WEBVTT - Big Red Rage - Cardinals Offense Is Conner Strong 0:00:01.600 --> 0:00:05.080 Stramp on the boots and scrape up the knuckles ahead. 0:00:05.240 --> 0:00:06.400 He got jacked. 0:00:06.680 --> 0:00:11.719 This is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford 0:00:11.760 --> 0:00:12.319 and Gilbert S. 0:00:12.360 --> 0:00:15.720 Barry's gonna score touchdown swam to the ground by Buddha 0:00:15.800 --> 0:00:19.120 Banker like a torpedo. He came flying into the back deal. 0:00:21.280 --> 0:00:24.720 The Rage is brought to you by santan Ford and 0:00:24.800 --> 0:00:27.920 Gilbert right on the Price right on the corner of 0:00:27.960 --> 0:00:30.760 the sand Tan two to two Freeway in bal Vista 0:00:31.160 --> 0:00:35.240 see Key your ticket to Great Seats and by Arizona 0:00:35.320 --> 0:00:40.800 Cardinals Podcast visit Azycardinals dot Com, Slash Podcast. 0:00:40.400 --> 0:00:43.040 All Red Seats, Rising. 0:00:42.840 --> 0:00:48.600 Up, Tim You, Rising Vision, Flurry Rage, Take it. 0:00:48.400 --> 0:00:50.320 Ober, Here's Paul Calvici. 0:00:50.479 --> 0:00:52.520 I'm ready. I'm one hundred percent ready. 0:00:52.600 --> 0:00:53.960 I'm telling you I'm ready. 0:00:54.000 --> 0:00:55.040 And Ron Woolfley. 0:00:55.240 --> 0:00:57.080 It doesn't get any better than that. 0:00:59.160 --> 0:00:59.680 The floor. 0:01:01.840 --> 0:01:07.920 Where oh where are the Arizona Cardinals headed? Well, based 0:01:07.959 --> 0:01:11.039 on the news today from NFL International, they could be 0:01:11.080 --> 0:01:13.880 going to London next season to play Minnesota. They could 0:01:13.880 --> 0:01:16.560 be going to Munich to play Carolina. Good for a 0:01:16.600 --> 0:01:19.840 guy with the last name of Wolfley, Or they could 0:01:19.880 --> 0:01:24.039 be going to South Polo, Brazil to play Miami, oh boy. 0:01:24.240 --> 0:01:27.119 But we're not really talking about the schedule in terms 0:01:27.120 --> 0:01:30.520 of where for art foul. We're talking about the direction 0:01:30.800 --> 0:01:34.640 and standing in trajectory of this team right here, right now, 0:01:34.720 --> 0:01:37.600 the way you finish twenty twenty three as you launch 0:01:37.640 --> 0:01:41.120 into twenty twenty four, and we've got a big red 0:01:41.200 --> 0:01:43.680 rage to talk about it. Paul Kelby, c Ron Wolfley 0:01:43.760 --> 0:01:46.520 soon to be joined by his better half, older brother 0:01:46.720 --> 0:01:50.480 Craig Wolfley, all presented by santan Ford and Gilbert. We 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:52.320 are santan Ford, Polly. 0:01:52.400 --> 0:01:55.320 I'd have to say right now, of those three cities 0:01:55.440 --> 0:01:57.680 that you just pointed out, I would have to go 0:01:57.720 --> 0:02:00.680 with Munich. I think if I had my brother Paul, 0:02:00.720 --> 0:02:01.720 i'd go with Munich. 0:02:01.880 --> 0:02:04.720 How about you, Well, London, we've been there and done that, 0:02:05.200 --> 0:02:08.120 So it's down to Munich and then Brazil. I'll tell 0:02:08.160 --> 0:02:11.440 you what. As crazy as they are about football in Germany, 0:02:11.480 --> 0:02:14.560 and once again they add over a million people in 0:02:14.639 --> 0:02:17.959 Q trying to get tickets for those NFL games in Germany, 0:02:19.120 --> 0:02:22.839 the whole Brazil experience would be intriguing because that would 0:02:22.880 --> 0:02:25.800 be a first of its kind in the NFL to 0:02:26.040 --> 0:02:28.960 be played the Miami Dolphins in Brazil. 0:02:29.520 --> 0:02:32.000 Yeah, that wouldn't be bad either, Pali, when you know 0:02:32.160 --> 0:02:33.600 it's a consolation prize that. 0:02:34.720 --> 0:02:36.880 Either way, sign me up, Okay, sign me up for 0:02:36.880 --> 0:02:39.880 the Arizona Cardinals dase based on what we just saw, 0:02:40.000 --> 0:02:42.560 especially the last month plus of the season, I mean, 0:02:42.639 --> 0:02:45.960 Ron Wolfy, does it not feel good to have a direction? 0:02:46.200 --> 0:02:49.560 Does it not feel good to have a foundation? Does 0:02:49.600 --> 0:02:52.320 it not feel good to once again know you have 0:02:52.480 --> 0:02:54.760 a franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray? 0:02:55.320 --> 0:02:58.960 Yeah, PAULI, it really really does. It's just amazing to 0:02:59.000 --> 0:03:03.120 think that the season before. Of course, last year twenty 0:03:03.160 --> 0:03:05.919 twenty two, they finished four and thirteen, and now here 0:03:05.960 --> 0:03:08.760 it is twenty twenty three that season and they finished 0:03:08.760 --> 0:03:10.240 four in thirteen. 0:03:10.520 --> 0:03:10.800 Paul. 0:03:10.919 --> 0:03:14.639 The difference between twenty twenty two is four and thirteen 0:03:14.680 --> 0:03:17.240 and twenty twenty three is four and thirteen is night 0:03:17.480 --> 0:03:21.320 and day. And it's all because there is a direction, 0:03:21.600 --> 0:03:25.880 it's all because there is culture, it's all because there 0:03:25.960 --> 0:03:29.639 is genuine hope for this football team going forward, and 0:03:30.240 --> 0:03:32.280 Kyler Murray is right in the middle of it. 0:03:32.680 --> 0:03:35.400 No doubt. It's not only what we saw, it's what 0:03:35.440 --> 0:03:37.920 we heard, what we heard from a pony, Yeah, I 0:03:38.000 --> 0:03:40.160 mean I can't wait to talk to your brother, who's 0:03:40.160 --> 0:03:42.880 an analyst for the Steelers, about what TJ. Watts said 0:03:42.880 --> 0:03:45.360 after the Cardinals went into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers 0:03:45.400 --> 0:03:48.440 at their own game, TJ. Watsonying, we got our bleeps kicked. 0:03:48.920 --> 0:03:51.920 So it wasn't just what you did, it's how you 0:03:52.000 --> 0:03:54.920 did it. It was the style, and it was the 0:03:55.080 --> 0:03:59.520 enthusiasm of everyone down the stretch, in particular the head coach. 0:03:59.720 --> 0:04:02.040 And here's what he said when he was asked, what 0:04:02.120 --> 0:04:04.360 was your final partying message to the team. 0:04:04.720 --> 0:04:07.160 We've been through a lot of adversity this year, but 0:04:07.280 --> 0:04:10.280 I've never been more enthused going into an offseason. We 0:04:10.400 --> 0:04:12.800 found a lot about out who we are and who's 0:04:12.840 --> 0:04:15.120 going to be a part of this thing. And I'm 0:04:15.160 --> 0:04:17.760 just really excited to get to the offseason and grow 0:04:17.800 --> 0:04:20.440 and improve and learn, and as I told him, get 0:04:20.480 --> 0:04:22.680 on a warpath in twenty twenty four, here we come. 0:04:22.839 --> 0:04:25.720 Nita. Remind you, Ron Wolfley, our marketing mantra only half 0:04:25.760 --> 0:04:28.760 serious earlier this year when I said a twenty twenty 0:04:28.800 --> 0:04:33.560 three dip for a twenty twenty four rip, I mean, 0:04:33.920 --> 0:04:38.159 to what degree are you poised for a big breakout season? 0:04:38.240 --> 0:04:40.640 Now that they know what they have, Now that they've 0:04:40.839 --> 0:04:45.000 established what they are, no more of this trying to 0:04:45.040 --> 0:04:49.440 assess and establish. No. Now you are poised to take 0:04:49.480 --> 0:04:51.520 the next step as an organization. 0:04:51.560 --> 0:04:54.880 Right Paully. And for me right now, and you know 0:04:54.920 --> 0:04:58.040 how big I am on culture, But for me, right now, 0:04:58.400 --> 0:05:02.839 I'm so encouraged because mantiasen Fort and jg they know 0:05:03.000 --> 0:05:06.480 exactly the kind of player they want to bring into 0:05:06.520 --> 0:05:10.479 that locker room, Paul. They know exactly the kind of player. 0:05:10.960 --> 0:05:12.640 It doesn't matter Paul, if it's going to be the 0:05:12.640 --> 0:05:15.200 holder on extra point and field goal. It doesn't matter 0:05:15.240 --> 0:05:17.600 if it's going to be a wide receiver or it's 0:05:17.640 --> 0:05:20.200 going to be a cornerback, or it's going to be 0:05:20.320 --> 0:05:23.520 a lineback, whatever it may be. They know the type 0:05:23.560 --> 0:05:28.000 of person they want to bring inside this paradigm known 0:05:28.040 --> 0:05:32.280 as an NFL locker room. And that to me is culture. 0:05:32.400 --> 0:05:37.800 It has been established, and the physicality and the toughness 0:05:38.160 --> 0:05:41.640 and the accountability and the discipline and the smarts and 0:05:41.880 --> 0:05:45.839 everything they're looking for in a dude. They know what 0:05:45.880 --> 0:05:47.919 they're going to bring into that locker room, and that 0:05:48.120 --> 0:05:52.320 to me is the foundation. That's what culture is. It's 0:05:52.360 --> 0:05:54.800 who we are and how we do things and what 0:05:54.839 --> 0:05:57.920 we do and now you know the plug and play 0:05:57.960 --> 0:06:00.479 guy you want to bring in. And I'm in courage 0:06:00.520 --> 0:06:01.799 because of that foundation. 0:06:02.120 --> 0:06:04.720 Yeah, eleven picks in this draft, six in the first 0:06:04.800 --> 0:06:07.279 eighty or so draft slots. So you have all that, 0:06:07.800 --> 0:06:09.800 But it is amazing two to me, if you want 0:06:09.839 --> 0:06:12.839 to add, zoom out that how effective you can be 0:06:12.880 --> 0:06:15.880 as an NFL team when you have two positions correct, 0:06:16.120 --> 0:06:17.920 head coach and quarterback. 0:06:18.240 --> 0:06:19.640 Yes, I mean. 0:06:19.480 --> 0:06:21.240 Look at the Rams right now. They won seven out 0:06:21.240 --> 0:06:23.080 of eight, they're rolling into the playoffs. They have Sean 0:06:23.160 --> 0:06:25.800 McVay and Matthew Stafford's a Pro Bowl quarterback. Again, look 0:06:25.800 --> 0:06:29.120 at an up and coming team like a Houston Texans 0:06:29.160 --> 0:06:33.120 outfit with Demiko Ryans and now c J. Stroud, Right, 0:06:33.200 --> 0:06:35.680 you get those two spots, right, It's amazing how you 0:06:35.720 --> 0:06:39.039 can mask and erase a lot of other deficiencies like 0:06:39.080 --> 0:06:41.560 the Cardinals did in that final month when Kyler over 0:06:41.560 --> 0:06:44.120 his final three starts seventy one to ninety nine. That's 0:06:44.120 --> 0:06:47.800 a seventy two percent completion percentage, six touchdowns, one pick, 0:06:48.279 --> 0:06:50.440 arguably not his fault because it was Michael Wilson who 0:06:50.440 --> 0:06:53.000 had a miscommunication, a passer rating of one oh eight, 0:06:53.560 --> 0:06:55.880 and then he actually almost ran for one hundred yards 0:06:55.920 --> 0:06:58.280 as well, including that thirty three yard burst in the 0:06:58.279 --> 0:07:02.159 finale against Seattle. When Kyler's playing like that, you don't 0:07:02.160 --> 0:07:03.799 need to have the world's best roster. 0:07:04.360 --> 0:07:07.159 Yeah, no, you're right about that, Paul. I mean, honestly, 0:07:07.279 --> 0:07:09.880 this team should have been four and four with Kyler 0:07:09.960 --> 0:07:13.120 Murray as their starter. And although you don't want to 0:07:13.160 --> 0:07:15.600 look at your franchise quarterback and say, wow, we should 0:07:15.600 --> 0:07:19.280 be a five hundred team, this roster is still in 0:07:19.320 --> 0:07:23.320 a state of flox, Paul. It's nowhere even close to 0:07:23.360 --> 0:07:26.080 what it's going to be next year. There were a 0:07:26.160 --> 0:07:28.760 lot of guys on this team this year that I 0:07:28.800 --> 0:07:31.600 don't think are going to be here next year, PAULI. 0:07:31.800 --> 0:07:36.120 And you know, for me, that means an awful lot. 0:07:36.480 --> 0:07:39.520 You know, Kyler Murray had not played in a football 0:07:39.560 --> 0:07:42.960 game for almost a year, Paul, yep, and somehow, some 0:07:43.120 --> 0:07:46.000 way found a way to go out there and be 0:07:46.200 --> 0:07:49.720 three and five as a starter, but play above my 0:07:49.960 --> 0:07:52.320 expectation and evolve his game. 0:07:52.360 --> 0:07:54.920 Most importantly, well, you heard what Michael Wilson told us 0:07:54.920 --> 0:07:57.520 from the locker room after the finale against Seattle. It 0:07:57.560 --> 0:08:00.360 took time, those were his words. It just took time 0:08:00.680 --> 0:08:03.040 for Kyler to learn the receivers, for the coaches to 0:08:03.120 --> 0:08:05.680 let learn the skill sets and the strong suits of 0:08:05.720 --> 0:08:08.640 the players, for everyone to learn the offense and learn 0:08:08.720 --> 0:08:11.800 their quarterback. So you have the third youngest team in 0:08:11.800 --> 0:08:14.320 the NFL and the Arizona Cardinals. They just played the 0:08:14.480 --> 0:08:19.200 second toughest schedule, right They beat three playoff teams in Dallas, Pittsburgh, 0:08:19.520 --> 0:08:20.720 in Philadelphia. 0:08:20.800 --> 0:08:21.520 Yeah, there was. 0:08:21.480 --> 0:08:23.600 Also the fact that how many times were they down 0:08:23.640 --> 0:08:25.960 at halftime and they fought back to either take the 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:28.880 lead or make it a one score game. You know, 0:08:29.200 --> 0:08:32.760 teams in the past would not have competed like that 0:08:33.000 --> 0:08:35.800 for a full sixty minutes. So that's why Kyler Murray 0:08:35.800 --> 0:08:39.000 went addressing the media. He said the following about what 0:08:39.120 --> 0:08:41.600 he's seen so far in this team, in this coaching staff. 0:08:41.800 --> 0:08:43.839 There is a lot so forward too, and you know, 0:08:43.880 --> 0:08:45.840 I'm excited about it. You know, I know the guys 0:08:45.840 --> 0:08:48.040 are excited about it. Trust and believe in Moni and 0:08:48.120 --> 0:08:49.719 JG and what you know, what they got going on, 0:08:49.800 --> 0:08:52.680 what they're building here, it's complete one, you know, and 0:08:53.080 --> 0:08:53.560 I'm happy. 0:08:53.640 --> 0:08:53.760 Man. 0:08:53.800 --> 0:08:56.240 I'm happy, happy in the position that we're in. 0:08:57.280 --> 0:08:58.079 And there's no doubt. 0:08:58.160 --> 0:08:58.360 You know. 0:08:58.480 --> 0:09:00.840 We asked, We asked Jonathan and about it at the very 0:09:00.920 --> 0:09:03.000 end of the interview there after the Seattle game, that 0:09:03.920 --> 0:09:07.240 you are certain that confidence can carry over. Momentum doesn't 0:09:07.240 --> 0:09:09.760 carry over from one season next, but confidence does. And 0:09:09.760 --> 0:09:12.800 he answered immediately with a resounding yes. Well, what do 0:09:12.840 --> 0:09:15.120 you think What is it about that that he means 0:09:15.120 --> 0:09:17.080 for those who haven't played the game, how is it 0:09:17.120 --> 0:09:18.680 that confidence can carry over? 0:09:19.400 --> 0:09:22.320 Yeah, you know, his confidence. I think of Kyler Murray 0:09:22.400 --> 0:09:24.680 front and center, the guy that you just played that 0:09:24.800 --> 0:09:28.479 cut from Kyler Murray. Here's a guy where the confidence 0:09:28.920 --> 0:09:32.920 that he gained from playing under center and evolving himself 0:09:32.960 --> 0:09:36.800 as a person and evolving this offense. Because of that, 0:09:37.320 --> 0:09:39.720 the fact that now all of a sudden, you've got 0:09:39.800 --> 0:09:43.840 him this new offense and this new offensive scheme and 0:09:43.880 --> 0:09:46.480 the demands are going to put on him from under center, 0:09:46.760 --> 0:09:50.000 he knows in his heart that he can actually do it. 0:09:50.280 --> 0:09:54.080 Why because he's done it in a game. He did 0:09:54.080 --> 0:09:56.720 it and got better every game. If you ask me 0:09:57.200 --> 0:10:00.720 in regard to playing under center and he evolving that 0:10:00.880 --> 0:10:03.640 part of his offense, right Now that is the kind 0:10:03.640 --> 0:10:07.400 of confidence, knowing in your heart you could get that done. 0:10:07.600 --> 0:10:10.720 Knowing in your heart going into next year, you're you're 0:10:10.760 --> 0:10:14.280 already gonna master under center, being in the gun, being 0:10:14.320 --> 0:10:18.120 in pistol. Right now, you've got nothing to fear in 0:10:18.200 --> 0:10:22.280 this offense. And once you know that, Paul, it changes everything. 0:10:22.440 --> 0:10:25.800 I never thought we would see Kyler under center thirty 0:10:25.840 --> 0:10:29.040 times in a single game. I never thought i'd see 0:10:29.040 --> 0:10:32.480 a Cardinals offense rush for over two hundred yards in 0:10:32.600 --> 0:10:35.760 three of the last four games. Yep, it's amazing when 0:10:35.800 --> 0:10:39.520 Kyler says a one to eighty. That's in multiple ways. 0:10:39.640 --> 0:10:41.600 When you talk about the Cardinals from the beginning of 0:10:41.600 --> 0:10:44.240 twenty twenty three to the end, hey joined the Cardinal 0:10:44.320 --> 0:10:50.360 season ticket priority list twenty twenty four. Opponents include the Bears, Chargers, Patriots, Jets, Lions, Commanders, 0:10:50.400 --> 0:10:52.920 and of course the NFC West. Go to Azycardinals dot 0:10:52.960 --> 0:10:55.920 com slash priority list. All right, when we come back, 0:10:56.040 --> 0:10:58.719 dueling Wolf Lees on the Big Red Rage presented by 0:10:58.720 --> 0:11:02.920 santan Ford in Gilbert, he. 0:11:03.040 --> 0:11:06.280 Takes turns and off Connor, sprinting to his left, find 0:11:06.320 --> 0:11:08.640 some room at the twenty. At the fifteenth, closing the 0:11:08.720 --> 0:11:12.520 ten head into the n SO throning touchdown James Connor 0:11:12.559 --> 0:11:16.520 from twenty nine yards out. That drive was all about 0:11:16.640 --> 0:11:17.560 James Connor. 0:11:17.880 --> 0:11:22.320 When you hammer the box, there's going to be a leak, 0:11:23.040 --> 0:11:27.680 and that was a huge leak from the Seattle Seahawks. 0:11:27.160 --> 0:11:29.960 Box and off Connor off the right side across the 0:11:30.000 --> 0:11:33.240 twenty five thirty five forty. He's got one thousand head 0:11:33.320 --> 0:11:37.520 midfield and steps up there. First one thousand yard season 0:11:37.559 --> 0:11:38.600 for James Connor. 0:11:40.080 --> 0:11:43.680 So let's see one Pittsburgh import worked out pretty well 0:11:44.120 --> 0:11:46.840 in James Connor. So we're gonna go to the Steel 0:11:46.960 --> 0:11:51.040 City for another here because Ron wolf Ley, you're familiar 0:11:51.040 --> 0:11:53.240 with all the playoff storylines right as we go into 0:11:53.240 --> 0:11:55.360 the postseason here in the Big Red Rage presented by 0:11:55.360 --> 0:11:58.520 santan Ford and Gilbert. Let's see we have Matthew Stafford 0:11:58.520 --> 0:12:04.960 against Detroit, Mike McCarthy against Green Bay, Tyreek Hill against 0:12:05.040 --> 0:12:10.200 Kansas City, and Craig Wolfley against his native Buffalo. How 0:12:10.240 --> 0:12:13.280 about that as we have dueling Wolfles here on the 0:12:13.280 --> 0:12:15.880 Big Red, you guys might need to identify yourselves before 0:12:15.880 --> 0:12:19.320 you speak, because folks might get your voices confused. I mean, Ron, 0:12:19.960 --> 0:12:21.800 you know here we go. Why don't you welcome your 0:12:21.840 --> 0:12:22.720 brother into the show. 0:12:23.160 --> 0:12:24.720 Yeah, Craig, how you doing, man? 0:12:25.360 --> 0:12:26.880 I'm doing good? Bro? How you doing? 0:12:27.200 --> 0:12:30.080 I'm doing great? I truly want to know. How weird 0:12:30.280 --> 0:12:32.680 is it that you're going to be going back to 0:12:32.760 --> 0:12:36.000 the park Orchard Park, New York. Is that a little 0:12:36.000 --> 0:12:36.640 weird for you? 0:12:37.559 --> 0:12:39.360 Well, you know how it is. We grew up two 0:12:39.360 --> 0:12:42.880 point four miles from that stadium. A lot of dreams, 0:12:42.920 --> 0:12:45.920 a lot of joy was had as we grew up there, 0:12:45.960 --> 0:12:47.680 you know, I mean I even played a college game 0:12:47.720 --> 0:12:50.160 there my senior year in college, you know, when we 0:12:50.160 --> 0:12:53.520 played University of Miami at then rich Stadium. And I 0:12:53.559 --> 0:12:56.560 always thought that, you know what, I heard rumors they 0:12:56.840 --> 0:12:59.360 Bill said that they sign you as a free agent. Well, 0:12:59.440 --> 0:13:01.960 you know what, it didn't last because Chuck drafted me 0:13:02.040 --> 0:13:04.080 back in the nineteen eighty and the fifth round. So 0:13:04.520 --> 0:13:07.720 you know, I never And by the way, when somebody 0:13:07.720 --> 0:13:11.120 signs your paycheck, it's okay. I was a big Steelers 0:13:11.160 --> 0:13:12.280 fan then, you know what I mean? 0:13:12.920 --> 0:13:15.600 And Chuck, you're talking about the legendary Chuck Nole and 0:13:15.679 --> 0:13:19.520 you played a decade for the Steelers, So yeah, and 0:13:19.559 --> 0:13:22.120 you know what, as the Steelers analyst right now, you're 0:13:22.160 --> 0:13:25.000 real familiar with the highlight. We just heard James Connor, 0:13:25.040 --> 0:13:28.640 who just had his first thousand yard season. I voted 0:13:28.640 --> 0:13:31.680 for him as Team MVP because he's more than a player. 0:13:31.720 --> 0:13:35.400 To me, Craig, He's a mentality, he's a mindset. Just 0:13:35.559 --> 0:13:39.360 the toughness that he brings. The Cardinals feed off that, 0:13:39.640 --> 0:13:41.880 and they just finished a season where they had the 0:13:41.960 --> 0:13:46.080 fourth rank rushing attack in the NFL. You tell us 0:13:46.080 --> 0:13:48.760 about your experience is what you saw during his Pittsburgh 0:13:48.800 --> 0:13:49.720 days James Connor. 0:13:50.480 --> 0:13:53.240 You know, I just love the life story of James Connor. 0:13:53.280 --> 0:13:57.640 His overcoming attitude, his desire to be great was just huge. 0:13:58.040 --> 0:13:59.920 And I was privileged enough that I got to do 0:14:00.080 --> 0:14:02.720 a show with him every Tuesday night at the Giant 0:14:02.760 --> 0:14:05.360 Eagle here and Rob Robinson up in the you know 0:14:05.720 --> 0:14:07.679 a little bit of ways from my house here, and 0:14:08.040 --> 0:14:10.880 it was always fun because he was just so engaging. 0:14:10.920 --> 0:14:13.439 He would you know, was was one of those guys 0:14:13.480 --> 0:14:15.920 that reaches out to the fans, and the fans reached 0:14:15.920 --> 0:14:19.040 out to him. How many times did I see pregame 0:14:19.560 --> 0:14:22.080 James go out and he'd you know, go out early 0:14:22.120 --> 0:14:24.480 to warm up and he'd see a sign that says 0:14:24.800 --> 0:14:28.280 I can overcome cancer because you overcame cancer, and he 0:14:28.320 --> 0:14:32.280 would go up inevitably and give words of encouragement. Love 0:14:32.400 --> 0:14:35.680 people who pour life into other people, and James Connor 0:14:36.000 --> 0:14:38.840 is one of those guys that pours life into other people. 0:14:39.240 --> 0:14:42.280 So Craig, you know, speaking of other people too. It's 0:14:42.360 --> 0:14:45.560 not just obviously off the field that you're talking about. 0:14:45.880 --> 0:14:48.840 James Connor also impacts a lot of guys in between 0:14:48.880 --> 0:14:52.680 those white lines, right. It's it's because of how hard 0:14:52.720 --> 0:14:53.960 he plays, right. 0:14:54.520 --> 0:14:57.880 Oh, he plays so hard, you know, and again overcoming 0:14:58.200 --> 0:15:01.040 the cancer while he was, you know, coming up for 0:15:01.120 --> 0:15:03.920 the draft. He's kidding me, you know. I think that 0:15:04.280 --> 0:15:08.400 the confidence, that the determination when you know, he talks 0:15:08.440 --> 0:15:10.960 about how he was so weak and so forth that 0:15:11.000 --> 0:15:13.560 he couldn't do this or that when he first started 0:15:13.600 --> 0:15:16.640 training for it. I mean, his life story is just 0:15:16.760 --> 0:15:20.400 an inspiration to anybody that takes a minute or two 0:15:20.440 --> 0:15:23.640 to read about it and to listen to him talk 0:15:23.760 --> 0:15:27.360 as he talks with passion. He talks with great confidence 0:15:27.400 --> 0:15:30.800 and determination. I love the kid. The young man is 0:15:30.840 --> 0:15:34.640 just an overcomer and he's got my respect as being 0:15:34.640 --> 0:15:37.240 a real is a real tough guy because you watch 0:15:37.360 --> 0:15:40.440 him play man, he's all about toughness, but he's just 0:15:41.120 --> 0:15:42.080 he's a lot of heart. 0:15:42.760 --> 0:15:45.400 Steelers analyst former Steeler Craig Wolfley our guest on The 0:15:45.400 --> 0:15:48.040 Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert So. 0:15:48.120 --> 0:15:50.720 We asked the head coach, Jonathan Gannon mid season, how 0:15:50.760 --> 0:15:53.680 much does this team feed off James Conner. He said, 0:15:53.760 --> 0:15:57.000 I feed off James Connor. That's the kind of impact. 0:15:57.280 --> 0:15:59.640 Here's what James Connor had to say recently, just on 0:15:59.720 --> 0:16:01.760 being example for his teammates. 0:16:02.240 --> 0:16:03.920 I think, is it something that comes with it, you know, 0:16:03.920 --> 0:16:05.640 when you handle your business day in and day out, 0:16:05.680 --> 0:16:08.560 and then accepting every challenge that comes with it. You know, 0:16:08.600 --> 0:16:11.320 and always want to be a leader, and you know, 0:16:11.360 --> 0:16:13.720 eventually you do this thing long enough, you play long 0:16:13.800 --> 0:16:15.680 enough in the league, that road just comes to you. 0:16:16.080 --> 0:16:17.840 It just comes with it. And I accept that challenge 0:16:17.880 --> 0:16:18.760 and responsibility. 0:16:19.200 --> 0:16:21.240 So he's in his prime right now, Craig, And do 0:16:21.320 --> 0:16:24.280 you combine that with a run first Cardinals offense that 0:16:24.360 --> 0:16:27.240 features a Kyla Murray who now is at the point 0:16:27.240 --> 0:16:29.840 where he runs when he wants to. You know, it's 0:16:29.880 --> 0:16:32.600 not so vital for this Cardinals offense how lethal do 0:16:32.640 --> 0:16:35.000 you think that makes that this Cardinals offense? Because you 0:16:35.040 --> 0:16:37.840 saw it firsthand when the Cardinals came in December to 0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:40.080 Pittsburgh and got out of there with a win. 0:16:40.920 --> 0:16:43.160 No question about it. I mean, that's a one two 0:16:43.280 --> 0:16:47.520 punch of incredible athletic talent. To watch that talent operate 0:16:47.560 --> 0:16:50.120 and see where it'll ball to looking forward to seeing 0:16:50.160 --> 0:16:52.280 what you guys can do with that. The other thing 0:16:52.280 --> 0:16:55.560 I wanted to add about James too, he does does 0:16:55.640 --> 0:16:59.360 that leadership thing like it's so natural for him. He 0:16:59.400 --> 0:17:02.440 wears leader ship like water wear's wet. It's just part 0:17:02.480 --> 0:17:04.840 of who he is and it comes out and you 0:17:04.880 --> 0:17:07.639 can see that effect on other guys and what it 0:17:07.760 --> 0:17:10.560 means to be to have him in the huddle because 0:17:10.560 --> 0:17:13.919 he really just does a great job doing what he does, 0:17:14.200 --> 0:17:17.560 whether it's picking up blitz, is catching the ball or 0:17:17.600 --> 0:17:20.399 busting through a tackle. And now you've got Kyler Murray 0:17:20.440 --> 0:17:23.240 another guy in there with an incredible amount of athleticism. 0:17:23.640 --> 0:17:26.960 Yet zooks man, I mean, I wonder what I always wondered, 0:17:26.960 --> 0:17:29.000 what would be like to have that kind of athletic ability. 0:17:29.200 --> 0:17:31.320 I sure if I didn't know it. 0:17:31.800 --> 0:17:34.080 Yeah, you know what, Craig though. What's interesting about this 0:17:34.560 --> 0:17:37.760 is I think James Connor has an impact, as I said, 0:17:37.880 --> 0:17:41.600 on other guys around him, but more specifically, I would say, 0:17:41.720 --> 0:17:48.840 offensive lineman, you blocked for Francoharris. You know, can you 0:17:49.160 --> 0:17:51.760 relate to that at all? That the kind of impact 0:17:51.800 --> 0:17:55.240 that a hard running back like James Connor can have 0:17:55.359 --> 0:17:57.320 on a guy at the point of attack. 0:17:58.320 --> 0:18:02.280 There's no question when you want Franco take that rock 0:18:02.400 --> 0:18:04.359 and then hit the two trap and he hits a 0:18:04.480 --> 0:18:08.800 lick and he split runs over somebody, then outracist somebody. 0:18:09.000 --> 0:18:10.720 You'll love that. You want to be part of it. 0:18:10.760 --> 0:18:13.800 I remember I'm flow thirty six. Oh my goodness. We 0:18:13.840 --> 0:18:17.119 get out there and I'm going outside the linebacker and 0:18:17.160 --> 0:18:19.359 I feel Frank pushing me. He's pushed me from behind, 0:18:19.400 --> 0:18:22.399 like run faster. I'm like, I'm running as fast as 0:18:22.440 --> 0:18:25.400 I can, dude. You know. But the fact is you'll 0:18:25.440 --> 0:18:29.520 love his competitiveness and his determination. And I've always had 0:18:29.560 --> 0:18:33.600 the greatest respect for people like Franco Herrits again, another 0:18:33.680 --> 0:18:37.359 guy who his toughness and everything else was legendary, but 0:18:37.520 --> 0:18:41.000 also his willingness to pour life into other people. He's 0:18:41.080 --> 0:18:44.000 always about that, you know, And That's where I just 0:18:44.240 --> 0:18:46.320 came to have such respect for a lot of these 0:18:46.359 --> 0:18:49.080 guys that I didn't know him when it before I 0:18:49.160 --> 0:18:51.159 got to the you know, the Steelers, but then you 0:18:51.200 --> 0:18:54.199 see how they lived their life story, how they they 0:18:54.280 --> 0:18:58.480 are so involved in community affairs or just in the 0:18:58.520 --> 0:19:00.679 lives of their teammates, little things that they do, and 0:19:00.720 --> 0:19:03.920 it was just always it was always known to me 0:19:04.040 --> 0:19:05.440 that these guys are special. 0:19:06.119 --> 0:19:08.240 Hey, Craig Wolfley is our guest, and you've been around 0:19:08.280 --> 0:19:11.320 Mike Tomlin his whole Steelers career and we can see 0:19:11.359 --> 0:19:15.119 him from the outside. But to have seventeen non losing seasons, 0:19:15.280 --> 0:19:19.600 eleven playoff birsts Now, what is it about Tomlin behind 0:19:19.640 --> 0:19:22.760 the scenes? Because we've marveled at Jonathan Gannon how he's 0:19:22.840 --> 0:19:24.960 been able to hit the reset button on culture with 0:19:25.119 --> 0:19:28.000 the Cardinals. How does Tomlin get it done? What's his formula? 0:19:29.119 --> 0:19:32.920 Leadership and consistency? I mean, this guy is always leading 0:19:32.960 --> 0:19:35.679 from the front. He's another of those guys that wears 0:19:35.720 --> 0:19:38.480 water like you know, wear's wet like water wears wet, 0:19:38.720 --> 0:19:41.199 you know what I mean. He just leadership is what 0:19:41.280 --> 0:19:43.840 he's all about. And he has the same message. He's 0:19:43.880 --> 0:19:46.680 always the same. You know, whether you're in the middle 0:19:46.720 --> 0:19:48.760 of a two to three game losing streak or in 0:19:48.800 --> 0:19:51.440 the middle of a two three game winning streak. He's 0:19:51.480 --> 0:19:54.480 all about coming in, getting the work, in doing it, 0:19:54.800 --> 0:19:57.159 then rolling up the sleeves the next day, coming in 0:19:57.320 --> 0:20:00.400 doing the work and getting after it. You know exactly 0:20:00.400 --> 0:20:02.920 where you stand with Mike. I've never left the room 0:20:03.280 --> 0:20:05.399 with Mike not knowing where I stood with him in 0:20:05.440 --> 0:20:08.040 a conversation or anything like that. He's just one of 0:20:08.080 --> 0:20:10.480 those guys that looks right into your eyes, tells you 0:20:10.960 --> 0:20:13.760