1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: Well, it doesn't get much more satisfying than that Welcome 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: bird Gang on today's show, Paul Calvis, he joins me, 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: he was there. He watched it unfold down thirteen and 4 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: a half time ten heading into the fourth quarter on 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: the road against what many people believe is or should 6 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,319 Speaker 1: I say, was the best team in the division. Big 7 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: plays were made, and here we are talking about a 8 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: big win at Cardinals Cover two, Episode eight oh four, 9 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: and it starts now. 10 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 2: Welcome to Cardinals Cover two. 11 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: Who to Baker? 12 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 3: What heart? What rent? 13 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: This guy's unbelievable. 14 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 2: Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of 15 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals 16 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 2: dot com slash podcast. 17 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: He's ad a ten half of five. He's it again, 18 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: so more hurry magic. 19 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 2: Whow Here's Craig Griolo. 20 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: So first things first, we need a wellness check on you, Paul, 21 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,759 Speaker 1: because as I look at the official game book right here, 22 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: and we're at lists temperature, excuse me, it says eighty 23 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: nine degrees. Now, can the light detector please go off? 24 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: The Fox broadcast kickoff ninety five degrees? 25 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 4: Thank you? 26 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: And then they updated it and the second half one 27 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: oh one. Yeah, you know what? 28 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 4: Okay, thankfully, because I have no idea what's going on 29 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 4: with the official box score. Did the guy who formulated 30 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 4: this did he take the temperature inside the press box 31 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 4: or outside? That's what I want to know, because if 32 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 4: he's listening at eighty nine degrees, I'm listening to myself 33 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 4: at six foot five. All right, I mean, what is 34 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 4: going on with that, Craig? There's one team, one team only, okay, 35 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 4: maybe two, maybe the Raiders if they practice outside in 36 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 4: Vegas midday. There's one team that could have withstood that heat. 37 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 4: Forget about the Fourners in their talented roster. I'm talking 38 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 4: about the direct sun, that heat for three plus hours, 39 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 4: and then not only the mental strength and forty two 40 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 4: to make it through, but also to look across the 41 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 4: field and see the Niners sideline in the shade most 42 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 4: of the second half, and to come back and combat that. 43 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 4: That's really impressive. Even Jonathan Gannon brought it up postgame himself. 44 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 4: It was hot, and you know so, I mean as 45 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 4: for years truly over there, not that anyone cares. Two 46 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 4: things were my best friend, the kicking net I would 47 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 4: stand behind the kicking net. It provided a little bit 48 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 4: of shade or an offensive lineman. If an offensive lineman 49 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 4: ever left the handheld shade screens that they were holding 50 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 4: on it was actually on the sideline. I would go 51 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 4: stand behind Paris Johnson Junior. It's the next best thing 52 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 4: to an oak tree. 53 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: Before we get into the nuts and bolts, because you've 54 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: just brought up something that I need to address. By 55 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: the way, Cardinals case have not heard. They did win 56 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 1: in San Francisco twenty four to twenty three, but you 57 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 1: mentioned the kicking net, and I want to direct everyone 58 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 1: to the postgame conversation, literally postgame, immediately after the ballgame. 59 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,959 Speaker 1: Paul's out there interviewing the hero of the day, Chad Roylan, 60 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: who was just signed off the practice squad. Always say, 61 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: added to the practice squad four days earlier and then 62 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: elevated to the active roster on Saturday. And while you 63 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: were right by the kicking net, did it never occur 64 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: to you to actually go, hey, Chad, I'm Paul. Nice 65 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: to meet you. Because we had one of the best 66 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: exchanges ever in a postgame interview when Chad mentioned, yeah, 67 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: I'm still getting to know everyone, and you signed off 68 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: with Oh yeah, by the way, I guess you introduced myself. 69 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: I'm Paul Calvic. 70 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 4: So I've learned over the years, Craig, you really should 71 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 4: do those introductions during the week in the in the 72 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 4: locker room, because you never know what a guy's mindset 73 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 4: is on game day. Some guys are very chatty Kathy 74 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 4: and the whole conversation, the whole game. You know a 75 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 4: Jay Feely, Neil Rackers to a degree. You know who 76 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 4: is the guy the punter from Australia, Ben Graham. Ben Graham, 77 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 4: you know a mate, you know, he's very friendly. There 78 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 4: are other guys who are really on laser focus and 79 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 4: you don't want to disrupt their flow if you will 80 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 4: on game day. So and I wasn't really sure when 81 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 4: camp Chad Ryland fell into and then after the blockfield goal, yeah, 82 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 4: I wasn't talking to him. I was letting him deal 83 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 4: with that mentally. But he had a great answer when 84 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 4: we asked him about that particular kick and he likened 85 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 4: it to a kick he missed with a game on 86 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 4: the line for New England a year ago, same spot, 87 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 4: same yardage. Of course he's having flashbacks to that, so 88 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 4: that's all part of the mental challenge. If you're a kicker, right, 89 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 4: everyone's like, oh, gee, he's just kicking a football. No, 90 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 4: there's all the mental side of it that goes into 91 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 4: it as well, especially considering what happened earlier in the game. 92 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 4: The last time, did I see this right? The last 93 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 4: time the Cardinals had a block field goal returned against 94 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 4: him for a touchdown was nineteen seventy two. Nineteen seventy 95 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 4: nine nine, Week two against Washington. Okay, there must have 96 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 4: been a misprint because they document I had from NFL 97 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:55,239 Speaker 4: research sits seventy two. 98 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: Maybe I just missed up the two in the nine. 99 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: But bottom line is it's about this decade since the 100 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: seventies that that has happened. But what were the questions 101 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: that we asked all week long going into Week five? 102 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: What was the response? What was the team going to 103 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: show following that performance against the Washington Commanders? And I 104 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 1: think Paul, we got two responses. One, we got the 105 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: first series defensively a three and out and the first 106 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: series offensively another first drive touchdown. And then there was 107 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: the response second half because you brought it up, the 108 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: block field goal return for a touchdown, the interception by 109 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: Nick Bosa. You're going into the locker room trailing thirteen 110 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: twenty three to ten, and then you come out of 111 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,239 Speaker 1: the locker room and what's the offense too? Three straight 112 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: pass attempts and you go three and out and now 113 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: all of a sudden you're like, all right, here we 114 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: go again. But the defense after that shut down the 115 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 1: forty nine ers four second half possessions, three takeaways, and 116 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: a turnover on downs. 117 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 4: That is remarkable. It's absolutely remarkable, especially when you consider 118 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 4: what brock Party had done in three per games against 119 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,119 Speaker 4: the Arizona Cardinals. He was three and zero, He had 120 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 4: a passer rating of over one twenty, and he had 121 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 4: eight touchdowns and no turnovers. Think about that, and then 122 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 4: think about what the Cardinals did in that second half 123 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 4: on the Niners home field. And I'm with you on 124 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 4: that one. The way the first half ended and then 125 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 4: the way the second half started, I mean absolutely your 126 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 4: boxers were bunging at that point. What's interesting is walking 127 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 4: off the field, Jonathan Gannon said, Hey, we're in a dogfight. 128 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 4: This is a dogfight. Talking to Tom Ornaldy and I 129 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 4: was flanking him and we're walking off and he's saying, 130 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 4: we just need to do, X, Y and Z were 131 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 4: in this game, and so he had confidence going off 132 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 4: the field down thirteen at the forty nine ers, which 133 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 4: was interesting. You know, he's always he's always pretty blunt, 134 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 4: and he's always pretty truthful in those If you ask 135 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 4: the right questions, you're gonna get honest answers. And so 136 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 4: I was like, all right, okay. And then the Cardinals 137 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 4: came out in the second half, and once again I 138 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 4: just think that what they dialed up in key critical moments. 139 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 4: What did Jonathan Gannon tell us last week on his 140 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 4: TV show? He said, you know what, we're gonna have 141 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 4: to tackle. We're gonna have to be better in certain 142 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 4: aspects of trying to affect the quarterback, and we're gonna 143 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 4: have to give brock Purty some unscouted looks. And sure enough, 144 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 4: especially you tell me, but on the final interception by 145 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 4: Kaiser White, here comes the trail blitzer. Jalen Thompson. I 146 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 4: think that was an unscouted look that brock Party had 147 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 4: not seen under pressure. Next gen stats had brock Party 148 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 4: one of six with that interception, and you haven't seen 149 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 4: a lot. And this is going back to year one 150 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 4: of Jonathan gan and Nick Raulis. This is not a 151 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 4: coaching staff, a defensive coaching staff that likes to blitz. 152 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 4: They don't bring a. 153 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: Lot of extra guys outside of your typical four or five. 154 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: To your point, Paul, that last play, you've got a 155 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: minute thirty two on the clock, no timeouts. Your defense 156 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: has to go back on the football field to make 157 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: another stop. Keep in mind the forty nine ers don't 158 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: have a kicker at that point, so yeah, they're trying 159 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: to get as close to that goal line as possible, 160 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: if not score, to make it a little bit easier 161 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: of a field goal attempt. But we saw it. We 162 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: saw that safety blitz. Jalen Thompson come in. I'm not 163 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: sure if he got a hand on the ball or not, 164 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,559 Speaker 1: but what he did do is he forced brock Perty 165 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: to throw that ball before he wanted to, and it 166 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: floated up in the air and there was Kaizer White 167 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: Johnny on the spot coming up with takeaway number three, 168 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: but perhaps the biggest play of the game because it 169 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: sealed the twenty four to twenty three victory. 170 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 4: I got a shout out from a member of the 171 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 4: broadcast crew non Arizona Cardinals broadcast crew said, you know 172 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 4: what Cardinals coaching staff did a nice job. Someone who 173 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 4: knows the game said they did a nice job. They 174 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 4: cited the Kyler Murray fifty yard touchdown run, having eighty 175 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 4: four Elijah Higgins, you know, to take care of the 176 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 4: spillover defender, if you will. For the forty nine ers. 177 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 4: That was, you know, the job the Cardinals did on 178 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 4: Nick Bosa. And I mean I was shocked how often 179 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 4: Kelvin Beacham was solo on ninety seven and beach I thought, 180 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,439 Speaker 4: did a really nice job. Now they mixed it up 181 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 4: and they went right at him, which is really the 182 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 4: only way. Talking a few guys in the locker room 183 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 4: last week, look, there's only one way to go against 184 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 4: guy like Nick Bosa. It's straight ahead and it's full force. 185 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 4: You got to just turn it into a street fight 186 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 4: because he's too athletic, he's too quick off the edge. 187 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 4: If he gets going, he gets in these swipe motions 188 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 4: and he's able to get you off balance, and then 189 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,679 Speaker 4: as soon as you're off balance as a blocker, you're done. 190 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 4: So I thought the Cardinals did a really good job 191 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 4: of mitigating that. And then the other coaching point I'll 192 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 4: throw out there was the final touchdown pass to Elijah 193 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 4: Higgins what we called an RPO on the air. I 194 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 4: had a chance to talk to Drew pets In a 195 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 4: little bit later he said, no, it was more of 196 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:43,200 Speaker 4: a pop pass. Okay, So Kyler's sort of probing, he's waiting, 197 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,839 Speaker 4: he's kind of waiting to suck in maybe the front 198 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 4: seven a little bit. They're thinking he's gonna run. But 199 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 4: it is designed from the get go as a pop pass. 200 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 4: Just delay, pause, and then finally when the tight end 201 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 4: comes open, Elijah Higgins throw it into the back of 202 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 4: the end zone. Worked to perfection. 203 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: T bill esk Yes, and we saw lot whether it 204 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: was at Florida or with the Denver Broncos. That's what 205 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: Tim Tebow liked to do. And you talk about execution 206 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: and more to the point, details offense, defense and the 207 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: details of that particular play, because it's what Kyler Murray 208 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: did to sell that particular play. He took the snap Paul, 209 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: he cradled that football, He sold the run, which did 210 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: just enough to get those forty nine er defenders to 211 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:28,559 Speaker 1: come closer to him, which left Elijah Higgins freedom to 212 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,679 Speaker 1: go into the back of the end zone wide open touchdown. 213 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: Credit Elijah getting both feet in bounds. That second foot 214 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 1: he kind of looked down as he was coming down 215 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: to make sure he did the toe tap, and all 216 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: of a sudden, you've got the touchdown. 217 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 4: Think about it. What are defensive coordinators fear the most 218 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 4: with the Arizona Cardinals. Maybe one day and maybe one 219 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 4: day soon, it'll be Marvin Harrison Junior. Right now, it's twofold, 220 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 4: it's James Connor getting going, getting into a rhythm. But 221 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 4: even more than that, I do believe it's Kyler Murray. 222 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 4: The defensive quier. Nick Sorenson at a quote last week 223 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 4: for the Niners, he said, you know what, Kyler as 224 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 4: the arm talenty Yeah, but he can run it like 225 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 4: a friggin punt returner. That was his comparison of Kyler Murray. 226 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,599 Speaker 4: So that's what gets into the minds of defensive coordinators. 227 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 4: So to use the run against the Niners defense, to 228 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 4: your point, T bo ESQ, to threaten the run in 229 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 4: the red zone, especially the red zone, at any moment, 230 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 4: Kyler can take off for the pylon, right, you have 231 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 4: to be accountable for that. And so you use that 232 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 4: to suck up the front seven. Then boom, hit the 233 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:30,079 Speaker 4: pop pass, especially since he ripped off a fifty yarder 234 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 4: to start the game. So right there you have the 235 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 4: Niners defense thinking, oh boy, number one, number, what are 236 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 4: we gonna don't let them get outside the box. So 237 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 4: I thought they did a masterful job of design runs 238 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 4: and then using the run as a decoy to open 239 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 4: up other. 240 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: Things on that fifty yard touchdown run which opened the 241 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 1: game for the Cardinals. By the way, according to next 242 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: Gen stats, Kyler reached twenty one point two seven miles 243 00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: per hour, fastest one by quarterback as a runner a 244 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 1: ball carrier over the past eight seasons. But if I 245 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: remember correctly, it was close to the Cardinals sideline, was 246 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,839 Speaker 1: it not? And your vantage point, Paul, where were you 247 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: in respects to all Right, you're at the fifty yard line. 248 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: You take the step. It's a design run, something that 249 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 1: we'd been asking for all week long. Second play of 250 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: the game and there's Kyler. Great block by Elijah Higgins 251 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 1: and about the forty five forty four yard line. Yeah, 252 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 1: Kyler signaled I'm going home, pointed to the air a 253 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: lah babe ruth, and all of a sudden, no one 254 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 1: was going to catch him, no matter how far far 255 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: he had to go. But there was all right. I 256 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 1: had not seen that. Usually your high step ten yards 257 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: five yards before you got to go into the in 258 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: zone the forty forty four forty five yard line. You're 259 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: basically saying ballgame. 260 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 4: That reminded me of his Oklahoma highlight reel. That reminded 261 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 4: me of his Heisman campaign where he ripped off touchdown 262 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 4: run after another. And that Oklahoma radio announcer, right, you know, 263 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 4: a warning truck wall gone right with O was Kyler. 264 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 4: That was his call. And then when he got into 265 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 4: the end zone and he still was barking in apping 266 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 4: at the forty nine er fans. That's what I was 267 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 4: talking with Tom Ronaldi after that play, and RONALDA happened 268 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 4: to be down to that end zone and just you 269 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 4: know how animated and how vocal Kylo was in the 270 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 4: Cardinals offense when they got down to join him for 271 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 4: the celebration. That's the one thing about being on the road. 272 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 4: It does fire up players. It's when you get the 273 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,439 Speaker 4: yappy opposing fans who are pretty close to the Cardinals 274 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 4: bench at Levi Stadium, and in fact, in the very 275 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 4: closing seconds of the game after the game was over 276 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 4: and they were just waiting for the clock to run 277 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 4: out to triple zeros. A good number of Cardinals players 278 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 4: immediately turned to the forty nine or faithful behind the 279 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 4: bench and wave goodbye and let them know who exactly 280 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 4: won the game in shocking fashion to a lot of 281 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 4: those Niners fans are getting pretty pretty haughty these days, 282 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 4: a little up to they with the whole NFC West, 283 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 4: considering they had gone eleven to one against the NFC 284 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 4: West the last two years, and the only game they 285 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 4: lost was a Week eighteen affair last year when they 286 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 4: just mailed it in, rested all their starters against Rams. 287 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 4: Now they're all went two in the division. 288 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: And the Cardinals are two to zero, and they had 289 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 1: been one and eleven against division opponents the previous two seasons, 290 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: so already they have surpassed their division win total just 291 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: in the first two games alone. But yeah, two and 292 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: three and two and zero in the division. With the 293 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: forty nine ers playing the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football, 294 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: all of a sudden things are interesting, if you will. 295 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: And the Rams just keep getting pushed further and further down, 296 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: which is where Sean McVay has never been in his career. 297 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: One and four through five games. So it's amazing, Paul, 298 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: because a week ago at this time, what were we 299 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: talking about. We were frustrated, we were upset, We were 300 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 1: just like the fans because a twenty eight point loss 301 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: at home to the Washington Commanders with a first year 302 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: head coach, a offensive coordinator who was the former head 303 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: coach of the Cardinals, a rookie quarterback, and you allowed 304 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: them to run up and down the field offensively, defensively, 305 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: you had no answers whatsoever. And then a week later 306 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: it's okay, maybe that was the outlier. Maybe that was 307 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: some something that okay, happens every now and again. Good 308 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: teams have those moments, and I think the Cardinals answered 309 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: a lot of questions, maybe not to themselves but to 310 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: everyone else as far as again the response not only 311 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 1: for the week, but also in game, because that second 312 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: half offensively and defensively, that was a thing of beauty. 313 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 4: So I would say that there are two outliers that 314 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 4: sort of bookend the season right now, the big win 315 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 4: against the Rams forty burger on the board, then losing 316 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 4: to Washington and they put a forty burger on the board. 317 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 4: And what did both have in common? Two teams who 318 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 4: lost in each case coming off a Lions game. Yeah, 319 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 4: and then what happened to Seattle. They just lost to 320 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 4: New York at home. They lost to the Giants at home, 321 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 4: so that stat is still alive. Teams that played the 322 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 4: Lions the next week are zero and four and they've 323 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 4: lost by a decided margin. So okay, we'll see. But yeah, 324 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 4: the Cardinals' energy and physicality was much better against the 325 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 4: Niners than it was against Washington. For whatever reason. If 326 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 4: it was the Lions physical hangover, the Honolu black and Blue, 327 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 4: if you will, whatever, it was the mental fort two 328 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 4: to practice all week in the heat, and I do 329 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 4: think it was of a benefit, not only physically were 330 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 4: they accustomed to the heat, but mentally knowing they could 331 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 4: survive that heat and that direct sun for the entirety 332 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 4: of the game and come from double digits down in 333 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 4: the second half and take it to a Niners team 334 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 4: in the fourth quarter while their sideline was in the shade. 335 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 4: I can't under sell how impressive that was. Once again, 336 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 4: I just don't think there are any other teams in 337 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 4: the league that can have the mental strength to actually 338 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 4: survive all that. 339 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: Kyle Shanahan as forty nine Ers head coach, had been 340 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: thirty eight and oh with a ten point lead or 341 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: better entering in the fourth quarter. So the Cardinals on 342 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: Sunday did something that had never been done before against 343 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: Kyle Shanahan. 344 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 4: Can I say this though, I think that stat is 345 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 4: a little misleading because the other stat is he's had 346 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 4: six blow double digit leads in the fourth quarter in 347 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 4: the regular season and the playoffs since he took over 348 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 4: as head coach in the Niners in twenty seventeen. So 349 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 4: to start the fourth quarter, that's the first time double digits. 350 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 4: But the Niners have taken double digit leads a number 351 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,439 Speaker 4: of times a half dozen times as head coach, and 352 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,919 Speaker 4: they've blown those leads and lost. And they already did 353 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:21,959 Speaker 4: it this year against the Rams. They blew a two 354 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 4: touchdown lead and lost in the final six minutes. So 355 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 4: I think that that's a little misleading. In fact, a 356 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 4: lot of Niner fans and analysts, they're actually citing that 357 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 4: as a pattern as a trend. What the Cardinals did 358 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 4: against the forty nine Ers. 359 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: Heard Kyle Shanahan, believe it was already on Monday talking 360 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,360 Speaker 1: about that and the frustration that they are now starting 361 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: to feel. But going back to what you said about 362 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:46,400 Speaker 1: the physicality, something that was brought up again postgame Mac 363 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: Wilson Senior, who had a heck of a performance, as 364 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 1: did the entire defense overall. But that physicality part of 365 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: your conversation Paul with Mac postgame was just that matching 366 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 1: the physicality of the forty nine ers. 367 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,119 Speaker 3: Is a show you the wheel that we didn't We 368 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 3: didn't back down, and we just kept fighting. Honestly, with 369 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:06,919 Speaker 3: them having the league going into the half, you know 370 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 3: we could have easily came out, let them just pound 371 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 3: the rocket and just call a quist or whatnot. But 372 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 3: you saw the physicality us sitting there, just us getting 373 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 3: downhill in the run game, making players on the ball 374 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 3: that second half, and you know that it showed up. 375 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 3: Coach JG said he felt like we was gonna go 376 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,400 Speaker 3: get the win at halftime, and we just went out 377 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 3: there and put it on display. 378 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 4: I gotta ask you about red zone defense, if I 379 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 4: have it right, the Niners were one for six in 380 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 4: the red zone. What was most important there? 381 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,919 Speaker 3: Man? It really just just played ball, honestly. You know, 382 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 3: they kept getting these long drives where they was driving 383 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,400 Speaker 3: the ball down the field. On us quite a bit, 384 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:39,120 Speaker 3: and you know, when they got in the red area, 385 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 3: we just kept reminding each other like, they don't score, 386 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 3: they don't score here. And obviously with their kicker being down, 387 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 3: you knew they wasn't gonna kick too many field goals 388 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,639 Speaker 3: in the red area or whatnot. But our mindset, honestly 389 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 3: was just just to not let them score. And I 390 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 3: obviously we did a great job of that. 391 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 4: So I ask a question for Mac Wilson senior tickets 392 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 4: in the locker room. 393 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: How gratifying? What was that celebration? 394 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 3: Like it was dope. I mean, it's fun obviously, and 395 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 3: you know it really just want the guys to understand, 396 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,159 Speaker 3: like this feeling is, this feeling is contagious, and this 397 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 3: just a feeling that you want to continue to have. 398 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 3: So we just got to continue to keep work and 399 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:10,119 Speaker 3: keep carrying over a week at the week and build 400 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 3: off this. You know, it's a great start to the 401 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 3: second quarter of the season. Though. 402 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:16,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, let's continue on that point about the red zone defense, 403 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: because one of six but one of five Paul in 404 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: goal to go situations, that's what the forty nine ers 405 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 1: were up against, or I should say that's what the 406 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: Cardinals were up against several times in that entire ballgame, 407 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: but to allow just one touchdown on six trips inside 408 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: the twenty yard line, and then your last four trips 409 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: field goal, field goal turnover on downs and then that 410 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: big Jesse Luketta punch out that was recovered by Mac 411 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 1: Wilson Senior. So there was a. 412 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 4: Stat going into the game that minus Christian McCaffrey, the 413 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 4: Niners red zone touchdown conversion rate had fallen to fifty percent. 414 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 4: They led the league a year ago sixty seven percent, 415 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 4: but to one per six in the red zone the 416 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 4: Cardinals defense, that is remarkable. And the other one was 417 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 4: that's the first scoreless second half in any game Brock 418 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:11,880 Speaker 4: Purty has ever started in his career. 419 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 3: Wow. 420 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 4: So what the Cardinals did defensively was really impressive, especially 421 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 4: minus I think we can all agree their best corner 422 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,439 Speaker 4: this year has been Garrett Williams and so, but Jalen 423 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,199 Speaker 4: Thompson played his best game of the year based on 424 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 4: what I saw the way he was flying around. He 425 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 4: joined Buddha in the sideline to sideline category. I thought 426 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 4: Rabbit went out there and the whole seek in destroy 427 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 4: we saw in the preseason. He did enough in that regard. 428 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 4: Had a heck of a play against Deebo Samuel for 429 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 4: one pass breakup, and you know, maybe JT saw the 430 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 4: rookie out there and said, all right, you know that's 431 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 4: a little kick in the old tail pad. And all 432 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 4: that being the case, mac Wilson's everywhere, and then Nick 433 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 4: Ross downing up enough different looks. They dressed six defensive linemen. 434 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 4: I think they were a little fresher in this game 435 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 4: than they were the previous week, and they dressed five 436 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 4: against Washington Doublson injuries there and then once again those 437 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 4: unscouttered looks of Jonathan Gannat talked about. It seemed to 438 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 4: me like they saved those for the money moments, and 439 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:08,360 Speaker 4: they were effective. 440 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: Three takeaways, two sacks, four tackles for lost, nine passes defense, 441 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: seven passes defense through the first four games, and the 442 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 1: Cardinals got their hands on nine of balls on Sunday. 443 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: And you bring up Rabbit twenty two snaps, the most 444 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 1: he's played all season long effect coming into the game, 445 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:31,679 Speaker 1: I believe it only played twelve or thirteen defensive snaps total, 446 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: but he was the highest graded player according to Pro 447 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: Football Focus almost in ninety two grade based off minimum 448 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: twenty snaps. But again to your point, and we talked 449 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:47,400 Speaker 1: about adjustments and perhaps what were those adjustments where they're 450 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: going to be schematically or personnel. We saw players play 451 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: a little bit more. We saw some players play a 452 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 1: little bit less. Trey Benson didn't see a single snap 453 00:21:57,080 --> 00:22:01,159 Speaker 1: at all on offense or defense. More of James Connor 454 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: than we've seen this season. A little bit of a 455 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: Mari de Mercado. But you're relying now, I think on 456 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: players who you trust, whether that's on offense or defense. 457 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 4: So as far as James Connor goes to me, he's 458 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 4: the identity of the offense. We're gonna talk about Kyler Murray, 459 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,120 Speaker 4: and rightfully so. Franchise quarterback fifty million a year plus, 460 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 4: I get it, Marvin Arrison junior, number four pick overall, 461 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 4: not yet, it's still James Connor. And I just think 462 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 4: the belief in James Connor from the rest of the offense, 463 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 4: from the entire team that when he's rolling, they feel invincible. 464 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 4: There's something about when Connor is making dudes miss or 465 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 4: he's breaking arm tackles, and just the vision the question 466 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 4: I really is kicking myself. I wanted to ask him, 467 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 4: and it wasn't necessarily the scenario after a game, but 468 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 4: it just seems like here he is, as a veteran 469 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 4: in his vision just seems to get better and better, 470 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 4: you know, from the side, and it looks like utter chaos, 471 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 4: or maybe he might get hit in the backfield and 472 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 4: it throws the entire design of the playoff. And he's 473 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 4: still zigging and zagging and weaving and finding his way, 474 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 4: and he's always getting positive yardage. And if you talked 475 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 4: to any of the offensive linemen, and I did last 476 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 4: week going into the game, I can just tell you 477 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:12,120 Speaker 4: one guy said, we got to get back to the 478 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 4: identity of running the ball and doing what we do well, 479 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 4: which is number six. Another guy said, the faster we 480 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:19,920 Speaker 4: get James Connor the ball and we can get into 481 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 4: a rhythm early, the better we have played. Those are 482 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,639 Speaker 4: all facts in terms of and on that final drive, 483 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 4: the final couple of scoring drives, just like the week before, 484 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:33,160 Speaker 4: the two touchdown drives, who had more than fifty percent 485 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 4: of the yards of the bulk of the yards James Connor. 486 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 4: On the final drive, James Connor carried the ball seven 487 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 4: times for thirty six yards to help set up Chad 488 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 4: Ryland with that thirty five yard field goal. I'll give 489 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 4: Drew Petsen a lot of credit here because at halftime 490 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 4: there was no run game whatsoever outside of Kyler Murray. 491 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 4: But James Connor had six carries for nine yards, and 492 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 4: you're like, all right, it's just not working. Maybe we 493 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 4: need to do something else. Going back to the Detroit 494 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 4: Lions game. Okay, it's just not there right now. We 495 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 4: need to figure out something else. We're pounding our head 496 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 4: against the table and it's just not working. And then 497 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 4: you come out. 498 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: First play or first series after halftime, three pass plays, 499 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 1: three and out. Second possession after the interception, you run 500 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:18,439 Speaker 1: four plays, gain one yard. James Connor had one carry 501 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:20,680 Speaker 1: for five but there was at Michael Wilson false start, 502 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:24,119 Speaker 1: so you'll backwards five yards. But the first six offensive 503 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 1: plays of the second half five passes, one run. Yet 504 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: you still, despite trailing, you didn't get away from it. 505 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 1: You went back to what you do best. Offensive line 506 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,360 Speaker 1: probably had its best game of the season. Well Hernandez, 507 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:44,360 Speaker 1: that potentially could be a major blow. We saw Tristan 508 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 1: Cologne play brought it up in the second half. Evan 509 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 1: Brown missed a couple of snaps as well. So we 510 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 1: saw Cologne play both left and right guard and the 511 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 1: second half. But again you brought it up bell Cow. Yes, 512 00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: this offense is based off the intensity, the physicality and 513 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: spiritually of James Connor. 514 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 4: And talking to guys after the game, Okay, what sort 515 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 4: of run game, what was the style and what was 516 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,399 Speaker 4: the selection of choice? And it was straight ahead, just 517 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 4: the power duo. Just get off the ball, straight ahead, 518 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 4: take it to them, trying the whole bully ball that 519 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 4: James Connor loves to talk about and embodies. It was 520 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 4: one guy said, you know, it was a lot of 521 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 4: the same sort of run game we used at Pittsburgh 522 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,359 Speaker 4: bully ball. Yeah, you got a physical defense. They pride 523 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 4: themselves in that time defeat it to them, time to 524 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 4: prove them otherwise. And offensive linemen loved to get off 525 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 4: the ball and deliver the blow instead of absorbed the blow. 526 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 4: In terms of being pass protection and guys coming at 527 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:42,679 Speaker 4: you know, we like to go at them. And so 528 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 4: just once again, until you get this passing game fully 529 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 4: in sync, and by that day especially mean number eighteen 530 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 4: two catches on seven targets still a work in progress, 531 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 4: Like the vast majority of rookie receivers. Yes, there's exceptions, 532 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 4: justin Jefferson and Jamar Chase, but almost every other rookie 533 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 4: receiver in recent modern NFL history has struggled a little 534 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 4: bit out of the gate, or at least been inconsistent. 535 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 4: You know, we've seen flashes, that's the norm. So until 536 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:10,400 Speaker 4: that happens, and I do think it'll happen the second 537 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 4: half of the season, James Connor is still the identity 538 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 4: of this offense. 539 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: It was interesting to hear you and James Connor post 540 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,719 Speaker 1: came again what you are able to do in that 541 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:23,679 Speaker 1: locker room, especially after a loss. I mean, it's commendable, 542 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:27,120 Speaker 1: but when you get these players immediately after an emotional 543 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 1: game like that after a win. But you brought up 544 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: a question that sometimes doesn't get noticed a lot. But 545 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: when the offense is rolling and James Connor is rolling, 546 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:39,679 Speaker 1: those defensive players they're resting, but they are also they 547 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: have an eye on the football field. And I know 548 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: James deflects a lot of that. He doesn't like talking 549 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: about himself. But it's not just the offense that feeds 550 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 1: off the six, it's the entire team. The coaching staff 551 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 1: feeds off what James Connor does time in and time out, 552 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: and yeah, Kyle Murray's gonna get all the headlines, so 553 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: is Marvin Harrison Junior. But if James Connor's healthy and 554 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: can you continues to do what he does, then yeah, 555 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:04,479 Speaker 1: this offense will be okay. 556 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 4: Every team has that identity or that player that gives 557 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 4: them belief. You know, if you have that quarterback and 558 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 4: you're behind in the fourth quarter, but you know you 559 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 4: have that quarterback, it just gives you a belief you 560 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:16,879 Speaker 4: never stop fighting. So when they see James Connor running 561 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 4: the ball and running the ball effectively and making dudes 562 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 4: look stupid on the Niners defense, and they see guys 563 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 4: turning him down or just getting run over, all of 564 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 4: a sudden. 565 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:29,200 Speaker 1: Yes, that does. 566 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,719 Speaker 4: It just infuses a certain energy and a certain confidence 567 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 4: in the Cardinals' sideline. And I've seen it time and 568 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,199 Speaker 4: again when guys are getting up, they're getting away from 569 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 4: the handheld shade structures and the shade screens just to 570 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 4: watch Number six run it. That's when you know, that's 571 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 4: when you sort of like when Kyler started the game 572 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:47,439 Speaker 4: with a fifty yard touchdown run. I mean, there's just 573 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 4: certain things that ignite a sideline. 574 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 1: James Connor nineteen carries eighty six yards four and a 575 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,920 Speaker 1: half yards a carry. Some more numbers for Connor again, 576 00:27:55,960 --> 00:28:00,200 Speaker 1: according to next Gen Stats, he forced nine mistackles on Sunday, 577 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 1: has forced twenty two mistackles overall this season. So, yeah, 578 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:07,919 Speaker 1: the run game not quite there, but you do not 579 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: abandon it even if you're down one or two scores. 580 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:13,199 Speaker 1: And I think that's been the one thing we have 581 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:16,240 Speaker 1: seen on a consistent basis from Drew Petsing is even 582 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:17,920 Speaker 1: when you're trailing and think, all right, we need to 583 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 1: hurry it up, we need to throw the football. Now, 584 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: let's hold on a little bit and let's pay attention 585 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:25,360 Speaker 1: to that clock. And then at the end of the game, Yeah, 586 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 1: the offense wasn't able to run out the clock. Much 587 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:30,919 Speaker 1: of the disappointment and maybe the anger of Kyler Murray 588 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: after the ballgame, but the defense again full circle, that's 589 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: what probably was the most improbable was the defense and 590 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: being able to win that game, be that last team, 591 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: to make a big player that last side of the ball, 592 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: to make a big play in Sunday's. 593 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 4: Game, and to do it with different guys at different times. 594 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 4: You know, it made sense when they activated for the 595 00:28:53,760 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 4: first time. Jesse Luketta, I said, you know what makes 596 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 4: sense because the Niners are all about the sea gap, 597 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 4: trying to gain the edges, and Luketta's very physical and 598 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 4: setting the edge run defense. And I mean, you want 599 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 4: someone who's hungry, you want someone who was appreciating their 600 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 4: very first regular season game action of the year. I mean, 601 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 4: his hair was on fire every single pass rush and 602 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 4: it finally paid off, sort of like James Connor wearing 603 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 4: down a defense, Jesse Luketta finally made it payoff. And 604 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 4: was that just like an overhand right haymaker. I mean 605 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 4: when I saw the replay, I saw it last night 606 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 4: once I got home, and I said, I mean he 607 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 4: just came in well a full fledge, just right cross. 608 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 4: I was like, wow, look at that. And so that 609 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 4: was some excellent hand eye coordination by Jesse Luketta to 610 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 4: land the far reaching right hand and get in there 611 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 4: and knock it away. 612 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:45,120 Speaker 1: Give credit to Kayzer White who kinda turned Jordan Mason 613 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: in the direction of Jesse Luketta. And then you hear 614 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: Peenett Tillman, the long time Chicago Bear who made it 615 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: his staple as far as punching the ball out, sure, 616 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: and this is something that every team practices. We see 617 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 1: it out on the practice field here during the week. 618 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 1: But it's one thing to practice it when you're kind 619 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 1: of going half speed. Quite a different story when things 620 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 1: are happening full speed and your instincts all right, that 621 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 1: pigskins kind of out. You don't know how secure it is, 622 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 1: and you come down and you punch it and then 623 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 1: you have someone like mac Wilson to fall on it 624 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: and recover the football. 625 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 4: The other thing last week, in the open portion of practice, 626 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:21,960 Speaker 4: it was very noticeable that the Cardinals had different drills, 627 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 4: or at least when the media was allowed to watch, 628 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 4: we were seeing tackling drills for the first time we 629 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 4: had that scene before, emphasizing getting your arms behind the 630 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 4: hamstring sort of the upper leg and then wrapping and 631 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 4: picking up the ball carrier and dropping them form tackling. 632 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 4: Really working on that precise technique, a lot of which 633 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 4: was lacking against Washington. It's not always effort and intensity. 634 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 4: There's also technique involved. And remember the Niners the last 635 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 4: six years, coming into twenty twenty four, had led the 636 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 4: NFL every single season in yards after contact. They do 637 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 4: an excellent job of breaking tackles. It is in their philosophy, 638 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 4: it's in their DNA. You go against the Niners, you can't. 639 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:04,840 Speaker 4: And they missed a couple of tackles. And Brandon Nyuk 640 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:06,480 Speaker 4: for example, and he made them pay. 641 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:10,200 Speaker 1: Brandon Ayuk had a big game, but again did not 642 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 1: get into the end zone. Jordan Mason, Yeah, he had 643 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 1: a thirty four yard run, but then thirteen other carries 644 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 1: for a total of fifty five yards. So yeah, I 645 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 1: think you're gonna have miss tackles each and every week, 646 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:25,280 Speaker 1: but make sure you don't have an overabundance of miss 647 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:28,400 Speaker 1: tackles or if you're going to allow big plays, they're 648 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: not explosive scoring plays. Yes, I know that was the 649 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 1: big thing from nicol Rawlis was we got to eliminate 650 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 1: the explosive plays. Well, yes, but just make sure that 651 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:40,720 Speaker 1: if the forty nine ers are going to score that 652 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: it's a four yard touchdown pass or it's a field goal, 653 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:48,680 Speaker 1: not something that's a sixty plus yard run or catch 654 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 1: and run exactly. 655 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:52,680 Speaker 4: And so if you're that forty nine ers offense and 656 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 4: you're missing Christian McCaffrey, who's so good out of the backfield, 657 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 4: he really is a receiver with the ability to run routes. 658 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,280 Speaker 4: So yeah, you're putting it on brock party and that 659 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:05,200 Speaker 4: offensive line and some different weapons to be able to 660 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:08,880 Speaker 4: sustain a ten twelve fifteen play drive. Can they do 661 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,160 Speaker 4: it without an unforced error? If you will? And in 662 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 4: the second half, guess what Cardinals made them pay? They 663 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:19,160 Speaker 4: could not do it. Unlike every other start by brock 664 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 4: Purty against the Cardinals were once again he had eight 665 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 4: touchdowns in zero interceptions. So I think you're seeing year 666 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 4: two Jonathan Gannon maniosa fort not only the roster, but 667 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 4: in learning the division right, Sean McVay was on the 668 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 4: hit list, and you check that box. And now this 669 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 4: stinking forty nine ers were on the hit list, and 670 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 4: you check that box. Snapping a four game skid to 671 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 4: the forty nine ers. So who's next? The Twelves and 672 00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:44,640 Speaker 4: Gino Smith. You know, there are certain things you're taking 673 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:45,720 Speaker 4: care of here in year two. 674 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 1: By the way, you'll see the Twelves after the bye 675 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:51,200 Speaker 1: week on November twenty fourth. Before that is a trip 676 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,480 Speaker 1: to Green Bay on Sunday. I'm now going to bother 677 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: to ask what the weather forecast potentially is Dustetter thirteenth, 678 00:32:57,080 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 1: but you've weathered the storm, if you will, or just 679 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:02,160 Speaker 1: whether the heats Paul, So, I give you all kinds 680 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 1: of prop and I don't know if we can do this. 681 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:06,560 Speaker 1: I mean, we have an Angry Bird Award winner. I 682 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 1: don't I don't know if. I don't know if you 683 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 1: qualify or if there was ever a game in which 684 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 1: you would qualify for I would actually put it up 685 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 1: against this game on Sunday. But when you look at 686 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 1: the different candidates as far as players or the plays 687 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 1: that a player might have made, you have your work 688 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 1: cut out for you this week. 689 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 4: Paul. Yeah, there are so many different guys. But in 690 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 4: terms of the Angry Bird, right, the most hilacious play 691 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:34,560 Speaker 4: or player, it's got to be James Connor. And it's 692 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:37,080 Speaker 4: got to be the latter the player, the most hilacious 693 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 4: player behind a makeshift offensive line in that second half, 694 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 4: you're missing your starting right tackle maybe for the season 695 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:46,320 Speaker 4: in Joan Williams, now me missing your starting right guard 696 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 4: maybe for the season in Will Hernandez, And for James 697 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:52,160 Speaker 4: Connor to lead the way, it's just, you know what, 698 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 4: as much as I'd love to cite other guys and 699 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:58,640 Speaker 4: we have it just James Connor was the heartbeat of 700 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 4: that offense and he was the reason the Cardinals were 701 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:04,920 Speaker 4: able to come back and ultimately forge that game winning 702 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:08,480 Speaker 4: dry or you know that resulted in the field goal. 703 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 4: The other thing that you know, Jonathan Gannon going for 704 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 4: the two point conversion. Yeah, and who stuffed that in 705 00:34:13,680 --> 00:34:16,160 Speaker 4: on a second effort James Connor and then ended up 706 00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:18,240 Speaker 4: being the difference in the game. So for that reason, 707 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:19,760 Speaker 4: he's our Angry Bird Award winner. 708 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: Week five, Cardinals win it twenty four to twenty three, 709 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: improved to two and three on the season, two and 710 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:29,000 Speaker 1: oh again against the NFC West. No other team within 711 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:32,000 Speaker 1: the division has a better record better win loss record 712 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 1: within the division than the Arizona Cardinals. And again, when 713 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 1: you're talking about tie breakers, I know we're just here 714 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 1: in Week five, but your first tie breakers had to 715 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:41,000 Speaker 1: head your second tie breakers. Okay, what'd you do in 716 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:43,440 Speaker 1: the division and then what you do within the conference. 717 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:47,320 Speaker 1: So again, Cardinals will put themselves in position. They're in 718 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:49,200 Speaker 1: a lot better spot at two and three than if 719 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 1: they were at one and four. 720 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:52,480 Speaker 4: And you're already done with the Buffalo road trip. You're 721 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:54,399 Speaker 4: already done with the Lions, who are having a heck 722 00:34:54,440 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 4: of a year, right, you know you're done with a 723 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:59,880 Speaker 4: surprising Washington team that continues to roll. 724 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:01,720 Speaker 1: So knock on wood. 725 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 4: This second half of your schedule now looking starts looking 726 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:07,480 Speaker 4: much more favorable if you can come out of this 727 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:11,160 Speaker 4: first half dozen games at three and three, for example, 728 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:15,360 Speaker 4: guess what game on. I mean that seventh wildcard is 729 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:20,040 Speaker 4: most definitely in your sights and is very viable coming 730 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:20,720 Speaker 4: down the stretch. 731 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 1: At two and three, teams have a twenty three percent 732 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:27,480 Speaker 1: chance of making the playoffs versus a less than seven 733 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:29,680 Speaker 1: percent chance if they start one in four. 734 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 3: Wow. 735 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:32,040 Speaker 1: I know there's no math, but I'm just giving you 736 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 1: numbers and details for a historical reference. 737 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 4: No, that is the reality. There's no doubt about it. 738 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:41,320 Speaker 4: That their playoff future was on the line at halftime, 739 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:45,200 Speaker 4: and whatever was said and whatever was dialed up, and 740 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:48,320 Speaker 4: when the Cardinals put out on that field persevered the 741 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:53,839 Speaker 4: ridiculous heat and the conditions, that to me was a 742 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:56,440 Speaker 4: pivot point in a season. Now, there are usually many 743 00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:58,799 Speaker 4: pivot points, but I think we do look back on 744 00:35:58,840 --> 00:36:01,919 Speaker 4: that second half the forty nine ers and we'll see 745 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:04,600 Speaker 4: how things go forward. But that was just a not 746 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:07,719 Speaker 4: only a statement. I think within the locker room, I 747 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:12,399 Speaker 4: think it's just verified and recertified that confidence we heard 748 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:14,919 Speaker 4: the first couple of weeks coming into the season, Craig. 749 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:16,360 Speaker 4: You know, if you put your finger on the pulse 750 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:17,680 Speaker 4: and you're in there every day in the locker room 751 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 4: as well, you know, there's a lot of bravado in 752 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:22,160 Speaker 4: the first two three weeks. But after that Washington loss, 753 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:24,680 Speaker 4: it was sort of a sobering moment and I was 754 00:36:24,719 --> 00:36:27,600 Speaker 4: really curious how they responded mentally if the confidence was 755 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:30,080 Speaker 4: still there. And the answer is yes, yeah. 756 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:32,880 Speaker 1: Quite the response from the Cardinals and now a response 757 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:37,080 Speaker 1: from you, Paul alovera Gatoray, what do we need here? 758 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:40,920 Speaker 4: Let me tell you. You know, when I started getting 759 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:43,760 Speaker 4: the chills on the team bus, I'm like, that's not good. 760 00:36:44,120 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 4: And so I've even had chills during this thing. So 761 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:50,120 Speaker 4: it's really pathetic as a sideline reporter. How could I 762 00:36:50,120 --> 00:36:53,000 Speaker 4: get sunstroked when guys are playing NFL football? So, you 763 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:55,319 Speaker 4: know what, let's not even mention that because I'm actually 764 00:36:55,400 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 4: embarrassed to even tell you. I mean, it's a thirty 765 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 4: year Arizona resident. I mean, come on, Paul, you got 766 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:02,759 Speaker 4: to be better. How hot was it. Yeah, it was 767 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:03,760 Speaker 4: that hot. 768 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:06,080 Speaker 1: And on that note, we'll put a lid on this 769 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:09,120 Speaker 1: edition of Cardinals Cover two presented by Hundai, proudly partner 770 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:11,759 Speaker 1: of the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our 771 00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:15,239 Speaker 1: executive producer Jim Mamahundro, our associate producer Coddy Fincher. For 772 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:17,440 Speaker 1: Paul Calvc, I'm Craig rial Lou. We'll talk to you 773 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:19,319 Speaker 1: next time here on Cardinals Cover two.