August 7, 2025 • 45 mins
Ep. 728 - Versatility. That's the name of the game for Cardinals Safety Jalen Thompson, who joined Paul Calvisi and Ron Wolfley on the Big Red Rage. Thompson tells Paul and Wolf why it's so important to him to be able to do it all as a defensive back and what stands out the most to him about this defense going into the 2025 season. Plus, the guys discuss the end of training camp at State Farm Stadium, the starters playing in the first preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Will Hernandez returning to the team, Isaiah Adams continuing to impress and what kind of an impact rookie cornerback Will Johnson will make in his first season.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Strap on the boots and scrape up the knuckles ahead.
He got jacked.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford
and Gilbert.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Terry's gonna score touchdown swam to the ground by Buddha
Baker like a torpedo.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
He came flying into the backfield.
Speaker 2 (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 Trey McBride.
Speaker 2 (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, Jimber your rising vision, blurring Rage,
take it over. Here's Paul CALVICI I'm ready. I'm one
hundred percent ready. I'm telling you I'm ready.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
And Ron Wolfley, it doesn't get any better than that.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
The Fjord.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
You know, when we talk about a record breaking season,
we're not talking about the record broken today, Ron Wolfley.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
That's one hundred.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
And eighteen degrees. I mean, not just the hottest ever
for this date, but for the month of August, the
hottest August day ever in Phoenix history.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
It's incredible. Even the High Country was a little high
if you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Bolick, I've got an idea. Maybe we should open the
roof for the Chiefs on Saturday night. What do you
think about that? It's all come out.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
No, I don't think so, Paali preseason.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
He Mahomes and Kelsey. How's this taste feel the big heat,
big big heat? No, it's the big big Rage, Red
Rage with Jalen Thompson, presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert.
We are Santan Ford. Yes, Jalen Thompson is gonna be
our guest. Paul kelvycar Ron Wolfley there and wolf I
know you liked camp, you know, don't tell me otherwise.
I mean more pads, stop it, more pads more better, right,
(02:00):
I mean it was pads and po losa in this camp.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
There's no doubt about it. This has been one of
the best training camps I've seen in JG's three training
camps that he's had here. Now, I would have to
say this is the most impressive. I would agree with that.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Okay, look we're gonna get to Jalen Thompson. We're going
to talk about Will Hernandez.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
That was the big day.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
You know, if we were smart, we would have realized
many days ago that there was no one wearing number
seventy six, and we would have filled in the blank
two weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
The very first thought I had when I heard that
Will Hernandez had indeed signed with the Arizona Cardinals again bully,
is the cats are barking. Now, even the cats are barking.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Yeah, and here's maybe the best news. I'll just surmise
Wolf when you heard the news, guess what the starters
are going to play on Saturday night? Now, Look, Kansas
City is no for that, and Andy Reid has said, yeah,
his starters are going to go the first quarter.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
But wait a.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Minute, Jonathan Gannett announcing, guess what the starters. Let there
be football, Let the ones take the field.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Yeah, what a beautiful thing this is. You know, I
think it's just part of the process with jayg Right now,
football players they play football games. Ron wilfully reporting that's
what they do. Football players want to play in football games,
even if it's a preseason game. Most of the guys
that I've been around, they would love to go out
(03:31):
there and get three, maybe four reps. And you know,
what coach, if you want to take me on after
three or four reps, that's fine. Just let me go
out there and knock some of the rust off of me.
Let me go out there and go through the process
of getting ready for a game. And you know, for me, Paul,
it's a it's what is JG say all the time.
(03:52):
It's the price of admission to actually be on this team.
And the price of admission, I think is being okay
with playing in a preseason game if your coach wants
you to.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
It's all about being regular season ready. Whatever it takes
to be there, ready to go week one. And here
you are. It is officially the end of camp. Now
a lot of players are like, well, we're still practicing
all next week, But in terms of Cardinals camp, here
at State Farms Stadium, Ding Dong, it is over. Today
was the final practice here at the Cardinals home stadium,
(04:26):
their site for training camp every year. And here's Kyler
Murray and the state of the team at the end
of camp.
Speaker 6 (04:31):
I think we've just been stacking really great days.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
You know.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Obviously for me, it's been one of the most competitive
camps that I've been a part of. I think the
team is complete as far as you know. We added
depth all across the board. MANI and the guys JG
wanted to hit the defense really hard in this all season.
I think they went and did that, and it's shown
out there under in camp. No, we've gone back and forth,
but I think that's what's gonna make us great.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Kyler Murray there on the NFL Network the Insiders Show,
and look, Kyler has been pretty honest about preseason in
the past.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Doesn't like it, but here's here's what I.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Do like is another opportunity against the live defense for
him to generate the same chemistry as with Trey McBride
with his other receivers. He gets to face a live
pass rush.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
I get it.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
They're probably gonna be playing vanilla schemes, yes, but still
the pass rush is live and so the real speed
of the game. He can be taken down, he can
be hit. He ain't wearing no non contact jersey. So
I think even if it's one series, at least it
gets the juices flowing.
Speaker 5 (05:29):
A little bit.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
I agree with that, PAULI I do. I wonder how
many snaps the starters are gonna play for the Arizona Cardinals.
I do wonder about that. Andy Reid. Just look across
the field. Andy Reid, the head coach of the Kansas
City Chiefs. Of course, Andy Reid is a guy He's
played his starters in preseason games sometimes a half a half, Paul,
(05:52):
which is I'm not in favor of that. I'm in
favor of running your starters out there, but I'm in
favor of running them out there responsibly. I'm not in
favor of them going out there getting forty snaps or
thirty snaps in the preseason game.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
This is also a team, the Kansasity Chiefs, that has
been a seven straight AFC championship games.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Think about that for it.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Don't get me started, okay, And if you do, I
need to rewind to this season opener twenty twenty two
in this building when Kansas City scored touchdowns on their
first five possessions. Oh man, there was one team that
was regular season ready to go, and it was Kansas City.
And so they know how to get ready for a season.
(06:36):
And to me, Wolf, look if Isaiah Adams, who has
looked great in this camp, yes, if he gets a
few reps against oh, I don't know, one of the
best three techniques in the game and Chris Jones, Hello,
I think that's really telling.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
That's really valuable.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
If Darius Robinson gets to go against one of the
best interior guards in the game, and Trey Smith, I
think that's really valuable. Here's Jay Jones, who's been there
and done that for nearly a decade in the NFL.
On the starters plane against case.
Speaker 7 (07:04):
I think it's good for us to get out there
and experience something live, go against someone else beside your
own team, and have those competitive reps and be able
to evaluate it after and then kind of see, okay,
where we as a position group, as a unit, as.
Speaker 8 (07:18):
A team, what do we need to improve on?
Speaker 7 (07:20):
And it'll be exciting for other guys to get an
opportunity to showcase their ability as well.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
I love the fact that Zay went ahead, classic classic
veteran right here, that he went ahead and said, you
know what, you get to look at it after and
then evaluate what happened to me. It's the biggest thing
about playing the starters. It is a good thing to
get out there and have your starters execute or not execute.
Go out and execute the offense or the defense, whatever
(07:47):
it may be. So you can teach off that, not
only teach the starters, but everyone else that's in the
room watching a coach go through this and saying, hey, Evan,
how did you take this step right here? Look where
your hands are, Isaiah, what are you doing here? If
you've got guys that are out there as starters, it
(08:08):
is a great way to teach off that tape in
the preseason.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
If you're Jonathan Gannon, what do you want to see?
Make your list and check it twice. What would you
love to see on Saturday night? In terms of position battles,
maybe in terms of certain players flashing, like, for instance,
Zay Jones, I think you know what. He can provide
a lot of answers. It's sort of vague on what
exactly is Jay Jones. He potentially could be a number two.
(08:35):
He's done it before. He flashed last two games the
last year when he got some targets. Do they truly
know what they have in Zay Jones at this point
in his career? Michael Wilson told the media today, Yeah,
I realized we don't have a lot of marquee names
in our receiver room. But guess what, quote we still
have a damn good receiver corps. That's Michael Wilson. Well,
I think the receivers need to go out and prove that.
(08:55):
And guess what if it happens in a preseason game
and you get that chemistry down with Kyler Murray, I
think that it's valuable.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Yeah, you know what's amazing. You're bringing up the wide
receiver room, Paulie. And of course that's what a sideline
guy would do, basically, bring up the wide receiver room
when we're finally gonna have live action and we're not
going to go inside the box. The blood Sport lives
inside the box. We're gonna talk about wide receivers, Paulie.
And you know what, honestly, that's okay because Marvin Harrison Junior,
(09:21):
even Marvin Harrison Junior, think about him his rookie year.
Did he want to play in a preseason game? He did, Paulie.
He wanted to play in a preseason game. I love that,
and I don't think this is an accident. Once again,
this is the price of admission. JG and Manti Ausenford
are bringing guys in who think this way, who are
(09:42):
going to be okay with doing this. I really truly
believe this. I think it's one of the reasons why
in year three of this rebuild, you finally have JG
meeting with the veterans and talking about do you guys
want to play in a preseason game? Because I'm thinking
about changing my take on preseason and I think that's important.
(10:07):
Two words, more friction, more friction ball. It goes into
what he said going into camp. Here's the other thing,
more competition than ever. I think you need preseason reps
to decide a lot of these position battles, the back
end of the O line room, the back end of
the D line room. Who's going to be your inside
linebacker next to Mac Wilson Senior? Is Will Johnson?
Speaker 5 (10:29):
For real?
Speaker 1 (10:30):
You don't want question marks going into Week one, do you, Paul?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
So I think there's a lot of things you can answer.
There's a lot of reasons why he's deciding, Well, if
Andy Reid's notorious for playing his starters, guess what, you
know what, we should probably play our starters as well.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
And you know, if Patrick Mahomes grabs the torch on
that as well and says I want to play.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
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(11:10):
and we come back on the Big Red Rage presented
by santan Ford and Gilbert.
Speaker 9 (11:23):
There has been a final decision made and staying for
the season for people who have spoken. So it started
off as a camp stash. I just wanted to kind
of switch it up, you know, something new, and then
it just kind of hit. Honestly, all the guys loved it.
Is creating a lot of camaraderie out of good times,
you know, and it was it was funny actually, like
(11:44):
a bunch of people started messaging me about it, you know,
really taking the time out of their day to let
me know that they like the mustache. So I was
just saying, you know what, you got to give the
people what they want.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Oh man, Will Hernandez dead panting with the media last year.
But wait a minute, if you did like Will Hernandez's mustache,
would you really have the nerve to tell him that? Hah,
not to his face.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Let's put it that way. It is the big red rage.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Jalen Thompson is around the corner, Paul kelvc ron Wolf
Lee Wolf. I ran into Will Hernandez earlier today. No,
and I told him. I told him. You know what,
it's a love hate relationship me and you. I love you.
I love the fact you're back. I hate the fact
that my mustache now automatically becomes number two in this
camp by a country mile, because he's killing it with
a mustache. Mine is merely a camp body. His was
(12:29):
here to stay. And now Will Hernandez is back. As
we said, you know, it was conspicuous by his absence,
right there was no seventy six on this roster, so
they finally.
Speaker 5 (12:38):
Filled in the gap, right there.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
Wolf, What do you think of when you think of
big Will Hernandez as an Arizona cardinal once again?
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Well, this is the greatest news. Probably you know how
much I love Will Hernandez. Miho, of course, I love
Will Hernandez and how he plays the game. Of football.
This team's motor just got bigger, and this team's violence
more acute. Let me put it that way. This is
a team that this is how they want players to
(13:05):
go out and play, and that is Will Hernandez. As
far as I'm concerned, Watching him go out there as
right guard and battle the way that he does and
play with the kind of intensity that he does is
really kind of reassuring to me. It's something. It's like
a warm blanket on a cold winter's night to watch
Will go about his business. So as I said before,
(13:26):
as well, you can hear the cats barking.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Was he not playing some of his best football last
year before he suffered the torn ac always left me.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
I will tell you this, I thought he was the
best offensive lineman through five weeks. Wow, I thought he
was before he tore it.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Okay, so no wonder they signed him back. In fact,
here's the head coach I'm bringing back Will Hernandez.
Speaker 10 (13:48):
He's a good player, you know, but coming off a
major injury. So we'll get him. We'll get him in
and get him caught up, get him healthy and ready to.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Go for shit like motor and violence.
Speaker 10 (14:02):
Does this player you just signed kind of yeah, he's
mean and nasty.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
More friction or if you want, cram that vertical Will
Hernandez as he and look he turns thirty in September.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
We get it.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
But this is a man who started a fight with
JJ Watt on that field right over there.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
BALI, we just do you believe that it's right there
in front of us as we're broadcasting here from State
Farm standing? Are you kidding me to see that brawl?
I still remember that Will Hernandez and JJ Watt truly
incredible right there. I don't think j G would have
liked that or did like that.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Guess what, though, you're gonna love a brawling Will Hernandez
against Oh, I don't know Leonard Williams of the Seattle
Seahawks and other Premiere three techniques right, but for now,
Isaiah Adams is your right guard. The head coach said
as much, and then Evan Brown is your left guard.
In fact, speaking of Isaiah Adams, he is definitely won
this camp and turned heads this second year right guard.
(15:04):
Here's what the head coach had to say about Isaiah Adams,
especially that confidence.
Speaker 10 (15:08):
His confidence stack, as I would call it, vision belief
proof is in the pudding and then that goes into
your belief. His confidence stack is high right now because
he's doing it, you know. So he's executing at a
high level. He's playing good ball. He's improved a lot.
I felt from when he got back in here to
OTAs when he left in the summer and now where
(15:30):
he is as a player and he's working on something
every day. But I feel really good about Isaiah.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
How do you feel about Isaiah Adams especially you've watched
a lot of this camp Wolf. What have you seen
and how different has it been than his rookie.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Year, You know, Paul, It's interesting because we all talk
about how he's gotten stronger, you know, how he got
into the weight room in the off season and how
he's gotten stronger, and I'm not disagreeing with that yet.
More than anything else, it's his soul. It is the
confidence that he had inside of him that you can
see and you can see it out on the field.
(16:04):
Football is played inside out. It starts in the inside
and then it comes out whatever God has gifted you physically.
And just watching him go about his business, this guy
is night and day from where he was last year
as a rookie of course, and then where he is now,
and if you talk to him, you can see it
(16:26):
in his eyes. Pollie, if you get him in this
kind of conversation in regard to him, how much more
confident are you this year than you were last year?
And why are you more confident? And he just goes
off on that. You can see it in his face.
So I'm really excited about Isaiah Adams and Paully. I
had an old coach who was one of the best
(16:47):
offensive line coaches in the National Football League. I'll leave
his name out, doesn't matter, but he used to say,
you need three guards. You need three guards on a
football team because guards are so active, pulling a lot
of the time. They're out and about. In a power scheme,
of course, in a zone scheme, they're right in the middle.
(17:08):
You're gonna need three guards before the season is over
because somebody's gonna get nicked up. They're gonna miss four
games here. You need that third guard to be able
to step in and be a starter. And then maybe
he's gonna go down in four weeks, and then you
need the guy that went down previous to that to
step in and be that guard once again. So I
(17:29):
think They've got three guys right now that I really
really like and Will Hernandez, Isaiah Adams of course, and
Evan Brown.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
And guess what, Evan Brown is your second best center,
So knock on.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
What And that's not gonna that is a big deal.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
It is.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
And so if you need a backup center, hopefully you don't,
but if you do, then guess what, Will Hernandez is
all that more valuable because Evan Brown might have to
go ahead and start snapping the football. I'll just say
this a final thought.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Many times, PAULI let me just jump in here and
saying many times that can actually hurt Evan Brown, that
he's so that he is the guy that could be
the backup center as well, and a lot of times
because that, you know, you got a guy that's a quality,
quality starter at guard, and yet he's your backup center.
If there's another guy that's really close to his skill
(18:17):
set and his ability level, maybe you're gonna start the
other guy because Evan Brown is a guy that can
come in and be either a starting caliber guard or center.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
And I said, just having watched all the O line
D line drills, and you know, I mean they've tried
it with Hayden Connor, the sixth round rookie. They've tried
it with John Gaines, but they're at most unproven. Evan
Brown has started more than fifty games in this league
at center, so I'm just saying he could be now
as far as I see it. Get and Isaiah Adams
in these O line D line drills, it is night
and day from a year ago he took on Koalais
(18:50):
to start camp. I mean he had a tussle with
Darius Robinson.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yes, nobody would know this better than you because you
actually tape this stuff correct and.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
When I go back through it, I can see exactly
who's winning, who's losing. And Isaiah Adams, I mean, he
held his own against Dalvin Tomlinson, so there's no better,
you know, display of strength, and you know then against
Dalvin Thomlinson when he's coming in hot. So here's my question, though,
Wolf is do they have a question to right tackle?
Is Jonah Williams going to be going on Saturday night?
(19:21):
And if not, what's the plan? Is he tracked?
Speaker 5 (19:24):
You know?
Speaker 4 (19:25):
So I think there are some questions still with the
O line and that, and look, depth is always a
big question because if you look behind the starting guards,
Royce Newman, Nick Leverett, Jake Kerrhan Hayden Connor.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
Yeah, none of.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
Those guys are a lot to make this roster. Yes,
so there's still a lot of competition going on at
o line. And you know how this team wants to
run the ball, and wants to run the ball with
two running backs even It's interesting if you saw the
Hall of Fame game Wolf, you saw a lot of
talk about David Montgomery and Jamior Gibbs being on the
field at the same time. Yes, and you know some
(19:59):
of the players have talked about you know what, when
you get two backs out there, it can be really effective.
What do you think about this team? We know you
love twelve personnel? What about twenty two personnel with James Connor.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Creedy right now? Are we probably talking about twenty two personnel?
Why not?
Speaker 4 (20:16):
Well, you're going to feature your best players. Trey Benson
is about it could be on the verge of a breakout.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
But here's the thing, Bully, if you're not going to
give the ball to James Connor, that means James Connor
is probably going to have to block for Trey Benson.
If you're not going to give the ball to Trey Benson.
Trey Benson is going to have to block for James Connor.
Speaker 5 (20:34):
So you're not giving anything.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
What you're saying again, you're not really giving a guy
a blow, And that's my problem with that. But I
love where you were going with that.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
I got I got more buying from Lorenzo Alexander on
that when he cited again that I think it was
Houston came out with a two back set and because
of the way they were running and then one back
was blocking for the other, really messed up a lot
of their front.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
We got two greyhounds, as far as I'm concerned, back there,
we we need a greyhound and then a sloppy dog.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Okay Trey Benson though, I mean, he's a two to
twenty six or so right now, and he says he
feels more than I mean. Hey, learn more about Arizona
Cardinals season tickets, single game tickets, premium seating group and
luxury field seating experiences today. For all your Cardinals ticking information,
go to Azycardinals dot com slash tickets all Right, who
(21:22):
plays more positions or spots on defense than Xavin Collins?
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Hmmm?
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Who might be the only player left in the NFL
active player to have been selected in the supplemental draft.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
Guess what.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
Jalen Thompson is the answer to a lot of these
trivia questions, and he is our guest when we come back.
It is the big Red Rage presented by santan Port
and Gilbert. We are santan Ford pass away over the
middle and a diving intercepted by Thompson. He gets up
(21:55):
at the twenty five, runs left of the thirty and
knock down there Jalen Tompson and with the peck.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Thompson with a big time pick.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Throws near side.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
It's high and picked off at the thirty yard line
by Jalen Thompson.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
He's run out of bounds.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
The ball batted into the air and there is Jalen
TOMPs with Johnny on the spot.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
Dumps it off your side.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Pennet's picked off in a thirty by Thompson running it
back in your side's tent fifteen, ten, five.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
Nine and the pilot.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
He's out of bounds inside the ten and the five
yard line.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
But what a huge play by Jalen Thompson. All Right,
the roster says safety. The highlight reel the montage there,
Wolf says playmaker. But before we go to the introduction
for Jalen Thompson again in the specifics, maybe congratulations, I
mean the speaking of the roster, the schedule, the calendar
here says the end of camp. Does it feel like
(22:48):
the end of camp though?
Speaker 11 (22:50):
It feels like we're just getting started honestly, you know,
guys are out there working hard, guys are out there competing,
so kind of feels like it's the beginning of camp
really and we're just getting started.
Speaker 8 (23:00):
So I kind of like that.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Jalen, how is this camp gone for you? You're seven? Correct?
Your seven? He haw's this camp gone compared to the
other camp?
Speaker 8 (23:09):
It's gone pretty good so far. Guys are competing.
Speaker 11 (23:12):
I'm competing a lot with uh, you know, Trey McBride, uh,
some of the offensive guys, dorch Andre, A lot of
the guys are competing. I know, you see Will out
there competing. We got some young guys who are stepping
up and really doing what they need to do. So
it's been a it's been a competitive camp so far.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
He's marvel at your ability.
Speaker 5 (23:34):
Same with some of the other guys.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
But when you have to go from covering you know,
six foot three Marvin Harrison Junior who's all jacked, So
then you have to cover a guy who's electric like
Dorch and then you got big Trey McBride.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:46):
I mean those are three totally different challenges in coverage.
Speaker 11 (23:50):
Yes, yes, definitely different, but uh, all good work at
the same time. You know, I pride myself on being
a guy who can cover anybody on the field and
who can go out there and play any of the
defensive back positions. So that's just one of the things
that you have to do as being the type of
safety that I am. Guys who can a guy who
can go out there and cover anybody really.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
So you know, Jay, you were kind of the first
one Jalen to actually do that on this team defensively,
when you stop and think about it, Yeah, a guy
that could line up over nickel corner. You were Garrett
Williams before Garrett Williams got here, right, And then Garrett
Williams this is what he does as well, and then
Daydreene Taylor Demerson as well. Rabbits. Yes, he does the
(24:31):
same thing. Very mobile in terms of being able to
walk up over the slot or actually play as a
safety you started all that.
Speaker 11 (24:39):
I think that's just the evolution of the defensive bag nowadays.
You know what I mean, Guys are just you gotta
be able to cover in today's league, you know what
I mean, cover anybody, like you said, from the Marvin
Harrison's to the Tray mcbrides and to the speedy guys
like Dorts. You know what I mean, you got to
be able to cover them all. I think that's just
the evolution of it in today's game.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
So we just off the field and I said to
Sam and call and Hey, we're gonna be interviewing Jalen Thompson,
And I said, you know what, I'm gonna ask him
who plays more positions? And the reason I bring that
up is because you correct me if I'm wrong. You
play center field safety, Yes, you play box safety.
Speaker 5 (25:11):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
You can be bullitt seen Yep, you can be in
the slot.
Speaker 5 (25:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
I mean, how much is on your plate mentally just
to process all that?
Speaker 8 (25:20):
A lot?
Speaker 11 (25:20):
But it's it's something that I'm used to, you know
what I mean. I feel like that's been my role
in this defense for a while now. You know, I
can I pride myself on being just a defensive bag,
not technically a safety, just anybody who can go out
there and play niggle. I can play corner, I can
play box safety, I can play up top deep. So
(25:41):
I pride myself on that. And that's all thanks to
my coaches as well. Pat Patrick Tony does a good
job of making sure that I know the releases of
some of the guys. And uh, you know what I mean,
just out there doing my job.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Not a corner, not a safety, a d by truly
a dB that is very very special. So which one
do you enjoy? What do you enjoy doing the most?
Do you enjoy being in the box, or in center
field or in man?
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Uh?
Speaker 8 (26:08):
I kind of enjoy doing it all, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 11 (26:10):
I take pride in, you know, going out there and
doing whatever the coaches need me to do for the
most part. So if it's a week where I got
to guard the slot and be a nickel, I take
pride in that. If it's a week where I got
to be in the box and fit the run, take
pride in that. So like all of those going to
playing at my position and doing what I do, so
I just take pride in it.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
So I saw stat Jalen Thompson's our guest and the
Big Red rage ps everybody, Santan Ford and Gilbert where
you're the only player in the NFL currently to terviw
the supplemental draft. Yes, take us back seven years ago.
I mean, what was your level of confidence you would
have as long an NFL careers? Were you always confident
yourself or what was it like as a rookie and
what you're like? Man, I got to prove myself and
(26:53):
prove myself quick.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
For sure.
Speaker 11 (26:55):
It was always confident. I knew I had guy with me,
and I knew that with God, I can do anything.
So there was always confidence within me. It's kind of crazy.
I tell everybody on my team that draft story or
just whatever, you know what I mean. I'm sitting at
home with the family and we're just scrolling Twitter and
refreshing it and refreshing it trying to see which team
(27:16):
actually drafted me, you know what I mean. Honestly, I
thought I got drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. Wow, Yeah,
it turns out that was a mistake. And then refreshed
it one more time and it was the Cardinals. So yeah,
it was just a crazy thing. Bro it's crazy and
I take pride in that as well being a supplemental
(27:37):
draft guy. It you know, it makes it to where
I'm People look at it as underrated or whatever. I
look at it as just an opportunity to go out
there and prove myself.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
You really have taken the road less traveled to the
National Football League. Do you share that with some of
the young guys on your team? Do you try to
encourage for sure?
Speaker 11 (27:57):
Definitely, especially when they asked me about that, or just
tell him that hard work and and uh being intentional
every single day will you know get you here and
have you playing in the league for a long time.
So I try to share that with some of the
younger guys and try to, you know, just share some
of the knowledge that I have that some of the
older guys like Buddha have given me.
Speaker 4 (28:18):
What's your mindset about this season, in particular the business
side of things? Right, Bouha last year got a deal done,
James got a deal done, saving guys. So what's your
mindset considering the position.
Speaker 5 (28:28):
You're in right now?
Speaker 11 (28:29):
Uh kind of really haven't even thought about that really
about like anything like that, the money side or anything.
Kind of just focused on the season and kind of
just focused on improving my game, uh, cleaning up the
mistakes that I made last year, and and becoming a
totally new player, an evolved player, and basically, you know
what I mean, just going out there and working at work.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Can you go specific on that when you say improve Yeah,
as a player where.
Speaker 11 (28:57):
Man coverage abilities would say tackling, I would say, uh,
you know, just knowing what the offense is about to do,
really evolving in that sense. I know I can compete
in this league. I know I can play in this league.
It's really just what I do now and uh making
my play go up.
Speaker 4 (29:16):
About this defense, I mean there's a lot made. I
mean we see it. I mean that you have a
totally different defensive front. Yes, yes, yes, yes, What do
you know about this defense? Maybe that we're gonna find
out here sometime soon.
Speaker 11 (29:28):
I think our D line could be something special. Man
could be something special. I don't want to speak too soon,
but D line looks pretty good. We got vets in there.
You know Kalais is in there now. You know how
he works hard. He's a he's a great player. We
got guys like uh like sweat at at the end
we got guys like uh, Dalvin at the nose, you
(29:50):
know what I mean. So we got guys who are
ready to put their hands up and get in, uh,
you know, help our defense out and help us in
the in the secondary as well, a big thing.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Yeah, nod for the secondary. When you've got guys up front,
especially even in rundown situation for sure against the run game.
To be able to stand up so you can get
to your opponent in third and obvious pass situation. What
an advantage. That truly is.
Speaker 11 (30:16):
Something that defensive backs love, you know what I mean.
When you got a great D line in front of you,
it makes our jobs a lot easier.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
I mean, how about for Nick rawlis I mean, if
you can stop the run with four, if you can
rush for yeah, what sort of options does that give
your defensive coordinator?
Speaker 8 (30:31):
Man? So many options? He can do so much more.
Speaker 11 (30:34):
It makes our defense so much more versatile, and like
I said, makes our secondary that much better if we
can rush for and drop that drop an extra guy
and coverage you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Talking about that secondary be as well. Jalen, Yeah, talk
about the young guys, Will Johnson and Max Melton, those
two guys specifically, A very interesting your thought on these guys.
Speaker 11 (30:53):
Guys that are competitive, competitive, guys that love love ball.
I go in there every single day will to study
and I go in there every single day. Max is
asking asking questions. These are guys that just love the
game of football, and you can you could tell that
when you watch him on the field.
Speaker 4 (31:10):
What about Denzel Burke, I'm gonna go off. I hear
he is maybe the first guy into the building every day.
What have you seen out of the fifth round pick?
Speaker 8 (31:18):
A guy that is versatile?
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Really?
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Uh?
Speaker 11 (31:21):
You watch him on the tape, you will You watch
him on the field and you know he's cycling through corner.
Nickel can even play safety, you know what I mean.
So he's one of those hybrid type of guys when
we talk about guys like myself and guys like Garrett
who can do it all. Really, I feel like.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
So man or zone has it changed for you at all?
What do you enjoy playing in?
Speaker 8 (31:41):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (31:42):
Really?
Speaker 11 (31:42):
I like playing in both. But I do enjoy covering people,
you know what I mean, That's my job. I like
going down and covering the best tight end or whoever
is the best receiver that week.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
I like doing that.
Speaker 8 (31:54):
So that's how I feel is my job and I
enjoy doing it.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
You know, I really see you when zone, especially so
because when you play in his own room, of course
you're trying to impact the quarterback. Yes, so how much
do you really tip off to the quarterback? I'm on
this guy, but you know what, I don't see this
guy and then you really do see that.
Speaker 11 (32:15):
It's all it's all in the looking in disguise really
and that's uh really a testament to Nick and how
he has everything dialed up. You know, he's he has
everybody on point and with the disguises and uh, you know,
that's how we take the ball away.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
But Jalen, that really takes a lot of experience, Yes,
for a guy to do that, to actually play games
with a quarterback for sure. Oh I'm not looking at
the how you're going to throw the ball to? Oh yes,
I undred percent. So I mean it really is an
experience issue.
Speaker 11 (32:44):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, And that's you know, spending years
with with like guys like Buddha, you know what I mean,
guys who have done it year after year and excel
at it really will. I'm one of those guys as well.
That's always asking questions in the meetings. So you know,
I think guy excel at man coverage. I think I
could get a little bit better as own. I'm always
asking those questions to Buddha and just making sure my
(33:06):
game is on point and tight as well.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
All right, I had two hot takes. Okay, Well, sometimes
I have to, you know, I have to explain things.
Not number one, if this defensive front is much better
than a year ago, I think nine interceptions is a
defense might even.
Speaker 5 (33:20):
Be doubled this year. Oh for sure. For number number.
Speaker 4 (33:22):
Two, Buddha Baker, if he puts up the sort of
numbers he did last year this year and this is
a playoff team, Yes, you guys get primetime exposure. Yes,
I mean, could he not be an NFL defensive player
or the year candidate?
Speaker 11 (33:34):
And you, I mean, you guys see it every every
week on the tape, you know what I mean. He
he he shows it and he's just a great player,
great player.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
This defense schematically, do you expect you to be just
rush Ford drop seven or do you expect, hey, we're
gonna do Nick is gonna have us doing a lot
of different things going after quarter.
Speaker 11 (33:55):
I think it'll be a lot of different things, a
lot of different things that can try to confuse the quarterback,
a lot of different things to put us in position
to make the most plays that we possibly can.
Speaker 4 (34:03):
I mean, if rookie Tyler Shook starts week one, good luck.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
That's all I'm gonna say. Right there.
Speaker 4 (34:08):
Here's my big finish question. Okay, Kyler did the media
rounds yesterday NFL Network and he says it's been really
competitive offense against defense, and they smiled and he said,
I think the offense has won this camp.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
I don't know about that.
Speaker 5 (34:20):
It's been really tight, hasn't it.
Speaker 8 (34:22):
Yeah, definitely, definitely.
Speaker 11 (34:23):
I think that's his job is to go out there
and have that confidence in his offense like that. I
feel like it has been competitive on both sides. Like
I said, Trey has been pushing me every single day.
Trade me, Brian. I know, Will and Marv have been
working every single day, and it's just a push pushing pull,
you know what I mean. Guys have been working and
competing every single day.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Jailing those two types of guys, those that have a
goal coming into training camp and those that don't have
goals coming into the tress, which one.
Speaker 11 (34:50):
Are you a guy that has goals. Definitely coming into
training camp, be the best player I can be. Elevate
the young guys and uh, you know, just follow what
my coaches are saying. What they're saying is the right
stuff and it's definitely gonna help out the team.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
I can't tell you how much we're looking forward to
watching this defense ball this year, sir. I mean that
that three safety look all the different. I mean it's
gonna be something to be hold. So appreciate it.
Speaker 8 (35:12):
Jalent, appreciate you guys so much.
Speaker 5 (35:14):
There you go.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
Jalen Thompson, Cardinals standout safety. Will continue with a big
red rage right after this.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Hush quick throw and acception.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
It's gonna be a pick six, Well Johnson, we'll take it.
Hout on over re touchdown too many round Johnson one
of the.
Speaker 3 (35:38):
Bench cornerbacks and the country Selton to Bechigan pick six
touch down lever rage, lay, fake a cord underneath and
accepting Michigan. Will Johnson jump the route, cross forward and
has it at the vine yard line.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Will Johnson is one of the best corners in America.
Speaker 12 (36:01):
That was kind of a no brainer too, or like
we think this guy's a starting corner and you know,
just the person as phenomenal, as intangible, as he's very intelligent,
and he really is a scheme fit for us too.
So it was like, dude, like, let's take that.
Speaker 4 (36:15):
Guy Jonathan Yain and man, is that is that ringing
true in this camp? Or what how many routes has
he jumped? I mean, honestly, wolf if you were to
give me one guy I want to see more than
any other guy on Saturday Night, thanks for asking, it
would be Will Johnson, Round two, rookie out of Michigan.
It is the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford
(36:36):
and Gilbert. We are Santan Ford, Paul kelvec Ron Wolfley
Special thanks. Jalen Thompson loved his response to you about
you know what, I'm a defensive back. Yeah, I'm so versatile.
I'm just a dB. I'm not a safety. I'm out
a corner play a little bit of everything, and then
his coming about how this d this defense, especially this
D line quote could be special.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Yes here and there's no doubt about it. You think
about your defensive line and how that impacts everything A
team that wants to run the ball PAULI, do you
think it's important you got a Dalvin Tomlinson in there
and at Kalais Kembell. You think that's important that you
got some defensive linemen who can actually hold their gap
and hold their ground. Do you think it's important as
(37:17):
well that you can get a defensive line to actually
pressure a quarterback and now put them in a situation
where he might make a mistake because you've got some
corners and you've got some safeties as well. You got
some dbs who can actually make a play on the ball.
Speaker 5 (37:33):
You said it, Drew stand said it.
Speaker 4 (37:35):
Look, it's not just about affecting the quarterback rushing for
it's stopping the run with four having that HU And
you know what, because of injuries and other reasons, Nick
Rolis has not been afforded that luxury in his two
years as defensive coordinators. So it's really intriguing. Now, what
if dot dot dot you add a legit lockdown corner
to this defense and Will Johnson, I mean, here's Garrett Williams.
(37:59):
Just talk about what a natural Will Johnson is at
the position of cornerback.
Speaker 5 (38:04):
I mean, he's really smart. You can tell you to Nashville.
Speaker 13 (38:06):
He plays very comfortable, he plays in his game, and
he just he's really coachable too, and so he's picked
up everything fast. I think he's taking big stretch from
even OTAs now and you're really starting to see the
guy that we drafted.
Speaker 5 (38:16):
You know, I mean Wolf.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
If I name drop Sauce Gardner, Patrick, I mean Patrick
Sirtan the second was the NFL Defensive Player of the
Year a year ago. Derek Stingley, Junior All Pro Devinspoon
in Seattle.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
All right, Paully, I know I can.
Speaker 4 (38:35):
These guys were dudes from day one.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Cbe I get it, Paulli, and listen. He's certainly on
track right now to do that. Will Johnson looks fantastic
and has in all of trading gap whether he was
playing man cover or he was playing in a zone room.
He really looks good. But whoa, whoa, whoa whoa, everybody,
Let's let this rookie go out and play one preseason
(38:59):
game and then maybe two, and you know what, I
don't know if he's gonna play in that third one,
maybe even three. If we get him three preseason games,
maybe we'll have a much better idea as to what
Paul is talking about. Because right now, rook, you gotta
prove it.
Speaker 4 (39:16):
Okay, all right, you sound all right, you sound like
someone who's been there and done that ten years in
the league. But you know what I'm going to defer
to Nick Rowlis and why Will Johnson can be successful
right away?
Speaker 7 (39:26):
Coach first and foremost, it's just his ability to go
out there and excute, understand things.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
Really well, and then corner when you're one on ones.
Speaker 7 (39:35):
And he's doing that, so he's showing that he can
go out there and hang with some really good receivers.
Speaker 5 (39:39):
Low key.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
You know, one of the best players they saw last
year in this building from an opposing team was Christian
Gonzalez of the New England Patriots.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yes, he was a really good.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
Corner that was a really, really good, horrendous team with
not a lot of talents. Christian Gonzalez nearly six to
two reminds me a lot of a Will Johnson.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
You're right, bully, and you know I would agree with
that assessment. But let me also say again the scheme fit.
We keep talking about the scheme fit. The fact that
the Arizona Cardinals play a lot of zone, and not
just zone, but a lot of quarter coverage four deep
three underneath rush four. This is where I think Will
Johnson excels the most is in quarter coverage. And it's
(40:23):
not a surprise that he jumped z A Jones out route.
Kyler Murray threw it out there in Will Johnson jumped
that route and made the pick, and that, to me
has been That is probably the best play I've seen
in training camp right now, by anybody agreed the best play.
And it was made by a rookie corner. That tells
(40:45):
me something.
Speaker 5 (40:45):
It was such a good play.
Speaker 4 (40:46):
I turned to the guy next to me, as probably
Craig g Real who as I continue to explain the
game of football to him, and I said, did he
know the play? Did he know the route? That's how
good he was in that coverage. In fact, if I'm
Nick Ross and Jonathan Gannon, I really hope Patrick Mahomes
test my rookie cornerback.
Speaker 5 (41:01):
Now.
Speaker 4 (41:01):
I would love to see Mahomes go at Agent zero
on Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (41:05):
Agent zero? Is that what you're calling him? Okay, I'm
with you on that. I would love that if in
fact they did. But you know, once again, when you
play in his own room, you've got to trick the
quarterback as well. You don't want to cover the guy
so good he doesn't throw it you want. And this
(41:26):
is where I think the brilliance of Will Johnson really is.
Mel kiper Junior. You know mel kiper Jr. Of course
came on our show and was talking about how this
guy is a pick six waiting to happen, and it's
because of his ability to fool the quarterback as to
where he is when he's looking at him and not
(41:49):
letting the quarterback know that he's looking at him. So
he can jump a lot of routes as well. So
it takes a lot of smarts and a lot of
instinct as well. And I think we'll Johnson's got that.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
All was last two years in Michigan, he had three
picks sixes and zero touchdown catches allowed. If he would
have come out, been able to come out after they
won the national championship and he was the National title
game defensive MVP, you can't tell me he wouldn't have
been a top ten pick. Here's the only thing I'll
throw out there, because a lot of people look at
the Cardinals secondary are like, wow, they're really young. Okay, well,
(42:22):
a year ago. What did Philadelphia do with that defense?
They won a Super Bowl with two rookie corners and
Cooper to Jean and Quinnan Mitchell.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Great observation.
Speaker 4 (42:31):
If you have the defensive front and you can be disruptive. Man,
I mean I was joking with Trey McBride. You know,
Cooper to Jean and Quinian Mitchell ended up higher than
Trey McBride in the NFL Top one hundred list.
Speaker 5 (42:43):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 4 (42:44):
That's ridiculous. I mean, you know they I get it.
They hold to the Lombardi. They get all the flowers
and the props. I get all that. But with a
Max Melton, would you not say Max Melton has taken
a jump this game.
Speaker 1 (42:54):
I'm so impressed with Max Melton right now. We all
thought he really was making some development last year. He
got in at the end of last season, of course,
it looked like a guy that was getting better and
better and better. But man, he looks really really good
out there so far this training camp as well. I
love the corner room, specifically Nickel. As we all know,
(43:15):
a Nickel corner is a starter in today's NFL. So
much of the time and rundown situation first and ten,
second and one to six. So much of the time
in a first and ten, other teams offensively will go
eleven personnel, one back, one tight end, three wide receivers,
and that means you need three corners. The Arizona Cardinals
(43:36):
right now, a rookie, a second year guy, and a
third year guy. Those are those three corners for them
right now. Will Johnson, of course, is the rookie. Max
Melton is the second year guy, and I'm looking forward
to him really taking a big leap. And then Garrett Williams.
Carrett Williams Pro Football Folcus had him rated number three.
(43:59):
Now you know me, I'm not big on Pro Football Focus, PAULI,
but I will say this right now, just the fact
they had his coverage grade that high against all these
corners in the National Football I'm talking about all pro corners.
He was number three, Okay, So he's remarkable. Even if
(44:19):
the grade is a little skewed and it's not correct
because it's Pro Football Focus, that still is a big
jump for a guy like Garret Williams.
Speaker 4 (44:29):
So if it's base defense and there are only two
corners out there, does Garrett Williams stay on the field.
Speaker 1 (44:34):
Yes, absolutely not all the time based on personnel.
Speaker 4 (44:39):
Because the other package is when you go with those
two corners and then you go with the three safety
look with Rabbit, Buddha and Jalen Thompson. Interesting it was
our guest tonight and by the way, Jalen Thompson earlier
in the off season, we asked him, do you feel underrated?
He said yes, and I think we would all agree with.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
That versatility and flexibility for this defense.
Speaker 4 (44:59):
Ye how many times have we said the words Buddha
or JT saved a touchdown with that tackle right there? Hey,
special thanks as always, jim O, Mohunterro Cody Fincher, Ali Narini,
Parker Garash for Jalen Thompson, Ron Wolfley on Paul KELBC.
This has been the Big Red Rage presented by santan
Ford in Gilbert.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
You've been listening to the Big Red Rage presented by
santan Ford and Gilbert right on the Price right on
the corner of the Santan two to two Freeway and Valvesta.
The Rage is brought to you by Arizona Cardinals Podcast.
Visit Azycardinals dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
We're gonna see a little big red rage football right here.
Speaker 2 (45:45):
This has been an exclusive presentation of the Arizona Cardinals
Football Club
Strap on the boots and scrape up the knuckles ahead.
He got jacked.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford
and Gilbert.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Terry's gonna score touchdown swam to the ground by Buddha
Baker like a torpedo.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
He came flying into the backfield.
Speaker 2 (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 Trey McBride.
Speaker 2 (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, Jimber your rising vision, blurring Rage,
take it over. Here's Paul CALVICI I'm ready. I'm one
hundred percent ready. I'm telling you I'm ready.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
And Ron Wolfley, it doesn't get any better than that.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
The Fjord.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
You know, when we talk about a record breaking season,
we're not talking about the record broken today, Ron Wolfley.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
That's one hundred.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
And eighteen degrees. I mean, not just the hottest ever
for this date, but for the month of August, the
hottest August day ever in Phoenix history.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
It's incredible. Even the High Country was a little high
if you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Bolick, I've got an idea. Maybe we should open the
roof for the Chiefs on Saturday night. What do you
think about that? It's all come out.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
No, I don't think so, Paali preseason.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
He Mahomes and Kelsey. How's this taste feel the big heat,
big big heat? No, it's the big big Rage, Red
Rage with Jalen Thompson, presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert.
We are Santan Ford. Yes, Jalen Thompson is gonna be
our guest. Paul kelvycar Ron Wolfley there and wolf I
know you liked camp, you know, don't tell me otherwise.
I mean more pads, stop it, more pads more better, right,
(02:00):
I mean it was pads and po losa in this camp.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
There's no doubt about it. This has been one of
the best training camps I've seen in JG's three training
camps that he's had here. Now, I would have to
say this is the most impressive. I would agree with that.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Okay, look we're gonna get to Jalen Thompson. We're going
to talk about Will Hernandez.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
That was the big day.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
You know, if we were smart, we would have realized
many days ago that there was no one wearing number
seventy six, and we would have filled in the blank
two weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
The very first thought I had when I heard that
Will Hernandez had indeed signed with the Arizona Cardinals again bully,
is the cats are barking. Now, even the cats are barking.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Yeah, and here's maybe the best news. I'll just surmise
Wolf when you heard the news, guess what the starters
are going to play on Saturday night? Now, Look, Kansas
City is no for that, and Andy Reid has said, yeah,
his starters are going to go the first quarter.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
But wait a.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Minute, Jonathan Gannett announcing, guess what the starters. Let there
be football, Let the ones take the field.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Yeah, what a beautiful thing this is. You know, I
think it's just part of the process with jayg Right now,
football players they play football games. Ron wilfully reporting that's
what they do. Football players want to play in football games,
even if it's a preseason game. Most of the guys
that I've been around, they would love to go out
(03:31):
there and get three, maybe four reps. And you know,
what coach, if you want to take me on after
three or four reps, that's fine. Just let me go
out there and knock some of the rust off of me.
Let me go out there and go through the process
of getting ready for a game. And you know, for me, Paul,
it's a it's what is JG say all the time.
(03:52):
It's the price of admission to actually be on this team.
And the price of admission, I think is being okay
with playing in a preseason game if your coach wants
you to.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
It's all about being regular season ready. Whatever it takes
to be there, ready to go week one. And here
you are. It is officially the end of camp. Now
a lot of players are like, well, we're still practicing
all next week, But in terms of Cardinals camp, here
at State Farms Stadium, Ding Dong, it is over. Today
was the final practice here at the Cardinals home stadium,
(04:26):
their site for training camp every year. And here's Kyler
Murray and the state of the team at the end
of camp.
Speaker 6 (04:31):
I think we've just been stacking really great days.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
You know.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Obviously for me, it's been one of the most competitive
camps that I've been a part of. I think the
team is complete as far as you know. We added
depth all across the board. MANI and the guys JG
wanted to hit the defense really hard in this all season.
I think they went and did that, and it's shown
out there under in camp. No, we've gone back and forth,
but I think that's what's gonna make us great.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Kyler Murray there on the NFL Network the Insiders Show,
and look, Kyler has been pretty honest about preseason in
the past.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Doesn't like it, but here's here's what I.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Do like is another opportunity against the live defense for
him to generate the same chemistry as with Trey McBride
with his other receivers. He gets to face a live
pass rush.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
I get it.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
They're probably gonna be playing vanilla schemes, yes, but still
the pass rush is live and so the real speed
of the game. He can be taken down, he can
be hit. He ain't wearing no non contact jersey. So
I think even if it's one series, at least it
gets the juices flowing.
Speaker 5 (05:29):
A little bit.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
I agree with that, PAULI I do. I wonder how
many snaps the starters are gonna play for the Arizona Cardinals.
I do wonder about that. Andy Reid. Just look across
the field. Andy Reid, the head coach of the Kansas
City Chiefs. Of course, Andy Reid is a guy He's
played his starters in preseason games sometimes a half a half, Paul,
(05:52):
which is I'm not in favor of that. I'm in
favor of running your starters out there, but I'm in
favor of running them out there responsibly. I'm not in
favor of them going out there getting forty snaps or
thirty snaps in the preseason game.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
This is also a team, the Kansasity Chiefs, that has
been a seven straight AFC championship games.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Think about that for it.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Don't get me started, okay, And if you do, I
need to rewind to this season opener twenty twenty two
in this building when Kansas City scored touchdowns on their
first five possessions. Oh man, there was one team that
was regular season ready to go, and it was Kansas City.
And so they know how to get ready for a season.
(06:36):
And to me, Wolf, look if Isaiah Adams, who has
looked great in this camp, yes, if he gets a
few reps against oh, I don't know, one of the
best three techniques in the game and Chris Jones, Hello,
I think that's really telling.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
That's really valuable.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
If Darius Robinson gets to go against one of the
best interior guards in the game, and Trey Smith, I
think that's really valuable. Here's Jay Jones, who's been there
and done that for nearly a decade in the NFL.
On the starters plane against case.
Speaker 7 (07:04):
I think it's good for us to get out there
and experience something live, go against someone else beside your
own team, and have those competitive reps and be able
to evaluate it after and then kind of see, okay,
where we as a position group, as a unit, as.
Speaker 8 (07:18):
A team, what do we need to improve on?
Speaker 7 (07:20):
And it'll be exciting for other guys to get an
opportunity to showcase their ability as well.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
I love the fact that Zay went ahead, classic classic
veteran right here, that he went ahead and said, you
know what, you get to look at it after and
then evaluate what happened to me. It's the biggest thing
about playing the starters. It is a good thing to
get out there and have your starters execute or not execute.
Go out and execute the offense or the defense, whatever
(07:47):
it may be. So you can teach off that, not
only teach the starters, but everyone else that's in the
room watching a coach go through this and saying, hey, Evan,
how did you take this step right here? Look where
your hands are, Isaiah, what are you doing here? If
you've got guys that are out there as starters, it
(08:08):
is a great way to teach off that tape in
the preseason.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
If you're Jonathan Gannon, what do you want to see?
Make your list and check it twice. What would you
love to see on Saturday night? In terms of position battles,
maybe in terms of certain players flashing, like, for instance,
Zay Jones, I think you know what. He can provide
a lot of answers. It's sort of vague on what
exactly is Jay Jones. He potentially could be a number two.
(08:35):
He's done it before. He flashed last two games the
last year when he got some targets. Do they truly
know what they have in Zay Jones at this point
in his career? Michael Wilson told the media today, Yeah,
I realized we don't have a lot of marquee names
in our receiver room. But guess what, quote we still
have a damn good receiver corps. That's Michael Wilson. Well,
I think the receivers need to go out and prove that.
(08:55):
And guess what if it happens in a preseason game
and you get that chemistry down with Kyler Murray, I
think that it's valuable.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Yeah, you know what's amazing. You're bringing up the wide
receiver room, Paulie. And of course that's what a sideline
guy would do, basically, bring up the wide receiver room
when we're finally gonna have live action and we're not
going to go inside the box. The blood Sport lives
inside the box. We're gonna talk about wide receivers, Paulie.
And you know what, honestly, that's okay because Marvin Harrison Junior,
(09:21):
even Marvin Harrison Junior, think about him his rookie year.
Did he want to play in a preseason game? He did, Paulie.
He wanted to play in a preseason game. I love that,
and I don't think this is an accident. Once again,
this is the price of admission. JG and Manti Ausenford
are bringing guys in who think this way, who are
(09:42):
going to be okay with doing this. I really truly
believe this. I think it's one of the reasons why
in year three of this rebuild, you finally have JG
meeting with the veterans and talking about do you guys
want to play in a preseason game? Because I'm thinking
about changing my take on preseason and I think that's important.
(10:07):
Two words, more friction, more friction ball. It goes into
what he said going into camp. Here's the other thing,
more competition than ever. I think you need preseason reps
to decide a lot of these position battles, the back
end of the O line room, the back end of
the D line room. Who's going to be your inside
linebacker next to Mac Wilson Senior? Is Will Johnson?
Speaker 5 (10:29):
For real?
Speaker 1 (10:30):
You don't want question marks going into Week one, do you, Paul?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
So I think there's a lot of things you can answer.
There's a lot of reasons why he's deciding, Well, if
Andy Reid's notorious for playing his starters, guess what, you
know what, we should probably play our starters as well.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
And you know, if Patrick Mahomes grabs the torch on
that as well and says I want to play.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Hey joined the Berg Gang in Dallas Monday, night Football
and do it through Cardinals Premiere Travel hosted by Cardinals Legends.
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(11:10):
and we come back on the Big Red Rage presented
by santan Ford and Gilbert.
Speaker 9 (11:23):
There has been a final decision made and staying for
the season for people who have spoken. So it started
off as a camp stash. I just wanted to kind
of switch it up, you know, something new, and then
it just kind of hit. Honestly, all the guys loved it.
Is creating a lot of camaraderie out of good times,
you know, and it was it was funny actually, like
(11:44):
a bunch of people started messaging me about it, you know,
really taking the time out of their day to let
me know that they like the mustache. So I was
just saying, you know what, you got to give the
people what they want.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Oh man, Will Hernandez dead panting with the media last year.
But wait a minute, if you did like Will Hernandez's mustache,
would you really have the nerve to tell him that? Hah,
not to his face.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Let's put it that way. It is the big red rage.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Jalen Thompson is around the corner, Paul kelvc ron Wolf
Lee Wolf. I ran into Will Hernandez earlier today. No,
and I told him. I told him. You know what,
it's a love hate relationship me and you. I love you.
I love the fact you're back. I hate the fact
that my mustache now automatically becomes number two in this
camp by a country mile, because he's killing it with
a mustache. Mine is merely a camp body. His was
(12:29):
here to stay. And now Will Hernandez is back. As
we said, you know, it was conspicuous by his absence,
right there was no seventy six on this roster, so
they finally.
Speaker 5 (12:38):
Filled in the gap, right there.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
Wolf, What do you think of when you think of
big Will Hernandez as an Arizona cardinal once again?
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Well, this is the greatest news. Probably you know how
much I love Will Hernandez. Miho, of course, I love
Will Hernandez and how he plays the game. Of football.
This team's motor just got bigger, and this team's violence
more acute. Let me put it that way. This is
a team that this is how they want players to
(13:05):
go out and play, and that is Will Hernandez. As
far as I'm concerned, Watching him go out there as
right guard and battle the way that he does and
play with the kind of intensity that he does is
really kind of reassuring to me. It's something. It's like
a warm blanket on a cold winter's night to watch
Will go about his business. So as I said before,
(13:26):
as well, you can hear the cats barking.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Was he not playing some of his best football last
year before he suffered the torn ac always left me.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
I will tell you this, I thought he was the
best offensive lineman through five weeks. Wow, I thought he
was before he tore it.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Okay, so no wonder they signed him back. In fact,
here's the head coach I'm bringing back Will Hernandez.
Speaker 10 (13:48):
He's a good player, you know, but coming off a
major injury. So we'll get him. We'll get him in
and get him caught up, get him healthy and ready to.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Go for shit like motor and violence.
Speaker 10 (14:02):
Does this player you just signed kind of yeah, he's
mean and nasty.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
More friction or if you want, cram that vertical Will
Hernandez as he and look he turns thirty in September.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
We get it.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
But this is a man who started a fight with
JJ Watt on that field right over there.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
BALI, we just do you believe that it's right there
in front of us as we're broadcasting here from State
Farm standing? Are you kidding me to see that brawl?
I still remember that Will Hernandez and JJ Watt truly
incredible right there. I don't think j G would have
liked that or did like that.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Guess what, though, you're gonna love a brawling Will Hernandez
against Oh, I don't know Leonard Williams of the Seattle
Seahawks and other Premiere three techniques right, but for now,
Isaiah Adams is your right guard. The head coach said
as much, and then Evan Brown is your left guard.
In fact, speaking of Isaiah Adams, he is definitely won
this camp and turned heads this second year right guard.
(15:04):
Here's what the head coach had to say about Isaiah Adams,
especially that confidence.
Speaker 10 (15:08):
His confidence stack, as I would call it, vision belief
proof is in the pudding and then that goes into
your belief. His confidence stack is high right now because
he's doing it, you know. So he's executing at a
high level. He's playing good ball. He's improved a lot.
I felt from when he got back in here to
OTAs when he left in the summer and now where
(15:30):
he is as a player and he's working on something
every day. But I feel really good about Isaiah.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
How do you feel about Isaiah Adams especially you've watched
a lot of this camp Wolf. What have you seen
and how different has it been than his rookie.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Year, You know, Paul, It's interesting because we all talk
about how he's gotten stronger, you know, how he got
into the weight room in the off season and how
he's gotten stronger, and I'm not disagreeing with that yet.
More than anything else, it's his soul. It is the
confidence that he had inside of him that you can
see and you can see it out on the field.
(16:04):
Football is played inside out. It starts in the inside
and then it comes out whatever God has gifted you physically.
And just watching him go about his business, this guy
is night and day from where he was last year
as a rookie of course, and then where he is now,
and if you talk to him, you can see it
(16:26):
in his eyes. Pollie, if you get him in this
kind of conversation in regard to him, how much more
confident are you this year than you were last year?
And why are you more confident? And he just goes
off on that. You can see it in his face.
So I'm really excited about Isaiah Adams and Paully. I
had an old coach who was one of the best
(16:47):
offensive line coaches in the National Football League. I'll leave
his name out, doesn't matter, but he used to say,
you need three guards. You need three guards on a
football team because guards are so active, pulling a lot
of the time. They're out and about. In a power scheme,
of course, in a zone scheme, they're right in the middle.
(17:08):
You're gonna need three guards before the season is over
because somebody's gonna get nicked up. They're gonna miss four
games here. You need that third guard to be able
to step in and be a starter. And then maybe
he's gonna go down in four weeks, and then you
need the guy that went down previous to that to
step in and be that guard once again. So I
(17:29):
think They've got three guys right now that I really
really like and Will Hernandez, Isaiah Adams of course, and
Evan Brown.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
And guess what, Evan Brown is your second best center,
So knock on.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
What And that's not gonna that is a big deal.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
It is.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
And so if you need a backup center, hopefully you don't,
but if you do, then guess what, Will Hernandez is
all that more valuable because Evan Brown might have to
go ahead and start snapping the football. I'll just say
this a final thought.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Many times, PAULI let me just jump in here and
saying many times that can actually hurt Evan Brown, that
he's so that he is the guy that could be
the backup center as well, and a lot of times
because that, you know, you got a guy that's a quality,
quality starter at guard, and yet he's your backup center.
If there's another guy that's really close to his skill
(18:17):
set and his ability level, maybe you're gonna start the
other guy because Evan Brown is a guy that can
come in and be either a starting caliber guard or center.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
And I said, just having watched all the O line
D line drills, and you know, I mean they've tried
it with Hayden Connor, the sixth round rookie. They've tried
it with John Gaines, but they're at most unproven. Evan
Brown has started more than fifty games in this league
at center, so I'm just saying he could be now
as far as I see it. Get and Isaiah Adams
in these O line D line drills, it is night
and day from a year ago he took on Koalais
(18:50):
to start camp. I mean he had a tussle with
Darius Robinson.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yes, nobody would know this better than you because you
actually tape this stuff correct and.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
When I go back through it, I can see exactly
who's winning, who's losing. And Isaiah Adams, I mean, he
held his own against Dalvin Tomlinson, so there's no better,
you know, display of strength, and you know then against
Dalvin Thomlinson when he's coming in hot. So here's my question, though,
Wolf is do they have a question to right tackle?
Is Jonah Williams going to be going on Saturday night?
(19:21):
And if not, what's the plan? Is he tracked?
Speaker 5 (19:24):
You know?
Speaker 4 (19:25):
So I think there are some questions still with the
O line and that, and look, depth is always a
big question because if you look behind the starting guards,
Royce Newman, Nick Leverett, Jake Kerrhan Hayden Connor.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
Yeah, none of.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
Those guys are a lot to make this roster. Yes,
so there's still a lot of competition going on at
o line. And you know how this team wants to
run the ball, and wants to run the ball with
two running backs even It's interesting if you saw the
Hall of Fame game Wolf, you saw a lot of
talk about David Montgomery and Jamior Gibbs being on the
field at the same time. Yes, and you know some
(19:59):
of the players have talked about you know what, when
you get two backs out there, it can be really effective.
What do you think about this team? We know you
love twelve personnel? What about twenty two personnel with James Connor.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Creedy right now? Are we probably talking about twenty two personnel?
Why not?
Speaker 4 (20:16):
Well, you're going to feature your best players. Trey Benson
is about it could be on the verge of a breakout.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
But here's the thing, Bully, if you're not going to
give the ball to James Connor, that means James Connor
is probably going to have to block for Trey Benson.
If you're not going to give the ball to Trey Benson.
Trey Benson is going to have to block for James Connor.
Speaker 5 (20:34):
So you're not giving anything.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
What you're saying again, you're not really giving a guy
a blow, And that's my problem with that. But I
love where you were going with that.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
I got I got more buying from Lorenzo Alexander on
that when he cited again that I think it was
Houston came out with a two back set and because
of the way they were running and then one back
was blocking for the other, really messed up a lot
of their front.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
We got two greyhounds, as far as I'm concerned, back there,
we we need a greyhound and then a sloppy dog.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Okay Trey Benson though, I mean, he's a two to
twenty six or so right now, and he says he
feels more than I mean. Hey, learn more about Arizona
Cardinals season tickets, single game tickets, premium seating group and
luxury field seating experiences today. For all your Cardinals ticking information,
go to Azycardinals dot com slash tickets all Right, who
(21:22):
plays more positions or spots on defense than Xavin Collins?
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Hmmm?
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Who might be the only player left in the NFL
active player to have been selected in the supplemental draft.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
Guess what.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
Jalen Thompson is the answer to a lot of these
trivia questions, and he is our guest when we come back.
It is the big Red Rage presented by santan Port
and Gilbert. We are santan Ford pass away over the
middle and a diving intercepted by Thompson. He gets up
(21:55):
at the twenty five, runs left of the thirty and
knock down there Jalen Tompson and with the peck.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Thompson with a big time pick.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Throws near side.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
It's high and picked off at the thirty yard line
by Jalen Thompson.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
He's run out of bounds.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
The ball batted into the air and there is Jalen
TOMPs with Johnny on the spot.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
Dumps it off your side.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Pennet's picked off in a thirty by Thompson running it
back in your side's tent fifteen, ten, five.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
Nine and the pilot.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
He's out of bounds inside the ten and the five
yard line.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
But what a huge play by Jalen Thompson. All Right,
the roster says safety. The highlight reel the montage there,
Wolf says playmaker. But before we go to the introduction
for Jalen Thompson again in the specifics, maybe congratulations, I
mean the speaking of the roster, the schedule, the calendar
here says the end of camp. Does it feel like
(22:48):
the end of camp though?
Speaker 11 (22:50):
It feels like we're just getting started honestly, you know,
guys are out there working hard, guys are out there competing,
so kind of feels like it's the beginning of camp
really and we're just getting started.
Speaker 8 (23:00):
So I kind of like that.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Jalen, how is this camp gone for you? You're seven? Correct?
Your seven? He haw's this camp gone compared to the
other camp?
Speaker 8 (23:09):
It's gone pretty good so far. Guys are competing.
Speaker 11 (23:12):
I'm competing a lot with uh, you know, Trey McBride, uh,
some of the offensive guys, dorch Andre, A lot of
the guys are competing. I know, you see Will out
there competing. We got some young guys who are stepping
up and really doing what they need to do. So
it's been a it's been a competitive camp so far.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
He's marvel at your ability.
Speaker 5 (23:34):
Same with some of the other guys.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
But when you have to go from covering you know,
six foot three Marvin Harrison Junior who's all jacked, So
then you have to cover a guy who's electric like
Dorch and then you got big Trey McBride.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:46):
I mean those are three totally different challenges in coverage.
Speaker 11 (23:50):
Yes, yes, definitely different, but uh, all good work at
the same time. You know, I pride myself on being
a guy who can cover anybody on the field and
who can go out there and play any of the
defensive back positions. So that's just one of the things
that you have to do as being the type of
safety that I am. Guys who can a guy who
can go out there and cover anybody really.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
So you know, Jay, you were kind of the first
one Jalen to actually do that on this team defensively,
when you stop and think about it, Yeah, a guy
that could line up over nickel corner. You were Garrett
Williams before Garrett Williams got here, right, And then Garrett
Williams this is what he does as well, and then
Daydreene Taylor Demerson as well. Rabbits. Yes, he does the
(24:31):
same thing. Very mobile in terms of being able to
walk up over the slot or actually play as a
safety you started all that.
Speaker 11 (24:39):
I think that's just the evolution of the defensive bag nowadays.
You know what I mean, Guys are just you gotta
be able to cover in today's league, you know what
I mean, cover anybody, like you said, from the Marvin
Harrison's to the Tray mcbrides and to the speedy guys
like Dorts. You know what I mean, you got to
be able to cover them all. I think that's just
the evolution of it in today's game.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
So we just off the field and I said to
Sam and call and Hey, we're gonna be interviewing Jalen Thompson,
And I said, you know what, I'm gonna ask him
who plays more positions? And the reason I bring that
up is because you correct me if I'm wrong. You
play center field safety, Yes, you play box safety.
Speaker 5 (25:11):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
You can be bullitt seen Yep, you can be in
the slot.
Speaker 5 (25:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
I mean, how much is on your plate mentally just
to process all that?
Speaker 8 (25:20):
A lot?
Speaker 11 (25:20):
But it's it's something that I'm used to, you know
what I mean. I feel like that's been my role
in this defense for a while now. You know, I
can I pride myself on being just a defensive bag,
not technically a safety, just anybody who can go out
there and play niggle. I can play corner, I can
play box safety, I can play up top deep. So
(25:41):
I pride myself on that. And that's all thanks to
my coaches as well. Pat Patrick Tony does a good
job of making sure that I know the releases of
some of the guys. And uh, you know what I mean,
just out there doing my job.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Not a corner, not a safety, a d by truly
a dB that is very very special. So which one
do you enjoy? What do you enjoy doing the most?
Do you enjoy being in the box, or in center
field or in man?
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Uh?
Speaker 8 (26:08):
I kind of enjoy doing it all, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 11 (26:10):
I take pride in, you know, going out there and
doing whatever the coaches need me to do for the
most part. So if it's a week where I got
to guard the slot and be a nickel, I take
pride in that. If it's a week where I got
to be in the box and fit the run, take
pride in that. So like all of those going to
playing at my position and doing what I do, so
I just take pride in it.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
So I saw stat Jalen Thompson's our guest and the
Big Red rage ps everybody, Santan Ford and Gilbert where
you're the only player in the NFL currently to terviw
the supplemental draft. Yes, take us back seven years ago.
I mean, what was your level of confidence you would
have as long an NFL careers? Were you always confident
yourself or what was it like as a rookie and
what you're like? Man, I got to prove myself and
(26:53):
prove myself quick.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
For sure.
Speaker 11 (26:55):
It was always confident. I knew I had guy with me,
and I knew that with God, I can do anything.
So there was always confidence within me. It's kind of crazy.
I tell everybody on my team that draft story or
just whatever, you know what I mean. I'm sitting at
home with the family and we're just scrolling Twitter and
refreshing it and refreshing it trying to see which team
(27:16):
actually drafted me, you know what I mean. Honestly, I
thought I got drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. Wow, Yeah,
it turns out that was a mistake. And then refreshed
it one more time and it was the Cardinals. So yeah,
it was just a crazy thing. Bro it's crazy and
I take pride in that as well being a supplemental
(27:37):
draft guy. It you know, it makes it to where
I'm People look at it as underrated or whatever. I
look at it as just an opportunity to go out
there and prove myself.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
You really have taken the road less traveled to the
National Football League. Do you share that with some of
the young guys on your team? Do you try to
encourage for sure?
Speaker 11 (27:57):
Definitely, especially when they asked me about that, or just
tell him that hard work and and uh being intentional
every single day will you know get you here and
have you playing in the league for a long time.
So I try to share that with some of the
younger guys and try to, you know, just share some
of the knowledge that I have that some of the
older guys like Buddha have given me.
Speaker 4 (28:18):
What's your mindset about this season, in particular the business
side of things? Right, Bouha last year got a deal done,
James got a deal done, saving guys. So what's your
mindset considering the position.
Speaker 5 (28:28):
You're in right now?
Speaker 11 (28:29):
Uh kind of really haven't even thought about that really
about like anything like that, the money side or anything.
Kind of just focused on the season and kind of
just focused on improving my game, uh, cleaning up the
mistakes that I made last year, and and becoming a
totally new player, an evolved player, and basically, you know
what I mean, just going out there and working at work.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Can you go specific on that when you say improve Yeah,
as a player where.
Speaker 11 (28:57):
Man coverage abilities would say tackling, I would say, uh,
you know, just knowing what the offense is about to do,
really evolving in that sense. I know I can compete
in this league. I know I can play in this league.
It's really just what I do now and uh making
my play go up.
Speaker 4 (29:16):
About this defense, I mean there's a lot made. I
mean we see it. I mean that you have a
totally different defensive front. Yes, yes, yes, yes, What do
you know about this defense? Maybe that we're gonna find
out here sometime soon.
Speaker 11 (29:28):
I think our D line could be something special. Man
could be something special. I don't want to speak too soon,
but D line looks pretty good. We got vets in there.
You know Kalais is in there now. You know how
he works hard. He's a he's a great player. We
got guys like uh like sweat at at the end
we got guys like uh, Dalvin at the nose, you
(29:50):
know what I mean. So we got guys who are
ready to put their hands up and get in, uh,
you know, help our defense out and help us in
the in the secondary as well, a big thing.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Yeah, nod for the secondary. When you've got guys up front,
especially even in rundown situation for sure against the run game.
To be able to stand up so you can get
to your opponent in third and obvious pass situation. What
an advantage. That truly is.
Speaker 11 (30:16):
Something that defensive backs love, you know what I mean.
When you got a great D line in front of you,
it makes our jobs a lot easier.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
I mean, how about for Nick rawlis I mean, if
you can stop the run with four, if you can
rush for yeah, what sort of options does that give
your defensive coordinator?
Speaker 8 (30:31):
Man? So many options? He can do so much more.
Speaker 11 (30:34):
It makes our defense so much more versatile, and like
I said, makes our secondary that much better if we
can rush for and drop that drop an extra guy
and coverage you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Talking about that secondary be as well. Jalen, Yeah, talk
about the young guys, Will Johnson and Max Melton, those
two guys specifically, A very interesting your thought on these guys.
Speaker 11 (30:53):
Guys that are competitive, competitive, guys that love love ball.
I go in there every single day will to study
and I go in there every single day. Max is
asking asking questions. These are guys that just love the
game of football, and you can you could tell that
when you watch him on the field.
Speaker 4 (31:10):
What about Denzel Burke, I'm gonna go off. I hear
he is maybe the first guy into the building every day.
What have you seen out of the fifth round pick?
Speaker 8 (31:18):
A guy that is versatile?
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Really?
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Uh?
Speaker 11 (31:21):
You watch him on the tape, you will You watch
him on the field and you know he's cycling through corner.
Nickel can even play safety, you know what I mean.
So he's one of those hybrid type of guys when
we talk about guys like myself and guys like Garrett
who can do it all. Really, I feel like.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
So man or zone has it changed for you at all?
What do you enjoy playing in?
Speaker 8 (31:41):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (31:42):
Really?
Speaker 11 (31:42):
I like playing in both. But I do enjoy covering people,
you know what I mean, That's my job. I like
going down and covering the best tight end or whoever
is the best receiver that week.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
I like doing that.
Speaker 8 (31:54):
So that's how I feel is my job and I
enjoy doing it.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
You know, I really see you when zone, especially so
because when you play in his own room, of course
you're trying to impact the quarterback. Yes, so how much
do you really tip off to the quarterback? I'm on
this guy, but you know what, I don't see this
guy and then you really do see that.
Speaker 11 (32:15):
It's all it's all in the looking in disguise really
and that's uh really a testament to Nick and how
he has everything dialed up. You know, he's he has
everybody on point and with the disguises and uh, you know,
that's how we take the ball away.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
But Jalen, that really takes a lot of experience, Yes,
for a guy to do that, to actually play games
with a quarterback for sure. Oh I'm not looking at
the how you're going to throw the ball to? Oh yes,
I undred percent. So I mean it really is an
experience issue.
Speaker 11 (32:44):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, And that's you know, spending years
with with like guys like Buddha, you know what I mean,
guys who have done it year after year and excel
at it really will. I'm one of those guys as well.
That's always asking questions in the meetings. So you know,
I think guy excel at man coverage. I think I
could get a little bit better as own. I'm always
asking those questions to Buddha and just making sure my
(33:06):
game is on point and tight as well.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
All right, I had two hot takes. Okay, Well, sometimes
I have to, you know, I have to explain things.
Not number one, if this defensive front is much better
than a year ago, I think nine interceptions is a
defense might even.
Speaker 5 (33:20):
Be doubled this year. Oh for sure. For number number.
Speaker 4 (33:22):
Two, Buddha Baker, if he puts up the sort of
numbers he did last year this year and this is
a playoff team, Yes, you guys get primetime exposure. Yes,
I mean, could he not be an NFL defensive player
or the year candidate?
Speaker 11 (33:34):
And you, I mean, you guys see it every every
week on the tape, you know what I mean. He
he he shows it and he's just a great player,
great player.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
This defense schematically, do you expect you to be just
rush Ford drop seven or do you expect, hey, we're
gonna do Nick is gonna have us doing a lot
of different things going after quarter.
Speaker 11 (33:55):
I think it'll be a lot of different things, a
lot of different things that can try to confuse the quarterback,
a lot of different things to put us in position
to make the most plays that we possibly can.
Speaker 4 (34:03):
I mean, if rookie Tyler Shook starts week one, good luck.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
That's all I'm gonna say. Right there.
Speaker 4 (34:08):
Here's my big finish question. Okay, Kyler did the media
rounds yesterday NFL Network and he says it's been really
competitive offense against defense, and they smiled and he said,
I think the offense has won this camp.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
I don't know about that.
Speaker 5 (34:20):
It's been really tight, hasn't it.
Speaker 8 (34:22):
Yeah, definitely, definitely.
Speaker 11 (34:23):
I think that's his job is to go out there
and have that confidence in his offense like that. I
feel like it has been competitive on both sides. Like
I said, Trey has been pushing me every single day.
Trade me, Brian. I know, Will and Marv have been
working every single day, and it's just a push pushing pull,
you know what I mean. Guys have been working and
competing every single day.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Jailing those two types of guys, those that have a
goal coming into training camp and those that don't have
goals coming into the tress, which one.
Speaker 11 (34:50):
Are you a guy that has goals. Definitely coming into
training camp, be the best player I can be. Elevate
the young guys and uh, you know, just follow what
my coaches are saying. What they're saying is the right
stuff and it's definitely gonna help out the team.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
I can't tell you how much we're looking forward to
watching this defense ball this year, sir. I mean that
that three safety look all the different. I mean it's
gonna be something to be hold. So appreciate it.
Speaker 8 (35:12):
Jalent, appreciate you guys so much.
Speaker 5 (35:14):
There you go.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
Jalen Thompson, Cardinals standout safety. Will continue with a big
red rage right after this.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Hush quick throw and acception.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
It's gonna be a pick six, Well Johnson, we'll take it.
Hout on over re touchdown too many round Johnson one
of the.
Speaker 3 (35:38):
Bench cornerbacks and the country Selton to Bechigan pick six
touch down lever rage, lay, fake a cord underneath and
accepting Michigan. Will Johnson jump the route, cross forward and
has it at the vine yard line.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Will Johnson is one of the best corners in America.
Speaker 12 (36:01):
That was kind of a no brainer too, or like
we think this guy's a starting corner and you know,
just the person as phenomenal, as intangible, as he's very intelligent,
and he really is a scheme fit for us too.
So it was like, dude, like, let's take that.
Speaker 4 (36:15):
Guy Jonathan Yain and man, is that is that ringing
true in this camp? Or what how many routes has
he jumped? I mean, honestly, wolf if you were to
give me one guy I want to see more than
any other guy on Saturday Night, thanks for asking, it
would be Will Johnson, Round two, rookie out of Michigan.
It is the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford
(36:36):
and Gilbert. We are Santan Ford, Paul kelvec Ron Wolfley
Special thanks. Jalen Thompson loved his response to you about
you know what, I'm a defensive back. Yeah, I'm so versatile.
I'm just a dB. I'm not a safety. I'm out
a corner play a little bit of everything, and then
his coming about how this d this defense, especially this
D line quote could be special.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Yes here and there's no doubt about it. You think
about your defensive line and how that impacts everything A
team that wants to run the ball PAULI, do you
think it's important you got a Dalvin Tomlinson in there
and at Kalais Kembell. You think that's important that you
got some defensive linemen who can actually hold their gap
and hold their ground. Do you think it's important as
(37:17):
well that you can get a defensive line to actually
pressure a quarterback and now put them in a situation
where he might make a mistake because you've got some
corners and you've got some safeties as well. You got
some dbs who can actually make a play on the ball.
Speaker 5 (37:33):
You said it, Drew stand said it.
Speaker 4 (37:35):
Look, it's not just about affecting the quarterback rushing for
it's stopping the run with four having that HU And
you know what, because of injuries and other reasons, Nick
Rolis has not been afforded that luxury in his two
years as defensive coordinators. So it's really intriguing. Now, what
if dot dot dot you add a legit lockdown corner
to this defense and Will Johnson, I mean, here's Garrett Williams.
(37:59):
Just talk about what a natural Will Johnson is at
the position of cornerback.
Speaker 5 (38:04):
I mean, he's really smart. You can tell you to Nashville.
Speaker 13 (38:06):
He plays very comfortable, he plays in his game, and
he just he's really coachable too, and so he's picked
up everything fast. I think he's taking big stretch from
even OTAs now and you're really starting to see the
guy that we drafted.
Speaker 5 (38:16):
You know, I mean Wolf.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
If I name drop Sauce Gardner, Patrick, I mean Patrick
Sirtan the second was the NFL Defensive Player of the
Year a year ago. Derek Stingley, Junior All Pro Devinspoon
in Seattle.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
All right, Paully, I know I can.
Speaker 4 (38:35):
These guys were dudes from day one.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Cbe I get it, Paulli, and listen. He's certainly on
track right now to do that. Will Johnson looks fantastic
and has in all of trading gap whether he was
playing man cover or he was playing in a zone room.
He really looks good. But whoa, whoa, whoa whoa, everybody,
Let's let this rookie go out and play one preseason
(38:59):
game and then maybe two, and you know what, I
don't know if he's gonna play in that third one,
maybe even three. If we get him three preseason games,
maybe we'll have a much better idea as to what
Paul is talking about. Because right now, rook, you gotta
prove it.
Speaker 4 (39:16):
Okay, all right, you sound all right, you sound like
someone who's been there and done that ten years in
the league. But you know what I'm going to defer
to Nick Rowlis and why Will Johnson can be successful
right away?
Speaker 7 (39:26):
Coach first and foremost, it's just his ability to go
out there and excute, understand things.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
Really well, and then corner when you're one on ones.
Speaker 7 (39:35):
And he's doing that, so he's showing that he can
go out there and hang with some really good receivers.
Speaker 5 (39:39):
Low key.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
You know, one of the best players they saw last
year in this building from an opposing team was Christian
Gonzalez of the New England Patriots.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yes, he was a really good.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
Corner that was a really, really good, horrendous team with
not a lot of talents. Christian Gonzalez nearly six to
two reminds me a lot of a Will Johnson.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
You're right, bully, and you know I would agree with
that assessment. But let me also say again the scheme fit.
We keep talking about the scheme fit. The fact that
the Arizona Cardinals play a lot of zone, and not
just zone, but a lot of quarter coverage four deep
three underneath rush four. This is where I think Will
Johnson excels the most is in quarter coverage. And it's
(40:23):
not a surprise that he jumped z A Jones out route.
Kyler Murray threw it out there in Will Johnson jumped
that route and made the pick, and that, to me
has been That is probably the best play I've seen
in training camp right now, by anybody agreed the best play.
And it was made by a rookie corner. That tells
(40:45):
me something.
Speaker 5 (40:45):
It was such a good play.
Speaker 4 (40:46):
I turned to the guy next to me, as probably
Craig g Real who as I continue to explain the
game of football to him, and I said, did he
know the play? Did he know the route? That's how
good he was in that coverage. In fact, if I'm
Nick Ross and Jonathan Gannon, I really hope Patrick Mahomes
test my rookie cornerback.
Speaker 5 (41:01):
Now.
Speaker 4 (41:01):
I would love to see Mahomes go at Agent zero
on Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (41:05):
Agent zero? Is that what you're calling him? Okay, I'm
with you on that. I would love that if in
fact they did. But you know, once again, when you
play in his own room, you've got to trick the
quarterback as well. You don't want to cover the guy
so good he doesn't throw it you want. And this
(41:26):
is where I think the brilliance of Will Johnson really is.
Mel kiper Junior. You know mel kiper Jr. Of course
came on our show and was talking about how this
guy is a pick six waiting to happen, and it's
because of his ability to fool the quarterback as to
where he is when he's looking at him and not
(41:49):
letting the quarterback know that he's looking at him. So
he can jump a lot of routes as well. So
it takes a lot of smarts and a lot of
instinct as well. And I think we'll Johnson's got that.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
All was last two years in Michigan, he had three
picks sixes and zero touchdown catches allowed. If he would
have come out, been able to come out after they
won the national championship and he was the National title
game defensive MVP, you can't tell me he wouldn't have
been a top ten pick. Here's the only thing I'll
throw out there, because a lot of people look at
the Cardinals secondary are like, wow, they're really young. Okay, well,
(42:22):
a year ago. What did Philadelphia do with that defense?
They won a Super Bowl with two rookie corners and
Cooper to Jean and Quinnan Mitchell.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Great observation.
Speaker 4 (42:31):
If you have the defensive front and you can be disruptive. Man,
I mean I was joking with Trey McBride. You know,
Cooper to Jean and Quinian Mitchell ended up higher than
Trey McBride in the NFL Top one hundred list.
Speaker 5 (42:43):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 4 (42:44):
That's ridiculous. I mean, you know they I get it.
They hold to the Lombardi. They get all the flowers
and the props. I get all that. But with a
Max Melton, would you not say Max Melton has taken
a jump this game.
Speaker 1 (42:54):
I'm so impressed with Max Melton right now. We all
thought he really was making some development last year. He
got in at the end of last season, of course,
it looked like a guy that was getting better and
better and better. But man, he looks really really good
out there so far this training camp as well. I
love the corner room, specifically Nickel. As we all know,
(43:15):
a Nickel corner is a starter in today's NFL. So
much of the time and rundown situation first and ten,
second and one to six. So much of the time
in a first and ten, other teams offensively will go
eleven personnel, one back, one tight end, three wide receivers,
and that means you need three corners. The Arizona Cardinals
(43:36):
right now, a rookie, a second year guy, and a
third year guy. Those are those three corners for them
right now. Will Johnson, of course, is the rookie. Max
Melton is the second year guy, and I'm looking forward
to him really taking a big leap. And then Garrett Williams.
Carrett Williams Pro Football Folcus had him rated number three.
(43:59):
Now you know me, I'm not big on Pro Football Focus, PAULI,
but I will say this right now, just the fact
they had his coverage grade that high against all these
corners in the National Football I'm talking about all pro corners.
He was number three, Okay, So he's remarkable. Even if
(44:19):
the grade is a little skewed and it's not correct
because it's Pro Football Focus, that still is a big
jump for a guy like Garret Williams.
Speaker 4 (44:29):
So if it's base defense and there are only two
corners out there, does Garrett Williams stay on the field.
Speaker 1 (44:34):
Yes, absolutely not all the time based on personnel.
Speaker 4 (44:39):
Because the other package is when you go with those
two corners and then you go with the three safety
look with Rabbit, Buddha and Jalen Thompson. Interesting it was
our guest tonight and by the way, Jalen Thompson earlier
in the off season, we asked him, do you feel underrated?
He said yes, and I think we would all agree with.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
That versatility and flexibility for this defense.
Speaker 4 (44:59):
Ye how many times have we said the words Buddha
or JT saved a touchdown with that tackle right there? Hey,
special thanks as always, jim O, Mohunterro Cody Fincher, Ali Narini,
Parker Garash for Jalen Thompson, Ron Wolfley on Paul KELBC.
This has been the Big Red Rage presented by santan
Ford in Gilbert.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
You've been listening to the Big Red Rage presented by
santan Ford and Gilbert right on the Price right on
the corner of the Santan two to two Freeway and Valvesta.
The Rage is brought to you by Arizona Cardinals Podcast.
Visit Azycardinals dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
We're gonna see a little big red rage football right here.
Speaker 2 (45:45):
This has been an exclusive presentation of the Arizona Cardinals
Football Club
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