May 22, 2025 • 45 mins
Ep. 717 - Cardinals fourth-round draft pick Cody Simon is no stranger to the big stage. The rookie linebacker out of Ohio State took home the CFP National Championship Defensive MVP award in January following the Buckeyes’ title win. Now, Simon looks to grow into a defensive force for the Cardinals. Simon joined Paul Calvisi to talk about rookie life so far, playing for a college powerhouse, his ability to call the defense, his experience with coach-to-player headset communication and much more. Plus, Calvisi and Ron Wolfley discuss Budda Baker's itch to get back to the playoffs, Marvin Harrison Jr.'s new physique, the "Tush Push" and the NFL allowing its players to play flag football in the 2028 Olympics.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Strap on the boots and scrape up the knuckles.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
How it ahead?
Speaker 1 (00:05):
He got jacked.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
This is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford
and Gilbert Terry's.
Speaker 4 (00:13):
Gonna score touchdown Slamm to the ground by Buddha Baker
like a torpedo. He came flying into the back deal.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
The Rage is brought to you by santan Ford and Gilbert.
Right on the price, right on the corner of the
sand Tan two to two freeway.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
In Valves WAA Crab by Tray McBride.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
That was spectacular and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals
dot Com Slash podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
All Right, Seas, Rising Up, Jim You, rising Vision, flurring Rage,
Take it Ober.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
Here's Paul CALVICI I'm ready. I'm one hundred percent ready.
I'm telling you I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
And Ron Wolfley, it doesn't get any better than that
the Fjord.
Speaker 5 (01:02):
You know what, diploma's being handed out left and right
tis the graduation season, Ron Wolfley, Yes, you know what
you need? Yes you need a quote. Paully Profound has
this one from Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I need a lot more than that, pulp.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
What lies behind us and what lies before us are
small matters compared to what lies within us. Eleanor Roosevelt
once said, the future belongs to those who believe in
the beauty of their dreams. Graduation, Ron Wolfley, is not
the end. It is the beginning, indeed, And it does
(01:42):
feel like this iteration of the Cardinals is on the
verge of graduation, does it not? And maybe just maybe
matriculating graduating to the top of its class in the
NFC West, Because for two three years now we've been saying,
let the Rooks cook, and as we like to say,
the tassel is the hassle. And here on the big
red Rage, presented by santan Ford and Gilbert we are
(02:04):
santan Ford, Paul Calvicre, Ron Wolfley. There Cody Simon, just
the latest young guy who will join us in a
little bit. And might he be head of the class.
Might he be wearing the green dot at some point
this regular season? We're gonna ask him all about that.
But yes, Ron Wolfley, it does feel like twenty eight
draft picks right every one of them is still on
(02:25):
the roster right here, right now for Manti oscivor Jonathan
Gannon in three years, maybe, just maybe they're building this
class and it's ready to launch.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
And Paully, there's no doubt about it anyway you Parses,
anyway you look at it. The Orizona Cardinals roster, this
team right here is growing and has been developing, as
you said, for three years right now, and this is
the big year coming up, Pauli. We all understand it.
It's been the Detroit Lions model for the most part,
(02:53):
where the Lions they won four games, then they won
nine games, and then after that they went into the
PLA the playoffs of course in their third year and
made all sorts of noise in the National Football League.
I think this is the Arizona Cardinals model as well.
In the first year, Pauli, they went out in free
agency and they got NFL players. They went out and
(03:13):
they brought NFL players, those that had already made rosters
onto their team. Then the next year they went out
and they brought starters onto their team, brought those starters
into the rotation and into the locker room. This year, Polly,
it's all about all of this coming to a head
right now. Year three is the make or break year
(03:36):
for the Arizona Cardinals.
Speaker 5 (03:37):
And I like that line's analogy the Honolulu blue Print,
if you will. Yes, I like that. So all right,
Cody Simon coming up. We're gonna hear from Buddha Baker
in a moment. Marvin Harrison Junior. I mean, you talk
about winning the offseason, We'll hear from Marvin. But we
also heard some national news earlier this afternoon, run Wolf Lee,
(03:58):
Ian Rapaport, NFL Now Work and I quote Arizona Cardinals
to place cornerback Sean Murphy Bunting on the reserve slash
non football injury list, ending his twoenty twenty five season
before it began.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Oh boy, that is rough right there, it really is, Polly.
Can I just say this quickly right now? This does
not make the Arizona Cardinals a better team on paper.
They're not as good right now as they were yesterday.
That's all I'm gonna say.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
Well, and here's the other thing I'll say is and
now there are eleven. There were a dozen corners. Now
Sean Murphy Bunting done for the season, so you have eleven,
and even though you're not as good on paper, I
do wonder walf that depth chart come the end of camp,
just how competitive was that room gonna be. We have
spent the last month, ever since the draft, ever since
(04:50):
they took Will Johnson and Denzel Burke, We've said, man,
that could be the most competitive position group that is
on the roster. And now give us a quick thumbnail
on what you see between Garrett Williams, Starling Thomas, Max Melton,
Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, Key Trell Clark. That's just beyond
half of the guys in that room. But is that
(05:11):
enough you think to compete this year?
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Yeah, Paully, you know Sean Murphy Bunty and can I
also say I think it would have been tough for
him to actually hold on to his starting job. And
you know, Paully, in today's NFL, the nickel corner is
considered a starter as well. For the most part, you've
got two corners and then you've got that nickel corner.
But I think you look at those three positions, I
(05:34):
think Will Johnson is gonna have one of those. I
think Max Melton is gonna have the other one. And
I think Garrett Williams is going to be either the
nickel corner or a guy on the outside. He can
do both. We know that because We've seen him do both.
But I think those three guys right there would star
Thomas actually being a nice, nice filling guy, a backup
(05:55):
player where who knows he might even compete for that
starting job as well.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Good point. Jonathan Gannon called Will Johnson, for example, a
perfect scheme fit. So we'll see how quickly he can
get up to speed in that regard. We do know this,
Buddha Baker will be orchestrating that secondary. He met the
media this week and here's what he had to say
on the big picture and getting to the postseason.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
The h level has been there since my rookie year.
You know, I'm heading into year nine. Just being able
to get in those very important game postseason games is
definitely something in my career that I want to do,
and you know, I've always wanted to do it. But
this year especially, it's another year to get better and
you know, I think we have the players and playmakers
(06:37):
to do so. But we got to put the work
in and as long as we do that, at the
end of the year, it will be looking fine.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
What do you think the improved defensive front does for
Buddha Baker. We've talked to some of the off the
ball linebackers like Mac Wilson Senior last week. But what
do you think it does for Buddha considering he's coming
off a career year in terms of tackles. But I mean,
do you anticipate maybe some more turnovers, some more picks, etc.
If you're able to affect the quarterback at a much
(07:04):
greater rate.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Yeah, Pauli, it's a great question, it really is. All
I know is it's going to help Buddha Baker because
it's going to not put so much pressure on Buddha
Baker and Buddha Baker is going to be freed up,
I think to do a lot more over the ball.
And I'll get into that a little bit later, but
right now, Paully, I'm looking at Buddha Baker in terms
of making plays on the football field. We saw them
(07:29):
bring Buddha in pressure and blitz packages last year. Could
we see a little bit more of that with a
four man rush just rushing for and maybe if you're
going to bring that fifth, maybe you're going to bring
a little bit more of Buddha Baker. I think they're
going to let him free lance a little bit more
over the middle. Very much like a Troy Palomalo used
(07:50):
to free lance. Of course for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I
think Buddha that could be on the horizon for him.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Well, we definitely know what Mac Wilson Senior said last
week here on the Big Rage presented by Santan Ford
and Gilbert and off the ball linebacker loves when you
invest in the defensive front and beyond that, when Mac
takes a look at this team, at this locker room,
at the camaraderie, all the guys who showed up for
his video shoot right in terms of eighteen bars, here's
(08:17):
what he had to say just about the internals with
this team.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
I feel like this team is ready to go, Like
we working hard, Like the energy is amazing, Like the
additions we've had. Obviously everybody know. Everybody aware that we
got some great guys on the defense running it back
with the same offense, So everybody fired up. Honestly, man,
we know what type of team we can be based
off just last year along. You know, we left a
lot of players out there. We left a lot of
(08:41):
games out there we should have finished and felt like
we should have won some of those games.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
I mean, even going back to week one at Buffalo.
You were up seventeen to three right before halftime on
the Buffalo Bills in their place. So when you think
about a team taking that next step, Wolf, is that
what it's about, First and foremost, finishing some of those
games that you led that you couldn't bring into the
win column.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Yeah, there's no doubt about that, PAULI. Finishing and playing well,
especially in the fourth quarter, it defines good teams from
everybody else for the most part. But having said that, Paul,
I just want to say this quickly right now, that
defensive front it's so critical. Imagine being Mac Wilson Senior.
Imagine being this guy in the middle of the field,
(09:27):
of course, and I know they rush him off the
edge from time to time, but now you're back off
the ball and you got four guys in front of
you who can control the box, control their gaps. That
frees you up so much, Polly to run and make place.
This is something that we used to see out of
Daryl Washington over again and over once again, a defensive
(09:49):
line that would free him up to make plays. I
think that's the thing that Mac Wilson Sr. Is talking
about right now. And remember it works both ways. Offensive line.
How many times do we talk about a running back
and he's got to have an offensive line in front
of him. He's got to have an offensive line in
front of him. Well, it's the same thing when you
flip it over for an inside linebacker. In the defensive front,
(10:11):
they've got to have defensive linemen who are not only
going to control their gap, but sometimes control double teams
as well.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Think about it. The two highest paid inside linebackers in
the league right now, Fred Warner Rokwan Smith. What do
they have that Niners defensive front the Baltimore Ravens. Oh yeah,
defensive front. Hey, bird Gang, you can jump in with
the rest of the Red Sea in Dallas. It is
Monday Night football this season and you can travel via
Cardinals Premier Travel hosted by Cardinals Legends. Travel backages to
(10:41):
that November third game will include transportation, hotel, accommodations, pregame
tailgate experience, game tickets, and more. For all the details,
go to azcardstravel dot com. Cody Simon fourth round rookie,
maybe a possible starter. He is next and the Big
Red Rage presented by Santan Ford in Gilbert.
Speaker 7 (11:04):
Cody Simon that's alwfun and walk sacked again.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Third time.
Speaker 8 (11:12):
Cody Simon had a chance to drop back, decided to
stay and pick Cody Simon there Ohio State Captain blocko' award.
Impressive kid, you know, call the defense for them, and
you know we're excited to add him.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
He's dragged down immediately by Cody Simon and down he goes.
Speaker 9 (11:32):
Cody Simon is.
Speaker 10 (11:34):
Taking proof throughout the year, he had really strong playoffs
and he certainly has command of the team. And so
when you have a command of an elite defense like that,
that says something about your character or your knowledge, because
they're not just going to look to anybody. Those guys
are all high level players that turn to this guy
to give him directions. So that's a big factor.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
Assistant GM Dave Sears preceded by General manager Money Austin
Ford talking about a player who was called the heartbeat
of his most recent team. Considering that head coach was
Ryan Day and that team was the national champion Ohio
State Buckeyes, that's a pretty big deal and it's a
pleasure to have Cody Simon here on The Big Red
(12:09):
Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert. We are santan Ford, Cody.
How you doing about a month into your Arizona tenures.
Speaker 11 (12:16):
So far, it's going great. It's a great transition transition
and everyone's been really opening up with local arms here
and it's been a great time.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
You learned anything about Arizona? Have you run into a
scorpion yet or a rattler? You know it's over one
hundred degrees? Now, how's that going?
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 11 (12:31):
The first thing I learned was definitely the heat, and
I've been trying to avoid all the scorpions and all
the spiders out here, you know what.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
All right, So right off the bat, it's interesting you
look at some of your scouting reports, at least what
the draft analysts had to say, right true or false?
You were a late bloomer at Ohio State. That was
a common two word phrase attached to you.
Speaker 11 (12:51):
Yeah, I would say the public eye was a late bloomer.
But I mean, my path has been consistent and I
just tried to get better every day.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
Did you get better over the course of the last season?
Considering you were the defensive MVP against Oregon in the playoffs,
defensive MVP in the title game, do you think like
your game, your performance is slowly ratcheted up.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 11 (13:10):
I mean, you know, I felt like the when the
moment got bigger, I tried to play my best and
you know, you get those opportunities and you go make
those plays and you know, good things happen. So I
think that was a result of me just doing my
job and be in the right position.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
All right, here's another true false. I think if I
remember right, you listed one of your biggest strengths as instincts. Yes, sir,
And what do you attribute that to? How much of
that is just inherent DNA and how much of that
is film work for example?
Speaker 11 (13:36):
Yeah, I think it's a little bit of both. I mean,
you know, football, you know, you can referred to as
the kids game and you're just going out there playing ball,
and I think linebacker can be one of those those
most pure moments of football is just trying to find
the ball. And I think that's such an underrated point
about linebackers just being in around the ball and trying
to make a play in and tackle. And then you
got the film side of it, where you're you got
to study, you got to know you know this tendency
(13:57):
versus this tendency where can this running back go? And
I think I had a good balance of it last
year and it helped me a lot towards the end
of the season. And phille Bale makes some plays.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Cody Simon our guests, because as a middle linebacker, if
you're taking a false step behind right, I mean, it's interesting.
One of my favorite Cardinals rookies of all time. One
of my favorite Cardinals of all time, Tyron Matthew ran
a four or five. He came out first week of
practice out here and it was a little different back then.
It was more eleven on eleven. They got after a
little bit more ten years ago or so, but guys
(14:25):
talked about his instincts were so elite. He played like,
you ran a four to three. So what can that
do for your game? If your instincts are that good,
what can that do for you as a middle linebacker?
Speaker 11 (14:35):
You know, it gives you confidence, It gives you the
ability to, you know, take more calculated chances. And not
speaking on tire Matthew like he was the ultimate instinct
and you know he can find a play before it
even starts and make a play. He was one of
my favorite players growing up too, But you know, just
guys like that, you try to use your contact clues
when when you're in your film room, and then you
make educated guesses and you know for when you're aggressive,
(14:57):
and more time than not, you're gonna be right. And
you just got to keep playing hard and keep finding
the path.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Speaking of this defense, have you been able to tell
what sort of scheme fit do you think you might be?
For Nick Rollis and Jonathan Gannon? Do you know enough
to know yet?
Speaker 2 (15:10):
You know?
Speaker 11 (15:10):
I mean, right now, we're just all learning all the
plays right now. It's not you know, you're gonna fit here,
You're gonna fit there. Like it's it's really just trying
to learn the entire scheme of everything and the big picture.
And then I think once you get to the season,
you know, you start like whittling down to your little position.
What you what are you thinking gonna play? And but
right now I'm just trying to get the big picture.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
What was your initial reaction when you were first introduced
to the playbook?
Speaker 11 (15:31):
Yeah, I mean it's it's a lot. But once you
once you start the compartmentalize things and you put things
in categories, it starts to simple out a little bit more.
And you know, we're still in the process of right
that right now, So not trying to take too much, uh,
you know, too much out of time, but you know,
little by little each day, trying to get better.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
Cody Simon, A lot has been made about wearing the
green dot. Who's it gonna be this year? Could it
be a rookie?
Speaker 11 (15:54):
I mean, that's not for my answer right now.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
That's all.
Speaker 11 (15:56):
That's all Coach Allis and coach Gannon, whatever they think.
And you know, we have a really strong room right now,
and you know there's a lot of good players, a
lot of vets. So I'm just trying to do my
job right now and just you know, keep pushing the team.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
What sort of challenge do you view that? Tell us
did you you wore the green dot at Ohio State?
Because it hasn't been in existence in the college game
a long time, has it yet?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Nah?
Speaker 11 (16:14):
Last year was the first year. But we me and
my partner Sonny, we would switch on and off each
during the game sometimes and like it's it's a weird
process because you got to take a helmet off and
give it to the EQ and get a new helmet.
So we would switch off constantly throughout the game. But
you know, we did it every day in practice, so
it wasn't a super like foreign thing for me once
(16:34):
once we started getting into the season. But but yeah,
it's it's a it's a great investment for college football.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
And what else is involved with that?
Speaker 3 (16:40):
All?
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Right?
Speaker 5 (16:40):
Obviously you're getting the play call from the sideline, but
then you know you're the quarterback of the defense as well,
right for all of us who have not played middle linebacker,
and that's ninety nine point nine percent of the world,
take it from there. What's that like on a play
by play, pre snap, post snap, everything that's involved with
calling the defense.
Speaker 11 (16:57):
Yeah, so when you get that call, I mean, you're
give in the base call whatever, but there's no more
radio for checks and for adjustments and for for everything else.
So you know you have to be able to to
That's that's what practice times for, as with film rooms
for so you want everyone in the defense on the
same page. And so whether you're making an adjustment or
a check, like, you want everyone to know as soon
as you're making that check. So we we're all precise,
and you know, sometimes it gets complicated when it's a
(17:19):
loud stadium or it's a you know, the national championship games,
sometimes a little communication gets a little bit, a little
bit hectic, but you know, for the most part, where
we were all on the same page and we're making
all the same checks.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
If there's one game people can go back and watch
your film from your college career, especially last season, all
the way to the national title, which game are you
most proud of?
Speaker 11 (17:38):
I would I would probably say the Rose Bowl in
organ the first time we played them. I never got
to Uh, I didn't get to play. I had to
get surgery on my shoulder, and so that was my
first time playing at the Rose Bowl and it was
to a team we lost too, And you know, there's
a lot of emotion kind of pent up in that
game a little bit, because you know, you want to
you want to have something to speak about the season
for and we didn't want to end it out in California.
(18:00):
So I think just as a defense and as a team,
and then personally, I think we were at the top
of our game at that game, and we played really
well and we were able to get to a big,
big lead and that helped us out and you know,
the rest is really history. But I think that that
game was was really important, and you know, I just
I look back at some of those moments and some
of those are some of my favorite moments in college,
just you know, being with the team out there even
(18:21):
before the game, after the game, like and in the
game too. But you know, that was just a great time.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Cody Simon our guests in a big red rage, Ohio
State's leading tackler last year. So you're playing a Rose Bowl,
You're play in a national title game. So when the
Cardinals go on the road Monday night at Dallas, how
bright are those lights gonna be? Or maybe not so
much because you've been there, done that on the big stage.
Speaker 11 (18:42):
Uh, They're always still be bright, for sure. I mean,
that's that's a huge organization right there. But you know,
I've got some familiarity in that, in that in that
stadium a little bit, so well, it'll be a great experience.
I'm I'm really looking forward to to each and every
game really, but you know, those those big games, those
those prime time matchups was always great to be around.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
I asked Walter Nolan, I said, Okay, which quarterback do
you want to sack? Is there a player you look
forward to competing against, whether it's the forty nine ers
and Christian McCaffrey Week one at New Orleans Alvin Kamara,
I mean, are there guys in the schedule like Man,
I can't wait to match up with that guy.
Speaker 11 (19:17):
I couldn't really give you a firm answer right now.
I'm still just trying to make sure I'm doing all
my stuff correct and then we'll get to that one
when the training camp in the season gets underway. But yeah, really,
right now it's anybody. I'm just ready to go and
play my best.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
How about inside linebackers you've studied over the years. You
mentioned you were familiar with Mac Wilson seniors game. You
just mentioned Tyron Matthew. I mean, for example, Fred Warner
the other day became the highest paid off the ball
linebacker in the NFL. Have you study the other NFL linebackers.
Speaker 11 (19:46):
Yeah, the years, Yeah, and we did a great job
I think at Ohio State where we would watch a
lot of NFL tape just to understand concepts and understand,
you know, even just turnovers and the points of emphasis
about a football game. And you know, I would we
watch guys like Tomorrow David In like Matt Milano. But
some some really good linebackers, some of the people at
top of their of their game, and you want to
see what they do because if you can mirror that stuff,
(20:08):
you can be one of those guys. And you know,
I've watched a lot of great linebackers, and I just
try to take a little pieces and parts of everybody's
game and make it my own. And that's that's pretty
much what I've been doing.
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Now, we've been talking with the rookies about making the
jump to the NFL, and we're on board with Cody
Simon right now. How about making the jump from high
school to an Ohio State practice. Marvin Harrison Junior was
sitting right there a year ago. He said, as a
young guy, he would compete in the room and they
had a board in the room, all the all the
receivers in the Ohio State receiver room, and it was
Jackson Smith and Jigma, Garrett Wilson, Chris Slave like Jamison
(20:40):
Williams was there for a moment before he transferred to Alabama.
That's crazy. That's five first round receivers. What is practice
like at Ohio State?
Speaker 11 (20:47):
Yeah, the only best way I could describe it was
that I had to be on every little thing in
my outside life to even have a chance with those guys.
And you know, so that that made me better as
a player though, because that made me take take care
of all the little things. Because when you've got on
the field, you see these these four or five star receivers,
it's like it's like fireworks and and they're they're catching
everything and they're they're moving fast. So you know, even
(21:08):
the guy we just JJ, we just we had last year, like,
these guys are freaks of nature. So you got to
be on your everything and everything on your best and
just be ready to compete and to and to bring
your best foot.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
When you think of Marvin putting on the muscle mass,
it's pretty impressive.
Speaker 11 (21:20):
I think I'm excited for him. I think he's gona
have a really great year.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Actually, when you came to high school, what was that like?
And it was interesting because you know, both your parents played.
Your mom was in track at Michigan. I remember Christian
McCaffrey saying he learned how to run from his mother,
who was a soccer star. I'll pivotle was mom in
your athletic career. You know, she was super important. And
I mean, my mom didn't teach me how to run,
but we would always race each other and I would
(21:43):
always you never want to lose, So that's good. I
guess you could say she told me to run fast,
but you know, she was. She was really important in
my my growing up. And you know.
Speaker 11 (21:53):
Whether it was track or it was football, basketball, like
my parents are always there for me, and my mom especially
and then obviously my my my brother was the probably
the biggest impact in my athletic career where I was
always comparing myself to him and trying to be better
because he was, you know, an excellent player. So I'm yeah,
that's that's really what my growing up in my upbringing
was really.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
Like Jersey City, right, So at any point you play
basketball for a member of the Hurley family, it's like
it's synonymous with Jersey City.
Speaker 11 (22:20):
Yeah, we we admire the passion. I never got to
play with any of the hurlies any before, any of them. Yeah,
but that was always one of those those things you
watch from afar and you can get to admire but
never actually do it.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
So look, a lot of players come out of there
with an edge. Are you a trash talker?
Speaker 4 (22:35):
No.
Speaker 11 (22:35):
I mean, my job is I focus on the play
at hand, and I let my play doing the talking.
And then I don't I don't really want to get
involved with all the other stuff. But you know, you know,
when you make big plays, you know you let him
feel it. You know, emotion, They feel emotion. So you know,
I'm not a big, big trash talker, but you know,
I'm a really emotional player.
Speaker 5 (22:51):
There's a stat where you're like one of a handful
of linebackers in the last ten years to have so
many tackles for losses quarterback sacks. What is it about
your game and your ability to get into the backfield?
Is that is that something you pride yourself on?
Speaker 11 (23:03):
Yeah, one hundred percent, I mean, and that that also
goes into instincts, you know, finding a little nooks and
cranies to kind of find a way to get to
the quarterback or you know, even just affect the game.
And I think it also goes with coaching. I think
I had a great coaching when I was Ahio State,
and you know, just being able to affect the quarterback,
it affects the game so much more than you know
we thought in the past. And so now instead of
(23:23):
making the big hit, you're getting the sack fumble or
you're you're getting something else. So I think it's just
a combination of all that, you know, just you know
instincts and you know, coaching and learning the game better
and getting a better idea and being more comfortable of
the game.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
How much of a chess match is it between a
middle linebacker and a quarterback?
Speaker 11 (23:42):
So, I mean it is. It is a chess game.
And the more you can be out there together and
play against each other, I think that really helps. And
you can see each little change during the game and
you know, really get get get a feel for the quarterback.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
Because it's always interesting.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Guys.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
Rave about Kyle Shanahan. You play him twice a year
with the nin er Sean McVeigh and the Rams, right,
they always have something. There's always some sort of wrinkle
and they make a defense think. So you know, four
time academic, All Big ten. So you know what we'll see,
We'll come on in. We look forward to it, we
really do.
Speaker 11 (24:11):
I do as well. It's gonna be a good time,
good time this season.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Have you had a welcome to the NFL moment when
you're out there with Budda Baker. You're like, wow, that's
pretty cool as well, right.
Speaker 11 (24:18):
Yeah, it shows you got a long way to go.
But I mean he's with the top of the game
right now.
Speaker 5 (24:22):
Cody Simon. Everyone, We continue with a big red rage
presented by Santan forward in Gilbert.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
Sorry with times fires deep middle end zone for Harrison
and Harrison made the catch and got his feet down
for a touchdown. Harrison caught it in the twenty to tennis.
Harrison dies to the end zone. He's in touchdown up
by Harrison shows up, touchdown, Cardinal.
Speaker 9 (24:51):
Are you not entertained, mate, left side of the end zone.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Harrison pulls it in touchdown Cardinals, Harrison and laying out
for it.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
He got it.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Touchdown. What a catch, Marvin Harrison Junior. Big time a
fade right corner of the end zone, Harrison, Paul, what
a catch for a touchdown back of the end zone,
Harrison sick Harrison, it's a touchdown. Fade right side of
the end zone. On the money to Marvin Harrison Junior.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Touchdown. Marvin Harrison Junior stabs the pig, pulls it down,
taps it off.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
There you go a little highlighted montage Pash and Wolf
on the call, rookie Marvin Harrison Junior twenty twenty four
numbers eerily similar to his father's, by the way, Hall
of Famer Marvin Harrison Senior, and numbers actually rookie stats
that exceeded Larry Fitzgerald. So it is amazing for everything
(25:48):
that we think maybe he left out there at times
that the Cardinals offense could have maximized to a greater degree.
There is so much more potential there and the numbers
were there for rookie and everyone is looking forward to that.
And what is do you have in common with our
guest Cody Simon? They both went to Ohio State. You're
Cody here on the Big Red Rage presented by santan
Ford and Gilbert just talking about practice man and all
(26:10):
just the top the top talent you get in Ohio
State practice. So it's no wonder that these Ohio State
guys are NFL ready. Wolf and Cody Simon definitely sounds
an acts mature, doesn't he.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Yeah, there's no doubt about it, Bully, this guy is
so sharp right now. He's challenging one of my core beliefs, Paully,
that you can't come into the National Football League other
than quarterback. You cannot come in as a rookie and
start at mike linebacker or full back. Paul, you can't
actually start at those two because it's right there, because Pauly,
(26:42):
you just don't understand what you don't know right now,
and you don't know an awful lot coming in as
Mike linebacker. The college game is nowhere close to being
the National Football League. I liking it to checkers and
chess Paul, respectively. That's what it is is it's so
complex at the NFL level to have a rookie come
(27:04):
in and actually start and have a green dot on
his helmet. This guy is challenging my core belief that
that is not possible as a rookie. And I think
Cody Simon, we might see it his rookie year.
Speaker 5 (27:17):
Yeah, all you have to do go to his Twitter
account and he pinned a highlight reel from Ohio State.
Two things stand out his leadership. Everyone is following Cody Simon.
What's why he got the block Ole Ward, He's wearing
that jersey. It's why Ryan Day as head coach, called
him the heartbeat of the team. And then number two
just all the playmaking, how often he's in the backfield.
I mean I mentioned the stat the fact that he
had tackles for loss and sacks. Look no other inside linebacker.
(27:41):
He has those instincts and that ability to read an
offense and to seek and destroy as a linebacker. It's
going to be really intriguing. To your point, Wolf, can
he handle the playbook? Can he run a defense? I
think he's going to be given every single opportunity during
training camp. We'll see and you know what, we have
seen it in the last couple of years. Paris Johnson
Junior was a starting right tackle the moment he got
off the plane. Marvin Harrison Junior was wide receiver one
(28:04):
the moment he was taking number four overall. Now, the
question what's in store for Marvin in year two, especially
based on what he looks like if you got a
glance at him this week hashtag muscle mass and gains,
and he was asked about that is new found muscle
mass with the media.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
That just happened.
Speaker 12 (28:24):
Actually, honestly, I don't know. College I didn't eat as
much probably and then started eating a little bit more,
you know, having more free time, I guess by the internet. Obviously,
all the right things. Uh, some extra protein for sure.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
How do you think your new shape will help him?
Speaker 12 (28:40):
Yeah, I mean obviously, you know, always the football is
a physical game, a lot of contested situations as well
as he received contested catch situations, run off the catch
and things like that. So uh, I know, we'll see
how things play out throughout OTAs and training.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Can't see where that goes.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
I don't know if he went to see Yelda Froholt,
you know, for the protein. But whatever he did at
worked Wolf. I mean it was really noticeable, wasn't it.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
There's no doubt about it. Bully. He looks really really good.
And this is what a professional football player tries to
do every off season. Paul, get bigger, get stronger, get faster,
get in better shape. That is your responsibility in the
off season. That's what you're trying to do. And it
certainly looked like Marvin Harrison Junior went ahead and took
(29:24):
that to heart. Not really a surprise coming from the
family that he does, of course, but I think it
is going to be a surprise to see him get
off the press better because of his muscle mass and
his size.
Speaker 5 (29:37):
I mean, this is an honest question, how do you
get better at contested catches? You can't really practice it,
so I think the first thing you do is you
get stronger.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
So, yeah, you're more.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
Physically capable, right, get off me, right, and you're able
that first five yards, especially because I think probably what
he found out, like most rookie receivers find out, these
are grown men playing games in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Yeah, Paul, that is a great observation right there. How
do you get better at contested catches? Don't have as
many of them? And you know how you don't have
as many of them. You go ahead and you use
your size and your physicality when you get pressed and
knock that dB around, knock that corner around, and run
better routes because you don't have somebody who's got his
(30:21):
hands all over you get off the press man. And
this is why I think Marvin Harrison Junior went ahead
and attacked his weight and his strength in this offseason
because he's trying to get off the press now again.
You know what I want to see the biggest improvement
I think from Marvin Harrison Junior, Polly, I want to
(30:41):
see him attack the ball when it's in the air.
This is something I've talked to you about in the past.
This is something we've had discussions about. When that ball
is up in the air, I want to see Marvin
Harrison Junior attack that thing and say that ball is
mine and go up and try to elevate and use
those spears to stab the pig out of the air.
(31:03):
That's what I want to see from him going forward,
all right.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
I asked Buddha Baker this week he met the media
as well, So did you notice that your receiver looks
like you can bench press his car? What do you
think about Marvin Harrison Junior's weight game.
Speaker 6 (31:16):
Yeah, I saw him. I was like, how much you weighing?
He told me. I was like, man, he's still skinny,
you know. So, yeah, he's gained a lot of muscle.
I haven't really seen him run routes because we're kind
of on different sides of the field, but very excited
to start practicing again and seeing our auditions that we have.
But also Marve is continuing to get better. He's bigger
(31:37):
from what I seen on the sprints, he's more explosive.
So some people think that when you gain weight you
kind of get slower. I think for him, it's the opposite.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
And to be clear, we don't know that he's actually
gained any weight.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
LB's sure.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
He didn't answer that question. Darius Robinson, who looks much
bigger as well swoll as the kids would say, told
Darren Urban that he's stronger, but he's still the same. Wait,
so we don't know exactly about that. Marvin Harrison Junior
did say he's going to test drive it during mini
camp training camp see how he likes it. Maybe maybe
takes off a few lbs if needed or wanted. Here's
(32:11):
the other area, Wolf where you know you talk. We
talked about contested catches, attacking the ball. Then there's also
mentally and here's what Marvin Harrison Junior had to say
about flipping the switch more often next year.
Speaker 12 (32:22):
I'm very a humble guy to begin with, no matter
you know, what's happening on the field, I could just
be very humble. I feel like I definitely do have
a switch I can switch on more probably next year.
I think that just constantly being comfortable playing the game,
playing at the speed of the NFL and things like that.
So I think it just happened actually more or anything.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
How do you translate that is he talking about mentality.
Is he talking about the intensity?
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Yes, no, Paully' He's talking about flipping the switch. You
heard him say that right there. I'm a very humble
guy and I'm going out here and I'm competing on
the field. You know what, when that ball again, Paul,
just what I was talking about, when that ball is
in the air, half the mentality that says that ball
is mine and nobody else is going to catch the
ball around here. Listen, this is very similar what the
(33:08):
Japanese fighting fish used to do. Larry Fitzgerald. Yeah, this
is what he did. He was open even when he
was covered, because he just had to throw him the
ball and he would go get it. He would stab
that thing out of the ear. This is what Marvin
Harrison Junior has got to do. He's got to take
that mentality and flip that switch. It's okay to be polite,
(33:30):
it's okay to be humble off the field. It's a
beautiful thing as a matter of fact, to do that.
But once you get inside those white lines, man, that
switch has got to be flipped, and that means mentally,
go get the ball.
Speaker 5 (33:45):
You know what else is interesting There have been some
analytic breakdowns that he wasn't in motion a whole bunch
last year. Yeah, So okay, what does that mean as
a room for growth in that regard getting him on
the move? A little tougher for God to get their
hands on them once you snap the ball, right, I mean,
you gotta figure there might be a little different usage.
(34:06):
I know we mentioned at the end of last season
he had a couple of good games to finish the year,
and he said he was running some different routes at
different times in the last two games of the year.
I think that's all foreshadowing for this.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Year, Paulie. I think you're right on that quickly. And
I just want to say this too. I think they
were trying to simplify the game for Marvin Harrison Junior
and Kyler Murray. So bet they could create chemistry between them,
but now they need to take that next step going forward.
Speaker 5 (34:30):
That's a great point, all right, Hey, get ready for
the twenty twenty five season, right, get the latest gear
from the Cardinals team shop. In fact, how about the
recently drop Marvin Harrison junior jersey That was a huge
hit out of the draft party out on the Gray Lawn.
Go to Azycardinals dot Com slash Shop Azcardinals dot Com
slash shop. All right, the tushbush it's here to stay.
(34:51):
What does AQ Shipley have to say about that? On
Wolfe's reaction when we come back and the big red
rage presented by Santan forward in Gilbert, here.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
Comes a tousch push.
Speaker 7 (35:02):
You gotta thank your stars, heart and he is powering
across for the touchdown.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
If he knows what's coming down. Hurts. Canna get in
now We're gonna get the tousch pushing, Thank you, everybody,
come again.
Speaker 5 (35:18):
It hurts trying to go over the time and get
him sneaks right under it.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
We're first down, do it again?
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Hurts.
Speaker 10 (35:24):
Four Jaylor hurts.
Speaker 7 (35:27):
And jailing hurts or no, they're going touch push and
they get it. It's not the jailing hurts push, it's
the touch madn't matter who's touched or pushing.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
It should work.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
Hurts shot a sneak kind of drives its way in touchdown.
Speaker 5 (35:46):
As the Eagles tweeted out, social media just had a
field day with this over an Eagles HQ push on
after it was ratified, after it was safe preserved, and
all the headlines that have come out since it's including
one on ESPN where sources this is the headline now
Wolf Temper's flair as Eagles defend the tush push in
(36:08):
heated debate. So apparently there was a lot of drama
at the league meetings, the owners meetings this week and
the biggest headline once again, Yes, indeed, everybody now the
tushpush is here to stay.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Well, Paully, that means somebody told somebody else to sit
down and shut up or called them a ven old
pettifogger ball.
Speaker 5 (36:26):
Well, you know what, It's funny you say that because
the details in the story there's not much. But apparently
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie gave a speech that lasted nearly
an hour. Yes, I heard that, and then Jason Kelsey
came in and tried to say, look, the data is real,
there's no increased risk of injury. And so they got
(36:47):
it through, they got it preserved. And I don't know
where you stand on this, Wolf, I'm trying to remember.
I know we've argued and talked about this. Look, I
mean I I'm not going to live or die in
this hill. I will say this. I think it's bad ball.
I don't think it's great football, just the look of
it and the rugby elements of it. You know, It's
sort of like in baseball, the commissioner steps in with
(37:08):
the best interest of the game. I mean, if Roger
Goodell stepped in and said, you know what, it's not
great football, nobody likes watching it, we're all sick of it.
Hence and heretofore it's gone. I wouldn't mind that. But
I also get that as a competitive advantage for the
team that has really perfected it, and that's the Eagles.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Yeah, Paul, it just cannot stand it. It's not a
football play. To me, It's a rugby play, That's what
it is. It's not a football play.
Speaker 10 (37:30):
You know what.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
It reminds me of And I'm not talking about at
the point of attack, where the offense and defensive lineman
fire off the ball. That's very very physical down low.
But if you look at everyone else, it reminds me
of dudes at a pilates class just laying all over
some pilates ball pushing it. You know what, Paul, this
is this is not a football play. That is my
(37:52):
problem with the tush push right now. It is not
and it should be banned from the NFL in my.
Speaker 5 (37:58):
Opinion, all right, what's the opinion of Aq Shipley. No
one is more qualified than an NFL center to comment
on the Tushbush right, and so here he was earlier
today on the Pat McAfee show.
Speaker 9 (38:10):
When you look at it, it is a skill like
Buffalo tried to do it and they get stuffed. Other
teams have tried to do it, they've gotten stuffed. I mean,
it's not nearly as successful with all the other teams
as it is with the Philadelphia Eagles. So it's clearly
a skill that the Philadelphia Eagles have mastered. So if
one team's better than the rest at it, then then
they're clearly doing something right. And it's clearly a skill set.
This isn't a play where it's an automatic first down
(38:32):
for everybody across the league. And if it was, I
could understand it. And they've found a way to make
it so good, and Jalen Hurts behind has made it
so good, so you can't punish them for being better
than everybody else at it.
Speaker 5 (38:43):
I mean, they have a quarterback who squats six hundred pounds,
so should we get it. He's especially equipped to run
the tushbush and that's what you do. You build your
team around your weapons, right, you cater and so now
it's not indefensible. They weren't one hundred percent at it.
In fact, you go two years ago off at the
end of the season when the Cardinals went into Filly
and beat the Eagles, there was a third and one
where the Cardinals stuffed the tush push. Yeah, and then
(39:06):
they try to get on fourth and one and they converted.
So yeah, it can be done, but they have great
success with.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
It, Paulie. This is my problem with it right now
for the Philadelphia Eagles, and it should be for everybody
else because PAULI, right now, if you're gonna say it's legal,
why every team in the league is not gonna do
what the Philadelphia Eagles do, Why they're not going to
do the push tush, the tush push, whatever you want
to call it, Pally is beyond me. You have to
(39:34):
you have to take advantage of this because when you
can convert third and one and fourth and one, when
you can convert that ninety percent of the time, paul
if you have a third and two, you're just gonna
do the push to the toush push. You're just gonna
do that twice, Paul. Look, I'm all fired up. I
can't even say it. You're just gonna do that twice?
(39:56):
Right now? It's first and eight for the Philadelphia Eagles.
It's not first and ten because if we get in
a third and two situation, we're gonna run two tush pushes.
Speaker 5 (40:07):
And that's the other thing that's wrong with the whole
play is the moniker is the name, because just the
word tush does not belong in football. Chris, all right,
I'm still standing by mind, which hasn't got any traction.
I've always liked the nickname the butt hut.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
That's what I like. No, Paul, not the butt Hut.
Don't ever say anything but Paul, don't never say that
brotherly shove. Okay, I like that one. That's a good
one right there. But you know what, Paul, Honestly, I
think there's a point where you can be so good
at that where even on a third and three in
a gotta have its situation, you might go ahead and
(40:41):
run the tush push twice to convert that first down twice,
knowing that it's hard to stop.
Speaker 5 (40:50):
I tell you who has an advantage the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers with Vitavea, and then they sign that four hundred
and sixty four pound defensive lineman out of Florida, Desmond Watson. Yea,
So the Buccaneers tweeted out, we got two dudes we're
gonna put right over the nose, try and come through
these guys. Here's the other thing, well, hit zoom out
on the Eagles. I think they're tracking. They're tracking to
(41:11):
really be the biggest villain in the NFL that we've
seen in a while. I mean, we've all come to
dislike over the years of the Cowboys and the Chiefs
and especially the Seahawks, but Philly's getting real close to
becoming enemy number one in everybody's power pole at this rate,
especially Sakuon Barkley coming out this week and saying the
twenty twenty four Eagles are quote a top five team
(41:33):
in NFL history.
Speaker 1 (41:34):
Ooh, I miss that ball. I am sorry about.
Speaker 5 (41:37):
God, They're starting to smell themselves right now.
Speaker 1 (41:39):
Okay, here's the one thing I would say about that.
You're right, PAULI Philadelphia first of all, and you know
how I feel about Philadelphia fans as well. Just the
worst fan base in the history of the NFL. I'll
leave it at that right there. Yet, Yet, at the
same time, how can you really dislike the Eagles when
he got Jalen Hurts as your quarterback. This guy is,
(42:01):
It's true, what a great guy. He is, squared away
and a great competitor. I love what he did last
year and I'm happy for him. But having said that,
I would like to see the Eagles lose every game
they play.
Speaker 5 (42:14):
He is single handedly saving their Q rating. You're you're
absolutely all right now. Things we do like and I
think we do agree on this. One would be the
NFL initiative to go ahead and green light flag football.
NFL players can participate in the twenty twenty eight Olympics.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
This is the greatest thing, Balie. It really is, not
only because football players get to play and compete for
Olympic gold, but also because you know what, we're going
to be better than everyone else in this in the
United States is going to win another gold medal. That's
all I care about, and I know you love that
as well, Balie. And not only that, can I say
(42:49):
that it's really gonna help the flag football initiative in
regard to girls' high school athletics ball. Yep, it's really
these flag football teams that are coming up all through
the country, all through high school right now, These these
women's flag football teams. This is fantastic for women's athletics
(43:13):
right now and it gives them something. There are scholarships
being handed out for flag football and that's why I
love it. The NFL is supporting it, and by the way,
does that increase the fan base in the future for them?
And they've got a bunch of girls who played flag
football in high school, you better believe it.
Speaker 5 (43:33):
And nobody in the NFL is supporting girls flag football
more than the Arizona Cardinals. Yeah, we are both part
of telecast. A year ago, Cardinals broadcast the whole season
is coming again this year. Everyone's looking forward to that.
There are two initiatives right now in the NFL big picture.
One is international and two is flag football. And really
flag football ties into international because this is how you
(43:54):
grow the game globally. This is how so many great points,
so many athletes around the world can participate and learn
the game. Is it the football that you played for
ten years and went to four Pro Bowls? No, but
guess what softball isn't exactly baseball. Yeah, and the popularity
softball is off the hook right now, and he keeps growing,
just like girls. Flag football keeps growing. And I think
(44:17):
that's what the NFL is seeing, and they're going to
keep feeding this thing because it has so much potential.
I mean, ten years from now, twenty years from now,
what it's going to look like.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
You know what, Paul, I could play ten years in
the National Football League because of the physicality. But I
would not have made the flag football team for the Olympics,
no way.
Speaker 2 (44:37):
How about that?
Speaker 1 (44:37):
Even I would never have been considered.
Speaker 5 (44:40):
How about Kyler Murray as a flag football quarterback?
Speaker 1 (44:44):
Okay, the only thing better than Kyler Murray would be
Jaden Daniels because he's just as mobile.
Speaker 5 (44:49):
Yeah, that's a good point. Hey, Cardinals single game tickets,
don't forget on sale Va Seki Godasycardinals dot Com slash
by tickets Special thanks Cardinals rookie linebacker Cody Simon, Executive
producer Jim Almhundro, Associate producer Cody Fincher, Technical director Evan Reiser,
Ron Wolfley, I'm Paul calvic Henk. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend. Everyone,
(45:10):
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Strap on the boots and scrape up the knuckles.
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He got jacked.
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This is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford
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All Right, Seas, Rising Up, Jim You, rising Vision, flurring Rage,
Take it Ober.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
Here's Paul CALVICI I'm ready. I'm one hundred percent ready.
I'm telling you I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
And Ron Wolfley, it doesn't get any better than that
the Fjord.
Speaker 5 (01:02):
You know what, diploma's being handed out left and right
tis the graduation season, Ron Wolfley, Yes, you know what
you need? Yes you need a quote. Paully Profound has
this one from Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I need a lot more than that, pulp.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
What lies behind us and what lies before us are
small matters compared to what lies within us. Eleanor Roosevelt
once said, the future belongs to those who believe in
the beauty of their dreams. Graduation, Ron Wolfley, is not
the end. It is the beginning, indeed, And it does
(01:42):
feel like this iteration of the Cardinals is on the
verge of graduation, does it not? And maybe just maybe
matriculating graduating to the top of its class in the
NFC West, Because for two three years now we've been saying,
let the Rooks cook, and as we like to say,
the tassel is the hassle. And here on the big
red Rage, presented by santan Ford and Gilbert we are
(02:04):
santan Ford, Paul Calvicre, Ron Wolfley. There Cody Simon, just
the latest young guy who will join us in a
little bit. And might he be head of the class.
Might he be wearing the green dot at some point
this regular season? We're gonna ask him all about that.
But yes, Ron Wolfley, it does feel like twenty eight
draft picks right every one of them is still on
(02:25):
the roster right here, right now for Manti oscivor Jonathan
Gannon in three years, maybe, just maybe they're building this
class and it's ready to launch.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
And Paully, there's no doubt about it anyway you Parses,
anyway you look at it. The Orizona Cardinals roster, this
team right here is growing and has been developing, as
you said, for three years right now, and this is
the big year coming up, Pauli. We all understand it.
It's been the Detroit Lions model for the most part,
(02:53):
where the Lions they won four games, then they won
nine games, and then after that they went into the
PLA the playoffs of course in their third year and
made all sorts of noise in the National Football League.
I think this is the Arizona Cardinals model as well.
In the first year, Pauli, they went out in free
agency and they got NFL players. They went out and
(03:13):
they brought NFL players, those that had already made rosters
onto their team. Then the next year they went out
and they brought starters onto their team, brought those starters
into the rotation and into the locker room. This year, Polly,
it's all about all of this coming to a head
right now. Year three is the make or break year
(03:36):
for the Arizona Cardinals.
Speaker 5 (03:37):
And I like that line's analogy the Honolulu blue Print,
if you will. Yes, I like that. So all right,
Cody Simon coming up. We're gonna hear from Buddha Baker
in a moment. Marvin Harrison Junior. I mean, you talk
about winning the offseason, We'll hear from Marvin. But we
also heard some national news earlier this afternoon, run Wolf Lee,
(03:58):
Ian Rapaport, NFL Now Work and I quote Arizona Cardinals
to place cornerback Sean Murphy Bunting on the reserve slash
non football injury list, ending his twoenty twenty five season
before it began.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Oh boy, that is rough right there, it really is, Polly.
Can I just say this quickly right now? This does
not make the Arizona Cardinals a better team on paper.
They're not as good right now as they were yesterday.
That's all I'm gonna say.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
Well, and here's the other thing I'll say is and
now there are eleven. There were a dozen corners. Now
Sean Murphy Bunting done for the season, so you have eleven,
and even though you're not as good on paper, I
do wonder walf that depth chart come the end of camp,
just how competitive was that room gonna be. We have
spent the last month, ever since the draft, ever since
(04:50):
they took Will Johnson and Denzel Burke, We've said, man,
that could be the most competitive position group that is
on the roster. And now give us a quick thumbnail
on what you see between Garrett Williams, Starling Thomas, Max Melton,
Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, Key Trell Clark. That's just beyond
half of the guys in that room. But is that
(05:11):
enough you think to compete this year?
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Yeah, Paully, you know Sean Murphy Bunty and can I
also say I think it would have been tough for
him to actually hold on to his starting job. And
you know, Paully, in today's NFL, the nickel corner is
considered a starter as well. For the most part, you've
got two corners and then you've got that nickel corner.
But I think you look at those three positions, I
(05:34):
think Will Johnson is gonna have one of those. I
think Max Melton is gonna have the other one. And
I think Garrett Williams is going to be either the
nickel corner or a guy on the outside. He can
do both. We know that because We've seen him do both.
But I think those three guys right there would star
Thomas actually being a nice, nice filling guy, a backup
(05:55):
player where who knows he might even compete for that
starting job as well.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Good point. Jonathan Gannon called Will Johnson, for example, a
perfect scheme fit. So we'll see how quickly he can
get up to speed in that regard. We do know this,
Buddha Baker will be orchestrating that secondary. He met the
media this week and here's what he had to say
on the big picture and getting to the postseason.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
The h level has been there since my rookie year.
You know, I'm heading into year nine. Just being able
to get in those very important game postseason games is
definitely something in my career that I want to do,
and you know, I've always wanted to do it. But
this year especially, it's another year to get better and
you know, I think we have the players and playmakers
(06:37):
to do so. But we got to put the work
in and as long as we do that, at the
end of the year, it will be looking fine.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
What do you think the improved defensive front does for
Buddha Baker. We've talked to some of the off the
ball linebackers like Mac Wilson Senior last week. But what
do you think it does for Buddha considering he's coming
off a career year in terms of tackles. But I mean,
do you anticipate maybe some more turnovers, some more picks, etc.
If you're able to affect the quarterback at a much
(07:04):
greater rate.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Yeah, Pauli, it's a great question, it really is. All
I know is it's going to help Buddha Baker because
it's going to not put so much pressure on Buddha
Baker and Buddha Baker is going to be freed up,
I think to do a lot more over the ball.
And I'll get into that a little bit later, but
right now, Paully, I'm looking at Buddha Baker in terms
of making plays on the football field. We saw them
(07:29):
bring Buddha in pressure and blitz packages last year. Could
we see a little bit more of that with a
four man rush just rushing for and maybe if you're
going to bring that fifth, maybe you're going to bring
a little bit more of Buddha Baker. I think they're
going to let him free lance a little bit more
over the middle. Very much like a Troy Palomalo used
(07:50):
to free lance. Of course for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I
think Buddha that could be on the horizon for him.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Well, we definitely know what Mac Wilson Senior said last
week here on the Big Rage presented by Santan Ford
and Gilbert and off the ball linebacker loves when you
invest in the defensive front and beyond that, when Mac
takes a look at this team, at this locker room,
at the camaraderie, all the guys who showed up for
his video shoot right in terms of eighteen bars, here's
(08:17):
what he had to say just about the internals with
this team.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
I feel like this team is ready to go, Like
we working hard, Like the energy is amazing, Like the
additions we've had. Obviously everybody know. Everybody aware that we
got some great guys on the defense running it back
with the same offense, So everybody fired up. Honestly, man,
we know what type of team we can be based
off just last year along. You know, we left a
lot of players out there. We left a lot of
(08:41):
games out there we should have finished and felt like
we should have won some of those games.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
I mean, even going back to week one at Buffalo.
You were up seventeen to three right before halftime on
the Buffalo Bills in their place. So when you think
about a team taking that next step, Wolf, is that
what it's about, First and foremost, finishing some of those
games that you led that you couldn't bring into the
win column.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Yeah, there's no doubt about that, PAULI. Finishing and playing well,
especially in the fourth quarter, it defines good teams from
everybody else for the most part. But having said that, Paul,
I just want to say this quickly right now, that
defensive front it's so critical. Imagine being Mac Wilson Senior.
Imagine being this guy in the middle of the field,
(09:27):
of course, and I know they rush him off the
edge from time to time, but now you're back off
the ball and you got four guys in front of
you who can control the box, control their gaps. That
frees you up so much, Polly to run and make place.
This is something that we used to see out of
Daryl Washington over again and over once again, a defensive
(09:49):
line that would free him up to make plays. I
think that's the thing that Mac Wilson Sr. Is talking
about right now. And remember it works both ways. Offensive line.
How many times do we talk about a running back
and he's got to have an offensive line in front
of him. He's got to have an offensive line in
front of him. Well, it's the same thing when you
flip it over for an inside linebacker. In the defensive front,
(10:11):
they've got to have defensive linemen who are not only
going to control their gap, but sometimes control double teams
as well.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Think about it. The two highest paid inside linebackers in
the league right now, Fred Warner Rokwan Smith. What do
they have that Niners defensive front the Baltimore Ravens. Oh yeah,
defensive front. Hey, bird Gang, you can jump in with
the rest of the Red Sea in Dallas. It is
Monday Night football this season and you can travel via
Cardinals Premier Travel hosted by Cardinals Legends. Travel backages to
(10:41):
that November third game will include transportation, hotel, accommodations, pregame
tailgate experience, game tickets, and more. For all the details,
go to azcardstravel dot com. Cody Simon fourth round rookie,
maybe a possible starter. He is next and the Big
Red Rage presented by Santan Ford in Gilbert.
Speaker 7 (11:04):
Cody Simon that's alwfun and walk sacked again.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Third time.
Speaker 8 (11:12):
Cody Simon had a chance to drop back, decided to
stay and pick Cody Simon there Ohio State Captain blocko' award.
Impressive kid, you know, call the defense for them, and
you know we're excited to add him.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
He's dragged down immediately by Cody Simon and down he goes.
Speaker 9 (11:32):
Cody Simon is.
Speaker 10 (11:34):
Taking proof throughout the year, he had really strong playoffs
and he certainly has command of the team. And so
when you have a command of an elite defense like that,
that says something about your character or your knowledge, because
they're not just going to look to anybody. Those guys
are all high level players that turn to this guy
to give him directions. So that's a big factor.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
Assistant GM Dave Sears preceded by General manager Money Austin
Ford talking about a player who was called the heartbeat
of his most recent team. Considering that head coach was
Ryan Day and that team was the national champion Ohio
State Buckeyes, that's a pretty big deal and it's a
pleasure to have Cody Simon here on The Big Red
(12:09):
Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert. We are santan Ford, Cody.
How you doing about a month into your Arizona tenures.
Speaker 11 (12:16):
So far, it's going great. It's a great transition transition
and everyone's been really opening up with local arms here
and it's been a great time.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
You learned anything about Arizona? Have you run into a
scorpion yet or a rattler? You know it's over one
hundred degrees? Now, how's that going?
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 11 (12:31):
The first thing I learned was definitely the heat, and
I've been trying to avoid all the scorpions and all
the spiders out here, you know what.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
All right, So right off the bat, it's interesting you
look at some of your scouting reports, at least what
the draft analysts had to say, right true or false?
You were a late bloomer at Ohio State. That was
a common two word phrase attached to you.
Speaker 11 (12:51):
Yeah, I would say the public eye was a late bloomer.
But I mean, my path has been consistent and I
just tried to get better every day.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
Did you get better over the course of the last season?
Considering you were the defensive MVP against Oregon in the playoffs,
defensive MVP in the title game, do you think like
your game, your performance is slowly ratcheted up.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 11 (13:10):
I mean, you know, I felt like the when the
moment got bigger, I tried to play my best and
you know, you get those opportunities and you go make
those plays and you know, good things happen. So I
think that was a result of me just doing my
job and be in the right position.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
All right, here's another true false. I think if I
remember right, you listed one of your biggest strengths as instincts. Yes, sir,
And what do you attribute that to? How much of
that is just inherent DNA and how much of that
is film work for example?
Speaker 11 (13:36):
Yeah, I think it's a little bit of both. I mean,
you know, football, you know, you can referred to as
the kids game and you're just going out there playing ball,
and I think linebacker can be one of those those
most pure moments of football is just trying to find
the ball. And I think that's such an underrated point
about linebackers just being in around the ball and trying
to make a play in and tackle. And then you
got the film side of it, where you're you got
to study, you got to know you know this tendency
(13:57):
versus this tendency where can this running back go? And
I think I had a good balance of it last
year and it helped me a lot towards the end
of the season. And phille Bale makes some plays.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Cody Simon our guests, because as a middle linebacker, if
you're taking a false step behind right, I mean, it's interesting.
One of my favorite Cardinals rookies of all time. One
of my favorite Cardinals of all time, Tyron Matthew ran
a four or five. He came out first week of
practice out here and it was a little different back then.
It was more eleven on eleven. They got after a
little bit more ten years ago or so, but guys
(14:25):
talked about his instincts were so elite. He played like,
you ran a four to three. So what can that
do for your game? If your instincts are that good,
what can that do for you as a middle linebacker?
Speaker 11 (14:35):
You know, it gives you confidence, It gives you the
ability to, you know, take more calculated chances. And not
speaking on tire Matthew like he was the ultimate instinct
and you know he can find a play before it
even starts and make a play. He was one of
my favorite players growing up too, But you know, just
guys like that, you try to use your contact clues
when when you're in your film room, and then you
make educated guesses and you know for when you're aggressive,
(14:57):
and more time than not, you're gonna be right. And
you just got to keep playing hard and keep finding
the path.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Speaking of this defense, have you been able to tell
what sort of scheme fit do you think you might be?
For Nick Rollis and Jonathan Gannon? Do you know enough
to know yet?
Speaker 2 (15:10):
You know?
Speaker 11 (15:10):
I mean, right now, we're just all learning all the
plays right now. It's not you know, you're gonna fit here,
You're gonna fit there. Like it's it's really just trying
to learn the entire scheme of everything and the big picture.
And then I think once you get to the season,
you know, you start like whittling down to your little position.
What you what are you thinking gonna play? And but
right now I'm just trying to get the big picture.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
What was your initial reaction when you were first introduced
to the playbook?
Speaker 11 (15:31):
Yeah, I mean it's it's a lot. But once you
once you start the compartmentalize things and you put things
in categories, it starts to simple out a little bit more.
And you know, we're still in the process of right
that right now, So not trying to take too much, uh,
you know, too much out of time, but you know,
little by little each day, trying to get better.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
Cody Simon, A lot has been made about wearing the
green dot. Who's it gonna be this year? Could it
be a rookie?
Speaker 11 (15:54):
I mean, that's not for my answer right now.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
That's all.
Speaker 11 (15:56):
That's all Coach Allis and coach Gannon, whatever they think.
And you know, we have a really strong room right now,
and you know there's a lot of good players, a
lot of vets. So I'm just trying to do my
job right now and just you know, keep pushing the team.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
What sort of challenge do you view that? Tell us
did you you wore the green dot at Ohio State?
Because it hasn't been in existence in the college game
a long time, has it yet?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Nah?
Speaker 11 (16:14):
Last year was the first year. But we me and
my partner Sonny, we would switch on and off each
during the game sometimes and like it's it's a weird
process because you got to take a helmet off and
give it to the EQ and get a new helmet.
So we would switch off constantly throughout the game. But
you know, we did it every day in practice, so
it wasn't a super like foreign thing for me once
(16:34):
once we started getting into the season. But but yeah,
it's it's a it's a great investment for college football.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
And what else is involved with that?
Speaker 3 (16:40):
All?
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Right?
Speaker 5 (16:40):
Obviously you're getting the play call from the sideline, but
then you know you're the quarterback of the defense as well,
right for all of us who have not played middle linebacker,
and that's ninety nine point nine percent of the world,
take it from there. What's that like on a play
by play, pre snap, post snap, everything that's involved with
calling the defense.
Speaker 11 (16:57):
Yeah, so when you get that call, I mean, you're
give in the base call whatever, but there's no more
radio for checks and for adjustments and for for everything else.
So you know you have to be able to to
That's that's what practice times for, as with film rooms
for so you want everyone in the defense on the
same page. And so whether you're making an adjustment or
a check, like, you want everyone to know as soon
as you're making that check. So we we're all precise,
and you know, sometimes it gets complicated when it's a
(17:19):
loud stadium or it's a you know, the national championship games,
sometimes a little communication gets a little bit, a little
bit hectic, but you know, for the most part, where
we were all on the same page and we're making
all the same checks.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
If there's one game people can go back and watch
your film from your college career, especially last season, all
the way to the national title, which game are you
most proud of?
Speaker 11 (17:38):
I would I would probably say the Rose Bowl in
organ the first time we played them. I never got
to Uh, I didn't get to play. I had to
get surgery on my shoulder, and so that was my
first time playing at the Rose Bowl and it was
to a team we lost too, And you know, there's
a lot of emotion kind of pent up in that
game a little bit, because you know, you want to
you want to have something to speak about the season
for and we didn't want to end it out in California.
(18:00):
So I think just as a defense and as a team,
and then personally, I think we were at the top
of our game at that game, and we played really
well and we were able to get to a big,
big lead and that helped us out and you know,
the rest is really history. But I think that that
game was was really important, and you know, I just
I look back at some of those moments and some
of those are some of my favorite moments in college,
just you know, being with the team out there even
(18:21):
before the game, after the game, like and in the
game too. But you know, that was just a great time.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Cody Simon our guests in a big red rage, Ohio
State's leading tackler last year. So you're playing a Rose Bowl,
You're play in a national title game. So when the
Cardinals go on the road Monday night at Dallas, how
bright are those lights gonna be? Or maybe not so
much because you've been there, done that on the big stage.
Speaker 11 (18:42):
Uh, They're always still be bright, for sure. I mean,
that's that's a huge organization right there. But you know,
I've got some familiarity in that, in that in that
stadium a little bit, so well, it'll be a great experience.
I'm I'm really looking forward to to each and every
game really, but you know, those those big games, those
those prime time matchups was always great to be around.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
I asked Walter Nolan, I said, Okay, which quarterback do
you want to sack? Is there a player you look
forward to competing against, whether it's the forty nine ers
and Christian McCaffrey Week one at New Orleans Alvin Kamara,
I mean, are there guys in the schedule like Man,
I can't wait to match up with that guy.
Speaker 11 (19:17):
I couldn't really give you a firm answer right now.
I'm still just trying to make sure I'm doing all
my stuff correct and then we'll get to that one
when the training camp in the season gets underway. But yeah, really,
right now it's anybody. I'm just ready to go and
play my best.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
How about inside linebackers you've studied over the years. You
mentioned you were familiar with Mac Wilson seniors game. You
just mentioned Tyron Matthew. I mean, for example, Fred Warner
the other day became the highest paid off the ball
linebacker in the NFL. Have you study the other NFL linebackers.
Speaker 11 (19:46):
Yeah, the years, Yeah, and we did a great job
I think at Ohio State where we would watch a
lot of NFL tape just to understand concepts and understand,
you know, even just turnovers and the points of emphasis
about a football game. And you know, I would we
watch guys like Tomorrow David In like Matt Milano. But
some some really good linebackers, some of the people at
top of their of their game, and you want to
see what they do because if you can mirror that stuff,
(20:08):
you can be one of those guys. And you know,
I've watched a lot of great linebackers, and I just
try to take a little pieces and parts of everybody's
game and make it my own. And that's that's pretty
much what I've been doing.
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Now, we've been talking with the rookies about making the
jump to the NFL, and we're on board with Cody
Simon right now. How about making the jump from high
school to an Ohio State practice. Marvin Harrison Junior was
sitting right there a year ago. He said, as a
young guy, he would compete in the room and they
had a board in the room, all the all the
receivers in the Ohio State receiver room, and it was
Jackson Smith and Jigma, Garrett Wilson, Chris Slave like Jamison
(20:40):
Williams was there for a moment before he transferred to Alabama.
That's crazy. That's five first round receivers. What is practice
like at Ohio State?
Speaker 11 (20:47):
Yeah, the only best way I could describe it was
that I had to be on every little thing in
my outside life to even have a chance with those guys.
And you know, so that that made me better as
a player though, because that made me take take care
of all the little things. Because when you've got on
the field, you see these these four or five star receivers,
it's like it's like fireworks and and they're they're catching
everything and they're they're moving fast. So you know, even
(21:08):
the guy we just JJ, we just we had last year, like,
these guys are freaks of nature. So you got to
be on your everything and everything on your best and
just be ready to compete and to and to bring
your best foot.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
When you think of Marvin putting on the muscle mass,
it's pretty impressive.
Speaker 11 (21:20):
I think I'm excited for him. I think he's gona
have a really great year.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Actually, when you came to high school, what was that like?
And it was interesting because you know, both your parents played.
Your mom was in track at Michigan. I remember Christian
McCaffrey saying he learned how to run from his mother,
who was a soccer star. I'll pivotle was mom in
your athletic career. You know, she was super important. And
I mean, my mom didn't teach me how to run,
but we would always race each other and I would
(21:43):
always you never want to lose, So that's good. I
guess you could say she told me to run fast,
but you know, she was. She was really important in
my my growing up. And you know.
Speaker 11 (21:53):
Whether it was track or it was football, basketball, like
my parents are always there for me, and my mom especially
and then obviously my my my brother was the probably
the biggest impact in my athletic career where I was
always comparing myself to him and trying to be better
because he was, you know, an excellent player. So I'm yeah,
that's that's really what my growing up in my upbringing
was really.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
Like Jersey City, right, So at any point you play
basketball for a member of the Hurley family, it's like
it's synonymous with Jersey City.
Speaker 11 (22:20):
Yeah, we we admire the passion. I never got to
play with any of the hurlies any before, any of them. Yeah,
but that was always one of those those things you
watch from afar and you can get to admire but
never actually do it.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
So look, a lot of players come out of there
with an edge. Are you a trash talker?
Speaker 4 (22:35):
No.
Speaker 11 (22:35):
I mean, my job is I focus on the play
at hand, and I let my play doing the talking.
And then I don't I don't really want to get
involved with all the other stuff. But you know, you know,
when you make big plays, you know you let him
feel it. You know, emotion, They feel emotion. So you know,
I'm not a big, big trash talker, but you know,
I'm a really emotional player.
Speaker 5 (22:51):
There's a stat where you're like one of a handful
of linebackers in the last ten years to have so
many tackles for losses quarterback sacks. What is it about
your game and your ability to get into the backfield?
Is that is that something you pride yourself on?
Speaker 11 (23:03):
Yeah, one hundred percent, I mean, and that that also
goes into instincts, you know, finding a little nooks and
cranies to kind of find a way to get to
the quarterback or you know, even just affect the game.
And I think it also goes with coaching. I think
I had a great coaching when I was Ahio State,
and you know, just being able to affect the quarterback,
it affects the game so much more than you know
we thought in the past. And so now instead of
(23:23):
making the big hit, you're getting the sack fumble or
you're you're getting something else. So I think it's just
a combination of all that, you know, just you know
instincts and you know, coaching and learning the game better
and getting a better idea and being more comfortable of
the game.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
How much of a chess match is it between a
middle linebacker and a quarterback?
Speaker 11 (23:42):
So, I mean it is. It is a chess game.
And the more you can be out there together and
play against each other, I think that really helps. And
you can see each little change during the game and
you know, really get get get a feel for the quarterback.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
Because it's always interesting.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Guys.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
Rave about Kyle Shanahan. You play him twice a year
with the nin er Sean McVeigh and the Rams, right,
they always have something. There's always some sort of wrinkle
and they make a defense think. So you know, four
time academic, All Big ten. So you know what we'll see,
We'll come on in. We look forward to it, we
really do.
Speaker 11 (24:11):
I do as well. It's gonna be a good time,
good time this season.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Have you had a welcome to the NFL moment when
you're out there with Budda Baker. You're like, wow, that's
pretty cool as well, right.
Speaker 11 (24:18):
Yeah, it shows you got a long way to go.
But I mean he's with the top of the game
right now.
Speaker 5 (24:22):
Cody Simon. Everyone, We continue with a big red rage
presented by Santan forward in Gilbert.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
Sorry with times fires deep middle end zone for Harrison
and Harrison made the catch and got his feet down
for a touchdown. Harrison caught it in the twenty to tennis.
Harrison dies to the end zone. He's in touchdown up
by Harrison shows up, touchdown, Cardinal.
Speaker 9 (24:51):
Are you not entertained, mate, left side of the end zone.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Harrison pulls it in touchdown Cardinals, Harrison and laying out
for it.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
He got it.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Touchdown. What a catch, Marvin Harrison Junior. Big time a
fade right corner of the end zone, Harrison, Paul, what
a catch for a touchdown back of the end zone,
Harrison sick Harrison, it's a touchdown. Fade right side of
the end zone. On the money to Marvin Harrison Junior.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Touchdown. Marvin Harrison Junior stabs the pig, pulls it down,
taps it off.
Speaker 5 (25:26):
There you go a little highlighted montage Pash and Wolf
on the call, rookie Marvin Harrison Junior twenty twenty four
numbers eerily similar to his father's, by the way, Hall
of Famer Marvin Harrison Senior, and numbers actually rookie stats
that exceeded Larry Fitzgerald. So it is amazing for everything
(25:48):
that we think maybe he left out there at times
that the Cardinals offense could have maximized to a greater degree.
There is so much more potential there and the numbers
were there for rookie and everyone is looking forward to that.
And what is do you have in common with our
guest Cody Simon? They both went to Ohio State. You're
Cody here on the Big Red Rage presented by santan
Ford and Gilbert just talking about practice man and all
(26:10):
just the top the top talent you get in Ohio
State practice. So it's no wonder that these Ohio State
guys are NFL ready. Wolf and Cody Simon definitely sounds
an acts mature, doesn't he.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Yeah, there's no doubt about it, Bully, this guy is
so sharp right now. He's challenging one of my core beliefs, Paully,
that you can't come into the National Football League other
than quarterback. You cannot come in as a rookie and
start at mike linebacker or full back. Paul, you can't
actually start at those two because it's right there, because Pauly,
(26:42):
you just don't understand what you don't know right now,
and you don't know an awful lot coming in as
Mike linebacker. The college game is nowhere close to being
the National Football League. I liking it to checkers and
chess Paul, respectively. That's what it is is it's so
complex at the NFL level to have a rookie come
(27:04):
in and actually start and have a green dot on
his helmet. This guy is challenging my core belief that
that is not possible as a rookie. And I think
Cody Simon, we might see it his rookie year.
Speaker 5 (27:17):
Yeah, all you have to do go to his Twitter
account and he pinned a highlight reel from Ohio State.
Two things stand out his leadership. Everyone is following Cody Simon.
What's why he got the block Ole Ward, He's wearing
that jersey. It's why Ryan Day as head coach, called
him the heartbeat of the team. And then number two
just all the playmaking, how often he's in the backfield.
I mean I mentioned the stat the fact that he
had tackles for loss and sacks. Look no other inside linebacker.
(27:41):
He has those instincts and that ability to read an
offense and to seek and destroy as a linebacker. It's
going to be really intriguing. To your point, Wolf, can
he handle the playbook? Can he run a defense? I
think he's going to be given every single opportunity during
training camp. We'll see and you know what, we have
seen it in the last couple of years. Paris Johnson
Junior was a starting right tackle the moment he got
off the plane. Marvin Harrison Junior was wide receiver one
(28:04):
the moment he was taking number four overall. Now, the
question what's in store for Marvin in year two, especially
based on what he looks like if you got a
glance at him this week hashtag muscle mass and gains,
and he was asked about that is new found muscle
mass with the media.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
That just happened.
Speaker 12 (28:24):
Actually, honestly, I don't know. College I didn't eat as
much probably and then started eating a little bit more,
you know, having more free time, I guess by the internet. Obviously,
all the right things. Uh, some extra protein for sure.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
How do you think your new shape will help him?
Speaker 12 (28:40):
Yeah, I mean obviously, you know, always the football is
a physical game, a lot of contested situations as well
as he received contested catch situations, run off the catch
and things like that. So uh, I know, we'll see
how things play out throughout OTAs and training.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Can't see where that goes.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
I don't know if he went to see Yelda Froholt,
you know, for the protein. But whatever he did at
worked Wolf. I mean it was really noticeable, wasn't it.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
There's no doubt about it. Bully. He looks really really good.
And this is what a professional football player tries to
do every off season. Paul, get bigger, get stronger, get faster,
get in better shape. That is your responsibility in the
off season. That's what you're trying to do. And it
certainly looked like Marvin Harrison Junior went ahead and took
(29:24):
that to heart. Not really a surprise coming from the
family that he does, of course, but I think it
is going to be a surprise to see him get
off the press better because of his muscle mass and
his size.
Speaker 5 (29:37):
I mean, this is an honest question, how do you
get better at contested catches? You can't really practice it,
so I think the first thing you do is you
get stronger.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
So, yeah, you're more.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
Physically capable, right, get off me, right, and you're able
that first five yards, especially because I think probably what
he found out, like most rookie receivers find out, these
are grown men playing games in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Yeah, Paul, that is a great observation right there. How
do you get better at contested catches? Don't have as
many of them? And you know how you don't have
as many of them. You go ahead and you use
your size and your physicality when you get pressed and
knock that dB around, knock that corner around, and run
better routes because you don't have somebody who's got his
(30:21):
hands all over you get off the press man. And
this is why I think Marvin Harrison Junior went ahead
and attacked his weight and his strength in this offseason
because he's trying to get off the press now again.
You know what I want to see the biggest improvement
I think from Marvin Harrison Junior, Polly, I want to
(30:41):
see him attack the ball when it's in the air.
This is something I've talked to you about in the past.
This is something we've had discussions about. When that ball
is up in the air, I want to see Marvin
Harrison Junior attack that thing and say that ball is
mine and go up and try to elevate and use
those spears to stab the pig out of the air.
(31:03):
That's what I want to see from him going forward,
all right.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
I asked Buddha Baker this week he met the media
as well, So did you notice that your receiver looks
like you can bench press his car? What do you
think about Marvin Harrison Junior's weight game.
Speaker 6 (31:16):
Yeah, I saw him. I was like, how much you weighing?
He told me. I was like, man, he's still skinny,
you know. So, yeah, he's gained a lot of muscle.
I haven't really seen him run routes because we're kind
of on different sides of the field, but very excited
to start practicing again and seeing our auditions that we have.
But also Marve is continuing to get better. He's bigger
(31:37):
from what I seen on the sprints, he's more explosive.
So some people think that when you gain weight you
kind of get slower. I think for him, it's the opposite.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
And to be clear, we don't know that he's actually
gained any weight.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
LB's sure.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
He didn't answer that question. Darius Robinson, who looks much
bigger as well swoll as the kids would say, told
Darren Urban that he's stronger, but he's still the same. Wait,
so we don't know exactly about that. Marvin Harrison Junior
did say he's going to test drive it during mini
camp training camp see how he likes it. Maybe maybe
takes off a few lbs if needed or wanted. Here's
(32:11):
the other area, Wolf where you know you talk. We
talked about contested catches, attacking the ball. Then there's also
mentally and here's what Marvin Harrison Junior had to say
about flipping the switch more often next year.
Speaker 12 (32:22):
I'm very a humble guy to begin with, no matter
you know, what's happening on the field, I could just
be very humble. I feel like I definitely do have
a switch I can switch on more probably next year.
I think that just constantly being comfortable playing the game,
playing at the speed of the NFL and things like that.
So I think it just happened actually more or anything.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
How do you translate that is he talking about mentality.
Is he talking about the intensity?
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Yes, no, Paully' He's talking about flipping the switch. You
heard him say that right there. I'm a very humble
guy and I'm going out here and I'm competing on
the field. You know what, when that ball again, Paul,
just what I was talking about, when that ball is
in the air, half the mentality that says that ball
is mine and nobody else is going to catch the
ball around here. Listen, this is very similar what the
(33:08):
Japanese fighting fish used to do. Larry Fitzgerald. Yeah, this
is what he did. He was open even when he
was covered, because he just had to throw him the
ball and he would go get it. He would stab
that thing out of the ear. This is what Marvin
Harrison Junior has got to do. He's got to take
that mentality and flip that switch. It's okay to be polite,
(33:30):
it's okay to be humble off the field. It's a
beautiful thing as a matter of fact, to do that.
But once you get inside those white lines, man, that
switch has got to be flipped, and that means mentally,
go get the ball.
Speaker 5 (33:45):
You know what else is interesting There have been some
analytic breakdowns that he wasn't in motion a whole bunch
last year. Yeah, So okay, what does that mean as
a room for growth in that regard getting him on
the move? A little tougher for God to get their
hands on them once you snap the ball, right, I mean,
you gotta figure there might be a little different usage.
(34:06):
I know we mentioned at the end of last season
he had a couple of good games to finish the year,
and he said he was running some different routes at
different times in the last two games of the year.
I think that's all foreshadowing for this.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Year, Paulie. I think you're right on that quickly. And
I just want to say this too. I think they
were trying to simplify the game for Marvin Harrison Junior
and Kyler Murray. So bet they could create chemistry between them,
but now they need to take that next step going forward.
Speaker 5 (34:30):
That's a great point, all right, Hey, get ready for
the twenty twenty five season, right, get the latest gear
from the Cardinals team shop. In fact, how about the
recently drop Marvin Harrison junior jersey That was a huge
hit out of the draft party out on the Gray Lawn.
Go to Azycardinals dot Com slash Shop Azcardinals dot Com
slash shop. All right, the tushbush it's here to stay.
(34:51):
What does AQ Shipley have to say about that? On
Wolfe's reaction when we come back and the big red
rage presented by Santan forward in Gilbert, here.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
Comes a tousch push.
Speaker 7 (35:02):
You gotta thank your stars, heart and he is powering
across for the touchdown.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
If he knows what's coming down. Hurts. Canna get in
now We're gonna get the tousch pushing, Thank you, everybody,
come again.
Speaker 5 (35:18):
It hurts trying to go over the time and get
him sneaks right under it.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
We're first down, do it again?
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Hurts.
Speaker 10 (35:24):
Four Jaylor hurts.
Speaker 7 (35:27):
And jailing hurts or no, they're going touch push and
they get it. It's not the jailing hurts push, it's
the touch madn't matter who's touched or pushing.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
It should work.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
Hurts shot a sneak kind of drives its way in touchdown.
Speaker 5 (35:46):
As the Eagles tweeted out, social media just had a
field day with this over an Eagles HQ push on
after it was ratified, after it was safe preserved, and
all the headlines that have come out since it's including
one on ESPN where sources this is the headline now
Wolf Temper's flair as Eagles defend the tush push in
(36:08):
heated debate. So apparently there was a lot of drama
at the league meetings, the owners meetings this week and
the biggest headline once again, Yes, indeed, everybody now the
tushpush is here to stay.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Well, Paully, that means somebody told somebody else to sit
down and shut up or called them a ven old
pettifogger ball.
Speaker 5 (36:26):
Well, you know what, It's funny you say that because
the details in the story there's not much. But apparently
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie gave a speech that lasted nearly
an hour. Yes, I heard that, and then Jason Kelsey
came in and tried to say, look, the data is real,
there's no increased risk of injury. And so they got
(36:47):
it through, they got it preserved. And I don't know
where you stand on this, Wolf, I'm trying to remember.
I know we've argued and talked about this. Look, I
mean I I'm not going to live or die in
this hill. I will say this. I think it's bad ball.
I don't think it's great football, just the look of
it and the rugby elements of it. You know, It's
sort of like in baseball, the commissioner steps in with
(37:08):
the best interest of the game. I mean, if Roger
Goodell stepped in and said, you know what, it's not
great football, nobody likes watching it, we're all sick of it.
Hence and heretofore it's gone. I wouldn't mind that. But
I also get that as a competitive advantage for the
team that has really perfected it, and that's the Eagles.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Yeah, Paul, it just cannot stand it. It's not a
football play. To me, It's a rugby play, That's what
it is. It's not a football play.
Speaker 10 (37:30):
You know what.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
It reminds me of And I'm not talking about at
the point of attack, where the offense and defensive lineman
fire off the ball. That's very very physical down low.
But if you look at everyone else, it reminds me
of dudes at a pilates class just laying all over
some pilates ball pushing it. You know what, Paul, this
is this is not a football play. That is my
(37:52):
problem with the tush push right now. It is not
and it should be banned from the NFL in my.
Speaker 5 (37:58):
Opinion, all right, what's the opinion of Aq Shipley. No
one is more qualified than an NFL center to comment
on the Tushbush right, and so here he was earlier
today on the Pat McAfee show.
Speaker 9 (38:10):
When you look at it, it is a skill like
Buffalo tried to do it and they get stuffed. Other
teams have tried to do it, they've gotten stuffed. I mean,
it's not nearly as successful with all the other teams
as it is with the Philadelphia Eagles. So it's clearly
a skill that the Philadelphia Eagles have mastered. So if
one team's better than the rest at it, then then
they're clearly doing something right. And it's clearly a skill set.
This isn't a play where it's an automatic first down
(38:32):
for everybody across the league. And if it was, I
could understand it. And they've found a way to make
it so good, and Jalen Hurts behind has made it
so good, so you can't punish them for being better
than everybody else at it.
Speaker 5 (38:43):
I mean, they have a quarterback who squats six hundred pounds,
so should we get it. He's especially equipped to run
the tushbush and that's what you do. You build your
team around your weapons, right, you cater and so now
it's not indefensible. They weren't one hundred percent at it.
In fact, you go two years ago off at the
end of the season when the Cardinals went into Filly
and beat the Eagles, there was a third and one
where the Cardinals stuffed the tush push. Yeah, and then
(39:06):
they try to get on fourth and one and they converted.
So yeah, it can be done, but they have great
success with.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
It, Paulie. This is my problem with it right now
for the Philadelphia Eagles, and it should be for everybody
else because PAULI, right now, if you're gonna say it's legal,
why every team in the league is not gonna do
what the Philadelphia Eagles do, Why they're not going to
do the push tush, the tush push, whatever you want
to call it, Pally is beyond me. You have to
(39:34):
you have to take advantage of this because when you
can convert third and one and fourth and one, when
you can convert that ninety percent of the time, paul
if you have a third and two, you're just gonna
do the push to the toush push. You're just gonna
do that twice, Paul. Look, I'm all fired up. I
can't even say it. You're just gonna do that twice?
(39:56):
Right now? It's first and eight for the Philadelphia Eagles.
It's not first and ten because if we get in
a third and two situation, we're gonna run two tush pushes.
Speaker 5 (40:07):
And that's the other thing that's wrong with the whole
play is the moniker is the name, because just the
word tush does not belong in football. Chris, all right,
I'm still standing by mind, which hasn't got any traction.
I've always liked the nickname the butt hut.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
That's what I like. No, Paul, not the butt Hut.
Don't ever say anything but Paul, don't never say that
brotherly shove. Okay, I like that one. That's a good
one right there. But you know what, Paul, Honestly, I
think there's a point where you can be so good
at that where even on a third and three in
a gotta have its situation, you might go ahead and
(40:41):
run the tush push twice to convert that first down twice,
knowing that it's hard to stop.
Speaker 5 (40:50):
I tell you who has an advantage the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers with Vitavea, and then they sign that four hundred
and sixty four pound defensive lineman out of Florida, Desmond Watson. Yea,
So the Buccaneers tweeted out, we got two dudes we're
gonna put right over the nose, try and come through
these guys. Here's the other thing, well, hit zoom out
on the Eagles. I think they're tracking. They're tracking to
(41:11):
really be the biggest villain in the NFL that we've
seen in a while. I mean, we've all come to
dislike over the years of the Cowboys and the Chiefs
and especially the Seahawks, but Philly's getting real close to
becoming enemy number one in everybody's power pole at this rate,
especially Sakuon Barkley coming out this week and saying the
twenty twenty four Eagles are quote a top five team
(41:33):
in NFL history.
Speaker 1 (41:34):
Ooh, I miss that ball. I am sorry about.
Speaker 5 (41:37):
God, They're starting to smell themselves right now.
Speaker 1 (41:39):
Okay, here's the one thing I would say about that.
You're right, PAULI Philadelphia first of all, and you know
how I feel about Philadelphia fans as well. Just the
worst fan base in the history of the NFL. I'll
leave it at that right there. Yet, Yet, at the
same time, how can you really dislike the Eagles when
he got Jalen Hurts as your quarterback. This guy is,
(42:01):
It's true, what a great guy. He is, squared away
and a great competitor. I love what he did last
year and I'm happy for him. But having said that,
I would like to see the Eagles lose every game
they play.
Speaker 5 (42:14):
He is single handedly saving their Q rating. You're you're
absolutely all right now. Things we do like and I
think we do agree on this. One would be the
NFL initiative to go ahead and green light flag football.
NFL players can participate in the twenty twenty eight Olympics.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
This is the greatest thing, Balie. It really is, not
only because football players get to play and compete for
Olympic gold, but also because you know what, we're going
to be better than everyone else in this in the
United States is going to win another gold medal. That's
all I care about, and I know you love that
as well, Balie. And not only that, can I say
(42:49):
that it's really gonna help the flag football initiative in
regard to girls' high school athletics ball. Yep, it's really
these flag football teams that are coming up all through
the country, all through high school right now, These these
women's flag football teams. This is fantastic for women's athletics
(43:13):
right now and it gives them something. There are scholarships
being handed out for flag football and that's why I
love it. The NFL is supporting it, and by the way,
does that increase the fan base in the future for them?
And they've got a bunch of girls who played flag
football in high school, you better believe it.
Speaker 5 (43:33):
And nobody in the NFL is supporting girls flag football
more than the Arizona Cardinals. Yeah, we are both part
of telecast. A year ago, Cardinals broadcast the whole season
is coming again this year. Everyone's looking forward to that.
There are two initiatives right now in the NFL big picture.
One is international and two is flag football. And really
flag football ties into international because this is how you
(43:54):
grow the game globally. This is how so many great points,
so many athletes around the world can participate and learn
the game. Is it the football that you played for
ten years and went to four Pro Bowls? No, but
guess what softball isn't exactly baseball. Yeah, and the popularity
softball is off the hook right now, and he keeps growing,
just like girls. Flag football keeps growing. And I think
(44:17):
that's what the NFL is seeing, and they're going to
keep feeding this thing because it has so much potential.
I mean, ten years from now, twenty years from now,
what it's going to look like.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
You know what, Paul, I could play ten years in
the National Football League because of the physicality. But I
would not have made the flag football team for the Olympics,
no way.
Speaker 2 (44:37):
How about that?
Speaker 1 (44:37):
Even I would never have been considered.
Speaker 5 (44:40):
How about Kyler Murray as a flag football quarterback?
Speaker 1 (44:44):
Okay, the only thing better than Kyler Murray would be
Jaden Daniels because he's just as mobile.
Speaker 5 (44:49):
Yeah, that's a good point. Hey, Cardinals single game tickets,
don't forget on sale Va Seki Godasycardinals dot Com slash
by tickets Special thanks Cardinals rookie linebacker Cody Simon, Executive
producer Jim Almhundro, Associate producer Cody Fincher, Technical director Evan Reiser,
Ron Wolfley, I'm Paul calvic Henk. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend. Everyone,
(45:10):
this has been the Big Red Rage presented by santan
Ford and Gilbert. We are santan Ford.
Speaker 3 (45:19):
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.
Speaker 5 (45:28):
Two oh two Freeway and val Vista.
Speaker 3 (45:31):
The Rage is brought to you by Arizona Cardinals Podcast.
Visit Azycardinals dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (45:39):
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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