. 28 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 3: And I was outside for quite a bit after practice, 29 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 3: which is when the winds started to pick up and 30 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 3: what felt like, I don't know, ten twelve mile per 31 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 3: hour gusts, which of course is the time I did 32 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 3: my Sideline Exchange interview. So please excuse my hair, which 33 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 3: I can't even imagine what it looked like during that time. 34 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: Teasing Forward a very special edition of Sideline Exchange. Why 35 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: don't we get into it just as much as you're 36 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: want because I think I know what was said during 37 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: Sideline Exchange. Very cool, So as much as you want 38 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: to tease forward or just let the cat out of 39 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: the bag. As far as your conversation with Jalen. 40 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 3: Thompson, it started with that second to last play in 41 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 3: the game in New Orleans, that game ceiling pass breakup 42 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 3: between Thompson and Buddha Baker. It was third and ten 43 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 3: on the Cardinals eighteen and the two of them just 44 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 3: it was a bang bang play to pull that ball 45 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 3: out of the Saints tight end, and Buddha Baker was 46 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 3: miked up, so we get a chance to see his 47 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 3: perspective on the play. So I got a chance to 48 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 3: learn Thompson's perspective on the play and talk a little 49 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 3: bit about their chemistry. Having been teammates and playing in 50 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 3: the backfield for seven years. Now, what was a bit 51 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 3: of a surprise upon my research for Sideline Exchange. 52 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: And by the way, Bird Gang, no one does research 53 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: quite like Danny Surrek. 54 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 3: I actually learned that safety Jalen Thompson and running back 55 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 3: Amar de Mercado were high school teammates at Downey High 56 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 3: School in California, which, and I'm not just saying this, 57 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 3: I don't think anyone else in the building besides the 58 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 3: two of them knew that. So that was really fun 59 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 3: to see. I surprised Thompson with a picture of the 60 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 3: two of them from high school, which normally I'm not 61 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 3: one to really share how good I am with my 62 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 3: online social media detective skills. In this case, it ended 63 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 3: up paying off, so that was nice. So we had 64 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 3: a fun little conversation about the two of them being 65 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 3: high school teammates and now teammates in the pros. 66 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: I'm just amazed. This is year three for a Mari 67 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: so and this has never come up at any point 68 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: in the first two seasons of these guys being teammates. 69 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: Now going into year three, now we need to pay 70 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: it forward and get Amari's reaction and yeah, this season, 71 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: it was a great fine by you, and I want 72 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: to make sure everyone now watches it on any of 73 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: the social media channels or Azycardinals dot com because it's 74 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: the end. It's when you stumble upon something like that 75 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: and then it pays off. When you visualize something after 76 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: learning about it and then it actually comes to life. 77 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: It's a pretty cool feeling. 78 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 3: There was a bit of luck in finding this out. 79 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 3: I will say that there is a one year age 80 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 3: difference between the two, so I happen to just look 81 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 3: trying to find some old stuff from maybe high school 82 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 3: football and to find the roster of the year. They 83 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 3: are both on the team at the same time and 84 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 3: had the first player on the roster because he was 85 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 3: number two, not been Amri deMercado. I'm not sure I 86 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 3: would have caught it, but how many amar Demercatos do 87 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 3: I think there are in. 88 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: The world, Craig, that is fair. I only know of 89 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: one and he plays for the Arizona Cardinals. But yeah, 90 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 1: props to you, and I look forward to watching this 91 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 1: week's sideline exchange. All right, let's jump into why you 92 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: were outside, why I was outside dealing with the weather 93 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: and again champagne problems. Get it, but it was a 94 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: little bit hotter than normal because of the humidity. But 95 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,040 Speaker 1: during the open portion of practice. No Calvin Beacham ar 96 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: rest day. By the way, we do have the injury report, 97 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 1: so everything is quote unquote official. Tip Ryman not spotted. 98 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: In fact, he didn't practice at all. He's dealing with 99 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 1: a foot issue. Cody Simon still working through the concussion 100 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: protocol after the collision that Cody had with Joey Blunt, 101 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 1: which leads us into the conversation about Joey, who we 102 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,119 Speaker 1: were informed on Wednesday is going to miss the rest 103 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 1: of the season, placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. 104 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: It didn't seem on that kickoff return where they look 105 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: like they either collided or not head to head, but 106 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: it seemed like he was either a shoulder or a knee. 107 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: There was a lot of contact and Cody Simon suffers 108 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: the concussion and Joey Blunt suffers a neck injury, and 109 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: one it's not great for Joey. The good news is 110 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 1: is he is signed through twenty twenty six. But now 111 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: there's a recovery because a neck issue, neck injury, whatever 112 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 1: that entails one can be very scary. 113 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 3: You don't ever want to see that. It was a 114 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 3: scary sight. There's not a great angle to really show 115 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 3: what happened. It was the Saints returner and it almost 116 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 3: looked like as Blunt and Simon were both going for 117 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 3: the tackle from opposite sides, the Saints player just got 118 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 3: out in front of them and then there it looks 119 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 3: like maybe there was some sort of contact, maybe not 120 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 3: head to head between Simon and Blunt. That's tough. 121 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: Look. 122 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 3: Blunt has worked very hard in his career to be 123 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 3: as good as he is on special teams and to 124 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 3: be a solid backup in that safety room, so much 125 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 3: so that Blunt was voted by his own teammates as 126 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: a captain this year. So this is a big blow 127 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 3: to the Cardinals really on special teams. Greg Dortch and 128 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 3: Travis Vocalect did a nice job stepping in for both 129 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 3: Blunt and Simon, who were both out of the game 130 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 3: that second half after that injury, and the Cardinals ended 131 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 3: up signing Simmy Fojoco, the wide receiver from the practice squad, 132 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 3: onto the fifty three man roster to help fill that 133 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 3: hole on special teams for Blunt. 134 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: Good for Simmy. It's a move that we all thought 135 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 1: based off his special teams play in the preseason, Simmy 136 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: was going to make the initial fifty three. Did not happen, 137 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: but now he's available, and as Jonathan Gannon mentioned, it's 138 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: going to take multiple players to fill the multiple roles 139 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: that Joey Blunt played on special teams. The value that 140 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: this team places on special teams and why there are 141 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: a cores four or five players that Jeff Rogers counts 142 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: on and one of those players is Joey Blunt, but 143 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: no longer. So you've got Simmy. We'll see how much 144 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 1: more Greg Dors plays on special teams. Deutsch was only 145 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: on the field for ten offensive snaps on Sunday. Xavier 146 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:58,119 Speaker 1: Weaver was active on Sunday, only played special teams, didn't 147 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: see any action on offense. This move, with Simmi now 148 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: to the active roster, it gives you six wide receivers, 149 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: but it's more for special teams. It's not depth at 150 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: wide receiver. Don't expect to see Simmy now all of 151 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: a sudden be your third or fourth wide receiver offensively. 152 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 3: Don't expect to see Fojoko on offensive plays. This is 153 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 3: a move for special teams now to have that sixth 154 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 3: receiver if for some reason, as DC Nick Rollis likes 155 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 3: to say, somebody loses their shoe mid game, that is 156 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 3: nice to have that depth there as an extra wide 157 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 3: receiver should you need it on offense. 158 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: Cardinals also signed linebacker Channing Tindall to the practice squad. 159 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: Former third round pick of the offense played the past 160 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,959 Speaker 1: three seasons in Miami before getting released last month. He 161 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: was one of five linebackers who worked out for the 162 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: team on Tuesday, and again this is probably more an 163 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: indication of Cody Simon hisself again in concussion protocols. So 164 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: that was the quote unquote news of the day on Wednesday. 165 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: One more look back at Sunday before we look forward 166 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: to the home opener against the Carolina Panthers, and that 167 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: is the conversation the Q and A that we had 168 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: with Kyler Murray Wednesday post practice, and I counted it, Danny. 169 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: There were four different times in which you could tell 170 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: that how that game finished in New Orleans bothered, frustrated. 171 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: In fact, Kyler used the phrase super frustrating that the 172 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 1: offense was not on the field at the end of 173 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: the game. It was the defense. Cardinals got the win, 174 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: which is great, and yes, everyone offensively has one hundred 175 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: percent confidence in the defense getting the job done. But 176 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: offensively from Drew Petsing, Kyler Marvin, you want to have 177 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: the offense on the field to finish games. You want 178 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: to be in control of the situation, and they lost 179 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: control late Sunday to give the Saints an opportunity. Defense 180 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: closed the door, but it was the offense that left 181 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 1: the door open. 182 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 3: Offensive lineman Barris Johnson Junior post game in the locker 183 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 3: room echoed the same sentiment. Look happy to get a win, 184 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 3: especially week one. It makes a difference if you're starting 185 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 3: one to oh or zero to one. And in the 186 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 3: locker room, the players were glad they got the win, 187 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 3: but it was not content with their performance. And he 188 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 3: had this similar thought of the offense wants to be 189 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 3: out there when the game is ending, and that's why. 190 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 3: Murray said, as the Saints were marching down the field 191 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 3: near the end of the game, he was watching, but 192 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 3: he didn't really want to watch. And you're trust in 193 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 3: the defense, but you don't want something wacky to happen 194 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 3: and end up going to overtime. The Cardinals could have 195 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 3: prevented putting themselves in that situation with a faster start. 196 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 3: That's where this all starts. On offense of being more efficient. 197 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 3: The starters did not get a lot of reps together 198 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 3: ahead of this. It's week one of the NFL. Most 199 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 3: teams don't. The Cardinals only had their offensive starters for 200 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 3: one quarter throughout all three preseason games, and once they 201 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 3: kind of got their legs under them, the efficiency improved. 202 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 3: The first quarter though the Cardinals had just forty one 203 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 3: total yards, went one of three on third down, and 204 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 3: allowed three sacks. Have to be able to start faster 205 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 3: than that, especially the home opener Sunday against the Panthers, 206 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 3: when you can feed off the energy of the Cardinals 207 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 3: fans at State Farm Stadium. This is an offense that 208 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 3: is powered through the run, and the Cardinals when you 209 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 3: look at the numbers, they had one hundred and forty 210 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 3: six total rushing yards. Okay, just on. 211 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: The surface, that's a great afternoon. 212 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 3: You start to dive in and running back Tray Benson 213 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 3: had a fifty two yarder and then all of a sudden, okay, 214 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 3: you're staying below one hundred rushing yards against Yes, a 215 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 3: good defense, but that's what this Cardinals offense really starts from. 216 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 3: So the Cardinals are going to have to start faster 217 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 3: against Carolina because when they run the ball, well, that's 218 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,079 Speaker 3: how they find rhythm, that is how they set the tone. 219 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 3: That's how they can be more efficient because then they 220 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 3: can open up the playbook and they can be more 221 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 3: in control rather than the defense they're facing. 222 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: A faster start, yes, a more efficient run game. Yes. 223 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: In fact, Petsing mentioned on Tuesday, that's to be a 224 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 1: big thing moving forward because breaking down those numbers even further, 225 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: twenty carries for one hundred and eight yards by running backs, 226 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: and it was just two running backs, James and Trey Benson, 227 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: and you subtract that one fifty two yard run. Now, 228 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, you've got nineteen carries for fifty 229 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: six yards. And I know bird Gang and I know Danny. 230 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: There's no math here on Cardinals cover two. But I'll 231 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: quickly do the math. Nineteen for fifty six. That's less 232 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 1: than a three yard average, which is not what we 233 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: have come to expect from this Cardinals ground game. Yes, 234 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: week one, I get it, but just something to pay 235 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 1: attention to, and hopefully, well not hopefully, it needs to 236 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: get better to where you're having more consistent four or 237 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: five six yard runs as opposed to just one chunk 238 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: run and a bunch of two three yarders. 239 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 3: Absolutely that will improve as the season goes on, as 240 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 3: everybody gets truly into that football realm of physically putting 241 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 3: your body through it and truly getting tacked, something that 242 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,679 Speaker 3: this offense doesn't really get a lot of throughout training 243 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 3: camp or the preseason when the starters aren't really playing 244 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 3: in the preseason, you know, to play Devil's advocate. It's 245 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 3: kind of like, as long as you get the job 246 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 3: done right. So I can understand that. And especially when 247 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 3: we've talked about the chunk plays and the Cardinals were 248 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 3: good at chunk plays of twenty or more yards on 249 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 3: the ground, it's nice to see them continue to do that, 250 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:27,199 Speaker 3: especially Benson, who is poised to take a jump from 251 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 3: year one to year two, especially because we saw him 252 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 3: on third downs, which is something It was a Mari 253 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 3: de Mercado in the past doing that, So that is 254 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 3: proof alone of the jump that Benson has taken. We 255 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 3: also saw the chunk plays though in the air, and 256 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 3: that's where, yes, okay, you know what, you got the 257 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 3: job done. But if we're looking for some of the 258 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:46,959 Speaker 3: sparks that we liked from the offense, you saw a 259 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 3: chunk play on the ground, and he saw a chunk 260 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 3: play with a forty five yard catch by Marvin Harrison Junior. 261 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 1: On the subject of running backs, and you mentioned Trey 262 00:13:55,120 --> 00:14:00,040 Speaker 1: Benson playing more on third down, has he supplanted a 263 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: Mario de Mericado as your third down back For the 264 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: first time in Amari's career, he played a game and 265 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: did not see a snap on offense, which was eye 266 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: opening to me when you look at the snap count. 267 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: And Trey Benson, who coming into this season last year, 268 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: was on third down less than six percent of the time. 269 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: He was a first down back. He was a second 270 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: down back. Third down that's when Amari came on the 271 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: football field. But almost in fact, more than forty percent 272 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: of the snaps that Benson played on Sunday came on 273 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 1: third down. Now, one props to him for becoming more 274 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: reliable on third down, because it's not just run the ball, 275 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: catch the ball, it's pass protection. That's what you have 276 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: to be as a third round back. But what I 277 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: like about this is whether it's James or it's Trey, 278 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: it's not a tell. When Amari came into the game. 279 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: Down in distance would kind of indicate this as well. 280 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: But typically, okay, here comes already one, it's going to 281 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: be a pass play. They need an extra blocker to 282 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: give Kyler more time. 283 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 3: Those seven extra pounds muscle that Benson put on probably 284 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 3: help as well, and he said he feels just as 285 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 3: fast when he's running the game. In fact, feels a 286 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 3: little faster. He's got a little extra muscle now when 287 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 3: it comes to pass protection. I like that while Benson 288 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 3: and Connor run similarly, and I mean they run very 289 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 3: scary when they are downhill, Connor is not as successful 290 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 3: laterally as Benson seems to be. And that's not necessarily 291 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 3: a knock. I just like the fact that when you 292 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 3: have Benson in there, he seems to be able to 293 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 3: get out wide and kind of go east to west 294 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 3: before he goes North a little bit more. 295 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: It was funny halftime. Before the start of the third quarter, 296 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: they sent it down to Paul to give you the 297 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: halftime sideline report. What did JG have to say? And 298 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: one of the things that JG wanted to see more 299 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: of was North South running, stay away from the edges. Well, 300 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: what happened like two minutes later, Benson breaks to the 301 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: outside fifty two yard run. He hit the edge and 302 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: was able to get downfield. Now, some great blocking on 303 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: the play by Michael Wilson Elijah Higgins. By the way, 304 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: Aq Shipley has done a wonderful job on the first 305 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 1: edition of film Room breaks down that play and again, 306 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: yes credit to him, Maury get into the edge, but 307 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: the blocking that allowed Trey to get downfield phenomenal to 308 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: watch again, it's posted on Easycardinals dot com. But what 309 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: the head coach wanted to see versus what happened completely 310 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: You couldn't get more opposite if you tried. But to 311 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: your point, Trey might be a little bit quicker to 312 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: get to the edge than James, even though I think 313 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: you'll see more of the North South running for both 314 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: because they both like the physicality. Plus it's it's quicker. 315 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: It's easier and simpler to go straight ahead as opposed 316 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: to bouncing to the outside. 317 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 3: And one's not better or worse than the other when 318 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 3: you have that kind of duo who can run similarly, 319 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:05,959 Speaker 3: so you're not having a drop off, but still have 320 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 3: their own unique way of doing things. And maybe Benson 321 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:13,719 Speaker 3: is really good to get you more east and west 322 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 3: and Connor's really just gonna jam it down someone's throat. 323 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 3: That film room, though, I just have to touch on 324 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:24,120 Speaker 3: from Aq Shipley is really fantastic work of breaking down 325 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 3: some plays in a way that is easily digestible for 326 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 3: any level of football fan, not even just Cardinals fan, 327 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 3: but any level of a football fan. And I'm excited 328 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 3: that Aq is not just joining us in the radio 329 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 3: booth as the color analyst on game days, he is 330 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 3: also joining us in the broadcast studio. He's going to 331 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,680 Speaker 3: be on Game Plan, which is our coaches show every week. 332 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 3: It's with Aq, Paul Cavic, myself, and the head coach, 333 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 3: Jonathan Gannon. And then you can also find that film 334 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 3: Room segment on its own on our website or our 335 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 3: YouTube channel. But really nice stuff we went from. 336 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:00,439 Speaker 1: AK strongly recommend going Tocardinals dot Com to watch that 337 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:05,919 Speaker 1: and of course obviously watch Cardinals Game Plan on Wednesdays 338 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: and then it gets replayed throughout the week on Arizona's Family. 339 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 1: All right, let's spring forward now here. Week two, Cardinals 340 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 1: host the Panthers at State Farm Stadium. One oh five 341 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 1: is the kickoff eight thirty. Pre game coverage begins on 342 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,360 Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals Radio Network. It is the home opener, 343 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: twentieth season opener for State Farm Stadium, so keep that 344 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 1: in mind. But this is a team, at least on 345 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: paper and based off what we saw in Week one 346 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: against Jacksonville, to put it kindly, struggled. Yet the Cardinals, 347 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: to put it strongly, have struggled against the Carolina Panthers 348 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: historically for whatever reason. Doesn't matter, the head coach doesn't matter, 349 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 1: the roster doesn't matter, the location. It's always been an issue. 350 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: Now key difference this season versus last season, which the 351 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: Cardinals lost in Carolina thirty six to thirty in overtime. 352 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: Keep in mind, and the Cardinals did not have Paris 353 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: Johnson Jr. Trey Benson missed the game, Mac Wilson Senior 354 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: missed the game. John Williams James Connor, Baron Browning all 355 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: got hurt in that game. No excuses. But here's one 356 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: key difference more important than anything else. Do you know 357 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: who else missed that game? 358 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 3: I sure do. 359 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 1: Danny Surrek was not at that game, that is factual. 360 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 3: I was in New Orleans. I was in a wedding, 361 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 3: so Zach Gershman went in my place. Not to point fingers. 362 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:33,920 Speaker 1: Oh what point fingers? I mean, we know whose fault 363 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: it was, Carolina. 364 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 3: This is in Arizona. 365 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:38,360 Speaker 1: I don't. 366 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,239 Speaker 3: I don't know what kind of weight that holds. The 367 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:46,639 Speaker 3: Panthers such an interesting team because they're not consistently good 368 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 3: yet have had the Cardinals number offensively for Carolina. It 369 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 3: all starts with quarterback Bryce Young, which is such a 370 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 3: peculiar quarterback to prepare for. He is a former Heisman winner, 371 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 3: number one overall pick. He has the skill set, he 372 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 3: doesn't have the consistency. Young is six and twenty three 373 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 3: in the two years he's played in the league. He's 374 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 3: very mobile, though, and that is where he keeps a defense. Honest, 375 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,640 Speaker 3: that is where Young took advantage of a Cardinals defense 376 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 3: last year. So it's really crucial for the Cardinals to 377 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 3: set the edge and contain Young and generate some pressure 378 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 3: on him, force him to beat you with his arm. 379 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:27,959 Speaker 3: Week one, Young completed just fifty one percent of his 380 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 3: passes and turn the ball over three times. That is 381 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 3: where you create an advantage for this Cardinals defense, especially 382 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 3: given the strong outing we saw in the Cardinals secondary. 383 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 3: I mean, rookie Will Johnson had a phenomenal debut. So 384 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 3: to see that quarterback matchup with Johnson and the Panthers 385 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 3: rookie wide receiver Teed McMillan out of University of Arizona 386 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 3: down the road in Tucson, that's going to be a 387 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 3: really nice matchup the Cardinals. You just have to contain 388 00:20:57,680 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 3: Young and force him to use his arm where he's 389 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 3: in consistent. 390 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: That was the one thing Nick Rowlis talked about when 391 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 1: asked about the pass rush, which again didn't get home 392 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: a ton in Week one, but mention Nick mentioned that, yeah, 393 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: they won someone on ones, but the ball was coming 394 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 1: out quick. But there was also they got out of 395 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: their lanes and allowed Bright not bright show. They allowed 396 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: Spencer Ratler to get outside the pocket and use his 397 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 1: legs to an advantage. Now you're facing a very similar 398 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 1: mobile quarterback who can move outside the pocket, throw on 399 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 1: the run and kill you with your his legs just 400 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 1: as well as he can with his arms. And another 401 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: quarterback that is going to get the ball out quick 402 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 1: under two seconds a lot of the time. So as 403 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: much as we talked about the lack of pass rush 404 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:53,199 Speaker 1: and sacks in week one, I put the spotlight in 405 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: week two on that same pass rush, but more make 406 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 1: sure that they keep Bryce Young contained? Can they get 407 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: home more? Sure, you'd like to see more sacks, but 408 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: if you're getting Bryce Young office spot, if you're making 409 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: him uncomfortable, then based off what we saw in New Orleans, 410 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:15,199 Speaker 1: your secondary can handle it. That's why I think in 411 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: large part there were nine passes defense because the ball 412 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:21,880 Speaker 1: was coming out so quick and there was tight coverage. Okay, 413 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 1: so you didn't get the sack, but you're forced an incompletion. 414 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 3: The upgrades on the defensive front have allowed flexibility in 415 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 3: the Cardinals secondary. We saw multiple multiple plays where the 416 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 3: Cardinals had three or times four safeties and that's telling 417 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 3: because if you've got to get your best eleven out there, 418 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 3: I mean, that is a dangerous defense. If you've got 419 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 3: Jalen Thompson, Buddha Baker Rabbit, Taylor Demerson, Garrett Williams, Max Melton, 420 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 3: Will Johnson. If those are your rotating six DB's, that 421 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 3: is tough for an offense. And the Cardinals did a 422 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 3: nice job with the passing game against the Saints. And 423 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 3: again it comes down to the defensive line. That front 424 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 3: against the Panthers is forced Bryce Young to use his 425 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:11,200 Speaker 3: arm because at that point it's truly a fifty to fifty. 426 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 3: It was fifty one completion percentage Week one. 427 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 1: Last week against the Saints, the Cardinals had fourteen total pressures. 428 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 1: They pressured Spencer Ratler on almost twenty nine percent of 429 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 1: his dropbacks according to the Next Gen Stats. That's a 430 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: ten percent increase then their average a year ago, which 431 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 1: was around nineteen percent. So they jumped from nineteen to 432 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:36,160 Speaker 1: twenty eight. Again just one game, and know they didn't 433 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,440 Speaker 1: get home, but Josh, we led the way with four 434 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 1: pressures and again I'll go back, you're getting the ball 435 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 1: out quick, okay. So now the onus is on your 436 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: coverage in the secondary to do its job, and they did. 437 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,880 Speaker 1: Now you would just like to see some takeaways, especially 438 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 1: if you're not going to get the sacks. We know 439 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:57,920 Speaker 1: it's about explosive plays. Limit those and in offensively get 440 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 1: exposed to plays and then don't run the ball over 441 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 1: and take the ball away. And that was one thing. 442 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 1: Nick Rawla says, what do you want to see different? 443 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 1: And he mentioned takeaways. There were none in weeks. 444 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 3: There were so many instances though where it was so close, 445 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 3: and I know that that doesn't mean much. Right of 446 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 3: mac Wilson seeing their linebacker at one point he had 447 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,399 Speaker 3: it right in the end zone, he just he was 448 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 3: just too shy. He ended up breaking up the pass 449 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 3: but wasn't able to bring it down. That is an 450 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 3: area that this defense spent all off season talking about 451 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 3: wanting to improve is forcing turnovers and those coming bunches. 452 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 3: That's going to happen. If week one the Cardinals are 453 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 3: not turning the ball over and they are winning that 454 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 3: turnover battle and they are still breaking up these passes, 455 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 3: that's a really good place to start. 456 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 1: And I know there was the one interception, but it 457 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: didn't count, so you can't say that it happened. 458 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 3: I know Will Johnson was. He ran that route better 459 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 3: than the Saints receiver, just unfortunate it was negated. Bipeds. 460 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: He looked like a wide receiver on that play. The 461 00:24:56,560 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 1: other issue or not probably a concern because you know, 462 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:03,879 Speaker 1: we heard from Jonathan Gannon on Wednesday. You spoke to 463 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 1: JG as part of the Cardinals' game plan on Monday. 464 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 1: For someone who doesn't like looking in the past, JG 465 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: was all about talking about that game last season in Carolina. 466 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: Didn't stop the run, lost the takeaway battle, and you 467 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:22,240 Speaker 1: could just get a sense from listening to him on Wednesday, 468 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:24,920 Speaker 1: and I know what he said on Cardinals' game plan, 469 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:28,160 Speaker 1: well to watch that this week, but it did seem 470 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: like it bothered him a little bit more. Now that 471 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 1: was late last season. The loss knocked the Cardinals out 472 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: of playoff contention, and it just didn't look good what 473 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:43,159 Speaker 1: Chuba Hubbard was doing, especially in overtime. What was it 474 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: a twenty one yard run and a twenty four yard 475 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 1: run on back to back plays and winning the game. 476 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: Couldn't tackle him, And you have to be able to 477 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 1: do that this week if you hope to improve the 478 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 1: two to zero. 479 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 3: Part of the reason that game feels so fresh is 480 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 3: relatively it is that was Week sixteen, late in December 481 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 3: last season. Now the Cardinals are facing the Panthers early 482 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,959 Speaker 3: this season, It's two different teams, right, and so I 483 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 3: understand it's not necessarily the same, but the schemes can 484 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 3: still be pretty similar. That's a pretty recent game, all 485 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 3: things considered, that this Cardinals coaching staff can go look 486 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:22,200 Speaker 3: at and find ways to try and improve how they're 487 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 3: going to play. You mentioned earlier the long list of 488 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 3: players the Cardinals were without, whether that was from the 489 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:30,360 Speaker 3: get go due to injury or players who got hurt 490 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,479 Speaker 3: during the game. That is a loss that is still 491 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:35,679 Speaker 3: stinging some of the players in the locker room. Not 492 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,199 Speaker 3: in the sense that mentally they haven't moved forward, but 493 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:43,119 Speaker 3: they just they feel how tough of a loss that was. 494 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 3: That can be a good motivator. Chewa Hubbard was tough 495 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,360 Speaker 3: to defend out of the backfield. He had twenty five 496 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 3: carries for one hundred and fifty two yards two touchdowns. 497 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 3: Bryce Young had sixty eight rushing yards and a touchdown. 498 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 3: So the Panthers were able to run through the Cardinals 499 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 3: defense pretty well, and you cannot allow that to happen 500 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 3: this time around. 501 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: I would expect those numbers again, different personnel. You basically 502 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,400 Speaker 1: have a brand new defensive line. I mean, Darius Robinson 503 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: played in that game, but he wasn't quite d rob. 504 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:21,439 Speaker 1: Now he's fully healthy. You've got Kalais, You've got Dalvin Tomlinson. 505 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:26,120 Speaker 1: I certainly would expect a better run defense this week, 506 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: even maybe better than what we saw last week. And 507 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 1: I say that just on how that game started, because 508 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:34,919 Speaker 1: Alvin Kamara ran the ball very well, and then all 509 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:37,199 Speaker 1: of a sudden there were some adjustments or the Saints 510 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 1: went away from the ground game because Kamara did not 511 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:42,959 Speaker 1: do anything in the second half at all. Can you 512 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:47,159 Speaker 1: shut down the Panthers ground game? Force Bryce Young to 513 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,479 Speaker 1: beat you and beat you from the pocket. Hasn't been 514 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:52,640 Speaker 1: able to do that a ton. In fact, I thought 515 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:56,200 Speaker 1: I saw something earlier. He's winless in his career through 516 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:58,639 Speaker 1: the first seven or eight weeks of a regular season, 517 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:00,399 Speaker 1: so he has not won a game a month of 518 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: September or October. So let's make sure that streak continues. 519 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:06,440 Speaker 3: Young got benched after Week two. 520 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:09,240 Speaker 1: Last year, so there's that as well. 521 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:14,400 Speaker 3: Again, it's just a peculiar matchup. Is again it's similar 522 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 3: to the Saints where and you look on paper, the 523 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 3: Cardinals have every advantage. You cannot get into the mine 524 00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 3: trap going into that, but the Cardinals that they really 525 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 3: do have every advantage against this Panthers team, and you 526 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 3: also now have home advantage the home. 527 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 1: Opener, and that perhaps might be the difference in this one. 528 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 1: The Cardinals the last time they won a game in 529 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 1: this series was twenty twenty two at Carolina. Were you 530 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 1: at that game? 531 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 3: I was at that game? I'm thinking right now, wasn't 532 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 3: that wasn't that kind of a crazy game? Where wasn't 533 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 3: that around when JJ Watt's heart condition kind of came up? 534 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 3: And I'm pretty sure it would have been Chase Edmonds. 535 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 3: I think there was a running back with some kind 536 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:55,719 Speaker 3: of some funky happened. I'm gonna have to look into them. 537 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 1: Okay, that's that's a good memory. 538 00:28:57,240 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 3: If that is might not be. I could be way wrong. 539 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:03,480 Speaker 1: If you say it with conviction, if you sound confident, 540 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 1: then I believe it to be true. Cardinals, by the way, 541 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: one and five in their last six games against the 542 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: Carolina Panthers. So again Danny mentioned it, every advantage on 543 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:19,440 Speaker 1: paper belongs to the Arizona Cardinals, and down their home 544 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: as well. On Sunday, one oh five is the kickoff, 545 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 1: So feel pretty good about the Cardinals going in. They've 546 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 1: said all the right things, and yes they've put Week 547 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: one behind them. Have they fully put last season's meeting 548 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: with the Panthers behind them completely? I'm sure it still 549 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 1: stinks for a lot of those players considering the magnitude 550 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 1: of that game. The loss again knock them out of 551 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 1: the playoffs. And then all of a sudden, you're watching 552 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: everyone in the month of January and February. 553 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 3: Just to take you back in time, I completely forgot 554 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 3: Baker Mayfield was on that team, as was Christian McCaffrey. Yes, 555 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 3: that's what I'm seeing online, Baker Mayfield and Christian McCaffrey. 556 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 3: So that really takes you back in time to the Panthers. 557 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 1: Why does it sound why does it seem like cmcsbith 558 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 1: has been with San Francisco for like a. 559 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 3: Decade, Because that's exactly what it feels like. I completely 560 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 3: forgot that Mayfield was with the Panthers in twenty twenty two. 561 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 3: Hollywood Brown, that was kind of one of his first 562 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 3: breakout games as a Cardinal. 563 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:19,960 Speaker 1: Okay, so we learned here on this edition of Cardinals 564 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 1: Cover two is if Danny's in attendance, Cardinals win, she's 565 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 1: not well. Better luck next week. 566 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:28,880 Speaker 3: It's a lot of pressure, Mike, because someone's gonna clip 567 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 3: that off. Craig. 568 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,000 Speaker 1: I'm just letting everyone know. People want to know that's 569 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: why they come here to Cardinals covered two true. Anything 570 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 1: else on this matchup that forefront of your mind, or 571 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 1: we think we covered it all before we take a 572 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 1: look at the NFC West. 573 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 3: We covered it all. 574 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 1: Okay, we bring up San Francisco. It's been a long 575 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 1: week for them. Forty nine ers this week are want 576 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 1: to know they trail travel to New Orleans. Maybe the 577 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,960 Speaker 1: Saints can do the Cardinals a solid. By the way, 578 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 1: on Wednesday, Kyle Shanahan said, it's quote a long shot 579 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 1: that Brock plays this week dealing with the left shoulder 580 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 1: and tow issue. Mac Jones is your backup quarterback. And 581 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:10,240 Speaker 1: then don't forget the Cardinals play the forty nine ers 582 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 1: in San Francisco a week from Sunday. Don't have to 583 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:16,760 Speaker 1: worry about George Kittle. He's been placed on IR with 584 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 1: a hamstring injury. Kicker Jake Moody twenty twenty three third 585 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 1: round pick has been waived, so already out of the gate. 586 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:28,880 Speaker 1: The forty nine ers have injuries once again. Can they 587 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 1: recover from these injuries they weren't able to last season. 588 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 3: But here's the thing. They still made a push. And 589 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 3: that's what's tough to sit here and say, Oh, the 590 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:40,680 Speaker 3: forty nine ers, we can call it early from the season. 591 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 3: They always find a way to be aggressive and to 592 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:46,920 Speaker 3: stay in it until the end of the season. Right, 593 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 3: Like we talk about with Kyle Shanahan. It's such a 594 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 3: plug and play that when they were without Christian McCaffrey 595 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:55,920 Speaker 3: that year, they put in Jordan Mason, who seemingly was 596 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 3: playing as if he were Christian McCaffrey to begin with. 597 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:01,800 Speaker 3: So that's what's for using for the forty nine ers. 598 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 3: They always kind of find a way. Poor Paul Calvici though, man, 599 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 3: nobody loves talking about drafting a kicker more than Paul 600 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 3: and the forty nine ers cut Moody. 601 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: That's a third round pick in twenty twenty three. 602 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:18,120 Speaker 3: That is a high draft pick. Man. That tells you 603 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 3: how tough it is as a kicker. 604 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:22,280 Speaker 1: Forty nine Ers defense did play well in their victory 605 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:25,719 Speaker 1: over the Seahawks Seattle. By the way, are we rooting 606 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:30,959 Speaker 1: for Seattle this week, Danny? Because they play at Pittsburgh 607 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 1: who have Aaron Rodgers as the. 608 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:37,040 Speaker 3: Quarterbackcon for either one you want to tie. Whenever we 609 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 3: do the Cardinals underground picks of the week and we're 610 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 3: looking ahead. I have been burned way too many times 611 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 3: by mister Rogers, so got to figure out what I'm 612 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 3: going to do there. But I'm not rooting for either team. 613 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 1: Okay, let's hope maybe Aaron Rodgers can help the Cardinals 614 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 1: out this week. 615 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:53,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm sure he's listening. 616 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:55,920 Speaker 1: I'm sure he is. The other team in the division, 617 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:58,560 Speaker 1: Rams are at Tennessee. By the way, the Rams, Cardinals, 618 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 1: and forty nine ers all one in oh Seahawks the 619 00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 1: only team to lost in Week one because they had 620 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:03,040 Speaker 1: a division game. 621 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 3: Last place Seahawks. 622 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is the famous phrase, the fun phrase that 623 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:11,080 Speaker 1: Paul Calvec likes to say. So that is a look 624 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:14,680 Speaker 1: at Week two in the NFC West, also on Wednesday. 625 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 1: I want to make sure this is out there. The 626 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:22,840 Speaker 1: rivalry merchandise is available on Azycardinals dot com, the team 627 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: shop or shop day at shop dot Azcardinals dot com. 628 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 1: Cardinals will wear their rivalry uniform once this season. It 629 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 1: is Week four against Seattle on Thursday Night Football. But 630 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:37,400 Speaker 1: if you want to look like the Arizona Cardinals. That 631 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:40,080 Speaker 1: merchandise is available. 632 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 3: Right now and only for three years. 633 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:46,520 Speaker 1: That's true, three years, once a season for three years, 634 00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 1: and then after that, I don't know, maybe a throwback 635 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 1: in tell Yeah, well then the. 636 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:51,680 Speaker 3: League is going to pick two different divisions to wear 637 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:52,960 Speaker 3: their rivalry's uniforms. 638 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:57,040 Speaker 1: So when you say unique, this is the true definition 639 00:33:57,200 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 1: of you. 640 00:33:57,640 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 3: It is limited. Yeah, get them all you can. 641 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:07,480 Speaker 1: Hopefully we can get some merchandise ourselves. Speaking into existence here. 642 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:10,839 Speaker 1: You got connections, don't you? 643 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 3: You're my connection? You tell me. 644 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:18,880 Speaker 1: I have very very few. No, no, no, no, I 645 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 1: appreciate that. But yeah, that's not the case. All right, Well, 646 00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 1: Danny needs a fan. She needs to cool off. It's 647 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 1: been a long hot day, but not a long week, 648 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 1: because it can't be a long week coming off a win. 649 00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:31,880 Speaker 3: Agreed, Okay. 650 00:34:32,440 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 1: On that notes, we will put a lit on this 651 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 1: edition of Cardinals Cover two presented by Hyundai, proud partner 652 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 1: of the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our 653 00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:44,240 Speaker 1: executive producer Jill Mama Hunter our associate producer Coddy Fincher 654 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,480 Speaker 1: For Danny, surek, I'm Craig Rayel Lou. We'll talk to 655 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: you next time here on Cardinals Cover two,