May 1, 2025 • 45 mins
Ep. 714 - Assistant GM Dave Sears joined Paul Calvisi to unpack the Cardinals seven selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sears gives his unique perspective on player evaluation, having trust in their board and what it was like to be in the draft room as their time on the clock drew near. Plus, Ron Wolfley joins Calvisi to share his take on the NFL Draft and to discuss which players have a legit chance to crack the starting lineup in 2025.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Stramp on the boots and scrape up the knuckles.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Sow on ahead, he got jacked.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
This is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford
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Terry's gonna score touchdown. Slim to the ground by Buddha Baker.
Like a torpedo, he keeps flying into the back deal.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
The Rage is brought to you by santan Ford and Gilbert.
Speaker 5 (00:25):
Right on the price, right on the corner of the
sands Tan two to two freeway in.
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Valves WAA crab by Tray McBride. That was spectacular and by.
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Arizona Cardinals podcast visit Azycardinals dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
All Red Sea is rising up, dude, you're rising vision
Blurry Rage take you over.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
Here's Paul CALVICI I'm ready. I'm one hundred percent ready.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm telling you, I'm ready.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
And Ron Wolfley.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
It doesn't get any better than that.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
The fjeld All right, Henrywind for a minute. Going into
this draft, how did most of the analysts sum up
this year's class? Starters not stars? Was a popular refrain.
Don't tell the Arizona Cardinals they didn't draft a couple
(01:21):
of potential stars at number sixteen, at number forty seven,
and maybe this is a hot take, but maybe a
couple of potential starters in round four, in round six,
and we're here to talk about it and talk with
the Assistant GM Dave Sears tonight on the Big Red
Rage presented by Santan ford In Gilbert, Paul Calvici, here,
(01:41):
Ron Wolfley. They are talking twenty twenty five NFL Draft.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Oh my goodness, PAULI, how are you doing right now?
Can I tell you? I am jacked up? Thanks for asking, Paul.
I am jacked up right now because of the Arizona
Cardinals picks, because of the draft, and because I think
they're going to be much better this year than a
lot of people think.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Well, if we don't have time for the greetings and
the salutations, Okay, it's our favorite time of year. Our
favorite hashtag is let the Rooks cook. And in three
drafts now Chef Monty has twenty eight picks in three years,
and right now every one of them is still on
the roster. And before we get into the first round
pick and beyond, before we hear from Dave Sears, I
want to ask you just the competition level, what is
(02:28):
that going to do? For Cardinals camp. Look at the
depth chart. Look at how much deeper it is. Because
if there is one way to motivate in the NFL
and you played ten years, you tell me it's job security.
And there're gonna be some really good dudes who don't
end up on the final fifty three this year.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Oh yeah, Pauli, there's no doubt about it. You know,
once again, one's a point, two's a trend, three's a pattern.
You look at the last two drafts from the Arizona
Cardinals that Manti ausin Fort and the staff of the
Arizona Cardinals have picked. One's a point, two's a trend.
Three's a pattern. Man. There are fourteen guys on this
(03:02):
roster that are only two years into the league that
are either starters for the Arizona Cardinals or in a
heavy rotation getting reps on a game day. Because of that,
paul it's amazing. If the Arizona Cardinals nailed Draft number
three the way that I think they have, it's going
(03:22):
to be a pattern now for the Arizona Cardinals. And
because of that draft that happened three years ago. Because
of that, Pauli, and now the draft that happened last year,
and then this year's draft. You put those three together,
the competition level for the Arizona Cardinals in all three phases, offensively, defensively,
(03:44):
and in transition has skyrocketed. To your point, Paul, and.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
I don't know if this is a point or a
pattern or a trend or whatever you call it. We'll
put in the fifteen drafts before monti ascin fort the
Arizona Cardinals in the first two rounds drafted a total
of two defensive linemen and two defensive linemen. That's over
fifteen drafts in the first two rounds. We're talking DJ Jumpries,
Johnathan Cooper, We're talking Robert KIMDCI, Dan Williams. They have
(04:11):
already taken three three first round offensive or defensive lineman
through three drafts, including most recently Walter Nolan at number sixteen.
And here's MANIASA. Ford on what separated Walt from the
rest of the pack.
Speaker 6 (04:23):
Disruption And you know, I think you know, we've talked
about it a lot. You know, we wanted to get
more have a more disruptive defensive unit. We think we've
added players that can help us do that. And again,
like when we find a players that can affect the
middle of the pocket. It puts a lot of stress
on the offense. And so Walter is another guy that
we think can do that, can help us do that,
(04:44):
and we're really excited to add him to our team.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
Doesn't even turn twenty two until October. Walter Nolan first
Team All American, number one high school recruit. What else
stands about out about the ole Miss All American?
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Yeah, you know, for me, once again, the first question
I have Paul, he is where you're gonna play him?
Where you're gonna play Walter Nolan right now? Just like
Darius Robinson. Darius Robinson, we were talking about this last year.
He could play anywhere across the front. You could literally
line him up on the center, or you could have
him stand out in a wide nine. You could literally
(05:19):
have him do that, and I think that he would
be able to hold up, especially based on the down
and distance. I think Walter Nolan is in the exact
same category as Darius Robinson. I think he's a little
quicker on that first step. I think he's got an
excellent first step, very explosive. Yet at the same time,
(05:39):
where Walter Nolan is going to play and where Darius
Robinson is going to play. That's going to be interesting
because they could be anywhere across the front.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Paul, you know what, note to self. We're gonna ask
Dave Sears about that coming up the assistant GM right now,
let's hear from Adrian Wilson, Cardinals cover too. Yes, the
former Cardinals legend who has spent the last decade in
an NFL front office. And here was his comp for
Walter Nolan.
Speaker 7 (06:02):
It reminds me so much a docket. You know, Darnelle
was an undersized three technique. You know, he was two
ninety two ninety five, you know, at best. So you know,
having a guy that was quick, that could penetrate, that
can affect the interior of the pocket like it just
helps your outside rushers out so much like you're their
best friend because you're able to get penetration from the
(06:23):
inside to get that quarterback off the spot.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
And Doc was nasty.
Speaker 7 (06:26):
He was real nasty.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
And what's interesting is and we had a chance to
talk to Walter Nolan one on one. He's a soft spoken,
quiet guy, but he also admits he flips the switch
on game day. He is a really hyper competitive dude.
On game day and Wolf, you know, we sort of
made the joke who won the NFL Draft. The media
always likes to pick teams. We picked a person. Nick
(06:49):
Rowlis won the NFL draft. You know, he first five
picks on defensive players. And what happens to this Cardinals defense?
If they can truly only rush four instead of having
this scheme it up, we're just better than you upfront.
I mean that just changes the defense, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
It just changes everything, Bully. I mean, it's exactly what
you want. But you want the best of both worlds.
If we can still scheme it up, that's great too
from time to time. You just don't want to have
to depend on it to get pressure. If you can
rush for and drop seven, as you know, Baly, this
is huge for any defensive coordinator and any defensive You
can rush forward, get pressure on that quarterback and drop seven,
(07:28):
you got a huge advantage right now. What I loved
about this draft the first four picks, in particular, defensive tackle,
an interior three technique, then a corner, then an outside
edge guy in Jordan Birch, and then Cody Simon an
inside linebacker. Four different positions on different levels and man,
(07:51):
this is what's got me so excited. I think the
defensive line of scrimmage has improved so much. And I'm
not talking about just these drafts because you know, PAULI,
a rookie's got to prove it. He's got a long way. Yeah,
you gotta climb that hill and you've got to prove
that you can actually do it. But right now, looking
at the line of scrimmage defensively and the names that
(08:14):
they already have on the line of scrimmage, this is
this is going to be the most competitive room on
the entire team.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
So to your point about Daris Robinson and Walter Nolan,
the third now Drew stan RedSea report former Cardinals quarterback,
said you know what, I take either one of those
guys or both and put him at the three technique
on the outside shoulder of the guard. He said, that's
where I think they're going to be the biggest headache,
cause the most problems. It's most difficult for an offense
to give help and slide over some extra attention that way.
(08:43):
And I kept talking about, you know, rushing the passer
with four and then Drew said, no, it goes beyond that.
Speaker 8 (08:49):
The Super Bowl ask Patrick Mahomes what that feels like.
They don't have four rush and seven are now in coverage,
and you can change coverage right, You can drop safeties in,
you can insert and do different stuff. It gives it
an extreme advantage to the defense when you don't have
to bring more guys to the party than you need.
As a true quarterback, your eyes have to be on
that second and third level. You can't watch the rush
(09:11):
and play in this league. You can be the greatest
quarterback of all time. And if you consistently are getting hit,
all of a sudden you start looking around. Those eyes drop.
You're chasing ghosts. Your accuracy is affected. There is no
replacement for being able to get pressure with four.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
I mean a year ago at the end of the season,
you had Nae Kwon Jones, and you had some other
guys like off the practice squad that right now Wolf,
that defensive line, Darius Robinson, Walter Nolan, Dalvin Tomlinson, Koleis Campbell,
Justin Jones, Blall Nickels back from injury. Stop it, Dante
Still's LJ. Collier. That's eight stop it. That's eight dudes
(09:46):
who can play.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
It's incredible. Paul It really is. And again the defensive
line of scrimmage. It impacts the second and third levels
so much, Paul, by getting that pressure on a quarterback,
by making them a little bit inaccurate because you're in
his face and he doesn't be able to he's not
able to release the ball the way that he wants to.
It's so important. It impacts a second and third level.
(10:10):
And that's why Will Johnson, who's got a great mind,
This is a quarterback like Everson Walls, who is gonna clue.
He looks at the quarterback and play in his own room,
whether it's cover four, quarter coverage cover three, whatever it is.
Will Johnson is great at jumping, combination routes and picking
off the football. And if you can get pressure on
(10:32):
a quarterback, that's gonna make Will Johnson that much better.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
Hey, learn more about arizon A Cardinal season tickets, Premium
seating group and luxury field seating. All you have to
do go to Azycardinals dot com slash tickets all Right,
Cardinals user first five picks on defensive players for the
first time since nineteen ninety one. How and why we
ask the assistant GM Dave Sears next, on the Big
red rage presented by Santan Ford in Gilbert.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
Walter Nolan number two in blue you cannot miss him
explodes off that line comes on the ground, Sellers buffled
it and all.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
This jumped on.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
It's recovered by Nolan. Seller's in trouble head and sack
back at the forty two by Nolan, tumbled up by
Walter Nolan.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Boy Walter Nolan with a sack.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
A fuffle recovery and a tackle for long play by
Nolan to grab him at the ankles and sack them.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
This is why so many people talked about what his
presence could be to Wall's out.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
At the end of the plot here and all miss
has recovered, Walter Nolan has the puffle. Walter Nolan tackle
for lost total scream not alone of scrimmage.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Walter Nolan is everyone.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
That's the first team All American and first round pick
Walter Nolan in the Arizona Cardinals. Even heard the voice
of the Cardinals Dave Passion there as well. Not gonna
be a big transition for the ESPN guy college Football
to start calling his NFL games. Walter Nolan. In fact,
last we saw and heard our guest here on the
big red rage. He was on the Pasch pod, but
(12:12):
what is becoming a bit of a tradition post draft.
We are joined by Assistant general manager Dave Sears, and
Dave welcome. I'm a little apprehensive considering the way this
week started and Bill's GM Brandon being going after a
couple of radio hosts in Buffalo. You know what you know?
Are there any grievances that need to be aired on
your end of all?
Speaker 9 (12:29):
All?
Speaker 10 (12:29):
Listen, I'm not going to take any crap from you
the Paul, So let's just get that out there right now. Hey,
I appreciate you having me on here.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
Speaking to the media. Let's be honest, all right, we're
in the Will Ferrell trust tree here. When you guys
need a good laugh, right when you're doing the grind
leading up to the draft and you're up in the
draft room, do you just pull out a mock draft?
Is that a good Do you guys just mock the
mock drafts along the way?
Speaker 9 (12:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (12:50):
You know, we do do some exercises pre draft process
where we'll incorporate some of the mock drafts. Our analytics guys,
Nick Tyas, Joe andrewsy do a ton of mock draft simulations.
So we do have a pretty good feel according to
the quote unquote experts, how they think it's going to
come off. We have some adress where we put up
how we think it's going to come off. How do
those things correlate, just to give you an idea of
(13:12):
what you're really going to be faced with when you're
on the clock. So there shouldn't be any surprises. A
couple of scenarios worked out very similarly to the way
we had it planned out, and then you know, as
the picks come off and then suddenly it diverges from
what you were thinking it might be, then you adjust
to that. So you do go through those exercises quite
a bit.
Speaker 5 (13:31):
You know, the media likes to declare at this point
who won the draft. Our answer is Nick Rolis, Cardinals
defensive coordinator. At this point, let's just start with some
of his guys, Walter Nolan. You know, look, we can
see the stats, we can see the accolades. What did
you see on film?
Speaker 10 (13:46):
Well, you see an explosive athlete who plays very hard,
who's a violent, aggressive player, a guy that can launch
off the ball, he can reset the line of scrimmage,
he can do everything we're going to ask him to do.
He has some versatility to play up and down the
line for probably a five all the way to a zero,
and a guy that really hasn't maximized yet. We still
think there's a good upside to the player, but you know,
(14:09):
fits the scheme and he's a violent, disruptive defensive lineman.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Yeah, it doesn't turn twenty two until October.
Speaker 10 (14:14):
He's still a young kid. You know, this is a
guy who's the number one recruit in the country, I believe,
coming out of high school Texas A and M and
then Aunt Old Miss where he had a really good
year this year, end up playing in the Senior Bowl,
flashing down there. We had some very good interactions with
Walter at the Combine and then on his thirty visit,
so we were very comfortable with Walter the person, and
the tape speaks for itself.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I think. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
There was an opening line in the AP story and
it went something like this, the Arizona Cardinals weren't scared
to roll the dice and a few polarizing defensive prospects
Will Johnson. I think you know the injuries, So for
do you consider this Will roll of the dice? Walter Nolan,
Will Johnson, and then we'll get to Jordan Birch.
Speaker 10 (14:51):
But yeah, well, I mean, you're not rolling the dice
on Walter's talent. I'm not sure where that assumption would
come from. And Walter's tape is not a roll of
the dice, So I don't I don't really see it
that way. I think there's probably a little bit of
media misinformation about Walter the person. Sometimes that happens in
the draft pross. But we spent enough time with Walter
to feel very comfortable with him, so it's not a
(15:13):
roll of dice for us, you know. And with Will again, like,
this is a guy that's a true junior. He's a
three time All American. He's got the Michigan record for
pick sixes. He was a defensive MVP the National Championship game.
I mean, every time he turned on the tape, the
guy's playing good ball. You know, his father was a
player at Michigan at DBI. He's a well regarded trainer
(15:35):
in the Detroit area. So like, this is about as
clean a player as you can find in terms of
his skill set and his production. There were some injuries
with Will, but nothing we thought was that he couldn't overcome.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Or we can't manage. So we were excited about Will being.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
There for sure.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
Cardinals assistant GM Dave Sears our guest, at what point
do you think, Wow, Will Johnson might make it to
forty seven.
Speaker 10 (15:57):
At pick forty six? You know, we never thought that
guy was going to be there. Really never thought that
guy was going to be there. So that was one
of the ones where you heard many talk a lot
post draft about sticking to your board. That's a clear
case of that Will was obviously the best player that
we had on the board at that time. We never
thought Will would be there at that point, and so
you know, you stay with your board and you take the.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
Prospect and Money also mentioned the phones were lighting up,
there were opportunities to trade down. I'm guessing there was
a lot of interest, a lot of demand at that
point for your pick.
Speaker 10 (16:22):
Yeah, and whether that's for Will or for somebody else,
you never know.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
You know.
Speaker 10 (16:25):
The thing that I think when you talk about the
mock drafse, well, the mock drafts grade you off how
they had their board stacked and how you drafted according
to their experts board. Well, there's thirty two teams and
I've been on a lot of different places. There's thirty
two different boards. So a guy that we think is
coming off a little early, that team thinks, hey, we
got to move up and take this guy.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
You know.
Speaker 10 (16:44):
So everybody sees it a little bit different. And you
can see that based off some of the moves teams make.
They feel like that's a player they need to move
up and get, or a player you can trade back
and get the same value later. So yeah, we did
not expect Will to be there, but we felt great
about it when it happened.
Speaker 5 (17:00):
Two words have seen attached to Jordan Birch right the
round three edge out of Oregon, jumbo athlete and all
you can do is watch his fake punt at six'
four what two to eighty and he looks Like Dereck
henry racing down the. Field what do you have in?
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Him?
Speaker 10 (17:14):
Oh, Yeah jordan's a very athletic. Guy he's a guy
THAT i, think you, know he's two seventy nine at the,
combine basically two. EIGHTY i don't think there was another
player two eighty and up that ran in the four
sixes and his time was like four to six seven
on the. Combine watches so very athletic. Guy you see
that he looks like a running back on that fake,
punt certainly at least a tight. End and he's played
anywhere from in the two nineties to in the two.
(17:34):
Seventies he can lose, weight he can gain, weight he
can play, inside he can play on the. Edge we're
going to play him on the, edge so we see
him somewhere more in the two. Seventies but versatile player
really like the. Athlete he can rush the, passer he
can do it on multitude of, ways and he's very
firm at the point setting an. Edge so we're excited About.
Jordan that's another guy that we really stayed with our board.
There we were not sure that he would be there
(17:54):
at seventy.
Speaker 5 (17:55):
Eight, yeah and you mentioned that because obviously it's we
sort of, Joked, okay put This cardinals defensive front an
HD tv right extreme. MAKEOVER i, mean it's unbelievable how
different it. Looks refresh our. Memory how many edge and
defensive linemen can you carry on a final fifty? Three
and how competitive is it going to?
Speaker 10 (18:13):
Be starting With cardinals, Camp, Well i'm pretty sure we
carried six out of. Camp the last two, YEARS i,
think and so we usually take eight to. Camp we
might have had nine at one point during our first.
Year but any three four, defense the outside linebacker position
is basically the engine that runs the. Things so you're
going to keep excess of. Guys there also guys that
have roles on special. Teams you, know some of these
(18:35):
back end dudes in the outside back room are going
to have to earn roles on special. Teams that's going
to be their way to stick. Around and we think
all those guys contributed in that. Aspect they're all, tough
they're all, athletic they can all. Run but you, know
LIKE i, THINK mani used the, line you can never
have enough pass. Rushers, well that's what we're trying to
accumulate is just a bevy of guys that you can
roll in and. Out and we feel really good about
(18:55):
all these guys abilities at the edge as.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
Well if you talk about the, engine how about to
the brains of a defense inside, Linebacker Mike backer tell
us About Cody. Simon it Just i've seen Late bloomer attached.
Him just seemed as the season went on last year
he just got better and. Better, Yeah cody had a
really good. YEAR i Think cody ended up being THE
mvp of this Year's National championship. Game so we actually
drafted THE mvp of the last Two national. Championshiping it
(19:18):
was kind of just an interesting, tid but this this
is a guy that you, know was a team captain this.
Year he won the Block O, recipient which is A
leadership In accountability award At Ohio. State guy's got really high,
character really high FOOTBALL. Iq we feel like he could
handle that green dot, role which which is you, know a.
Speaker 10 (19:34):
Big deal in THE nfl being able to do. That
you only have one on the field at the. Time
so we Felt cody could do, that and we felt,
like you, know we had a path for him to
make the roster in that area on our. Team so
we really feel good about The cody, pick and we
felt like we didn't have to reach on the. Guy
that was good value for where he, went and he's certainly.
Improved you, know he had a really good player in
(19:54):
front of, Him Tommy eikenberg there in the, past who
was a draft pick last, year and Then cody got
a chance this here to really take off and he.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Did so we felt great About cody that's. Interesting he
was four time Academic All Big. Ten he talks about.
Instincts how big a leap do you generally consider it
to wear a green dot from the college to THE nfl.
Level it's a pretty big.
Speaker 10 (20:15):
Leap but usually the guys that can do in college
can do it in THE. Nfl you, know there's a
lot put on their plate. Too it's a newer thing
in the college, game actually having the green dot on the,
field but it's the same responsibilities the guys making the
calls are relaying and from the. Sidelines but you're looking
for that leadership, capacity that football intelligence, capacity the ability
to command ten other players on the field and know
(20:36):
where they all have to line, up and so if
somebody turns to you echoing the calls and getting guys
aligned before the. Snap so that takes some poise and
some football intelligence for.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
Sure ASSISTANT Gm Dave sears our guest last. Year we
talked about just the unbelievable, popularity, right the insatiable appetite
for the draft, itself the draft. Process everyone thinks they're A, gm,
right including pencil next week yours. Truly so when The
cardinals traded the round five pick To dallas right for
a later on five pick in round, six and THEN i,
saw for, Example Tory horton come off the, board the
(21:04):
big fast receiver out Of Colorado, state and then THE
lsu Guard Miles frasier come off the. Board i'm, like,
oh those those might have fit a couple of needs
for The. Cardinals but then you cashed In Denzel burke the,
corner and then you went After Hayn, connor the offensive
lineman out Of, texas and it all sort of made.
Sense let's start With Denzel, burke AND i THINK mani said,
it just the just the cowboy receiver he has practiced
(21:27):
against At Ohio state the last four years is, ridiculous isn't.
Speaker 10 (21:30):
It, YEAH i Think denzel has practiced against five first
round receivers of the last his. Career so the game's
easier For denzel in comparison to the guys he's going
as you, Know marvin And Garrett wilson And chris al And,
Jacobo Ya lave And buka this. Year So i'm a
really high competition. There the guy's battle tested local. PRODUCT
(21:50):
i Think souarrows we're in and he might have gone
To brophy, earlier but you, know the guy is a
four year. Starter he's got fifty one career. Starts that's
most by A dB In ohio state. History that was
so and so the guy certainly played a lot of
football at a high. Level obviously nobody's done that before,
there so that's pretty impressive in. Itself and that was
another you, know kind of like The Will. Johnson we
did not Expect denzel to be there in the fifth,
(22:11):
round and so we just had to stay with our
bourn and take the. Talent so we feel good about the.
Kid he was another guy that we had in here
on a thirty. Visit he's a local. Guy that was
easy to do and he really reflected positively on his,
Visit so we felt comfortable With denzhil there.
Speaker 5 (22:27):
In terms of. Value maybe my favorite pick just looking
at Is Hayden. CONNOR i, mean AND i bring this
up because it was week Seventeen cardinals went to The
rams and you realized that their starting Center Bo limmer
was a sixth round pick our To arkansas and he
had beat out a highly paid free. Agent And i'm,
like you know, What Hayden connor has a lot of
similarities to his career arc At texas and then people,
(22:49):
say just look at his film Against Mason, Graham Kenneth,
grant think of the defensive lineman he's gone against At
texas over the last four. Years what do you think
you have In Hayden.
Speaker 10 (22:57):
Connor, YEAH i, mean you can put on That michigan.
Tape you can put it on The texas and m.
Tape you can put on the you know a lot
of to The kentucky. Tape you can put on a
lot of tape where this guy's playing guys who got
drafted this, year got drafted last YEAR nfl. Player so
it's not a question Of Kenny BLACK nfl players he's been.
Doing he's GOT i think forty three consecutive starts At.
Texas that's that's pretty damn. Good so you got a
big guy who's really smart and who's fundamentally. Sound so
(23:19):
we were excited That hayden was still. There he does
have some ability to play, center although primarily we see
him as a. Guard but any kind of interior versatility you,
have or even if it's guard to, tackle you, know
that obviously helps you because when you're a back end
player in THE, nfl you have to have some versatility
as an offensive. Lineman we think he has, that and
we think the guy's got a chance to was. Sent
i'm not going to put a ceiling on, him but
(23:40):
we feel really good About hayden in the sixth.
Speaker 5 (23:41):
Rounds, certainly if you hit zoom out on The cardinals
three draft, classes Many, Osport Dave, Sears Jonathan, gannon we've
come to ascertain that there's one similar, similarity and it's all.
Ball all these guys seem deadly serious about. Football how
big a deal is that in the evaluation.
Speaker 10 (23:58):
Process, YEAH i, mean minding could probably be more extensive
with the things we look, for BUT i would simply
say guys who love, football guys who can learn, football
and guys who know how to treat people off the.
Field and if you got those kind of, characteristics and
you're going to be a fit, here and that's really
what we're looking. For in a, nutshell you, KNOW i
could break down into more micro, categories but that's really.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
It production versus. Potential here's another QUESTION i want to ask.
You how often does that come up when you're trying
to decide on a player and whether doing invest a draft.
Pick how vital is it to see the. Production how
often did you just go on?
Speaker 10 (24:32):
POTENTIAL i mean that's kind of the artist, scouting you
know WHAT i, mean the, measurables the athletic. Ability is
that translating to the. Field will that translate in the
field to the future if it's a different, scheme if
it's different. Coaching has this guy reached his? Ceiling what
is his? Ceiling all those kind of Things going To,
kyle scouting is a projection, business whereas like pro, scouting
(24:53):
how good is this player and does he fit what we're?
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Doing SO i.
Speaker 10 (24:56):
Don't know that there's a percentage that's the tape now
versus will to take be two years from. Now but
we always, say like, hey when you put your Final
coyle's great on, it it's what is this guy in
two years because we do expect every player to improve
from the time they get.
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Here, interesting as we wrap it up here with Assistant
Jim Dave, sears you look at we go full circle
To Nick rollis And i'm curious what happens to this
defense that he can truly rush for and affect the
Quarterback because of injuries and trying to accumulate talent over
the last couple. Years he hasn't always had that, luxury
has He.
Speaker 10 (25:26):
NO i, think you, know we've placed some stress On
nick in terms of the, roster but he's an excellent young.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Coach he's very.
Speaker 10 (25:34):
Innovative the amount of times he's truly gonna give you
just a straightfour man rush isn't gonna be very often
because he's gonna simulate. Pressure you, know he's gonna zone drop,
guys he's gonna bring more and he's gonna constantly outthink
the offensive. Coordinator so now he's got more pieces to.
Use he's got more, depth, certainly and that's something especially
on the defensive. Line we've been beat up early in
(25:56):
the year these last couple of. Years you, know we
LOST lj And Carlos watkins early two years. Ago last
year we Lost justin And malal early unfortunately the injuries
and so our depth has really been. Tested and the
guys who played played their asses off and did a good.
Job but now we have more depth going into this
where we feel really good. About you, know if we
do lose, somebody which happens is THE, nfl you're gonna lose.
(26:17):
Players the guy stepping in there is not going to
be a big drop off for hoping and real.
Speaker 5 (26:20):
Quick you still feel really good About Darius, robinson, Right.
Speaker 10 (26:23):
Oh, yeah we feel great about d Rob he's had
an awesome. Offseason he's gonna have a great OTAs, here
he's dialed. In we feel like he's in a really
good place to tick.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
The next, Step.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Dave we always enjoy. It it's great. Stuff, well you,
know we always fashion ourselves as thinking we know something
about player personnel and all the mock, drafts so it's
great to actually be taking inside the draft room a little.
Bit and how you go about accumulating all the.
Speaker 10 (26:43):
Talent, WELL i appreciate you having me, On. PAUL i
always enjoy, it.
Speaker 5 (26:46):
And thank you for keeping the grievances to. Yourself if
you have. Anything, Yeah i'm Like Brandon.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Bean there you.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
Go we continue with a big red rage presented by
sand Tan ford And. Gilbert we Are sand Tan, Ford
moush quick throw, in accept.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
It it's gotta be a pick Sex Will. Johnson we'll take.
Speaker 8 (27:09):
It put.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
Over he touched Down, johnson one of the couch quarterbacks
in the. Country silt it, True michigan six touch.
Speaker 5 (27:21):
Down other rains play fake.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Underneath he accept.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
It, Michigan Will Johnson jeff de route cross forward and
has it at the five yard. Line Will johnson is
one of the best corners In.
Speaker 5 (27:36):
America as ASSISTANT Gm Dave sears just shared with us
here on The Big Red rage presented By Santan ford And,
gilbert The ears and The cardinals have drafted the last
two defensive MVPs some the last two national title games
in college, football Including Will. Johnson it is The Big Red.
Rage paul Calvec Ron wolfley special thanks to the ASSISTANT
(27:56):
Gm Dave, sears and, yeah The Will johnson comments are.
Interesting speaking of the other DEFENSIVE mvp from a national title,
Game Cody, SIMON i thought it was really intriguing that
it is, elite but it's not impossible to go from
being the green dot in college to a green dot
as a rookie in THE, nfl which makes me wonder
if he's in competition for a Starting mike linebacker gig
(28:17):
from the get go Minus Kaizer. White but that's just
me thinking out, loud Wolf.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
That's going to be really interesting to, Watch, paulie no
doubt about. IT i liked it when you Asked Dave
sears About Will johnson you, said when did you believe
that he was really going to be there for you
guys to pick at forty? Seven and he, said without,
hesitation after forty. SIX i mean it had to be
a shock to them a guy that is a bona
(28:42):
fide first round talent to be available at full.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Seven and at FIRST i thought he was, embellishing AND i, realized,
no he's totally. Serious and to reinforce, that here's What
Jonathan gannon said On Mad Dogs Sports radio When Adam
shine asked him about the availability Of Will johnson.
Speaker 9 (29:00):
At Their friday End AND mani has all these algorithms
that he, has all the analytics people running all this,
stuff AND i, said what are the chances that he's
there in? Two and they're, like, coach like point zero,
Two like no. Chance, Right so when he was sitting
there right at, Him i'm, like, dude AM i missing?
Something like this is the best corner in the? Draft
like what are we talking? About like you, know and
(29:20):
there's a group of players that we liked and right
when we were, picking and that was kind of a
no brainer, too where like we think this guy's a
starting corner and you, know just the person as phenomenal as.
Intangibles he's very, intelligent and he really is a scheme
fit for us. Too so it was, like, dude, like
let's take that.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
Guy see, now that's interesting this scheme. Fit on top
of being you, know six,' two on top of being,
incredibly athletic one of the top turning of recruits coming
out of, high school being a Two Time, all american
he fits the scheme.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
As.
Speaker 5 (29:54):
Well wolf you care to SPECULATE what jg means? About, That, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Paul You know i've been talking, about it just the
scheme Fit That will. Johnson is leading up to. The
draft YOU, and i as a matter, of fact had
this conversation, about him the fact that he's six to
two hundred and, two pounds but more, than that he's
a corner that plays really really well in. Zone Coverage
The arizona cardinals quarter coverage specifically four deep three underneath
(30:23):
rushing four that's called. Quarter coverage for the, most part
they play an awful lot, of It And will johnson
is really really good playing in his. Zone room this
is something that is, In. Eight paul it's your ability
to dissect what it is that you're seeing and row
combinations and then keeping your eyes on the quarterback and
(30:44):
being able to cover the receiver and make a break
on a ball unexpectedly from time. To time this Is
What will johnson Gives The. Arizona cardinals AND what i
Loved about day two was the fact that they Also Drafted,
jordan birch that kid from at six. Eighty pounds the
combination of getting edge pressure from a Guy Like jordan
(31:07):
burch and that resulting in a possible Pick From will
johnson is SOMETHING that i am predicting right now in the.
Speaker 5 (31:16):
Rookie season so in that, Same Interview jonathan, gannon said
After the Cardinals Took, will johnson he had quote about
eight defensive coordinators, text, him oh you got maybe the
best corner in. The draft so there were a lot
of teams that had their Eye On will johnson and
we're both. In agreement cardinals probably had a lot of
action on the phone wanting. THAT pick, mani, said nope
(31:37):
they made the selection of, forty seven and then to,
your point at number, seventy eight They Took. Jordan burch
started his Career At, south carolina ended Up. At oregon this,
last season he played, ten games, nine starts had eight
and a, half sacks eleven tackles, for loss six. Passes
defensed he missed four games due to injury right rolled,
an ankle but other than that he was. Really disruptive,
(31:57):
in fact Let's let maniaciford take it. From there what
he Liked About, jordan.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
Birch, size, length power ability to collapse. The pocket he
missed a couple, of games got dinged up with. Some
injuries this year was productive in the games, he played
played against good people and brings a unique skill set
for a guy who's his size and length to be
able to play on his feet and play out on
the edge of the line.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
Of scrimmage so we mentioned how DIFFERENT the d line.
Room looks how about outside linebacker edge Right Now Wolf,
Josh sweat Xavi And Collins baron browning is back And.
Healthy bjojalari you can only help, You know hope. Is Healthy, xavier,
thomas who by, the way. Looks swoll apparently he's been winning.
The Offseason xavier thomas And Now jordan birch will be
(32:40):
joined at times Maybe By Mac. Wilson senior but tell
us how You Think jordan birch fits into that room
and what that means for the.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Entire, group yeah, YOU KNOW pauli i think in third
and obvious. PAST situations i think at some point in
the twenty twenty, FIVE season i don't know if it's
from the, first GAME but i think early in, this
season at, SOME point I Think jordan birch is going
to be a guy that is playing out on. The
Edge Obviously josh sweat is going to be one of,
(33:09):
those guys but Opposite Of, josh sweat you might have
a just an absolute competition that you're talking about maybe
five guys that are going to be in the running
to be that. Guy OPPOSITE and i Also Think, jordan
birch because he's he's two hundred and, eighty pounds you
might want to line him up even as a three.
Technique inside but it's going to be fascinating to me
(33:32):
to see how they. Use him and you can say
that about so many, different Guys and polly would just
Say That nick rowlis is a guy that does some
unorthodox things from time to time in terms of scheming
up certain pass rushes. Or, coverages yes so when you
said he's a guy who, does that when You.
Speaker 5 (33:53):
Said jordan birch in, that. Context right THE flexibility i
Thought Is zavin collins on This Show Big red rage
in the year saying all the different positions he was
Used By Nick rowlis. Zay mccollins a nearly, six' five
two seventy he was inside of a three technique. On
passing downs he's playing deep center field other times because.
He Can run, and i'm thinking, You Know what jordan
(34:14):
birch has a similar size, and skill set?
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Does, he not, Yes, He does paul yet at, the
same Time You got walter, nolan as well and You Also.
Have darius, robinson two Guys Where is darius robinson going
to be over that that guards outside shoulder as, a
three technique especially on? Third and obvious where are the
pass rush reps? Gonna come from who's going to? Fill
(34:38):
that need it's going to be fascinating to watch that
as the. Season, on folds, Paul.
Speaker 5 (34:44):
For example walter nolan, the third right he was known
for playing a boatload of snaps. AT all, miss i
mean he played almost the entirety, of every game and
That's something that cardinal's really respected about. His game film in,
the fourth quarter he's still running. DOWN screens, downfield i
mean they really think he as. A great motor but
now instead of playing sixty, snaps a game if he's
playing thirty or thirty five really good snaps and he's
(35:07):
able to let it rip and you're bringing guys. In,
in waves right once again our big Question about. This
cardinals Defense Instead of nick rowlis getting to the quarterback,
by you know, dialing it up who? Went or where
if you force an, offense to answer how how can
you stop our dudes one on one? Four man rush
(35:27):
it just. Totally changes everything elevates the entire unit on
that side.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Of the ball no. Doubt. About it, paulie once again
get pressure on that quarterback and suddenly your secondary gets.
Ten times, Better, all right.
Speaker 5 (35:40):
Hey be the first To see the cardinals twenty twenty
five schedule when It, Gets released, Wednesday May fourteenth go
todaisycardinals dot com slash schedule for all the info. And
the opponents guess what two sleepers who might contend for?
A starting spot that's Next In The big red Rage
Presented by Santan ford In gilbert.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
Let god taking It jup n.
Speaker 8 (36:06):
That is ER sipted in Ms.
Speaker 5 (36:09):
Time dem zilbert the second.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
Career interception for A.
Speaker 10 (36:14):
Junior from phoenix, He comes down.
Speaker 5 (36:20):
Cody sign up that's a Awful none and.
Speaker 9 (36:24):
Rock sacked.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
Again Third time Cody.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
Simon Pips jackson d.
Speaker 5 (36:31):
He's dropped Down Immediately.
Speaker 4 (36:33):
By cody zeimer show up and Down He, Goes.
Speaker 5 (36:38):
Cody simon i'll tell you a, lot to like a lot,
of intriguing players and resumes. On day three It Is
The big red Rage Presented by Santan Ford And, Gilbert
Paul Calvic ron wolfley and here's my holy can. Only
Stat Wolf in super, bowl fifty two, Seven years Ago Philly.
Beat new england there. Were eighteen starters eighteen starters who
(37:00):
are drafted in the fourth, round or lower including six. Undrafted.
Free agents wow so it shows you the value that
can be had. On day three and if you're talking,
About Round four cody, simon the linebacker, Round Five, Corner denzel,
Burke Round six hayden Connor, out of texas the, Interior Offensive,
lineman keaton crawford the Safety out of nevada who's spent
(37:21):
his first Four. Years at texas you see, a pattern.
HERE don't you i, mean big schools big time talent
guys who played, in big games right. In big moments
they all sort of have that one, thing in common?
Do they not now.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
They do bully they are bawlers for, the most. PART
you know i Also, THINK of rabbit I think. OF
dante's stills i think of the Value That the arizona
cardinals have got from. Day three ON and when i
Think About, a cody simon. It's very interesting we'll see
what kind of. OPPORTUNITY he gets i Also Think, of
(37:57):
hayden connor taken in the sixth und and this is
a guy. That is huge, he's six six he's three hundred.
And fifteen pounds he's not going. To be wowed. He's very,
experienced of course he's a guy that played an awful,
lot in college and he's not going to be wowed
by COMING into the nfl because He played at texas
(38:17):
and not only who he practices against, obviously every day
but also against other teams PLAYING. In the sec so
it's going to be really interesting To See how. HAYDEN
connor does i wouldn't go to. SLEEP on him i
think he could be a guy that could could contribute. From,
the beginning.
Speaker 5 (38:36):
Yeah let's talk about. Those two guys Let's Start. With
cody simon he was the inside linebacker six two, two
twenty nine ran a four to six flat forty fifty
Eight Games, at ohio state he started. Thirty of them
Four Time Academic, all big ten and here's what he
told the media when asked about where he'd.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
LIKE to PLAY i think i can play in. Any scheme,
POSSIBLY you know i love to, be A learner and
i can just study and really prepare AS the, best
i can, And you know i'll be ready to play
with wherever. And With whoever so i'm just excited to
be able to be part of assistant that's a little
bit different and can go. To tack offenses and.
Speaker 5 (39:08):
HE'S really, versatile i mean there's a. Stat on him
he's one of three players in college football history since
twenty twelve with one hundred plus tackles in a season
ago with seven sacks and, Seven passes defense so from what,
IT sounds, like i mean and he also had the
third Highest, Run defense analytic so sounds like he's great,
in the box but he's also pretty good in space
as well and getting.
Speaker 1 (39:28):
After, The, quarterback yeah, pauly you know and although, he's
one fifteen not, One, oh four pauly he's one. FIFTEEN right,
there i, mean you know running a four to six
will make you one fifteen as opposed to a four
or five eight or a four. Or five, nine you
know one oh four is where you typically. Go on
that so you know he's gonna have to. Shake it
off i'm sure he's. Gonna BE fined but I Also
(39:50):
see cody simon, BEING a guy pauli that can really
help out. In transition immediately he's a guy. Who can
run he plays the. Middle linebacker position we know how
important that is for transition, and special teams being able to.
CONTRIBUTE on Teams I think cody simon is going to
be a guy right from the very beginning who is
(40:11):
going to be given the opportunity to make a football
team on transition and. In special teams.
Speaker 5 (40:16):
And here's The other thing I'll Say. On, CODY simon
look i had a bit of A Man crushing jihad
cambell right, a, little bit okay and he ran a four.
OR five one i get it the Backer. Out Of
alabama the eagles trade it back into the first round.
To Get, him but wolf if you have superior instincts as,
an inside linebacker you play a lot faster than a.
Four to six so We'll See if cody simon is
that guy and the, instincts are there, then guess what all,
(40:38):
of a sudden he's making a lot of tackles like
he runs a.
Speaker 6 (40:40):
Four to four if.
Speaker 5 (40:42):
You're, that good Hey How. About denzel burke how much
do you like the fact that not only did he
start fifty One Games, at, ohio state right, the local
kid but he's gone at, least against five maybe six
different first round receivers just in Practice Man. At, OHIO state.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
Yeah, i know again it's one of the things that
comes With Going to Ohio state Or texas Or. Michigan
or oregon you're playing against guys who are basically GOING
to be nfl players at some. Point IN time so
i do. Love that experience you're not going to be
wowed by. It at all, and you know yet at, The,
(41:19):
SAME time paul i wonder about. That cornerback room think
about how well that cornerback room played Last Year with garrett,
williams Of Course and Max Melton. And star thomas those
three guys were just killer to me how. Well they
played and now all, of a sudden you're going to
throw in The Likes of Will Johnson and denzel burke
(41:41):
and that the competition level is going. Through THE roof
and i think that is such a great trend for
the entire. Team right Now manti asin ford has done
a great job of actually, making it competitive and this
IS something that i think is really going to show.
Up in training there.
Speaker 5 (42:00):
Are a dozen corners Currently on, the cardinals roster so
you talk about a Competitive room. Called cardinals camp and
Then Round. Six hayden connor you mentioned him, a little
bit six. Six three FOURTEEN here's the gm moniasa fort
On how the texas Guy fits.
Speaker 6 (42:14):
The cardinals offense, he's a, big strong guy he. Can
Get movement he's texas runs the, Ball a lot he's
played well, in that system and he holds up really
Well IN passbro so i think he's a good fit
for what we.
Speaker 5 (42:25):
Try TO do and i brought This Up with dave
sears earlier. In The show the rams last year in
round six got Their Starting center bow Limmer out of
arkansas six,' five three twelve a guy who had started
a ton of, games over four years so many. Similarities
To this PICK hayden connor that i think he will,
be given a chance and like what, he told, The
(42:45):
meet he said i'm humble enough to. Do whatever they
want i'm CONFIDENT enough to think i can challenge. FOR
a starting spot. I, LOVE, the mentality.
Speaker 1 (42:52):
Yeah pauli this is going to Be Really. INTERESTING because
hayden connor i don't think for the most part, this
is just me but watching him on some of the
some of THE highlight, tapes that i have. He's not
super athletic he's not. A really athletic guy but what he.
Is is a mauler he's a.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
GUY and you.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
Know, I love this THIS this. Is what i love
he's a guy who is really hyper physical at. The,
point of attack now once again you got to be able.
To keep your feet but he is a guy that
is going to. Come off the ball when you talk
about guys coming off the ball with a dark heart,
and a Painted Face. Think of hayden connor. He is
that guy so let's hope that he learns and understands
(43:40):
what it takes to be good in, protection first and
foremost good at his job and. Knowing what, to do
but man if he can hold up in, pass protection
at all he might be a guy that could surprise coming,
out of training.
Speaker 5 (43:53):
Camp and then, the Seventh Round pick safety keen crawford
spent his First four years at Texas. Before going to
nevada he played a thousand snaps on special teams in
college wolf in his career as a guy Who Went
to four pro bowls. As special teams assassin what does
That Tell. You, about keaton crawford.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
Yeah it tells me an, awful lot once again and.
IT'S not a surprise I think they drafted crawford because
of his ability. TO play in. Transition i really do.
He's a special guy he's. A guy to watch we'll
see if he gets the opportunity to, make the fifty
three but he is a guy that certainly can, help them.
In transition no, doubt.
Speaker 5 (44:30):
By the way the cardinals assigned, Numbers Earlier this week walter,
nolan the, Third Number ninety seven, Will Johnson numbers zero
jordan birch, Will Be fifty two cody Simon fifty, As
A mike linebacker, denzel burke Twenty nine and then, Jacoby
Ber said, Seven Josh sweat ten kaleis, campbell wait, For
It Ninety three dang dalvin tomlinson Ninety four and The
(44:57):
Baron Of pass rush baron browning. Will be, NUMBER five.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
My favorite Pauli Was zero. FOR will johnson.
Speaker 5 (45:05):
Zero I Loved It, Special Thanks, Jim Omhunter. Cody fincher
Evan REISER Thanks To, assistant gm dave Sears RON. Ulfully
on paul kelvc This Has Been the big red Rage
presented By. Santan ford in gilbert.
Speaker 3 (45:20):
You've Been Listening To the big red Rage presented By
santan ford and Gilbert, right on the price right on
The corner of The santan Two. Two Freeway and valvista
the rage is Brought To You. By Arizona cardinals podcast
visit azycardinals. Dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (45:40):
We're gonna see a little big red. Rage football right here.
Speaker 3 (45:43):
This has been an Exclusive Presentation Of The. Arizona cardinals
football club
Stramp on the boots and scrape up the knuckles.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Sow on ahead, he got jacked.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
This is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford
and Gilbert.
Speaker 4 (00:12):
Terry's gonna score touchdown. Slim to the ground by Buddha Baker.
Like a torpedo, he keeps flying into the back deal.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
The Rage is brought to you by santan Ford and Gilbert.
Speaker 5 (00:25):
Right on the price, right on the corner of the
sands Tan two to two freeway in.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Valves WAA crab by Tray McBride. That was spectacular and by.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Arizona Cardinals podcast visit Azycardinals dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
All Red Sea is rising up, dude, you're rising vision
Blurry Rage take you over.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
Here's Paul CALVICI I'm ready. I'm one hundred percent ready.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm telling you, I'm ready.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
And Ron Wolfley.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
It doesn't get any better than that.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
The fjeld All right, Henrywind for a minute. Going into
this draft, how did most of the analysts sum up
this year's class? Starters not stars? Was a popular refrain.
Don't tell the Arizona Cardinals they didn't draft a couple
(01:21):
of potential stars at number sixteen, at number forty seven,
and maybe this is a hot take, but maybe a
couple of potential starters in round four, in round six,
and we're here to talk about it and talk with
the Assistant GM Dave Sears tonight on the Big Red
Rage presented by Santan ford In Gilbert, Paul Calvici, here,
(01:41):
Ron Wolfley. They are talking twenty twenty five NFL Draft.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Oh my goodness, PAULI, how are you doing right now?
Can I tell you? I am jacked up? Thanks for asking, Paul.
I am jacked up right now because of the Arizona
Cardinals picks, because of the draft, and because I think
they're going to be much better this year than a
lot of people think.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Well, if we don't have time for the greetings and
the salutations, Okay, it's our favorite time of year. Our
favorite hashtag is let the Rooks cook. And in three
drafts now Chef Monty has twenty eight picks in three years,
and right now every one of them is still on
the roster. And before we get into the first round
pick and beyond, before we hear from Dave Sears, I
want to ask you just the competition level, what is
(02:28):
that going to do? For Cardinals camp. Look at the
depth chart. Look at how much deeper it is. Because
if there is one way to motivate in the NFL
and you played ten years, you tell me it's job security.
And there're gonna be some really good dudes who don't
end up on the final fifty three this year.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Oh yeah, Pauli, there's no doubt about it. You know,
once again, one's a point, two's a trend, three's a pattern.
You look at the last two drafts from the Arizona
Cardinals that Manti ausin Fort and the staff of the
Arizona Cardinals have picked. One's a point, two's a trend.
Three's a pattern. Man. There are fourteen guys on this
(03:02):
roster that are only two years into the league that
are either starters for the Arizona Cardinals or in a
heavy rotation getting reps on a game day. Because of that,
paul it's amazing. If the Arizona Cardinals nailed Draft number
three the way that I think they have, it's going
(03:22):
to be a pattern now for the Arizona Cardinals. And
because of that draft that happened three years ago. Because
of that, Pauli, and now the draft that happened last year,
and then this year's draft. You put those three together,
the competition level for the Arizona Cardinals in all three phases, offensively, defensively,
(03:44):
and in transition has skyrocketed. To your point, Paul, and.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
I don't know if this is a point or a
pattern or a trend or whatever you call it. We'll
put in the fifteen drafts before monti ascin fort the
Arizona Cardinals in the first two rounds drafted a total
of two defensive linemen and two defensive linemen. That's over
fifteen drafts in the first two rounds. We're talking DJ Jumpries,
Johnathan Cooper, We're talking Robert KIMDCI, Dan Williams. They have
(04:11):
already taken three three first round offensive or defensive lineman
through three drafts, including most recently Walter Nolan at number sixteen.
And here's MANIASA. Ford on what separated Walt from the
rest of the pack.
Speaker 6 (04:23):
Disruption And you know, I think you know, we've talked
about it a lot. You know, we wanted to get
more have a more disruptive defensive unit. We think we've
added players that can help us do that. And again,
like when we find a players that can affect the
middle of the pocket. It puts a lot of stress
on the offense. And so Walter is another guy that
we think can do that, can help us do that,
(04:44):
and we're really excited to add him to our team.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
Doesn't even turn twenty two until October. Walter Nolan first
Team All American, number one high school recruit. What else
stands about out about the ole Miss All American?
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Yeah, you know, for me, once again, the first question
I have Paul, he is where you're gonna play him?
Where you're gonna play Walter Nolan right now? Just like
Darius Robinson. Darius Robinson, we were talking about this last year.
He could play anywhere across the front. You could literally
line him up on the center, or you could have
him stand out in a wide nine. You could literally
(05:19):
have him do that, and I think that he would
be able to hold up, especially based on the down
and distance. I think Walter Nolan is in the exact
same category as Darius Robinson. I think he's a little
quicker on that first step. I think he's got an
excellent first step, very explosive. Yet at the same time,
(05:39):
where Walter Nolan is going to play and where Darius
Robinson is going to play. That's going to be interesting
because they could be anywhere across the front.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Paul, you know what, note to self. We're gonna ask
Dave Sears about that coming up the assistant GM right now,
let's hear from Adrian Wilson, Cardinals cover too. Yes, the
former Cardinals legend who has spent the last decade in
an NFL front office. And here was his comp for
Walter Nolan.
Speaker 7 (06:02):
It reminds me so much a docket. You know, Darnelle
was an undersized three technique. You know, he was two
ninety two ninety five, you know, at best. So you know,
having a guy that was quick, that could penetrate, that
can affect the interior of the pocket like it just
helps your outside rushers out so much like you're their
best friend because you're able to get penetration from the
(06:23):
inside to get that quarterback off the spot.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
And Doc was nasty.
Speaker 7 (06:26):
He was real nasty.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
And what's interesting is and we had a chance to
talk to Walter Nolan one on one. He's a soft spoken,
quiet guy, but he also admits he flips the switch
on game day. He is a really hyper competitive dude.
On game day and Wolf, you know, we sort of
made the joke who won the NFL Draft. The media
always likes to pick teams. We picked a person. Nick
(06:49):
Rowlis won the NFL draft. You know, he first five
picks on defensive players. And what happens to this Cardinals defense?
If they can truly only rush four instead of having
this scheme it up, we're just better than you upfront.
I mean that just changes the defense, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
It just changes everything, Bully. I mean, it's exactly what
you want. But you want the best of both worlds.
If we can still scheme it up, that's great too
from time to time. You just don't want to have
to depend on it to get pressure. If you can
rush for and drop seven, as you know, Baly, this
is huge for any defensive coordinator and any defensive You
can rush forward, get pressure on that quarterback and drop seven,
(07:28):
you got a huge advantage right now. What I loved
about this draft the first four picks, in particular, defensive tackle,
an interior three technique, then a corner, then an outside
edge guy in Jordan Birch, and then Cody Simon an
inside linebacker. Four different positions on different levels and man,
(07:51):
this is what's got me so excited. I think the
defensive line of scrimmage has improved so much. And I'm
not talking about just these drafts because you know, PAULI,
a rookie's got to prove it. He's got a long way. Yeah,
you gotta climb that hill and you've got to prove
that you can actually do it. But right now, looking
at the line of scrimmage defensively and the names that
(08:14):
they already have on the line of scrimmage, this is
this is going to be the most competitive room on
the entire team.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
So to your point about Daris Robinson and Walter Nolan,
the third now Drew stan RedSea report former Cardinals quarterback,
said you know what, I take either one of those
guys or both and put him at the three technique
on the outside shoulder of the guard. He said, that's
where I think they're going to be the biggest headache,
cause the most problems. It's most difficult for an offense
to give help and slide over some extra attention that way.
(08:43):
And I kept talking about, you know, rushing the passer
with four and then Drew said, no, it goes beyond that.
Speaker 8 (08:49):
The Super Bowl ask Patrick Mahomes what that feels like.
They don't have four rush and seven are now in coverage,
and you can change coverage right, You can drop safeties in,
you can insert and do different stuff. It gives it
an extreme advantage to the defense when you don't have
to bring more guys to the party than you need.
As a true quarterback, your eyes have to be on
that second and third level. You can't watch the rush
(09:11):
and play in this league. You can be the greatest
quarterback of all time. And if you consistently are getting hit,
all of a sudden you start looking around. Those eyes drop.
You're chasing ghosts. Your accuracy is affected. There is no
replacement for being able to get pressure with four.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
I mean a year ago at the end of the season,
you had Nae Kwon Jones, and you had some other
guys like off the practice squad that right now Wolf,
that defensive line, Darius Robinson, Walter Nolan, Dalvin Tomlinson, Koleis Campbell,
Justin Jones, Blall Nickels back from injury. Stop it, Dante
Still's LJ. Collier. That's eight stop it. That's eight dudes
(09:46):
who can play.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
It's incredible. Paul It really is. And again the defensive
line of scrimmage. It impacts the second and third levels
so much, Paul, by getting that pressure on a quarterback,
by making them a little bit inaccurate because you're in
his face and he doesn't be able to he's not
able to release the ball the way that he wants to.
It's so important. It impacts a second and third level.
(10:10):
And that's why Will Johnson, who's got a great mind,
This is a quarterback like Everson Walls, who is gonna clue.
He looks at the quarterback and play in his own room,
whether it's cover four, quarter coverage cover three, whatever it is.
Will Johnson is great at jumping, combination routes and picking
off the football. And if you can get pressure on
(10:32):
a quarterback, that's gonna make Will Johnson that much better.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
Hey, learn more about arizon A Cardinal season tickets, Premium
seating group and luxury field seating. All you have to
do go to Azycardinals dot com slash tickets all Right,
Cardinals user first five picks on defensive players for the
first time since nineteen ninety one. How and why we
ask the assistant GM Dave Sears next, on the Big
red rage presented by Santan Ford in Gilbert.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
Walter Nolan number two in blue you cannot miss him
explodes off that line comes on the ground, Sellers buffled
it and all.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
This jumped on.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
It's recovered by Nolan. Seller's in trouble head and sack
back at the forty two by Nolan, tumbled up by
Walter Nolan.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Boy Walter Nolan with a sack.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
A fuffle recovery and a tackle for long play by
Nolan to grab him at the ankles and sack them.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
This is why so many people talked about what his
presence could be to Wall's out.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
At the end of the plot here and all miss
has recovered, Walter Nolan has the puffle. Walter Nolan tackle
for lost total scream not alone of scrimmage.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Walter Nolan is everyone.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
That's the first team All American and first round pick
Walter Nolan in the Arizona Cardinals. Even heard the voice
of the Cardinals Dave Passion there as well. Not gonna
be a big transition for the ESPN guy college Football
to start calling his NFL games. Walter Nolan. In fact,
last we saw and heard our guest here on the
big red rage. He was on the Pasch pod, but
(12:12):
what is becoming a bit of a tradition post draft.
We are joined by Assistant general manager Dave Sears, and
Dave welcome. I'm a little apprehensive considering the way this
week started and Bill's GM Brandon being going after a
couple of radio hosts in Buffalo. You know what you know?
Are there any grievances that need to be aired on
your end of all?
Speaker 9 (12:29):
All?
Speaker 10 (12:29):
Listen, I'm not going to take any crap from you
the Paul, So let's just get that out there right now. Hey,
I appreciate you having me on here.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
Speaking to the media. Let's be honest, all right, we're
in the Will Ferrell trust tree here. When you guys
need a good laugh, right when you're doing the grind
leading up to the draft and you're up in the
draft room, do you just pull out a mock draft?
Is that a good Do you guys just mock the
mock drafts along the way?
Speaker 9 (12:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (12:50):
You know, we do do some exercises pre draft process
where we'll incorporate some of the mock drafts. Our analytics guys,
Nick Tyas, Joe andrewsy do a ton of mock draft simulations.
So we do have a pretty good feel according to
the quote unquote experts, how they think it's going to
come off. We have some adress where we put up
how we think it's going to come off. How do
those things correlate, just to give you an idea of
(13:12):
what you're really going to be faced with when you're
on the clock. So there shouldn't be any surprises. A
couple of scenarios worked out very similarly to the way
we had it planned out, and then you know, as
the picks come off and then suddenly it diverges from
what you were thinking it might be, then you adjust
to that. So you do go through those exercises quite
a bit.
Speaker 5 (13:31):
You know, the media likes to declare at this point
who won the draft. Our answer is Nick Rolis, Cardinals
defensive coordinator. At this point, let's just start with some
of his guys, Walter Nolan. You know, look, we can
see the stats, we can see the accolades. What did
you see on film?
Speaker 10 (13:46):
Well, you see an explosive athlete who plays very hard,
who's a violent, aggressive player, a guy that can launch
off the ball, he can reset the line of scrimmage,
he can do everything we're going to ask him to do.
He has some versatility to play up and down the
line for probably a five all the way to a zero,
and a guy that really hasn't maximized yet. We still
think there's a good upside to the player, but you know,
(14:09):
fits the scheme and he's a violent, disruptive defensive lineman.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
Yeah, it doesn't turn twenty two until October.
Speaker 10 (14:14):
He's still a young kid. You know, this is a
guy who's the number one recruit in the country, I believe,
coming out of high school Texas A and M and
then Aunt Old Miss where he had a really good
year this year, end up playing in the Senior Bowl,
flashing down there. We had some very good interactions with
Walter at the Combine and then on his thirty visit,
so we were very comfortable with Walter the person, and
the tape speaks for itself.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I think. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
There was an opening line in the AP story and
it went something like this, the Arizona Cardinals weren't scared
to roll the dice and a few polarizing defensive prospects
Will Johnson. I think you know the injuries, So for
do you consider this Will roll of the dice? Walter Nolan,
Will Johnson, and then we'll get to Jordan Birch.
Speaker 10 (14:51):
But yeah, well, I mean, you're not rolling the dice
on Walter's talent. I'm not sure where that assumption would
come from. And Walter's tape is not a roll of
the dice, So I don't I don't really see it
that way. I think there's probably a little bit of
media misinformation about Walter the person. Sometimes that happens in
the draft pross. But we spent enough time with Walter
to feel very comfortable with him, so it's not a
(15:13):
roll of dice for us, you know. And with Will again, like,
this is a guy that's a true junior. He's a
three time All American. He's got the Michigan record for
pick sixes. He was a defensive MVP the National Championship game.
I mean, every time he turned on the tape, the
guy's playing good ball. You know, his father was a
player at Michigan at DBI. He's a well regarded trainer
(15:35):
in the Detroit area. So like, this is about as
clean a player as you can find in terms of
his skill set and his production. There were some injuries
with Will, but nothing we thought was that he couldn't overcome.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Or we can't manage. So we were excited about Will being.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
There for sure.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
Cardinals assistant GM Dave Sears our guest, at what point
do you think, Wow, Will Johnson might make it to
forty seven.
Speaker 10 (15:57):
At pick forty six? You know, we never thought that
guy was going to be there. Really never thought that
guy was going to be there. So that was one
of the ones where you heard many talk a lot
post draft about sticking to your board. That's a clear
case of that Will was obviously the best player that
we had on the board at that time. We never
thought Will would be there at that point, and so
you know, you stay with your board and you take the.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
Prospect and Money also mentioned the phones were lighting up,
there were opportunities to trade down. I'm guessing there was
a lot of interest, a lot of demand at that
point for your pick.
Speaker 10 (16:22):
Yeah, and whether that's for Will or for somebody else,
you never know.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
You know.
Speaker 10 (16:25):
The thing that I think when you talk about the
mock drafse, well, the mock drafts grade you off how
they had their board stacked and how you drafted according
to their experts board. Well, there's thirty two teams and
I've been on a lot of different places. There's thirty
two different boards. So a guy that we think is
coming off a little early, that team thinks, hey, we
got to move up and take this guy.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
You know.
Speaker 10 (16:44):
So everybody sees it a little bit different. And you
can see that based off some of the moves teams make.
They feel like that's a player they need to move
up and get, or a player you can trade back
and get the same value later. So yeah, we did
not expect Will to be there, but we felt great
about it when it happened.
Speaker 5 (17:00):
Two words have seen attached to Jordan Birch right the
round three edge out of Oregon, jumbo athlete and all
you can do is watch his fake punt at six'
four what two to eighty and he looks Like Dereck
henry racing down the. Field what do you have in?
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Him?
Speaker 10 (17:14):
Oh, Yeah jordan's a very athletic. Guy he's a guy
THAT i, think you, know he's two seventy nine at the,
combine basically two. EIGHTY i don't think there was another
player two eighty and up that ran in the four
sixes and his time was like four to six seven
on the. Combine watches so very athletic. Guy you see
that he looks like a running back on that fake,
punt certainly at least a tight. End and he's played
anywhere from in the two nineties to in the two.
(17:34):
Seventies he can lose, weight he can gain, weight he
can play, inside he can play on the. Edge we're
going to play him on the, edge so we see
him somewhere more in the two. Seventies but versatile player
really like the. Athlete he can rush the, passer he
can do it on multitude of, ways and he's very
firm at the point setting an. Edge so we're excited About.
Jordan that's another guy that we really stayed with our board.
There we were not sure that he would be there
(17:54):
at seventy.
Speaker 5 (17:55):
Eight, yeah and you mentioned that because obviously it's we
sort of, Joked, okay put This cardinals defensive front an
HD tv right extreme. MAKEOVER i, mean it's unbelievable how
different it. Looks refresh our. Memory how many edge and
defensive linemen can you carry on a final fifty? Three
and how competitive is it going to?
Speaker 10 (18:13):
Be starting With cardinals, Camp, Well i'm pretty sure we
carried six out of. Camp the last two, YEARS i,
think and so we usually take eight to. Camp we
might have had nine at one point during our first.
Year but any three four, defense the outside linebacker position
is basically the engine that runs the. Things so you're
going to keep excess of. Guys there also guys that
have roles on special. Teams you, know some of these
(18:35):
back end dudes in the outside back room are going
to have to earn roles on special. Teams that's going
to be their way to stick. Around and we think
all those guys contributed in that. Aspect they're all, tough
they're all, athletic they can all. Run but you, know
LIKE i, THINK mani used the, line you can never
have enough pass. Rushers, well that's what we're trying to
accumulate is just a bevy of guys that you can
roll in and. Out and we feel really good about
(18:55):
all these guys abilities at the edge as.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
Well if you talk about the, engine how about to
the brains of a defense inside, Linebacker Mike backer tell
us About Cody. Simon it Just i've seen Late bloomer attached.
Him just seemed as the season went on last year
he just got better and. Better, Yeah cody had a
really good. YEAR i Think cody ended up being THE
mvp of this Year's National championship. Game so we actually
drafted THE mvp of the last Two national. Championshiping it
(19:18):
was kind of just an interesting, tid but this this
is a guy that you, know was a team captain this.
Year he won the Block O, recipient which is A
leadership In accountability award At Ohio. State guy's got really high,
character really high FOOTBALL. Iq we feel like he could
handle that green dot, role which which is you, know a.
Speaker 10 (19:34):
Big deal in THE nfl being able to do. That
you only have one on the field at the. Time
so we Felt cody could do, that and we felt,
like you, know we had a path for him to
make the roster in that area on our. Team so
we really feel good about The cody, pick and we
felt like we didn't have to reach on the. Guy
that was good value for where he, went and he's certainly.
Improved you, know he had a really good player in
(19:54):
front of, Him Tommy eikenberg there in the, past who
was a draft pick last, year and Then cody got
a chance this here to really take off and he.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Did so we felt great About cody that's. Interesting he
was four time Academic All Big. Ten he talks about.
Instincts how big a leap do you generally consider it
to wear a green dot from the college to THE nfl.
Level it's a pretty big.
Speaker 10 (20:15):
Leap but usually the guys that can do in college
can do it in THE. Nfl you, know there's a
lot put on their plate. Too it's a newer thing
in the college, game actually having the green dot on the,
field but it's the same responsibilities the guys making the
calls are relaying and from the. Sidelines but you're looking
for that leadership, capacity that football intelligence, capacity the ability
to command ten other players on the field and know
(20:36):
where they all have to line, up and so if
somebody turns to you echoing the calls and getting guys
aligned before the. Snap so that takes some poise and
some football intelligence for.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
Sure ASSISTANT Gm Dave sears our guest last. Year we
talked about just the unbelievable, popularity, right the insatiable appetite
for the draft, itself the draft. Process everyone thinks they're A, gm,
right including pencil next week yours. Truly so when The
cardinals traded the round five pick To dallas right for
a later on five pick in round, six and THEN i,
saw for, Example Tory horton come off the, board the
(21:04):
big fast receiver out Of Colorado, state and then THE
lsu Guard Miles frasier come off the. Board i'm, like,
oh those those might have fit a couple of needs
for The. Cardinals but then you cashed In Denzel burke the,
corner and then you went After Hayn, connor the offensive
lineman out Of, texas and it all sort of made.
Sense let's start With Denzel, burke AND i THINK mani said,
it just the just the cowboy receiver he has practiced
(21:27):
against At Ohio state the last four years is, ridiculous isn't.
Speaker 10 (21:30):
It, YEAH i Think denzel has practiced against five first
round receivers of the last his. Career so the game's
easier For denzel in comparison to the guys he's going
as you, Know marvin And Garrett wilson And chris al And,
Jacobo Ya lave And buka this. Year So i'm a
really high competition. There the guy's battle tested local. PRODUCT
(21:50):
i Think souarrows we're in and he might have gone
To brophy, earlier but you, know the guy is a
four year. Starter he's got fifty one career. Starts that's
most by A dB In ohio state. History that was
so and so the guy certainly played a lot of
football at a high. Level obviously nobody's done that before,
there so that's pretty impressive in. Itself and that was
another you, know kind of like The Will. Johnson we
did not Expect denzel to be there in the fifth,
(22:11):
round and so we just had to stay with our
bourn and take the. Talent so we feel good about the.
Kid he was another guy that we had in here
on a thirty. Visit he's a local. Guy that was
easy to do and he really reflected positively on his,
Visit so we felt comfortable With denzhil there.
Speaker 5 (22:27):
In terms of. Value maybe my favorite pick just looking
at Is Hayden. CONNOR i, mean AND i bring this
up because it was week Seventeen cardinals went to The
rams and you realized that their starting Center Bo limmer
was a sixth round pick our To arkansas and he
had beat out a highly paid free. Agent And i'm,
like you know, What Hayden connor has a lot of
similarities to his career arc At texas and then people,
(22:49):
say just look at his film Against Mason, Graham Kenneth,
grant think of the defensive lineman he's gone against At
texas over the last four. Years what do you think
you have In Hayden.
Speaker 10 (22:57):
Connor, YEAH i, mean you can put on That michigan.
Tape you can put it on The texas and m.
Tape you can put on the you know a lot
of to The kentucky. Tape you can put on a
lot of tape where this guy's playing guys who got
drafted this, year got drafted last YEAR nfl. Player so
it's not a question Of Kenny BLACK nfl players he's been.
Doing he's GOT i think forty three consecutive starts At.
Texas that's that's pretty damn. Good so you got a
big guy who's really smart and who's fundamentally. Sound so
(23:19):
we were excited That hayden was still. There he does
have some ability to play, center although primarily we see
him as a. Guard but any kind of interior versatility you,
have or even if it's guard to, tackle you, know
that obviously helps you because when you're a back end
player in THE, nfl you have to have some versatility
as an offensive. Lineman we think he has, that and
we think the guy's got a chance to was. Sent
i'm not going to put a ceiling on, him but
(23:40):
we feel really good About hayden in the sixth.
Speaker 5 (23:41):
Rounds, certainly if you hit zoom out on The cardinals
three draft, classes Many, Osport Dave, Sears Jonathan, gannon we've
come to ascertain that there's one similar, similarity and it's all.
Ball all these guys seem deadly serious about. Football how
big a deal is that in the evaluation.
Speaker 10 (23:58):
Process, YEAH i, mean minding could probably be more extensive
with the things we look, for BUT i would simply
say guys who love, football guys who can learn, football
and guys who know how to treat people off the.
Field and if you got those kind of, characteristics and
you're going to be a fit, here and that's really
what we're looking. For in a, nutshell you, KNOW i
could break down into more micro, categories but that's really.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
It production versus. Potential here's another QUESTION i want to ask.
You how often does that come up when you're trying
to decide on a player and whether doing invest a draft.
Pick how vital is it to see the. Production how
often did you just go on?
Speaker 10 (24:32):
POTENTIAL i mean that's kind of the artist, scouting you
know WHAT i, mean the, measurables the athletic. Ability is
that translating to the. Field will that translate in the
field to the future if it's a different, scheme if
it's different. Coaching has this guy reached his? Ceiling what
is his? Ceiling all those kind of Things going To,
kyle scouting is a projection, business whereas like pro, scouting
(24:53):
how good is this player and does he fit what we're?
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Doing SO i.
Speaker 10 (24:56):
Don't know that there's a percentage that's the tape now
versus will to take be two years from. Now but
we always, say like, hey when you put your Final
coyle's great on, it it's what is this guy in
two years because we do expect every player to improve
from the time they get.
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Here, interesting as we wrap it up here with Assistant
Jim Dave, sears you look at we go full circle
To Nick rollis And i'm curious what happens to this
defense that he can truly rush for and affect the
Quarterback because of injuries and trying to accumulate talent over
the last couple. Years he hasn't always had that, luxury
has He.
Speaker 10 (25:26):
NO i, think you, know we've placed some stress On
nick in terms of the, roster but he's an excellent young.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Coach he's very.
Speaker 10 (25:34):
Innovative the amount of times he's truly gonna give you
just a straightfour man rush isn't gonna be very often
because he's gonna simulate. Pressure you, know he's gonna zone drop,
guys he's gonna bring more and he's gonna constantly outthink
the offensive. Coordinator so now he's got more pieces to.
Use he's got more, depth, certainly and that's something especially
on the defensive. Line we've been beat up early in
(25:56):
the year these last couple of. Years you, know we
LOST lj And Carlos watkins early two years. Ago last
year we Lost justin And malal early unfortunately the injuries
and so our depth has really been. Tested and the
guys who played played their asses off and did a good.
Job but now we have more depth going into this
where we feel really good. About you, know if we
do lose, somebody which happens is THE, nfl you're gonna lose.
(26:17):
Players the guy stepping in there is not going to
be a big drop off for hoping and real.
Speaker 5 (26:20):
Quick you still feel really good About Darius, robinson, Right.
Speaker 10 (26:23):
Oh, yeah we feel great about d Rob he's had
an awesome. Offseason he's gonna have a great OTAs, here
he's dialed. In we feel like he's in a really
good place to tick.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
The next, Step.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Dave we always enjoy. It it's great. Stuff, well you,
know we always fashion ourselves as thinking we know something
about player personnel and all the mock, drafts so it's
great to actually be taking inside the draft room a little.
Bit and how you go about accumulating all the.
Speaker 10 (26:43):
Talent, WELL i appreciate you having me, On. PAUL i
always enjoy, it.
Speaker 5 (26:46):
And thank you for keeping the grievances to. Yourself if
you have. Anything, Yeah i'm Like Brandon.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Bean there you.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
Go we continue with a big red rage presented by
sand Tan ford And. Gilbert we Are sand Tan, Ford
moush quick throw, in accept.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
It it's gotta be a pick Sex Will. Johnson we'll take.
Speaker 8 (27:09):
It put.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
Over he touched Down, johnson one of the couch quarterbacks
in the. Country silt it, True michigan six touch.
Speaker 5 (27:21):
Down other rains play fake.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Underneath he accept.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
It, Michigan Will Johnson jeff de route cross forward and
has it at the five yard. Line Will johnson is
one of the best corners In.
Speaker 5 (27:36):
America as ASSISTANT Gm Dave sears just shared with us
here on The Big Red rage presented By Santan ford And,
gilbert The ears and The cardinals have drafted the last
two defensive MVPs some the last two national title games
in college, football Including Will. Johnson it is The Big Red.
Rage paul Calvec Ron wolfley special thanks to the ASSISTANT
(27:56):
Gm Dave, sears and, yeah The Will johnson comments are.
Interesting speaking of the other DEFENSIVE mvp from a national title,
Game Cody, SIMON i thought it was really intriguing that
it is, elite but it's not impossible to go from
being the green dot in college to a green dot
as a rookie in THE, nfl which makes me wonder
if he's in competition for a Starting mike linebacker gig
(28:17):
from the get go Minus Kaizer. White but that's just
me thinking out, loud Wolf.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
That's going to be really interesting to, Watch, paulie no
doubt about. IT i liked it when you Asked Dave
sears About Will johnson you, said when did you believe
that he was really going to be there for you
guys to pick at forty? Seven and he, said without,
hesitation after forty. SIX i mean it had to be
a shock to them a guy that is a bona
(28:42):
fide first round talent to be available at full.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Seven and at FIRST i thought he was, embellishing AND i, realized,
no he's totally. Serious and to reinforce, that here's What
Jonathan gannon said On Mad Dogs Sports radio When Adam
shine asked him about the availability Of Will johnson.
Speaker 9 (29:00):
At Their friday End AND mani has all these algorithms
that he, has all the analytics people running all this,
stuff AND i, said what are the chances that he's
there in? Two and they're, like, coach like point zero,
Two like no. Chance, Right so when he was sitting
there right at, Him i'm, like, dude AM i missing?
Something like this is the best corner in the? Draft
like what are we talking? About like you, know and
(29:20):
there's a group of players that we liked and right
when we were, picking and that was kind of a
no brainer, too where like we think this guy's a
starting corner and you, know just the person as phenomenal as.
Intangibles he's very, intelligent and he really is a scheme
fit for us. Too so it was, like, dude, like
let's take that.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
Guy see, now that's interesting this scheme. Fit on top
of being you, know six,' two on top of being,
incredibly athletic one of the top turning of recruits coming
out of, high school being a Two Time, all american
he fits the scheme.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
As.
Speaker 5 (29:54):
Well wolf you care to SPECULATE what jg means? About, That, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Paul You know i've been talking, about it just the
scheme Fit That will. Johnson is leading up to. The
draft YOU, and i as a matter, of fact had
this conversation, about him the fact that he's six to
two hundred and, two pounds but more, than that he's
a corner that plays really really well in. Zone Coverage
The arizona cardinals quarter coverage specifically four deep three underneath
(30:23):
rushing four that's called. Quarter coverage for the, most part
they play an awful lot, of It And will johnson
is really really good playing in his. Zone room this
is something that is, In. Eight paul it's your ability
to dissect what it is that you're seeing and row
combinations and then keeping your eyes on the quarterback and
(30:44):
being able to cover the receiver and make a break
on a ball unexpectedly from time. To time this Is
What will johnson Gives The. Arizona cardinals AND what i
Loved about day two was the fact that they Also Drafted,
jordan birch that kid from at six. Eighty pounds the
combination of getting edge pressure from a Guy Like jordan
(31:07):
burch and that resulting in a possible Pick From will
johnson is SOMETHING that i am predicting right now in the.
Speaker 5 (31:16):
Rookie season so in that, Same Interview jonathan, gannon said
After the Cardinals Took, will johnson he had quote about
eight defensive coordinators, text, him oh you got maybe the
best corner in. The draft so there were a lot
of teams that had their Eye On will johnson and
we're both. In agreement cardinals probably had a lot of
action on the phone wanting. THAT pick, mani, said nope
(31:37):
they made the selection of, forty seven and then to,
your point at number, seventy eight They Took. Jordan burch
started his Career At, south carolina ended Up. At oregon this,
last season he played, ten games, nine starts had eight
and a, half sacks eleven tackles, for loss six. Passes
defensed he missed four games due to injury right rolled,
an ankle but other than that he was. Really disruptive,
(31:57):
in fact Let's let maniaciford take it. From there what
he Liked About, jordan.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
Birch, size, length power ability to collapse. The pocket he
missed a couple, of games got dinged up with. Some
injuries this year was productive in the games, he played
played against good people and brings a unique skill set
for a guy who's his size and length to be
able to play on his feet and play out on
the edge of the line.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
Of scrimmage so we mentioned how DIFFERENT the d line.
Room looks how about outside linebacker edge Right Now Wolf,
Josh sweat Xavi And Collins baron browning is back And.
Healthy bjojalari you can only help, You know hope. Is Healthy, xavier,
thomas who by, the way. Looks swoll apparently he's been winning.
The Offseason xavier thomas And Now jordan birch will be
(32:40):
joined at times Maybe By Mac. Wilson senior but tell
us how You Think jordan birch fits into that room
and what that means for the.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Entire, group yeah, YOU KNOW pauli i think in third
and obvious. PAST situations i think at some point in
the twenty twenty, FIVE season i don't know if it's
from the, first GAME but i think early in, this
season at, SOME point I Think jordan birch is going
to be a guy that is playing out on. The
Edge Obviously josh sweat is going to be one of,
(33:09):
those guys but Opposite Of, josh sweat you might have
a just an absolute competition that you're talking about maybe
five guys that are going to be in the running
to be that. Guy OPPOSITE and i Also Think, jordan
birch because he's he's two hundred and, eighty pounds you
might want to line him up even as a three.
Technique inside but it's going to be fascinating to me
(33:32):
to see how they. Use him and you can say
that about so many, different Guys and polly would just
Say That nick rowlis is a guy that does some
unorthodox things from time to time in terms of scheming
up certain pass rushes. Or, coverages yes so when you
said he's a guy who, does that when You.
Speaker 5 (33:53):
Said jordan birch in, that. Context right THE flexibility i
Thought Is zavin collins on This Show Big red rage
in the year saying all the different positions he was
Used By Nick rowlis. Zay mccollins a nearly, six' five
two seventy he was inside of a three technique. On
passing downs he's playing deep center field other times because.
He Can run, and i'm thinking, You Know what jordan
(34:14):
birch has a similar size, and skill set?
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Does, he not, Yes, He does paul yet at, the
same Time You got walter, nolan as well and You Also.
Have darius, robinson two Guys Where is darius robinson going
to be over that that guards outside shoulder as, a
three technique especially on? Third and obvious where are the
pass rush reps? Gonna come from who's going to? Fill
(34:38):
that need it's going to be fascinating to watch that
as the. Season, on folds, Paul.
Speaker 5 (34:44):
For example walter nolan, the third right he was known
for playing a boatload of snaps. AT all, miss i
mean he played almost the entirety, of every game and
That's something that cardinal's really respected about. His game film in,
the fourth quarter he's still running. DOWN screens, downfield i
mean they really think he as. A great motor but
now instead of playing sixty, snaps a game if he's
playing thirty or thirty five really good snaps and he's
(35:07):
able to let it rip and you're bringing guys. In,
in waves right once again our big Question about. This
cardinals Defense Instead of nick rowlis getting to the quarterback,
by you know, dialing it up who? Went or where
if you force an, offense to answer how how can
you stop our dudes one on one? Four man rush
(35:27):
it just. Totally changes everything elevates the entire unit on
that side.
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Of the ball no. Doubt. About it, paulie once again
get pressure on that quarterback and suddenly your secondary gets.
Ten times, Better, all right.
Speaker 5 (35:40):
Hey be the first To see the cardinals twenty twenty
five schedule when It, Gets released, Wednesday May fourteenth go
todaisycardinals dot com slash schedule for all the info. And
the opponents guess what two sleepers who might contend for?
A starting spot that's Next In The big red Rage
Presented by Santan ford In gilbert.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
Let god taking It jup n.
Speaker 8 (36:06):
That is ER sipted in Ms.
Speaker 5 (36:09):
Time dem zilbert the second.
Speaker 4 (36:13):
Career interception for A.
Speaker 10 (36:14):
Junior from phoenix, He comes down.
Speaker 5 (36:20):
Cody sign up that's a Awful none and.
Speaker 9 (36:24):
Rock sacked.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
Again Third time Cody.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
Simon Pips jackson d.
Speaker 5 (36:31):
He's dropped Down Immediately.
Speaker 4 (36:33):
By cody zeimer show up and Down He, Goes.
Speaker 5 (36:38):
Cody simon i'll tell you a, lot to like a lot,
of intriguing players and resumes. On day three It Is
The big red Rage Presented by Santan Ford And, Gilbert
Paul Calvic ron wolfley and here's my holy can. Only
Stat Wolf in super, bowl fifty two, Seven years Ago Philly.
Beat new england there. Were eighteen starters eighteen starters who
(37:00):
are drafted in the fourth, round or lower including six. Undrafted.
Free agents wow so it shows you the value that
can be had. On day three and if you're talking,
About Round four cody, simon the linebacker, Round Five, Corner denzel,
Burke Round six hayden Connor, out of texas the, Interior Offensive,
lineman keaton crawford the Safety out of nevada who's spent
(37:21):
his first Four. Years at texas you see, a pattern.
HERE don't you i, mean big schools big time talent
guys who played, in big games right. In big moments
they all sort of have that one, thing in common?
Do they not now.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
They do bully they are bawlers for, the most. PART
you know i Also, THINK of rabbit I think. OF
dante's stills i think of the Value That the arizona
cardinals have got from. Day three ON and when i
Think About, a cody simon. It's very interesting we'll see
what kind of. OPPORTUNITY he gets i Also Think, of
(37:57):
hayden connor taken in the sixth und and this is
a guy. That is huge, he's six six he's three hundred.
And fifteen pounds he's not going. To be wowed. He's very,
experienced of course he's a guy that played an awful,
lot in college and he's not going to be wowed
by COMING into the nfl because He played at texas
(38:17):
and not only who he practices against, obviously every day
but also against other teams PLAYING. In the sec so
it's going to be really interesting To See how. HAYDEN
connor does i wouldn't go to. SLEEP on him i
think he could be a guy that could could contribute. From,
the beginning.
Speaker 5 (38:36):
Yeah let's talk about. Those two guys Let's Start. With
cody simon he was the inside linebacker six two, two
twenty nine ran a four to six flat forty fifty
Eight Games, at ohio state he started. Thirty of them
Four Time Academic, all big ten and here's what he
told the media when asked about where he'd.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
LIKE to PLAY i think i can play in. Any scheme,
POSSIBLY you know i love to, be A learner and
i can just study and really prepare AS the, best
i can, And you know i'll be ready to play
with wherever. And With whoever so i'm just excited to
be able to be part of assistant that's a little
bit different and can go. To tack offenses and.
Speaker 5 (39:08):
HE'S really, versatile i mean there's a. Stat on him
he's one of three players in college football history since
twenty twelve with one hundred plus tackles in a season
ago with seven sacks and, Seven passes defense so from what,
IT sounds, like i mean and he also had the
third Highest, Run defense analytic so sounds like he's great,
in the box but he's also pretty good in space
as well and getting.
Speaker 1 (39:28):
After, The, quarterback yeah, pauly you know and although, he's
one fifteen not, One, oh four pauly he's one. FIFTEEN right,
there i, mean you know running a four to six
will make you one fifteen as opposed to a four
or five eight or a four. Or five, nine you
know one oh four is where you typically. Go on
that so you know he's gonna have to. Shake it
off i'm sure he's. Gonna BE fined but I Also
(39:50):
see cody simon, BEING a guy pauli that can really
help out. In transition immediately he's a guy. Who can
run he plays the. Middle linebacker position we know how
important that is for transition, and special teams being able to.
CONTRIBUTE on Teams I think cody simon is going to
be a guy right from the very beginning who is
(40:11):
going to be given the opportunity to make a football
team on transition and. In special teams.
Speaker 5 (40:16):
And here's The other thing I'll Say. On, CODY simon
look i had a bit of A Man crushing jihad
cambell right, a, little bit okay and he ran a four.
OR five one i get it the Backer. Out Of
alabama the eagles trade it back into the first round.
To Get, him but wolf if you have superior instincts as,
an inside linebacker you play a lot faster than a.
Four to six so We'll See if cody simon is
that guy and the, instincts are there, then guess what all,
(40:38):
of a sudden he's making a lot of tackles like
he runs a.
Speaker 6 (40:40):
Four to four if.
Speaker 5 (40:42):
You're, that good Hey How. About denzel burke how much
do you like the fact that not only did he
start fifty One Games, at, ohio state right, the local
kid but he's gone at, least against five maybe six
different first round receivers just in Practice Man. At, OHIO state.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
Yeah, i know again it's one of the things that
comes With Going to Ohio state Or texas Or. Michigan
or oregon you're playing against guys who are basically GOING
to be nfl players at some. Point IN time so
i do. Love that experience you're not going to be
wowed by. It at all, and you know yet at, The,
(41:19):
SAME time paul i wonder about. That cornerback room think
about how well that cornerback room played Last Year with garrett,
williams Of Course and Max Melton. And star thomas those
three guys were just killer to me how. Well they
played and now all, of a sudden you're going to
throw in The Likes of Will Johnson and denzel burke
(41:41):
and that the competition level is going. Through THE roof
and i think that is such a great trend for
the entire. Team right Now manti asin ford has done
a great job of actually, making it competitive and this
IS something that i think is really going to show.
Up in training there.
Speaker 5 (42:00):
Are a dozen corners Currently on, the cardinals roster so
you talk about a Competitive room. Called cardinals camp and
Then Round. Six hayden connor you mentioned him, a little
bit six. Six three FOURTEEN here's the gm moniasa fort
On how the texas Guy fits.
Speaker 6 (42:14):
The cardinals offense, he's a, big strong guy he. Can
Get movement he's texas runs the, Ball a lot he's
played well, in that system and he holds up really
Well IN passbro so i think he's a good fit
for what we.
Speaker 5 (42:25):
Try TO do and i brought This Up with dave
sears earlier. In The show the rams last year in
round six got Their Starting center bow Limmer out of
arkansas six,' five three twelve a guy who had started
a ton of, games over four years so many. Similarities
To this PICK hayden connor that i think he will,
be given a chance and like what, he told, The
(42:45):
meet he said i'm humble enough to. Do whatever they
want i'm CONFIDENT enough to think i can challenge. FOR
a starting spot. I, LOVE, the mentality.
Speaker 1 (42:52):
Yeah pauli this is going to Be Really. INTERESTING because
hayden connor i don't think for the most part, this
is just me but watching him on some of the
some of THE highlight, tapes that i have. He's not
super athletic he's not. A really athletic guy but what he.
Is is a mauler he's a.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
GUY and you.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
Know, I love this THIS this. Is what i love
he's a guy who is really hyper physical at. The,
point of attack now once again you got to be able.
To keep your feet but he is a guy that
is going to. Come off the ball when you talk
about guys coming off the ball with a dark heart,
and a Painted Face. Think of hayden connor. He is
that guy so let's hope that he learns and understands
(43:40):
what it takes to be good in, protection first and
foremost good at his job and. Knowing what, to do
but man if he can hold up in, pass protection
at all he might be a guy that could surprise coming,
out of training.
Speaker 5 (43:53):
Camp and then, the Seventh Round pick safety keen crawford
spent his First four years at Texas. Before going to
nevada he played a thousand snaps on special teams in
college wolf in his career as a guy Who Went
to four pro bowls. As special teams assassin what does
That Tell. You, about keaton crawford.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
Yeah it tells me an, awful lot once again and.
IT'S not a surprise I think they drafted crawford because
of his ability. TO play in. Transition i really do.
He's a special guy he's. A guy to watch we'll
see if he gets the opportunity to, make the fifty
three but he is a guy that certainly can, help them.
In transition no, doubt.
Speaker 5 (44:30):
By the way the cardinals assigned, Numbers Earlier this week walter,
nolan the, Third Number ninety seven, Will Johnson numbers zero
jordan birch, Will Be fifty two cody Simon fifty, As
A mike linebacker, denzel burke Twenty nine and then, Jacoby
Ber said, Seven Josh sweat ten kaleis, campbell wait, For
It Ninety three dang dalvin tomlinson Ninety four and The
(44:57):
Baron Of pass rush baron browning. Will be, NUMBER five.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
My favorite Pauli Was zero. FOR will johnson.
Speaker 5 (45:05):
Zero I Loved It, Special Thanks, Jim Omhunter. Cody fincher
Evan REISER Thanks To, assistant gm dave Sears RON. Ulfully
on paul kelvc This Has Been the big red Rage
presented By. Santan ford in gilbert.
Speaker 3 (45:20):
You've Been Listening To the big red Rage presented By
santan ford and Gilbert, right on the price right on
The corner of The santan Two. Two Freeway and valvista
the rage is Brought To You. By Arizona cardinals podcast
visit azycardinals. Dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (45:40):
We're gonna see a little big red. Rage football right here.
Speaker 3 (45:43):
This has been an Exclusive Presentation Of The. Arizona cardinals
football club
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