1 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Welcome bird Gang on today's show. Certainly not the outcome 2 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: anyone wanted and definitely not the performance anyone expected. So 3 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: what happened? Great question? There are a lot of questions 4 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: and right now very few answers. It's Cardinals Cover two, 5 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: episode five twenty eight, and it starts now. Welcome to 6 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: Cardinals Cover two with Craig Griolu and Mike Jarecki. Cardinals 7 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 1: Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of the 8 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts. Visit Easy Cardinals 9 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: dot com, Slash podcasts Going for Hopkins one hand to 10 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 1: catch in a touchdown DeAndre Hopkins. Here's Craig Griolu and 11 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: Mike Jarecki right off the top. Here, MJ, this is 12 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: not a good morning for one. A quick turnaround on 13 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: the air about eleven thirty with Cardinal Talk, a shout 14 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: out to all the fans who stayed up with us 15 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: last night, and then right back to work first thing Tuesday. 16 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: Of course, what we all witnessed for sixty minutes in 17 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: Los Angeles plays a factor in all of this. In 18 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: other words, I've been better to be honest. One word 19 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 1: comes to mind. For me, I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed because 20 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: they talk about getting in the postseason and even if 21 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: you lose thirty one twenty seven, it comes down to 22 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: a fourth quarter game. I mean, they are a good team, 23 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:41,199 Speaker 1: but that was embarrassing last night. It was not competitive, 24 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,839 Speaker 1: which is something you never want to say. Fact, Kyler 25 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: Murray said it for us post game, that was not 26 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: a competitive ball game. Thirty four to eleven, the Cardinals 27 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: first postseason appearance in six years. Waited a long time 28 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: for that. Fans have waited a long time for that moment, 29 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: and that's what we got. So I could even go 30 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: stronger than disappointing, but I totally understand your word to 31 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 1: describe the end of that game, end of the entire season. 32 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 1: It just seems like in you know, when you look 33 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: at the roster going into this season, I definitely think 34 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: they upgrade it. I thought they brought up more physicality 35 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: and leadership. And you get off to a seven and 36 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: oh start and the expectations start to get ratcheted up 37 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: and then you're ten and two. I mean, this team 38 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: regressed in the second half of the season. Kyler Murray 39 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: regressed in the second half of the season, and that 40 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: is a bad loss on national TV because all year 41 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 1: Cardinals aren't getting enough respect. Well, I think everyone's waiting 42 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: for the other shooter drop and this team does not 43 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: play well on primetime. Well there's Kylin and I'm not 44 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: blaming Morry for everything. There are only a couple of 45 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: guys last night that really you know, I thought they 46 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 1: played okay, But when you lose like that, it's hard 47 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: to single somebody out. But I'll give James Connor a 48 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 1: ton of credit. He was playing injured. And then we'll 49 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: get into Buddha Baker because I think it's important to 50 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: talk about him. Yeah, before we go any further, and 51 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: what we saw, what we didn't see for four quarters 52 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: at Sofi Stadium and updates on Buddha Baker and I 53 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: didn't catch this until I got home, but Buddha Baker 54 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: tweeted at twelve fifteen am Tuesday morning, thank you all 55 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: for the prayers. I am doing good, and then he 56 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: added praying hands emoji. There was a violence collision between 57 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: him and Cam Akers. We saw it earlier this season. 58 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: We've seen it a couple of times. Trey Lance, Isaiah Simmons, 59 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: Tener Vallejo and then of course Jonathan Ward against the 60 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers. You never liked to see it, and 61 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: even on initial viewing, and then you see the replay, 62 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: and I understand why television does replays, but both players 63 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: lowering in their head almost helmet to helmet contact. In fact, 64 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: it might have even been direct hits, and Baker on 65 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 1: contact stops moving and you're you're you're stunned, and all 66 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: of a sudden, nothing else matters, doesn't matter what the 67 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: Cardinals did, doesn't matter, what the Rams did, doesn't matter 68 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: anything else. Now, all of a sudden, your main focus 69 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: on the safety and the health and the future. Buddha Baker, 70 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: who we all love, We've come to admire his game. 71 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: He is someone that this organization has built around as 72 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: far as on the defensive side. And it was very, 73 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: very scary. But good thing good news is that from 74 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: his own words or his own social media account, Buddha 75 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: Baker is doing well. Yeah. When that happened, I mean, 76 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, he just he went down, and 77 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: you know, clearly the players are going over there, and 78 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: you know obviously the trainers are out there in the 79 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: medical staff, and then eventually see the cart come out 80 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: and then you see him start to move his legs 81 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: in his arms and you're just sign a relief. But 82 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: that was scary, Craig. I know it's a physical sport. 83 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: I just wondered if they both were trying to go 84 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 1: down with their pad level and because of their size, 85 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 1: that sort of the collision became. I believe they were 86 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: trying to hit with their shoulder. But when you're running 87 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 1: that fast and it's like HiT's seek and missile, there's 88 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: going to be a collision. But I was just I 89 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: prayed because I thought, man, this could be a lot 90 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: worse than it. I mean, just based on initial you know, 91 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: seeing in real life, you know, looking at it and 92 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: I guess on TV. But when he was on the 93 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: card I was like, okay, I mean I don't know that. 94 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 1: I didn't know anything else, and I thought Mark Dalton 95 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,239 Speaker 1: from the Cardinals kept giving us a great update based 96 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: on the medical staff. He was stretchered off the field, 97 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: taken to an area hospital, suffered a concussion, but the 98 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: good news was he was alert, he was communicating, had 99 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: movement and all his extremities and again according to Buddha 100 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: Baker himself, he's doing well and that's all we care 101 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: about right now is his health and him moving forward. 102 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: And you wonder now, and he'll get asked this question 103 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 1: whenever he addresses the media next. It's okay, that's how 104 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: you play the game. If you play that game that way, 105 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: and it is the right way. I mean, he is 106 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: a heat seeking missile, to use your terminology, because he 107 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 1: comes out of nowhere and flies to the football. That's 108 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: gonna happen. And you wonder why it hasn't happened more 109 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: often with the way Buddha Baker plays. But he's gonna 110 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: get asked, does he think he needs to change how 111 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: he plays the game? And I'm gonna say no, that's 112 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 1: gonna be his answer, no, because that's who he is 113 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 1: as a player. Although I say this, he has a 114 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: he has a child now, so that might come into 115 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: a be a factor in this as well. It's not 116 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: just Buddha Baker, he has a family also to think about. Yeah, 117 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: you know, we can go back and look at how 118 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: many snaps he played this year. I just think that 119 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: was you know, that was that was a solo situation. 120 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm with you, um, because that's the way 121 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: he plays the game. That's why he's an all pro. 122 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: I mean the way he hits, and he packs a 123 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: punch when he hits you, and he's done that since 124 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: high school. That's the way. That's who he is as 125 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: a football player. Yeah, and that's being mentally tough, maturity 126 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: and physically tough. I'm just glad he's okay. The other 127 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: side of this is cam Akers, and I know it 128 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: did not look good initially, and one surprised he wasn't 129 00:07:56,040 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: called for taunting. But here's let me before I go further. 130 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: Here's what cam Akers had to tweet immediately after the game. 131 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: Praise up to Buddha, praying hands emoji. I didn't know 132 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: he was hurt after the play, but I have nothing 133 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: but respect for him and of tweet. Now, I'll say this, 134 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: the two have the same agent, so they might know 135 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: one another or at least have an idea of each other. 136 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: It did not look good initially when the players on 137 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: the ground and the ball carrier stands up and motions, hey, 138 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: stay down one. That's the initial emotion of a big 139 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: play of big hits. But there is no way and 140 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:40,319 Speaker 1: no one can convince me otherwise MJ that Cam Akers 141 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: knew the severity and what Buddha Baker was dealing with 142 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:47,439 Speaker 1: at that moment. Yeah, they do share the same agent, 143 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 1: and the agent tweeted family ties. So yeah, I don't 144 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: know why he wasn't called for taunting because he looked down, 145 00:08:56,559 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: he stared down and motioned with his hands. Maybe the 146 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: focus was on the player, Yeah, which to me is 147 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: a smart thing to do. But he's jawing at the bench, 148 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,959 Speaker 1: and I think, just again and then listen, And then 149 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: you got you know, they didn't lose because of this stuff, 150 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: And then you got Aaron Donald trying to choke DJ Humphries. 151 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: Now humph was able to move his neck back, and 152 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: the way the pad level was, he wasn't able to 153 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: put his hands on there. What about this Rams team 154 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: over the years, I mean, they've heard a lot of 155 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: our players, go back to Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton when 156 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 1: the team was in Saint Louis, and then now since 157 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: they've been in Los Angeles with Sean McVey, it's been 158 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: on the scoreboard as well. I mean two shutouts. It 159 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: was almost to shut out outside of the James Connor 160 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: touchdown in the third quarter, but it was ugly and 161 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 1: a word on Monday Night football the other area, and 162 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: it got lost in the outcome. But what jj Watt 163 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: was a to do, it was a storyline all week long. 164 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: We followed it. He gets designated to return, means he 165 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: can practice. He's on the practice field Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 166 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: he finally gets activated. All right, Now, the next step 167 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 1: is you got to be active as far as ninety 168 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: minutes before kickoff, and then we see him warm up, 169 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: and then we see him on the football play on 170 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: the football field. Did not start the ball game. In fact, 171 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: he only played twenty four out of a possible sixty 172 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: defensive snaps, forty percent of the defensive snaps. Jj Watt 173 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: was on the field, a season low, without question, and 174 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 1: in fact that he went back and the fewest snaps 175 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: he's played in a game since twenty seventeen. He got 176 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: hurt in that outcome, so that's why there were few snaps. 177 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 1: But not surprised by the number, and I'm not surprised 178 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: by the effectiveness. But twenty four snaps, I think is 179 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,199 Speaker 1: what kind of that ballpark range we were discussing, you know, 180 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 1: fifteen twenty twenty five snaps depending on the flow of 181 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: the game. I think was also going to be a factor, 182 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: and when that game got out of hand, no need 183 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 1: to put jj Watt on the football field. And the 184 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: fourth quarter, I think he had played nine snaps in 185 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: the first half, so obviously a lot of those snaps 186 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: were in the second half. Makes sense though they were 187 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: trying to run the football. You know, obviously he can 188 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: rush the pack the quarterback. But yeah, I'm a remarkable 189 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: story and it's unfortunate that you know, and he was 190 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: very honest, and you want to talk about leadership, the 191 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: guy's been here a year and that's going to be 192 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: the tagline all offseason massive failure unquote. Jj Watt was 193 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,199 Speaker 1: quick to point out his thoughts on how this season 194 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: can be viewed based on how they started seven and oh, 195 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 1: ten and two and how they finished one and five 196 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 1: and eleven and six overall. What it's kind of difficult 197 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: as we watched the game from the studio as far 198 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: as just how effective jj Watt was, and then you 199 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: don't get the feeling as far as all right, what 200 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: kind of an emotional lift did he give on the sideline. 201 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: You don't get that when you're watching the game from 202 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 1: the studio. Three tackles, one tackle for loss. That was 203 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 1: a TfL late in the third quarter. He dropped acres 204 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: behind the line of scrimmage on a third and one 205 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,079 Speaker 1: play before Matt Gay kicked a field goal to make 206 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: it thirty one to eights. But he did occupy the 207 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: Rams offense's attention to allow some other players to make 208 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 1: some plays, especially early on in that first quarter. And 209 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: that was exactly what we thought, just having the presence 210 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: on the field. And I mentioned he's not the save here. 211 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: He's probably gonna be on a snap count, and you know, 212 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: I thought maybe twenty five thirty to be honest, and 213 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: then it's based on you know, in the fourth quarter, 214 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:45,439 Speaker 1: if the game's on the line, I would think he 215 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: would have been on the field if they had to 216 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 1: make a stop. That's who he is. It's just not 217 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,559 Speaker 1: enough plays though, and maybe the defense is getting off 218 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: the hook here a little bit today. But I'll say 219 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: this over this um tailspin head scratcher, I put the 220 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: blame on the offense. It's where I think a lot 221 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: of people focus on just because the nature of the 222 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 1: head coach and the quarterback that this team is going 223 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:18,839 Speaker 1: to war with, if you will, offensive minded head coach 224 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: and a quarterback who is very dynamic with his arm 225 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 1: and with his legs, and you thought you had something 226 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: and maybe you still do. I know there's a lot 227 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: of questions. I have those same questions as well on 228 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,559 Speaker 1: whether this is something that can be long term. But 229 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 1: you look at where this team started to where they 230 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: ended that. To use your point at the beginning of 231 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: this edition of Cardinals Covered Too, presented by Hunday probably 232 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: partner of the Arizona Cardinals, disappointing you can go even further. 233 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: Embarrassing was a word used last night by Christian Kirk. 234 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 1: Massive failure and the words of J. J. Watt. And 235 00:13:56,520 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: now the questions that everyone has and there are not 236 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: a lot of answers at this moment, and there shouldn't be. 237 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 1: I mean, this is gonna take a while, especially for 238 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:07,839 Speaker 1: me personally. I don't know about you, but this is 239 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: gonna take a while to kind of get through and 240 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: then kind of look back and say, all right, what 241 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 1: exactly was accomplished in twenty twenty one? Yeah, you know, 242 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: you know, usually after every season they do a self evaluation, 243 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: and you know, obviously Michael Bidwell, Steve Kim, Adrian Wilson, 244 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: and Cliff Kingsbury are going to have to have these conversations, Craig, 245 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: I guess the question is, and we can do this 246 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: down the road. We'll focus on what happened last night. 247 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: They we'll get into Kyler. But I just wonder if 248 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: this offense is sustainable for an entire season. It shows 249 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: flashes Kylo Murus in the MVP conversation. This team, the 250 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: offensive lion, was able to run the football. Defensively, yes, 251 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: they gave up some they got gash a few times, 252 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: but they were forcing turnovers. This team played well on 253 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: the road except for the Lions and Rams game. But 254 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: it's it seems like after October seven and nineteen, the 255 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: Cardinals are under Cliff Kingsbury and it's happened over the 256 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: last couple of years. It just gets bogged down and 257 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 1: teams defend them differently. And I think it started last 258 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: year with Brian Flores and then Bill Belichick and it 259 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: was kind of that mush rush. We're gonna rush try 260 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: to keep him into pocket. Now we know Kyler is 261 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: definitely improved from making throws into pocket, but the fact 262 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: is that last night was he made a lot of 263 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: mental airs. That was probably his worst game in his 264 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: entire life. I don't think there's any question about that. 265 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: You look at the final numbers from the regular season 266 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: as far as this offense is concerned, top ten, as 267 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: far as rushing yards, top ten, passing yards per game eleventh, 268 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 1: and scoring. So those numbers look good on the surface, 269 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: but those aren't the numbers that we had in the 270 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: first eight ten weeks of the regular season. This team, 271 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: when they were seven to zero and ten and two, 272 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: they were in the top five in every single category 273 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: across the board, offense and defense. And now they're towing 274 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: the line of ten eleventh in some of the categories. 275 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: They will definitely drop to the teams. And you're looking 276 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: at now average to being elite to now average and 277 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: the drop off. Why is that drop off? And now 278 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: why is it a drop off in consecutive seasons. What's 279 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 1: happened for this Cardinals team offensively and defensively? And there'll 280 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: be plenty of time to dissect that, but we want 281 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: to put our attention and focus on this edition of 282 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: Cardinals Covered two presented by Hunday partner of the Arizona Cardinals. 283 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: On this wild card matchup, Cardinals lose the Rams thirty 284 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: four to eleven. It got out of hand in a hurry. 285 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: But I went back to our Friday show and Mike 286 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: Jarecki's three keys to victory. One balance on offense that 287 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: did not happen to make Matthew Stafford uncomfortable. Again, that 288 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: did not happen. Number three contain the Rams pass rush. 289 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: It was okay, it didn't happen. None of the three 290 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: keys from Friday's show happened for the Arizona Cardinals. And 291 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: the balance on offense is one I really want to 292 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: dive into. But first let's look at what Matthew Stafford 293 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: was able to do. Sacked on his very first drop 294 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: back by Marcus Golden, then again not the rest of 295 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: the ball game. Only attempted seventeen passes, nine in the 296 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,719 Speaker 1: first half, eight in the second half. How do you 297 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: put up thirty four points when your quarterback only attempts 298 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: seventeen passes. Well, he had time to throw when they 299 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:44,640 Speaker 1: came out and ran that ball in the first play 300 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: of the game, I mean all of a sudden and 301 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 1: then you know the Cardinals were trying to, you know, 302 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: stop the run. But he was seven for eight for 303 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: one hundred and thirty five yards on throws between the 304 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,880 Speaker 1: numbers so he was able to have a clean pocket 305 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: and make these throws and then his only completion on 306 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 1: the pass between the numbers was a drop pass. So 307 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 1: the whole idea was and give him credit. He had 308 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 1: more pressure going into this week and than any other 309 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: quarterback in the NFL. Yeah, you can talk about Dak 310 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: Prescott and you know Josh Allen, but Josh Allen proved 311 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: the davers wrong, like, can he do it again? He 312 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: played well and he deserves the credit and they're moving 313 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: on to the playoffs. But that was the reason why 314 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 1: they went out there. Now, Jerikoff took him to the 315 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 1: super Bowl. They think Stafford can win a super Bowl 316 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 1: with him, and it was one of the biggest signings 317 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 1: in the off season, and I think everyone was wondering, 318 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 1: all right, let's just wait till the postseason. So give 319 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: him credit. He had more pressure on anybody in that 320 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: building last night to perform at a high level, and 321 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: he did it. The offensive line did its job. There 322 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: were three quarterback hits total in that game by the 323 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:57,360 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals defense. And we talked a lot about Matthew Stafford. 324 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: If you make him uncomfortable, you don't have to sack him. 325 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,400 Speaker 1: But if you hit him, you put pressure on him, 326 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: he's going to cough up the football with an interception. 327 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: He had no turnovers on Monday Night Football. The last 328 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: game in which he did not throw a pick week 329 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 1: fourteen against the Arizona Cardinals, And what was the narrative 330 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: last week? He's throwing eight interceptions in the last three games. Yeah, 331 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: the offensive line, they bounced back. Compared to what happened 332 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: in the forty nine ers game, Stafford was pressure just 333 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 1: three of twenty one drops in the Los Angeles Runners 334 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: average one point five yards before contact per attempt. Listen, 335 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,679 Speaker 1: they dominated this football game, and the game is one 336 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 1: of the trenches, and that's where you know, that's where 337 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, it's about execution. And 338 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:51,160 Speaker 1: in fairness to Cliff, when you go three and out 339 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: on four consecutive plays, I mean, everything they work on 340 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: during the week that his call shoot has to go 341 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 1: out the door. Now now it's about survival. So it 342 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: takes him off. And you know, Kyler obviously has not 343 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,439 Speaker 1: played and the team has not played well on prime 344 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: time and I think Cliff was saying, you know what, 345 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: I think he's gonna have a great King he's built 346 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: for this moment. But I'll tell you he was rattle, Craig. 347 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: He looked uncomfortable, he was holding the ball too long. 348 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 1: He looked like a rookie. He did Kyler Murray looked 349 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: like Week one at State Farm Stadium against the Detroit 350 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: Lions in twenty nineteen, in which nothing worked. It was 351 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: a flashback to that first game, in which head coach 352 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 1: Cliff Kingsbury later acknowledged he was thinking I'm gonna get 353 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 1: fired at halftime. It was that bad in that contest. Well, 354 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: you and I were sitting in a press box. I 355 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 1: think after that, maybe the second, second or third quarter, 356 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: I side, I don't know if this offense is going 357 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: to work. I had the same apprehension even Steve Kine 358 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: when you know when he drove home that night, Okay, 359 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: is this gonna work? And you know they get a ray, 360 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: they have air rate concepts, they run eleven personnel, they 361 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: run four wide. But Craig, you look at the first 362 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: seven drives. Well, let's take a look at what happened 363 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 1: or did not happen, And that goes back to your 364 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: first key as far as balance on offense, and this 365 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: team got away from the run, and I think got 366 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: away from it a little bit too soon, and I 367 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: think there was some panic on that Cardinal sideline. First possession, 368 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:33,160 Speaker 1: first down run play, pass pass three and out. Second possession, 369 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: first down, run play, pass pass three and out. Third possession, 370 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: first down run play, Murray sacked and you get the 371 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:45,639 Speaker 1: illegal forward pass three and out Cardinals for their fourth possession. 372 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:49,640 Speaker 1: They're trailing fourteen to nothing, two score deficit. But it's 373 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 1: still twelve minutes to go in the first half, so 374 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:57,360 Speaker 1: I still think you can have somewhat of balance. Yet 375 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: what happens first down Murray sacked pass pass, So that's 376 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 1: three dropbacks by your starting quarterback. Fifth possession, first down 377 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: run play, and then the pick six. So now you're 378 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: down twenty one nothing with seven fifty nine remaining in 379 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 1: the second quarter. Three scores. Well, and Paul Kalvisi during 380 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: the broadcast mentioned it a couple of times the week 381 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: prior San Francisco forty nine ers trailed seventeen to nothing. 382 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: That's three scores. Yet, what did Kyle Shanahan do? Stuck 383 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 1: with the ground game, kept running the football and passion wilfully. 384 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: You were talking about you don't need to abandon your offense, 385 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: all right, So I don't think James Connor was on 386 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 1: you know, I'm glad you brought that up. And I'll 387 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 1: say this, Jase Edmonds and James Connor, how healthy were they? 388 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: And does this does that need to be a part 389 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: of this narrative on what we saw as far as 390 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: a running game. Could they not run even if they 391 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: wanted to? Well, that's where I thought Kyler Murray would 392 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 1: come in. I thought he'd the middle of the field. Yeah, 393 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 1: but I give Connor a ton of card man. I 394 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 1: mean he's been dealing with the rib injury. We know 395 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: he's pounding this year, you know, dragging five or six 396 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: guys down the fields. I mean some of these third 397 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: and one, fourth and two no excuse, But I give 398 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:23,479 Speaker 1: him credit because he was playing injured and I just 399 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: wonder nobody's one hundred percent and in the team got 400 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 1: an extra day, not an extra week, an extra day 401 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: and he was on the practice field. I mean he 402 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,879 Speaker 1: looked apart, but it's different when you got guys chasing 403 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: you and trying to knock you down. But I just 404 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 1: think that affected them and that's where I thought Kyler 405 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 1: Murray should have come in come in and but I 406 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: do think he was. I think both of those guys 407 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: were playing hurt. But again, if you're eighty percent, if 408 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: you're in week ten, hey take the week off. When 409 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: you get to this point, you have to play. If 410 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: they were that hurt to where I was going to 411 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,360 Speaker 1: affect the game plan offensively, whether you're up or trailing, 412 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: then and I can make the argument that James Connor 413 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: should not even been active, and you rely a little 414 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: bit more on Eno Benjamin Jonathan Ward was inactive. Maybe 415 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: he wasn't quite ready. Tavian Feaster. I get it, practice 416 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 1: squad running back, but we've seen a practice squad running 417 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: back run for over one hundred yards on the Cardinals 418 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: happened against the Detroit Lions, so it's not out of 419 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 1: the realm of possibility. You carry the ball twice in 420 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 1: the first half. Talking about James Connor twice in the 421 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 1: second half, four carries for nineteen yards. Now, was he 422 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 1: okay at the start of the game and then something 423 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 1: happened during the game. Now that's a different conversation we 424 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: need to have. But it did seem like they were 425 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: not prepared to have James Connor run the ball like 426 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,120 Speaker 1: they wanted him to and then when you're trailing, it 427 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: was probably an easy excuse to say, all right, well 428 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 1: we're just gonna throw it and not worry. Now to 429 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 1: your point about Kyle the Murray two carries for six yards, 430 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: I mean, where's that dynamic old threat Kyler Murray? And 431 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 1: we mentioned on sidelines. I mean everyone was talking and 432 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 1: I was talking about being a dual threat. I think 433 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: Steve Kim on ninety eight seven talked about him possibly 434 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,399 Speaker 1: uses in his legs. More, what are you saving it 435 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: for it? I mean, if you don't win, the season's 436 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: over and he does a good job protecting his body. 437 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: But yeah, I'll take an eighty percent James Connor over 438 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 1: over Eno Benjamin. I'm sorry, it's just but again, we 439 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,160 Speaker 1: don't know if something happened during the game, but there 440 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: was only a couple of guys I can single out 441 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: that I thought, you know, played hard last night or 442 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: in this case, where showed up to where they played 443 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:38,639 Speaker 1: with some energy. You give d James Connor credit for 444 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:40,879 Speaker 1: stepping up and saying, yeah, I want to play. No 445 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 1: player wants to miss a game, let alone a playoff game. 446 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: And we heard that from Chase Edmans during the week 447 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:52,360 Speaker 1: he was going to play regardless, and he only had 448 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: eight carries for twenty eight yards. I do think even 449 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 1: with this team down twenty one nothing seven minutes into 450 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:05,119 Speaker 1: the second quarter, they could still run the football. Now, 451 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: maybe they were seeing something that they just couldn't run 452 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:11,639 Speaker 1: against that Rams defensive front and it wasn't working. So 453 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 1: we'll go back to Kyler Murray. Why wasn't there more 454 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,160 Speaker 1: designed runs for your quarterback? I think there was one 455 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: on the first couple of possessions and then none again. 456 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 1: So why wasn't he put in motion or spread the 457 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: field out and let him kind of pick his spots. 458 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:30,880 Speaker 1: You drafted him for a reason because he does stuff 459 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:32,919 Speaker 1: that no other quarterback in the league can do, and 460 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: that is throw the ball with great accuracy and run 461 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: the football to where he is a nightmare to catch. 462 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 1: I didn't see that on Monday night. No, And when 463 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 1: you go three and out and you go up Temple, 464 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 1: it puts a lot of pressure on your defense because 465 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: they I mean the defense again, something we saw in 466 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 1: the second half of the season. Now you can say 467 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: they preferred Kyler Murray to be on the field because 468 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 1: he wasn't playing well and he had two he had 469 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: two interceptions within seven plays. But their idea was we're 470 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: gonna get a lead and we're gonna we're gonna run 471 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: the football and we're gonna put a spy on him 472 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: and we're in. While our offenses has more total plays, 473 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,200 Speaker 1: third down conversions was much better. And then you look 474 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,360 Speaker 1: at time of possession. We're gonna keep that little guy 475 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,160 Speaker 1: in the sidelines and we're gonna keep Kyler on the sidelines. 476 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 1: Rams ran the ball thirty eight times for one hundred 477 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:27,200 Speaker 1: and forty yards. Again, it's not the average yards per carry, 478 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 1: it's the number of rushing attempts. We talk about the 479 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: Cardinals that magic number of thirty nine, and oh, I 480 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:35,159 Speaker 1: don't know what the number is for the Rams, but 481 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 1: thirty eight. If you're running the ball thirty eight times 482 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: and your quarterback's only passing a seventeen times, it's not 483 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: a guarantee. But I feel pretty confident that nine times 484 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: out of ten, that's a recipe for a win, and 485 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 1: it was for the Rams on Super Wild Card weekend. 486 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 1: When you look at the stats, the oath for nine, 487 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:58,120 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray's completion percentage in the first half or the game, 488 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 1: what really sticks out the most what's stat his completion percentage. 489 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: He ended the regular season with the second best completion 490 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: percentage out of all quarterbacks, yet nineteen of thirty four 491 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 1: and his throws even early in the game were off targets, 492 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 1: a little bit behind, a little bit long. Now was 493 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 1: he off? But why was he off? Talking about Kyle 494 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:26,400 Speaker 1: the Murray? Is it because he's thinking back to week 495 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 1: fourteen and what the Rams did and that pressure up 496 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,160 Speaker 1: the middle from the edges, and all of a sudden, 497 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:34,680 Speaker 1: all it takes is one hit and then all of 498 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:37,880 Speaker 1: a sudden, Kyle Murray has flashbacks and he starts thinking. 499 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 1: And what was the terminology Rob Frederickson used on cardinal 500 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 1: talk to where you're seeing the rush as opposed to 501 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 1: feeling the rush, to where you get rid of the 502 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 1: football before. Now, all of a sudden, you're paying more 503 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 1: attention to the guys in the other colored uniform coming 504 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: at you as opposed to trying to get the football 505 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 1: out to your teammates. Yeah, I mean there were times 506 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:01,800 Speaker 1: he was skittish and that's what happened. See, your perphooral 507 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 1: vision allows you to look down the field, but if 508 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 1: you take your eye off the field and then you're 509 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 1: starting to look at the rush. All of a sudden, 510 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: you're gonna start seeing ghosts because the guy you thought 511 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 1: was open is no longer open. And that's where if 512 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 1: he's feeling like, okay, we gotta get in a rhythm. 513 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 1: I go back to the Colt McCoy when he started, 514 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 1: Where was the screen game? Quick? Quick, screen game that 515 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: will slow any defense down? Craig Well, the questions going 516 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 1: in about the Rams defense and minus Jordan Fuller, minus 517 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 1: Taylor Rapp and as an offense, you have one hundred 518 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: and thirty seven passing yards. Where was zach Where was 519 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 1: the targets of zach Ertz? That was a mismatch in 520 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: my opinion. I mean, he's he's been the most targeted 521 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 1: guy since Hop went down. There's there's a chemistry between 522 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:52,240 Speaker 1: the two. He talked about Kyler being one of the 523 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: best quarterbacks he's ever played with. Last week, where was 524 00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 1: the targets to him? Especially in the middle of the field. 525 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: Four targets, three catches for twenty one yards. Zach Ertz 526 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: was a non factor. In fact, there were hardly any 527 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: pass catchers that were a factor. I mean Christian Kirk 528 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 1: led the team with six catches for fifty one yards. 529 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:15,480 Speaker 1: But your seconds and third best wide receivers and whatever 530 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 1: pecking or do you want to go with aj Green 531 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: three targets, zero catches, Antoine Wesley two targets, zero catches. 532 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:28,440 Speaker 1: You did welcome back Rondel Moore, but your top three, 533 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 1: and I know DeAndre Hopkins is out, but I cannot 534 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:34,880 Speaker 1: use that as an excuse. It's part of the journey 535 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: for this Cardinals team in twenty twenty one, but cannot 536 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:40,760 Speaker 1: be the reason that this team limped into the postseason. 537 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:43,800 Speaker 1: I refused to buy that as a conversation. I might 538 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 1: be in the minority in that, but that's my thinking, 539 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:51,120 Speaker 1: Christian Kirk, aj Green, Antoine Wesley, because I don't think 540 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 1: you'd been able to count on Rondel Moore. So those 541 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 1: are your top three wide receivers, and they had a 542 00:30:55,920 --> 00:31:01,400 Speaker 1: total of six catches, all by Kirk. Yeah. And then 543 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 1: you look at Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins, which were 544 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:08,040 Speaker 1: the Cardinals first round picks in the last two years. 545 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 1: They were out snapped by Jordan Hicks and Tanner vallejo. In. 546 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 1: Jordan Hicks, he had the lowest PF coverage great on 547 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals defense. It's a great story. He plays 548 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 1: a ton but man and they're patuning Simmons and Vallejo 549 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 1: and and I understand it, but you would think, you know, 550 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 1: the unicorn, a guy can do a lot four different things. 551 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 1: Maybe you know, maybe he's got to settle on one 552 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:39,120 Speaker 1: or two things. But that's that's what his position flexibility is. 553 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 1: But Valejo has been here for a long time. And 554 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 1: when they talk about lazy eyes, I mean, he may 555 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 1: not be the most athletic player, but he's going to 556 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 1: be in position sometimes to make plays where other guys 557 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:53,320 Speaker 1: are taking chances. Simmons didn't even start the ball game. 558 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 1: It was Zavan Collins and Jordan Hicks at inside linebacker 559 00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:00,080 Speaker 1: according to the Official Game Book. And you wonder, and 560 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:03,120 Speaker 1: this is just me thinking out loud here on Cardinals 561 00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:06,080 Speaker 1: Cover Too, presented by Hunday Proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals. 562 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:09,800 Speaker 1: Simmons miss practice on Friday. We were told it was 563 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 1: a family matter and he would be back. He did 564 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 1: return Friday night. Was that practice on Saturday? But was 565 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:21,040 Speaker 1: his mind in the game? Where was he emotionally? I mean, 566 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 1: I have no idea what was going on. But to 567 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: your point, if he's not starting, and all of a sudden, 568 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:30,080 Speaker 1: he's getting platooned by less talented as far as skill sets, 569 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:33,800 Speaker 1: Tanner Vallejo, who might have the edge as far as 570 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 1: football like Q in that moment than a Isaiah Simmons 571 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:40,600 Speaker 1: ors Avan Collins. You can have the best talent in 572 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 1: the world, but how do you play with that talent. 573 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: Some guys with no talents or less talent have successful careers. 574 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 1: They played better because they know how to be where 575 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 1: they're supposed to be to make plays. So I don't know, 576 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 1: maybe there was something that we don't know about. With 577 00:32:54,320 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 1: respects to Isaiah Simmons, Yeah, and you know, just looking ahead, 578 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 1: we'll we'll get into a little bit later. But looking 579 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: at some of these guys's contract, I don't know if 580 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 1: Hicks is going to be around next year, But how 581 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 1: can you afford not to bring them back? I understand, 582 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 1: but you drafted two guys in the first round. I'm 583 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:16,240 Speaker 1: very well aware of that. We're gonna get off to 584 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 1: a sidetrack here. Okay, which is fine, and I which 585 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 1: is fine. I'm completely okay with that. But I mean, 586 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 1: if you're the head coach, defensive coordinator, and players on 587 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 1: the field, you want to win, it's not about developing guys. 588 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:33,760 Speaker 1: But I get I totally understand you made a huge 589 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:37,920 Speaker 1: investment and the inside linebacker position and back to back draft. 590 00:33:38,440 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 1: Yet they're not ready or they're not quite ready to 591 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:47,640 Speaker 1: be the starters. You'd have to bring Jordan Hicks back. 592 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:52,200 Speaker 1: We'll have plenty of time. No, I'm just saying, like 593 00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:55,000 Speaker 1: I just you draft. The whole idea was to develop 594 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:56,840 Speaker 1: these guys and make sure they're going to be your 595 00:33:56,840 --> 00:34:01,600 Speaker 1: two trees in the middle of your defense. And at 596 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 1: some point the light bulb has to go off for Zavin. 597 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:07,000 Speaker 1: I see the upside in Isaiah, but he needs to 598 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 1: be more consistent, just like Kyler Murray needs to be 599 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 1: more consistent. This offense needs to be more consistent. A 600 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:16,319 Speaker 1: lot of attention on the offense, but you mentioned it 601 00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 1: earlier in the show that the defense cannot be given 602 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:23,000 Speaker 1: a pass on how they performed Monday and how they 603 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:26,640 Speaker 1: performed the back half of the regular season because a 604 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:30,040 Speaker 1: lack of a pass rush as far as effecting opposing quarterbacks, 605 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:33,799 Speaker 1: the lack of the coverage ability and the secondary with 606 00:34:33,840 --> 00:34:36,800 Speaker 1: Bayern Murphy leading the charge, and the loss of Robert Offord. 607 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:40,719 Speaker 1: How big of a story was that looking back in hindsight, 608 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: But once again, six total explosive plays, four passing plays 609 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:49,320 Speaker 1: by Matthew Stafford of twenty or more yards. O b 610 00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:52,800 Speaker 1: J had an explosive pass play, and Sony Michelle the 611 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 1: first play of the game had that thirty five yard 612 00:34:55,560 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 1: run a huge hole up the middle. And that's twice 613 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:03,360 Speaker 1: now we've seen that over the last month. But against 614 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 1: the Colts first play of the game, Jonathan Taylor forty 615 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:08,680 Speaker 1: three yards, first play of the game against the Rams 616 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:12,920 Speaker 1: thirty five yards. I mean, you talk about it, you 617 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,360 Speaker 1: practice it all week long, and then how does that 618 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:17,960 Speaker 1: happen on the first play of the game. And Bird 619 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:21,480 Speaker 1: Gang that's not coaching. I'm sorry, you cannot tell me 620 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 1: that Vance, Joseph Brentson Buckner, Charlie Bullin, Billy Davis, that 621 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 1: that that they didn't do their job, they didn't have 622 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 1: their players ready, because that that means they're not doing 623 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:36,600 Speaker 1: any work during the week. So that that's on the players. 624 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:40,160 Speaker 1: That's execution. And I brought up two plays from the 625 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:47,360 Speaker 1: previous game. Borders didn't get the call touchdown, Kannard rushes 626 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:50,919 Speaker 1: up field instead of staying in his lane. It's all 627 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:54,680 Speaker 1: he had to do was basically just latterly go over there, 628 00:35:54,719 --> 00:35:57,680 Speaker 1: and they would they would have tackled Penny. That's that's 629 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:00,839 Speaker 1: ten guys doing their job. One not led the two 630 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:06,439 Speaker 1: touchdowns against the Seahawks. And for whatever reason, as good 631 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:09,480 Speaker 1: as the defense played, and maybe it's playing with the lead, 632 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:13,560 Speaker 1: this is a defense that needs to be ahead in 633 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:15,799 Speaker 1: the game by a score, by two scores, so they 634 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:18,120 Speaker 1: can be a little bit more aggressive. And when all 635 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:19,800 Speaker 1: of a sudden they need to make a play or 636 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:23,840 Speaker 1: just make the routine play, they don't have the ability 637 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:26,920 Speaker 1: at least right now, or they just are unable to 638 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:29,040 Speaker 1: come up with key stops. So I'll say this though, 639 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: in that second quarter, I mean the Rams went three 640 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:36,080 Speaker 1: and out, three and out, three and out after the 641 00:36:36,120 --> 00:36:38,799 Speaker 1: Matthew Stafford touchdown run. Now there was a pick six 642 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:40,480 Speaker 1: in there, so that's why it was twenty one nothing, 643 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:43,320 Speaker 1: but fourteen nothing. The defense came up with three straight 644 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:46,040 Speaker 1: stops to in the first half, and I was encouraged. 645 00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:49,400 Speaker 1: That was encouraging to me because now you get the 646 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:52,440 Speaker 1: offense back, but they couldn't move the ball. What was 647 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:56,120 Speaker 1: at mid third quarters the first time they passed midfield. 648 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:59,880 Speaker 1: I believe that was the notes on ESPN and the 649 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 1: third quarter on that twelve play seventy five yards scoring drive. 650 00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:05,160 Speaker 1: That was the first time the Cardinals ran a play 651 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 1: in Rams territory. And Aaron Donald he had half a sack, 652 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:17,640 Speaker 1: one tackle, and one quarterback hit. It was Robinson and 653 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:20,399 Speaker 1: von Miller he had. Von Miller had a sack, three 654 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:24,640 Speaker 1: tackle for losses, a quarterback hit. Jalen Ramsey was kind 655 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:28,080 Speaker 1: of pedestrian Leonard Floyd, but they I didn't think Aaron 656 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:30,759 Speaker 1: Donald was the wrecking ball he was in the previous game, 657 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:34,520 Speaker 1: but he had help. He had Von Miller blacks to 658 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:36,560 Speaker 1: him a little bit. Yeah, more effective than he was. 659 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:40,239 Speaker 1: And Robinson, I mean he was pushing the pile. We 660 00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:41,840 Speaker 1: talked about, you know, getting up in the middle of 661 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:46,680 Speaker 1: the pile. Yeah, he was. You could say that. Raheem Morris, 662 00:37:46,719 --> 00:37:48,879 Speaker 1: I mean he he really came up with a great 663 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:51,359 Speaker 1: game plan against the Cardinals offense. I mean, I hate 664 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:53,080 Speaker 1: to say it, but I got to tip my cap 665 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:55,879 Speaker 1: to him. And Sean McVay was one step ahead of Vans. 666 00:37:55,920 --> 00:37:58,880 Speaker 1: Joseph last night, you brought up third down the numbers 667 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:01,520 Speaker 1: for the is on the Cardinals on third down, they 668 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:04,440 Speaker 1: did not convert a single third down. They were oh 669 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:08,000 Speaker 1: of nine. The average yards to gain on third down 670 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:12,960 Speaker 1: nearly twelve eleven point seven. And that's not winning on 671 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:16,000 Speaker 1: first down. That's not winning on second down as an offense. 672 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:18,839 Speaker 1: Flip it to what the Rams did on third down 673 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:23,160 Speaker 1: six of thirteen, all six of their conversions six of 674 00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:29,960 Speaker 1: nine on third and four or less. That's defensively, Cardinals 675 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:33,080 Speaker 1: not winning on first down, second down to force third 676 00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:35,680 Speaker 1: and long. So when you look at the Cardinals and 677 00:38:35,960 --> 00:38:38,600 Speaker 1: the average was so everything was more third and six 678 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:43,000 Speaker 1: and longer, Yes, they did not have anything lower fewer 679 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:46,640 Speaker 1: than five yards to gain on any of their third downs. 680 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:52,799 Speaker 1: That's not complimentary football. That's not that's not how you 681 00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:57,240 Speaker 1: move the ball down the field. A performance like Monday 682 00:38:58,239 --> 00:39:04,600 Speaker 1: happens in September, first game, second game, maybe even early October. 683 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:08,839 Speaker 1: It does not happen in mid January in the postseason. 684 00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:14,120 Speaker 1: That's and we talk about playoff football being different, plays 685 00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:18,480 Speaker 1: getting magnified. A performance like that on Monday Night is 686 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:22,319 Speaker 1: going to be magnified tenfold because it's the only thing 687 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:26,560 Speaker 1: that we will focus on and remember going into this offseason. Oh, 688 00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:29,760 Speaker 1: he's a bad taste, he's a bad taste just everything 689 00:39:29,800 --> 00:39:35,440 Speaker 1: that transpired. And I mentioned earlier in the show, if 690 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:37,440 Speaker 1: the Cardinals would have lost thirty one twenty seven in 691 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:40,080 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter, I could live with that. It went 692 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:43,120 Speaker 1: toe to toe with the team that obviously has more 693 00:39:43,160 --> 00:39:46,440 Speaker 1: experience at the at the head coach and quarterback position. 694 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:49,360 Speaker 1: There's no excuses though this scheme should have been a 695 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:53,400 Speaker 1: lot closer. You can get beat walk off the field 696 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:55,880 Speaker 1: or walk across the field, shake your opponent's hand and 697 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:58,040 Speaker 1: say you know what you got me today, You are 698 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:00,000 Speaker 1: the better team today, and I'll see you next week. 699 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:03,600 Speaker 1: We now, obviously there is no next week in the postseason. 700 00:40:03,719 --> 00:40:07,600 Speaker 1: But the Cardinals not only got beat they got beat down. 701 00:40:07,920 --> 00:40:11,279 Speaker 1: They got embarrassed, and they're gonna have to eat this 702 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 1: for a long time, especially those players that are coming 703 00:40:14,640 --> 00:40:19,359 Speaker 1: back and are under contract for next season. And it's 704 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 1: the players, it's the coaches. Everyone has a hand in this. 705 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:28,920 Speaker 1: I cannot single out any one individual, any one aspect 706 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:33,160 Speaker 1: of an NFL team, offense, defense, and special teams that says, 707 00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:38,600 Speaker 1: all right, this is where things went awry against the Rams. 708 00:40:39,160 --> 00:40:43,920 Speaker 1: Everyone had a hand in that performance. Yeah, this is 709 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:46,440 Speaker 1: gonna be tough to swallow. Just from a standpoint, it 710 00:40:47,239 --> 00:40:49,319 Speaker 1: like I said, if you lose the game in the 711 00:40:49,360 --> 00:40:52,560 Speaker 1: fourth quarter, whether it's a Matt gayfield goal, I can 712 00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:56,279 Speaker 1: live with that. But the fact is four consecutive three 713 00:40:56,320 --> 00:41:03,480 Speaker 1: and outs, Kyler Murray two interceptions within seven plays. They 714 00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:05,239 Speaker 1: teach you and Pop Warner and I don't I don't 715 00:41:05,280 --> 00:41:07,480 Speaker 1: mean to disrespect him, but take the safety there. He 716 00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:09,960 Speaker 1: did it in the Colts game. Well, he was still 717 00:41:09,960 --> 00:41:13,120 Speaker 1: trying to I know, throw away that football against the Colts, right, 718 00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:15,560 Speaker 1: but least it was a safety versus him trying to 719 00:41:15,560 --> 00:41:17,880 Speaker 1: throw it. I mean, you can't, like I said, I 720 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:19,319 Speaker 1: told you, if you got to pick six in a 721 00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:22,120 Speaker 1: playoff game, it gets magnified, like it's hard to overcome them. 722 00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:24,440 Speaker 1: Considering their first seven or eight possessions, they weren't able 723 00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:26,640 Speaker 1: to move the football. Well, as we just talked about, 724 00:41:26,680 --> 00:41:29,040 Speaker 1: plays like that get magnified. And then you're talking about 725 00:41:29,080 --> 00:41:32,560 Speaker 1: trying to do too much. Do your job. Kyle Murray 726 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:34,920 Speaker 1: tried to do too much in that instant. Well, I 727 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:38,520 Speaker 1: think you know it was twenty one nothing at half, correct, 728 00:41:38,719 --> 00:41:41,600 Speaker 1: and Kingsbury told kel VC, we can't score twenty one 729 00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:44,239 Speaker 1: points on one drive. Gotta look at the second half 730 00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:46,880 Speaker 1: as zero zero. Yeah, that's what he said, and that 731 00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:49,560 Speaker 1: and that's probably a good even though when guys look 732 00:41:49,640 --> 00:41:53,040 Speaker 1: up the scoreboard, but you gotta chip away seven, ten, 733 00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:56,600 Speaker 1: you know, seventeen. Now, all of a sudden, you're putting 734 00:41:56,600 --> 00:41:59,600 Speaker 1: pressure on the Rams. And let's be frank here, the 735 00:41:59,719 --> 00:42:01,839 Speaker 1: ram was called off the dogs late in the fourth quarter. 736 00:42:03,200 --> 00:42:05,319 Speaker 1: Just the fact that probably they want to get anybody hurt, 737 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:08,040 Speaker 1: and I think just had a respect for Cliff and 738 00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:11,319 Speaker 1: the relationship. And they got another game, so they're not 739 00:42:11,360 --> 00:42:13,399 Speaker 1: trying to get style points. They had already won the game, 740 00:42:13,719 --> 00:42:15,560 Speaker 1: but that game could have got out of reach even more. 741 00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:17,200 Speaker 1: I mean, they could have scored forty or forty five 742 00:42:17,239 --> 00:42:19,600 Speaker 1: points last night, well even when it was fourteen nothing 743 00:42:19,640 --> 00:42:21,960 Speaker 1: and twenty one nothing to the half three scores, but 744 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:25,080 Speaker 1: it felt like six. I mean, it felt like the 745 00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:29,719 Speaker 1: Cardinals were down forty points. Yeah. At halftime, I'm like, okay, a, 746 00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:31,879 Speaker 1: they didn't get the ball to open up the second half, 747 00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:34,680 Speaker 1: so I'm thinking, all right, they're gonna have to make 748 00:42:34,680 --> 00:42:37,560 Speaker 1: a stop and then just try to get some momentum 749 00:42:37,600 --> 00:42:40,960 Speaker 1: and then kind I'm with you again, I don't know 750 00:42:41,239 --> 00:42:43,200 Speaker 1: what was going on with Connor. I gotta believe he 751 00:42:43,239 --> 00:42:46,280 Speaker 1: was in some pain and just when you have ribs 752 00:42:46,320 --> 00:42:48,160 Speaker 1: that probably are being shot up and all that stuff. 753 00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:50,200 Speaker 1: But I give him Cardiff from being out that okay 754 00:42:50,719 --> 00:42:52,600 Speaker 1: that try to get him off the field and then 755 00:42:52,840 --> 00:42:55,880 Speaker 1: start to build something like it like zero zero, and 756 00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:58,600 Speaker 1: that's when you start chipping away and it never happened. 757 00:42:58,960 --> 00:43:01,560 Speaker 1: Cardinals unable to get the job done. They lose the 758 00:43:01,640 --> 00:43:05,000 Speaker 1: Rams on Monday Night Football thirty four to eleven. This 759 00:43:05,160 --> 00:43:09,200 Speaker 1: season is over. We, however, here on Cardinals covered two 760 00:43:09,239 --> 00:43:12,080 Speaker 1: present to buy Hunday, proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals, 761 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:17,080 Speaker 1: our season never ends. Year round coverage of the Arizona Cardinals, 762 00:43:17,400 --> 00:43:20,879 Speaker 1: including I think MJ maybe later this week to tie 763 00:43:20,920 --> 00:43:24,960 Speaker 1: a little bow on this week. But I am still 764 00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:29,800 Speaker 1: maybe shock. Maybe that's maybe I'm in shock by what happened, 765 00:43:30,200 --> 00:43:33,439 Speaker 1: because it's one thing to again lose a game get beat, 766 00:43:33,520 --> 00:43:37,840 Speaker 1: but it's another thing to have that happened. Like I 767 00:43:37,880 --> 00:43:43,120 Speaker 1: said starting the show, I was disappointed. It was embarrassing, 768 00:43:44,120 --> 00:43:46,520 Speaker 1: and then I was surprised that they didn't put up 769 00:43:46,560 --> 00:43:49,200 Speaker 1: a better fight. That's what I was when I was 770 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:52,480 Speaker 1: driving home last time, Like I thought they would go 771 00:43:52,560 --> 00:43:54,600 Speaker 1: toe to toe with these guys. They knew it was 772 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:56,560 Speaker 1: at stake, tell you how to you know, take care 773 00:43:56,600 --> 00:43:59,239 Speaker 1: of business, what they've done on the road, and then 774 00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:01,200 Speaker 1: you got a chance to play Tampa next week, and 775 00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:03,440 Speaker 1: nobody would have talked about any of the regular season. 776 00:44:03,760 --> 00:44:06,960 Speaker 1: Now the narratives is this team wasn't the same as 777 00:44:06,960 --> 00:44:09,880 Speaker 1: they were in the first twelve games, and now the 778 00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:13,879 Speaker 1: question becomes why and once you figure that out, all right, 779 00:44:14,040 --> 00:44:15,799 Speaker 1: what do you do to correct it to make sure 780 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:19,200 Speaker 1: it doesn't happen again in twenty twenty two. Yeah, I 781 00:44:19,239 --> 00:44:21,480 Speaker 1: want to let everyone know though, we really appreciate you 782 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:24,040 Speaker 1: listening to the show. And it's it's twelve months a year. 783 00:44:24,080 --> 00:44:26,960 Speaker 1: I know there's other sports going on, but you can 784 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:29,920 Speaker 1: always get your fix here and we really appreciate people 785 00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:33,480 Speaker 1: listening and commenting, you know, on social media. So we 786 00:44:33,520 --> 00:44:37,560 Speaker 1: can't thank you enough. I mean, honestly, Craig, if we 787 00:44:37,640 --> 00:44:39,480 Speaker 1: peel the curtains back a little bit, it was a 788 00:44:39,480 --> 00:44:42,720 Speaker 1: fun season. It's just the way it ended. I enjoyed 789 00:44:42,719 --> 00:44:45,920 Speaker 1: this season. It was fun. I mean, this team was rolling. 790 00:44:47,440 --> 00:44:49,360 Speaker 1: You know, I didn't know if they're going to be 791 00:44:49,400 --> 00:44:53,480 Speaker 1: a top seed, you know, but I gotta say, you know, 792 00:44:53,560 --> 00:44:55,560 Speaker 1: maybe over the last couple of weeks. You know, it's 793 00:44:55,600 --> 00:44:57,960 Speaker 1: not the same, But I had I really enjoyed this 794 00:44:58,040 --> 00:45:00,840 Speaker 1: season just from a standpoint of where they can from 795 00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:05,080 Speaker 1: how explosive they were, and really just the chemistry of 796 00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:09,680 Speaker 1: this team and the leadership and physicality. But it's just 797 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:11,799 Speaker 1: like I got this bad taste in my mouth at 798 00:45:11,800 --> 00:45:14,480 Speaker 1: the end of the year. It leaves you wanting more. Yes, 799 00:45:15,239 --> 00:45:20,839 Speaker 1: and I'll piggyback off that and our next show. We'll 800 00:45:20,880 --> 00:45:23,359 Speaker 1: put a lid on this edition of Cardinals Covered two 801 00:45:23,400 --> 00:45:27,040 Speaker 1: presented by Honday Probate, partner of the Arizona Cardinals. As always, 802 00:45:27,080 --> 00:45:29,560 Speaker 1: special thanks to our executive producer, Jim I'm a hundro 803 00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:32,319 Speaker 1: for Mike Drecky. I'm Greig rayel Low. We'll talk to 804 00:45:32,320 --> 00:45:34,640 Speaker 1: you next time you're on Cardinals Covered two.