1 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: It is a Football Friday Week seventeen edition, a beat 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: La edition. Welcome Birg Gang. On today's show, Zach Gershman 3 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: joins me beat the Rams on Saturday. And not only 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: do you sweep the season series, which would be nice, 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: but you put a dents in their playoff hopes and hey, 6 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: if the Cardinals can't make the playoffs, then neither should 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: the Rams. 8 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 2: Right. 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: Also, we head an enemy territory catch up once again 10 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: with Jordan Rodrigue. She covers the Rams for the athletic 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: at Cardinals Cover two, episode eight thirty six, and it 12 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: starts now. 13 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 3: Welcome to Cardinals Cover two. 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 1: Bud to Baker, What Heart? What rent? This guy's unbelievable. 15 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 3: Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of 16 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 3: the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals 17 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 3: dot Com slash podcast. 18 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: He's ad a ten half of five. 19 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: He's it again, are Hurry Magic? 20 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 3: Whow Here's Craigler. 21 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: So I'm not gonna make the same mistake as I 22 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: did last Friday. And actually there were several mistakes made 23 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: when talking about Zach's in season travels with the team. 24 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: But I can't say this. I think this is accurate. 25 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: This is the first time you are going on back 26 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: to back road trips in consecutive weeks. 27 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 2: Correct, That is correct? All right, good, so that we 28 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: got one. All right, this is where we do the 29 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: round of applause. Appreciate that and I did it in 30 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: a round. So all right, Well, speaking of browns and 31 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 2: coming full circle, is the washing machine fixed? The washing 32 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 2: machine has been fixed enough. I haven't tried. Yeah, I 33 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 2: don't know. I haven't tried to do another little laundry 34 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: since it's only been a week enough. 35 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: That's interesting. I'm trying to think what that mean. I 36 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: let the dude in. He fixed it. 37 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 2: I hope hopefully he doesn't have to come back to 38 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 2: all right, there you to fix it, but I just 39 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: haven't tried it yet. So stay tuned for next week. 40 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: This could be an ongoing thing. Zach Kershman and his 41 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: ever evolving washing machine issues. Okay, all right, there's no 42 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: easy transition, so I'm just gonna jump right into it. 43 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: Cardinals at the Rams on Saturday night. Yes, Zach will 44 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: be there kickoff six ' ten. Pregame coverage begins at 45 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: one thirty. A little bit later on we'll be joined 46 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: once again by Jordan Rodrigg. We talked to her before 47 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: the week two matchup against the Rams. We'll do it 48 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: again before here in week seventeen, she covers the Rams 49 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: for the Athletic and again this is This was a 50 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: game that many people had been looking forward to late 51 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: this season, especially given the schedule as it was, and 52 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: even losing at home and on the road to the 53 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: Seattle Seahawks. If you had only taken care of business 54 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: against the Panthers as you did against the Patriots in 55 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: the previous week, then this matchup in La not quite 56 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:01,959 Speaker 1: for the division title, but certainly would go a long 57 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: way and determining who wins the NFC West. And now 58 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: that's not the case. 59 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 2: Of course, And to do it underneath the Saturday night 60 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 2: lights would have been all that much better and that 61 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 2: would have made the flight back to the Valley a 62 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 2: lot much more enjoyable. But look, there's a lot of 63 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 2: things that went wrong in the game against the Carolina Panthers. 64 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 2: Since we haven't had the opportunity to talk about it, 65 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 2: at least with microphones in front of us, I think 66 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, the self afflicted wounds 67 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 2: that truly hurt the Arizona Cardinals, going down twenty to three, 68 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 2: the eight penalties in the first quarter, all the different 69 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 2: things that the Cardinals had to face. It was just 70 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 2: a little, it was a little, just too late for 71 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 2: the Arizona Cardinals, who made a valiant come back. Don't 72 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 2: get me wrong, being down by seventeen, going down the field, 73 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: having chid Ryland nailed through a fifty eight yard field 74 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 2: goal with Zeros on the clock to send the Cardinals 75 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: to overtime. It just Chewba Hubbard. Chewba Hubbard showed why 76 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 2: he was one of the NFL's one of the NFL's 77 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: lead backs and potentially a Pro Bowl handed it because 78 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 2: of how well he's played, and the Cardinals saw that firsthand. 79 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: Sloppy play on offense, sloppy play on defense, and this 80 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: Cardinals team is seven and eight, officially eliminated from the 81 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: playoff picture. The Rams, meanwhile, come in with a record 82 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: of nine and six. Once upon a time they were 83 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: one and four, Yet they have won four in a 84 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 1: row eight of ten since their bye week. Before we 85 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 1: dive into our conversation with Jordan, quick check of the 86 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: injury reports as far as who's playing who's not playing. 87 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: As far as the good news, Mac Wilson Senior, no 88 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 1: designation on the injury reports. In fact, he was a 89 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: full participants in Thursday's practice, which is great to see, 90 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: not only read, but great to see as we saw 91 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:45,919 Speaker 1: him out there during the open portion of practice, but 92 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 1: missed last week with the concussion. But Mac is as 93 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: Jonathan Gannon said, good to go. 94 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: Mac is back, and he posted on social media back 95 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 2: in motion and he wrote, let's finish. And I think 96 00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 2: that that's something that this Cardinals team has talked a 97 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 2: lot about in the locker room when we've spoken to 98 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: them throughout the week, is let's finish on a high note. 99 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 2: Clearly this game against the Rams that the preparation for 100 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 2: it, it does not have the same at stake. I mean, 101 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: you'll obviously want to come out with the win, but 102 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 2: we're not playing anymore. With the playoff scenarios, what the 103 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 2: Cardinals need to do, what the Rams need to do, 104 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 2: where the Seahawks need to do for the Cardinals to 105 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 2: be playing in through mid January, the significance of the 106 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 2: matchup definitely has drastically has changed. But let's finish has 107 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 2: been a motto that I've heard plenty of times through 108 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: speaking with the guys, because we saw last year what 109 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 2: finishing strong towards the end of the season can truly 110 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: do for a team as an important offseason is on 111 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 2: the horizon. This pass offseason was important. This upcoming offseason 112 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 2: is certainly going to be important as well, and you 113 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 2: need wins like this, a division win on the road, 114 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 2: to continue to stack those to give you that momentum 115 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 2: into the offseason. 116 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: This is what's still at stake if you will for 117 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: the Hoars on the Cardinals, and whether you believe it 118 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: or not, or we'll get on board or not, that's 119 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: up to you. But hey, finish with a winning record, 120 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: that's a big deal. Finish four and two within the division, 121 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: that's a big deal. No, momentum does not carry over 122 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: from one season to the next, but the confidence certainly does. 123 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: And if you can finish strong going into the offseason 124 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: and feeling good about where this team is headed in 125 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: the process, because the process is only as good as 126 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: the results at the end of the process. But if 127 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: you go eight to nine or nine and eight and 128 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, Okay, what we're hearing, what is 129 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: being coached? What is being taught, it is manufactured into wins, 130 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: and now all of a sudden going into year three, yeah, 131 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: the expectations will get larger. But bottom line is you've 132 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: got to be able to finish the job this season. 133 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:45,919 Speaker 2: You had four wins in the last two seasons, and 134 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: you have a chance, and with a win this weekend, 135 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 2: which is the expectation against the Los Angeles Rams or 136 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: the following weekend, you have the chance to double your 137 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 2: win total from the previous two seasons. And I know 138 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 2: you mentioned whether the fans want to be on board 139 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 2: with it or not, the season still is going whether 140 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 2: you were eliminated in week ten or you're eliminated in 141 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: week sixteen like the Arizona Cardinals are. The season is 142 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 2: still going to be going on whether whether fans like 143 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: it or not. But I recognize the frustration that people 144 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 2: might be feeling. But I will say to people that 145 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 2: are listening to Cardinals cover two here, as frustrated as 146 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: you might be, the players are equally as frustrated. And 147 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: that's something that Johnathangan has talked about. They're disappointed in 148 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: that locker room, in that meeting room after they came 149 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 2: back from Carolina, that flight back Buddha Baker spoke about 150 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: it was definitely a rough one. They definitely felt a 151 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 2: little bit sorry for themselves. Now, as Nakwon Jones says 152 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 2: to me, we have a job to do, and that 153 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: job is to beat the Los Angeles Rams. 154 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: And that's what we've heard consistently because you bring up 155 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: the role of spoiler or how do you overcome what happened? 156 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: And maybe you shut guys down because they're hurt, they're 157 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: banged up. What's left to play for? And you get 158 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: weird looks, raised eyebrows and like, what are you even 159 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: talking about? I was brought here for a job, whether 160 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: you're a coach or a player. This is my job 161 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: and I'm not gonna all of a sudden stop doing 162 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: my job just because there's no playoffs in sight. The season, 163 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: as you keep talking about, Zach, it's an ongoing season. 164 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,239 Speaker 1: It doesn't season just stand and end after Week sixteen 165 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: because the Cardinals were eliminated. 166 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 2: The playoff hopes might have ended, but the chase to 167 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 2: improve weekend and week out to go one and oh 168 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 2: for that week, it doesn't stop. And that chase and 169 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 2: that hunger to want to go one to no, not 170 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,959 Speaker 2: just on your win loss column. But in the offseason, 171 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 2: what are the Cardinals going to be able to do 172 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 2: to go one and oh during strength and conditioning programs, 173 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 2: during the different phases, during training camps, all of these 174 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 2: things that the season ends. 175 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: And the. 176 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 2: Hitting on the football field, the going between the white lines, 177 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 2: that might end after the Cardinals after the clockhead zero 178 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 2: against the San Francisco forty nine Ers in Week eighteen 179 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 2: at State Farm Stadium. I get that. But that's why 180 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 2: these wins and these games against the Los Angeles against 181 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 2: the San Francisco forty nine ers are that much more important. 182 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 2: Because we've talked about the win in Philadelphia from last 183 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: season and how much that meant to the culture. That 184 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 2: was a culture win. The win against the Pittsburgh Steelers 185 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 2: with all the different weather delays that they had, those 186 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 2: are culture wins. This season, the Cardinals have a lot 187 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,839 Speaker 2: of culture wins. They won on Monday Night Football. They 188 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: were able to go to San Francisco and put together 189 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 2: a game winning drive. I think they've had culture moments. 190 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 2: Chad Ryland, namely through a fifty eight yard field goal 191 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 2: against the Carolina Panthers to tie the game with Zeros 192 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 2: on the clock that's a culture building moment for this team, 193 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 2: and you could have a monumental culture building moment with 194 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 2: a win over the Los Angeles Rams on primetime football 195 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 2: on Saturday Night. Cardinals have won two of their last 196 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 2: three visits to sofar stadium against six ' ten is 197 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 2: the kickoff if they are to get a win on 198 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 2: Saturday nights. Yes, Mac Wilson Senior is available. Joey Blunt 199 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 2: will not be available, So you're losing a special team's ace. 200 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 2: As far as players that you hope to see on 201 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 2: the field and on my guess is right now you 202 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 2: will see on the field. 203 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: But you got four players listed as questionable running backs 204 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: James Connor, Trey Benson, offensive lineman Evan Brown, and outside 205 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: linebacker Baron Browning. Now James Connor with a knee issue, 206 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: seeing him walk around the facility with a sleeve over 207 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: that entire Basically it's a sleeve over the entire leg 208 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: to help protect that knee. But again, we had a 209 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 1: chance to hear from running backs coach Autry Denson on Thursday, 210 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,959 Speaker 1: and it did not sound like this is an indication 211 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: of Okay, well, James Connors, he's banged up, He's going 212 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: into the offseason. He's already under contract. We can shut 213 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: him down. Yeah. If James is healthy enough to go, 214 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: he is going to go. 215 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 2: And you could tell he wanted to get back on 216 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 2: the field against the Carolina Panthers. If he was healthy 217 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 2: to go against the Carolina Panthers, he would have been 218 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 2: right back out on the field. And I believe if 219 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 2: he was out on the field with the momentum that 220 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 2: they had constantly giving him the rock, over one hundred 221 00:10:57,760 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 2: and ten rushing guards in that game and a hand 222 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 2: full of receiving yards as well. With that being said, 223 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 2: I'm pretty sure that the Cardinals probably would have come 224 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 2: away with the win against the Carolina Panthers. And that's 225 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 2: a tough pill to swallow. But with that being said, 226 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 2: the amount that James Connor loves football is what propels 227 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 2: him to want to get back on the field despite 228 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 2: this knee injury. And as a Cardinals team that currently 229 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 2: has a pretty banged up offensive line as well without 230 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 2: having Paris Johnson Junior or Jonah Williams for the season. 231 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 2: Now Kelvin Beacham starting at the left side of the line, 232 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 2: and then Jackson Barran being your other bookend tackle. You 233 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 2: want to be able to have that reassurance with Kyler Murray. 234 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 2: There's some confidence that you have when you look to 235 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 2: your right, you look to your left and James Connor 236 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 2: is there, and you hope for k One's sake that 237 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 2: James Connor will be there on Saturday. 238 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: Top ten. As far as rushing yards this season, James 239 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: Connor one thy ninety. On the season, you brought up 240 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: the offensive line issues or the players that are not 241 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 1: going to go, and I mentioned Evan Brown dealing with 242 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: a nick issue. He, as you mentioned on Easy Cardinals 243 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: dot Com on the injury report, had the same designation 244 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: a week ago. Get played. I think he played the 245 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: entire game despite being listed as questionable going into the 246 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: game in Carolina. Yeah, I think he did. I can 247 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 1: double check real fast because I think he started the game. 248 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: And I don't know if he was one of those 249 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: players that here we go Evan Brown. Yeah, Evan Brown 250 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: did play the entire game. 251 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:26,679 Speaker 2: And then Yeldo Rohole popped up on the injury report 252 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 2: as well with an illness and shout out to yell 253 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 2: Defroholder Trooper because standing on the sidelines and you could tell, 254 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:34,719 Speaker 2: you know, he definitely was feeling a little bit under 255 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 2: the leather. That illness bug definitely got to him. But 256 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 2: I think the continuity among the along the offensive line 257 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 2: is certainly going to be important in this one, especially 258 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 2: once again, while you hope to have James Connor back 259 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 2: there and you hope to have Trey Benson back there, 260 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 2: if that offensive line is going to look very different 261 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 2: already with Kelvin Beacham and Jackson Barton being there, you 262 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,319 Speaker 2: want to at least know that your core interior pieces 263 00:12:58,400 --> 00:12:59,719 Speaker 2: are going to be present, all. 264 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:03,319 Speaker 1: Right, So let's dive into this matchup again. The Cardinals 265 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: beat the Rams in Week two forty one to ten. 266 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: This is a much different Rams team, much better Rams 267 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: team in this rematch and for more on the game. 268 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: As I mentioned, we had a chance to catch up 269 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:19,839 Speaker 1: with Jordan rod Rig. She covers the Rams for the Athletic. So, Jordan, 270 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: it's been a little while since we last saw the 271 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:27,959 Speaker 1: Rams and Cardinals on the field together. So how different 272 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: are the Rams since Week two? 273 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 4: Well? Very very different. I mean much of the offensive 274 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 4: line that got hurt in that Week one game at 275 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 4: Detroit or in the middle of the Cardinals game in 276 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 4: Week two, they're back, you know. Rob Hagnstein. They're starting 277 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,679 Speaker 4: right tackle. He is questionable this week with the shoulder 278 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 4: issue that came up and practiced this week, and if 279 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 4: he can't play, then it'll be Joe oap Boom the 280 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 4: backup at right tackle. But otherwise, you know, this offensive 281 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 4: line is about as healthy and intact as they've been 282 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 4: all season. Phuk and Akup is on the fields. I 283 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 4: know you guys are very aware of his presence and 284 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 4: what potentially he can bring when he is all systems go. 285 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 4: Cooper Cup who was healthy in that Week two game, 286 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 4: if my memory serves correctly, but then got hurt shortly after. 287 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 4: You know, all of these guys, this is basically the 288 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 4: most complete and healthiest RAMS team we've seen all season, 289 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 4: to the point where earlier this week there was no 290 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 4: nobody even on the injury report. It was just blank. 291 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 4: So very very different group. Tyler Higbee returned last week. 292 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 4: It's a tale of two teams really this season with 293 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 4: the Rams from when they started the year. 294 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 2: I have to admit, looking at that injury report as 295 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 2: I put it together, I did a double take. I mean, 296 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 2: at this point of the season, Week seventeen, so many 297 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 2: teams are banged up. The Cardinals are you know, are 298 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 2: suffering with that as well. How has it been the 299 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 2: case that the Rams have been able to stay so 300 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 2: healthy this way into the season. 301 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 4: Well, it's it's really because they started out the season 302 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 4: one of the unhealthiest teams in the NA. I mean, 303 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 4: they lost Cooper Cup and Poka Nakua both at various 304 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 4: points in training camp, and then immediately lost Cooper Cup 305 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 4: into the season. Puka Akua was not available really to 306 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 4: open the season for them. Both of those guys, you know, 307 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 4: had to eventually return, you know. The offensive line three 308 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 4: weeks ago was the first time that this offensive line 309 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 4: in its intended iteration, actually played on the field together 310 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 4: for the first time. Really was a timing thing, and 311 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 4: not getting a couple things helped them, you know, not 312 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 4: getting too far weighted down by their one and four start, 313 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 4: really putting things together, especially after the Week six by 314 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 4: Matthew Stafford. Staying healthy has been huge for them, even 315 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 4: though he had a pretty banged up offensive line was 316 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 4: getting hit at a league leading rate early. It's sort 317 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 4: of in the middle point of the year and then 318 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 4: also it's been like the NFC West in general being 319 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 4: as messy as it's been this late in the year 320 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 4: has really been an advantage and a help for the 321 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 4: Rams because they haven't been buried under maybe a couple 322 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 4: of other teams really pulling away. With such significant gaps between, 323 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 4: you know, the winning teams and the not winning teams. 324 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 4: This has really been such a messy, tight division for 325 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 4: much of the year, for most of the year, if 326 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 4: not all of it, that the Rams could really kind 327 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 4: of afford to bide their time and get healthy, whereas 328 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 4: if they were perhaps in another division around the league 329 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 4: or even another conference, they would not have been so lucky. 330 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 4: So a few factors combined, but yeah, it was wild. Man. 331 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 4: I've never seen an injury report like that in Week seventeen. 332 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm glad I'm not the only one then, because 333 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 2: I was looking at that in amazement. And I know 334 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 2: that obviously this is a division that it really seems 335 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 2: up for grabs in some cases between the Seahawks and 336 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 2: the Rams, now that the Cardinals are no longer in contention. 337 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 2: But you mentioned that one four start, and I think 338 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 2: at some point some fans and national media pundits were 339 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 2: already saying that the Rams season was over at their 340 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 2: Week six by in what ways have they been able 341 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 2: to showcase that perseverance that that you had a front 342 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 2: row to see, because for them to now be in 343 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 2: this position, it's quite remarkable. 344 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, And I think it's only I mean, I think 345 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 4: it's only one other team in the modern era, or 346 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:10,199 Speaker 4: at least the last twenty years that's been able to 347 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 4: come back from a start like that and even make 348 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:16,639 Speaker 4: the postseason. And the Rams are in position to potentially 349 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 4: make a little history in that way. And it really 350 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 4: was it wasn't just about getting healthy, but it was 351 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 4: about them just kind of chipping away. I think there's 352 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,120 Speaker 4: a lot of coaching cliches that we sort of roll 353 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,959 Speaker 4: our eyes at sometimes because, especially if you're in this building, 354 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 4: like you hear them a lot, but they actually work, 355 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 4: you know. Work works is something that Sean McVay really 356 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 4: likes to say that Aaron Donald said to him once 357 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 4: that kind of helped bring Sean McVay out of a 358 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 4: funk he was in a couple of years ago. And 359 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 4: it's just showing up and controlling what you can for 360 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 4: that day and then that week and then that month, 361 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 4: and this team really stayed present. It's it's a fantastic 362 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 4: locker room full of like genuinely awesome young people that 363 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 4: they just kind of weren't super phased. I mean, they 364 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 4: could be in pain there, but I think that's part 365 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:03,679 Speaker 4: of the benefit of the youth movement, for the for 366 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 4: the Rams the last two years really is they could 367 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 4: be hurting, they're banged up, their their record isn't what 368 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 4: they wanted to be, but like, you really wouldn't know 369 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 4: it by talking to a lot of these guys because 370 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 4: they're so all about football and they all like each other. 371 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 4: It's it's a locker room that is about as jovial 372 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 4: and friendly with one another as I've seen in my 373 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 4: career ten years covering the league, and it's it's a 374 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 4: lot of it's the youth, and a lot of it 375 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 4: starts at the top with Sean McVay. I can't really 376 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 4: say enough with how great of a job he's done 377 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 4: coaching this year. And you know, I'm pretty hard on him. 378 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:35,919 Speaker 4: I've covered a lot of ups and downs of his 379 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,680 Speaker 4: coaching career, and especially the crash and sort of the 380 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 4: burnout season that was really bad, and I've been critical 381 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 4: of him at times in that and when he was 382 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 4: sort of like figuring out how to navigate that, but 383 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 4: he really has done an absolutely outstanding job keeping this 384 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 4: group together and continuing to coach and to really go 385 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 4: inward into the locker room with his assistants and coach 386 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 4: and teach on a daily basis versus trying to patch 387 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 4: all these leaking holes all at one time. What area 388 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 4: can they focus on and this particular day and max 389 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 4: out that area and then focus your attention on something 390 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 4: else instead of trying to accomplish all of it at once. 391 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 4: I think that's really been a difference here. 392 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, from one to four to nine and six and 393 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 1: in control of the NSC West. I liked how you 394 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: refer to the division as messy because I think the 395 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 1: Cardinals would love to mess things up a little bit 396 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: for the Rams coming up this weekend. And look, the 397 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: coaches that we've talked to Jordan and the players you 398 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: mentioned play the role as spoiler. They're like, yeah, no, 399 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: we're not even focused on that. But what has been 400 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: the talk around the Rams as far as looking at 401 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 1: a Cardinals team that this game was moved from Sunday 402 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,959 Speaker 1: to Saturday or scheduled for Saturday night because of what 403 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,640 Speaker 1: was potentially on the line for both teams. Now it's 404 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 1: just the Rams who have something on the line. 405 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, I can't emphasize this, and that they were 406 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 4: really embarrassed after that loss. I mean, there was a 407 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 4: couple of guys that were pretty open, you know. Not 408 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 4: only were they really embarrassed by how that went down, 409 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 4: by their own individual performances, particularly on defense, they were 410 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 4: embarrassed by some of the posts that they saw coming 411 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 4: out of the game about how easy it was for 412 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 4: the Cardinals two crews pass them that week, because it 413 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 4: looked at it looked every bit the butt kicking that 414 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 4: it was. And they were sort of dumbfounded there on defense, 415 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 4: especially early so early on in that game, and they 416 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 4: couldn't quite ever recover. And so I think that's been 417 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 4: not just a point of emphasis for their season, you know, 418 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 4: patching up some of the leaks and the holes that 419 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 4: they've had that defensive line, really putting an effort to 420 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 4: go inside itself a little bit more and be a 421 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 4: lot more accountable for responsibilities, for their own gaps, for 422 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 4: playing as a team versus individual trying to like stat Pad. 423 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 4: And then you know in the secondary too, it's a 424 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 4: very different secondary. He asked me the top about this 425 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 4: team being different. Well, Trey White is not here anymore. 426 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 4: He drew some really tough matchups against Marvin Harrison in 427 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 4: that game that the explosive plays that got away early. 428 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 4: You know, Imay has gone back to veterans. He knows 429 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 4: very well. Darius Williams, who is now healthy, and Akela Withersoon. 430 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 4: They both have played really well the last couple of weeks, 431 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 4: and they know kind of what it takes to sort 432 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 4: of quiet the embarrassment that they felt from that first game, 433 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:19,160 Speaker 4: and certainly the Cardinals will remember how good that felt, probably, 434 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 4: you know, try to come out swinging in similar fashion. 435 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: Yeah. The postgame comment from Sean McVay that we've all 436 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: talked about or brought up immediately after that game was 437 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: the quote, it was an incredibly humbling three hour window 438 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: because for the first time since twenty eleven, the Rams 439 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: opened up zero and two. But here they are once 440 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 1: again leading the NFC West, but offensively and recently the 441 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 1: run game. I know, Matthew Stafford and you brought up 442 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: put Ka Nakua being back healthy, Tyler Higbee being back healthy, 443 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: but this seems to be more of a run first offense. 444 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: Are we looking that correctly? 445 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, And it's interesting because a couple of years ago, 446 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 4: when the Rams made their playoff run, they were very 447 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 4: much a pass first, the pass first offense, and there 448 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 4: wasn't a lot of substance underneath that passing game that, 449 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:12,680 Speaker 4: to be fair, was leading the league at that time, 450 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 4: but they didn't have much of a run game to 451 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:17,640 Speaker 4: speak of and nothing really to lean on in December 452 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:21,440 Speaker 4: and January. And so I think that this is sort 453 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 4: of the mark of this new era that the Rams 454 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,639 Speaker 4: have tried to and spent the last two years trying 455 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 4: to push their way into, and that is getting a 456 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 4: lot bigger and more physical upfront, starting with those two guards, 457 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 4: Steve Avula and Kevin Dotson, finding bou Limmer making the 458 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 4: right call to not play the guy that they paid 459 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 4: in free agency, Jonah Jackson, to play center, instead leaning 460 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 4: on the rookie who was just out playing his draft position. 461 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 4: Like a lot of these kids that they've brought in have, 462 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 4: Kyron Williams just kind of staying the course. Now. Someone 463 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 4: who I think Sean McVay leaned on a lot for 464 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:58,200 Speaker 4: steadiness during the rougher parts of the season was Kyen Williams. 465 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 4: Because Kyron's personality is much that he is unphased by adversity. 466 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 4: You can see it when he runs. He wants to 467 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 4: hurt you when he runs, and he talks the whole time, 468 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 4: and I think that really lifts people up in the 469 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 4: run game. It makes these guys really want to block 470 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 4: for them, and they also have a multiplicity to their 471 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:19,880 Speaker 4: run game that they were lacking a few seasons ago. 472 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 4: It's a two year work in progress, adding a lot 473 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 4: of inside runs, man blocking, gap block duo running out 474 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 4: of a pistol, which gives them their play action menu 475 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 4: without having to sacrifice the shotgun. Looks that Matthew Stafford likes. 476 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 4: Inside zone, outside zone, you name it. Their screen game 477 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,400 Speaker 4: now coming alive because Steve Avula is back in the lineup. 478 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 4: These all are things that they have at their disposal 479 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 4: at this point, and Sean mcsay is feeling more confident 480 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 4: as a play caller, I think in actually sticking to 481 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 4: those things after that first half shutout in New Orleans 482 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 4: in Week thirteen, and this is something that they're going 483 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 4: to absolutely have to leave. And I think some of 484 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:58,120 Speaker 4: the most dominant wins we've seen over the last two years, 485 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:00,640 Speaker 4: and some of them were against the Arizona Cardinal were. 486 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:03,400 Speaker 4: When this team ran the football, they all know it 487 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 4: to a t to a person inside that locker room, 488 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 4: and they know they're going to want to lean on 489 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 4: it moving forward into this what they hope is a 490 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 4: postseason run. 491 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,320 Speaker 2: I think both sides are very well aware of what 492 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 2: the run game could do because I remember when we 493 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 2: spoke on the cover two during Week two and we 494 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 2: talked about Kien Williams impact. I don't think any of 495 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 2: us had on a bingo card that he would have 496 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,199 Speaker 2: twenty five rushing yards on twelve attempts and that the 497 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 2: Cardinals would, you know, go away with the blowout win, 498 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 2: the forty one to ten victory in Week two. And 499 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 2: I want to kind of continue on with the Kien 500 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 2: Williams theme here because in what ways have you seen 501 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 2: him kind of keep his head down to now continue 502 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 2: to be one of the top performers. I know he 503 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 2: runs very angry, as you kind of talked about there, 504 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 2: but how when you have a rushing performance like that, 505 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 2: was he able to keep his head down and keep 506 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 2: on moving. 507 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 4: I think he kind of understands like who he is 508 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,440 Speaker 4: and what he's not going to be, and I think 509 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 4: some of it is you know, this guy is going 510 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:01,640 Speaker 4: to hit doubles and triples all day long, and if 511 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,679 Speaker 4: you are confident and you're not trying to press in 512 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 4: a way where you're trying to maybe be outside yourself, 513 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 4: you're trying to be that splash guy who is gonna 514 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 4: have the explosive runs. You know, their personality wise, he 515 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,200 Speaker 4: reminds me a lot of what I've read and heard 516 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 4: about James Connor really in Arizona, because it's it's a 517 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 4: heartbeat mentality, but it's also somebody he understands that he 518 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 4: as long as he hits triples and doubles, well, all 519 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 4: of a sudden, those triples and doubles start really really 520 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 4: stacking up and start lifting the entire offense around him. 521 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 4: And it's it's cool because even when you know the 522 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:40,879 Speaker 4: line was basically they were their success rate was like 523 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 4: top ten in the NFL with their yards per carry 524 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 4: was way down, and people were wondering, Okay, well, what 525 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 4: does that mean. He's only he's only getting what's blocked 526 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 4: for him, right, And it's like, yeah, a little bit. 527 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 4: But also there's no second and third level blocking because 528 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 4: Pukua Akua and Cooper Cup are not in the lineup, 529 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:59,399 Speaker 4: the tight ends that they relied on in Tyler higbyy 530 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 4: to kind of clear some of that second level stuff 531 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,880 Speaker 4: also not in the lineup. But Kyron Williams didn't really 532 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,120 Speaker 4: let that affect him. It was all anyone could talk 533 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 4: about was the yards for carry, the yards for carry, right, 534 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 4: And he didn't really let it affect him. He just 535 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 4: kept putting his head down literally and hitting those devils 536 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:17,639 Speaker 4: and triples. And now that those guys are back in 537 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,919 Speaker 4: the lineup, they're leading to more explosive runs, more chunk plays, 538 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:24,119 Speaker 4: And I think that's pretty much an indicator or a 539 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 4: signal of what he's kind of all about. It's not 540 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 4: really about, you know, having his name in the lights. 541 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 4: It's more so about, Okay, how can I do the 542 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 4: best thing and the right thing for what this team needs, 543 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 4: even if it's tanking my stat line for a few weeks. 544 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,680 Speaker 1: Well, here's hoping there are some more singles headed Karen 545 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:44,400 Speaker 1: Williams's way. Strikeouts, Yeah, strikeouts, that'd be great, that'd be wonderful. 546 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: We can't let you go without asking about the defense 547 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:50,919 Speaker 1: and fifteen total points allowed in the past two games, 548 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 1: and just the youth movement on all three levels as 549 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 1: far as what that defense has seen as far as 550 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 1: sacks and passes defense. But what has changed or what 551 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:05,399 Speaker 1: has gotten better defensively for this Rams team, Well. 552 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,880 Speaker 4: They've stopped the run better than when they started out 553 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,119 Speaker 4: the season, and a lot of that is Gift Smith, 554 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:14,400 Speaker 4: who's a defensive line coach, and he takes them after 555 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:16,160 Speaker 4: they have, you know, when they have a tough game 556 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 4: where sometimes they're out of their gaps or maybe one 557 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 4: or two guys are trying to play hero ball, make 558 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 4: a play that is not necessarily theirs to make and 559 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 4: then allowing something open to open up on the backside. 560 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:28,040 Speaker 4: That's happened to them a lot this year, whether they're 561 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 4: going for taking down the quarterback or whether they're going 562 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:35,360 Speaker 4: to stop a run and he will get out. It's 563 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:37,679 Speaker 4: you just know, it's kind of like that if you know, 564 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 4: you know type of thing. You'll walk into the facility, 565 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 4: you know, on a Wednesday, and you'll just see this 566 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,959 Speaker 4: big stack of overturned trash cans, and you just know 567 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 4: that they're going to set them up very fundamental, very rudimentary. 568 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:50,880 Speaker 4: They're going to set them up as if they were 569 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 4: setting up sort of like drawing on a piece of 570 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 4: paper where all the gaps are going to be, and 571 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:58,720 Speaker 4: they're literally walking through all of their calls, all of 572 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:02,160 Speaker 4: their assignments. It is. It is going back to high 573 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:06,400 Speaker 4: school and early college football days of this is your assignment, 574 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 4: this is where you go, this is where you'll be, 575 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,920 Speaker 4: and but it's none of them really like take a 576 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 4: shot in the ego or a pride to it. I 577 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,120 Speaker 4: think they know that it's making them better. So you've 578 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 4: seen those small coaching mechanisms take place that have really 579 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:23,679 Speaker 4: I think brought this group from being very young and 580 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 4: unknown and putting them a little bit more on the radar. 581 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:28,920 Speaker 4: Brid And Fisk is having an excellent rookie season, Jared 582 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,879 Speaker 4: versus having an excellent rookie season. When those two are 583 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 4: rushing off of each other and when they're run stopping 584 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 4: off of each other, you can really feel that defensive 585 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 4: line come to life. Their linebackers are playing better than 586 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 4: when they started the season. Omar Spates is starting to 587 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 4: really emerge as a playmaker in the middle of the defense, 588 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 4: and Christian Rosmum's probably having the best season of his career. 589 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 4: You know, he's a career special teamer and he's playing 590 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 4: significant minutes for them, and then, like I mentioned before, 591 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 4: they reshuffled areas of the secondary that they badly needed 592 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 4: to this. This was a group that was just getting 593 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 4: torched with the explosive pass plays. But especially over the 594 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 4: last two weeks, Darius Williams and Akello Witherspoon have made 595 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 4: plays on the ball, crucial plays when it counted, whether 596 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,120 Speaker 4: it's takeaways or fourth down pass breakups like last week 597 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 4: on the road, and they really come up and stayed 598 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 4: steady as this group has kind of started to emerge 599 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 4: around them, And I think that's significant this time of year. 600 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 4: You guys know it. I think veterans in some crucial 601 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 4: area of the roster makes so much of a difference. 602 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 4: Whether it's tangible you know on our broadcast screens on 603 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:35,760 Speaker 4: Saturday and Sundays, or whether it's more of an intangible 604 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 4: that you feel in the locker room. It just goes 605 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 4: such a long way when you have the right veterans around. 606 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: So certainly sounds like Jordan A. Lota is going right for 607 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 1: the Rams at this moment. We'll see what happens on Saturday. 608 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: Always a pleasure, enjoy it, and I can't say good luck. 609 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 1: It's just not I can't do it. Good writing, I'll 610 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:55,920 Speaker 1: say good writing, but I can't say good luck to 611 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 1: the Rams. 612 00:29:57,480 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 4: Hey man, I'll take it. I'll take an easy column 613 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 4: and nice storyline on Saturday. I'd love it. 614 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 1: One way or another. The story could come, so it works. 615 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 4: Appreciate it, Jordan, appreciate it. 616 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: Happy New Year, always a great conversation with Jordan, and 617 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: happy New Year to her as well. And again, just 618 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: can't say good luck to the Rams ever, despite what 619 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 1: we think of Jordan as the person. But the last 620 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:27,240 Speaker 1: part of that conversation was the Rams defense, because I 621 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 1: think that's that's the side of the wall that kind 622 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:32,080 Speaker 1: of gets overshadowed a little bit, especially when you have 623 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 1: a perennial all Pro quarterback, pro bowler, maybe borderline Hall 624 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 1: of Fame or Matthew Stafford and in all the different 625 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:43,520 Speaker 1: weapons that he has. But this Rams defense, saw this 626 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: earlier or read this earlier on Next Gen stats as 627 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: young of a defense as you'll find in the league. 628 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 1: But this defense ranks first in tackles, sacks, quarterback hits, force, 629 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:02,680 Speaker 1: fumbles and seconds and interceptions when you talk about the 630 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: defensive rookies, and then when you add in first or 631 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:12,520 Speaker 1: second year players twenty four sacks by first or second 632 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 1: year players for the Los Angeles Rams. 633 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 2: That's incredible And if we would have had this conversation 634 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 2: looking into a crystal ball after Week two, I doubt 635 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 2: either of us would have expected for that to be 636 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,880 Speaker 2: the case because of just how the Cardinals were able 637 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 2: to break so many tackles in that game against the 638 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 2: Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. They truly had 639 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 2: their way. And I just I go back to listening 640 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:40,760 Speaker 2: to Jared versus media scrum after the game in Week 641 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 2: two and he was talking about how difficult it was 642 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 2: to bring down Kyler Murray and then for you to 643 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:48,120 Speaker 2: read off those stats, it truly shows how a bye week. 644 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,320 Speaker 2: It's a tale of two tapes here with the Arizona 645 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 2: Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams the bye week, I 646 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 2: think Kurt, the Arizona Cardinals they were six and four 647 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 2: going into it, now they're one and four. The Rams 648 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 2: they were one and four going into the buy and 649 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 2: then they come out in this. 650 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: Sort of way. 651 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:04,840 Speaker 2: It's remarkable. 652 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:09,959 Speaker 1: It also tells you on if you expect a lot 653 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 1: at the beginning of the season, especially for a young team, 654 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 1: and sometimes it takes a little while two two and 655 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 1: a half months, maybe three months before, especially for a 656 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 1: young player, to get your foot under you figure out 657 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 1: what it takes to be a pro as far as 658 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: the process between Monday and Saturday to be successful on 659 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,440 Speaker 1: a Sunday, and the Rams are heating up at the 660 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 1: right time, and unfortunately for the Cardinals they're not. However, 661 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 1: not that it's going to change how you feel perhaps 662 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 1: about this season, but you go in and beat the Rams, 663 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 1: whether by fifteen or whether by two, all of a sudden, 664 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: now that road to the playoffs could be a little 665 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:51,440 Speaker 1: bit more difficult for the Rams, and you feel a 666 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: heck of a lot better about where you are as 667 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 1: a Cardinals team because you will have swept a Rams 668 00:32:57,080 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 1: team that, since Sean McVeigh had has arrived, really had 669 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 1: your number for most of those seasons. 670 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 2: Well, I will caution you, craiglu because last week you 671 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 2: said it doesn't matter how the Cardinals come away with 672 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 2: the wind, as long as they come away with the win. 673 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:12,320 Speaker 1: I stand to that because at one point I even 674 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:15,360 Speaker 1: got a text from our boss, I guess hee, it's 675 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 1: our boss, Darren Irvan about that, and at that point 676 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 1: it didn't look good because I think it was twenty 677 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 1: to three, but then force overtime, Hey, winning overtime by 678 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 1: a field goal by touch, survive in advance, and then 679 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:31,800 Speaker 1: you deal with how it looked in the days after that, 680 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:35,360 Speaker 1: but obviously it's not. And then when you don't lose, 681 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 1: you're figuring out why things didn't work out or what 682 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 1: needs to change, at least from our perspective from the 683 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 1: outside looking in, and you can point to a number 684 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 1: of different things, whether it's the tackling or the downfield 685 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 1: passing game. So yeah, there's a there's a lot for 686 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: this Cardinals team on both sides of the ball in 687 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 1: order to improve upon if they want to get where 688 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,360 Speaker 1: they want to get to next season. 689 00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 2: And that's exactly what John again and said earlier on 690 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:01,040 Speaker 2: in the week when I asked him, is there a 691 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 2: thrill of playing that spoiler role, that spoiler role and 692 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:08,000 Speaker 2: I wrote about on Ezycardinals dot com, and John again 693 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 2: and said no, I wouldn't necessarily say it's a I 694 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 2: wouldn't necessarily say that we're playing the spoiler role. We're 695 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:15,799 Speaker 2: getting ready for a divisional matchup on the road in 696 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:18,440 Speaker 2: a tough environment, and if we want to get to 697 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,680 Speaker 2: where we want to get to. We have to go 698 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:23,879 Speaker 2: into it with the expectation and the standard that we're 699 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:26,080 Speaker 2: going to go in the road and we're gonna beat 700 00:34:26,160 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 2: a good divisional opponent that is vying for a playoff spot, 701 00:34:29,680 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 2: and that's something that the Cardinals need to do. And 702 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 2: I still agree. While I didn't in the moment, and 703 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:37,600 Speaker 2: I was definitely scratching my head saying, oh boy, Craig's 704 00:34:37,640 --> 00:34:40,920 Speaker 2: gonna hear a handful about this when when when we 705 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:43,279 Speaker 2: come back to the Valley, regardless if the Cardinals come 706 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:45,000 Speaker 2: away with the winner or loss, by saying that they 707 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:46,480 Speaker 2: need to beat By, they need to beat him by 708 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:48,719 Speaker 2: one point, I still agree with you going into this 709 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:52,400 Speaker 2: game because of the fact of these culture building moments, 710 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:56,440 Speaker 2: these culture defining, you know, building blocks that I think 711 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:58,440 Speaker 2: are going to be super important for this team as 712 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,239 Speaker 2: to go into the twenty twenty five season. And if 713 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:04,759 Speaker 2: you go into it with the mindset of, okay, we 714 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:09,759 Speaker 2: also messed up another NFC West teams playoff hopes. While 715 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:11,439 Speaker 2: you never want to see any of the other three 716 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 2: teams in the playoff race, if knowing that the Cardinals 717 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 2: were able to make an impact on the Rams not 718 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:20,359 Speaker 2: playing in the postseason. That's something you could you know, 719 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,640 Speaker 2: tip your cap to December. Football is hard. It's hard 720 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:26,600 Speaker 2: to win in the National Football League period, hard to 721 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 2: win division games, even harder to do it on the road. 722 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,359 Speaker 2: Cardinals this season away from State Farm Stadium, just two 723 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 2: and five on the season. So yeah, little things matter, 724 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:41,120 Speaker 2: and yes you do not get the chance to play 725 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 2: playoff football this season. But again I keep going back 726 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 2: to that record within the division four and two with 727 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,319 Speaker 2: wins over the Rams and forty nine Ers coming up 728 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 2: over these last two weeks, four and two typically is 729 00:35:55,640 --> 00:35:59,080 Speaker 2: a recipe for a playoff spot, because four and two 730 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:02,280 Speaker 2: should be enough some time to win your division. Cardinals 731 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:05,600 Speaker 2: could go four and two and still not win their division. 732 00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:07,439 Speaker 2: They're not going to win their division, but they might 733 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:11,839 Speaker 2: have the best division record of any team among the four. 734 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 2: Yet again, your overall win total and all of a 735 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:17,280 Speaker 2: sudden means a little bit more, and the Cardinals didn't 736 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:20,520 Speaker 2: do enough outside of their division to get into the postseason, 737 00:36:20,520 --> 00:36:22,920 Speaker 2: which we've talked about a few weeks ago. Earlier in 738 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:24,799 Speaker 2: the season, I asked John Togan and what did he 739 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:28,160 Speaker 2: learned about the NFC West during his time during his 740 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,640 Speaker 2: first season and he said to me, there are three 741 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:33,920 Speaker 2: other teams that are better than us. And while on 742 00:36:33,960 --> 00:36:35,719 Speaker 2: the surface, there are going to be at least two 743 00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 2: other teams that are better than the Arizona Cardinals because 744 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:40,920 Speaker 2: they either of them could potentially be in the playoffs, 745 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:44,000 Speaker 2: being the Rams or the Seahawks, I don't think you 746 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:47,120 Speaker 2: can necessarily say that one or the other is better 747 00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:49,920 Speaker 2: than the Arizona Cardinals because you go back to that 748 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:53,400 Speaker 2: division record, and if that is the case, that is 749 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:55,960 Speaker 2: something that you have to give you. You have to 750 00:36:55,960 --> 00:36:59,320 Speaker 2: give your flowers to Johnathangannon a company for going winless 751 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:01,920 Speaker 2: in the divisional last year to then come out and 752 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:04,880 Speaker 2: put up really strong numbers against division opponents. 753 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:06,200 Speaker 1: And these are teams you see twice. 754 00:37:06,239 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 2: The intensity is always a little bit higher in this 755 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:11,359 Speaker 2: case is and while you would have loved to not 756 00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:14,920 Speaker 2: have the two losses, especially to the Seattle Seahawks, at 757 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:17,759 Speaker 2: least trying to split that stories because then this whole 758 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:21,960 Speaker 2: week seventeen conversation is vastly different. With that being said, though, 759 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:24,719 Speaker 2: the Cardinals have made steps in the division and they're 760 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 2: gonna continue making these steps. But as I keep mentioning, 761 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:30,239 Speaker 2: it's making sure that you come away with a win 762 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:33,440 Speaker 2: on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. That gives you 763 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:37,239 Speaker 2: that momentum and that belief that, no, we think we're 764 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:39,239 Speaker 2: a playoff team, but at least if we win this, 765 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:41,800 Speaker 2: we at least go into the offseason with we should 766 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:42,959 Speaker 2: be a playoff team. 767 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:46,040 Speaker 1: Six ' ten is the kickoff one thirty. Pre game 768 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:49,800 Speaker 1: coverage begins on the Arizona Cardinals Radio Network. As we mentioned, 769 00:37:49,960 --> 00:37:53,680 Speaker 1: Zach is traveling. Now, of course, the follow is have 770 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:56,640 Speaker 1: you packed? So are you ready to go? No? Not yet? Okay, 771 00:37:57,560 --> 00:38:02,640 Speaker 1: but the washer and dryer hopefully so all right cross Okay. 772 00:38:02,760 --> 00:38:05,879 Speaker 1: We will cut Zach loose because he's traveling a little 773 00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:09,960 Speaker 1: bit later on this afternoon, so always follow along Easycardinals 774 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:12,799 Speaker 1: dot com. And then we'll be back out here next week, 775 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:17,120 Speaker 1: hopefully talking about a Cardinals win in Los Angeles. 776 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:20,480 Speaker 2: Look, I would love to have our you know, final 777 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:25,200 Speaker 2: football Friday segment against the against the San Francisco forty 778 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:27,840 Speaker 2: nine ers, talking about the importance and the value of 779 00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:30,319 Speaker 2: going into the offseason with the two game winning streak. 780 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:34,000 Speaker 1: And a winning record overall. Amen to that, and on 781 00:38:34,080 --> 00:38:36,120 Speaker 1: that notes, we will put a lit on this edition 782 00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:39,000 Speaker 1: of Cardinals Cover two presented by Hyundai, probably partner of 783 00:38:39,040 --> 00:38:42,200 Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our executive 784 00:38:42,239 --> 00:38:45,319 Speaker 1: producer jim On Mohundro, our associate producer Coddy Fincher. For 785 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:47,719 Speaker 1: Zach Kershman, I'm Craig Rayolu. We'll talk to you next 786 00:38:47,719 --> 00:38:49,399 Speaker 1: time here on Cardinals Cover two.