1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: Strap on the boots and scrape up the knuckles ahead. 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: He got Jack. This is the Big Red Ray presented 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: by Santanford in Gilbert. Harry's gonna score touchdown. He's up 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: for bets, goes up and begs the game. When it 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: catch Larry Luncheon does it again. The Rage is brought 6 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,479 Speaker 1: to you by satan Ford in Gilbert. Or are you 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: Satanford State Farm? Talk to an agent today at eight 8 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 1: hundred State Farm and buy Arizona Cardinals podcasts. Visit Hacy 9 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: Cardinals dot com, Slash podcasts, The Rods, Rising Guard, Temperaturizing Vision, 10 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: Flurry Rage, take it over. Here's Paul KELVC. Get the 11 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: popcorn ready. It's gonna be a show and Ron will fleep. 12 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: It doesn't get any better than that. Unleash the far 13 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: an so friendly. A reminder Ron Wolfley that this past season, 14 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: the NFL two twenty, you do realize, you do remember 15 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: that there was a game every single day of the week, 16 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: as in the actual day of the week on the calendar, 17 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: not just Sunday Game Day or Monday Night Football or 18 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: Thursday Night Football or Saturday games in December, but there 19 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: were also games played on Tuesday Wednesday and Friday all 20 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: last season, the first time that had happened in NFL 21 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: history in a quarter century. So with that in mind, 22 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: welcome in Ron Wolfley to a Wednesday edition of The 23 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: Big Red Rage, presented by santan Ford and Gilbert We 24 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: are Santana. You know what, Paula. You gotta be flexible, 25 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,320 Speaker 1: do you not? You have to be flexible at all times. 26 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: Position flexibility, of course, is taking over the National Football League. 27 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: You gotta be flexible on a Big Red Rage as well, 28 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: Paul Yeah. And just so you know, this is not 29 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: voluntary for you, Okay, it is in your contract. I 30 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: know for players in the NFL right now, it's that 31 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: mandatory minicamp. Everything else is considered voluntary at least that's 32 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: the way it stands right now, based on the memo 33 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: from rog. But right here, right now, Boom, we're ready 34 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: to go because you're right. Two weeks from tomorrow the 35 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: NFL draft. Let it wash over you. And since Ron Wolfley, 36 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: they've yet to authorized our key cards for entry into 37 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: the war room. Yes, which is never going to happen. 38 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: Just fyi, we get the next best thing and a 39 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: key figure in that war room on this edition how 40 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: about Director of player Personnel Drew Grigson going to be 41 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: our special guest coming up a little bit? Well, I 42 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: love that, Polly. First of all, Director of player personnel, Polly, 43 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: I know, on the sideline as you're walking around there 44 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 1: as a sideline reporter of course for the Cardinals year. 45 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,679 Speaker 1: Maybe not. I don't know, run into contact with Drew 46 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: Grigson from time to time, ball, But this is that 47 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: would not be good for me? Is I basically run 48 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: into him exactly? Dress three of me? Well, you can 49 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: bench press at least three of me. Yes, of course, 50 00:02:56,639 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: here's a guy that has influence in personnel not only 51 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: at the college level but also at the pro level. 52 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: Thus the director or player persadel, are you going to 53 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: ask him? Or am I going to ask him for 54 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: an update? I'm Larry Fitzgerald. Let's just hash that out 55 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,119 Speaker 1: right here right now. I honestly don't think we should ball. 56 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 1: I mean, honestly, put him under the gun run like that. 57 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: I mean, this guy, he's not he's not the general manager, 58 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: not yet. But oh my goodness, the director or player 59 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: personnel that is a stepping stone title to a general 60 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: manager position, is it not? You want to hear my 61 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,239 Speaker 1: latest theory, I'm Larry by Way with ball. Thanks for asking. 62 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: I think that this is a big ploy so he 63 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: can miss the entire offseason, so he can miss the OTAs, 64 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: so he doesn't have to participate in the virtual Zoom sessions. 65 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: Maybe he shows up for the mandatory mini camp in June. 66 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: But you know what, year three in this offensive, Cliff Kingsbury, 67 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: he knows the offense. I mean, you know he's going 68 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: into his eighteen season. Eck, hey, just go play some 69 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: more golf, you know what, PAULI that's not a bad 70 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: suggestion by you. That's not a bad proposition right there. 71 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: The fact that because we know he's got to be 72 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: waiting for something, right at least that's my feeling on this. 73 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: I think he's waiting for something, and what that something 74 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: is I do not know. Now. Maybe he's waiting for 75 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: a team to be able to scrape together the requisite 76 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: amount of money that he would be willing to play for. 77 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: And maybe that conveniently also means he's going to miss 78 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: a lot of the offseason as he's waiting for them 79 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: to scrape it together. Paul, I mean, maybe it's a 80 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 1: faux contract holdout. Maybe he's just staging this, you know, 81 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:41,359 Speaker 1: this holdout for more cash perhaps, or is stalling the 82 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: negotiations just so he convenely misses all of April and 83 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 1: May and most of June. So as Fitz, he's listening 84 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: to you talk right now, how badly do you think 85 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: he's just shaking his head and smirking, Paul? How badly 86 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: you think he's doing that? Hey, I'm not the guy 87 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 1: who used the two words thus far on a podcast 88 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:00,919 Speaker 1: this week. Wolf, I'm gonna leave you with this on 89 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: the Larry subject and it won't come up again. But 90 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: he was on a golf subpar podcast on a Whisper Rock. Okay, Wolf, 91 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: another another area, just like the war room where you're 92 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: never gonna gain entry to Whisper Rock Country Club once 93 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: gotten a fight outside of Whisper Rock. Paul, I see, no, 94 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: we don't want we don't have time for the dark 95 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: days right now to talk about that, and so On 96 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: this podcast, he was asked very little football, ninety eight 97 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: percent golf, but he was asked about his longevity and 98 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: now he's only missed a handful of games in his 99 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: NFL career. He said, Yeah, I've been fortunate thus far. 100 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: What is that he didn't talk about his career in 101 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: the past. Tense Ron wolf Lee. I know, Paul, I 102 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 1: know exactly the cut you're talking about, the sound you're 103 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: talking about, Paul, don't go deep on that. Just let 104 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: the man speak and now don't read into it that Deepaul. 105 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: You're on the grassy knoll. Guess what the Cardinals depth 106 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: chart just got deeper. Running back that's next on the 107 00:05:55,960 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 1: big red rage. I'd just gets the shotgun, snap, gives 108 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: it to Connor, sweeps the left side, got a block 109 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: in the ten corner down James Potter sweeping the weft side, 110 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: takes it in from twelve yards out. Hodges will throw 111 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: the Connor out of the back field, makes him an messing. 112 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: It's a the twenty conner down the sideline of the 113 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 1: ten and he's gonna walk it in and for the touchdown. Now. 114 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: Former Steelers running back James Earl Connor. That's his middle name, 115 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 1: by the way, Roun wolfley On one of his parents 116 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: are big fans of Darth Vader and James Earl Jones. 117 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 1: James Earl Connor a one year deal with the Arizona 118 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: Cardinals as all of a sudden, you know what the 119 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,039 Speaker 1: old line likes to call the straight ahead run game 120 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: the pound game. They now have the running back to 121 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: go with that pound game. And it's curious now what 122 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: exactly that means for the Arizona Cardinals and the style 123 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 1: of run game. Perhaps this year it's the Big Red 124 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: Rage presented by satan Ford in Gilbert. We are satan Ford, 125 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: Paul kelvc Ron Wolfley, soon to be joined by Director 126 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,919 Speaker 1: of Player Personnel Drew Grigson. We'll get his thoughts on 127 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: James Connor. But wolf you're a bad leadoff. Give us 128 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: your thoughts, you know, Polly, I love this. I really 129 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: do six one, two hundred and thirty three pounds. He's 130 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: not the fastest guy in the world. He's not going 131 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: to take the ball and rip off a forty yard run. 132 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: He's not going to rip off a sixty eighty yard 133 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: take it to the house run unless he's breaking tackles 134 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: the whole way. Not going to do that. But he's 135 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: a first downmaker, is what he is. Paul. This is 136 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 1: a guy that's going to line up and get you four. 137 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: He's going to rip it in there. I call him 138 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: a ground pounder. That's what he is. You might say 139 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: the offensive line likes to pound it. This is a 140 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: ground pounder running back, and this is exactly what I 141 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: was hoping the Cardinals were going to bring in. James 142 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: Connor I thought was the best option that was still 143 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: out there. And I also, Polly, I like what it implies, 144 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: what it might mean for this offense and the mindset 145 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: of this team going forward. You know, in that montage 146 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: coming back on Westwood one, he had the rushing touchdown 147 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: and the receiving touchdown. Did I nat hear your brothers 148 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: say something along the lines of longtime Steelers analysts and 149 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: Steelers legend from that offensive line that that might be 150 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: an underutilized part of his skill set the receiving game. Yeah, 151 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: there's no doubt about it. He texted me and told 152 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: me about this kid a little bit. He said he's 153 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: a three down back, Paully, That's what he said. He 154 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: said he will stone blitzers, which is great when you 155 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: have a run down back, a back that is first 156 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: and ten, second and one to six. If in fact, 157 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: you are going to put Kyler Murray a little bit 158 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 1: more under center, if you're going to do that, you 159 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: better have a running back that can actually hold up 160 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: and blitz pick up. The reason being Paully is because 161 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: here comes a play action, right, there comes a play action, 162 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: and that running back's gonna fake like he's getting the 163 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: ball and it's gonna freeze everybody for the bost part. 164 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: But then you might blitz in a rundown situation. If 165 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,839 Speaker 1: you're a defensive coordinator, man, that running back better be 166 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: ready to pick up that blitzer, right, he better have 167 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: his eyes open and be capable of doing it. And 168 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: this dude is capable of doing it. He's six one, 169 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 1: two hundred thirty three pounds. You know what, two thoughts here, 170 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: what Kyler Murray does for James Connor, and then what 171 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: Connor does for the direction of this run game, which 172 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: you hinted at. Let me get to the first one. 173 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: You know. It was that very first training camp we 174 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 1: hadn't even gotten out of August and Chase Edmonds was 175 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 1: talking about what Kyler Murray does for the run game. 176 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: He's like, quote an extra blocker. Yes, well, James Connard 177 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 1: obviously did not have that dynamic in Pittsburgh with Big 178 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: Ben who's a big statue back there. So think about 179 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: that and how because it's not like if he gets 180 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: a little more room, and the defenses are respecting Kyler's 181 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: legs a little bit more. That benefits Connor, doesn't it. 182 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: I love that you brought that up, Polly, because once again, 183 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: I do believe the Arizona Cardinal's offense is going to 184 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: be tweaked a little bit this year. Going forward, I 185 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: think we're going to see Kyler Murray a little bit 186 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: more under center. I think we're going to see more 187 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: traditional running plays at the point of attack. I think 188 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: we're gonna see that, Polly. But it doesn't mean it's 189 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: gonna be exclusive. There's gonna be a blending, right, a 190 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: blending of the old and the new. That's what I 191 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: expect to see. I expect to see James Connor lined 192 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: up in the gun next to Kyler Murray and here 193 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: comes an inside zone play, a play where you're going 194 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: to hand that bafe. Maybe it's going to be his 195 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: own read as well from time to time. But I 196 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: see a blending of the old and the new. And 197 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: Craig also was talking about the fact that James Connor 198 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: has a good feel for hitting angles, good angles in 199 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: a power scheme. He has a really good feel for 200 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: doing that. Not a great cutback runner, Craig said, and 201 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: that to me tells me he's not a great runner 202 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: in zone schemes. He might be a much better punch 203 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: the hole into the defense type runner, a guy that 204 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: uses great angles on power scheme plays. And that could 205 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 1: signal a little foreshadowing here as to how this run 206 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: game offense might be tweaked a little. I agree. We 207 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: talked about it with Rob Frederickson last month. Kyler under center, yeah, 208 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: a little bit right, and then all of a sudden, 209 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: guess what, do you have? A bit more of a 210 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: downhill running game, And the way you described James Connor, 211 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: he seems to be the perfect fit and that sort 212 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: of scheme. We saw a little different approach in December. 213 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 1: We saw more bootlegs for Kyler. We did see him 214 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:20,439 Speaker 1: under center a little bit more. I agree with you. 215 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 1: I think we're more up to see a little bit 216 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,959 Speaker 1: of everything. And for James Connor, guess what, he's reunited 217 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 1: with a running back coach he had in twenty eighteen 218 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: and Ptsburg during his Pro Bowl season. In fact, here's 219 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: James Connor talking to the media about the opportunity in Arizona. 220 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: I feel brand new, you know, I'm excited for this opportunity. 221 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: Is definitely a change of scenery for me, you know, 222 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: being in Pittsburgh eight years and this was all that 223 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: time in Pittsburgh was just prepping me for where I'm 224 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: at right now in my life and his journey that 225 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: brought me out here to a zy and I felt 226 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: like I was well equipped, you know, just everything I've 227 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: been through and continue to go through on his journey 228 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: and leads me to hear So, man, I'm excited to 229 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: be in this rid. I'm excited. It's a blessing. He's 230 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 1: like a local already, you know, calling it asy, you 231 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 1: know it's well done by him. But twenty eighteen, Wolf, 232 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: we're talking about a guy who had nearly fifteen hundred 233 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: yards from scrimmage, over five yards per touch, thirteen touchdowns 234 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: all with James Saxon is yes, and I would just 235 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 1: miss that if he was thirty or thirty one. But 236 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: he's gonna be twenty six next month. That was a 237 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: long time ago. Ding, Ding, That's exactly right, PAULI. Once again, 238 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: I don't want to make it sound like suddenly Kyler 239 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: Murray is going to be under center for forty percent 240 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: of the snaps I'm not saying that. I'm just saying 241 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:35,439 Speaker 1: twenty five twenty five percent. Maybe we'll see how this 242 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:38,839 Speaker 1: offense evolves. But I can tell you right now you 243 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: got a guy that's gonna stoke it in between those tackles, 244 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:46,959 Speaker 1: and you know that gets me Jack Paul. And by 245 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,839 Speaker 1: the way, it's a one year deal. He'll be motivated. 246 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: It's cap friendly. Yeah, less than two million dollars total. 247 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: He's also competing with another guy who's in a contract year, 248 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 1: Chase Edmonds. So these are gonna be two guys pushing 249 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: each other if you're Drew Grigson. Next on the Big 250 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: Red Rage presented by Satan four in Gilbert snap the 251 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 1: Wilson Cardinals bringing some pressure. It's picked up Wilson the 252 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:16,439 Speaker 1: time of the pocket now and trouble and sacked about 253 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: four Cardinals in the backfield. But it's Isaiah Simmons of 254 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 1: the Rookie that gets the Russell Wilson first to force 255 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: a fund. Shotguns snap to Wilson straight drop back, steps 256 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: up in the pocket, takes off running far side at 257 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: the forty and drilled by Simmons at the forty one. 258 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 1: Isaiah Simmons is balling shotgun stat Wilson quick throw to 259 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: the left flat Metcalf caught it at the thirty eight, 260 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: dropped by Isaiah Simmons for a loss at the thirty 261 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 1: seventy yard line. Simmons has played terrific football tonight, the 262 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 1: rookie really starting to get comfortable out there. Two of 263 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: his best games against the Seahawks. You heard the montage 264 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: there day PASH Cardinals Radio Network. Yeah, the overtime win 265 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,439 Speaker 1: at home against the Seahawks on Sunday night where I 266 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,959 Speaker 1: remember Wolf Russell Wilson have been thirty and oh in 267 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: the regular season when leading by ten at the half 268 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 1: and the Cardinals came back for the win. There. Then 269 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: at Seattle, Isaiah Simmons had that game with the team 270 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 1: I ten tackles and a sack. He was the first 271 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 1: round pick a year ago on that big board of 272 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: the Cardinals, the top one twenty in the war room 273 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: where once again we are not allowed, So we do 274 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: the next bes thing here on the big Red Rage, 275 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: presented by santan Ford and Gilbert, and we say good 276 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: evening and welcome to the Director of Player Personnel Drew Grigson, 277 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: who joins us fresh off being promoted a couple of 278 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: months ago, Drew, how are we doing. Is the adrenaline 279 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: flowing yet? With a draft in two weeks away. Oh, 280 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: you can't get burned out this quick yet. It's a marathon. 281 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: You can't. It's gotta pace yourself right now. Yeah, Drew, 282 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: you know I'm going to start off with a big 283 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: fat softball right here. But talk about how roster talk 284 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: about how roster building has changed in the year twenty 285 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: twenty one of our lord, How is it changed, the 286 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: emphasis on the draft, free agency, roster building trades. How 287 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: much has it changed from ten years ago? Oh, it's 288 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's different every year now. I mean 289 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: obviously COVID throwing us the curveball that it did, and uh, 290 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: the salary cap changing and and and with you know, 291 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: the inability to to make visits this year, every everything changed, 292 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: UM on our side and and UM and building the 293 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: rosters has become more difficult. But there's nothing you could 294 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: do but adapt. And UM, any anything, any curveball that 295 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: gets thrown to you have to you have to take it. 296 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: Across the league, everyone has the same rules, which is 297 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: which which helps UM. And we're all playing with the 298 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 1: same hand here. So Uh, there's no excuses. We just 299 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 1: got to find a way to to to work around 300 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: all these issues and make the best of it with 301 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: no combine this year, how has it been? How has 302 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: it been? I know teams have really gone and had 303 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: to attend these pro days. So how would you say, 304 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: is your accessed information enough that you're going to feel 305 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: confident about making draft picks? We will because I feel 306 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: good about the information. And UM, you know, I I've 307 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: been saying for the last couple of weeks to the guys, 308 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: I the amount of information that we did gather this 309 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 1: year not making visits is it's astounding. UM. I credit 310 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: our scouting staff for doing that because I mean they 311 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: were they were scouting from their their offices at home, 312 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: from their kitchens, from the basements, and um, and we 313 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: pulled in quite a bit of information. UM. The unfortunate 314 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: thing is that you don't have those uh, you don't 315 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: have those experiences that you do when you go to 316 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: the school when you get a feel for the kid 317 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: and you go room to room and you talk to everyone, UM, 318 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: and you get a you know, a real strong conviction 319 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 1: one way or another. UM. But uh, we again, we 320 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: we we we We've done a great job um figuring 321 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: out who we who are targets would be UM not 322 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: having the combine we again, what did we We didn't 323 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: have a chance to interview the guys in person. So 324 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: what Quentin Harrison I did is we put together basically 325 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: a combined style interview process that we that we did 326 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: from the draft room. So instead of having players brought 327 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: up brought in in front of us one by one, 328 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: we did it over zoom and it's the only way 329 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 1: we could do it. And we did it, like I said, 330 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,360 Speaker 1: combine style, twenty minutes on with one kid, next kid 331 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 1: comes in, he's ready, zoom, next guy comes in, and 332 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: we just did it down the line, just like we 333 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: wouldn't indu so wet we don't. We didn't. We weren't 334 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: there in person, but we still got the information, still 335 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: got to talk to the kids, still got to feel 336 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: comfortable about him, talking to him about talked to him 337 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 1: about XS and os, and get comfortable with his mental 338 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: capacity all that stuff. So, so, Drew, where are you 339 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: guys right now in the draft process? Have you already 340 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: stood on the table, Drew? Have you stood on the 341 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 1: table and had it out as to one kid is 342 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: better than one kid. This kid is better than that kid. 343 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 1: What are you doing? You're out of your mind? Have 344 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 1: you have you had those meetings yet? The shoeprints around 345 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: the table wolf there, they're there. The board is up 346 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,880 Speaker 1: and we feel good. Right now, there'll be some minor 347 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: massaging and um, you know, we're still going to do 348 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: a few more interviews over the next couple of days 349 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: and um, and uh, we still have to do a 350 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: medical meeting. Obviously that's going to be a big, a 351 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: big piece to it in terms of you know who 352 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: we feel good about long term medically and you know 353 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 1: short term and that affects your board greatly. But in 354 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: terms of ability, it's up and we feel good about it, 355 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 1: and we feel confident about it. And um, like I said, 356 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 1: right now, it's just gonna be. It's just there's gonna 357 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 1: be little little moves from here on out and and 358 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: we're ready to draft a director of player personnel. Drew 359 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: Griggson joining us on the Big Red Rage presented by 360 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: santan Ford and Gilbert. How true is that as you're 361 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: formulating the big board and everyone's around the big table 362 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 1: in the war room, are you guys all truly in 363 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: the trust tree. Does it get pretty spirited? You all 364 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: know each other pretty well, so I presume you're not 365 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 1: taking a personal but it does it get pretty animated 366 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 1: in there? It does? It does? I mean when when 367 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: a guy does sometimes you know, two three years of 368 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,239 Speaker 1: work on a guy, um, and he feels strong and 369 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: convicted about a guy and he feels that this guy 370 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: could help our team and someone doesn't agree with him. Yeah, 371 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: it hit a little spirited. But I think we do 372 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: a great job of keeping it professional. And you could 373 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: still be convicted and strong with your opinion and and 374 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: you know, and still you know, again be professional and 375 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: doing it. And if I feel that it's going the 376 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: wrong way, I said, you know, gentlemen, let's let's let's 377 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: calm down a little bit. And and uh, you know, 378 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: let's but but yes, and you want that you want 379 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: the conversation to You want your your scouts to be 380 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 1: excited about a guy, and you you you you want 381 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 1: him to have conviction of a bottom one way or another, 382 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: because that's how you hit on a player, and that's 383 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: how you miss on a player if you're not listening 384 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: to those guys, because like I said, sometimes those guys 385 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: are doing three years of work on those guys, so um, yeah, 386 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: it get spirited in a good way. Drew Bill Belichick 387 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 1: is famous for actually interviewing a coach and even though 388 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 1: he may secretly agree with what the coach is saying, 389 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: he'll actually take the opposite side of the argument just 390 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: to see how he responds. Okay, now that's diabolical to 391 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,199 Speaker 1: me as far as I'm concerned. But do you or 392 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: do that with some of your guys? Do you take 393 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 1: the opposite side? Do you be a contrarian that somebody 394 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 1: gets up and says, I love this guy, and do 395 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:11,719 Speaker 1: you just say I want to hear how convicted you 396 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: love this guy? Sure a little bit. Yeah, you know 397 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: you not necessarily want to be a contrarian, but um, 398 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: you know I'll question them and we just because you 399 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,160 Speaker 1: want to get him in the right place on the board. 400 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,159 Speaker 1: And you know, if I want to make sure that 401 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 1: the information they got maybe it's is it any different 402 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 1: than what I got? And I you said this, but 403 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 1: that you got this from this guy, but I got 404 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: this from this guy. You sure you feel good about that? 405 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: And um, you know, just checks and balances and making 406 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: sure that the information that they're presenting is again, they 407 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: feel strong about it, and we feel good about where 408 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: that guy's going on the board. Director of Player Personnel 409 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 1: Drew Griggs and joining us. All right, how about a 410 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: quick scunner report on your most recent signing, James Connor, 411 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: who joins the backfield. Yeah, I was. I was a 412 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: big fan of James coming out and you know his 413 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 1: you know obviously what he went through medically, you know, 414 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: the story starts there and what he came back from 415 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: that tells you about who he is as a person 416 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: um and how he's able to bounce back. I mean, 417 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: I can't even get you out of my car day 418 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 1: to day. You know, my back hurts so bad. And 419 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: this guy's beating cancer and you know, go into Pro Bowl. 420 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 1: So he's That's that's where it starts. And again we've 421 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: added a lot of pieces in free agency of men, 422 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 1: of the leaders of Alpha's and that's what we want 423 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 1: to keep doing. And that's what he is. And uh 424 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: then you look at the ability, and you look at 425 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:30,120 Speaker 1: a big back with outstanding feet that could catch the ball, 426 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:31,959 Speaker 1: that's going to be great on third down, that can 427 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: block um and and he's gonna be good in short 428 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: yard and goal line situations. He's tough, and I just 429 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: think he adds a great you know, one two punch 430 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 1: with with Chase Edmonds with his skill set, so you know, 431 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: a little thunder and lightning. I think I think it's 432 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: gonna be a good mix. You know what's amazing about it, too, 433 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: Drew is I had a coach, an old coach, who 434 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: was really fond of saying, if you pack a locker 435 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: room with enough dogs, even the cats start barking. Okay, 436 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: So right, good guys. You guys have done an unbelievable job. 437 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: I mean, from the very beginning of this offseason and 438 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: roster building of bringing in guys that have a reputation 439 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 1: for being physical and guys also that are leaders. That's 440 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: no action and is it not at all? I mean, 441 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 1: you know, that's the philosophy that Steve kime Um set forth, 442 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 1: and it's our job, between Clinton and Ida to kind 443 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,120 Speaker 1: of stress that to the staff. And that's the those 444 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 1: guys are gonna take priority. And you know, I know 445 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: Steve's talk to you guys about it on the radio before. 446 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,400 Speaker 1: But you know, if we're if we're setting the board 447 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 1: and the guys are that we're looking at two players 448 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: and and they're close inability grade. Those guys that are 449 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:42,400 Speaker 1: that are the alphas, that are the guys that are tough, 450 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,080 Speaker 1: that we feel are a football character. Guys they're gonna 451 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:46,919 Speaker 1: they're gonna go above the other guy. And that's how 452 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: that's how we break the tie on a lot of guys. 453 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: And like we're going to keep filling our locker room 454 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 1: with those guys and and and will if you know 455 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: about playing a long season and in week thirteen, fourteen fifteen, 456 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 1: when things start to fall apart, you know, those are 457 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: the guys that hold it together and those are the 458 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 1: you know, and we need those guys in our locker 459 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 1: And that has been a uh that has been a 460 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: major factor for us in the last couple of years 461 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 1: um in terms of, you know, what we're what we're addressing, 462 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 1: and what we're targeting in the draft end free agency. 463 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: See you sign JJ Watt, there's a pass rusher, right, 464 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: you get the corner and Malcolm Butler, you just got 465 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: the running back. You've you've obtained offensive linemen. So there 466 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 1: doesn't seem to be that glaring need in the draft. 467 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 1: If you look at the mock drafts, Drew and I 468 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,399 Speaker 1: know you guys at times will laugh and mock the 469 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: mock drafts. But Cardinals have been look anywhere from corner 470 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:36,679 Speaker 1: to receiver, to all line to running back to tight end, 471 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: everything all over the board. I take it that's a 472 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 1: good thing right now where the outsiders are really wondering 473 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:46,120 Speaker 1: what direction you might go in round one, that's that's 474 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: a good point. That there's yeah, that there's no glaring, 475 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 1: you know, hole um, and that just gives us a 476 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: chance to take the best player. And that's just I know, 477 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: I know it's very cliche to say, but it is. 478 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,120 Speaker 1: It is so true that you just can't pass any 479 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: good players, no matter what, no matter one position. And 480 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 1: and uh, even if you feel full at that spot, 481 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:05,360 Speaker 1: like if we have a guy up with a high 482 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:07,919 Speaker 1: grade and you know we and we need a linebacker 483 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: and and it's in the that high players at a 484 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,440 Speaker 1: position that's not you still got to take him because, 485 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 1: like you know, you've heard Steve say a thousand times, 486 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: you're your needs in in April aren't the same, aren't 487 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 1: gonna be the same in October. So you just need 488 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: as many good players and your roster as possible. Have 489 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: you guys actually run mock drafts yet? Have you done 490 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 1: that yet? I personally I try to stay away from him. Um, 491 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: I think it take you get Uh, I think you 492 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: can mess you a little bit. I think you just 493 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:40,160 Speaker 1: have to stick to what you and your staff believe. UM, 494 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: because I've looked at mock drafts. When I have looked 495 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,680 Speaker 1: at mock drafts, I just think they're so off sometimes 496 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 1: that I just sit and time. I just can't. You know, 497 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,400 Speaker 1: I just can't. I can't. I can't do it. So UM, 498 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 1: I typically typically typically do not mess with summer or attention. 499 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: So what about you guys, Drew? I mean, I know, 500 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 1: do you guys ever go through the process of running 501 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: a mock draft as well? What? Absolutely ye have done 502 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: that yet? We have not yet? We can do that, uh, 503 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,159 Speaker 1: you know towards the end, right before the draft, and 504 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:10,679 Speaker 1: you know, uh, what we try to do is just 505 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: try to create as many scenarios as possible before we 506 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: get to our pick, whether it's trades or whether it's 507 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 1: um you know, uh, you know a guy that no 508 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 1: one in the room thinks we'd go before. Just so 509 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: when we get to our pick. Okay, and here's the 510 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 1: guys left, Now, what are we gonna do? Right? You know, okay, 511 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 1: which can we should we trade back? Here? Um? Uh? 512 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: You know what what's that? What? What other? So we 513 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: have two guys? We take this guy? So, um we 514 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 1: do that every year. Um. We go around the room 515 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: basically look at basically the teams and needs of everyone 516 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,160 Speaker 1: in front of us, and then each scout picks Okay, 517 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,200 Speaker 1: who who are who are the Jags taken? Who are 518 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: the Jets taking? And we get to our picks that 519 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 1: we do it. Do you care to divulge? What? Who 520 00:25:53,280 --> 00:26:00,680 Speaker 1: you guys? Like? I know you're not a score. Where 521 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:05,920 Speaker 1: is the draft? Ships? Where is the draft the deepest? 522 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,120 Speaker 1: You were you know, long time director of college scouting? 523 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:12,199 Speaker 1: Where do you see the most depth in which positions 524 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 1: in this draft? Something I never say pass rusher. It's 525 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 1: it's a very interesting draft for pass rusher, for inside linebacker. 526 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:23,119 Speaker 1: You know, usually it's receiver. Um, just because there's so 527 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: many bodies and it's never pass rusher. Now it's not 528 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 1: as I don't think it's as deep up top, but 529 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 1: it's like the second third round, it's gonna get real interesting. 530 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: There's a lot of counted guys um in the you know, 531 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 1: second third, fourth round. They are they're gonna fly off 532 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: the board. It's there's gonna be a run from them 533 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:43,400 Speaker 1: at some point, because there's it's a very very good group. Drew. 534 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:48,880 Speaker 1: How's your arm rustling coming? I mean, is that I'm 535 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: looking hired. I no longer participating in arm wrestling. But now, 536 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 1: wait a minute, are they still twenty? Are the guns 537 00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: still twenty? They're they're hanging in there. Um haven't. I 538 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: haven't measured in a while. But you know what, the 539 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: white the wife still approved, so I must feel something, right. 540 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,679 Speaker 1: He's one of the few executives the NFL. He has 541 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:14,680 Speaker 1: a workout bonus in his conte. There's still got a motor. 542 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 1: That's the good. Love you, buddy, Thank you so much. 543 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 1: I got to get it in the morning. Guys, absolutely, Drew, 544 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:28,399 Speaker 1: thank you, appreciate the infus. Okay man than the director 545 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 1: of player Personnel and uh yeah, well it was by 546 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 1: design adding the leaders in the alpha. Yes, And we'll 547 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 1: go through some more what Drew had to say about 548 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty one draft. Next on the Big Red 549 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: Range breaking news. J J. Watt is going to the desert. 550 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:51,120 Speaker 1: WHOA that is not photos? I know, he said. Adam 551 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: Schepter just reported it Wow. The first thing I did 552 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: was take a look at the tape and quickly realized 553 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 1: that m J. J. Watt still look like J. J. 554 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: Watt In my opinion, Jen, he walks on the field. 555 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 1: He don't think there's anybody in the reading better than him. 556 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,639 Speaker 1: It feels like the Arizona Cardinals are going all in. 557 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 1: We had the opportunities to make some reason to be aggressive. 558 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 1: You know, it's business at the end of the day, 559 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 1: and you know thing's gonna change to get traded to Arizon. 560 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: It's a pleas of anyone to the best days of 561 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 1: my life, a little different, thing different. There isn't enough 562 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:35,680 Speaker 1: energy in the valley already. We're gonna try and turn 563 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: it up even a few more notches. The unmistakable theme 564 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: of flight Plan, season four of the Emmy Award winning 565 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: series Cardinals. Flight Plan. It premiers next Thursday, April twenty second, 566 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: at seven o'clock on the Cardinal's YouTube channel, and a 567 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 1: lot of great insight stuff. You're from a lot of 568 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 1: the newcomers in there, starting with JJ Watt and all 569 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 1: the way down to retaining Mark Scolden and Wolf. We 570 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: just served the director of player Personnel, Drew Grigson here 571 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 1: on the big red rage presented by santan Ford and 572 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: Gilbert saying that quote adding men, adding leaders, adding alpha's 573 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: in response to your question whether it was by design, 574 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: So yes, it was a definitive Yes, that was the plan. 575 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: You know what, Polly, it really is and it's a plan, 576 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: no doubt. Steve Kim has already talked about that he 577 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 1: needed to get more physically said, and he needed to 578 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: better leadership, he thought in the locker room, and those 579 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: two things they have gone out. And my goodness, Paul, Honestly, 580 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 1: every signing, every acquisition, every trade, every roster spot that 581 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 1: they actually brought in, it really checks those two boxes 582 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: right there, even right down to an AJ Green, who 583 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: is a big get off the press, physical type wide receiver. 584 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 1: If you ask him to block, he's gonna block. I 585 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 1: mean we talked about it after the signing of AJ Green, 586 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: for example, if you were to name the top three 587 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 1: receivers at making contested catches over the last decade, DeAndre Hopkins, 588 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: Larry Fitzgerald and A J. Green. Honestly, so you're right, 589 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 1: a guy who'll fight for the football, whether it's Rodney 590 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: Hudson and Brian Winters. Would you call those two guys maulers? Right, 591 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: Malcolm Butler who had over one hundred tackles as a cornerback. So, Paula, 592 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:27,080 Speaker 1: I'll tell you right now, Matt Prador will walk bull 593 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:31,320 Speaker 1: legged grash you on a Saturday night. Gay. Yeah, maybe me, 594 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: but not an NFL player. I got ball. This guy 595 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 1: is full on kick or right in a grizzled veteran 596 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 1: at that. So I love it, man, I just love 597 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,480 Speaker 1: the moves that they've made right now. This was not 598 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:48,720 Speaker 1: an accident. And James Connor is the cherry on top 599 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: of this offseason as far as I'm concerned. And look, 600 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:55,600 Speaker 1: it gets back for everything that everyone says about Cliff 601 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: Kingsbury and they mistakenly called the air raid offense and 602 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 1: so forth. Okay, it still gets back to running the ball, yes, 603 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:05,960 Speaker 1: and stopping the run to such a large degree, Paul, 604 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 1: isn't that crazy, Paul? I mean, think about it right now, 605 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 1: the football universe, Paul, what you just said, it's still 606 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:15,240 Speaker 1: even though the way you do it might be changing. 607 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 1: The way you do it, the how is different, but 608 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 1: it's still football, isn't it? Ultimately? And because of what 609 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 1: you just said right there, man, I think this is 610 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 1: exactly the direction the Arizona Cardinals are headed in. Now, 611 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 1: will it result in more wins? I don't know, but 612 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: I guarantee you this much, it's going to resolve a 613 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 1: lot more and a lot more bloody noses from opposing players. 614 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 1: And look, I know the analytics guys right now are saying, calvci, 615 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 1: where are you. It's a passing league. You know, Kyle 616 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: Outguard is somewhere right now taking my name in vain. 617 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 1: But here's my response to that is that when the 618 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 1: Cardinals was truly rolling the second half of twenty nineteen, 619 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:54,800 Speaker 1: in the first half of two twenty, what was a 620 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:58,480 Speaker 1: common denominator? An effective running game? You got that right? 621 00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 1: And where did the Cardinals fail on defense in the 622 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: most critical moments? And Vance Joseph was pretty darn honest 623 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:06,000 Speaker 1: about it with us a couple of months ago here 624 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 1: in the Big Red Rage, they finished into the bottom 625 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 1: third and run defense. So when I look at jj 626 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 1: Watt for everything that he brings, and there's a lot, 627 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,080 Speaker 1: we just fill a whole show talking about his resume, 628 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 1: the fact that he led the NFL and tackles for 629 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 1: loss against the run last year. Yes, that's huge. And 630 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:26,280 Speaker 1: that's my intro here to Jim Trotter in the NFL Network, 631 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 1: just talking about jj Watt here recently in that interior 632 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 1: presence that he provides. Talking in Advanced Joseph, one of 633 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 1: the things that jj Watt brings besides leadership is an 634 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,640 Speaker 1: interior presence. In the Nickel package, they haven't got much 635 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 1: pressure up the middle when it comes to the pass rush, 636 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 1: you know, when they go to that package, and they 637 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 1: believe that with jj Watt they're complementing Chandler Jones, they 638 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: should be able to generate that pressure. And Wolf DJ 639 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: talked about it with us, especially when you're thinking about 640 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:56,040 Speaker 1: putting jj Watt and Chandler Jones on the same side 641 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:58,680 Speaker 1: of the line. Yeah, you right, Paulie. But you've got 642 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 1: to get to those third and Nabby pass situations, right, 643 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 1: You got to get to those situations where you can 644 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:06,520 Speaker 1: use all that talent, and that means you got to 645 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 1: stop the run first. It still is. It is an 646 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 1: amazing thing. Look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 647 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 1: offense that they actually run, right that is, paul there's 648 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 1: a lot of elements that are right out of nineteen 649 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:22,800 Speaker 1: ninety five Okay, Paul, I'm just gonna tell you that 650 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 1: right now. Even further back than that, like a seven 651 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: man slide protection, Okay, I mean this is this is 652 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:34,240 Speaker 1: still a league where you've got to be physical on 653 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:36,520 Speaker 1: the lineup scrimmage, and JJ Watt is going to go 654 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 1: a long, long way and helping the Arizona Cardinals be 655 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 1: more physical in terms of stopping the run. You've got 656 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:46,840 Speaker 1: to keep a three dimensional approach to the game of football. 657 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:49,240 Speaker 1: You've got if you're an offense, you've got to make 658 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 1: the defense wonder what it is you're gonna do. Are 659 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 1: you gonna run it, Are you gonna throw it? Or 660 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: are you're gonna act like you're gonna run it and 661 00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:59,120 Speaker 1: then throw it. You gotta keep them guessing, Paul. And 662 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 1: you know what, speaking at JJ Watt and Chandler Jones, 663 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:05,720 Speaker 1: how about Drew Grigson moments ago telling us that the 664 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 1: most depth in this draft is a pass rusher. And 665 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:14,560 Speaker 1: you never say that, So it makes me wonder. As 666 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:18,280 Speaker 1: wrong as the mock drafts are typically and annually, everyone 667 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:20,320 Speaker 1: who thinks the Cardinals are going corner or maybe a 668 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:23,399 Speaker 1: receiver at sixteen, if that edge guy is there, don't 669 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 1: forget Chandler Jones in the final year of his contract. 670 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:28,800 Speaker 1: JJ Watt is above the age of thirty Marcus Golden 671 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 1: on a two year deal. I would not be surprised 672 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:33,800 Speaker 1: if they go edge rusher at number sixteen. That's a 673 00:34:33,840 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 1: good point, Paul. It's going to be very interesting to 674 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:38,680 Speaker 1: see who's there at sixteen. I'll tell you this much. 675 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 1: They can get a great football player at sixteen, Penn. Again, 676 00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 1: if it's that deep, maybe that edge guy, maybe that 677 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 1: pass rusher comes in round two. We'll see where. Two 678 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 1: weeks away tomorrow night from the NFL Draft, we continue 679 00:34:52,080 --> 00:34:54,680 Speaker 1: with a big red rage presented by Santan Board in 680 00:34:54,719 --> 00:35:02,760 Speaker 1: Gilbert Rooppolo back to path, throws over the middle behind 681 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:05,799 Speaker 1: the attendive receiver, and a diving interception at the five 682 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 1: yard line. It's Jalen Thompson with a pick. I think 683 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 1: Jayalen Thompson is just scratching the surface of what he 684 00:35:13,239 --> 00:35:16,400 Speaker 1: could possibly become. Quick bro over the middle. It's broken 685 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:19,880 Speaker 1: up at the forty yard line incomplete by Jalen Thompson. 686 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,360 Speaker 1: Made a good play breaking on the receiver. You watch 687 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:26,440 Speaker 1: Jaalen Thompson right there lined up there to slop that 688 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: was just what a corner would typically do the way 689 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:32,839 Speaker 1: he broke on that slam Sarron Wolflat. It was joined 690 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:35,120 Speaker 1: by day Pash there the collective voice of the airs 691 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:37,240 Speaker 1: on a Cardinals and the Airs on a Cardinals radio network. 692 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:39,720 Speaker 1: Here on the Big Red Rage, you might be asking yourself, well, 693 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:44,319 Speaker 1: why was there a montage of Jalen Thompson there from 694 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:47,560 Speaker 1: our fine producer Jim Almahandro And the answer is that, 695 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:51,000 Speaker 1: you know what, it's an astute observation that Jalen Thompson 696 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:55,200 Speaker 1: has yet to have a traditional offseason. He's actually yet 697 00:35:55,239 --> 00:35:57,280 Speaker 1: to have an offseason of any sort in the NFL, 698 00:35:57,320 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 1: and he's entering his third season in the NFL. Because 699 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:02,520 Speaker 1: if you were a call as a rookie, he was 700 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:04,920 Speaker 1: taken in the supplemental draft in July and then just 701 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:07,680 Speaker 1: showed up for training camp. And then, of course last year, 702 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:12,320 Speaker 1: the entire offseason was wiped out except being held virtually 703 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 1: because of the pandemics. So here we go again, as 704 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:18,319 Speaker 1: the NFL released a memo to teams today, it's going 705 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:21,520 Speaker 1: to be a nine week offseason schedule. Everything will be 706 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:26,759 Speaker 1: voluntary wolf except for one mandatory mini camp. Yeah, Paul 707 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:31,239 Speaker 1: him one mandatory mini camp and everything being voluntary in 708 00:36:31,239 --> 00:36:34,200 Speaker 1: the off season, it's really really important, I think that 709 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:37,120 Speaker 1: you get your work out there, especially for the young guys. Paul. 710 00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 1: It's so difficult to make a roster coming in as 711 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 1: a rookie unless you're a high round pick, a guy 712 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:46,160 Speaker 1: that's taken in the first, second, third round, even the 713 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:49,239 Speaker 1: fourth round. I would say anything after that. It's kind 714 00:36:49,239 --> 00:36:52,799 Speaker 1: of a toss it up in the air proposition right now. 715 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:55,880 Speaker 1: It's difficult to make a team, and you got to 716 00:36:55,960 --> 00:36:58,279 Speaker 1: know what you're doing before you can actually make a 717 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:01,880 Speaker 1: roster an Ota, they go a long, long way for 718 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 1: a young guy to actually get the offense down, get 719 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:08,399 Speaker 1: the defense down, and then maybe go out and try 720 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:11,520 Speaker 1: to execute and play. And I should say the NFL 721 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:15,400 Speaker 1: has allowed for rookie mini camps in the weeks following 722 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:19,279 Speaker 1: this year's draft, so that has been provided for. But 723 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:22,640 Speaker 1: starting Monday, they're going to start having virtual zoom meetings 724 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 1: two hours per day and that's going to be the 725 00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 1: beginning of the NFL offseason work. And look, this has 726 00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:33,720 Speaker 1: been a process obviously between the league and the NFLPA. 727 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:37,640 Speaker 1: In fact, the president Brown Center JC Tredder, he was 728 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:40,600 Speaker 1: on the rich eisens Show was asked if he thinks 729 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:44,080 Speaker 1: there's going to be a boycott of these voluntary workouts. 730 00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:47,280 Speaker 1: I don't think boycott's the word. I think to start 731 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:51,480 Speaker 1: the off season is voluntary. And I think guys right 732 00:37:51,520 --> 00:37:54,399 Speaker 1: now are making an informed decision about what's in their 733 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:57,520 Speaker 1: best interest when it comes to their health and safety. 734 00:37:57,560 --> 00:37:59,600 Speaker 1: And that's what being a professional is all about, is 735 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:02,480 Speaker 1: making it formed decisions for what's best for your your health, 736 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:05,919 Speaker 1: your career. And guys, you're doing that and we're seeing 737 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:07,799 Speaker 1: those those people come out and come forward and say 738 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:10,040 Speaker 1: what they want to do moving forward. That's well said 739 00:38:10,120 --> 00:38:13,759 Speaker 1: right there, Polly, it really is, because everyone's situation is different, Paul. 740 00:38:14,080 --> 00:38:17,719 Speaker 1: Everyone's situation not only when it comes to making a 741 00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:21,520 Speaker 1: football team and making a roster. Everyone's situation is different. 742 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:26,320 Speaker 1: But everyone's personal health situation even at home, is different 743 00:38:26,360 --> 00:38:32,160 Speaker 1: as well, and every situation state by state is different. 744 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:37,280 Speaker 1: Where Michigan is right now, you can understand the reason 745 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:39,919 Speaker 1: the Lions players may have voted the way they did, 746 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:42,120 Speaker 1: which is very different than a lot of other states. 747 00:38:42,120 --> 00:38:45,480 Speaker 1: So yes, well that ruined your summer plans, then they Polly, 748 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:48,040 Speaker 1: going back to the Motor City wheren't you going back there, 749 00:38:48,080 --> 00:38:51,000 Speaker 1: Paul wolf Um. You know I'm going to take the fifth. 750 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:53,520 Speaker 1: I'm not being able to see the in laws this summer, 751 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:57,840 Speaker 1: so all right, I'm sorry, Paul. Probably shouldn't answer on 752 00:38:57,840 --> 00:39:00,719 Speaker 1: whether that's a plus or a minus. Anyway, what I 753 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:02,520 Speaker 1: was going to bring up was the fact that look 754 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:04,440 Speaker 1: at last year in the off season, and I wonder, 755 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:06,560 Speaker 1: you tell me you spent ten years in the league. 756 00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:10,040 Speaker 1: Do you think the veterans are saying, Hey, maybe everyone 757 00:39:10,120 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: overestimated the importance of these offseason programs. Oh, there's no 758 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:18,839 Speaker 1: doubt and the preseason games, of which there were none, right, 759 00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:21,640 Speaker 1: I mean, they just went into the season last year 760 00:39:21,920 --> 00:39:24,800 Speaker 1: and dropped the plow and went straight forward forward. And 761 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:27,279 Speaker 1: now I wonder what some of these players are thinking, Yeah, 762 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:30,000 Speaker 1: there's no doubt, Paul. And if you're an established player too, 763 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:32,640 Speaker 1: maybe you're just thinking to yourself, Man, I don't need 764 00:39:32,719 --> 00:39:34,960 Speaker 1: to be out on that field. I don't need to 765 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:37,759 Speaker 1: be I do know this right now, the Union is 766 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:41,600 Speaker 1: going to use OTAs it's going to use this offseason 767 00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:46,000 Speaker 1: and the experience of COVID and this pandemic and the 768 00:39:46,040 --> 00:39:48,680 Speaker 1: way that it's impacted the offseason. I think they're going 769 00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:51,840 Speaker 1: to use that as a bargaining chip going forward, because 770 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:56,160 Speaker 1: that's what any good union would do, is use it 771 00:39:56,360 --> 00:40:00,719 Speaker 1: as a bargaining chip going forward to get something may 772 00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:04,319 Speaker 1: want down the line. And guess what, the owners just 773 00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:08,279 Speaker 1: got seventeen games, and so you know, this is a 774 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:11,360 Speaker 1: pollie to a lot of people, say, wow, that's CBA. 775 00:40:11,520 --> 00:40:14,960 Speaker 1: Now that's a decade away, and listen, they can always 776 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:18,880 Speaker 1: put an addendum to it, and they talk throughout the 777 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:24,520 Speaker 1: length of ANYCBA to begin with, no doubt, there's no doubt. 778 00:40:24,640 --> 00:40:28,920 Speaker 1: I also wonder if it contributed to the direction the 779 00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:32,560 Speaker 1: Cardinals went was signing a lot of veterans this offseason. 780 00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:35,640 Speaker 1: You know, when you get guys in their thirties around 781 00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:37,719 Speaker 1: the age of thirty. You know, James Connor was kind 782 00:40:37,719 --> 00:40:41,120 Speaker 1: of conspicuous by signing that he's in his mid twenties. 783 00:40:41,239 --> 00:40:43,279 Speaker 1: Most of the other guys that Cardinals said, well, guess what, 784 00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:47,719 Speaker 1: those guys are plugged in play in an uncertain offseason 785 00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:52,000 Speaker 1: where you might not have the ability to practice together 786 00:40:52,040 --> 00:40:54,480 Speaker 1: as a team very much. No, that's right, Paulie. It's 787 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:57,040 Speaker 1: gonna be really, really interesting. But I just love the 788 00:40:57,080 --> 00:41:02,560 Speaker 1: fact you said James Connor once again. Listen, first down maker, 789 00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:06,200 Speaker 1: hand him the ball off run some power schemes in 790 00:41:06,239 --> 00:41:09,359 Speaker 1: between the tackle. Watch him hit the angles and hit 791 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:12,480 Speaker 1: the hole and punch a hole into that front seven. 792 00:41:12,520 --> 00:41:14,840 Speaker 1: I want to see that, Paul. Yes, somebody tells me 793 00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:16,760 Speaker 1: he's going to dear himself to you and the style 794 00:41:16,760 --> 00:41:18,680 Speaker 1: of football you love. We know he endeared himself to 795 00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:22,880 Speaker 1: the Steelers fans. He grew a mullet in twenty eighteen 796 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:25,400 Speaker 1: just to fit in in Pittsburgh. Walk You realize that 797 00:41:25,480 --> 00:41:27,240 Speaker 1: he was a fan favorite just based on his mullet, 798 00:41:27,239 --> 00:41:29,480 Speaker 1: and of course everyone else grew it as well. PAULI, 799 00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:32,399 Speaker 1: I'm mimicking him. Yeah, so it was. It was part 800 00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:35,320 Speaker 1: of the Yinzer culture. We need to brother on to 801 00:41:35,640 --> 00:41:39,319 Speaker 1: explain the yser culture in the burg. Back to wrap 802 00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:41,239 Speaker 1: up this ddition to the Big Red Rage presented by 803 00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:48,680 Speaker 1: Santan four in Gilbert Connor sweeps the left side, got 804 00:41:48,719 --> 00:41:53,399 Speaker 1: a block at the Tim Connor the five the touchdown, Well, 805 00:41:53,440 --> 00:41:56,120 Speaker 1: you just brought him another leader. This guy doesn't take 806 00:41:56,200 --> 00:41:59,399 Speaker 1: a second place to anybody. He's a great young man 807 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:02,360 Speaker 1: to the Pro Bowl a couple of years ago. I 808 00:42:02,520 --> 00:42:04,839 Speaker 1: just have a lot of respect to the young man 809 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:07,160 Speaker 1: and what he's done and what he's accomplished in a 810 00:42:07,320 --> 00:42:10,400 Speaker 1: very short period of fact. He's an above average pass 811 00:42:10,480 --> 00:42:13,000 Speaker 1: catcher out of the backfield. I think that's an area 812 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:15,600 Speaker 1: they can explore more with him because I think he's 813 00:42:15,719 --> 00:42:18,640 Speaker 1: capable of flipping the field a lot like Levian beld 814 00:42:18,719 --> 00:42:21,440 Speaker 1: It back in his a day. That's a good yet, 815 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:24,680 Speaker 1: And you had an inside angle. I'm your big brother, 816 00:42:24,840 --> 00:42:28,160 Speaker 1: Craig Wolfley this week and on eight SEVENFM Arizona Sports. 817 00:42:28,160 --> 00:42:30,480 Speaker 1: There he was talking about James Conner, a player with 818 00:42:30,520 --> 00:42:34,280 Speaker 1: which he is very familiar from day one as Steelers 819 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:38,040 Speaker 1: radio analyst. And wolf you tell me what else did 820 00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:41,279 Speaker 1: your brother tell you about James Conner. Well, just the 821 00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:43,360 Speaker 1: fact that he's a great guy. But I think we 822 00:42:43,520 --> 00:42:47,400 Speaker 1: already know that about James Connor. He's not flashy polly 823 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:50,520 Speaker 1: like we were talking about earlier. He's not a take 824 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:53,120 Speaker 1: it to the house type running back. He's a guy 825 00:42:53,160 --> 00:42:55,600 Speaker 1: that's going to move the chains. And to think about 826 00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:58,520 Speaker 1: short yardage. We've already talked about it, short yardage and 827 00:42:58,600 --> 00:43:03,000 Speaker 1: goal line situations. He's going to improve the Arizona Cardinals 828 00:43:03,040 --> 00:43:05,880 Speaker 1: odds in those short yardage and goal line situation. He 829 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:08,719 Speaker 1: runs well between the tackles, he can hold up in 830 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:11,600 Speaker 1: play action. What I also love about it, Paulie, is 831 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:13,799 Speaker 1: just the fact that he knows he's running a four 832 00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:16,880 Speaker 1: to six. Okay, he he's not going to try to 833 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:20,040 Speaker 1: run sideways, He's not going to try to run around you. 834 00:43:20,320 --> 00:43:22,799 Speaker 1: He knows he's running a four to six. And that 835 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,680 Speaker 1: means here comes a little giddy up. Oh at six one, 836 00:43:25,760 --> 00:43:28,440 Speaker 1: two hundred and thirty three pounds, a little wiggle and 837 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:31,440 Speaker 1: then pick a side and rent And that's what I 838 00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:33,799 Speaker 1: can't wait to see. And you know what, I can't 839 00:43:33,840 --> 00:43:36,000 Speaker 1: wait to see him in those situations. Like you just 840 00:43:36,040 --> 00:43:38,919 Speaker 1: said it, I'll sit a specific one. Remember the loss 841 00:43:38,960 --> 00:43:43,359 Speaker 1: at New England. It was week twelve, just a vexing loss, yes, 842 00:43:43,560 --> 00:43:47,320 Speaker 1: so many different ways as New England at scoring drives 843 00:43:47,320 --> 00:43:49,719 Speaker 1: that covered forty six and thirty five and thirty one 844 00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:52,240 Speaker 1: and thirty three yards and cam Newton had a passer 845 00:43:52,320 --> 00:43:54,799 Speaker 1: rating under thirty and somehow the Patriots found a way 846 00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:57,480 Speaker 1: to win that game. Well, if you remember, right before 847 00:43:57,560 --> 00:44:01,160 Speaker 1: the half the final play four in goal at the 848 00:44:01,200 --> 00:44:05,120 Speaker 1: Patriots won and the Cardinals were stone. They were stopped 849 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:09,440 Speaker 1: no points. Now you hand that ball off to James 850 00:44:09,480 --> 00:44:12,600 Speaker 1: Conner and how do you like those odds? See, this 851 00:44:12,680 --> 00:44:15,640 Speaker 1: is why you're such a downer ball and we're playing 852 00:44:15,640 --> 00:44:20,440 Speaker 1: the music and suddenly you bring off that play right there. 853 00:44:20,960 --> 00:44:25,440 Speaker 1: That was diabolical to happen to a team right before 854 00:44:25,520 --> 00:44:28,400 Speaker 1: the half. You know. The only thing worse is a 855 00:44:28,440 --> 00:44:33,240 Speaker 1: linebacker picking the ball off and running it back yards. 856 00:44:33,280 --> 00:44:37,600 Speaker 1: Were a touchdown? No no, and Larry Fischild running an 857 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:41,200 Speaker 1: Antrell role on the sideline as James Harrison's going the 858 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:44,000 Speaker 1: other bits. Well, if we had such a great show, 859 00:44:44,040 --> 00:44:46,680 Speaker 1: what are you doing? I know you brought us down, palling. 860 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:49,920 Speaker 1: I mean that's where my brain went when you brought 861 00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:52,239 Speaker 1: us down. I thinking right now, Drew Grigg's the same 862 00:44:52,280 --> 00:44:54,759 Speaker 1: footprints are on the table on the ball room. That's 863 00:44:54,840 --> 00:44:58,120 Speaker 1: me right now. Okay, Special Banks, Jim Almahandro, Cody Fincher, 864 00:44:58,120 --> 00:45:01,359 Speaker 1: the director of player Personnel for Upball. That's the Big 865 00:45:01,360 --> 00:45:11,040 Speaker 1: Red Rage Number one. You've been listening to The Big 866 00:45:11,080 --> 00:45:16,680 Speaker 1: Red Rage presented by Santanford in Guildall are you? Santanford 867 00:45:17,200 --> 00:45:20,600 Speaker 1: State Farm talk to an Agent today at eight hundred 868 00:45:20,680 --> 00:45:26,080 Speaker 1: State Farm and by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts, Visit Acy cardinals 869 00:45:26,120 --> 00:45:30,440 Speaker 1: dot com slash podcasts. This has been an exclusive presentation 870 00:45:30,520 --> 00:45:32,760 Speaker 1: of the Arizona Cardinals football Club