1 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to playmakers. Everyone. I'm your host, Haley Elwood. It 2 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: is Week twelve and the Los Angeles Chargers will head 3 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: to Arizona to take on the Cardinals. So here to 4 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: preview this matchup and this relatively unfamiliar opponent is team 5 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: reporter for the Cardinals, Danny Surrect. Danny, how are you happy? Early? 6 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: Thank you? Thank you? Aways doing doing well here? We 7 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: are more than halfway through the season somehow, some way, right. 8 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,520 Speaker 1: It's just crazy. It goes by faster every year. Absolutely. 9 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: I can't believe that it's already like week twelve and 10 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: we're playing each other. I mean, we still haven't even 11 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: had our bye week, so like right now, it's just 12 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: about getting to that bye week by the Cardinals. That 13 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: is so crazy to me, because the Chargers had it 14 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: in week eight, I believe, which feels almost a little 15 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: like middle, but almost early middle, if you will. But 16 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: it blows my mind that there're still teams that haven't 17 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: had it, because it feels like we're so far into 18 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: this season now already. Yeah, especially coming off the game 19 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: in Mexico City against the forty nine Ers, it's just 20 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: kind of a crazy week coming off the short week 21 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: we landed after five am on Tuesday, so then kind 22 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: of have a short week and then Thanksgiving and then 23 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: playing the Chargers. So it's just a lot going on. 24 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: But I think once you know, get to the bye week, 25 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: have a little bit of a break, which'll be nice. Yep, 26 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: just get to it, all right. So let's talk about 27 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: this game. These two teams, as we said, don't meet 28 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: often in the regular season, a whole lot used to 29 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: be relatively your annual preseason teammates, if you will. But 30 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: what are your overall thoughts on this matchup? I think 31 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: it has the potential to be a really exciting game. 32 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 1: I think a lot of that comes down to which 33 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: quarterback is going to play for the Cardinals. Obviously, you 34 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: guys know what Justin Herbert brings the table, and I 35 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: think that if Kyler Murray is able to play, it's 36 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: just such an exciting quarterback matchup between two young, really 37 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: good quarterbacks who have a lot of potential where the 38 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: ceiling is really high for them. It just depends on 39 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: if Kyler Murray's hamstring is going to be healthy enough. 40 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: But I feel like this has the potential to be 41 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: an exciting game. It has the potential for the Cardinals 42 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 1: to really come out and make that push, because even 43 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: though they're in third place in the NFC West right now, 44 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 1: the way that the NFC is still kind of shaken 45 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: up that if the Cardinals win the game, they're not 46 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: completely out of the playoff race. So it'll be interesting 47 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: to see, especially with so many injuries that they're dealing with, 48 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: mainly on offense, the type of energy and passion that 49 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: they come out with because they still have things that 50 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: they are playing for. So I do think that has 51 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: the potentially be a really exciting game. Yeah, I know 52 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: most of my questions to you are really offensive injury related, 53 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: but let's start with that quarterback and Kyler Murray. I 54 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: know Cardinal's head coach Cliff kings where he spoke with 55 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: the media today. What's the most recent update that he's 56 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: given on Kyler's status. Well, they didn't have practice on Wednesday. 57 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 1: They will also have a walkthrough on Thursday, so we 58 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: won't get to be out there as the media until 59 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: Friday to see how Kyler Murray looks. It does seem 60 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: like he's training upwards. That's what we heard from Cliff Kingsbury. 61 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: That's what we heard from Kyler Murray Wednesday in his 62 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: press conference is that he's feeling good. Pregame in Mexico 63 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 1: City Monday, Kyler said that was the first time he 64 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: really went full full speed to test out his hamstring. 65 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: So it seems like he's trending in the right direction, 66 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: although we won't have a better sense of that until 67 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: they get to their practice, which will just be Friday 68 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: this week. Kyler Murray missed the last two games with 69 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: a hamstring, and Colt McCoy has done well. He's been 70 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: getting the ball up quickly, He's been very decisive. However, 71 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 1: as great as a back of as Coulon McCoy is, 72 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: he's not Kyler Murray, and so having Kyler Murray out 73 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 1: there completely changes this offense, completely changes the way the 74 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: Chargers would have to game plan for this Cardinals offense. 75 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: Just his ability not only to make those deep throws 76 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: accurately similar to Justin Herbert in a sense, but Kyler 77 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: Murray's legs and his ability to extend plays, to scramble 78 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: and create something out of nothing. So we don't have 79 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: an exact answer yet on his availability. However, does seem 80 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: like he's training upwards to being able to play against 81 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: the Chargers. Yeah, so I was just in charge of 82 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: Charger's head coach Brandon Staley's presser and he was asked 83 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: about Kyler and just was really like, where does he 84 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: pose the biggest threat? And Staley talked a lot about 85 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: his escapability, his mobility, but also the fact that loose 86 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: quote here, he is so much faster than every single 87 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: other guy on that field from your perspective from watching 88 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: him being around him, is that where he poses the 89 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: biggest threat? Absolutely. Look, every player who's playing in the 90 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: NFL is great. That's why they are in the position 91 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 1: they are in. There are some really great quarterbacks. Kyle 92 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: Murray is not the only quarterback who has the accurate arm, 93 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: who has the ability to make those deep throws, who 94 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: has that type of power. What he does have that 95 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: makes him stand out from so many of them is 96 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: his legs. Is his athleticness, his athletic ability, I should 97 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: say to just kind of run around and we saw 98 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: that play in Vegas and to send the team to 99 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: overtime and to win the game, And how long he 100 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: was running around with the ball waiting for something open 101 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: up and just decided to take it himself. And that 102 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: forced his defense is to have a spy on him 103 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: and that takes away somebody else from the defense, that 104 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 1: allows another receiver to be more open. So absolutely, his 105 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: legs are what made him shine, and that's part of 106 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: the reason that Kyler Murray hasn't played these last two games. Obviously, 107 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: you want your hamstring to be fully healthy and to 108 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 1: be able to go. However, at this time of the year, 109 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: nobody's really fully healthy, right However, it's Kyla Murray's ability 110 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 1: to run the ball, and they want him, this coaching 111 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: staff wants him to be able to feel fully comfortable 112 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: when he's out there on the field, and that was 113 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: a large part as to why he didn't play those 114 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: last two games. Maybe he felt like he was able 115 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: to play. However, they want to make sure he's fully 116 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: comfortable so that if he finds himself in those situations, 117 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: he is confident to escape the bucket. It sounds so 118 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: familiar to what we've heard with Keenan Allen here in 119 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:38,239 Speaker 1: La over the last few weeks. Was just the fact 120 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: that same thing hamstring injury, he comes back, he has 121 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,280 Speaker 1: that game, he then reinjures it over the buy has 122 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: a bit of a setback, and it was very much 123 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: that same process of like, hey, it feels good some days, 124 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: but then eh, is it one hundred percent or we 125 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: fully fully comfortable? So I can't imagine at this point, 126 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: this late in the year, at least you guys are 127 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:57,919 Speaker 1: in a dome. I mean, at least it's not a 128 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: gold weather game. Absolutely, yeah, that's what's nice. Although I 129 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: will say whether it's pretty nice here at year round, 130 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: but right having that dumb, it definitely house. Yeah, all right, 131 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: So let's get to another guy, Marquis Hollywood Brown. He 132 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: is currently in the window to return from injured reserve. 133 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 1: He was not activated from Monday's game. What are his 134 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: chances do you think of coming back for this one? 135 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 1: I also think that his chances are trending upwards of 136 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: being able to return. Hollywood missed five games with a 137 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 1: foot injury. He went down at the end of the 138 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: game in Seattle and so he came off where he 139 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: was designated to return off I our last week. However, 140 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: he didn't play Monday night against the forty nine ers. 141 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: But it's kind of the same thing we heard from 142 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: Cliff Kingsbury Wednesday, which is that he's trending in the 143 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 1: right direction now. If Hollywood does play, he'll be likely 144 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: on a pitch count just because it will be his 145 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: first game back, but even being on any sort of 146 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: pitch count is still such a boost for this offense. 147 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: This is Kyler Murray's best friend. They were college teammates 148 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: at the University of Oklahoma, and they have a chemistry 149 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: that doesn't just come from being teammates. They just have 150 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 1: that friendship and so it's very natural for them, and 151 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: we've heard that they don't even really have to talk 152 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: a lot on the field. They just have that chemistry. 153 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 1: They can look at each other and understand what they 154 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: are wanting to get out of every single play. And 155 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: it was proven that when Hollywood was playing that Kyler 156 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 1: trusted him with the amount of targets he was getting 157 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: every game. So it would definitely be a booth for 158 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: this offense, even if it is in a limited fashion. 159 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: It would also be the first time that Hollywood plays 160 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: a game with Deandrew Hopkins. Hop was suspended for those 161 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: first six games, and then when he came back, Hollywood 162 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: got hurt. So having the two of them out there 163 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: completely changes the dynamics of this offense because you're not 164 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: going to be able to double team hop the way 165 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: that you could. Otherwise you're going to have to give 166 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: attention to hollywo Brown, who has that experience of being 167 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: the number one receiver when he was in Baltimore before 168 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: he was traded to the Cardinals this offseason, and just 169 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: having the two of them out there, the speed in 170 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: Hollywood Brown Hops abilities to make those contested throws. I 171 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: really do think that if Hollywood is able to go, 172 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: it completely changes this offense. I was so shocked when 173 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: I was doing research for this game and had no 174 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: idea that they had not played together, the two of them, because, 175 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: like you mentioned, it was as soon as Hopkins came back, 176 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: he went out and it was like two ships in 177 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: the night sort of passing each other kind of situation. 178 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: But I'm sure, I mean you mentioned it. Just the 179 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: different elements that both of those guys bring, not to 180 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: mention the camaraderie they have with the quarterback, but it 181 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: absolutely would change things. All right, One more offensive guy 182 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: to ask you about before we move on, and that 183 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: is zach Ertz, who is dealing with an injury. But 184 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: how has this offense sort of compensated for his loss 185 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: at this point? Yeah, it's been tough. To be honest, 186 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 1: I'm not sure that they have quite yet. Zach Ertso 187 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: went down two games ago in the first drive and 188 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: had a season ending knee injury. Cliff Kingsbury said, how 189 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: likely go on ior this week? Zach ERTs had surgery 190 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 1: and it's a huge blow. When you look at the 191 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,679 Speaker 1: rest of the tight end room, it's much more a 192 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: blocking tight ends. And zach Ertz was really that security blanket. 193 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 1: It's what Kyler Murray has even called him that zach 194 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: Ertz was Kyler's first true tight end security blanket that 195 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: he had had in his career, and it was Ertz 196 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: who made him realize just the importance of having that 197 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: reliable tight end. And they have great chemistry and they 198 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 1: connect so well. So losing zach Ertz really hurts this offense, 199 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: especially because it's banged up pretty much everywhere else. Four 200 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: of the five starting offensive linemen have missed the last 201 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,079 Speaker 1: two weeks because of injury, which has obviously affected the 202 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: run game. Wide receiver Rondell more likely won't play this 203 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: game because of a groin injury. Wide receiver Greg Dortch, 204 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: who filled in for more Monday night, ended up having 205 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: an MRI on his thumb and so he's day today. 206 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: So there's just so many other spots in the offense 207 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: that are also dealing with injuries that losing zach Ertz, 208 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: who by himself he were missing him with the healthy 209 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: offense would still have an impact. The impact is just 210 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: that much greater because there's so much adversity on this 211 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: offense already. All right, flipping to the defense, this is 212 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: a team that has a lot of playmakers. You think 213 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: a JJ Watt, you think of Buddha Baker, Isaiah Simmons. 214 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: But overall, what do they need to do defensively to 215 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 1: sort of turn things around, especially after that performance in 216 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: Mexico City. Yeah, it's been interesting. At the start of 217 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: the season. It was on paper the offense that looked 218 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 1: like it was going to be so explosive. In the defense, 219 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: which has been relying on a lot of depth, a 220 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: lot of younger players to really kind of step up 221 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: early on in their career, and it's been the defense 222 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 1: that has been holding the Cardinals a week after week 223 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: in these games. Now, there's definitely areas to improve. The 224 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: Cardinals are giving up i believe, second most points per game, 225 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: most yards after catch, so there's definitely areas to improve on, 226 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: but they've been spending a lot of time on the field. 227 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: Something that has been missing from this defense is a 228 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,079 Speaker 1: pass rush. They have a few veterans out there, but 229 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: they're also relying on some rookies and Cam Thomas and 230 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: may J Sanders, and so that's an area that the 231 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: Cardinals haven't been very strong in. JJ Watts has gone 232 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: to the quarterback a couple of times, so is Zach Allen. 233 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,959 Speaker 1: They're creating pressure, but I don't think it's as consistent 234 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: or necessarily as disruptive as they would like it to be. 235 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: Specially when you're going up against a quarterback like Justin 236 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: Herbert who can pretty much make every throw from every angle, 237 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:07,679 Speaker 1: you gotta do whatever you can to disrupt him and 238 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: make him uncomfortable and force him to get the ball 239 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: out quickly. Against the Cardinals defense that has done fairly 240 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: well at forcing turnovers throughout the season, So that's going 241 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 1: to be a key for them is how can you 242 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: get pressure on Justin Herbert? How can you force him 243 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: to get rid of that all quickly so that you 244 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,680 Speaker 1: can force a turnover and get your offense back on 245 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: the field. So if the Cardinals want to challenge the 246 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 1: Chargers either on the offensive side or defensive side. I 247 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: will let you choose where do you think they should attack. 248 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:36,959 Speaker 1: I think you got to go with wide receivers. I 249 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: think you have to go with Hopkins. He is the 250 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: most reliable wide receiver on this team. He's one of 251 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: the top receivers in the league, and for good reason. 252 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: Whether it's Kyler Murray or it's backup quarterback Colton McCoy, 253 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: they've both proven that they trust Hopkins, and I mean, 254 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: how could you not. But he has continued to be 255 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: the top targeted wide receiver. He continued to get the 256 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: most receptions in the five games he has played, and 257 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: that time span throughout the entire league. So there's a 258 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,319 Speaker 1: reason that they keep feeding the ball to him, and 259 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: that's because he keeps catching the ball, and he keeps 260 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: getting those extra yards and he's finding a way to 261 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 1: create and even if he's not necessarily finding the end zone, 262 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 1: it's those big plays, those first down, the penalties he's drawing, 263 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: and it's hard for even the best of the best 264 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: to go up against Hopkins and defend him. So I 265 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: think that he's really going to have to step up. 266 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: I think that's where you go to to take advantage 267 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: of this Charger's defense, and that makes it all the 268 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: more challenging if Hollywood Brown is able to come back 269 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: and that either allows hop to go off or you 270 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: have an extra weapon in Brown himself. But I think 271 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,439 Speaker 1: that when you're looking for the Cardinals on what can 272 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: you do to really try and make the most of 273 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 1: what you have, it's got to be DeAndre Hopkins. All right. 274 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: Final question, what do you think is a factor in 275 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: how this game will play out? I think that this 276 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: is a very This has the potential to be a 277 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: very tough game mentally for the Cardinals, and it doesn't 278 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: necessarily have to do with their opponent being the Chargers. 279 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: I think it's just themselves. They find themselves in a 280 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: tricky situation right now at four and seven, having won 281 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,079 Speaker 1: just one divisional game. You're a couple of games back 282 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: now from the Seahawks and the forty nine ers in 283 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 1: the NFC West. However, you are still in it in 284 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: the NFC as a whole, but the time is now, 285 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,959 Speaker 1: there's no more time for mistakes. You have to start winning, 286 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: and then you have the bye week and then you 287 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: have to go on a role and you pretty much 288 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 1: have to win out in order to keep yourself in 289 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: that playoff race. So the fact that their backs are 290 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: against the wall, they're dealing with a lot of injuries, 291 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: they don't have a confirmed starting quarterback. There's a lot 292 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: that might feel it's going against this team, but they 293 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: have all said how confident they are, the coaching staff, 294 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: how confident they are of those players in the locker room, 295 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 1: and not just their ability on the field, but mentally 296 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: to stay in it and to stay tough and to 297 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,319 Speaker 1: understand that they still have something worth fighting and worth 298 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: playing for. It's just a matter of going out there 299 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: and actually doing that and winning at home and stay 300 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: from stadium. I think the same can be said for 301 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: the Chargers, coming off two straight losses. They are five 302 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: and five and a very wide open AFC at this point. 303 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,439 Speaker 1: Everything in front of these two teams right now. You 304 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: just got to go out and do it. Danny, thank 305 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: you so much for joining me, Thanks for coming on. 306 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: We really appreciate it. Thank you for having me, and 307 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: happy birthday.