1 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: Welcome Bird Gang on today's show. Third down always a 2 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: key stat but to be successful on third down, it's 3 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: often what teams do on first and second down, and 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: on Sunday Cardinals needed to be better on those earlier 5 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: downs and that goes with the defense as well. At 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: side of the ball is not without blame. Here some 7 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: other leftovers from Sunday's Action plus at six and six. 8 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: What is the Cardinals playoff outlook heading into week fourteen? 9 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: It's Cardinals Cover two, Episode three sixty six, and it 10 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: starts now. Welcome to Cardinals Cover two with Craig Grigolu 11 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: and Mike jarecki. Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyunday, 12 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 1: proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts. 13 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: Visit Easy Cardinals dot com Slash podcasts. Murray rolls to 14 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:58,959 Speaker 1: the right throws near site offense Bob pen He's into 15 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: the ends off for the touch down. Here's Craig Grielou 16 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: and Mike Jareckie. It has happened before, but not in 17 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 1: the regular season. State Farm Stadium has hosted two Super 18 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: Bowls and will host another one coming up in a 19 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: couple of years. But last night, Monday Night football, the 20 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: first time that two teams not named the Arizona Cardinals 21 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: played at State Farm Stadium, and it was a little 22 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: bit odd weird. You turned on the TVMJ and you're like, 23 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: wait a second, I'm not there. I should be there. 24 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: I've been there every single Sunday, and yet you're sitting 25 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 1: on the couch watching two teams in your building. Although 26 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: that's you know, probably more of a coaching and players situation, 27 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: but we all understand why. Just just just a little 28 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: odd for me. But that is twenty twenty, as they say, 29 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: in a nutshell. You know, when the Niners announced that 30 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 1: they were gonna obviously get an opportunity to play in Arizona, 31 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: you know, you're, all right, the Bill's got to come 32 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: back here and they're only lost in the less six 33 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: games is the Hell Mary Pass, Hell Murray Pass. And 34 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: then you know, from then they're hosting the Niners, are 35 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: hosting the Washington football team, and they're here in week two. 36 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 1: So it's this kind of interesting where two teams, the 37 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: Bills and the Washington football team are going to come 38 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: back here for the second time, and obviously the results 39 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: were different, and I just like with Josh Allen's at 40 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: Craig You know, I thought he's probably his best game 41 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: as a pro. He's been in the system now for 42 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: three years with Brian Dable and I'm a big Robert 43 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: Sale fan, the defensive coordinator, and going to that game 44 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: there were fourth overall in past defense and Richard Sherman 45 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: got abuse last night. Yeah, we'll get into the nuts 46 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: and bolts. Thirty four twenty four the final, the Bills 47 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: beat the forty nine Ers. But on this topic of 48 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: what the Arizona Cardinals have done, and Peter King wrote 49 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: about it in his Football Morning in America column and 50 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: then talked about it as well on his weekly podcast 51 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: because he had a chance to talk with forty nine 52 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 1: Ers general manager John Lynch, and it is what is 53 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: going on behind the scenes that the Arizona Cardinals have done. 54 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: Not only are the Cardinals in the midst of a 55 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: playoff race, the forty nine Ers are as well. You 56 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: occupy the same division, your quote unquote rivals. Yet here 57 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,239 Speaker 1: is something that you go out of your way for 58 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: the Cardinals to make your opponent feel welcome in your backyard. 59 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: Here's John Lynch the quote he gave to Peter King 60 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: about what the Cardinals have done. Quote, my respect for 61 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: Michael Bidwell was already immense were division rivals and the 62 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: thick of this playoff thing, but what he's done incredible. 63 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: The first day we were here, I wanted to go 64 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: walk the practice field and see how it was. It's 65 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: like seven to fifteen am, and their groundskeeper card sports 66 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: turf manager Andy Levey is on his knees there with 67 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: two other people putting in our goal posts and they 68 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: had practice that day. I said, to take care of 69 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: your own team. We'll figure this out, Andy said. Mister 70 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: Bidwell said, treat you guys like you're our team, and 71 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: then Lynch finished off kind of heartwarming, and that is 72 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 1: exactly what this is because when times are tough and 73 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: you need to help someone else, and I hope we 74 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: see more of it throughout our world, but the Arizona Cardinals. 75 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: And that's just not me as a Homer or an 76 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: employee or anyone that is with the Arizona Cardinals organization. 77 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: I am proud of what this franchise has done in 78 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: the midst of a pandemic and continues to do, not 79 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: only here in the backyard of the Arizona Cardinals in 80 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: their own community, but extending that out to the rest 81 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: of the National Football League. Yeah, and you know, when 82 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: it comes to the ownerships of all thirty two clubs, 83 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: it's like a fraternity. And you know, you obviously they're 84 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: in the same division US, but this is bigger than that, 85 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 1: you know, allowing them to come here and finish out 86 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: their season. You know, we'll see what happens in January, 87 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: because you know, obviously they had a move here because 88 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: they weren't allowed to play there. So yeah, it's just 89 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: a fraternity. And I'm with you. I mean, you know, 90 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: us getting a chance to work there the last couple 91 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: of years, you know, with everything going on with COVID 92 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: and how they've taken care of us, and we get 93 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: tested once a week. Yeah, it's just it's nice to 94 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: see and it's nice to see people get recognized and 95 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: he does a great job. You know, we're at the 96 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 1: stadium today and the fields outside, and they were showing 97 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: last night. You know, the Cardinals played the day before 98 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: and then they were showing the game last night, and 99 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: they did a good job. I didn't see any slippage, 100 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: But again, I mean that that's what you're supposed to do. 101 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: And when I say that, you help somebody out. And 102 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: it's not about competition at this point. You're trying to 103 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: get through because if it happened to us, you would 104 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: hope somebody would do that. For the years on the Cardinals. 105 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: Forty nine ers will have one more game at least 106 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 1: at least a home game here at State Farm Stadium. 107 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 1: That's next week against Washington. They do play the Cardinals 108 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: quote unquote on the road December twenty six, and then 109 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: there's that possibility of another home game at State Farm 110 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: Stadium for the forty nine ers that last weekend January third, 111 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 1: when they'll host the Seattle Seahawks. So we know of 112 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 1: at least two games home games, and then there's that 113 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: quote unquote road game against the Cardinals. So three games 114 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: at State Farm Stadium most likely though, four games at 115 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: State Farm Stadium to close out the season. Yeah, so 116 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 1: Seattle's coming back here again. Yeah, that's true. Yeah, everyone 117 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: just returns. It's like an open invitation everyone come to 118 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: State Farm Stadium in twenty twenty. All right, speaking of 119 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: State Farm Stadium, what we saw on Sunday with the 120 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Rams Bay, I don't want to see the 121 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,679 Speaker 1: Rams back at State Farm Stadium. I'll just be honest 122 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: with everyone. Thirty eight twenty eight. We spent a lot 123 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: of time on Monday talking about what did not happen 124 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 1: for the offense. And before we put that topic to bed, 125 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: there is another series of questions with this offense with 126 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: respect to third down. And you hear it all the time. 127 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: Third down is the money down. You got to be 128 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: able to convert on third down to extend drives, to 129 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: move the chains, to get to the other side of 130 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: the field, to score points. And this Cardinals team in 131 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: the last couple of weeks is not getting the job 132 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: done on third down. On Sunday, they were just four 133 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: of twelve on third down against the Rams, and all 134 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: four of those conversions happened in the second half. But 135 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: it's been a trend. Now in the last five games, 136 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: the Cardinals are converting on third down less than forty 137 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: two percent of the time. They were about forty four 138 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: percents through Week seven when this offense was on a roll. So, yeah, 139 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: it comes down to third down, so you can stay 140 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: on the football field. Yeah, and you know, Justin Pugh 141 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: got a chance to talk to the media, and you 142 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: know the Cardinals started off good. I thought they were 143 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: able to move the ball. When you go four consecutive 144 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: possessions screen out, it's tough to get rhythm, it's to 145 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: get anything going. And at some point you got to 146 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: get a first down. And you know, some of those 147 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: possessions they were minus one yard and they really weren't 148 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: able to move with the football. So that has to change. 149 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: You can't afford three or four consecutives three and outs 150 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: because that puts you behind the eight ball. And it 151 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: starts early. Though it starts on first down, it starts 152 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: on second down. Because I even went back and looked 153 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: further as far as what are the Cardinals looking at 154 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: when they get to third down, and specifically against the Rams, 155 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 1: they were facing a lot of third and long, and 156 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: I consider long nine or more yards. I mean, that's 157 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: not quote unquote manageable. As they say, of the twelve 158 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: third downs the Cardinals faced, half six were nine yards 159 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 1: or more and they failed to convert on any of 160 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: those six. They were oh of six on third down 161 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: when they had to go nine or more yards to 162 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: move the chains. You're making it more difficult on yourself. 163 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: And if you're not successful on first and second down, 164 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: so all of a sudden, third down becomes that word, 165 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: quote unquote manageable. Yeah, and to me, you know, teams 166 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: are throwing the ball more on first and second down, 167 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: but again, you should be able to pick up a 168 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: first down if you get three plays. But when you're 169 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: in third and nine or third and eight more, it's 170 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 1: not a manageable down, it's more of a passing down, 171 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 1: and that at that point then you got to worry 172 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: about as a quarterback going to get hit. I think 173 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: he's gonna try to force a turn over there. So 174 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: you got to be in three third and three, three 175 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: third and four. Those are manageable downs. Now you have 176 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: an option to where you can run the ball or 177 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: you can throw it. When you're at third and eight more, 178 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: he probably gets a passing down. And then you know, 179 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 1: if you go three and out, you know you don't 180 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: take a lot of time off the clock. Your defense 181 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: is on the field for half the game. It seemed like, 182 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 1: if not more so, and that's what happened. I mean, 183 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: the Rams ran a ton of plays and they were 184 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: a time of possession was overwhelming, and I think time 185 00:09:57,840 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: of possession could be misleading. Is what you do when 186 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 1: you get the football and they were able to score points. 187 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: And you know, I thought the Cardinals came out in 188 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: the second half. I think Kyler Murray started getting rid 189 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: of the ball a little bit quicker. They did score 190 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: twenty one points in the second half, yes, and that 191 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: was something that should not be overlooked because this Rams 192 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: defense during the entire season has not allowed second half 193 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: touchdowns and only four point four points per game in 194 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: the second half, and here they scored twenty one. Now, 195 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: maybe those last seven points that final touchdown by Dan Arnold, 196 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: the game was out of rage. The Cardinals wanted to 197 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: put a nice bow at the end of that contest. 198 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,679 Speaker 1: But to your point, yes, those first two scores specifically 199 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: probably not sitting well right now with the Rams defense. No. 200 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:43,080 Speaker 1: In you know the Rams, you can make the case 201 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: and going. You know, I always do research before we 202 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: play the next opponent. They were ranked top five in 203 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: every single category on defense, and they have a new 204 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: coordinator and Brandy Staley. Obviously it starts with Aaron Donald 205 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,959 Speaker 1: and Michael Brocker's they got the the corner and Jalen 206 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: Ramsey and then Williams on the other side, he's playing 207 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: really well. And then you look at Hill, he's kind 208 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,079 Speaker 1: of a slot guy. So yeah, I mean, when you're 209 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: ranked in the top five and every single category, you 210 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,839 Speaker 1: could see why they're we're forcing some three and outs. 211 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: But to me, when you go four consecutive three and outs, 212 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: that's inexcusable. Yeah, it really puts not only the offense 213 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 1: behind the eight ball, but the defense as well. They 214 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 1: were on the field for almost twenty three minutes in 215 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: that first half, and almost thirty nine minutes for the 216 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: entire ball game, to where then all of a sudden 217 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: you look at the second half and the offense gets going, 218 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: but then the defense couldn't get off the field because 219 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: they couldn't get that stop after a Cardinal's score. And 220 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: we hear it a lot, at least I do when 221 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: you hear it in baseball, that quote unquote shut down 222 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: ending you score two, three, four runs, and then the 223 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: ononus comes on the pitcher the following half inning to 224 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: put up a goose egg zero points. So you as 225 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 1: an offense can get back in the dugout to get 226 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: up to bat and start maybe tacking on more runs. 227 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: And that's what did not happen in the second half 228 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: because the Cardinals scored to pull it within seventeen fourteen, 229 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden, the Rams won on 230 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: a nine play seventy five yard drive Jared Goff one 231 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: yard touchdown run. The lead back up to ten. Kenyan 232 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: Drake fourth quarter scores on a four yard touchdown run. 233 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: You pulled it within three twenty four twenty one. Rams 234 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: come back answer with a seven play seventy six yard 235 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: drive and all of a sudden, the deficit is ten. 236 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:33,559 Speaker 1: You can't have that happen and expect to be able 237 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: to quote unquote play that complimentary football. But that perhaps 238 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: second half set back by the defense, set up by 239 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 1: being on the field too much in the first half. Yeah, 240 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:48,439 Speaker 1: I mean the Rams ran eighty three offensive plays. Cardinals 241 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: ran sixty four, so that's nineteen more plays. And then 242 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: you look at time in possession in the first half 243 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: compared to the second half. There's a reason why they 244 00:12:57,520 --> 00:12:59,839 Speaker 1: were to pick up third downs. They were really good 245 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 1: at nine to fifteen on third and the Cardinals only 246 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: had four third down conversions. Again, when you go three 247 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 1: and out, that's going to affect your numbers over over 248 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: the course of the game. So that's going to get better. 249 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: And I'm sure, that's something we're working on. We talk 250 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,439 Speaker 1: about a fast start, especially against a good opponent. You 251 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: get a lead there and then next thing you know, 252 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 1: you look at the scoreboard and the game's out of reach. 253 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: You know, late in that or I should say, made 254 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: me the middle part of the fourth quarter Bird Gang. 255 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,319 Speaker 1: If you haven't already, well invite you to update to 256 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: the Lettust version of the Cardinals mobile app today. The 257 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: update features and all new redesign homescreen experience becausit as 258 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: Cardinals dot Com slash app for mores. We touch on 259 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: the defense because they were not without blame themselves on Sunday, 260 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: and it goes back to what we were talking about offensively, 261 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: and that is third down. Getting off the field on 262 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 1: third down. You touched on it nine of fifteen. The 263 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: Rams converted nine of their fifteen third downs, including six 264 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: of nine and the first half. You get off the 265 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 1: field on third down, then you're not on the field 266 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: defensively for almost twenty three minutes in the first half. 267 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: So this defense needs to be better getting the opponents 268 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: off the field, no matter how many times they're asked 269 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,439 Speaker 1: to do it, and no matter how long they might 270 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 1: have had the chance to rest if the offense goes 271 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: three and out. Yeah, and you know that's what we 272 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: talk about complimentary football. If the Cardinals can force some 273 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: three and outs on defense and you can possess the 274 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: ball and you go on some drives, that's complimentary football. 275 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: The defense makes a play and they give you good 276 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: field position and you score, that's complimentary football. We just 277 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: haven't seen that for the last three games. The nine 278 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: third downs the most allowed by a Cardinals defense this season, 279 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: and the sixty percent success rate the highest second highest 280 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: percentage allowed by the defense this season. But almost half 281 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: of those third down situations the Rams faced where third 282 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: and here's the word again, manageable four yards or less. 283 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:08,239 Speaker 1: The Rams were six of seven on those third downs 284 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: on Sunday, and that is once again going back to 285 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: being successful on first and second down. Yeah, as you 286 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: pointed out, I think it was yesterday, the Rams only 287 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: punted one time and that was in the first quarter 288 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: one time. So you look at the Rams, you know 289 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: they punt well. First of all, their first drive it 290 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: was down by downs, punt, touchdown, downs, touchdown, and a 291 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: half field goal touchdown, touchdown, missfield goal ending game. I 292 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: mean they had eleven possessions. The Cardinals had twelve possessions. Yeah, 293 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: it was certainly on occasion. The Rams made it look very, 294 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: very easy, and it's shown in just the numbers. And 295 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: then you look at the overall numbers during the past 296 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: five games for this defense, and because that's what we're 297 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: looking at this five game stretch in which the Cardinals 298 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: are one and four, they could do no wrong. It 299 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: seemed like through those first seven games heading into the 300 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: bye week, coming off the win against the Seahawks. It's 301 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: been those games since the bye week, and defensively, they 302 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: are allowing almost fifty one percent successful rates on third 303 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: down since Week seven, and that, I'm no is not 304 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: sitting well advanced Joseph because how many times do we 305 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: hear him say third down defense, scoring defense, and red 306 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 1: zone defense. Those are the three statistics he's paying attention to. 307 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: Yet over the last five games, fifty point eight percent 308 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: success on third down our opponents against too punch. I mean, 309 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: you gotta get somewhere between forty and forty three percent. 310 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: And you know, I know we're talking about you know, 311 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: a certain percentage, but yeah, I mean, you look at 312 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: the Cardinals possessions in the first half touchdown, punt, punt, punt, missfieldical. 313 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: They come out on that fifteen play drive seventy five yards, 314 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: you get a touchdown, punt, touchdown, fumble, interception, and then touchdown. 315 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: So again, you have to be able to move the 316 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 1: football in that first half knowing that they're they're going 317 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: to score points, and they scored what twenty four points 318 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 1: in the second half? Correct, Yeah, that's too much, jan 319 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: In As far as the big third down conversion that 320 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people are pointing to is 321 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 1: the third and eleven in which Gerald Evert had a 322 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: twenty two yard catch after Kenyan Drake had pulled the 323 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 1: Cardinals to within three twenty four twenty one with thirteen 324 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,159 Speaker 1: twenty one to play. However, got that wide open. I 325 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,400 Speaker 1: don't know, but a week ago, m J, we were 326 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: talking about a third and twelve, Cam Newton running for 327 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: the first down, sticks and in Isaiah Simmons with the 328 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: late hit, and all of a sudden, the Patriots are 329 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: in field goal range. They win the ball game by three. 330 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: This past week, it's third and eleven. When you have 331 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: that third and long, you have to be able to 332 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:51,959 Speaker 1: get off the field, and the Cardinals weren't a perfect 333 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: position to get off the field, put their offense back 334 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: on the field, and all of a sudden, you're down 335 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: three with the ball in the fourth quarter of a game. 336 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: What you've been thoroughly outplayed with a chance to steal 337 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,640 Speaker 1: a win against the Rams. Yeah, and that's the disappointing thing. 338 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: You know, we knew going in. You know, obviously Sean 339 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: Nickpace had the Cardinal's number, and I thought, you know, 340 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 1: this is the year. At this point in time, you 341 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 1: just hope to get a split because he lose the 342 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: first game. But they were coming off a loss. I mean, 343 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: they're still in contention to make the postseason. I mean, 344 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:26,199 Speaker 1: they're they're sitting you know where we start looking at 345 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:29,400 Speaker 1: what happens the last four games. But yeah, I mean 346 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: it was a golden opportunity. And you know, over the 347 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: last three weeks, the Cardinals offense ranks thirtieth in the NFL. 348 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: And you know, the Cardinals were averaging twenty nine point 349 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: three the first nine games. They're averaging twenty two. The 350 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: Cardinals were averaging three touchdowns at least in the first 351 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: nine games. Now they're averaging one point five. And Murray's 352 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 1: not running the way he was running earlier in the season. 353 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: Right now in the last three games, fifteen carries or 354 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: sixty one yards, which is probably like four or five 355 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 1: yards a pop. One more note on the defense and 356 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 1: another troubling trend. I want to get your take on this, 357 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: and that is how the first half of ball games 358 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:11,360 Speaker 1: are ending for the Cardinals. Too many times the defense 359 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 1: is on the field and allowing a score right before 360 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: they go into the locker room to try to think 361 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: about what they need to do in the second half 362 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: to either maintain the lead or come back and get 363 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: the w. The Rams on Sunday scored a touchdown with 364 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 1: fifty one seconds left to go to make it a 365 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: fourteen seven ball game. You look at that touchdown and 366 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: now opponents have scored in the final two minutes of 367 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: games eight times this season, four of those times touchdowns. 368 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 1: And it's just you know, and I know we make 369 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: fun of Kylo Dugard here because of the word momentum, 370 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: and you don't buy it. He doesn't buy it. But 371 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 1: I do think there's something to be said about that 372 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: possession right before you go into the locker room. Did 373 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: you score? Do you have something to be happy about? 374 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,120 Speaker 1: Can you hang your hat on something to go into 375 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: the locker room and come out into the second half 376 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: and build upon that. And too many times opponents are 377 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: doing that and the Cardinals haven't had their chance to 378 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: do it well. And you know, um the Rams decided 379 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: to defer and then once you give up that possession, 380 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: they're getting the ball in the second half. So but 381 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 1: they call as you double up, yes, and none of 382 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: you're playing catch up. So I mean, just little things. 383 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: And just as we talked on the Red Seat Report 384 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: on Tuesday afternoon with Bertrand Barry, he said, as best 385 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: as you know we've talked about it is this missed 386 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: opportunities and miscuse. I mean, there's you know, the penalties 387 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 1: and the mental airs. M that's got to cut down 388 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 1: because their margin for air right now, Craig is very 389 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 1: very small. It's not like you know, you can spot 390 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,440 Speaker 1: a team, you know, ten points to start the game, 391 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 1: meaning they they're up ten nothing. Because it's difficult for 392 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 1: this team to come back like that. They got to 393 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: keep it close to the vest. Yeah. Cardinals, with just 394 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 1: four games left to go, including one this weekend against 395 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: the New York Giants, will continue to break down that 396 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: matchup as the week progresses, but some leftovers here on 397 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: this Tuesday edition of Cardinals Cover two presented by Honday, 398 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: probably partner of the Arizona Cardinals, as we take a 399 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 1: look at what has been going on wrong with this 400 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: team over this three game losing streak, and one item 401 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: that certainly was glaring, and you pointed it out to 402 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 1: me yesterday after the show was over, because you can 403 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: have a little bit more time to kind of look 404 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 1: at the statistics and of course obviously the snap counts, 405 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:36,199 Speaker 1: and Devon Kannard on Sunday played just thirty percent of 406 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 1: the defensive snaps. He was on the field for twenty 407 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 1: five of the eighty three snaps in which the Cardinals 408 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: defense was on the field, and that is a little 409 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: bit I wouldn't say concerning, but it is eyebrow raising 410 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 1: because here's someone you hand picked in the offseason to 411 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:58,640 Speaker 1: go get in free agency after he was unexpectedly released 412 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 1: by the Detroit Lions, and here he is on a 413 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:06,199 Speaker 1: Sunday playing fewer snaps than Isaiah Simmons, who was on 414 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 1: the field for thirty two. Now I know inside outside linebacker, 415 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 1: but you would expect Cannard to be in that rotation 416 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 1: of a Marcus Golden and a Hassan Reddick, and those 417 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: two players are seeing seventy three and sixty three snaps, 418 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: whereas Conard is just getting twenty five snaps. Yeah. Well, 419 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: early in the season, I thought Conard did a nice 420 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 1: job setting the edge. Then he dealt with the COVID situation. 421 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 1: But he spoke to the media on Tuesday, and I'm 422 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: reading a tweet from our colleague call Odegard. He says 423 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: Devon Knard hasn't played more than thirty percent of the 424 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 1: defensive snaps since Week seven to his lesser role, and 425 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: Canard said, to be completely honest, it's fust training. I 426 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: want to be out there as much as I can 427 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: to try to help this team win. I do think 428 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,720 Speaker 1: bringing in Marcus Golden as limit his some of his snaps, 429 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: and obviously Reddick as a starter, but it's I think 430 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: it's a good dilemma to have when you've got three 431 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: or four guys you can rush the passer. So it's 432 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 1: not an ideal. I'm sure they all want to play. 433 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 1: But Isaiah Simmons played thirty two snaps, which is thirty 434 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: nine percent. Byron Murphy, he only played thirty three snaps. 435 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 1: Was just forty percent, and that's your first and second 436 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 1: round pick from a year ago and also this year. 437 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: And again we know that Simmons, you know, it's a 438 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: lot more about sub packages. But Byron and Murphy. You know, 439 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: back in the first month of the season, he was 440 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,239 Speaker 1: playing every single snap. The only guy that played every 441 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: single snap in that game was Patrick Peterson. Now, Jordan 442 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 1: Hicks played eighty two snaps, Buddha Baker eighty, ban Joe 443 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 1: seventy nine, Hassan Riddick getting starter reps, played eighty eight 444 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: percent of the snaps. So you know, Draka Patrick's out 445 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 1: there and Marcus Golden to Andre Campbell. So interesting how 446 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,640 Speaker 1: they're divvying up this because you would think in your 447 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 1: perfect defense in the secondary, you have Buddha Baker right now, 448 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: Chris Banjo, you have Kirkpatrick on the outside, Peterson and 449 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 1: Murphy in the inside, and that's kind of there there. 450 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: When teams go eleven personnel, that's their base defense. Everyone 451 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: wants to be on the field, and I understand the 452 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: frustration Canard feels and acknowledged earlier today. He also did 453 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,199 Speaker 1: add quote, I'm a team player and he is willing 454 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 1: to do whatever is asked. Of him as long as 455 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: it helps the team win. But you go back to 456 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: that week seven, That is the Thursday night game against 457 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 1: the Seattle Seahawks in which the Cardinals won thirty seven 458 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,199 Speaker 1: thirty four and overtime. Excuse me, that was the Sunday 459 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: night's game against the Seattle Seahawks in which they won 460 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: thirty seven thirty four. Then the bye week, Well, Canard 461 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 1: tested positive for COVID nineteen. During that bye week, he 462 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 1: was on the shelf and working his way back, is it, 463 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 1: he says now, he feels fine, had no symptoms, and 464 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,679 Speaker 1: he was actually very open and honest with the media 465 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: earlier today, And you can expect a story up on 466 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:56,719 Speaker 1: Easy Cardinals dot com real soon here today, if not 467 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:58,879 Speaker 1: already by the time you listen to this edition of 468 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: Cards cover two. But he was, in his words, lucky 469 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 1: that he did not have any symptoms, but he was 470 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: isolated from everyone for ten days, missing time with his teammates, 471 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:13,159 Speaker 1: missing time with his family, and not able to do 472 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: a lot of working outs or conditioning to where maybe 473 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: these fewer snaps that we're seeing him and the less 474 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: time on the field is a process to work him 475 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: back in to the mix. After testing positive for COVID nineteen. Yeah, 476 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 1: he said he quarantined himself for ten days. He there 477 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: was a park next to him where he tried to 478 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,360 Speaker 1: get outside of making him do a little conditioning, but 479 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:39,400 Speaker 1: really he was just doing pushups and crunches being quarantined. 480 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:41,399 Speaker 1: So it does take the body to get back to 481 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:45,160 Speaker 1: you know, NFL riggers where you're gonna get hit every 482 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 1: week and your body's gonna feel it. So maybe that's 483 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:51,400 Speaker 1: the case. But to me, I like the rotation there. 484 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 1: Unfortunately for him, I just think he's behind reddick In 485 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 1: Marcus Golden at this point in time, speaking of rotation. 486 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 1: As we continue here on Cardinals Covered two, presented by Hunday, 487 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 1: proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals and a reminder bird Gang, 488 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 1: subscribe to Arizona Cardinals podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcast, Stitcher, 489 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: and SoundCloud. Listen to your favorite shows on the go 490 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 1: like Cardinals Underground, The Big Red Rage, The Cardinals Red 491 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: Sea Report, and of course this show Cardinals Cover two. 492 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: Visitasy Cardinals dot com slash podcasts for more information. I 493 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: noticed it throughout the entire game on Sunday. Maybe it's 494 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:29,880 Speaker 1: just me and the way I operate, trying to look 495 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: for any little details on things that might happen during 496 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 1: the course of a ballgame. But the amount of shuffling 497 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 1: and the rotation on the offensive line was certainly I 498 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: opening here in Week thirteen. Typically you see a rotation 499 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 1: shuffle on the defensive line, or in the linebacking corps, 500 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: or in the secondary. But there are two positions that 501 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: you typically don't see a rotation, quarterback and offensive line. Yeah, 502 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: and according to Justin Pugh, they did a little bit 503 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 1: of this last year, and I think, you know, I 504 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:04,480 Speaker 1: trust Sean Coogler, and you know, maybe they're trying to 505 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 1: keep these guys fresh, but it's very unusual to rotate 506 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: the two guys that played the entire game where both 507 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: left tackle and right tackle, Humphreys and Beach him. And 508 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: then he started looking at Mason Cole. He played forty 509 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 1: eight snaps, which is seventy five percent, Pugh played forty seven, 510 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:26,159 Speaker 1: which is seventy three percent, Sweezy forty two sixty six percent, 511 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 1: Murray thirty nine snaps sixty one percent, and Lamont Gilliard 512 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 1: he played sixteen snaps, would have been twenty five percent. 513 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,880 Speaker 1: So you know, I got no issue bringing in an 514 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: extra lineman, you know, Josh Jones if he's the guy, 515 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: or you know somebody else, maybe justin Murray. But I'd 516 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: like to know more about, you know, why they're doing this, 517 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,879 Speaker 1: because again I trust Sean Coogler and if he feels 518 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:54,160 Speaker 1: like guys are wearing down. Now. I listened to Max 519 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: Starks on KTR on Tuesday morning, he's on their weekly 520 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 1: and he thought they were trying to throw different combinations 521 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:06,880 Speaker 1: at the Rams defensive line. And I get that, but 522 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:11,919 Speaker 1: they're rotating, and so again that's very unusual where you 523 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:14,120 Speaker 1: don't have the same five guys. Again, you could bring 524 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 1: in an extra blocker, you can go mass protection with 525 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:19,160 Speaker 1: a couple of tight ends. So I'm curious to see 526 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,880 Speaker 1: if it is something we're gonna watch down the stretch here, 527 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 1: because I still think that's one position, as you pointed out, 528 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 1: besides the quarterback, that's one position you don't rotate players. 529 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 1: You talk about continuity and five guys working together as 530 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: a team, but you have changes, you're moving parts and 531 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: then all of a sudden it's a different communication, different 532 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: verbal cues, different nonverbal cues. Yes, they're all very good, 533 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 1: and we're talking about Lamont Gilliard and Justin Murray. Now, 534 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: with Murray, he had not played over the past three 535 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: games because of a hand injury, and he started three 536 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: games when Jr. Sweezy was on IR so maybe you're 537 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,640 Speaker 1: trying to work him back in. I just it just 538 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 1: felt strange at that point in the ball game or 539 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: when it first happened, and it was pretty consistent through 540 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 1: the entire ball game. I counted it up seven times 541 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 1: over twelve possessions. There was some shuffling along the offensive 542 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:17,720 Speaker 1: line and you know, trying to get a spark or 543 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: do something different. I just don't think you'd do that 544 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 1: at that position on the offensive line. Are we at 545 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: the point now because Kyler Murray is struggling, you bring 546 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 1: out Chris Straveler just to change things up and give 547 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 1: it a spark. I mean, maybe that's an overexaggeration, but 548 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 1: I don't know what the difference is between doing that 549 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 1: and what they did on the offensive line. Let's try 550 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 1: to keep everyone fresh. Yeah, I'm with you, And to me, 551 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 1: if if they don't have a you know, a play 552 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 1: for fourth and one for the quarterback and you know 553 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 1: we I'm sure it's going to be brought up as 554 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray need to be underneath center because to me, 555 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 1: it's when you're in the shotgun. It's a little bit different. 556 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 1: And I still think the shotgun is going to be 557 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: the majority of the time because of the airp in 558 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 1: the zone reads. But why does Streveler on the active 559 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 1: on game date? I know, you know, two weeks ago, 560 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:10,560 Speaker 1: I thought, you know it was shortened fourth and one 561 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 1: or something. I'm like, if they make if they do 562 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: this and it doesn't work, Kingsbury's going to criticized because 563 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: why are you taking Kyla Murray off the field. Sometimes 564 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray eventually is a wide receiver, but you want 565 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 1: to have your the ball in your playmaker's hands. But 566 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: Chris Streveler, he's got a different body type, and to me, 567 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: if he's the backup quarterback on game date and they're 568 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:36,680 Speaker 1: only dressing two, I would try to utilize him Again. 569 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 1: Two weeks ago, I was hesitant to say they should 570 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: use Streveler. I was We talked about it during the 571 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 1: week because of Murray's injury and the shoulder protect him 572 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: a little bit more. But if you're going to get 573 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: in these short yard situations, Chris Streveler every time he's 574 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 1: been in the game, he's been underneath center, and I 575 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 1: want to be Clara bird Gang. In no way am 576 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: I advocating or saying Kyla Murray should be on the 577 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: sidelines as while Chris Streveler is taking snaps and running 578 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 1: this offense. I'm just trying to make a comparison because 579 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 1: you just don't typically see this kind of rotation. Yet, 580 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: I'll go back to what you said, Sean Coogler, the 581 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 1: offensive line coach, he knows a heck of a lot 582 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:14,960 Speaker 1: more about the game and about that position group than 583 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:19,320 Speaker 1: I do. It's just strange to see. Justin Pugh asked 584 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: about it earlier today, said they did it last year, 585 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 1: or remember last year was a five win season. It 586 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: was a lost year. As far as shooting for the playoffs, 587 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 1: You're in Week thirteen and you're rotating offensive lineman where 588 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 1: the playoffs are at stake. You're trying to get back 589 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 1: into that picture, and yet here you are, you're disrupting things. 590 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 1: At least in my mind and my opinion, that's what 591 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 1: it seemed like to me. Well to me, when you 592 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 1: get five guys in unisec Okay, so Humphreys healed, No 593 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:49,880 Speaker 1: tendencies for Pew, and then Pew and Coal no tenancies, 594 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:53,320 Speaker 1: and then Sweezy and Cole no tendencies, and then Sweezy 595 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 1: and Kelvin Beecham. They I mean again not saying Justin 596 00:31:57,280 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 1: Murray he's had enough starts to where you know his 597 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: skill will setting his upside and some of his weaknesses. 598 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: A Mont Gilliard, I mean he's a guy that usually 599 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:08,480 Speaker 1: comes in if somebody gets hurt in the game. Um 600 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 1: So again I still prefer to go. Then they'll go 601 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 1: with their five guys. But again I trust CT Sean Coogler. 602 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 1: But that's just one unit where you have to know 603 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:20,120 Speaker 1: who's next to you, what is his strength, what is 604 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 1: his weakness? Can I help out when you start mixing 605 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: and matching, I think it's a little bit more difficult 606 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 1: to kind of figure out who's next to you, and 607 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:29,880 Speaker 1: that's should not be the case. Lamont Gilliard replaced Mason 608 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:33,040 Speaker 1: Cole on three drives. Justin Murray was on the field 609 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 1: for six drives, four at right guard, two at left guard. 610 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: Maybe we're making more of a big deal out of 611 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 1: it than it is, but it was something that was noticeable. 612 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:45,920 Speaker 1: Is once again, when you're in the midst of a 613 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 1: losing streak, and this is now three straight games in 614 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 1: which the Cardinals are on the wrong end of a contest. 615 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:54,400 Speaker 1: Do you start looking at things and then picking apart things, 616 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: And that's that's what we're doing here on this Tuesday 617 00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:59,719 Speaker 1: edition of Cardinals Coverage. Yeah, I mean, when when you're 618 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:03,000 Speaker 1: been successful and the offense is kind of stuck in 619 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 1: gear right now and according to Cala Murray hit a wall. Yeah, 620 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:10,480 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm all for trying something different, but to me, 621 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 1: having the same five guys up front makes the total sense. 622 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:17,400 Speaker 1: But again, they have more information than I do, so 623 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:19,920 Speaker 1: we'll have to wait and see how it materializes over 624 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:22,480 Speaker 1: these next couple of weeks. Well before we sign off 625 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: here on this Tuesday and let everyone get back to 626 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:29,920 Speaker 1: their day jobs here on this week fourteen or soon 627 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,719 Speaker 1: to be Week fourteen, as the Cardinals will play at 628 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: the New York Giants coming up on Sunday. Where do 629 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:39,440 Speaker 1: the Cardinals stand right now here? With respects to the 630 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 1: NFC West and the NFC in the division, they are 631 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: third behind the Rams, who have the same record as 632 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 1: the Seattle Seahawks. Both those teams are eight and four, 633 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 1: but the Rams in first place because they win the 634 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:55,360 Speaker 1: head to head tiebreaker. We know, the Rams knocked off 635 00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:59,080 Speaker 1: the Cardinals on Sunday, the Seahawks a surprising home loss 636 00:33:59,080 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 1: to the Giants and teen to twelve, and that certainly 637 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:04,680 Speaker 1: raised a lot of eyebrows. We'll get into why the 638 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:07,520 Speaker 1: Giants looks so good as the week goes on, because 639 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 1: now that's the next opponent for the Cardinals. But the 640 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:14,680 Speaker 1: Seahawks and what they did not do, and specifically Russell 641 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:18,719 Speaker 1: Wilson all of a sudden is let Russ Cook on 642 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 1: the back burner because he's doing a lot, being asked 643 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 1: to do a lot, and is not coming through no. 644 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:28,319 Speaker 1: And they were able to get to the quarterback. I mean, 645 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:32,480 Speaker 1: his Pro Football Focus grade was fifty four point three. 646 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:35,120 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's ever been that low. And 647 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 1: you know, you look at the seahawks remaining schedule. They 648 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:41,320 Speaker 1: played the Jets at Washington, they host a Rams and 649 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: then at the forty nine Ers, so you know, we'll 650 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:47,480 Speaker 1: see you know, but Jets in Washington, I know, Washington. 651 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:51,120 Speaker 1: That's a quality win for Ron Revere in Alex Smith 652 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,879 Speaker 1: a great story there, probably the comeback player of the year. 653 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:56,120 Speaker 1: And then when I look at the Rams. They play 654 00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:59,399 Speaker 1: on Thursday night against the Patriots. The Patriots are staying 655 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 1: on the West CoA host at UCLA. They could just 656 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 1: got done blowing out the Chargers forty five nothing they 657 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:08,759 Speaker 1: got the Jets, Seahawks, and Cardinals. And as for Arizona 658 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 1: Giants Eagles forty nine ers at Rams in week seventeen. 659 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:16,280 Speaker 1: So here's what we know. If the season ended today, 660 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:18,920 Speaker 1: the Cardinals would not be in the playoffs. They lost 661 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:22,399 Speaker 1: to Los Angeles trop the Cardinals from the number eight 662 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 1: seed in the conference losing a tiebreaker to the Vikings 663 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:30,479 Speaker 1: based on Minnesota having a better win percentage in common games. Yeah, 664 00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:33,719 Speaker 1: and those common games are the fact that the Vikings 665 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:37,480 Speaker 1: are two and two and common opponents. They beat the Lions, 666 00:35:37,840 --> 00:35:41,560 Speaker 1: beat the Panthers, lost of the Cowboys, lost to the Seahawks. 667 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:45,800 Speaker 1: Now the Cardinals lost to the Lions, lost to the Panthers, 668 00:35:46,239 --> 00:35:50,120 Speaker 1: lost to the Seahawks, beat the Cowboys beat the Seahawks. 669 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:54,440 Speaker 1: So five games and common opponents for the Cardinals. So 670 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,440 Speaker 1: while the Vikings are two and two, the Cardinals are 671 00:35:57,480 --> 00:36:00,239 Speaker 1: two and three, and because they have a sub five 672 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:04,120 Speaker 1: hundred record, that's why they're in the eighth spot. Despite 673 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:07,680 Speaker 1: having the same number of wins, same number of losses, 674 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:11,160 Speaker 1: and the same conference record at four and four. That's 675 00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 1: why the Cardinals are on the outside looking in, looking 676 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:18,440 Speaker 1: up at the Minnesota Vikings, who certainly have their own 677 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:21,239 Speaker 1: issues as far as the schedule ahead. And you can 678 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:23,520 Speaker 1: debate who has a tougher schedule or not. I've seen 679 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 1: it both ways to where the Cardinals have a better 680 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:28,760 Speaker 1: percentage to get in than the Vikings because the Vikings 681 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:31,399 Speaker 1: are on the road at Tampa, at New Orleans, at 682 00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:33,840 Speaker 1: Detroit with a game against the Bears at home in 683 00:36:33,880 --> 00:36:35,800 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks. But shoot, you can make the 684 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:37,920 Speaker 1: same case for the Cardinals as far as strength the 685 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:40,480 Speaker 1: schedule based on what the Cardinals have done over the 686 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,920 Speaker 1: past five game stretch. Yeah, so if Arizona wins this 687 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 1: week against the Giants, doesn't matter because Minnesota and Tampa, 688 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:52,239 Speaker 1: one's got to lose and one's gotta win, you know, 689 00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:56,200 Speaker 1: So at that point, Arizona overtakes the loser from that game, 690 00:36:56,719 --> 00:37:00,640 Speaker 1: you know. So we'll see. But according to Football Outsiders, 691 00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:03,920 Speaker 1: Cardinals have a forty six point six percent chance Vikings 692 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:07,279 Speaker 1: twenty eight, one, Bears fifteen, and the forty nine Ers 693 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:10,239 Speaker 1: eleven point nine. Now let's look because we spent a 694 00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:12,680 Speaker 1: lot of time last week talking about, forget about the 695 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:15,640 Speaker 1: teams ahead of the Cardinals, but what are the teams 696 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:19,000 Speaker 1: behind the Cardinals? And there are four teams all at 697 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:23,320 Speaker 1: five and seven, Bears, Lions, forty nine Ers, and Washington 698 00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:27,320 Speaker 1: in that order as far as the order is concerned 699 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:29,400 Speaker 1: within the NFC West, the forty nine Ers had an 700 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,719 Speaker 1: opportunity to go to six and six, but as we 701 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:34,240 Speaker 1: talked about, they lost the Bills on Monday nine Football 702 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:37,759 Speaker 1: thirty four, twenty four. They have now lost four of five. 703 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:40,920 Speaker 1: They could not follow up their win over the Rams, 704 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:43,680 Speaker 1: but no faults of the forty nine ers offense, Nick 705 00:37:43,719 --> 00:37:46,200 Speaker 1: Mullins three touchdowns. He did get picked off twice, but 706 00:37:46,239 --> 00:37:48,800 Speaker 1: they just could not keep pace with the Bills offense 707 00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:51,919 Speaker 1: and Josh Allen. But the Bears, lines, forty nine Ers, 708 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:55,440 Speaker 1: and Washington. None of those teams really scare you. But 709 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 1: at this point, the Cardinals can't be in any position 710 00:37:58,239 --> 00:38:00,800 Speaker 1: to say, well, we can't worry about X team because 711 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:03,680 Speaker 1: of X, Y and Z, because if you're the Bears, Lions, 712 00:38:03,719 --> 00:38:05,840 Speaker 1: forty nine Ers of Washington, you're looking at the Cardinals 713 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:08,680 Speaker 1: based off this five game strets saying, why should we 714 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:11,359 Speaker 1: worry about the Cardinals because they are on the wrong 715 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:13,600 Speaker 1: end of a slide here that has put them at 716 00:38:13,640 --> 00:38:16,399 Speaker 1: five hundred for the first time since early in the season. 717 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:19,040 Speaker 1: And I mentioned last week and normally when they fire 718 00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 1: a head coach, and he was kind of a dictator there, 719 00:38:21,719 --> 00:38:24,440 Speaker 1: and you could see former and current players were happy 720 00:38:24,520 --> 00:38:29,520 Speaker 1: when you know, obviously they have more interaction with Matt Patricias, 721 00:38:29,560 --> 00:38:33,720 Speaker 1: so they're allowed to voice er opinion. But Daryl Bevill, 722 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:37,520 Speaker 1: I mean, we'll see what they do, because I always 723 00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:39,759 Speaker 1: think when you fire a coach and you go with 724 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:43,160 Speaker 1: the guys a little bit different personality. Players gravitate to that, 725 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:46,399 Speaker 1: so you know, but I just think the Bears, I mean, 726 00:38:47,760 --> 00:38:50,759 Speaker 1: their defense is really good, but you know, between Trubisky 727 00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:53,880 Speaker 1: and we'll see what the latest on Nick Foles in Washington. 728 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:57,520 Speaker 1: I mean Washington, you look at their record right now, 729 00:38:57,760 --> 00:39:00,640 Speaker 1: they're five and seven. They have the same record. It's Detroit, 730 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:03,319 Speaker 1: so I and then the Giants, right and then there 731 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:05,360 Speaker 1: five and seven. They got the same record as Detroit. 732 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:08,360 Speaker 1: So to me, those are the teams you have to 733 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:11,439 Speaker 1: jump if you want to get into the postseason. Well, 734 00:39:11,480 --> 00:39:14,000 Speaker 1: I think everyone is in agreement that the Bears are 735 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:16,759 Speaker 1: going to continue to slide. They can't get out of 736 00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:18,640 Speaker 1: their own way. Right now, you do have to worry 737 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:23,000 Speaker 1: about the Lions because of that Week three game in 738 00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:27,000 Speaker 1: which the Cardinals at home lost to Detroit twenty six, 739 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:29,960 Speaker 1: twenty three, and how adamant I was an upset. I 740 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:32,879 Speaker 1: was over that game, and you at the time, Oh, 741 00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:34,920 Speaker 1: you know what, It's just you know, you're gonna lose 742 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:37,480 Speaker 1: some games. It's not that big a deal. And now 743 00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:39,799 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, here we are in December and 744 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:42,399 Speaker 1: that game. If the Lions can get on a run, 745 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:44,239 Speaker 1: they've got to play the Packers. They're on the road 746 00:39:44,239 --> 00:39:47,000 Speaker 1: at the Titans, then they're home to the Buccaneers and Vikings. 747 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,120 Speaker 1: They have three home games over these final four games. 748 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:52,319 Speaker 1: If they get on a roll and are sitting there 749 00:39:52,320 --> 00:39:54,719 Speaker 1: tied with the Cardinals, the Lions are in and the 750 00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:58,040 Speaker 1: Cardinals are out because of a Week three loss. Yep, 751 00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 1: And then you know, Carolina, now their foreign ain't pretty 752 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:03,640 Speaker 1: much out of it. But we can go back to 753 00:40:03,680 --> 00:40:06,120 Speaker 1: that loss too. Yes, if they get on a roll 754 00:40:06,239 --> 00:40:07,799 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, you know I didn't put 755 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:10,799 Speaker 1: them on my quote unquote radar just because of their 756 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:14,800 Speaker 1: one loss record, But you have to start paying attention 757 00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:16,600 Speaker 1: to this as far as head to head. You know, 758 00:40:16,640 --> 00:40:19,959 Speaker 1: if Washington gets on a roll and they surprise San 759 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:23,160 Speaker 1: Francisco next week at State Farm Stadium and they build 760 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:25,880 Speaker 1: on what they were able to do over the previously 761 00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:30,440 Speaker 1: undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers, but remember the Cardinals beat Washington in 762 00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:33,759 Speaker 1: week two. It's a sure sign as anything else in 763 00:40:33,760 --> 00:40:37,400 Speaker 1: the National Football League MJ, that every game matters, every 764 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:40,520 Speaker 1: week matters. That's why you have to go in week 765 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:44,520 Speaker 1: one saying, to a certain extent, must win. Then next 766 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:47,200 Speaker 1: week must win. Because here we are in December looking 767 00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:50,399 Speaker 1: back to games that happened in September. Yeah, and usually 768 00:40:50,440 --> 00:40:52,279 Speaker 1: you're gonna have one of those duds. And I thought 769 00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:55,480 Speaker 1: this year the dud game was against Carolina Panthers. They 770 00:40:55,520 --> 00:40:57,960 Speaker 1: admitted they came out flat. I think they just thought 771 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:03,799 Speaker 1: what a new head coach and college defensive coordinator. But 772 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:06,360 Speaker 1: we know about Joe Brady and they ran a similar 773 00:41:06,440 --> 00:41:09,520 Speaker 1: offense to the Saints. So you know, you can do 774 00:41:09,560 --> 00:41:13,440 Speaker 1: this every single year. But now we're now it's real 775 00:41:13,600 --> 00:41:17,040 Speaker 1: to where you know, you look at the conference records 776 00:41:17,160 --> 00:41:19,040 Speaker 1: for some of these teams ahead of the Cardinals, the 777 00:41:19,120 --> 00:41:22,200 Speaker 1: Saints eight and one, Green Bay seven and two, Rams 778 00:41:22,280 --> 00:41:26,000 Speaker 1: eight and two, Giants four and six, Seattle six and three. 779 00:41:26,280 --> 00:41:30,279 Speaker 1: Then you got Tampa, Minnesota and Arizona at four and four. 780 00:41:30,520 --> 00:41:33,880 Speaker 1: We always talk about, you know, scratching out home wins, 781 00:41:34,719 --> 00:41:39,440 Speaker 1: division games and conference games and also the AFC games count. 782 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:41,440 Speaker 1: But you know, in this situation, they lost to the 783 00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:45,880 Speaker 1: Chicago I'm sorry, they lost to Detroit and Carolina, and 784 00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:47,640 Speaker 1: that's going to come back to haunt you if this 785 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:49,759 Speaker 1: team does not get back in the postseason or get 786 00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:52,400 Speaker 1: back to the postseason. Yeah, we always say division games 787 00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:56,080 Speaker 1: count twice as much, but conference games maybe not twice, 788 00:41:56,120 --> 00:41:58,440 Speaker 1: but maybe one and a half. Especially if you get 789 00:41:58,440 --> 00:42:01,960 Speaker 1: into this situation where you're looking at the Vikings, the Lions, 790 00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:04,680 Speaker 1: and Washington, all these teams play one another, and you're 791 00:42:04,719 --> 00:42:09,080 Speaker 1: going to best percentage in common opponents. That's the tiebreaker 792 00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:11,920 Speaker 1: the Cardinals find themselves in right now. As far as 793 00:42:11,960 --> 00:42:14,319 Speaker 1: why they're in eights and the Vikings are a number seven. 794 00:42:14,719 --> 00:42:18,480 Speaker 1: That Vikings schedule is difficult at Tampa Bay, home to 795 00:42:18,560 --> 00:42:22,680 Speaker 1: the Beak, at New Orleans, at Detroit. So while the 796 00:42:22,719 --> 00:42:26,120 Speaker 1: Lions have three home games one road game. Over this 797 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:28,520 Speaker 1: final four stretch, the Vikings are on the road for 798 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:31,440 Speaker 1: three games with one home game against the Bears. Yeah, 799 00:42:31,440 --> 00:42:34,040 Speaker 1: and that's not easy. I know, there's no home field 800 00:42:34,080 --> 00:42:38,760 Speaker 1: advantage this year. And that's why I was reading Bruce 801 00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:41,480 Speaker 1: Arians because they're coming off a bye week and he 802 00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:44,000 Speaker 1: thinks his teams will arrest it ready to go, and 803 00:42:44,080 --> 00:42:47,480 Speaker 1: he said, you know, we just want to get into dance, 804 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:50,200 Speaker 1: and there's nobody's gonna have home field advantage. And you 805 00:42:50,239 --> 00:42:52,279 Speaker 1: start looking at the NFL this year when it comes 806 00:42:52,320 --> 00:42:55,720 Speaker 1: to you know, different records and all that other stuff. 807 00:42:56,239 --> 00:43:00,719 Speaker 1: Ready for this road teams ninety six, ninety four and one, 808 00:43:01,080 --> 00:43:05,120 Speaker 1: including road teams last week, we're ten and four. So 809 00:43:05,239 --> 00:43:06,920 Speaker 1: you know, usually if you've got to have a good 810 00:43:07,040 --> 00:43:10,440 Speaker 1: to Pittsburgh or you know, Kansas City. You know, I 811 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:13,560 Speaker 1: think Seattle hasn't benefited from no fans because of the 812 00:43:13,600 --> 00:43:16,480 Speaker 1: twelfth Man. Kansas City, that place can get loud in 813 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:20,600 Speaker 1: December and January. So really, for the most part, you know, 814 00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:23,160 Speaker 1: you got Pittsburgh and Kansas City with one loss each. 815 00:43:23,239 --> 00:43:26,759 Speaker 1: Unfortunately they don't play each other. But for the most part, 816 00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:28,560 Speaker 1: I mean, if teams feel like if you can get 817 00:43:28,600 --> 00:43:31,120 Speaker 1: into dance. It's not so much going on the road, 818 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:34,120 Speaker 1: It's about who's the better team at that moment. Every 819 00:43:34,400 --> 00:43:38,440 Speaker 1: game catters and the biggest game for the Cardinals right now, 820 00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:42,400 Speaker 1: what's coming up this Sunday at the New York Giants 821 00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:46,279 Speaker 1: will begin to discuss Joe Judge's team, who is on 822 00:43:46,400 --> 00:43:50,640 Speaker 1: a whoor has his team on a four game winning streak? 823 00:43:51,040 --> 00:43:54,879 Speaker 1: That all ahead coming up on Wednesday. And on that note, 824 00:43:54,880 --> 00:43:57,239 Speaker 1: we will put a lid on this edition of Cardinals 825 00:43:57,239 --> 00:44:00,920 Speaker 1: Cover two, presented by Honday, proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals. 826 00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:03,839 Speaker 1: As always, special thanks to our executive producer Jim mo'm 827 00:44:03,840 --> 00:44:06,680 Speaker 1: andro For Mike Jarecki, I'm Craig Riel Lou. We'll talk 828 00:44:06,680 --> 00:44:09,000 Speaker 1: to you next time here on Cardinals Cover two.