July 25, 2025 • 42 mins
Ep. 903 - There’s been a lot of talk about the Year 2 jump for Marvin Harrison Jr., but what about Trey Benson? A third-round pick, and the second running back taken off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft, Benson spoke confidently about the upcoming season following Friday’s training camp practice at State Farm Stadium. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi discuss what Benson might bring to the offense and the running back room overall. Also, the guys continue to see Mack Wilson Sr. flash all over the field during #CardsCamp; they detail updated weights for a handful of players, many of whom play along the line of scrimmage; and yes, there is news about Paul’s mustache.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
A lot of talk about the year two for Marvin
Harrison Junior? What about Trey Benson? God Paul Calvic with
me berg Gang, we talk running backs. Mac Wilson Senior
continues to fly around the field updated waits for a
handful of players, especially along the line of scrimmage and
what's the latest with Paul's mustache. It's Cardinals Cover two,
Episode nine oh three, and it starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Welcome to Cardinals Cover two.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Buda Baker, What Heart?
Speaker 4 (00:31):
What rent? This guy's unbelievable?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals
dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
He's at the ten half of five. He's it again,
some more hurry magic.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Whow Here's Craigcriolo.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
So can I begin with a quote?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Paul?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Well, Craig, Cardinals Cover two is your domain, so you
can do whatever you stink and want. You're under center
right now calling the place. Well, this is your quote.
Oh so here it is? Okay, Well we'll see if
it's really good. You might have to pay a royalty
or some sort of licensing fee.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Quoting Paul Calvici no less than twenty four hours ago.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Quote, I always coach op gree ten minutes into the
big Red rage. Wow, what is going on?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Okay, somebody outed me on that one. I thought I
could slip that one in. We'll unnoticed. So obviously we
have a leak in the room. I'm gonna have to
find that out. We'll deal with that a little bit later. Yeah, Craig,
I just want to, you know, see if people are
paying attention, you know, just let everyone know that we're
just not down there taking video and watching football with
a cold beverage in our hand.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
You know, we're actually.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Providing a service, not unlike what Kalayis Campbell does with
the defense or Calvin Beacham does with the offense. I
like to think I'm able to do with my fellow
media colleagues.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Okay, so you're the eighteen year veteran and I'm the
third year young players that what you're saying here, Paul,
Well you're.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Saying maybe you're young in your own mind, but you know,
once again, this is your domain, Craig. If that's what
you want to think, it's a free country.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Okay, So since you're coaching me up, coach me up
on what you saw, what you noticed, what you heard
here on Friday, day three, but day two of the
open practice, open portion of training camp here at State Farmstadium.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Well, I'm still reeling from getting an answer to my
biggest question at Cardinals camp the day before. If you
want to go twenty four hours in the rear view
mirror getting the answer to who's the mic linebacker? I
thought maybe that would be a little bit more of
a process. I thought maybe we might have to ask
a few more questions, pull a few more teeth to
get that answer. But boom, mac Wilson Senior letting us
(02:47):
know that he is the mic linebacker. So my I
today actually went to who was alongside mac Wilson Senior?
Hard not to notice that Cody Simon, the fourth round rookie,
was out there quite a bit. Hard not to notice
that Owen Papo was out there. Year three, all the
athleticism in the world, Is he ready to make an impact?
What did JG say before practice? You know it needs
(03:08):
to go out there and let a rip. Owen Papo
just needs to be a playmaker, be heard, be seen,
be disruptive. We know he did it on special teams,
can he do it as an inside backer? And then
there is a Keem Davis Gaither who had a chance
to interview in the offseason in the radio studio, and
he comes in brimming with confidence, a guy who proved
(03:29):
at the last half dozen games or so for the
Bengals down the stretch, not unlike Mac Wilson Senior did
in the final month or month plus for the New
England Patriots two years ago. So I think that is
quietly the most competitive position battle on this team. Who's
going to line up at inside linebacker next to Mac Wilson?
(03:52):
And honestly, I think it could be any of the
three now if they had their druthers, maybe it would
be Cody Simon, because Okay, you'd love to see a
rookie come off defensive MVP in the National Championship game
and pick right up where he left off and how
he seemingly got better with every single college game as
(04:14):
Ohio State marched to the national title. But but I mean,
you just can't replace the experience that agg has and
that onwhen Papo has gained over the last two years.
So hey, let there be competition.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Super smart is how Mac described Cody. Simon one asked Mac, hey,
what do you think about Cody? And that was where
the two words without hesitation. So you talk about, all right,
the adjustment level one in the offseason, it's picking up
the playbook and if you can master that as a rookie,
day two pick doesn't matter. But you're here, then okay,
(04:52):
how do you process the playbook? How do you get
that information to the guys in front of you, to
the guys behind you if eventually Cody does become the
wearer of the green dot.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
But I'm more.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Curious how often I mentioned this on Thursday with Danny
here on Cardinals cover too, how often Mac is by
himself solo amongst the defense or that second level because
you've got three definitive defensive lineman, you've got Josh wet
Baron Browning, Davin Collins outside linebackers, but close to the
(05:24):
line of scrimmage, and Mac's just there floating around. And
we saw late in practice on Friday they were working
on third down ones versus one's eleven on eleven and
the first pass play Mac batted it down. It was
a quick out, at least from my perspective. It was
on the right side of the field where I was standing,
(05:45):
and he batted it down. And number two kinda is
looking like Number three Buddha Baker all over the field
and maybe getting unlocked here in his second year within
this defense.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Okay, that's in astute observation. I'll mark that in the
win column for you. That's that's well done. You're not
just hanging around the dessert tray in the media press box.
So you're right, here's the thing. And I watched that too,
and I'm thinking, all right, guess what if you fortified
your defensive front, which you have, then maybe that does
(06:19):
give you the ability to go with a single inside packer.
But what did the Detroit Lions doing Week three a
year ago? They started the game with what six offensive
linemen and they just said, here it comes, can you
stop us? So if you're going to go consistently with
a single inside linebacker, I'm guessing other teams will make
the in game adjustment and they're just going with a
(06:40):
power running game and they will cram it vertical. On
the other hand, if you're stout enough upfront, with the
addition of Dalvin Tomlinson, who ain't no stinking three to
twenty five.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
By the way they did.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
They did relist his weight, didn't he Because I'm the
big red rage Craig right after I said I was
coaching you up, Wolf, and I expressed a little bit
of skepticism that three twenty five was act right in
the waight callum.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, it's amazing what happens in a day's time. But yeah,
the updated roster and this is there been. I mean
two dozen players have had their weights adjusted, whether they're
increased or decreased. MacWilson Senior lost six pounds in a day.
He went from two forty six to two forty. But
Dalvin is listed at three thirty five, okay, and he
(07:21):
looks every bit at three thirty five. But again, watching
the defensive line on that side of the field on Friday.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
He is quick.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
It's not a slow plotting three thirty five. He gets
in that three point stance and comes off the ball,
so he takes up a lot of space plus and
you hope that he can get into the backfield quickly
and then all of a sudden, maybe that inside linebacker,
whether it's Mac or someone else, doesn't have a lot
of obstacles in his way and can make some plays
(07:54):
at the second level and don't have guys ball carriers
getting into the secondary. And now all of a sudden,
Budda Baker to make one hundred and fifty plus tackles.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Right, and look, if you have to, let's reverse engineer this.
What did they not get with Kaizer White that they're
trying to achieve this season. There's a reason they moved
away from Kaizer White, who was one of four team
captains who had played the second most snaps on defense,
only to boot A Baker. So did they want more
(08:24):
of an inside linebacker crew? They can go sideline to sideline,
that's my guess. Oh, by the way, mac Wilson senior
can run. We know that because he's played off the edge.
In fact, he did this second half of last year,
played off the edge quite a bit out of necessity,
A because of injuries, b because they needed to affect
the quarterback at a greater rate. But wait a minute, now,
he lost how many pounds? Six pounds?
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Six?
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Okay, so now ostensibly he's even quicker. He's caught your
eye in being quick. So if mac Wilson's senior, all
of a sudden, okay, what does he give you the
kaizer White did not the ability to go sideline to sideline.
Cody Simon said, I don't have the exact stat but
he said a bunch of records last year at Ohio State,
for a the number of tackles combined with the number
(09:08):
of stops in the backfield, he had seven sacks. He
had seven tackles for loss. In other words, he was
an inside linebacker who was all over the field and
consistently behind the line of scrimmage. So if that's something
that Cody Simon can give you, along with and even
quicker mac Wilson Senior, man that and you have a
stout defensive line that's gonna keep those guys clean at
(09:31):
a much greater degree than the last couple of years. Now,
all of a sudden, I agree with you. You can
go seek and destroy MacWilson Senior and Buddha Baker Jalen
Thompson rabbit. We've seen how aggressive he can be. So
now all of a sudden, you're dialing up this combination
of safeties inside linebackers. But you have the ability to
do that because now all of a sudden, kalais Dalvin
(09:52):
Tomlinson a new and approved Darius Robinson. You know, you
just have guys in the trenches Josh Sweat at six five,
two sixty five, zaman At about the same, maybe even
two seventy on Zavian Collins. So if you can put
that kind of beef up front and let your linebackers
in safety, ze, Yeah, I can see Nick Rowlis go
in that direction.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
And what does Mac offer you that maybe Kaiser didn't
or maybe Mac does it a little bit better. And
that's the versatility as far as near the line of
scrimmage sideline to sideline dropping, And what does that versatility
allow Nick Rowlis to do, be a little bit more
exotic figure out the best eleven. Maybe it doesn't look
(10:31):
traditionally like a three four or four to three. And
I don't know if we'll see Mac solo at inside
linebacker a lot, but it has been something that at
least through two days, has caught my eye. But again
it goes back to all right, if you you put
so much resources, whether financial or draft capital, along the
defensive line and outside linebacker, and you don't want to
(10:54):
lose any of those players when you're cutting from ninety
to fifty three, Well, it's got to come from somewhere else,
and maybe it comes from an inside linebacker position. Because
your best eleven includes three defensive linemen, four defensive linemen
and two or three outside linebackers, and of course in
the secondary, three corners, three safeties. How do you work
(11:14):
that math to fifty three and obviously eleven for particular play.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
So we know how much this coaching staff and this
GM loved positional flexibility, and then when it comes to
game planning, they love to flex that positional flexibility itself
by trying to confuse offenses and quarterbacks in particular. So
to your point, Mac Wilson Senior can play off the edge.
He's now playing the mic. He can be anywhere on
(11:40):
any given snap. Zaman Collins, former mic linebacker, now outside linebacker.
He's told us there have been games where he's played
a half dozen different positions, including a three technique who's
then asked to bail upon the snap and go play
center field. Okay, now you add a Baron Browning who
added how much? How many elbe's did he add?
Speaker 4 (12:01):
That was the surprising one.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
As far as the adjustments and weights, Baron Browning is
now listed at two hundred and fifty five pounds, an
increase from where he was again yesterday, but really last
season he added fifteen pounds and watching him again in
a single digit wearing number five, it looks albeit fifteen
(12:25):
pounds heavier, but the way it's proportioned, his shoulders are bigger,
his legs look twice the size. And remember you had
a couple of conversations with him when he arrived. He
was never really one hundred percent healthy in Denver and
in coming to Arizona, it took him a little while,
and then towards the back half of the season he
started to kind of feel like himself and then get
(12:48):
used to this defense. And now with a full off season,
something Jonathan Gannon discussed earlier on Friday, you might see
a little bit more of Baron Brownie, not just straight
ahead rush, but also set the edge and maybe dropp
into coverage a little bit, kind of like Zaven Collins.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
See in Denver used him in a variety of different ways,
and that's one of the reasons he got off to
a bit of a slow start. Is a third round
pick out of Ohio State a few years ago, so
he has that versatility as well and then you take
a Jordan Birch. It was kind of a similar body
type to a Zavon Collins. So now you have four
guys right there, Craig who have a ton of versatility
(13:27):
that can be using in a variety of different ways.
So a year ago we sort of went with that
nickname affectionately, you know, eleven card pickup as opposed to
fifty two card pickup. Like, you just have dudes walking
around along the line of scrimmage and where are they
going to be? And it makes it look like it's
complete chaos. Now they know what their assignments are and
what gap they have to defend when the ball is snapped.
But I can just see Jonathan again and Nick Rowlis
(13:50):
scheming this up, devising this up, and really confusing offenses,
especially the first month of the year. What do they
always talk about, you want to get four games of
film on a team and on a scheme before you
really get a good handle. Well, I think in the
month of September Cardinals are gonna be throwing a lot
of curveballs out there with a lot of different players
used in a variety of different ways. And I think, yes,
(14:13):
it does start with guys like Mackwill's senior Zavin Collins,
Baron Browning, Jordan Birch, and then we've seen, you know,
even Kalais Campbell can play anywhere from the nose all
the way out to the five techniques. So it's gonna
be really intriguing to see just just how different the
defense looks series to series, starting Week one in New Orleans.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
By the way, you bring up Zavian he has increased
ten pounds from a year ago, not enlisted at two
hundred and seventy pounds, Dante Stills and even three hundred pounds,
an additional fourteen pounds from a year ago. And then
stand along the line of scrimmage offensive lineman Paris Johnson
Junior a twelve pound increase listed at three to twenty five,
(14:55):
Christian Jones a fifteen pound increase listed at three twenty.
Now we talk a lot about that defensive line and
offensive line. Well, two brand new position coaches at both
of those spots, justin Fry and coach Debo. And again
some of this is just Okay, what do we need,
what do we want you at? What are you comfortable at?
(15:16):
I mean, Paul, everyone made a big deal of how
Marvin Harrison Junior, and how he looked and how many
pounds he gained. It wasn't just him, It's been throughout
this entire roster as far as guys gaining weight. And
again it's good weight, and some guys have dropped some weight,
but more than not, more often than not, it was
(15:37):
guys gaining anywhere between five to fifteen pounds because of
what this coaching staff wants them to do and believes
that they are best served to do at a certain
particular weight.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
And maybe the most important guy we haven't cited yet,
Isaiah Adams. Does he have a new weight listed? Because
on the Big Red Rage a couple months ago, he
said his range was anywhere from three to fifteen to
three twenty five and he mentioned the strength and the
muscle mass that he had put on, how he did
feel stronger and more explosive. And the reason I bring
this up because as we track towards the first practice
(16:11):
with pads, I mean, I think if I could have,
if I could devise one matchup, I want to see
Isaiah Adams take on a Dalvin Thomlinson bul rush and
that's gonna.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Be a real gauge.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Okay, how equipped is he in year two to handle
the physicality of playing interior offensive line?
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Isaiah still listed at three fifteen as he was last year,
and Dobbins Dan. So you're gonna have three fifteen Isaiah
Adams going against three thirty five Dalvin Tomlinson and that
first O line. D line padded practice on Monday.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And I want to see. I'm right there for it.
I mean, I'm gonna be their front row seat. I
want to see those matchups. I want to see exactly
Jonah Williams. You know what he looks like as you
right tackle Christian Jones. Look, Christian Jones has potential, but
he's also a fifth round pick from last year who
didn't see the field a whole bunch his rookie season.
(17:05):
And let's not forget there are twenty eight draft picks
the last three years. Every single one of them as
of right now, is still on this roster. That's not
going to be the case a month from now. So
there's gonna be some hard decisions on which draft picks
are going to be on this final fifty three and
who are not. And it's going to be really competitive,
and as even JG and all the players have said,
(17:26):
the real football does not start until the pads come on.
So for everything we can cite and we think we know,
you never truly know until it's full speed, full contact,
full pad football. And that starts here in a matter
of what seventy two hours in counting.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
One more weight gain.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
And this is something that we just learned immediately after
Friday's practice. But talking to second year running back Trey Benson,
who again a year ago listed at two sixteen, Friday
morning updated listed at two twenty though he tells the
media post practice that he's in the range of two
twenty six to two twenty eight. And again it goes
(18:05):
back to what you noticed late last season and how
much Tray Benson started to look and act like James Connor.
Now all of a sudden, you've got similar body types
and continuing that relationship on and off the field. But
what does what's year two look like for a Trey
Benson who was all smiles, speaks very confidently, probably a
(18:32):
one to eighty difference from when we spoke to him
a year ago. Agree, a little bit unsure, and that's
to be expected coming in from college, not quite sure
what the NFL life is like or what it takes
to be ready on game day. But here he is
that injury late in the season that kind of derailed
where he was headed. He looks like he's picking up
(18:53):
where he left off before the injury and is coming
in with a lot more confidence and sure of himself,
maybe sure of his role within this offense.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
It is amazing, and I'm the first one to forget
that no matter how big a star you are in
the college game, it's always going to be a transition.
And it's not just what we see, it's what they're feeling.
What did Marv tell the media just the other day?
He said, Yeah, here in year two, I'm quote not
as nervous and fidgety. I'm a lot more relaxed. I'm calm.
(19:24):
This is Marvin Harrison junior, who was a first team
All American and won a national championship at Ohio State, Right,
I mean think about all that and the acclaim and
being the son of a Hall of Famer and the
fourth pick overall, and you're still quote nervous in fidgety.
Trey Benson has been real open about He said, yeah,
I was anxious to start last year. A lot of
(19:44):
anxiety I was a little timid, and then he admitted
when it came to his running style, he was looking
for the home run all the time, which isn't going
to happen in the NFL. He just told the media
moments ago that he had to find out the hard
way for himself. It's so much faster at the NFL level,
and so even for a guy runs in the four
(20:06):
threes like Trey Benson does. And it still sticks with
me when you asked him after he was drafted well
about his forty times four to three nine and he
was unhappy with a four to three nine. He says
he's more explosive now, even at his heavier weight. And
I asked him after asking him about his weight, and
he said he was two twenty six, two twenty eight.
That's who he's playing at right now. I said, does
that mean you're more apt to lower the pads tray
(20:27):
and run through a tackler And he smiled and he said,
oh yeah. And there's no doubt that is rubbed off
on his game from James Connor. James Connor confirmed as much.
Trey Benson has confirmed as much. You know, those last
two or three games we saw of him. He was
a different running back. Unfortunately, I had the ankle injury
and it curtailed the end of his season. But man,
(20:47):
you know, I've been struggling to find an offensive player
for the Paul Pickskin breakout player at Camp Craig and
I don't know, you know, really, it really violates some
of the rules. It's supposed to be an undrafted rookie
or a Day three pick, a new com rookie. I've settle.
I'm gonna break news here for you. I've settled my
poly Pigskin breakout player at Camp on the defensive side
of the ball, ninety six Elijah Simmons, six to one,
(21:11):
listed at three thirty five, the nose tackle out of Tennessee.
Really didn't start that many games at Tennessee. This guy
is a complete unknown, but there are a lot of
expectations that, especially now with some of the injuries on
the d line Blaw Nichols, Walter Nole in the third,
he's gonna get a lot more opportunities and he's gonna
(21:31):
seize the day, seize the moment. So I got Elijah
Simmons ninety six is my defensive breakout player at Camp
year ago. I had Xavier Thomas and I had Xavier Weaver.
I'm half inclined to go Xavier Weaver for a second
year because I think he's gonna bust out again. Just
take the next step. Last year was make the roster.
Now I think he's gonna make an impact. I haven't
quite decided on that just yet, but Trey Benson is
(21:52):
intriguing because I think by the time we're done with camp,
there's gonna be a lot of people in a lot
of fantasy football drafts who are like, Wow, I should
have taken number thirty three. He has looked good so far,
and I think once the pads go on, people are
gonna find out he is a different dude and one
of a million lists in the offseason they had the
best one to two punches at running back and they'd
(22:15):
even make like the top ten. I think this time
a year from now, the whole James Connor Trey Benson
will be a top five one to two punch at
running back, not unlike a David Montgomery and a Jumior
Gibbs with the Detroit Lions.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Haven't seen it yet, at least I haven't seen it
yet here at training camp. But to that point, again,
it's about getting your best eleven on the field. How
often do we see both James and Trey on the field,
Not again, not for abundance of snaps, but a couple
of times a game or a half or whatever, and
(22:51):
whether they're sharing the backfield or then one splits out wide.
Because that was the other thing that I've noticed, and
this is in Harrison to Cliff Kingsbury, where it was
always four wide, five wide, and it was true four
wide receivers, five wide receivers. Within this Drew Petsing offense,
we don't see a lot of four wide, but when
(23:13):
we do, it's three wide receivers and a tight end,
whether that's Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Riman. Could you
still go four wide? But now you have.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
James Connor, Trey Benson. Yep, so you have It still.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Counts as a you know, a ten personnel, but it's
not your traditional ten personnel because right now, the strength
and what this offense is is run first and great
running backs and great tight ends. But it doesn't have
to be the traditional hand in the dirt running back
and tight end. Utilize them as pass catchers.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Well, what is the most underrated part of James Connor's game.
I would answer that by saying his pass catching. How
many ridiculous one handed catcher has he made in his
Cardinals career. I mean, you need two hands to count
how many ridiculous one handed catches he has made. So
to your point, and I like it if you're going
with more two back sets and then all of a sudden,
(24:12):
James Connor is the back in motion who goes into
the slot or we've seen James Connor even go you know,
out wide into an X receiver position. So if they're
thinking to themselves, you know what, that's an underutilized part
of his game and our offense. We're gonna get the
ball in the air more often to James Connor, especially
where you can get ahead of steam and truck a
(24:33):
defender or or make someone miss. He's so impossible to
bring down in first contact. I'm with you on that,
and you're right. I mean I don't even necessarily look
at it any more like four receivers and a tight
end or a back I just think empty or not empty,
empty backfield or not. And if you're empty backfield, it
can be any variety. Two to three receivers, two three
(24:54):
tight ends, running backs and you know like a James
Connor and Mario de Mercado has been utilizing that a
little bit. So I think it's all on the table,
and combined with what Trey McBride tipped us off to
in the offseason about more motion, I mean, if you're looking,
if you're asking for an observation I've had so far,
and there hasn't been a lot of eleven on eleven,
(25:15):
but even in the seven on seven drills, you've seen
some of the cheap motions they've used for receivers, some
of the you know, right before the snap, all of
a sudden, somebody gets moving, not onlike the Dolphins did
a year ago, a Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle. You
saw Cooper Cup utilize that way at times where you
know McVeigh was really good with that. Sometimes you saw
Jackson Smith and Jigba you know, some of those cheap
(25:38):
motions right before the snap, they're just on the move
laterally and then boom, it gives them that extra half
or one or two steps and they're often running and
it can be really effective. And so for a Marvin
Harrison junior, for example, Craig and we know some of
the analytics last year said that he was among the
receivers who was in motion the least of anybody in
(26:00):
the NFL. So if you're thinking, okay, how can we
get a little more separation from Marv in year two?
I think those sort of quick motions like that could
be a really effective addition to the offense.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Here's the stat on Marvin per next Gen stats. MHJ
ran just seven routes after going in motion all season long,
only remarkable. Only eight receivers had fewer, and most were
part time players. So again, is it going to look
drastically different year two to year three of this offense?
(26:32):
Probably not, but how it's displayed to the defense might
look a lot different. As far as that motion coming
across or the cheap motion that I remember when that
was utilized by the Rams and Sean McVay, that became
a talking point across the league because hey, that's a
false start they're getting off the line of scrimmage before
the ball is snapped. Well, there was a loophole somewhere,
(26:55):
and now maybe the Cardinals are picking it up because
they've got players who can handle it. In year two, year, three, year, four,
and it might be a little bit different. But again,
when you talk about you know, ten to eleven personnel,
they just pay attention to who's split wide, not the
individual you're listed as a wide receiver, running back or
(27:15):
tight end. But again it goes back to the numbers game.
Why a year ago they kept six wide receivers, could
you keep one less? Because you're not going to have
as many wide receiver four wide receiver sets. That fourth
wide receiver is going to be a running back or
a tight end.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Absolutely, especially with Elijah Higgins. I think you know a
former receiver who flashed at times. He had a really
good offseason. I think they're expecting more out of him.
Tip Briman is deserving of some more targets in the
past game. By the way, in today's practice, Trey McBride
made two ridiculous catches in traffic.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
Just excellent.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
I mean, he's already in regular season four. Not a
total surprise. I did ask him, by the way, a
tight end, you did you see Taylor Swift and he
smiled and nodded, So, okay, that's a plus, you know.
I mean, it's like the only performance she's had since
a record breaking concert tour. So there was a you know,
the Cardinals three tight ends or front center for that one.
So I guess that's winning the offseason right there. But yeah,
(28:16):
I'm perfectly fine putting eighty five and bubble wrap right
now and just getting him ready for Week one at
New Orleans. But I'm with you, any any formula, any
combination of personnel, Craig that gets the Cardinals at least
at least in the upper half of chunk throws. We've
talked about this. Cardinals were top five a year ago
(28:37):
in chunk runs. They were in the bottom fourth of
the league when it comes to explosive pass plays, So
how can they That is to me the biggest addition
that is necessary to this offense. We can talk about
more motion, and you can talk about you know, personnel,
more two back sets, that's great, but I think you
have to make defenses pay downfield with the passing game
(28:58):
more than you did a year ago. That to me
is op Number one.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
This year.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
We did see a couple of deep shots on Friday's practice,
and again kind of was it underthrown or they running
full speed and the DB's can't really contest right now,
they're not in pads. But I go back to Okay,
maybe it's not so many deep shots, but more based
off some of the weight game breaking tackles, or an
(29:22):
eight yard catch is now fifteen yards because you broke
a tackle and its yards after catch. Maybe not the
air yards that you're gonna see Kyler Murray throw, because
now you're stretching the field because no one can catch
am hj or James Connor or Trey Benson because they
broke so many tackles and are getting to the second
and third levels on a more consistent basis than they
(29:45):
were all of last season.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
Look Trey McBride at a very underwhelming rookie year. You
could almost say he was timid, maybe even intimidated a
little bit. The best case scenario is that Marvin Ierson
Junior follows this same career arc as Trey McBride and
not only did he unlock his athleticism and did you
(30:07):
see what a ridiculous athlete Trey McBride is. All you
have to do is look at the fact he had
the two hand dunk and mac Wilson's basketball game and
he's going yard in the Kyler softball game. I mean
he's just a phenomenal athlete. You see the athleticism. But
once he got confident in the notion that he belonged
in the NFL, well, now all of a sudden, he
started lowering the pads and lowering the boom on dudes.
(30:30):
And Marvin Errison Junior has every capability of doing the same.
And hopefully this is just me. Hopefully he's been following
the top one hundred and he's noticed that the three
receivers drafted after him all made the NFL's top one hundred.
That would be Malik Neighbors, Brian Thomas Jr. That would
(30:51):
be Lad McConkie, And he's every bit as talented as
those guys. So now, all of a sudden, guess what
it's time to let it rip? Not like Trey McBride
did starting halfway through his second year.
Speaker 4 (31:03):
In the league.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
And we hear it all the time, and we heard
it from GM Monty Austin Ford earlier on Friday, quote,
there's no bigger jump a player can make than from
year one to year two. And I know Marvin gets
a lot of that, but that entire twenty twenty four
draft class, what kind of a leap is there for
all of those guys, because if there is now, all
(31:25):
of a sudden, you've got a twenty twenty four we
got a twenty twenty four draft class, twenty twenty five
draft class that now, all of a sudden, you've got
that core, that new foundation if you will, to build
upon and then hopefully again that equates to wins and
playoff appearances, meaning plural moving forward.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
Yeah, there's no doubt when we get to the end
of this season, and we're only three days into this season,
I think that's going to absolutely be one of the keys.
What kind of return on investment did you get out
of last year's draft class? Darius Robinson, Marvin Harrison, Junior,
Trey Benson, even Rabbit is getting a lot of snaps,
a lot of you know, he's being featured quite a bit.
(32:09):
So you're gonna see all these guys, and then you
look at this year's draft class. Is Hayden Connor are
going to compete from a Day three pick along that
offensive line and then eventually Walter Nole in the third.
It was interesting to hear Kalais Campbell say his advice
to Walt would be take your time. He said, we
already know what you can do. It's interesting players, No
players Kalayis Campbell didn't need much, didn't even need full
(32:31):
pads to know. Yeah, kids talented. Just make sure when
you're good to go, they it'll you can sustain it
for the entirety of this season. And that's the luxury
now being so much deeper along the defensive line is
that you know what a ball Nickels and a Walter
Nole in the third Okay, they're not available right now.
Not necessarily a critical deal because you do have enough
(32:53):
depth and there's enough competition. But I'm with you, Craig.
There's look, they tore down this roster. There's only three
draft picks from the forder previous draft classes left before
Manti Austin Ford, and so they have invested and this
is where it needs to start paying off. And and
that's that's how you sustain a winning team for years
(33:14):
to come. If that draft class ends up being the platform,
the foundation upon which you are building.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
Yeah, that's how you build teams. You build teams through
the draft, not through free agency. And so far again
knock on wood, but three off seasons worth of work,
that's what you're seeing out of Manti Austin Ford. And
to your point you mentioned it earlier, every single draft
pick that money has made is on this roster. Now
that's the ninety man roster. You're going to see all
(33:40):
those names on the fifty three man roster. Most likely not,
but guys do wind up on the practice squad and
then young players develop and get off the practice squad
onto the active roster. So again something to pay attention
to is you whittle down from ninety to fifty three.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
There was before we had in here another I.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
Wouldn't say as scary as Thursday, but there was once
again on Friday, late in practice, Darling Thomas had to
be carted off the field, jumped up to make a
play on the ball, landed hard and all of a
sudden the music stops playing. And once again for the
third straight day, and I include Wednesday when JG announced
Walter Nolan the third was going to not be available.
(34:26):
But the air get sucked out of the room and
it would appear based off how Starr was carted off
and Moni went over to dab him up. We think
he's going to be okay, But again, you never like
to see the cart come out on the football field
and take a player off.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
And that was just happening to be right in front
of me. That was the sideline I was on.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
And yeah, I fear the worst at the beginning, just
based on his reactions Starling Thomas, But by the time
they were carting him off, he didn't seem to be
in a better place. And the fact that he got
up under his own power and got onto the cart
on his own hopefully knock on wood, that bodes well.
But he'd been playing some good football. I mean, he's
(35:08):
in he's such a smart guy, a to attach himself
to Buddha Baker from almost day one upon his arrival.
But you know the fact that he's out there and
he's pushing everyone else in that secondary and just the
competitive fire. And he had made a play the day
before knocking breaking up a pass and knocking it away.
Speaker 4 (35:28):
So we'll see.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
But once again they you know, my eye has also
been going to Elijah Jones, the round three pick from
a year ago, because he's maybe the biggest unknown in
camp right now, especially for a guy who's taken on
day two a year ago.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
What's he all about?
Speaker 3 (35:43):
So we'll see in a roundabout way Okay, Starling Thomas
needs some time to get back, all right, but you
know there's gonna be key troll. Clark got a shout
out from Jonathan Enning before the practice. Is having a
good day two of Cardinals camp. So you know, from
top to bottom, you know as interested as we are.
And that three headed monster to play will linebacker next
(36:04):
to Mac Wilson Senior. In terms of just number of
guys versus number of spots available, that cornerback room is
about as contested as it gets on this team.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
Right now.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
You've got eleven on the roster. How many do you keep?
And again I never include Garrett Williams as part of
that conversation. Yes he's listed as a corner, but he's
always gonna be on the field, whether he's the outside corner,
which we've seen a couple of times through these first
two open practices when it's just two corners on the field,
or he moves inside when they've got three corners.
Speaker 4 (36:33):
On the field.
Speaker 1 (36:34):
And that again, and all of a sudden you got
Garrett Williams.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Max Meltin, Okay, stop right there, Max Melton, just I
don't know what you've heard, but in talking to some
people who have been watching practice, people.
Speaker 4 (36:43):
In the know.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
I mean, if you made me forecast and make a
prediction right now, I'd say Garrett Williams absolutely a starter.
Max Melton right now starting cornerback to me. The battle
is for the spot opposite Max Melton. But that's just
the vibe I get right now. We haven't put the
pads on, but they really like the leap, the jump
(37:05):
that Maximelton has made since the end of last year.
He flashed in those last couple of games, had some
nice pass breakups in week seventeen at the Rams, So
I think and just watching maximelt and the way he's interacting,
you can tell he's sort of like a trade bench.
It's sort like a Marvin Arrison junior. He's more comfortable,
he's definitely more confident.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Yeah, another one of those guys. Part of that year
one to year two jump. And again, what did you
learn in year one that you can apply in year
two to where you might be a little bit ahead
of everyone else that's coming at you from behind. So again,
three days in two open practices. Team will take Saturday off.
Sunday is another practice. It is closed to the public,
(37:47):
open to season ticket holders. I know that's a big
deal because Paul will be a part of all that
for those season ticket holders that will be out here
at State Farm Stadium. We'll have to wait and see
because what Paul looks like now may not be what
he looks like on Sunday. Because here we are three
days into camp and we got a bunch of retirement
(38:08):
announcements this week from Tyron Matthew, Jordan Hicks, Justin Pugh
earlier on Friday calling it quits, but the mustache has
not been retired as a Friday, July twenty fifth. Yeah,
well two words, tick talk. It's just a matter of time.
So we'll see if it makes it for Sunday. And Craig,
(38:31):
let's not over inflate my role. My job is to
get the microphone to the playmakers, to the decision makers.
That's what I'll be doing. So let's keep them on
camera and I'll just be over there playing the MC
the role of the narrator, if you will, up on stage.
But it was interesting to hear Kalis Campbell echo some
of our thoughts on Tyron Matthew. I'll just leave you
(38:53):
with this when Kalais said he's the only player he
ever saw that he was one of the best guys
on the field the first day he was on the field.
And I remember that like it was yesterday, that first
rookie mini camper. Oh yes, it was just a straight
mini camp where the veterans were there and they second field,
second field.
Speaker 3 (39:13):
We were not privy to it. And you remember it
as well, And the veterans came off shaking their head
and there was a palpable buzz that, oh boy, we
got a playmaker, that round three kid, Tyron Matthew. He
is a player and it was really really interesting to
hear Kalayas Campbell echoed that memory, just like like we
(39:34):
had recollected.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
Tip the cap to Tyron, to Jordan Hicks and Justin
Pugh as well, all three good cardinals and more importantly,
all three good people. And selfishly, Paul and you can
speak to this as well. Three good guys to deal
with in the locker room, win or lose, and more
likely than that, you want those guys you can go
(39:55):
to after a loss. Some guys are better at it
than others. Well, I just name three players who are
good no matter the situation.
Speaker 3 (40:03):
Well, the first step is to make yourself available, don't
be in the showers of the training room after a loss.
And those guys were always present, accounted for and account
of bowl. And you know, Koalis said it about Tyron
and and I think we both echo it as well,
having covered him, just how honest he was with the media,
and Bruce Arians called him his favorite draft pick ever
(40:25):
and said the Cardinals never would have drafted him if
he would have blamed anyone else for what happened at LSU,
But he said he had to get better. He was
at fault, and that's when they knew, Okay, he's got
a chance. And I said it in a tweet and
I'll say it again. He's one of the He's the
one of the top three most memorable Cardinals players I
think I'll ever cover. And he was just so insightful,
(40:47):
so raw, so honest with all of us, and such
a joy to watch. I mean, he was just so
instinctive and the ability to play like he did, and
then just the innate athleticism he brought to the yield.
If it wasn't for that second knee injury, he would
be a surefire Hall of Famer right now.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Well said first week of training Camp twenty twenty five,
presented by Desert Financial is in the books again. Team
will have Saturday off, back on the field on Sunday,
a closed practice open to season ticket holders of the
NFL Network will be here on Sunday, so if you
want to get some highlights. It is back together weekend
(41:28):
around the NFL Saturday and Sunday, and then the pads
come on Monday the twenty eighth. It is another open practice.
For a complete list of all the open practices and
how to attend, good Aisycardinals dot com. Reminder that parking
and admission are both free. You do need to register
get that digital ticket to come in and watch that
(41:48):
first padded practice on Monday, July twenty eighth. And on
that note, we will put a lid on this edition
of Cardinals Cover two presented by Yundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our EXEUS
Kid producer Jim mo Monro, our associate producer Coddy Pincher.
For Paul Calvic, I'm Craig rail Lou. We'll talk to
you next time here on Cardinals Cover two.
A lot of talk about the year two for Marvin
Harrison Junior? What about Trey Benson? God Paul Calvic with
me berg Gang, we talk running backs. Mac Wilson Senior
continues to fly around the field updated waits for a
handful of players, especially along the line of scrimmage and
what's the latest with Paul's mustache. It's Cardinals Cover two,
Episode nine oh three, and it starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Welcome to Cardinals Cover two.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Buda Baker, What Heart?
Speaker 4 (00:31):
What rent? This guy's unbelievable?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals
dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
He's at the ten half of five. He's it again,
some more hurry magic.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Whow Here's Craigcriolo.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
So can I begin with a quote?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Paul?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Well, Craig, Cardinals Cover two is your domain, so you
can do whatever you stink and want. You're under center
right now calling the place. Well, this is your quote.
Oh so here it is? Okay, Well we'll see if
it's really good. You might have to pay a royalty
or some sort of licensing fee.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Quoting Paul Calvici no less than twenty four hours ago.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Quote, I always coach op gree ten minutes into the
big Red rage. Wow, what is going on?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Okay, somebody outed me on that one. I thought I
could slip that one in. We'll unnoticed. So obviously we
have a leak in the room. I'm gonna have to
find that out. We'll deal with that a little bit later. Yeah, Craig,
I just want to, you know, see if people are
paying attention, you know, just let everyone know that we're
just not down there taking video and watching football with
a cold beverage in our hand.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
You know, we're actually.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Providing a service, not unlike what Kalayis Campbell does with
the defense or Calvin Beacham does with the offense. I
like to think I'm able to do with my fellow
media colleagues.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Okay, so you're the eighteen year veteran and I'm the
third year young players that what you're saying here, Paul,
Well you're.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Saying maybe you're young in your own mind, but you know,
once again, this is your domain, Craig. If that's what
you want to think, it's a free country.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Okay, So since you're coaching me up, coach me up
on what you saw, what you noticed, what you heard
here on Friday, day three, but day two of the
open practice, open portion of training camp here at State Farmstadium.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Well, I'm still reeling from getting an answer to my
biggest question at Cardinals camp the day before. If you
want to go twenty four hours in the rear view
mirror getting the answer to who's the mic linebacker? I
thought maybe that would be a little bit more of
a process. I thought maybe we might have to ask
a few more questions, pull a few more teeth to
get that answer. But boom, mac Wilson Senior letting us
(02:47):
know that he is the mic linebacker. So my I
today actually went to who was alongside mac Wilson Senior?
Hard not to notice that Cody Simon, the fourth round rookie,
was out there quite a bit. Hard not to notice
that Owen Papo was out there. Year three, all the
athleticism in the world, Is he ready to make an impact?
What did JG say before practice? You know it needs
(03:08):
to go out there and let a rip. Owen Papo
just needs to be a playmaker, be heard, be seen,
be disruptive. We know he did it on special teams,
can he do it as an inside backer? And then
there is a Keem Davis Gaither who had a chance
to interview in the offseason in the radio studio, and
he comes in brimming with confidence, a guy who proved
(03:29):
at the last half dozen games or so for the
Bengals down the stretch, not unlike Mac Wilson Senior did
in the final month or month plus for the New
England Patriots two years ago. So I think that is
quietly the most competitive position battle on this team. Who's
going to line up at inside linebacker next to Mac Wilson?
(03:52):
And honestly, I think it could be any of the
three now if they had their druthers, maybe it would
be Cody Simon, because Okay, you'd love to see a
rookie come off defensive MVP in the National Championship game
and pick right up where he left off and how
he seemingly got better with every single college game as
(04:14):
Ohio State marched to the national title. But but I mean,
you just can't replace the experience that agg has and
that onwhen Papo has gained over the last two years.
So hey, let there be competition.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Super smart is how Mac described Cody. Simon one asked Mac, hey,
what do you think about Cody? And that was where
the two words without hesitation. So you talk about, all right,
the adjustment level one in the offseason, it's picking up
the playbook and if you can master that as a rookie,
day two pick doesn't matter. But you're here, then okay,
(04:52):
how do you process the playbook? How do you get
that information to the guys in front of you, to
the guys behind you if eventually Cody does become the
wearer of the green dot.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
But I'm more.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Curious how often I mentioned this on Thursday with Danny
here on Cardinals cover too, how often Mac is by
himself solo amongst the defense or that second level because
you've got three definitive defensive lineman, you've got Josh wet
Baron Browning, Davin Collins outside linebackers, but close to the
(05:24):
line of scrimmage, and Mac's just there floating around. And
we saw late in practice on Friday they were working
on third down ones versus one's eleven on eleven and
the first pass play Mac batted it down. It was
a quick out, at least from my perspective. It was
on the right side of the field where I was standing,
(05:45):
and he batted it down. And number two kinda is
looking like Number three Buddha Baker all over the field
and maybe getting unlocked here in his second year within
this defense.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Okay, that's in astute observation. I'll mark that in the
win column for you. That's that's well done. You're not
just hanging around the dessert tray in the media press box.
So you're right, here's the thing. And I watched that too,
and I'm thinking, all right, guess what if you fortified
your defensive front, which you have, then maybe that does
(06:19):
give you the ability to go with a single inside packer.
But what did the Detroit Lions doing Week three a
year ago? They started the game with what six offensive
linemen and they just said, here it comes, can you
stop us? So if you're going to go consistently with
a single inside linebacker, I'm guessing other teams will make
the in game adjustment and they're just going with a
(06:40):
power running game and they will cram it vertical. On
the other hand, if you're stout enough upfront, with the
addition of Dalvin Tomlinson, who ain't no stinking three to
twenty five.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
By the way they did.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
They did relist his weight, didn't he Because I'm the
big red rage Craig right after I said I was
coaching you up, Wolf, and I expressed a little bit
of skepticism that three twenty five was act right in
the waight callum.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, it's amazing what happens in a day's time. But yeah,
the updated roster and this is there been. I mean
two dozen players have had their weights adjusted, whether they're
increased or decreased. MacWilson Senior lost six pounds in a day.
He went from two forty six to two forty. But
Dalvin is listed at three thirty five, okay, and he
(07:21):
looks every bit at three thirty five. But again, watching
the defensive line on that side of the field on Friday.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
He is quick.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
It's not a slow plotting three thirty five. He gets
in that three point stance and comes off the ball,
so he takes up a lot of space plus and
you hope that he can get into the backfield quickly
and then all of a sudden, maybe that inside linebacker,
whether it's Mac or someone else, doesn't have a lot
of obstacles in his way and can make some plays
(07:54):
at the second level and don't have guys ball carriers
getting into the secondary. And now all of a sudden,
Budda Baker to make one hundred and fifty plus tackles.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Right, and look, if you have to, let's reverse engineer this.
What did they not get with Kaizer White that they're
trying to achieve this season. There's a reason they moved
away from Kaizer White, who was one of four team
captains who had played the second most snaps on defense,
only to boot A Baker. So did they want more
(08:24):
of an inside linebacker crew? They can go sideline to sideline,
that's my guess. Oh, by the way, mac Wilson senior
can run. We know that because he's played off the edge.
In fact, he did this second half of last year,
played off the edge quite a bit out of necessity,
A because of injuries, b because they needed to affect
the quarterback at a greater rate. But wait a minute, now,
he lost how many pounds? Six pounds?
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Six?
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Okay, so now ostensibly he's even quicker. He's caught your
eye in being quick. So if mac Wilson's senior, all
of a sudden, okay, what does he give you the
kaizer White did not the ability to go sideline to sideline.
Cody Simon said, I don't have the exact stat but
he said a bunch of records last year at Ohio State,
for a the number of tackles combined with the number
(09:08):
of stops in the backfield, he had seven sacks. He
had seven tackles for loss. In other words, he was
an inside linebacker who was all over the field and
consistently behind the line of scrimmage. So if that's something
that Cody Simon can give you, along with and even
quicker mac Wilson Senior, man that and you have a
stout defensive line that's gonna keep those guys clean at
(09:31):
a much greater degree than the last couple of years. Now,
all of a sudden, I agree with you. You can
go seek and destroy MacWilson Senior and Buddha Baker Jalen
Thompson rabbit. We've seen how aggressive he can be. So
now all of a sudden, you're dialing up this combination
of safeties inside linebackers. But you have the ability to
do that because now all of a sudden, kalais Dalvin
(09:52):
Tomlinson a new and approved Darius Robinson. You know, you
just have guys in the trenches Josh Sweat at six five,
two sixty five, zaman At about the same, maybe even
two seventy on Zavian Collins. So if you can put
that kind of beef up front and let your linebackers
in safety, ze, Yeah, I can see Nick Rowlis go
in that direction.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
And what does Mac offer you that maybe Kaiser didn't
or maybe Mac does it a little bit better. And
that's the versatility as far as near the line of
scrimmage sideline to sideline dropping, And what does that versatility
allow Nick Rowlis to do, be a little bit more
exotic figure out the best eleven. Maybe it doesn't look
(10:31):
traditionally like a three four or four to three. And
I don't know if we'll see Mac solo at inside
linebacker a lot, but it has been something that at
least through two days, has caught my eye. But again
it goes back to all right, if you you put
so much resources, whether financial or draft capital, along the
defensive line and outside linebacker, and you don't want to
(10:54):
lose any of those players when you're cutting from ninety
to fifty three, Well, it's got to come from somewhere else,
and maybe it comes from an inside linebacker position. Because
your best eleven includes three defensive linemen, four defensive linemen
and two or three outside linebackers, and of course in
the secondary, three corners, three safeties. How do you work
(11:14):
that math to fifty three and obviously eleven for particular play.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
So we know how much this coaching staff and this
GM loved positional flexibility, and then when it comes to
game planning, they love to flex that positional flexibility itself
by trying to confuse offenses and quarterbacks in particular. So
to your point, Mac Wilson Senior can play off the edge.
He's now playing the mic. He can be anywhere on
(11:40):
any given snap. Zaman Collins, former mic linebacker, now outside linebacker.
He's told us there have been games where he's played
a half dozen different positions, including a three technique who's
then asked to bail upon the snap and go play
center field. Okay, now you add a Baron Browning who
added how much? How many elbe's did he add?
Speaker 4 (12:01):
That was the surprising one.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
As far as the adjustments and weights, Baron Browning is
now listed at two hundred and fifty five pounds, an
increase from where he was again yesterday, but really last
season he added fifteen pounds and watching him again in
a single digit wearing number five, it looks albeit fifteen
(12:25):
pounds heavier, but the way it's proportioned, his shoulders are bigger,
his legs look twice the size. And remember you had
a couple of conversations with him when he arrived. He
was never really one hundred percent healthy in Denver and
in coming to Arizona, it took him a little while,
and then towards the back half of the season he
started to kind of feel like himself and then get
(12:48):
used to this defense. And now with a full off season,
something Jonathan Gannon discussed earlier on Friday, you might see
a little bit more of Baron Brownie, not just straight
ahead rush, but also set the edge and maybe dropp
into coverage a little bit, kind of like Zaven Collins.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
See in Denver used him in a variety of different ways,
and that's one of the reasons he got off to
a bit of a slow start. Is a third round
pick out of Ohio State a few years ago, so
he has that versatility as well and then you take
a Jordan Birch. It was kind of a similar body
type to a Zavon Collins. So now you have four
guys right there, Craig who have a ton of versatility
(13:27):
that can be using in a variety of different ways.
So a year ago we sort of went with that
nickname affectionately, you know, eleven card pickup as opposed to
fifty two card pickup. Like, you just have dudes walking
around along the line of scrimmage and where are they
going to be? And it makes it look like it's
complete chaos. Now they know what their assignments are and
what gap they have to defend when the ball is snapped.
But I can just see Jonathan again and Nick Rowlis
(13:50):
scheming this up, devising this up, and really confusing offenses,
especially the first month of the year. What do they
always talk about, you want to get four games of
film on a team and on a scheme before you
really get a good handle. Well, I think in the
month of September Cardinals are gonna be throwing a lot
of curveballs out there with a lot of different players
used in a variety of different ways. And I think, yes,
(14:13):
it does start with guys like Mackwill's senior Zavin Collins,
Baron Browning, Jordan Birch, and then we've seen, you know,
even Kalais Campbell can play anywhere from the nose all
the way out to the five techniques. So it's gonna
be really intriguing to see just just how different the
defense looks series to series, starting Week one in New Orleans.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
By the way, you bring up Zavian he has increased
ten pounds from a year ago, not enlisted at two
hundred and seventy pounds, Dante Stills and even three hundred pounds,
an additional fourteen pounds from a year ago. And then
stand along the line of scrimmage offensive lineman Paris Johnson
Junior a twelve pound increase listed at three to twenty five,
(14:55):
Christian Jones a fifteen pound increase listed at three twenty.
Now we talk a lot about that defensive line and
offensive line. Well, two brand new position coaches at both
of those spots, justin Fry and coach Debo. And again
some of this is just Okay, what do we need,
what do we want you at? What are you comfortable at?
(15:16):
I mean, Paul, everyone made a big deal of how
Marvin Harrison Junior, and how he looked and how many
pounds he gained. It wasn't just him, It's been throughout
this entire roster as far as guys gaining weight. And
again it's good weight, and some guys have dropped some weight,
but more than not, more often than not, it was
(15:37):
guys gaining anywhere between five to fifteen pounds because of
what this coaching staff wants them to do and believes
that they are best served to do at a certain
particular weight.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
And maybe the most important guy we haven't cited yet,
Isaiah Adams. Does he have a new weight listed? Because
on the Big Red Rage a couple months ago, he
said his range was anywhere from three to fifteen to
three twenty five and he mentioned the strength and the
muscle mass that he had put on, how he did
feel stronger and more explosive. And the reason I bring
this up because as we track towards the first practice
(16:11):
with pads, I mean, I think if I could have,
if I could devise one matchup, I want to see
Isaiah Adams take on a Dalvin Thomlinson bul rush and
that's gonna.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Be a real gauge.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Okay, how equipped is he in year two to handle
the physicality of playing interior offensive line?
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Isaiah still listed at three fifteen as he was last year,
and Dobbins Dan. So you're gonna have three fifteen Isaiah
Adams going against three thirty five Dalvin Tomlinson and that
first O line. D line padded practice on Monday.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And I want to see. I'm right there for it.
I mean, I'm gonna be their front row seat. I
want to see those matchups. I want to see exactly
Jonah Williams. You know what he looks like as you
right tackle Christian Jones. Look, Christian Jones has potential, but
he's also a fifth round pick from last year who
didn't see the field a whole bunch his rookie season.
(17:05):
And let's not forget there are twenty eight draft picks
the last three years. Every single one of them as
of right now, is still on this roster. That's not
going to be the case a month from now. So
there's gonna be some hard decisions on which draft picks
are going to be on this final fifty three and
who are not. And it's going to be really competitive,
and as even JG and all the players have said,
(17:26):
the real football does not start until the pads come on.
So for everything we can cite and we think we know,
you never truly know until it's full speed, full contact,
full pad football. And that starts here in a matter
of what seventy two hours in counting.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
One more weight gain.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
And this is something that we just learned immediately after
Friday's practice. But talking to second year running back Trey Benson,
who again a year ago listed at two sixteen, Friday
morning updated listed at two twenty though he tells the
media post practice that he's in the range of two
twenty six to two twenty eight. And again it goes
(18:05):
back to what you noticed late last season and how
much Tray Benson started to look and act like James Connor.
Now all of a sudden, you've got similar body types
and continuing that relationship on and off the field. But
what does what's year two look like for a Trey
Benson who was all smiles, speaks very confidently, probably a
(18:32):
one to eighty difference from when we spoke to him
a year ago. Agree, a little bit unsure, and that's
to be expected coming in from college, not quite sure
what the NFL life is like or what it takes
to be ready on game day. But here he is
that injury late in the season that kind of derailed
where he was headed. He looks like he's picking up
(18:53):
where he left off before the injury and is coming
in with a lot more confidence and sure of himself,
maybe sure of his role within this offense.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
It is amazing, and I'm the first one to forget
that no matter how big a star you are in
the college game, it's always going to be a transition.
And it's not just what we see, it's what they're feeling.
What did Marv tell the media just the other day?
He said, Yeah, here in year two, I'm quote not
as nervous and fidgety. I'm a lot more relaxed. I'm calm.
(19:24):
This is Marvin Harrison junior, who was a first team
All American and won a national championship at Ohio State, Right,
I mean think about all that and the acclaim and
being the son of a Hall of Famer and the
fourth pick overall, and you're still quote nervous in fidgety.
Trey Benson has been real open about He said, yeah,
I was anxious to start last year. A lot of
(19:44):
anxiety I was a little timid, and then he admitted
when it came to his running style, he was looking
for the home run all the time, which isn't going
to happen in the NFL. He just told the media
moments ago that he had to find out the hard
way for himself. It's so much faster at the NFL level,
and so even for a guy runs in the four
(20:06):
threes like Trey Benson does. And it still sticks with
me when you asked him after he was drafted well
about his forty times four to three nine and he
was unhappy with a four to three nine. He says
he's more explosive now, even at his heavier weight. And
I asked him after asking him about his weight, and
he said he was two twenty six, two twenty eight.
That's who he's playing at right now. I said, does
that mean you're more apt to lower the pads tray
(20:27):
and run through a tackler And he smiled and he said,
oh yeah. And there's no doubt that is rubbed off
on his game from James Connor. James Connor confirmed as much.
Trey Benson has confirmed as much. You know, those last
two or three games we saw of him. He was
a different running back. Unfortunately, I had the ankle injury
and it curtailed the end of his season. But man,
(20:47):
you know, I've been struggling to find an offensive player
for the Paul Pickskin breakout player at Camp Craig and
I don't know, you know, really, it really violates some
of the rules. It's supposed to be an undrafted rookie
or a Day three pick, a new com rookie. I've settle.
I'm gonna break news here for you. I've settled my
poly Pigskin breakout player at Camp on the defensive side
of the ball, ninety six Elijah Simmons, six to one,
(21:11):
listed at three thirty five, the nose tackle out of Tennessee.
Really didn't start that many games at Tennessee. This guy
is a complete unknown, but there are a lot of
expectations that, especially now with some of the injuries on
the d line Blaw Nichols, Walter Nole in the third,
he's gonna get a lot more opportunities and he's gonna
(21:31):
seize the day, seize the moment. So I got Elijah
Simmons ninety six is my defensive breakout player at Camp
year ago. I had Xavier Thomas and I had Xavier Weaver.
I'm half inclined to go Xavier Weaver for a second
year because I think he's gonna bust out again. Just
take the next step. Last year was make the roster.
Now I think he's gonna make an impact. I haven't
quite decided on that just yet, but Trey Benson is
(21:52):
intriguing because I think by the time we're done with camp,
there's gonna be a lot of people in a lot
of fantasy football drafts who are like, Wow, I should
have taken number thirty three. He has looked good so far,
and I think once the pads go on, people are
gonna find out he is a different dude and one
of a million lists in the offseason they had the
best one to two punches at running back and they'd
(22:15):
even make like the top ten. I think this time
a year from now, the whole James Connor Trey Benson
will be a top five one to two punch at
running back, not unlike a David Montgomery and a Jumior
Gibbs with the Detroit Lions.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Haven't seen it yet, at least I haven't seen it
yet here at training camp. But to that point, again,
it's about getting your best eleven on the field. How
often do we see both James and Trey on the field,
Not again, not for abundance of snaps, but a couple
of times a game or a half or whatever, and
(22:51):
whether they're sharing the backfield or then one splits out wide.
Because that was the other thing that I've noticed, and
this is in Harrison to Cliff Kingsbury, where it was
always four wide, five wide, and it was true four
wide receivers, five wide receivers. Within this Drew Petsing offense,
we don't see a lot of four wide, but when
(23:13):
we do, it's three wide receivers and a tight end,
whether that's Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Riman. Could you
still go four wide? But now you have.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
James Connor, Trey Benson. Yep, so you have It still.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Counts as a you know, a ten personnel, but it's
not your traditional ten personnel because right now, the strength
and what this offense is is run first and great
running backs and great tight ends. But it doesn't have
to be the traditional hand in the dirt running back
and tight end. Utilize them as pass catchers.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Well, what is the most underrated part of James Connor's game.
I would answer that by saying his pass catching. How
many ridiculous one handed catcher has he made in his
Cardinals career. I mean, you need two hands to count
how many ridiculous one handed catches he has made. So
to your point, and I like it if you're going
with more two back sets and then all of a sudden,
(24:12):
James Connor is the back in motion who goes into
the slot or we've seen James Connor even go you know,
out wide into an X receiver position. So if they're
thinking to themselves, you know what, that's an underutilized part
of his game and our offense. We're gonna get the
ball in the air more often to James Connor, especially
where you can get ahead of steam and truck a
(24:33):
defender or or make someone miss. He's so impossible to
bring down in first contact. I'm with you on that,
and you're right. I mean I don't even necessarily look
at it any more like four receivers and a tight
end or a back I just think empty or not empty,
empty backfield or not. And if you're empty backfield, it
can be any variety. Two to three receivers, two three
(24:54):
tight ends, running backs and you know like a James
Connor and Mario de Mercado has been utilizing that a
little bit. So I think it's all on the table,
and combined with what Trey McBride tipped us off to
in the offseason about more motion, I mean, if you're looking,
if you're asking for an observation I've had so far,
and there hasn't been a lot of eleven on eleven,
(25:15):
but even in the seven on seven drills, you've seen
some of the cheap motions they've used for receivers, some
of the you know, right before the snap, all of
a sudden, somebody gets moving, not onlike the Dolphins did
a year ago, a Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle. You
saw Cooper Cup utilize that way at times where you
know McVeigh was really good with that. Sometimes you saw
Jackson Smith and Jigba you know, some of those cheap
(25:38):
motions right before the snap, they're just on the move
laterally and then boom, it gives them that extra half
or one or two steps and they're often running and
it can be really effective. And so for a Marvin
Harrison junior, for example, Craig and we know some of
the analytics last year said that he was among the
receivers who was in motion the least of anybody in
(26:00):
the NFL. So if you're thinking, okay, how can we
get a little more separation from Marv in year two?
I think those sort of quick motions like that could
be a really effective addition to the offense.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Here's the stat on Marvin per next Gen stats. MHJ
ran just seven routes after going in motion all season long,
only remarkable. Only eight receivers had fewer, and most were
part time players. So again, is it going to look
drastically different year two to year three of this offense?
(26:32):
Probably not, but how it's displayed to the defense might
look a lot different. As far as that motion coming
across or the cheap motion that I remember when that
was utilized by the Rams and Sean McVay, that became
a talking point across the league because hey, that's a
false start they're getting off the line of scrimmage before
the ball is snapped. Well, there was a loophole somewhere,
(26:55):
and now maybe the Cardinals are picking it up because
they've got players who can handle it. In year two, year, three, year, four,
and it might be a little bit different. But again,
when you talk about you know, ten to eleven personnel,
they just pay attention to who's split wide, not the
individual you're listed as a wide receiver, running back or
(27:15):
tight end. But again it goes back to the numbers game.
Why a year ago they kept six wide receivers, could
you keep one less? Because you're not going to have
as many wide receiver four wide receiver sets. That fourth
wide receiver is going to be a running back or
a tight end.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Absolutely, especially with Elijah Higgins. I think you know a
former receiver who flashed at times. He had a really
good offseason. I think they're expecting more out of him.
Tip Briman is deserving of some more targets in the
past game. By the way, in today's practice, Trey McBride
made two ridiculous catches in traffic.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
Just excellent.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
I mean, he's already in regular season four. Not a
total surprise. I did ask him, by the way, a
tight end, you did you see Taylor Swift and he
smiled and nodded, So, okay, that's a plus, you know.
I mean, it's like the only performance she's had since
a record breaking concert tour. So there was a you know,
the Cardinals three tight ends or front center for that one.
So I guess that's winning the offseason right there. But yeah,
(28:16):
I'm perfectly fine putting eighty five and bubble wrap right
now and just getting him ready for Week one at
New Orleans. But I'm with you, any any formula, any
combination of personnel, Craig that gets the Cardinals at least
at least in the upper half of chunk throws. We've
talked about this. Cardinals were top five a year ago
(28:37):
in chunk runs. They were in the bottom fourth of
the league when it comes to explosive pass plays, So
how can they That is to me the biggest addition
that is necessary to this offense. We can talk about
more motion, and you can talk about you know, personnel,
more two back sets, that's great, but I think you
have to make defenses pay downfield with the passing game
(28:58):
more than you did a year ago. That to me
is op Number one.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
This year.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
We did see a couple of deep shots on Friday's practice,
and again kind of was it underthrown or they running
full speed and the DB's can't really contest right now,
they're not in pads. But I go back to Okay,
maybe it's not so many deep shots, but more based
off some of the weight game breaking tackles, or an
(29:22):
eight yard catch is now fifteen yards because you broke
a tackle and its yards after catch. Maybe not the
air yards that you're gonna see Kyler Murray throw, because
now you're stretching the field because no one can catch
am hj or James Connor or Trey Benson because they
broke so many tackles and are getting to the second
and third levels on a more consistent basis than they
(29:45):
were all of last season.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
Look Trey McBride at a very underwhelming rookie year. You
could almost say he was timid, maybe even intimidated a
little bit. The best case scenario is that Marvin Ierson
Junior follows this same career arc as Trey McBride and
not only did he unlock his athleticism and did you
(30:07):
see what a ridiculous athlete Trey McBride is. All you
have to do is look at the fact he had
the two hand dunk and mac Wilson's basketball game and
he's going yard in the Kyler softball game. I mean
he's just a phenomenal athlete. You see the athleticism. But
once he got confident in the notion that he belonged
in the NFL, well, now all of a sudden, he
started lowering the pads and lowering the boom on dudes.
(30:30):
And Marvin Errison Junior has every capability of doing the same.
And hopefully this is just me. Hopefully he's been following
the top one hundred and he's noticed that the three
receivers drafted after him all made the NFL's top one hundred.
That would be Malik Neighbors, Brian Thomas Jr. That would
(30:51):
be Lad McConkie, And he's every bit as talented as
those guys. So now, all of a sudden, guess what
it's time to let it rip? Not like Trey McBride
did starting halfway through his second year.
Speaker 4 (31:03):
In the league.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
And we hear it all the time, and we heard
it from GM Monty Austin Ford earlier on Friday, quote,
there's no bigger jump a player can make than from
year one to year two. And I know Marvin gets
a lot of that, but that entire twenty twenty four
draft class, what kind of a leap is there for
all of those guys, because if there is now, all
(31:25):
of a sudden, you've got a twenty twenty four we
got a twenty twenty four draft class, twenty twenty five
draft class that now, all of a sudden, you've got
that core, that new foundation if you will, to build
upon and then hopefully again that equates to wins and
playoff appearances, meaning plural moving forward.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
Yeah, there's no doubt when we get to the end
of this season, and we're only three days into this season,
I think that's going to absolutely be one of the keys.
What kind of return on investment did you get out
of last year's draft class? Darius Robinson, Marvin Harrison, Junior,
Trey Benson, even Rabbit is getting a lot of snaps,
a lot of you know, he's being featured quite a bit.
(32:09):
So you're gonna see all these guys, and then you
look at this year's draft class. Is Hayden Connor are
going to compete from a Day three pick along that
offensive line and then eventually Walter Nole in the third.
It was interesting to hear Kalais Campbell say his advice
to Walt would be take your time. He said, we
already know what you can do. It's interesting players, No
players Kalayis Campbell didn't need much, didn't even need full
(32:31):
pads to know. Yeah, kids talented. Just make sure when
you're good to go, they it'll you can sustain it
for the entirety of this season. And that's the luxury
now being so much deeper along the defensive line is
that you know what a ball Nickels and a Walter
Nole in the third Okay, they're not available right now.
Not necessarily a critical deal because you do have enough
(32:53):
depth and there's enough competition. But I'm with you, Craig.
There's look, they tore down this roster. There's only three
draft picks from the forder previous draft classes left before
Manti Austin Ford, and so they have invested and this
is where it needs to start paying off. And and
that's that's how you sustain a winning team for years
(33:14):
to come. If that draft class ends up being the platform,
the foundation upon which you are building.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
Yeah, that's how you build teams. You build teams through
the draft, not through free agency. And so far again
knock on wood, but three off seasons worth of work,
that's what you're seeing out of Manti Austin Ford. And
to your point you mentioned it earlier, every single draft
pick that money has made is on this roster. Now
that's the ninety man roster. You're going to see all
(33:40):
those names on the fifty three man roster. Most likely not,
but guys do wind up on the practice squad and
then young players develop and get off the practice squad
onto the active roster. So again something to pay attention
to is you whittle down from ninety to fifty three.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
There was before we had in here another I.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
Wouldn't say as scary as Thursday, but there was once
again on Friday, late in practice, Darling Thomas had to
be carted off the field, jumped up to make a
play on the ball, landed hard and all of a
sudden the music stops playing. And once again for the
third straight day, and I include Wednesday when JG announced
Walter Nolan the third was going to not be available.
(34:26):
But the air get sucked out of the room and
it would appear based off how Starr was carted off
and Moni went over to dab him up. We think
he's going to be okay, But again, you never like
to see the cart come out on the football field
and take a player off.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
And that was just happening to be right in front
of me. That was the sideline I was on.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
And yeah, I fear the worst at the beginning, just
based on his reactions Starling Thomas, But by the time
they were carting him off, he didn't seem to be
in a better place. And the fact that he got
up under his own power and got onto the cart
on his own hopefully knock on wood, that bodes well.
But he'd been playing some good football. I mean, he's
(35:08):
in he's such a smart guy, a to attach himself
to Buddha Baker from almost day one upon his arrival.
But you know the fact that he's out there and
he's pushing everyone else in that secondary and just the
competitive fire. And he had made a play the day
before knocking breaking up a pass and knocking it away.
Speaker 4 (35:28):
So we'll see.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
But once again they you know, my eye has also
been going to Elijah Jones, the round three pick from
a year ago, because he's maybe the biggest unknown in
camp right now, especially for a guy who's taken on
day two a year ago.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
What's he all about?
Speaker 3 (35:43):
So we'll see in a roundabout way Okay, Starling Thomas
needs some time to get back, all right, but you
know there's gonna be key troll. Clark got a shout
out from Jonathan Enning before the practice. Is having a
good day two of Cardinals camp. So you know, from
top to bottom, you know as interested as we are.
And that three headed monster to play will linebacker next
(36:04):
to Mac Wilson Senior. In terms of just number of
guys versus number of spots available, that cornerback room is
about as contested as it gets on this team.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
Right now.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
You've got eleven on the roster. How many do you keep?
And again I never include Garrett Williams as part of
that conversation. Yes he's listed as a corner, but he's
always gonna be on the field, whether he's the outside corner,
which we've seen a couple of times through these first
two open practices when it's just two corners on the field,
or he moves inside when they've got three corners.
Speaker 4 (36:33):
On the field.
Speaker 1 (36:34):
And that again, and all of a sudden you got
Garrett Williams.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Max Meltin, Okay, stop right there, Max Melton, just I
don't know what you've heard, but in talking to some
people who have been watching practice, people.
Speaker 4 (36:43):
In the know.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
I mean, if you made me forecast and make a
prediction right now, I'd say Garrett Williams absolutely a starter.
Max Melton right now starting cornerback to me. The battle
is for the spot opposite Max Melton. But that's just
the vibe I get right now. We haven't put the
pads on, but they really like the leap, the jump
(37:05):
that Maximelton has made since the end of last year.
He flashed in those last couple of games, had some
nice pass breakups in week seventeen at the Rams, So
I think and just watching maximelt and the way he's interacting,
you can tell he's sort of like a trade bench.
It's sort like a Marvin Arrison junior. He's more comfortable,
he's definitely more confident.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Yeah, another one of those guys. Part of that year
one to year two jump. And again, what did you
learn in year one that you can apply in year
two to where you might be a little bit ahead
of everyone else that's coming at you from behind. So again,
three days in two open practices. Team will take Saturday off.
Sunday is another practice. It is closed to the public,
(37:47):
open to season ticket holders. I know that's a big
deal because Paul will be a part of all that
for those season ticket holders that will be out here
at State Farm Stadium. We'll have to wait and see
because what Paul looks like now may not be what
he looks like on Sunday. Because here we are three
days into camp and we got a bunch of retirement
(38:08):
announcements this week from Tyron Matthew, Jordan Hicks, Justin Pugh
earlier on Friday calling it quits, but the mustache has
not been retired as a Friday, July twenty fifth. Yeah,
well two words, tick talk. It's just a matter of time.
So we'll see if it makes it for Sunday. And Craig,
(38:31):
let's not over inflate my role. My job is to
get the microphone to the playmakers, to the decision makers.
That's what I'll be doing. So let's keep them on
camera and I'll just be over there playing the MC
the role of the narrator, if you will, up on stage.
But it was interesting to hear Kalis Campbell echo some
of our thoughts on Tyron Matthew. I'll just leave you
(38:53):
with this when Kalais said he's the only player he
ever saw that he was one of the best guys
on the field the first day he was on the field.
And I remember that like it was yesterday, that first
rookie mini camper. Oh yes, it was just a straight
mini camp where the veterans were there and they second field,
second field.
Speaker 3 (39:13):
We were not privy to it. And you remember it
as well, And the veterans came off shaking their head
and there was a palpable buzz that, oh boy, we
got a playmaker, that round three kid, Tyron Matthew. He
is a player and it was really really interesting to
hear Kalayas Campbell echoed that memory, just like like we
(39:34):
had recollected.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
Tip the cap to Tyron, to Jordan Hicks and Justin
Pugh as well, all three good cardinals and more importantly,
all three good people. And selfishly, Paul and you can
speak to this as well. Three good guys to deal
with in the locker room, win or lose, and more
likely than that, you want those guys you can go
(39:55):
to after a loss. Some guys are better at it
than others. Well, I just name three players who are
good no matter the situation.
Speaker 3 (40:03):
Well, the first step is to make yourself available, don't
be in the showers of the training room after a loss.
And those guys were always present, accounted for and account
of bowl. And you know, Koalis said it about Tyron
and and I think we both echo it as well,
having covered him, just how honest he was with the media,
and Bruce Arians called him his favorite draft pick ever
(40:25):
and said the Cardinals never would have drafted him if
he would have blamed anyone else for what happened at LSU,
But he said he had to get better. He was
at fault, and that's when they knew, Okay, he's got
a chance. And I said it in a tweet and
I'll say it again. He's one of the He's the
one of the top three most memorable Cardinals players I
think I'll ever cover. And he was just so insightful,
(40:47):
so raw, so honest with all of us, and such
a joy to watch. I mean, he was just so
instinctive and the ability to play like he did, and
then just the innate athleticism he brought to the yield.
If it wasn't for that second knee injury, he would
be a surefire Hall of Famer right now.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Well said first week of training Camp twenty twenty five,
presented by Desert Financial is in the books again. Team
will have Saturday off, back on the field on Sunday,
a closed practice open to season ticket holders of the
NFL Network will be here on Sunday, so if you
want to get some highlights. It is back together weekend
(41:28):
around the NFL Saturday and Sunday, and then the pads
come on Monday the twenty eighth. It is another open practice.
For a complete list of all the open practices and
how to attend, good Aisycardinals dot com. Reminder that parking
and admission are both free. You do need to register
get that digital ticket to come in and watch that
(41:48):
first padded practice on Monday, July twenty eighth. And on
that note, we will put a lid on this edition
of Cardinals Cover two presented by Yundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our EXEUS
Kid producer Jim mo Monro, our associate producer Coddy Pincher.
For Paul Calvic, I'm Craig rail Lou. We'll talk to
you next time here on Cardinals Cover two.
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