1
00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,840
Speaker 1: Obviously, there is a lot of excitement here locally about

2
00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:10,160
Speaker 1: the upcoming season. What about nationally though, Welcome Bird Gang.

3
00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,600
Speaker 1: On today's show, Zach Gershman joins me Together. We're joined

4
00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:17,360
Speaker 1: by Omar Ruiz, NFL network reporter. We get his perspective

5
00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,880
Speaker 1: on the Cardinals, the NFC West, and look ahead to

6
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,279
Speaker 1: back together weekend. Omar will be front and center for

7
00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,440
Speaker 1: a lot of the network's coverage both Saturday and Sunday.

8
00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:31,520
Speaker 1: First though, knock on Wood, the team is healthy as

9
00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,720
Speaker 1: Cardinals Cover two Episode seven to seventy four, and it

10
00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,320
Speaker 1: starts now.

11
00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,560
Speaker 2: Welcome to Cardinals Cover two wooda.

12
00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,680
Speaker 3: Baker, What Heart? What rent?

13
00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:45,280
Speaker 1: This guy's unbelievable.

14
00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,800
Speaker 2: Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of

15
00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:55,840
Speaker 2: the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals

16
00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,600
Speaker 2: dot Com slash podcast.

17
00:00:57,760 --> 00:00:59,960
Speaker 1: He's at the ten half of five. He's it again.

18
00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,240
Speaker 3: Some more hurry magic.

19
00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,959
Speaker 2: Wow, here's Craig trailer.

20
00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:13,000
Speaker 1: So what is our first football Friday? Oh yeah, this

21
00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,640
Speaker 1: is the crew is here and this is what we

22
00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,960
Speaker 1: do on Fridays. It is me and Zach Kershman.

23
00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,040
Speaker 3: Covered two presented by Hyundai.

24
00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:27,240
Speaker 1: Football Fridays for January preseason, regular season, postseason, and then

25
00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,240
Speaker 1: he really can't do football Fridays in the offseason because

26
00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,360
Speaker 1: at that point every days of football Friday exactly.

27
00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,039
Speaker 3: But I mean, hey, this is the first, the first

28
00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,880
Speaker 3: of many, hopefully the first of a successful season. Hopefully

29
00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,160
Speaker 3: there's a lot of optimism going into these football Fridays

30
00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,479
Speaker 3: as the team gets prepared for either their road trips

31
00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,199
Speaker 3: or their home stands, whatever it might be. But Craig,

32
00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,880
Speaker 3: we're the ones to lead it off like it starts

33
00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:51,440
Speaker 3: here on football Friday.

34
00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:57,639
Speaker 1: And starting on Friday. Jonathan Gannett again addressing the media

35
00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,160
Speaker 1: as he does before every practice. Not a ton of

36
00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,560
Speaker 1: news and by the way, knock on wood because here

37
00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,920
Speaker 1: we are. I know I'm gonna chick myself, but that's okay, but.

38
00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:08,680
Speaker 3: You're a journalist. It's it happened.

39
00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,880
Speaker 1: Through the first two days of practice. It has been

40
00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,239
Speaker 1: full participation.

41
00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:16,440
Speaker 4: Oh yeah.

42
00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,320
Speaker 1: John Gains was the only question mark as far as

43
00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,799
Speaker 1: players who did not do anything in the off season.

44
00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,960
Speaker 1: Are you ready for training camp? Mac Wilson, senior head

45
00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,320
Speaker 1: off season labram surgery. He was going to be limited

46
00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:34,080
Speaker 1: and then full go come training camp. How about guys,

47
00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:38,000
Speaker 1: you're white limited a little bit full go come training camp, so.

48
00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,200
Speaker 3: Let's gale were recovering from last season's bicept. There, there

49
00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,720
Speaker 3: was a lot of players that, you know, we talked

50
00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,239
Speaker 3: so much about how the injuries were losing the shoe,

51
00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,560
Speaker 3: but in this case, we were talking about the injuries

52
00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,120
Speaker 3: really hurt the Arizona Cardinals. It was it was tough

53
00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,959
Speaker 3: to overcome when you have as many players go down

54
00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,880
Speaker 3: as they did. With that being said, though everybody's out here,

55
00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,000
Speaker 3: everyone seems to be quite healthy. Hopefully once again that

56
00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:07,680
Speaker 3: that continues, because this is a great a precursor to

57
00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,960
Speaker 3: what this team will actually look like come preseason and

58
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:12,000
Speaker 3: come regular season.

59
00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,440
Speaker 1: It's a credit to the players, it's a credit to

60
00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,240
Speaker 1: the medical staff. It's a credit to the coaching staff

61
00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:22,560
Speaker 1: because we hear JG speak a lot about making sure

62
00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,240
Speaker 1: players are taking care of themselves, that if there's an

63
00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,040
Speaker 1: issue that pops up, there has to be communication on

64
00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,480
Speaker 1: both sides, but making sure everyone is ready to go

65
00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:35,480
Speaker 1: on Sunday. And obviously here would be week one Sunday,

66
00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,480
Speaker 1: so I'll be interested to see if we do have

67
00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,119
Speaker 1: full participation at some point. We talked a little bit

68
00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,320
Speaker 1: earlier on our most recent Cardinals cover two broadcasts or

69
00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,600
Speaker 1: episode about you know, potential day off for Kyler Murray

70
00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:52,040
Speaker 1: or a player just based off the number of reps

71
00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:53,840
Speaker 1: that they're getting on a day to day basis. This

72
00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,880
Speaker 1: team will have Saturday off before Sunday's practice, but just

73
00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:59,640
Speaker 1: making sure guys are fresh.

74
00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,000
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, we talked. JG always preaches his you know,

75
00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,040
Speaker 3: his five buckets that he has, and one of those

76
00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,760
Speaker 3: is health. And when you divide it up between your

77
00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,080
Speaker 3: low tempo days, your medium tempo days, the high tempo days,

78
00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,000
Speaker 3: whatever it is, when you do have that opportunity to

79
00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,400
Speaker 3: space it out a little bit, you're gonna expect and

80
00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,520
Speaker 3: anticipate a lot less burnout and you're going to anticipate

81
00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,360
Speaker 3: and expect that your players won't get hurt nearly as

82
00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,560
Speaker 3: frequently as otherwise might have been the case. So it's

83
00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:29,840
Speaker 3: a testament to everybody involved from the top down. I mean,

84
00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,440
Speaker 3: JG talked about all the different types of tweaks that

85
00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,039
Speaker 3: he and the staff have made. One of those tweaks

86
00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,680
Speaker 3: is making sure everybody got here healthy. And something Sean

87
00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,560
Speaker 3: Murphy Bunting talked about is the different type of structure

88
00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,160
Speaker 3: the low days, the high days the medium days. It

89
00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,200
Speaker 3: not only helps with the body, but also helps with

90
00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,359
Speaker 3: the mentals as well because you're able to space it

91
00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,560
Speaker 3: out a lot more so whatever formula they have so far,

92
00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,520
Speaker 3: three four days into training camp, it seems to be working.

93
00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:58,520
Speaker 1: And again, knock on, would we will visit with Omar

94
00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,560
Speaker 1: Ruiz NFL networ reporter Zach and I had a chance

95
00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,000
Speaker 1: to catch up with him earlier this week. But when

96
00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,559
Speaker 1: we talk about the injury situation, and because it's gonna happen,

97
00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,919
Speaker 1: it happens to every single team. But interesting to see

98
00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,040
Speaker 1: what we saw on Wednesday and Thursday, and then JG

99
00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,920
Speaker 1: addressed it on Friday because it's something that I noticed

100
00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,599
Speaker 1: on Wednesday. But a handful of cornerbacks a key Trail

101
00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,880
Speaker 1: Clark among them, all of a sudden working with the safeties.

102
00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,479
Speaker 1: We've seen Garrett Williams do that since day one, even

103
00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,240
Speaker 1: though he is still listed as a cornerback and play

104
00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,159
Speaker 1: slack corner but doing a lot of his practice reps

105
00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,479
Speaker 1: with the safety group. Well, there's a couple of more

106
00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:41,320
Speaker 1: cornerbacks joining Garrett Williams, Key Treill Clark, Jayden Davis. I've

107
00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,440
Speaker 1: seen over there, just a different mix and a different group,

108
00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:49,040
Speaker 1: but by design according to the head coach, because as

109
00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,039
Speaker 1: Nick Rulis likes to say, sometimes you lose a shoe

110
00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:53,920
Speaker 1: and someone has to be put in a position that

111
00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:58,600
Speaker 1: maybe they're not used to but is necessary in order

112
00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,640
Speaker 1: to fill that particular ag.

113
00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,279
Speaker 3: Said, it's the known known. You know that this type

114
00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,520
Speaker 3: of thing, unfortunately happens in the league. You're playing one

115
00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,200
Speaker 3: of the most physical violence sports that God has ever

116
00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,200
Speaker 3: put on the face of the earth. In the National

117
00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,040
Speaker 3: Football League. It's just the sport. It's the blood sport,

118
00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:14,880
Speaker 3: as Ron will Felix to call it, and there's a

119
00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,120
Speaker 3: reason for that. So when you do have the more

120
00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:18,640
Speaker 3: you could do and the more you could bring to

121
00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,200
Speaker 3: the table, the versatility. That term has been the term

122
00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,280
Speaker 3: coined throughout the entire offseason, especially when when looking at

123
00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,080
Speaker 3: free agency and the draft, it's the more you could do?

124
00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,360
Speaker 3: Where can we place you in different formations? If you

125
00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,440
Speaker 3: have to go hear, how easily can you adapt to

126
00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,680
Speaker 3: that sort of situation. So to see a guy like

127
00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:38,880
Speaker 3: Kee tro Kark, who went through the roller coaster last

128
00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,800
Speaker 3: season of playing a lot, not playing, seeing some time

129
00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,559
Speaker 3: in special teams. While he's earned a lot of praise

130
00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,320
Speaker 3: from the coaching staff, Nick Rolis calling him saying that

131
00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:51,200
Speaker 3: he has an assassin's mindset, just that killer mentality. Having

132
00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:52,920
Speaker 3: him out there with the safety is getting to learn

133
00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,720
Speaker 3: from a Buddha baker Jalen Thompson work alongside of Garrett Williams.

134
00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:58,320
Speaker 3: The more you could do, the more you can bring

135
00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,680
Speaker 3: to the table, and the more and if in reps

136
00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:02,600
Speaker 3: you could get in practice as well, only works to

137
00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:03,240
Speaker 3: your advantage.

138
00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:05,520
Speaker 1: Be interesting to hear from Key Trail the next time

139
00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,480
Speaker 1: we have the opportunity, because from what we've heard from

140
00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,360
Speaker 1: JG and others that last season, yeah, the up and

141
00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:16,679
Speaker 1: down nature, but it didn't affect negatively Key Trail Clark

142
00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,000
Speaker 1: going into this offset as far as putting it in

143
00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:23,480
Speaker 1: the work and keeping the same mindset as he had

144
00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,600
Speaker 1: coming in as a rookie. But just looking at some

145
00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,760
Speaker 1: of my notes, because it was an amazing start for

146
00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,120
Speaker 1: Key Trail in his first season. Started five of the

147
00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,960
Speaker 1: first six games. Then there was a five game stretch

148
00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,320
Speaker 1: and we did not play a single defensive snap. In fact,

149
00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,840
Speaker 1: he was inactive for a couple of weeks and then

150
00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,440
Speaker 1: did not play a single defensive snap the last four

151
00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,960
Speaker 1: games of the season. That kind of up and down.

152
00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,240
Speaker 1: Am I playing? Am I not playing? I'm dressing, but

153
00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,680
Speaker 1: I'm not seeing the field. That can do a number

154
00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:56,400
Speaker 1: on you mentally, But it doesn't seem like it has.

155
00:07:56,480 --> 00:08:00,120
Speaker 1: And maybe anything, it's benefited Key Trail moving forward, which.

156
00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,440
Speaker 3: What JG said, he said he thinks it benefits him,

157
00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,840
Speaker 3: And I think that the more impressive part of all

158
00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,120
Speaker 3: of that is that he's only going to a second

159
00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,960
Speaker 3: season as a rookie. That could really mentally mess with

160
00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,280
Speaker 3: you when you are the guy in college and then

161
00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,840
Speaker 3: you come to the league. You right away as a rookie,

162
00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,240
Speaker 3: you're starting all those games, you just listened off, all

163
00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,880
Speaker 3: the snaps. You think things are going quite well. And

164
00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,640
Speaker 3: then the tide starts to shift a little bit as

165
00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,720
Speaker 3: a young player when you are already starting to taste

166
00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,080
Speaker 3: what success looks like in the league, and then that

167
00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:33,000
Speaker 3: backpedals a little bit and you start to lose sight

168
00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,120
Speaker 3: of what you were just where you just were at

169
00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,000
Speaker 3: on the field, seeing the snaps every single day, lining

170
00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:42,160
Speaker 3: up against the Terry McLaurin, lining up against a you know,

171
00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,160
Speaker 3: all the different type of wide receivers that they played

172
00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,000
Speaker 3: in the in the NFC East, in the first half

173
00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,800
Speaker 3: of the season, when all that stuff is happening, you

174
00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,400
Speaker 3: start to smell yourself a little bit, for lack of

175
00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:53,440
Speaker 3: a better term. Now, I'm not saying that that's necessarily

176
00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,439
Speaker 3: what happened, but to see him bounce back, I think

177
00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,640
Speaker 3: we're going to see a different Key Troil Clark with

178
00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:02,000
Speaker 3: the same mentality, but hopefully it'll also translate onto the

179
00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:02,720
Speaker 3: field as well.

180
00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:06,120
Speaker 1: He's very confident, no question about that. But how much

181
00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:06,760
Speaker 1: can't fake that?

182
00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,600
Speaker 3: No, can't fake confidence, especially at that cornerback position.

183
00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,240
Speaker 1: Just how much do we see Key Trell play this season? Again,

184
00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,760
Speaker 1: that's a loaded cornerback room with eleven players, and that

185
00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,240
Speaker 1: does include Garrett Williams, even though again working with that

186
00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,120
Speaker 1: safety group. Darren Hall has even been working with that

187
00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:27,760
Speaker 1: safety group as well. As promised. You and I had

188
00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,160
Speaker 1: the opportunity earlier this week to speak with Omar Ruiz,

189
00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:36,080
Speaker 1: NFL Network reporter ahead of Back Together weekend. We talked

190
00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,640
Speaker 1: about that, got his perspective on the Cardinals the NFC

191
00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,480
Speaker 1: West as well. By the way, Omar will anchor the

192
00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:46,360
Speaker 1: network's coverage of Sunday's Cardinals practice. Saturday, He'll be in

193
00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,520
Speaker 1: San Francisco with the forty nine ers. Without further ado,

194
00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:54,080
Speaker 1: here is our conversation with Omar. It is always good

195
00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,679
Speaker 1: when we can catch up with someone and offer the

196
00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,920
Speaker 1: national perspective on the Arizona Cardinals. Zach, I think sometime

197
00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:02,080
Speaker 1: we are maybe a little bit too close to the

198
00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:05,760
Speaker 1: situation at times. But this is a unique perspective, because

199
00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,320
Speaker 1: Omar correct me if I'm wrong. Not only are you national,

200
00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:10,000
Speaker 1: but you are local as well.

201
00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,240
Speaker 4: Yeah, A nice little half hour drive here from Northern

202
00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,160
Speaker 4: Buckeye or West Surprise down to the stadium. And this

203
00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,440
Speaker 4: is obviously much closer than the training facility in Tempe,

204
00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,439
Speaker 4: you know when I drive over, So yeah, it's it's

205
00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,199
Speaker 4: the most local stop that I can get at this point.

206
00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:30,280
Speaker 4: And you know, you mentioned the national perspective and everything.

207
00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:32,800
Speaker 4: And I think at NFL Network we are in the

208
00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:37,080
Speaker 4: business in the off speason, especially in selling hope and

209
00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:40,560
Speaker 4: optimism for all thirty two fan bases, and I think

210
00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,280
Speaker 4: what we've been talking about this entire off season with

211
00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:47,439
Speaker 4: the Cardinals is that. But I think it's real and substantial,

212
00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,760
Speaker 4: and I think it's exciting now now that we're in

213
00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,520
Speaker 4: a training camp to see how it all unfolds and

214
00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,959
Speaker 4: can this hope and optimism translate to wins and success

215
00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,160
Speaker 4: on the field, and it begins.

216
00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,760
Speaker 3: Now, what makes you think that this is real? Obviously,

217
00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:02,319
Speaker 3: as you said, this is the time of year, what

218
00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:06,760
Speaker 3: everyone's talking about optimism. But something feels different here in

219
00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,360
Speaker 3: the value. Can you pinpoint what it feels different about it?

220
00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:15,680
Speaker 4: I think the buy in. The reference point I look

221
00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:20,520
Speaker 4: back to is the twenty seventeen twenty eighteen forty nine

222
00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,640
Speaker 4: ers in that they didn't win many games, but Kyle

223
00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:28,240
Speaker 4: Shanahan John Lynch were establishing a culture and a responsibility

224
00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:32,160
Speaker 4: that the players in those days had to buy in,

225
00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,720
Speaker 4: lay the groundwork for a foundation that now the regular

226
00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,640
Speaker 4: is in the NFC Championship Game and obviously a couple

227
00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:40,960
Speaker 4: of Super Bowl appearances. But what I remember back in

228
00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,160
Speaker 4: those days, in the first couple of years, didn't win

229
00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:47,440
Speaker 4: many games, but there's no infighting there. There was, you know,

230
00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:52,720
Speaker 4: still buy in despite two years of losing and going

231
00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,120
Speaker 4: into the Cardinals locker room last year, even though the

232
00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,360
Speaker 4: losses mounted, there was still that buy in. There was

233
00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:00,880
Speaker 4: no infighting, there wasn't negativity there, and there is the

234
00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:06,080
Speaker 4: foundation of accountability responsibility being laid there that that you know,

235
00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:09,400
Speaker 4: similar parallels there, and so when you look at an

236
00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,600
Speaker 4: upgraded roster now with Marvin Harrison Junior and a fully

237
00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:16,440
Speaker 4: healthy Kyler Murray coming back, and you know, so much

238
00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:20,200
Speaker 4: expectation for him to not only return to form, but

239
00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,200
Speaker 4: maybe see the best version of Kyler Murray that we've

240
00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,240
Speaker 4: seen before. And if you have that transcendent franchise quarterback,

241
00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:28,560
Speaker 4: then you have a legit shot. And I think, you know,

242
00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,679
Speaker 4: those are just a couple of the elements why this

243
00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,600
Speaker 4: can actually translate into real because we saw even Kyler

244
00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,760
Speaker 4: getting the rust off and learning week to week, you know,

245
00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,360
Speaker 4: this Drew petsing offense and trying to adjust on the fly.

246
00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,040
Speaker 4: They still in the second half of the season were

247
00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:44,840
Speaker 4: a pretty significant offense, you know, in terms of where

248
00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,959
Speaker 4: they fit in the NFL. And so now with the upgrade,

249
00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,960
Speaker 4: with Kyler being better, you know, pet saying and everything,

250
00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:53,440
Speaker 4: you know, I think that's why those are what I

251
00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:56,560
Speaker 4: point to that this is an actual real reason for

252
00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,439
Speaker 4: hope and optimism as opposed to just offseason fluff.

253
00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,480
Speaker 1: You brought up. Kyle Fans will be able to see

254
00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:04,400
Speaker 1: Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday as part

255
00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,960
Speaker 1: of the NFL networks back together weekend, which we will

256
00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,800
Speaker 1: touch on here momentarily, but for me, that's the one

257
00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,800
Speaker 1: big difference, maybe the biggest difference between a year ago

258
00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,360
Speaker 1: at this time and now is Number one is on

259
00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,560
Speaker 1: the football field for the duration knock on wood of

260
00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,559
Speaker 1: training camp into the season, because I think we forget

261
00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,960
Speaker 1: eight games, but there was no practice time outside of

262
00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,200
Speaker 1: game week prep. And here we are with the full

263
00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,800
Speaker 1: off season of Kyler Murray. We hope that the sky's

264
00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:33,800
Speaker 1: the limit for not only him but the offense overall.

265
00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,120
Speaker 4: And I think not only that, but all the extra

266
00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:40,559
Speaker 4: work that him and the skill players have done this offseason,

267
00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,240
Speaker 4: whether it was here in Arizona, finding local high schools

268
00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:45,600
Speaker 4: to work out it on the weekends, whether it's getting

269
00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:48,720
Speaker 4: together in this break between mini camp and training camp.

270
00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,920
Speaker 4: All of that has to mean something, not only with

271
00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,240
Speaker 4: the timing and rhythm of routes and the offense, but

272
00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,120
Speaker 4: the camaraderie and the chemistry that you hope to form

273
00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,560
Speaker 4: in the locker room. And it is just fascinating to

274
00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:05,960
Speaker 4: see how, you know, Kyler has evolved as a leader

275
00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,640
Speaker 4: for this team, and I think going back to twenty

276
00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:13,640
Speaker 4: nineteen when he was drafted, essentially getting the keys to

277
00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:17,400
Speaker 4: the franchise handed to him and Brett Hunley, I believe

278
00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:20,000
Speaker 4: was the backup that seasons was not like he was

279
00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,200
Speaker 4: a veteran presence like a Ryan Fitzpatrick or somebody like that.

280
00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,200
Speaker 4: You've seen a lot of veteran quarterbacks paired with that

281
00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,000
Speaker 4: first round quarterback to you know, share some wisdom. He

282
00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,040
Speaker 4: didn't have that. So he was not only with the

283
00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:37,040
Speaker 4: expectations of having to play at a number one pick

284
00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,480
Speaker 4: overall level, but also learning how to be a leader

285
00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,600
Speaker 4: and a franchise quarterback off the field at the same

286
00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,560
Speaker 4: time without that true help in the quarterback room. And

287
00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:48,800
Speaker 4: obviously it took him a couple of years to kind

288
00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:51,160
Speaker 4: of figure it out, and I think he has. And

289
00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,240
Speaker 4: so if you can match the play that we've seen

290
00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:57,840
Speaker 4: from Kyler Murray at an even higher level now in

291
00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,840
Speaker 4: year two with Drew Petsing now fully healthy with elevated

292
00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,240
Speaker 4: weapons around him, but also that leadership that we see

293
00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,800
Speaker 4: off the field demonstrated throughout this season, then you mentioned

294
00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,880
Speaker 4: Skuy being the limit for Kyler and reason why you know,

295
00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,800
Speaker 4: Judy Battista in our NFL dot Com would call him

296
00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:15,560
Speaker 4: a dark horse MVP ca endidate.

297
00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:17,880
Speaker 1: Year six for him talking about Kyler and he is

298
00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,040
Speaker 1: now the oldest quarterback in that room.

299
00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,800
Speaker 3: It's incredible because I feel like we've looked at it

300
00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,040
Speaker 3: as like Kyler Murray is still this young guy. We

301
00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,640
Speaker 3: still talk about being the number one overall pick, and

302
00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,560
Speaker 3: now he's become the veteran. And there aren't many Matt

303
00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:32,440
Speaker 3: praterers in the league where you know, they've been in

304
00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:36,720
Speaker 3: the league for eighteen plus years and they established themselves.

305
00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,520
Speaker 3: But Kyler Murray year six, it seems like a different

306
00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,920
Speaker 3: Kyler Murray. You talked a little bit about how he's

307
00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,520
Speaker 3: assumed the more of that leadership role. How much of

308
00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,480
Speaker 3: an impact do you think these off the field, off

309
00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,960
Speaker 3: campus interactions that he's had with his teammates can truly

310
00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,400
Speaker 3: make on us on any given sundays.

311
00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:57,600
Speaker 4: Yeah, well, I think significant. I think that's where when

312
00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:01,440
Speaker 4: you get into those tough moments the fourth quarter and

313
00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:03,880
Speaker 4: you're down, you know, and you look into the eyes

314
00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,600
Speaker 4: of your teammates and they kind of draw upon, you know,

315
00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:09,240
Speaker 4: their friendship, the strength of that to you know, have

316
00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,440
Speaker 4: inspired play, And I think that stuff matters because you know,

317
00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:14,200
Speaker 4: we see throughout the league for the most part, the

318
00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,120
Speaker 4: talent is the NFL is set up for the parody.

319
00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:21,800
Speaker 4: The talent is is, you know, with few exceptions, pretty

320
00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,080
Speaker 4: similar when you go from one to fifty three on

321
00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:29,720
Speaker 4: any given roster, and it's those differences that off season work,

322
00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,560
Speaker 4: that the camaraderie, the chemistry that can make a difference

323
00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:34,920
Speaker 4: in the fourth quarter. Now you look at like the

324
00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:37,560
Speaker 4: forty nine ers with they have CMC and Deebo and

325
00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,920
Speaker 4: Ayuk and kid. Of course that's a different story. They

326
00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,320
Speaker 4: have so much talent there, but by and large, for

327
00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,480
Speaker 4: the most part, it is those little things that the

328
00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,840
Speaker 4: details that Jonathan Gannon talked about in his introductory press

329
00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:52,040
Speaker 4: conference for training camp that make a difference that we

330
00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:53,200
Speaker 4: could see on Sundays.

331
00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:57,160
Speaker 1: I brought up back together weekend before we dive further

332
00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,120
Speaker 1: into the Cardinals and maybe some of the unknown some

333
00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:02,560
Speaker 1: of those question marks, especially on defense. But your coverage

334
00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:06,280
Speaker 1: NFL network and your specific role, I thought it's important

335
00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,399
Speaker 1: that we have you on here on Cardinals Cover two

336
00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,520
Speaker 1: presented by Hyundai, proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals. Is

337
00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:15,680
Speaker 1: because coming up on Sunday, you'll be anchoring coverage from

338
00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:19,400
Speaker 1: here at State Farm Stadium beginning what time on Sunday.

339
00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:23,280
Speaker 4: Good question. I'm still waiting to see you know, my my,

340
00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:26,080
Speaker 4: you know, I start at the forty nine ers tomorrow

341
00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,400
Speaker 4: and the new Back Together Weekend for the forty nine

342
00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,680
Speaker 4: ers on Saturday, and then come here on Sunday. So

343
00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,600
Speaker 4: I haven't gotten my call sheet, but we are wall

344
00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:39,280
Speaker 4: to wall Saturday and Sunday, seven am to seven pm

345
00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,480
Speaker 4: across the league and not just on NFL network, ESPN, ABC,

346
00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:48,480
Speaker 4: NFL Plus, hitting all thirty two teams and you know,

347
00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,560
Speaker 4: Back Together Weekend, you know, is exactly that, so kind

348
00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,960
Speaker 4: of highlighting, you know, the opening of camp, back back

349
00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,000
Speaker 4: to football. And then on Monday we start inside Training

350
00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:59,760
Speaker 4: Camp Live, which is also a lot of fun. And

351
00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,320
Speaker 4: we'll be here on Thursday, August first hosting from the

352
00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,760
Speaker 4: Cardinals as well. So a lot of Cardinals coverage I

353
00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:09,120
Speaker 4: think is an indication that you know, there is elevated

354
00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:13,119
Speaker 4: expectations for them, that the storylines from here will be

355
00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:17,280
Speaker 4: interesting and fascinating as it unfolds, but specifically on Sunday,

356
00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,239
Speaker 4: excited to see you know, the season ticket holders you

357
00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:23,639
Speaker 4: know here and and you know fans in the in

358
00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:27,080
Speaker 4: the stands just elevates the intensity and I don't think

359
00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,879
Speaker 4: the players can help responding to that, and so to

360
00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:33,320
Speaker 4: hear that, you know, behind our coverage and and have

361
00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:35,600
Speaker 4: have a lot of fun, you know in doing that

362
00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:37,280
Speaker 4: is as much as we talk about x's and o's

363
00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:39,480
Speaker 4: and everything, and you know, obviously football is fun for us,

364
00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,439
Speaker 4: and we'll hope to show that on Sunday.

365
00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,119
Speaker 1: And there's also an additional programming note on Monday, because

366
00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:49,199
Speaker 1: Good Morning Football returns first thing Monday morning, and I

367
00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,960
Speaker 1: for one, have been missing it. I know sometimes in

368
00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,280
Speaker 1: the off season it can become a little bit of

369
00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,560
Speaker 1: a challenge to find content. But a brand new not

370
00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,639
Speaker 1: a brand new crew, but for Fay is three of

371
00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,719
Speaker 1: them familiar are back and your are going to be

372
00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,080
Speaker 1: probably involved in that as well, at least some capacity.

373
00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:08,600
Speaker 4: I would imagine. Yeah, I think they'll get you know,

374
00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,240
Speaker 4: us reporters in a little more often now that it's

375
00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,560
Speaker 4: on the West Coast, and you know, I think it'll

376
00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,960
Speaker 4: start at five am our time instead of the traditional

377
00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,199
Speaker 4: four am, and then they'll have the rerun that airs,

378
00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,320
Speaker 4: and that's usually the version that we watch, is the rerun,

379
00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:29,680
Speaker 4: and and to have the Good Morning Football overtime syndicated

380
00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:32,680
Speaker 4: version which will show up on local stations throughout the country.

381
00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:36,080
Speaker 4: Will be another added element to the Good Morning Football brand.

382
00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:38,800
Speaker 4: So not only can you catch it on NFL Network,

383
00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:40,560
Speaker 4: but if you miss it on NFL Network, then you

384
00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,840
Speaker 4: can see another version on you know, your one of

385
00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:47,640
Speaker 4: your local stations. And to have Acbar by jah Bia

386
00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,760
Speaker 4: Milla you know, returned to NFL Network, you know, after

387
00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:52,960
Speaker 4: he's done so much with the American Ninja Warrior and

388
00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:57,480
Speaker 4: really developed a television personality on his role on the

389
00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:59,800
Speaker 4: talk you know, so have him kind of come home

390
00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:03,119
Speaker 4: and to talk football. And then Sherry Burris is coming

391
00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:06,280
Speaker 4: out to Los Angeles along with the rest of the crew, Jamie,

392
00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,760
Speaker 4: Kyle and and Peter like you mentioned, you know, the

393
00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:12,040
Speaker 4: returning faces. It's it's gonna be a fun show. They're

394
00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,240
Speaker 4: hoping to highlight that. And it'll be in the big,

395
00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,760
Speaker 4: you know, brand new LA facility that we've had there

396
00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,560
Speaker 4: for a couple of years, you know, right across the

397
00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,359
Speaker 4: street from Sofi Stadium. So a lot of to be

398
00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,720
Speaker 4: excite excited about here for the season, not only for

399
00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:26,679
Speaker 4: the Cardinals and for the football on the field, but

400
00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:28,080
Speaker 4: for us at the NFL Network.

401
00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:29,960
Speaker 3: Let's feel back to Curtin for a second, because I

402
00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,360
Speaker 3: think you have such a unique perspective of yes, you're

403
00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,439
Speaker 3: here and Glendale right now covering the Arizona Cardinals, but

404
00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:37,520
Speaker 3: you've got to you've got to see so many different

405
00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:42,359
Speaker 3: NFL facilities fan bases. What do you enjoy most about

406
00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:45,520
Speaker 3: the job that you do and what makes Arizona unique

407
00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:46,600
Speaker 3: and the coverage.

408
00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:50,040
Speaker 4: That you have. H It's a good question. Well, first

409
00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:54,200
Speaker 4: I'll start with the Cardinals. I think the fan base here.

410
00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:58,640
Speaker 4: I always appreciate the fan bases that you know, it's

411
00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:00,520
Speaker 4: been a few years since, you know, they want a

412
00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:05,000
Speaker 4: playoff game, and and uh but the but the atmosphere

413
00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,720
Speaker 4: on a game day, and and the noise that the

414
00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:12,480
Speaker 4: fans rally behind their team for I appreciate that. And

415
00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,320
Speaker 4: and you know, I think we've all been here in

416
00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:16,159
Speaker 4: the fourth quarter and this place is rocking and you

417
00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,919
Speaker 4: can't hear yourself and it's one of those type of

418
00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,479
Speaker 4: environments that probably doesn't get talked enough and and you

419
00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:28,120
Speaker 4: probably have to see that as as the national perspective

420
00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:29,679
Speaker 4: in a playoff game, you know, to really get those

421
00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,000
Speaker 4: highlights and you think back to the classic you know,

422
00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,200
Speaker 4: Kurt Warner runs and in the playoffs and and UH

423
00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,680
Speaker 4: and the uh the game with Aaron Rodgers and the

424
00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,919
Speaker 4: too Hail Mary's and the Larry Fitzgerald over time, you know,

425
00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,560
Speaker 4: shuttle touchdown. Those kind of things are kind of what

426
00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:48,920
Speaker 4: captures the nation's attention. And then the other questions.

427
00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,159
Speaker 3: About covering what what's your favorite part about covering this

428
00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,280
Speaker 3: job because you have such a unique perspective of you

429
00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:55,960
Speaker 3: get to interact with so many different coaches and gms

430
00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,280
Speaker 3: and Hall of famers. You got to be living the dream.

431
00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:00,919
Speaker 4: Yeah, I said, it's the pe you know. And that

432
00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:05,240
Speaker 4: was the thing that I most especially noted about my

433
00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:07,800
Speaker 4: job during the pandemic when we were doing everything from home,

434
00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,199
Speaker 4: but we were missing all these interactions, you know, like

435
00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:13,240
Speaker 4: being here with you guys and hanging out and and

436
00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,200
Speaker 4: you know, the ladies that let you into the building

437
00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:21,840
Speaker 4: and having those conversations with you know, everybody that you

438
00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,760
Speaker 4: meet in the NFL, and just building those relationships that

439
00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:29,720
Speaker 4: were truly missed when we weren't out in person at places.

440
00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:33,520
Speaker 4: And so that really highlighted for me the unique part

441
00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,840
Speaker 4: of my job is that the people, the relationships. Because

442
00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:39,720
Speaker 4: if I didn't have this job, I would still be

443
00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,639
Speaker 4: a football fan. I would still watch games, and I

444
00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:46,399
Speaker 4: would study the stats, and and i'd go watch training

445
00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:48,600
Speaker 4: camp practices. I may not be on the sidelines, but

446
00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:50,119
Speaker 4: you know, I'd still be there as a fan. But

447
00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:52,320
Speaker 4: the part about my job that I love the most

448
00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:54,000
Speaker 4: is the connection that I have with the people that

449
00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,160
Speaker 4: I get to meet. Whether it's you know, fellow media

450
00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:59,720
Speaker 4: members like yourselves, whether it's you know, fans that you

451
00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,520
Speaker 4: meet training camp. Obviously, the players and the coaches and

452
00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:06,400
Speaker 4: the gms, they build relationships with all of it is

453
00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:07,960
Speaker 4: the highlight of my job.

454
00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:10,240
Speaker 1: I'd say, before we let you go, and certainly do

455
00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:14,080
Speaker 1: appreciate your time here before you head off to San Francisco.

456
00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:17,160
Speaker 1: And then again the back together weekend your schedule Saturday

457
00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:20,560
Speaker 1: in San Francisco's Sunday here at State Farm Stadium. But

458
00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:24,440
Speaker 1: I mentioned earlier the questions that not only we locally,

459
00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:26,479
Speaker 1: but I think nationally, and I think they are fair questions.

460
00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,880
Speaker 1: With the Cardinals, and that's concerning the defense, there were

461
00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,040
Speaker 1: several upgrades on that front seven, but there are question

462
00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:34,680
Speaker 1: marks on the back end and how those pieces fit

463
00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,320
Speaker 1: together for what Nick Rollis wants to do defensively, if

464
00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:42,000
Speaker 1: the defense can level up its game, and obviously there's

465
00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:46,240
Speaker 1: high expectations for the offensive side, but defensively, what have

466
00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:51,520
Speaker 1: you obviously read, heard and seen from what potentially could

467
00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:53,639
Speaker 1: be well needs to be a much improved defense from

468
00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:54,120
Speaker 1: a year ago.

469
00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:58,600
Speaker 4: Yeah, my big question mark is how the secondary comes together.

470
00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:02,280
Speaker 4: I think rush will will continue to be a question mark,

471
00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,439
Speaker 4: you know. Frankly, I think you know, Zavid Collins, you know,

472
00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:06,679
Speaker 4: I think will be a presence there and and that

473
00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:10,320
Speaker 4: you mentioned the defensive improvements. I don't know if there's

474
00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:14,280
Speaker 4: enough firepower for them to you know, be a top

475
00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,960
Speaker 4: five sacks type of team. I think it's just gonna

476
00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:18,760
Speaker 4: is what it is. But so I think that place

477
00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:22,120
Speaker 4: is an extra importance on how good the secondary can

478
00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:24,240
Speaker 4: be because that is a unit where a lot of

479
00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:27,600
Speaker 4: young faces got significant snaps last year. How they develop

480
00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:30,560
Speaker 4: and you hear Jonathan Gannon talk about, you know, the

481
00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:35,080
Speaker 4: development of players and that's importance to their system. And

482
00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:37,560
Speaker 4: to see that here in year two I think will

483
00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:41,359
Speaker 4: be very telling of this young secondary. And to add

484
00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:43,600
Speaker 4: a guy like Max Melton, who we heard from earlier

485
00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,600
Speaker 4: in the week, what a dynamic personality he is and

486
00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,919
Speaker 4: and you know, you talk about the expectations from himself.

487
00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:52,280
Speaker 4: He said I'm a dog and you know that's what

488
00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:54,919
Speaker 4: you know, JG and Monty Austin for want, you know,

489
00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:56,600
Speaker 4: for that secondary. So if they can get a bunch

490
00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,240
Speaker 4: of dogs back there and and Sean Murphy bunting, you know,

491
00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:01,800
Speaker 4: the super Bowl experience that he has, if that unit

492
00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,480
Speaker 4: can come together, then I think that could be a

493
00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:07,800
Speaker 4: sign that this defense could come together. And you know,

494
00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:11,199
Speaker 4: you think about a defensive minded head coach, you know,

495
00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:13,960
Speaker 4: the defense obviously is gonna be his pride and joy,

496
00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:17,119
Speaker 4: and I think all of the things that he preaches

497
00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:19,840
Speaker 4: and the process and all of that, I think it's

498
00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:23,000
Speaker 4: exciting to see how that comes to fruition with that

499
00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:26,000
Speaker 4: young secondary and how the defense comes together. Given all

500
00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:26,960
Speaker 4: those notes.

501
00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:31,000
Speaker 1: Leave us with this, how what of a challenge? How

502
00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:34,840
Speaker 1: competitive do you expect the NFC West to be this season?

503
00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:37,439
Speaker 4: Oh? Significantly, I think it'll be. I think the Cardinals

504
00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,000
Speaker 4: are going to surprise people. You know, I think you know,

505
00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:43,280
Speaker 4: obviously we are close to it and study it for

506
00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:46,199
Speaker 4: a living. We have all these pathways, you know that.

507
00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:48,120
Speaker 4: I think the Cardinals can be good. But I think

508
00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,359
Speaker 4: the Rams are going to be even better than they

509
00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:52,639
Speaker 4: were last year, and they're a playoff team because you know,

510
00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:56,040
Speaker 4: they had that development in twenty twenty two when Aaron

511
00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,400
Speaker 4: Donald was hurt and Stafford was hurt and Cooper Cup

512
00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:01,119
Speaker 4: was hurt, and they had that down after the Super Bowl,

513
00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:05,120
Speaker 4: but so many young players played significant snaps through those

514
00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,800
Speaker 4: losses and then they develop and became a playoff team

515
00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:09,800
Speaker 4: in twenty three. And you look at the Cardinals, I

516
00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:12,200
Speaker 4: think they can have a similar type of growth from

517
00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:13,800
Speaker 4: one year to the next. So I think the Rams

518
00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,520
Speaker 4: will be better because now those guys that were young

519
00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:18,920
Speaker 4: in twenty two are now in their thirty year and

520
00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:21,560
Speaker 4: have that much more confidence. And then I think the Seahawks,

521
00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,199
Speaker 4: if I think their defense will be improved with Mike

522
00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:26,680
Speaker 4: McDonald defensive minded head coach, but if they can get

523
00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:30,359
Speaker 4: the production from their often so many talented players there

524
00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:32,800
Speaker 4: still skill level wise, and if Gino can bounce back

525
00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:35,840
Speaker 4: Ryan Grubb. We saw how explosive that University of Washington

526
00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,440
Speaker 4: offense was going to the National Championship Game last year,

527
00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:41,359
Speaker 4: and then two top ten picks from that offense and

528
00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,879
Speaker 4: Michael Pennix junior and romadoonse you know, so if he

529
00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:48,600
Speaker 4: can translate that offensively, I think the Seahawks will be

530
00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,760
Speaker 4: even tougher, and then I think forty nine ers kind

531
00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:54,600
Speaker 4: of go without saying how good they can be. So yeah,

532
00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:56,760
Speaker 4: given all those reasons, I think the NFC West can

533
00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,199
Speaker 4: be as competitive as any division in football, and I

534
00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:01,560
Speaker 4: think it will be, you know, given how good I think,

535
00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:03,359
Speaker 4: you know, the Cardinals can be this season.

536
00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:06,040
Speaker 1: Very much. Looking forward to the season, looking forward to

537
00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,240
Speaker 1: this weekend. Back Together Weekend on the NFL Network Saturday

538
00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:11,560
Speaker 1: and Sunday, and of course the Cardinals will be highlighted

539
00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:15,480
Speaker 1: on Sunday by you, Omar Ruiz. Appreciate your time and

540
00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:17,960
Speaker 1: enjoy San Francisco, but we look forward to seeing you

541
00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:21,119
Speaker 1: here back in the in the valley on Sunday.

542
00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,520
Speaker 4: Yeah, I can't wait. Guys, Thanks for having me, and yeah,

543
00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:25,240
Speaker 4: look forward to seeing you throughout the season.

544
00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:29,000
Speaker 1: Really appreciate the time Omar was able to give to

545
00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:31,560
Speaker 1: us before he headed out to San Francisco to be

546
00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:34,359
Speaker 1: with the forty nine ers on Saturday. And again he'll

547
00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:37,399
Speaker 1: be back here in Arizona. Calls Arizona home, but he

548
00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:41,160
Speaker 1: will be helping anchor the network's coverage Back Together weekend

549
00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:44,120
Speaker 1: on Sunday. When the Cardinals do practice, they are off

550
00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:48,080
Speaker 1: on Saturday and This is something that the NFL started

551
00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:51,600
Speaker 1: with a handful of years ago, in which basically one

552
00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,600
Speaker 1: of the two days, and sometimes both days, you're gonna

553
00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:58,359
Speaker 1: have a team practice and you basically turn on NFL

554
00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,840
Speaker 1: Network or your turn on esp or you stream everything

555
00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,399
Speaker 1: and you can sit from early in the morning to

556
00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:09,280
Speaker 1: late in the afternoon and catch every single team Saturday

557
00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:09,920
Speaker 1: and Sunday.

558
00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:13,280
Speaker 3: It's so much fun. It's like an NFL like red Zone,

559
00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:14,800
Speaker 3: just how you have like Sky Hansen and all the

560
00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,920
Speaker 3: different sort of games going on. In this case, it's practice.

561
00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:19,560
Speaker 3: And I know that a lot of people don't get

562
00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,800
Speaker 3: to see what practice is like on a daily basis.

563
00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,560
Speaker 3: This is a good glimpse as to seeing how the

564
00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,800
Speaker 3: teams work on the fundamentals. They are doing all the

565
00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,359
Speaker 3: things that appear to be so simple but are so

566
00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,199
Speaker 3: crucial and critical to success on game days. And I

567
00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:38,800
Speaker 3: think it's a testament to the continued success both nationally

568
00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:41,760
Speaker 3: and locally that the Arizona Cardinals have had the respect

569
00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,160
Speaker 3: that they're beginning to earn, because we know that it

570
00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:46,960
Speaker 3: wasn't at the level that you know, the organization would

571
00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:49,600
Speaker 3: have hoped for. Now it's starting to change. The NFL

572
00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:52,320
Speaker 3: is starting to see it. The National Football League fandom,

573
00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:54,680
Speaker 3: the entire fan base is starting to see it. And

574
00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:56,400
Speaker 3: the Bird Gang with the way that we've seen them

575
00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:00,200
Speaker 3: show up to the first training camp practice on Thursday,

576
00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:02,960
Speaker 3: the way that's going to be on Friday, they're definitely

577
00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:04,240
Speaker 3: rallying around this team.

578
00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:08,959
Speaker 1: And slowly but surely, you are seeing the national media

579
00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,760
Speaker 1: catch up to what we have seen, what we believe

580
00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:16,240
Speaker 1: that this team has the potential to be. Now, you

581
00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:19,280
Speaker 1: got to play the games, but Kyle the Murray's healthy,

582
00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:22,560
Speaker 1: you got James Connor coming back, Trey McBride a full

583
00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,840
Speaker 1: season as you're tied in. Oh yeah, Marvin Harrison Junior

584
00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:29,920
Speaker 1: added as wide receiver one, and then the upgrades along

585
00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:35,000
Speaker 1: the defensive line and the competition at cornerback. That's the

586
00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:38,320
Speaker 1: one question. And of course, as Omar mentioned, another big

587
00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:41,240
Speaker 1: question is just that defense overall, as far as pressuring

588
00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:42,200
Speaker 1: the opposing quarterback.

589
00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:45,800
Speaker 3: Yeah, there's so many factors that make this training camp

590
00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:48,600
Speaker 3: so much more different than the twenty twenty three training camp.

591
00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,440
Speaker 3: To have a Kyler Murray out there to see the tempo.

592
00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:56,680
Speaker 3: I think we have the whole conversation with JG about momentum,

593
00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,520
Speaker 3: but I think it's more so not about the momentum

594
00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:01,760
Speaker 3: going from last year to this year and if it

595
00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,760
Speaker 3: will have if it will translate to wins and losses.

596
00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:08,120
Speaker 3: But this team saw that the formula work, that they competed,

597
00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:11,120
Speaker 3: and that they put out a good product onto the field.

598
00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,440
Speaker 3: Now it didn't always translate into the wins that they

599
00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:17,120
Speaker 3: would have hoped for. But it starts in days like today.

600
00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:20,200
Speaker 3: It starts on football Fridays, when when you start to

601
00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:22,680
Speaker 3: see that in off days coming up on Saturday, how

602
00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:25,240
Speaker 3: do you make the most of your Friday in training camp?

603
00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,719
Speaker 3: Day number three, day number four, whatever it is. Already

604
00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:30,800
Speaker 3: all the days are starting to mission together with training camp.

605
00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:33,560
Speaker 3: But it's an exciting time. And yeah, the league is

606
00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:37,160
Speaker 3: starting to catch up to what the local outlets and

607
00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,440
Speaker 3: what the fan base has already known, and that this

608
00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:41,120
Speaker 3: team could be quite dangerous.

609
00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:44,000
Speaker 1: Three days and a training camp. The Cardinals will take

610
00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:48,120
Speaker 1: Saturday off and then Sunday the first full week of

611
00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:52,600
Speaker 1: practices and the first padded practice is scheduled for Monday,

612
00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:55,240
Speaker 1: July twenty ninth, And I do think that is a

613
00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:58,800
Speaker 1: day that a lot of coaches, fans, maybe even some

614
00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:02,680
Speaker 1: players have circle because that's when all right now we

615
00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,640
Speaker 1: get to hit. Now there's some contact. Now, how do

616
00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:08,440
Speaker 1: you look? How do you work? And how do you

617
00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:11,200
Speaker 1: respond when someone is coming after you with the pads on?

618
00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:12,160
Speaker 1: I mean, think about.

619
00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:14,960
Speaker 3: There's so many times that we've asked Johnathan gannon questions

620
00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,000
Speaker 3: about a player or an improvement, like we asked him

621
00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:20,760
Speaker 3: about Darius Robinson and the pass rush if there's been

622
00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:23,080
Speaker 3: improvement from the tape in college to where he is

623
00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:26,200
Speaker 3: right now, And you truly can't fully tell until they

624
00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:29,360
Speaker 3: do put on the pads. That's when the sport changes.

625
00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:33,280
Speaker 3: You're working on the fundamentals, you're working on your your lineup,

626
00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:35,760
Speaker 3: how you what type of formations you want to line

627
00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,120
Speaker 3: up in. But once the pads come on, it's a

628
00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:40,520
Speaker 3: different beast out there. We're gonna see a lot of

629
00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:43,560
Speaker 3: players that may might have shined here, might not have

630
00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,760
Speaker 3: shined in the early portion, that are going to take

631
00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:48,000
Speaker 3: a leap or might take a step back once the

632
00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,720
Speaker 3: pads come on, because, as we just alluded to, it's

633
00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:52,920
Speaker 3: a different it's a different game when the pads come on.

634
00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:55,000
Speaker 1: Good work, sech, good stuff.

635
00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,880
Speaker 3: What I do? Oh you know, I just try to

636
00:31:57,880 --> 00:31:58,680
Speaker 3: be like Craig Relo.

637
00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:01,360
Speaker 1: By the way, you can take Saturday off.

638
00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,120
Speaker 3: You know what, because you're giving me Saturday off, you

639
00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:05,240
Speaker 3: could take Saturday off.

640
00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:08,680
Speaker 1: How about everyone take Saturday off and just catch up

641
00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:11,240
Speaker 1: on everything, catch up on past episodes of Cardinals, cover

642
00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:11,600
Speaker 1: to it.

643
00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:13,800
Speaker 3: And read some of the past articles as well on

644
00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:17,840
Speaker 3: Azycardinals dot Com. Look at us, Craig Relo, Unplanned and

645
00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:20,000
Speaker 3: we are always promoting the brand.

646
00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:22,680
Speaker 1: By the way open practices. You want the latest on

647
00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:24,720
Speaker 1: the schedule and the ability to come out to State

648
00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:29,400
Speaker 1: Farm Stadium to see the Cardinals. Azcardinals dot com, Azycardinals

649
00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:33,000
Speaker 1: dot Com Forward slash Camp tiics that is Azycardinals dot

650
00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:37,840
Speaker 1: Com Forward Slash Camp ti x Cardinals again, a handful

651
00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:41,480
Speaker 1: of open practices left before they break camp ahead of

652
00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:44,800
Speaker 1: that first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. And

653
00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:46,560
Speaker 1: on that note, we will put a lid on this

654
00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:49,600
Speaker 1: edition of Cardinals Cover two presented by Hyundai, proudly partner

655
00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:52,360
Speaker 1: of the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our

656
00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:56,040
Speaker 1: executive producer Jim Mamhudre, our associate producer Cody Fincher for

657
00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:58,240
Speaker 1: Zach Gershman, I'm Greg Real lou Well. Talk to you

658
00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:01,160
Speaker 1: next time you're on cardinals covered time you