June 26, 2025 • 45 mins
Ep. 722 - Former Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds joined Paul Calvisi and Ron Wolfley to share his excitement about the Cardinals’ offensive potential. Edmonds praised Kyler Murray’s electrifying running ability and highlighted what makes James Conner such a force in the backfield. He also had high praise for tight end Trey McBride and opened up about what makes safety Budda Baker one of his favorite players in the league. Plus, Calvisi and Wolf broke down what could elevate Murray’s game to the next level and why defensive coordinator Nick Rallis’s scheme is tailor-made for a playmaker like Baker.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Strap on the boots and scrape up the knuckles. How
it ahead? He got jacked.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
This is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford
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Gonna score Touchdown Slamm the ground by Buddha Baker like
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Right on the Price, right on the corner of the
sand Tan two to two Freeway.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
In Valvis, Wata grab by Trey McBride.
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That was spectacular and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals
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Speaker 3 (00:41):
All Right Seas, Rising Up, jimp with you, Rising Vision,
Flurry Rage, Take it Ober.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Here's Paul Calvic.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
I'm ready. I'm one hundred percent ready. I'm telling you
I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
And Ron Wolfley. It doesn't get any better than that
the field.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
If you're scoring at home, Ron Wolfully, there are three
three kinds of people in the world right now. Okay,
you're either at tight end you where Taylor swift Oh
stole the show, her first live performance since she wrapped
up her record breaking tour in December at twenty four
or your super yacht is currently docked in Venice for
(01:25):
the Bezos wedding. Okay, that's where Dave Pash is in Italy.
Or you are listening to The Big Red Rage, presented
by santan Ford and Gilbert. We are Santane Ford and
soon we are to feature former Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds.
We are the original Thursday Night Football. Paul Calvic year
(01:46):
Ron Wolfley.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
There, how you doing, PAULI you know?
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Did you know? Wolf This is your Holy can only
stat of the day. The Bezos super Yacht, by the way,
runs about five hundred million or so. Yeah, it has
a support vessel that's valued at seventy five million.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Just to let you know, a support vessel.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Support vessel.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Well that's what you were to me all these years
of broadcasting. It's good.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
It's sort of like what Caine Brown was on stage
with Taylor Swift to tight end. You enough about that.
It is the Big Red Ridge and we are talking
about maybe arguably the most complete, the best tight end
in the NFL by the end of this coming season.
Trey McBride. I won't put him out of George Kittle yet,
maybe not even Travis Kelsey.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
I'm glad paul I saw one powerpole that at brock
Bauers better than Trey McBride as of right here, right now.
But uh, I mean wolf considering where he was two
years ago, a very underwhelming rookie season to where he
is now, what is most impressive about what he's done
and basically a year and a half.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
You know what I'm gonna say, Pauli, But it is
so true the fact that he's as good of a
blocker as he is. It's one of the things I
absolutely love about Trey McBride that Polly is number one,
because it's such an advantage when you can have eleven personnel,
one back, one tight end, three wide receivers Paul in
rundown situation first and ten second and one to six,
(03:13):
it's so important you can line up in eleven personnel
and you can stay balanced, Paulie, you can run the
ball effectively, and you can throw the ball effectively. In
today's NFL, that to me is almost a must. And
it's all because you've got a tight end in Trey
McBride who can line up and block, and Paul can
I also say this right now, when you can block
(03:36):
as well as Trey McBride blocks. Do you have any
idea how much more effective it makes you in play action? PAULI,
You are ten times more effective in play action as
a tight end or play action as an offense when
you have a tight end who can line up and block,
act like he's blocking at the point of attack, and
(03:57):
those second level linebackers and that strong he's gonna sit
there and look at him and go, oh, yeah, of
course he's blocking. It's rundown situation. And he's a very
good blocker. Yeah. They might be running the ball and
all of a sudden they suck up and then all
of a sudden that tight end releases over the middle.
Now he's wide open. I'm telling you, it is absolutely
huge in Trey McBride. This is what makes him so
(04:19):
good at this point.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Right, we're gonna ask Chase Edmonds, our special guest tonight,
about Trey McBride. You know what else is huge? What
has become of tight end? You There were over one
hundred and twenty tight ends, including Tim Rieman, including Elijah
Higgins as Trey McBride brought him along, and there was
Trey McBride, the Cardinals pro bowler, an NFL Live on
ESPN and they were asking him about the advice he
(04:41):
has received from Travis Kelsey.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Travis, you know, he would always give us the nuggets
on be friendly to the quarterback, make sure you and
your quarterback are on the same page. And he kind
of plays with the little freedom. Him and Mahomes have
this nice connection and I kind of took that and
I'm like, why can't Kyler and I have that same connection?
And I feel like That's what I've tried to do.
I've tried to have that relationship that grow with Kyler
and just continue to make place for him and be
that security blanket where if he needs somewhere to go
(05:05):
with the ball, he always can can throw it to me.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
And that's what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
See to me, the progress he has made from year
one to his Pro Bowl season, that was most critical
that I'm thirding, you gotta have it and Trey McBride's
getting double covered. He still got open and Kyler still
found him and they were still in sync and they
were still unbeatable. That you know what, even Fred Warner
had no chance. And to me, if there's one thing
(05:29):
that Marvin Harrison Junior can do from his rookie year
into year two, and I know he bulked up, and
I know he's more explosive, and he's got to get
better at the contest to catch. But if he can
develop that sort of chemistry, yeah with Kyler that Trey
McBride did, I mean, is that feasible? Is that realistic
this year?
Speaker 1 (05:45):
No, there's no doubt about it, Paully, It's more than feasible.
It's got to happen as far as I'm concerned, because
if you've got that tight end who can really work
the middle of the field, and you also have a
wide receiver, one like Marvin Harrison Junior who can actually
work the short, intermediate and deep routs. Paul, you know
the way I feel on this. I've been talking about
(06:05):
it for a long time now. If you can throw
the ball down the field, if Kyler Murray and Marvin
Harrison Junior can just throw the ball down the field
and do it at a much better rate than what
we saw last year, much better success. Right by throwing
it down the field, it is going to open up
a whole new world for Trey McBride in the middle
(06:27):
of the field.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
I guarantee you this offseason, the Rams, the forty nine
ers in the Seahawks, they all sat around and said,
how are we going to stop eighty five? Because he
torched every one of those division teams. They had no
answer for Trey McBride and Kyler Murray. This offseason was asked, Okay,
just how good can Trey McBride be?
Speaker 6 (06:46):
Tracey has got a great feel, you know, obviously being
a tight end and having a little leeway to do
things his way now and a lot of confidence, you know,
his ability along with the field that he's gained throughout
these years. I think sky's a limit for Trey. I think,
you know, he be one of the best in the league.
I love going to work with him every day.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
It's just a matchup nightmare, isn't it. Well, if it's
sort of like you know, George Kittle in his prime,
even George Kittle to this day, what do you do.
You tried Isaiah Simmons on him, You tried Xavin Collins
on him to match his size, but then you can't
stay with him in routes. So now you put Buddha
Baker on George Kittle and that's always a battle. But
ultimately George Kittle has a size advantage. Yeah, that's the
similar challenge to Trey McBride presents a defense, right, it's.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
You're right on it, Bully. Although you've got George Kittle
and Trey McBride, their bodies are different, no doubt about that.
Bodies different. George Kittle much bigger, I would say, a
little bit longer. But what makes Trey McBride so much
like George Kittle to me? Not only the fact that
Trey McBride can hold up at the point of attack, Bully,
(07:49):
but you can make a short throw to Trey McBride.
You don't have to You don't have to throw it
down the field for him to run the ball. You
make a short throw to Trey McBride, his ability to
run after the catch is off the charts. And who
is that? Very similar to George Kittle?
Speaker 4 (08:08):
What do you think about Tip Ryman, Elijah Higgins. We
know Drew Petsen, he leads the league nearly every the
last two years, twelve and thirteen. Personnel is a room
for one of those other tight ends to get into
the pass catching game?
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, tip Ryman, listen, nothing against Higgy Bear. I love
Higgy Bear Boy has he developed. This guy has really
gotten better. Elijah Higgins definitely, Paul has gotten so much
better as a tight end. But Tip Ryman is the
guy that year two here it comes. A year one
(08:41):
to me was an excellent step in the right direction
to have a twelve year career in the National Football
League for tip Ryman. Now here we go year two.
How much better can tip Ryman get? We we listen
to many asin for it. He talks about it all
the time. We listen to JG talking about year two
and how important year two is for a young guy
(09:04):
trying to make it in the National Football League. How
much better can tip Ryman get in year two? I
don't know, Pauly, Yeah, but I think we're gonna see it.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
Well, you've heard me joke with JG. Half jokingly. You know,
I need one tight end screen a game for the
two hundred and eighty pounder, you know, and you name
that play. Who wants some You just get a tight
end screen to Tip Ryman and then everybody just blocks
downfield and you'll find out who's gonna make a business
decision or not.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
All right, let's just go red, right, who wants the exactly?
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Hey joined the Bird Gang in Dallas from Monday Night
Football through Cardinals Premiere Travel hosted by Cardinals Legends. Travel
packages will include a chartered flight at the Cardinals Plane Hotel,
Accommodation's lower level game tickets and more. Just go to
azcardstravel dot com, azcartstravel dot com. All right, Chase Edmonds,
we know he can play ball. He can talk ball.
(09:54):
We'll talk about that next with Chase Edmonds on the
big red rage. Hands off Edmunds off the left side.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
He's got a crease at the fifteen to ten to
five touchdown.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
It's a drop play.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Edmonds straight ahead, twenty to fifteen, breaks a tackle at
the ten into the end zone for a second touchdown.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Hand off to the left side.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Edmunds, he's got a rubber the twenty to ten to
five piece. It again, the hat trick. Third touchdown run.
The first two went for twenty a piece. This one
goes for twenty two yards.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
After Peterson had.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
A towel and he was waving the towel at Chase
Edmonds as if to put out a fire.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
How about that flashback twenty nineteen and how fitting was
that the Fordham guy the Fordham fireball if you will
back in New Yawk against the Giants, putting the hat
trick on the Giants three touchdown runs.
Speaker 7 (10:47):
Wolf.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
What is it about round four draft picks? You know,
you guys fight, you guys compete. In fact, there's gonna
be so much competition at Cardinals camp this year that
by the end of this interview we be out of jobs.
As our guest might be the new permanent host of
the Big Red Rage by the time we're done. Chase Edmunds,
who's great on the field. Behind him, Mike, Chase, how
(11:09):
are we doing?
Speaker 8 (11:11):
What's up? Thing that? I appreciate you guys giving me
a man, It's really good to hear your voices again.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
I tell you this.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
So, Chase, I got to jump in here, So Paul,
I got to jump in here. Chase, and I have
to ask you. You were drafted in the fourth round,
an excellent round, I might add, But what were you
drafted overall? What was your number? One? Four oh one
thirty four? Well, hang in there. It's not one oh
four like I was dropped to Chase. But what is
it bad either? And it's in the fourth round. It's
(11:38):
the right rock, well thought, Chase.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
No, I was going to say, if you're if you're
going to take a broadcasting job, what can you do
America favor and take Steven A. Smiths gig? Okay, because
we're all sick of Stephen A. Smith at this point.
That's that's that's love to get that job, as you would.
And I know you know basketball, but we're talking football
and I'm just gonna speaking to compete. Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals
head coach, said twice this offseason he wants quote more
(12:03):
friction end quote at camp. In a safe way. He said,
he wants more physicality, he wants more football, he wants
more pads popping. As a player, how do you process that?
How will that shape your mindset coming into Cardinals camp
this year?
Speaker 8 (12:19):
Yeah, I think hearing that as a player myself, to
me that that screams one thing, And I think that
screams that he wants more competition. I think he's politically
trying to say that he wants to really light a
fire under his guys, really get after each other, you know, again,
in a safe way. Obviously, you never want to get
any big time injuries during a training camp. You want
to take care of each other. But at the same
(12:39):
time as well to really get yourself ready and primed
up for the season. And you know, when you're looking
at full speed, when the bullets are really fast, and
when the real he definitely probably is speaking on just
more competitive edge and more competition with one another to
really see, you know, who's gonna step up when we
need the most, who's gonna step up? You know, when
it gets a little fire and the bulls get.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Hot, so Chase. When you look at the Cardinals offensively
and you go big picture on them, where do you
think they're going to be strong and where do you
think you might need some work?
Speaker 8 (13:08):
Well, I look at Arizona. I bet a lot of
people last year didn't think that the run game would
be as impactful and as successful as it was looking
at just like the pre season. We all know how
great James Conter is of itself, but I bet there
was you know, a couple of question marks coming in
with the oln. They did a great job as a unit,
they did whoever their run game coordinate over there was
as a coaching staff did an awesome job of just
(13:30):
using the run game, the outside zones scheme to really
break upen a lot of runs. I think that's something
that you really build off of. And for me, I
think it's all about, you know, opening up the pass
game for Trade McBride and as a tie in the NFL,
nothing opens up the pass game for them boys better
than play action, and I think that that's something that
can continue to kind of be built off of K
(13:52):
one strength, just opening the game for him, really kind
of lessening the load on his shoulders, having the run
game established, using that to actually get some of the
receivers opened down as it, but more importantly, really get
Trey McBride down the field where you know he's gonna
be camele with number one option as you're coming off
that strong season that he has. So that's something I'm
really looking forward to just seeing again the run game
(14:13):
continue to be built on him and really just feature
that offense around McBride.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Right now, former Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds is our guest.
And if you're saying yourself, wait a minute, I saw
Chase on Good Morning Football a couple of months ago,
you would be right, Yeah, so we're gonna talk run game.
Let's zoom out here for a minute, because you were
talking about James Connor. It was this morning, the question
was best one to two running back punch in football
right now? And I don't know who the guest analyst was.
(14:38):
He went with Breeze Hall and Brelan Allen to the Jets,
And I'm like, wait a minute, what about Jamior Gibbs
and David Montgomery the Lions? What about even Lamar Jackson
and Derreck Henry if you want to go that route,
But how about James Connor and an ascending Trey Benson
who said he put on seven pounds this offseason and
feels way more explosive, And in fact, James kind of
(15:00):
raved about Trey Benson. We started running more like James Connor.
What do you think about that one two punch?
Speaker 8 (15:06):
I think that's gonna be something that you'll see a
lot earlier in the season. I just say that because
as effective and that successful as James has been, I
think as you get a little bit older, I think
that you know, the strategy should be to really get
him healthy for seventeen games, so when it comes down
to the nitty gritty, when it comes down to those
December games, you can really lean on him. So if
I was the coaching staff of the Arizona Cardinals, and
(15:27):
they do believe in fact that Trey Benson is going
to be that second, that second one to two punch
behind JC. That you would want to see him early
on in the season so he can get a good rhythm,
a good flow, and you know, to really see if
he really can, in fact be that one two punch
behind JC to get it rolling. I think that it's
really important again, you know, James, he brings so much
more than just his talent to the Cardinals, right you
(15:48):
talking about his just his effectiveness is leadership, how he's
just so contagious with his mindset. It's really important to
have a guy like that always on the field suited
up as much as possible. Becau does a lot with
the camaraderie in the chrism of the team.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Chase, I think James Connor is one of the toughest
tackles in the football universe. What makes him so tough
in your opinion, Oh.
Speaker 8 (16:10):
Man, he absolutely is. It's his contact balance. For me,
you look at JC and he runs to the tackles
clearly never gets tackled by the first guy. I also
think so that James is at least what I saw
last year. I got to watch a lot of ball
last year, not playing because of the injury, James put
on some speed. Man. I don't know if he leaned out,
but I just remember when I played with him at
(16:30):
twenty one, he didn't seem as fast as he seemed
last season. You know, I saw him break a lot
of runs. He seemed like a step or two faster
than what people probably used were used to seeing on
the defensive side of the ball, and that contributed to
a lot more of his explosive players as well. But
for me, it definitely starts with just a contact balance, man.
I mean, he runs so hard and he just shrugs
(16:50):
his defenders off with ease because he's just naturally obviously
a very strong runner. But definitely, you know, I think
another thing that he really does well is James knows
how to take on what we call like half a
defender in the NFL, so you know, not always running
through someone's soul or chess, but just kind of one
stepping them and running through half the shoulder. And that's
kind of how you see and shruggle off so many
(17:12):
more tackles as well.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Yeah, no doubt, I mean, he was among the league
leaders all season with Derrick Henry for most of mistackles.
Force Chase Edmonds is our guest, and you know we
talk about James Connery, He's more than a player. He's
a mindset, He's a mentality. What about the run game
in general? Saquon Barkley said during the playoffs last year
that he personally wanted to prove that you could run
the football and win a Super Bowl. Now did Philly
(17:34):
do that just because he had the best O line
and the best running back in the world, or do
you think that's feasible for the Cardinals to feature that
and have success even into the postseason?
Speaker 8 (17:45):
Really good question, because this is a lot like this
is a big topic in locker room as well. I'm
gonna personally say that it was the perfect storm in
the perfect combination that Philly, you know, was blessed enough
to get the best, most explosive running back in the
NFL with that magnificent O line. I mean, you had
runs where fake Von Barkley was not getting touched until
seven yards down the field, and that's just not a
(18:07):
winning formula for anybody playing against the Philadelphia Eagles. I'm
a believer that in the playoffs, you definitely need an
effective run game, but the wins and losses eight nine
out of ten times will always come from can your
quarterback get it done on third and long? In the playoffs,
you know you're playing against really good defenses, everything tightens up,
everything gets faster. To me, it's really won and lost
(18:28):
and where who has the most success in the red
zone and then whose quarterback can really convert on those
third downs to keep the drivers going in my.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Opinion, And not only that, but you know, defensively, have
a Buddha Baker on your team that is going to
help you an awful lot. Your your thoughts on just
Buddha and how he plays the game, Chase, Yeah, man.
Speaker 8 (18:48):
Buddhas were my all time favorite teammates that I got
to play the game with the hell of a guy,
really good guy first and foremost. But he always I remember,
I'll never forget you know when that quote, when that
his first quote came out of no fear against Seattle,
he hit I think it was Chris Carson that he
hit coming downhill. It was either Chris Carson or it
was whoever their backup running back at the time was.
(19:09):
I'm pretty sure he broke that running backs hit and
I just remember him walking back and they got a
micd up and he just talking about no fear, no fear,
and Uh, Buddha is so inspirational because you know, he's
about one hundred and eighty pounds, soaking wet, and he
is playing the hardist every single snap on the football field.
And he's also the best player ninety nine percent of
(19:31):
the time on the football field. And it's just it's
amazing to see what he carved out his career as
all the Pro Bowls now, all the All Pros. And
you know, I'm one of his biggest fans. I know,
my dad is probably his biggest fan. My dad loves
him some Buddha Baker. He always calls asking about Budda Baker.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
Was b.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
It's funny. I saw that clip the other day, just
by chance, he knocked out two Seattle running backs in
that game, and it's amazing. You know, he was a
Pro Bowler again, he was All Pro again. I still
think he's under rated around the rest of the NFL.
I think it's only people in Arizona truly appreciate Buddha
Baker and his greatness. Let me ask you this Cardinals
put a lot of money in that defensive front. Right,
(20:10):
If the pass rush is zamped up is much improved
than it was a year ago. What do you think
that does for Buddha and the rest of that secondary?
How many more interceptions for example, could that result in?
Speaker 8 (20:21):
Oh? Yeah, I think when you look at a passing
defense as a collectively as a team, whether it's the
secondary or the front four, I mean, it's really the
match that makes both go. So if you have a
really good pass rush, they're getting after the quarterback, balls
gonna come out a lot faster. Your cornerbacks can kind
of sit on those shorter routes take a few more
chances than jump routs just because double moves won't happen
(20:42):
as much because the quarterback doesn't have that much time
to throw. So it's really a hand in hand thing
when you talk about the front four and the secondary.
I love what Arizona deal with the front four, bringing
in Josh bringing in them. I'm prettyure they brought in
a Dalvin Thomason too, right now, yeah, yeah, yeah, So
those are two really good movies. You know, DT is
going to be more of a stuff the run game
kind of guy I don't know how many sacks will get,
but he's gonna be an effective first second down in
(21:04):
Cherry Linon for them. And then you know, if Josh
comes in and does what he does since he's been
in Philly, they're gonna definitely have a bigger, much more
effective pass rush. So that's something that I'm really intrigued
to look at. I think Buddha. It'll give Buddha a
little more free reigns to kind of do his thing
in the secondary, while he will still be up to
the line of skimmerge literally because I think that's where
he's best suited, just because I don't think there's a
(21:26):
better box safety per se at affecting the run game
than Buddha Baking the NFL. But it definitely will give
him more free range in those passing situations third and
longs chase.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
What is the state of football? Give me the state
of football in your opinion in the year twenty twenty five.
Where are we I think.
Speaker 8 (21:42):
The state of football right now? What you're seeing is
you're seeing a lot of teams one they want the
dual threat quarterback, right Yeah, anytime you can get a
quarterback that can ease the run game up and help
the run game as the offense just because they're an
extra threat for another defender in the box. That's something
that I think teams are really going after a lot.
I will say last year, I'm intrigued to see our
(22:06):
teams approach the running back market or just the running
back uses, because I think last year there was a
lot of running backs that went over a thousand yards. Man,
it was kind of as anomaly of how effective running
backs were just for some team. So I'm eager to
see how that it kind of goes because if you
asked me this two seasons ago, I just kept telling
you that, yeah, minus a passing league, it's a passing league.
(22:27):
It's going that way the whole way. But now you're
starting to see, you know, running backs get used a
little bit more to kind of help the quarterback out.
And I also will say that just because of how
talented the position is across the board. Now, if you
don't have a one A and a one B in
the receiver room, your offense probably won't be the upper
half of the NFL in terms of just like scoring.
(22:49):
That's that's something that I think is really key. Now
you look at a lot of receiver rooms in the NFL.
The best offense in the NFL usually have a one A,
one B receiver room.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
In my opinion, Chase Edmund's former Cardinals running backs still
remember when Kyler came into the league, you said he's
like an extra blocker because the defense has to account
for him. Here he is going into year seven, Chase,
he took twenty seven design runs last year. There's been
a lot made of this. Should Kyler run the ball more?
For example, Lamar Jackson ran it seventy nine times in
(23:18):
design runs. Jane Daniels fifty eight times design runs. What
do you think the risk reward is that Kyler running
the ball more?
Speaker 8 (23:27):
I think kay one should absolutely run the ball more
in terms of design runs. And not only say that
because Kyler knows how to not get hit. It's not
like Kay One's gonna go out there and get himself
hit or get himself in a situation where he's getting
risked by a big tom blow for injury. He's one
of the better quarterbacks, I think, probably the best quarterback
at not taking a big hit. So I think that
you kind of roll with that model. I would love
(23:48):
to see him get I mean, you said he had
twenty seven last year's seventeen games season. If he just
has two to two and a half per game, you're
looking at like the thirty five to forty five range,
and then you know him keep doing what he does
on the scrimms when they come. But I think, again,
that's just something that helps with the run game as
a whole, because now the defense has to scheme for that,
you know, and when you have a quarterback design run,
(24:10):
it allows you to have an extra blocker and you
know you're really running the man or man basch ups
when it comes to the run game and trying to
break out those explosive plans. So that's something that I
would love to see Kate Well just get a little
bit more active in the design run calls for him,
just because again I think he's tremendous at protecting himself.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
So, Chase, you said one A and one B in receivers.
You think that an offense in twenty twenty five has
got to have a one A and a one B
in receivers. Do you count tight ends in that as well?
Speaker 8 (24:39):
Yeah? Yeah, good catch with you. I should have just
said past catchers because I think Trey mcbrid is gonna
be the best tight in the football next season.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Okay, he's a dog.
Speaker 8 (24:46):
I never got to meet him. He's a dog. But
I definitely believe that you need a one A one
be like, if you don't have two people in your
past catching ability team to that have a thousand yards each.
And I know that's a little aggressive, but I'm gonna say,
you know, one with twelve hundred eighty one, nine hundred,
but you're gonna need two guys that really carry that
load to create an effective offense. And if you don't
(25:07):
have that, then you probably just have a lot of
depth in the office of on the offensive side of
the bay. You know, you got a lot of guys contributed,
But I am a firm believer that you need to
to alphas to carry that load to have a top ten,
top twelve offense in the NFL right now.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
Well, one A for Chase Edmonds is to be playing
ball in twenty twenty five. One B would be if
we could talk to them every week, because great, so
we'll see how that game plan works out.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Man.
Speaker 4 (25:36):
We always enjoy Chase really good stuff. Thanks for the
time and the insight.
Speaker 8 (25:40):
Appreciate you guys. Always good talking to you guys. I
hope everyone stays healthy and will and always go cars.
I'm always in debited to the car.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
Yeah, there you go, double ding, all right, Chase Edmonds,
our guest. We continue with a big red rage presented
by Santan Ford in Gilbert the staff to Murray and
he's gonna keep the money to the right.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
He's got rumb with the forty five forty He points
to the sky as he takes up with the larning
and the twenty the tenth to five touchdown a design
run for Kyler Murray.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
It goes for fifty yards.
Speaker 7 (26:17):
You know, we haven't had a lot of national games,
and you know this guy can make all of those
inside the pocket, outside the pocket, and he's quick. You
see it on tape. He's out running everybody all the time,
even like that forty nine Ers game where in San
fran he he points up to the touchdown, you know,
forty to fifty yards away, knowing he's going to score it.
(26:40):
You know, I haven't seen a QB do day.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
Yeah, that was straight out of Texas high school football.
I mean he got to the second level, the number
one went into the air and he gone fifty yard
touchdown run on the Cardinals second play from scrimmage. The
only thing hotter than the one to eleven out on
that field was Kyler Murray number one himself. It is
the big red rage by Santan Ford in Gilbert. We
(27:02):
heard the respect Chase Edmonds has for Kyler Murray. There's
still buds and uh Ron Wolfley, Paul kelbyc back with
you here, and I tell you what when it comes
to Kyler, there's been a lot of talk about all right,
how and where can he get better going into year seven,
and a lot of it and this is a lot
of Kyler's doing revolves around his legs. He's the one
(27:25):
to first really bring it up two months ago going
into a softball game.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Wolf Yeah, you're right about that, Paully. But I've just
got a comment on Dave Pash. David, only David would
talk about pointing to the sky in the middle of
the call, in the middle of the call, only Pash
would see you pointing to the sky and say that
in his call. Okay, I just wanted to get that
out of the way right there. Kyler Murray has got
to run the ball and be more spontaneous doing it.
(27:51):
That's I think it's the unscheduled run that JG and
Drew Petsing would like to see from Kyler Murray. That's
my guess. Paully, I could BEng on that. That's my guess.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Well, for example, there are certain stats and analytics that
said he ran the ball really well, really effectively last season.
For example, at a career high in yards per carry
seven point three and in terms of his rushing yards
over expected. One of those analytics, he was the best
among all quarterbacks according to Next Gen Stats. He just
(28:23):
didn't run it as much as a Lamar Jackson, a
Josh Allen, a Jayden Daniels. And and even if Patrick
mahomes and here Kyler talk about it, at least with
the media, sounds like he was sitting around watching the
AFC playoffs wolf and he's like, Oh, look at the threat,
look at the weapon legs on a quarterback can become
when it's Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, you know, Patrick mahomes On,
(28:45):
Keith urd Downs. Hey, wait a minute, I can do that.
I run a four to three.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
And especially Paul right, especially because when you think about it,
how well the Arizona Cardinals run the ball, yes, in
between the tackles, in particular, how well they run on
the ball where they can line up in the gun
with James Connor right next to Kyler Murray and here
comes the zone Raad, Here it comes, and Kyler can
(29:09):
keep it and off he goes. It is a great
weapon to have, and I love the fact that Drew
Petsing likes to show it early. Almost at least in
I want to say, the vast majority of the games, Paul,
in the first quarter, you'll see the Arizona Cardinals with
a called run for Kyler Murray. And I think that
(29:29):
is because Drew Petsing is just letting the DC, the
defensive coordinator know, hey, listen, you don't think we'll do this,
watch this. Oh we'll do it all right. You know what.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
Lorenzo Alexander was on the Red Sea Report earlier this week,
and he actually gave you props for that observation. He said,
that's absolutely true. He said he does think that's by design.
I look into the Chandler Jones back in his heyday,
he would always throw a bull rush into the first
series or two just to let the tackle know I
can go through you if I have to. So there's that.
There's also more Buddha on the minachime show, and he
(30:02):
was just talking in general about what he's seen from
Kyler this offseason.
Speaker 7 (30:06):
He practices really hard, you know, he tells receivers what
to do, you know, how to do it. He's kind
of been in his bag this whole off season, you know,
doing no look throws and you know, having a great
offseason training camp. So K one's gonna you know, he's
gonna run a little bit more, you know, a little
outside of the pocket inside the pocket throws. You know,
(30:28):
he's he's gonna kind of do it all.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
That's intriguing. I mean, sort of like Kyler putting his
finger to this guy calling a shot Buddha Baker forecasting
more Kyler in the run game. I think the question
is more design runs or to your point, more off schedule,
which Drew Petsen has talked about.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
That's exactly it. Pay again, maybe maybe both, Maybe yes
is the answer. Now, maybe they're gonna encourage him to
pull the ball down and run more. And I think
that is an excellent thing to do when you think
about it. Paully, think of Russell Wilson up in Seattle.
How many years he tore our hearts out by watching
him on a third and ten rush, pull the ball
(31:08):
down third and ten and rush for eleven yards and
move the chains. Just a backbreaker. And it's one of
the reasons why you want to do it as well,
because polly sucking the life out of your opponent is
a good thing in the football field. It is a
good thing. You want to demoralize them. There are a
couple of ways you can do that. Number One, you
(31:30):
just line up and run the ball right over him
and a north southway. It's the most demoralizing thing in
the game. I've said it many many times in the past.
Number Two, have a quarterback who can pull the ball
down when it's third and eight, third and obvious and
convert with his legs. That is demoralizing as well. And
that's what you want to do, not only beat a defense,
(31:52):
but demoralize him in the process.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
You go back to the Cardinals last playoff season. It
was Week four, I believe at the La Rams. It
was a tight game, was third and sixteen. I remember
it vividly. Kyler ran for seventeen. The entire Rams defense
was deflated, was demoralized, depressed. It was a route from
that point forward. He absolutely demoralized him. Yep, So, okay,
(32:15):
we have that. I have a few other areas where
I believe Kyler can get better and dare I say
will get better in year seven? You're ready for this
quick checklist?
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Number one deep pass. His first couple of years in
the league, he was among the league leaders in efficiency
on the deep chunk throws.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Paul, I'm so glad you said that, though, because everything
else comes off of that.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
Okay, proceed Number two throwing wide receivers open. They might
be covered, but you're gonna throw it to a spot
where only the receiver can get it, in particular a
Marvin Harrison Junior and a Michael Wilson, and that.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Means attack the ball. Marvin Harrison Junior attacked the ball.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Okay. Number three, chemistry with receivers sort of like what
you've been able to forge with Trey McBride ever since
his rookie year. Can you achieve some of that with
Marvin Arrison Junior, Michael Wilson, Greg derch Zay Jones.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
The only thing I would say is don't force it.
Don't force it. Let it happen very organically.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
Okay, I've tried to force the mantra, come for the arms,
stay for the legs over the years, hasn't got a
lot of traction. But we already talked about the legs.
So I'll go to number five, passing under pressure when
pressured and in weeks yeah, twelve, thirteen and fourteen, a
critical stretch of the Cardinals season coming out of the
by when Kyler was under pressure. According to next Gen Stats,
(33:31):
he went seven of twenty seven passing fifty nine yards,
zero touchdowns, five picks. Now, once again, it's not always
on the quarterback where the receivers in the right spot,
where the receivers coming back for the ball. Were the
receivers making adjustments when they knew the quarterback was under duress.
I think as an offense, they have to be better
when Kyler is under pressure.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
Yes, Paulli, it's a great observation by you right there,
and think about this. You gotta go ahead and get
the ball out quicker two. That's why you don't want
to be in third and obvious pass situations, Paul, you
don't want Kyler in third and obvious. It's the reason
why first and second down really matter. You want him
in third and three, third and four, you want him
(34:14):
in that area. So now, all of a sudden, anything
could happen. A quick pass could beat you and move
the chads right.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
Speaking to receivers, get ready for the twenty twenty five
season with the latest gear from the Cardinals team shop,
including the recently drop Marvin Harrison junior jersey. Go to
Azycardinals dot com slash shop today, Azycardinals dot com slash shop.
You know where else Kyler I think gets better this
year is when he has to compete against a much
improved defense in practice every day. That Cardinals defense in
(34:45):
mini camp, I'm told was really balling and really give
them the offense all they can handle. We'll talk more
about that next. It is the Big Red Rage presented
by santan Ford and Gilbert We are sandtan Ford.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
So it takes play fake boot to the left looking
dumping it off near side. He'll caught it and tackled
immediately by Buddha Baker. It's going to be a negative
play right now, they're saying incomplete as Hill and Buddha
Baker are jawing a little bit.
Speaker 9 (35:14):
He's not backing down from anybody, man. I mean he's
a captain for one of the reasons he's a captain
is his intensity and his mode of play. And that's
how he's always been and he's going to max out
every single snap and he ain't backing out from anybody.
Speaker 4 (35:30):
Five time team Captain, seven time Pro bowler, four time
All Pro Buddha Baker, and one epic memorable trash talk
session with Tyreek Hill there on the road in Miami
early in the game, set in the tone face mask
to face mass rooting in a tutin two of them
going at it as a There was Buddha and guess
(35:50):
what there were the Cardinals pulling away in the second
half for a win at Miami. It is the Big
Red Rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert. We are
santan Ford, Paul calvic, Ron Wolfley, and a Bodah Baker,
who I still well for all his accolades. I still
don't think people appreciate it, especially last year, quite to
the degree they should. He set a career high in
tackles of bucks sixty four, number two in the NFL,
(36:13):
and tackles the top ten were all inside linebackers and Buddha.
And it's the most tackles by a Cardinals player in
a single season since at least nineteen ninety one.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Oh my goodness, Paul, didn't you get in between Buddha
and Tyreek Hill. Didn't you get in a.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
Couple of fine diminion of Americans? They said, guys, come on,
break it up. Over here, break it up. We got
a long game.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Truly incredible. You know, I say this all the time
about Buddha, Baker, Polly, it is. It's amazing. Though you
just watch him on tape. He does two things. He
does two things. He goes to the wall fearlessly, and
he does it every play. Those two things, that's what
he does.
Speaker 4 (36:51):
And this defense, Johnathan again and Nick Ross, they are
getting the best out of Buddha, as evidenced by those numbers.
Not only a career high end tackles, but he had
ten tackles for loss, He had five passes defense, he
had three quarterback hits, two sacks. In other words, he's
all over the field. And here he is with Mina
Kimes and she asked him just about how the Cardinals
(37:12):
have evolved their defensive scheme.
Speaker 7 (37:14):
They did a great job just watching the film each
and every year and kind of evolving their defenses. You know,
they came from Philadelphia and they did a lot of
stuff in Philly. They also had a great d line.
But in this scene, it gives the ability for the
you know, the dbs and the linebackers to kind of
not exactly show our hand to the offenses until the
(37:38):
ball snapped. So add that with the with the great
defensive line and some edge rushers, you know, we're cooking
with hot reed.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Is there any doubt in your mind that they unlocked
Buddha Baker last season?
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Yeah, now you're you're right, Balie. They put him in position,
keeping him in the box, around the box an awful lot.
I should say, not just in it, but around it
and in it from time to time. He did both,
but just allowing him to use his instincts. Paul, I've
said this many times. It's the truth. It's Troy Palamalu.
Palamalu was just like that as well, and the Steelers
(38:14):
used him just the way that I saw Nick rawlis
using Buddha Baker last year an awful lot. Sometimes the
blantz sometimes not to giving him the option whatever it is,
keeping him in the middle of the field, letting him
read plays, diagnose plays. Buddha is really good and he's
got good instincts. And then to make tackles. Oh my goodness,
(38:37):
that's why Buddha had over one hundred and sixty tackles.
Speaker 4 (38:41):
So, you know, last year I was sort of on
a mission. I was trying to figure out exactly what
and how they were unlocking Buddha. Baker and I kept
getting the heisman in that locker room. But then then
Wolf late December January, I started to get a little
bit info from a few guys, and you're on it.
I mean, there's not much more I can add to
that other than they really allowed Buddha to have more
on the quarterback. They put him inside more so it
(39:04):
wasn't as easy for offense as to go to one
side or the other because he was more in the
center of the box and so he could get, you know,
to either side at the same time when he wanted
to go, when he wanted to shoot his gun, he
would just do it with instincts, like you said, Troy Polamalo,
and then the secondary would adjust accordingly. They would watch
number three and they say, Okay, is he going, is
he going? He's going boom? Everyone would check and they
(39:26):
would have some of his responsibilities if he decided to
let it rip and go downhill.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
PAULI, that is that is really brilliant. It is that
the rest of the secondary is basically going to read Buddha.
Very interesting. Just like a wide receiver has got to
read coverage on a read route yep. So all of
a sudden, you've got this secondary actually reading one player
that might blitz or not. That that is brilliant to me.
Speaker 4 (39:51):
In fact, Mina Kaim smart enough to drill down a
little deeper with Buddha and just the scheme and how
it allowed him to be near number one receivers more.
Speaker 7 (40:00):
I love it. You know, it gives me the opportunity
to kind of be where opposing number one receivers are
instead of just you know, being at free statety all day.
And you know that can give offenses opportunities to kind
of stay away, and this game is it's not like that,
So I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (40:18):
Well, if you had a chance to interview a lot
of Cardinals players in the offseason, like yours truly did.
I had two guys, Jalen Thompson and Starling Thomas both
confirm that team started stealing the Cardinals defensive schemes and
their coverages towards the end of last season. Is there
any greater compliment then when you're plagiarized, when people are,
you know, just copying what you're running and you're seeing
(40:41):
on a film, when you're watching other teams.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Yeah, no, you're right about that, Polly. There is no
better compliment than imitation. You're going to start ripping off
from other teams. That is amazing. But you know what, Pauline,
I want to go back to Buddha Baker and Buddha
Baker when he signed his extension with the Arizona Cardinals.
Don't tell me for a minute. The culture is what
he loves here. But you also have to believe that
(41:05):
Nick rawlis using him the way that he does and
allowing him to play in this defense. Don't tell me
that that didn't have something to do with Buddha Baker
looking at himself and his career in saying, yeah, this
is the place for me.
Speaker 4 (41:22):
And what's amazing is what James Connor has done for
Trey Benson. Trey Benson admitting recently the yeah, a lot
of his play style now has been influenced by James
Connor kram at vertical. There's no doubt that has rubbed
off on Trey Benson. I asked Rabbit this week, right
year two safety, and he said, absolutely, JT and Buddha's
playing style has rubbed off on me. I thought I
(41:43):
was a pretty good tackler, but I watch those guys.
They try and plant people. They try and pick him
up and plant him into the ground. So now that's
what I'm trying to do. It's really interesting. I think
you're seeing this in all the position rooms. It's a
key reason why the Cardinals obviously added Kaleis Campbell with
two young first round defensive linemen. These younger guys learning
from experts of the craft, the veteran guys, some of
(42:04):
the team leaders in that locker room.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Well, especially too if you're a Rabbit, because Rabbit is
not a big guy. He's not a proto typical safety
in the National Football League. He's more towards Buddhist size, yep.
And because of that, he's got to be greatly encouraged
watching this guy do what he does right in front
of him every Sunday. That's got to help.
Speaker 4 (42:27):
So we asked Chase Edmonds about the Cardinals improved pass
rush and potentially what that could do for the secondary
and the interceptions in general. I'm pretty convinced if you
made me give you a forecast, a prediction, a hot
take for this coming year, the Cardinals will double their
interceptions from twenty twenty four to twenty five as a team.
(42:47):
Great the pass rush, yes, and because of the improved
hopefully cornerback play with instinctive ballhawks like Will Johnson for example,
Max Melton in year two, you know, Buddha getting his
hands on the ball, mors, they are able to free
them up even more. Cardinals had nine interceptions as a
team last year. Only seven teams had fewer. The team
(43:08):
leader last year was Minnesota with twenty four. The Houston
Texas number two with nineteen interceptions. Woh, I mean.
Speaker 1 (43:15):
Wolf, think about that, Paul, twenty four picks to nine.
That's a huge difference.
Speaker 4 (43:22):
When NFL games are decided by one, two or three
plays a game, right if you're getting a pick. For example,
the Cardinals loss at Seattle coming out of the by
what was the decisive play in the game. The Kobe
Bryant picked six Yeah. To me, I think the Cardinals
will have a ton more interceptions, you know. I mean
they can end up with eighteen, and they can double it.
I think you could almost go ahead and put it
(43:44):
in pen. They're a postseason team if they get that
many more turnovers considering how critical turnovers well, in this case,
interceptions were on the offense down the stretch a year ago.
Speaker 1 (43:55):
Just stay secondary's past friend to have a vicious pass rush,
and I think that's what we're going to see. And
it's not just what I love about this Polly. It's
not just skulls. It's not just the fact they've added
Josh Swatt. It's not the fact that Delvin Tomlinson, it's
not Kalais Campbell. It's not the fact that they've added
the just these skulls. It's also the scheme that Nick
(44:19):
Rawlis can come up with as well. Listen, sometimes one
of the most effective things you can do is not
bring five or six, just rush four. Are they going
to have the ability to do that? Yes?
Speaker 4 (44:34):
And you know how we know that because Nick Rawlis
confirmed as much with you, well almost he just speculated
openly when he was on with you. A couple of
weeks ago, and he said, well, it's totally different when
you don't have to worry about bringing numbers to stop
the run. When I can line up four and feel
confident we're going to stop the run because I have
the dudes upfront who can win their one on ones. Right, man,
(44:57):
think of what's possible if you're the defensive coordinator. What's
schemes might be coming this year? Cardinals single game tickets
on sale now at Asycardinals dot com Slash Tickets. Special
thanks as always Jim Mamahundro, Cody Fincher, Ali Narini, our
special guest former Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds for Ron
Wolfley on Paul Calvic. This has been the Big Red
Rage presented by santan Ford in Gilbert.
Speaker 2 (45:21):
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 Valvista.
The Rage is brought to you by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts.
Visit Azycardinals dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
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. How
it ahead? He got jacked.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
This is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford
and Gilbert Terry's.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Gonna score Touchdown Slamm the ground by Buddha Baker like
a torpedo. He came flying into the back.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Deal the Rage.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
It 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 3 (00:30):
In Valvis, Wata grab by Trey McBride.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
That was spectacular and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals
dot Com Slash podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
All Right Seas, Rising Up, jimp with you, Rising Vision,
Flurry Rage, Take it Ober.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Here's Paul Calvic.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
I'm ready. I'm one hundred percent ready. I'm telling you
I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
And Ron Wolfley. It doesn't get any better than that
the field.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
If you're scoring at home, Ron Wolfully, there are three
three kinds of people in the world right now. Okay,
you're either at tight end you where Taylor swift Oh
stole the show, her first live performance since she wrapped
up her record breaking tour in December at twenty four
or your super yacht is currently docked in Venice for
(01:25):
the Bezos wedding. Okay, that's where Dave Pash is in Italy.
Or you are listening to The Big Red Rage, presented
by santan Ford and Gilbert. We are Santane Ford and
soon we are to feature former Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds.
We are the original Thursday Night Football. Paul Calvic year
(01:46):
Ron Wolfley.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
There, how you doing, PAULI you know?
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Did you know? Wolf This is your Holy can only
stat of the day. The Bezos super Yacht, by the way,
runs about five hundred million or so. Yeah, it has
a support vessel that's valued at seventy five million.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Just to let you know, a support vessel.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Support vessel.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Well that's what you were to me all these years
of broadcasting. It's good.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
It's sort of like what Caine Brown was on stage
with Taylor Swift to tight end. You enough about that.
It is the Big Red Ridge and we are talking
about maybe arguably the most complete, the best tight end
in the NFL by the end of this coming season.
Trey McBride. I won't put him out of George Kittle yet,
maybe not even Travis Kelsey.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
I'm glad paul I saw one powerpole that at brock
Bauers better than Trey McBride as of right here, right now.
But uh, I mean wolf considering where he was two
years ago, a very underwhelming rookie season to where he
is now, what is most impressive about what he's done
and basically a year and a half.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
You know what I'm gonna say, Pauli, But it is
so true the fact that he's as good of a
blocker as he is. It's one of the things I
absolutely love about Trey McBride that Polly is number one,
because it's such an advantage when you can have eleven personnel,
one back, one tight end, three wide receivers Paul in
rundown situation first and ten second and one to six,
(03:13):
it's so important you can line up in eleven personnel
and you can stay balanced, Paulie, you can run the
ball effectively, and you can throw the ball effectively. In
today's NFL, that to me is almost a must. And
it's all because you've got a tight end in Trey
McBride who can line up and block, and Paul can
I also say this right now, when you can block
(03:36):
as well as Trey McBride blocks. Do you have any
idea how much more effective it makes you in play action? PAULI,
You are ten times more effective in play action as
a tight end or play action as an offense when
you have a tight end who can line up and block,
act like he's blocking at the point of attack, and
(03:57):
those second level linebackers and that strong he's gonna sit
there and look at him and go, oh, yeah, of
course he's blocking. It's rundown situation. And he's a very
good blocker. Yeah. They might be running the ball and
all of a sudden they suck up and then all
of a sudden that tight end releases over the middle.
Now he's wide open. I'm telling you, it is absolutely
huge in Trey McBride. This is what makes him so
(04:19):
good at this point.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Right, we're gonna ask Chase Edmonds, our special guest tonight,
about Trey McBride. You know what else is huge? What
has become of tight end? You There were over one
hundred and twenty tight ends, including Tim Rieman, including Elijah
Higgins as Trey McBride brought him along, and there was
Trey McBride, the Cardinals pro bowler, an NFL Live on
ESPN and they were asking him about the advice he
(04:41):
has received from Travis Kelsey.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Travis, you know, he would always give us the nuggets
on be friendly to the quarterback, make sure you and
your quarterback are on the same page. And he kind
of plays with the little freedom. Him and Mahomes have
this nice connection and I kind of took that and
I'm like, why can't Kyler and I have that same connection?
And I feel like That's what I've tried to do.
I've tried to have that relationship that grow with Kyler
and just continue to make place for him and be
that security blanket where if he needs somewhere to go
(05:05):
with the ball, he always can can throw it to me.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
And that's what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
See to me, the progress he has made from year
one to his Pro Bowl season, that was most critical
that I'm thirding, you gotta have it and Trey McBride's
getting double covered. He still got open and Kyler still
found him and they were still in sync and they
were still unbeatable. That you know what, even Fred Warner
had no chance. And to me, if there's one thing
(05:29):
that Marvin Harrison Junior can do from his rookie year
into year two, and I know he bulked up, and
I know he's more explosive, and he's got to get
better at the contest to catch. But if he can
develop that sort of chemistry, yeah with Kyler that Trey
McBride did, I mean, is that feasible? Is that realistic
this year?
Speaker 1 (05:45):
No, there's no doubt about it, Paully, It's more than feasible.
It's got to happen as far as I'm concerned, because
if you've got that tight end who can really work
the middle of the field, and you also have a
wide receiver, one like Marvin Harrison Junior who can actually
work the short, intermediate and deep routs. Paul, you know
the way I feel on this. I've been talking about
(06:05):
it for a long time now. If you can throw
the ball down the field, if Kyler Murray and Marvin
Harrison Junior can just throw the ball down the field
and do it at a much better rate than what
we saw last year, much better success. Right by throwing
it down the field, it is going to open up
a whole new world for Trey McBride in the middle
(06:27):
of the field.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
I guarantee you this offseason, the Rams, the forty nine
ers in the Seahawks, they all sat around and said,
how are we going to stop eighty five? Because he
torched every one of those division teams. They had no
answer for Trey McBride and Kyler Murray. This offseason was asked, Okay,
just how good can Trey McBride be?
Speaker 6 (06:46):
Tracey has got a great feel, you know, obviously being
a tight end and having a little leeway to do
things his way now and a lot of confidence, you know,
his ability along with the field that he's gained throughout
these years. I think sky's a limit for Trey. I think,
you know, he be one of the best in the league.
I love going to work with him every day.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
It's just a matchup nightmare, isn't it. Well, if it's
sort of like you know, George Kittle in his prime,
even George Kittle to this day, what do you do.
You tried Isaiah Simmons on him, You tried Xavin Collins
on him to match his size, but then you can't
stay with him in routes. So now you put Buddha
Baker on George Kittle and that's always a battle. But
ultimately George Kittle has a size advantage. Yeah, that's the
similar challenge to Trey McBride presents a defense, right, it's.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
You're right on it, Bully. Although you've got George Kittle
and Trey McBride, their bodies are different, no doubt about that.
Bodies different. George Kittle much bigger, I would say, a
little bit longer. But what makes Trey McBride so much
like George Kittle to me? Not only the fact that
Trey McBride can hold up at the point of attack, Bully,
(07:49):
but you can make a short throw to Trey McBride.
You don't have to You don't have to throw it
down the field for him to run the ball. You
make a short throw to Trey McBride, his ability to
run after the catch is off the charts. And who
is that? Very similar to George Kittle?
Speaker 4 (08:08):
What do you think about Tip Ryman, Elijah Higgins. We
know Drew Petsen, he leads the league nearly every the
last two years, twelve and thirteen. Personnel is a room
for one of those other tight ends to get into
the pass catching game?
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, tip Ryman, listen, nothing against Higgy Bear. I love
Higgy Bear Boy has he developed. This guy has really
gotten better. Elijah Higgins definitely, Paul has gotten so much
better as a tight end. But Tip Ryman is the
guy that year two here it comes. A year one
(08:41):
to me was an excellent step in the right direction
to have a twelve year career in the National Football
League for tip Ryman. Now here we go year two.
How much better can tip Ryman get? We we listen
to many asin for it. He talks about it all
the time. We listen to JG talking about year two
and how important year two is for a young guy
(09:04):
trying to make it in the National Football League. How
much better can tip Ryman get in year two? I
don't know, Pauly, Yeah, but I think we're gonna see it.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
Well, you've heard me joke with JG. Half jokingly. You know,
I need one tight end screen a game for the
two hundred and eighty pounder, you know, and you name
that play. Who wants some You just get a tight
end screen to Tip Ryman and then everybody just blocks
downfield and you'll find out who's gonna make a business
decision or not.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
All right, let's just go red, right, who wants the exactly?
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Hey joined the Bird Gang in Dallas from Monday Night
Football through Cardinals Premiere Travel hosted by Cardinals Legends. Travel
packages will include a chartered flight at the Cardinals Plane Hotel,
Accommodation's lower level game tickets and more. Just go to
azcardstravel dot com, azcartstravel dot com. All right, Chase Edmonds,
we know he can play ball. He can talk ball.
(09:54):
We'll talk about that next with Chase Edmonds on the
big red rage. Hands off Edmunds off the left side.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
He's got a crease at the fifteen to ten to
five touchdown.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
It's a drop play.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Edmonds straight ahead, twenty to fifteen, breaks a tackle at
the ten into the end zone for a second touchdown.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Hand off to the left side.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Edmunds, he's got a rubber the twenty to ten to
five piece. It again, the hat trick. Third touchdown run.
The first two went for twenty a piece. This one
goes for twenty two yards.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
After Peterson had.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
A towel and he was waving the towel at Chase
Edmonds as if to put out a fire.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
How about that flashback twenty nineteen and how fitting was
that the Fordham guy the Fordham fireball if you will
back in New Yawk against the Giants, putting the hat
trick on the Giants three touchdown runs.
Speaker 7 (10:47):
Wolf.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
What is it about round four draft picks? You know,
you guys fight, you guys compete. In fact, there's gonna
be so much competition at Cardinals camp this year that
by the end of this interview we be out of jobs.
As our guest might be the new permanent host of
the Big Red Rage by the time we're done. Chase Edmunds,
who's great on the field. Behind him, Mike, Chase, how
(11:09):
are we doing?
Speaker 8 (11:11):
What's up? Thing that? I appreciate you guys giving me
a man, It's really good to hear your voices again.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
I tell you this.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
So, Chase, I got to jump in here, So Paul,
I got to jump in here. Chase, and I have
to ask you. You were drafted in the fourth round,
an excellent round, I might add, But what were you
drafted overall? What was your number? One? Four oh one
thirty four? Well, hang in there. It's not one oh
four like I was dropped to Chase. But what is
it bad either? And it's in the fourth round. It's
(11:38):
the right rock, well thought, Chase.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
No, I was going to say, if you're if you're
going to take a broadcasting job, what can you do
America favor and take Steven A. Smiths gig? Okay, because
we're all sick of Stephen A. Smith at this point.
That's that's that's love to get that job, as you would.
And I know you know basketball, but we're talking football
and I'm just gonna speaking to compete. Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals
head coach, said twice this offseason he wants quote more
(12:03):
friction end quote at camp. In a safe way. He said,
he wants more physicality, he wants more football, he wants
more pads popping. As a player, how do you process that?
How will that shape your mindset coming into Cardinals camp
this year?
Speaker 8 (12:19):
Yeah, I think hearing that as a player myself, to
me that that screams one thing, And I think that
screams that he wants more competition. I think he's politically
trying to say that he wants to really light a
fire under his guys, really get after each other, you know, again,
in a safe way. Obviously, you never want to get
any big time injuries during a training camp. You want
to take care of each other. But at the same
(12:39):
time as well to really get yourself ready and primed
up for the season. And you know, when you're looking
at full speed, when the bullets are really fast, and
when the real he definitely probably is speaking on just
more competitive edge and more competition with one another to
really see, you know, who's gonna step up when we
need the most, who's gonna step up? You know, when
it gets a little fire and the bulls get.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Hot, so Chase. When you look at the Cardinals offensively
and you go big picture on them, where do you
think they're going to be strong and where do you
think you might need some work?
Speaker 8 (13:08):
Well, I look at Arizona. I bet a lot of
people last year didn't think that the run game would
be as impactful and as successful as it was looking
at just like the pre season. We all know how
great James Conter is of itself, but I bet there
was you know, a couple of question marks coming in
with the oln. They did a great job as a unit,
they did whoever their run game coordinate over there was
as a coaching staff did an awesome job of just
(13:30):
using the run game, the outside zones scheme to really
break upen a lot of runs. I think that's something
that you really build off of. And for me, I
think it's all about, you know, opening up the pass
game for Trade McBride and as a tie in the NFL,
nothing opens up the pass game for them boys better
than play action, and I think that that's something that
can continue to kind of be built off of K
(13:52):
one strength, just opening the game for him, really kind
of lessening the load on his shoulders, having the run
game established, using that to actually get some of the
receivers opened down as it, but more importantly, really get
Trey McBride down the field where you know he's gonna
be camele with number one option as you're coming off
that strong season that he has. So that's something I'm
really looking forward to just seeing again the run game
(14:13):
continue to be built on him and really just feature
that offense around McBride.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Right now, former Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds is our guest.
And if you're saying yourself, wait a minute, I saw
Chase on Good Morning Football a couple of months ago,
you would be right, Yeah, so we're gonna talk run game.
Let's zoom out here for a minute, because you were
talking about James Connor. It was this morning, the question
was best one to two running back punch in football
right now? And I don't know who the guest analyst was.
(14:38):
He went with Breeze Hall and Brelan Allen to the Jets,
And I'm like, wait a minute, what about Jamior Gibbs
and David Montgomery the Lions? What about even Lamar Jackson
and Derreck Henry if you want to go that route,
But how about James Connor and an ascending Trey Benson
who said he put on seven pounds this offseason and
feels way more explosive, And in fact, James kind of
(15:00):
raved about Trey Benson. We started running more like James Connor.
What do you think about that one two punch?
Speaker 8 (15:06):
I think that's gonna be something that you'll see a
lot earlier in the season. I just say that because
as effective and that successful as James has been, I
think as you get a little bit older, I think
that you know, the strategy should be to really get
him healthy for seventeen games, so when it comes down
to the nitty gritty, when it comes down to those
December games, you can really lean on him. So if
I was the coaching staff of the Arizona Cardinals, and
(15:27):
they do believe in fact that Trey Benson is going
to be that second, that second one to two punch
behind JC. That you would want to see him early
on in the season so he can get a good rhythm,
a good flow, and you know, to really see if
he really can, in fact be that one two punch
behind JC to get it rolling. I think that it's
really important again, you know, James, he brings so much
more than just his talent to the Cardinals, right you
(15:48):
talking about his just his effectiveness is leadership, how he's
just so contagious with his mindset. It's really important to
have a guy like that always on the field suited
up as much as possible. Becau does a lot with
the camaraderie in the chrism of the team.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Chase, I think James Connor is one of the toughest
tackles in the football universe. What makes him so tough
in your opinion, Oh.
Speaker 8 (16:10):
Man, he absolutely is. It's his contact balance. For me,
you look at JC and he runs to the tackles
clearly never gets tackled by the first guy. I also
think so that James is at least what I saw
last year. I got to watch a lot of ball
last year, not playing because of the injury, James put
on some speed. Man. I don't know if he leaned out,
but I just remember when I played with him at
(16:30):
twenty one, he didn't seem as fast as he seemed
last season. You know, I saw him break a lot
of runs. He seemed like a step or two faster
than what people probably used were used to seeing on
the defensive side of the ball, and that contributed to
a lot more of his explosive players as well. But
for me, it definitely starts with just a contact balance, man.
I mean, he runs so hard and he just shrugs
(16:50):
his defenders off with ease because he's just naturally obviously
a very strong runner. But definitely, you know, I think
another thing that he really does well is James knows
how to take on what we call like half a
defender in the NFL, so you know, not always running
through someone's soul or chess, but just kind of one
stepping them and running through half the shoulder. And that's
kind of how you see and shruggle off so many
(17:12):
more tackles as well.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Yeah, no doubt, I mean, he was among the league
leaders all season with Derrick Henry for most of mistackles.
Force Chase Edmonds is our guest, and you know we
talk about James Connery, He's more than a player. He's
a mindset, He's a mentality. What about the run game
in general? Saquon Barkley said during the playoffs last year
that he personally wanted to prove that you could run
the football and win a Super Bowl. Now did Philly
(17:34):
do that just because he had the best O line
and the best running back in the world, or do
you think that's feasible for the Cardinals to feature that
and have success even into the postseason?
Speaker 8 (17:45):
Really good question, because this is a lot like this
is a big topic in locker room as well. I'm
gonna personally say that it was the perfect storm in
the perfect combination that Philly, you know, was blessed enough
to get the best, most explosive running back in the
NFL with that magnificent O line. I mean, you had
runs where fake Von Barkley was not getting touched until
seven yards down the field, and that's just not a
(18:07):
winning formula for anybody playing against the Philadelphia Eagles. I'm
a believer that in the playoffs, you definitely need an
effective run game, but the wins and losses eight nine
out of ten times will always come from can your
quarterback get it done on third and long? In the playoffs,
you know you're playing against really good defenses, everything tightens up,
everything gets faster. To me, it's really won and lost
(18:28):
and where who has the most success in the red
zone and then whose quarterback can really convert on those
third downs to keep the drivers going in my.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Opinion, And not only that, but you know, defensively, have
a Buddha Baker on your team that is going to
help you an awful lot. Your your thoughts on just
Buddha and how he plays the game, Chase, Yeah, man.
Speaker 8 (18:48):
Buddhas were my all time favorite teammates that I got
to play the game with the hell of a guy,
really good guy first and foremost. But he always I remember,
I'll never forget you know when that quote, when that
his first quote came out of no fear against Seattle,
he hit I think it was Chris Carson that he
hit coming downhill. It was either Chris Carson or it
was whoever their backup running back at the time was.
(19:09):
I'm pretty sure he broke that running backs hit and
I just remember him walking back and they got a
micd up and he just talking about no fear, no fear,
and Uh, Buddha is so inspirational because you know, he's
about one hundred and eighty pounds, soaking wet, and he
is playing the hardist every single snap on the football field.
And he's also the best player ninety nine percent of
(19:31):
the time on the football field. And it's just it's
amazing to see what he carved out his career as
all the Pro Bowls now, all the All Pros. And
you know, I'm one of his biggest fans. I know,
my dad is probably his biggest fan. My dad loves
him some Buddha Baker. He always calls asking about Budda Baker.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
Was b.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
It's funny. I saw that clip the other day, just
by chance, he knocked out two Seattle running backs in
that game, and it's amazing. You know, he was a
Pro Bowler again, he was All Pro again. I still
think he's under rated around the rest of the NFL.
I think it's only people in Arizona truly appreciate Buddha
Baker and his greatness. Let me ask you this Cardinals
put a lot of money in that defensive front. Right,
(20:10):
If the pass rush is zamped up is much improved
than it was a year ago. What do you think
that does for Buddha and the rest of that secondary?
How many more interceptions for example, could that result in?
Speaker 8 (20:21):
Oh? Yeah, I think when you look at a passing
defense as a collectively as a team, whether it's the
secondary or the front four, I mean, it's really the
match that makes both go. So if you have a
really good pass rush, they're getting after the quarterback, balls
gonna come out a lot faster. Your cornerbacks can kind
of sit on those shorter routes take a few more
chances than jump routs just because double moves won't happen
(20:42):
as much because the quarterback doesn't have that much time
to throw. So it's really a hand in hand thing
when you talk about the front four and the secondary.
I love what Arizona deal with the front four, bringing
in Josh bringing in them. I'm prettyure they brought in
a Dalvin Thomason too, right now, yeah, yeah, yeah, So
those are two really good movies. You know, DT is
going to be more of a stuff the run game
kind of guy I don't know how many sacks will get,
but he's gonna be an effective first second down in
(21:04):
Cherry Linon for them. And then you know, if Josh
comes in and does what he does since he's been
in Philly, they're gonna definitely have a bigger, much more
effective pass rush. So that's something that I'm really intrigued
to look at. I think Buddha. It'll give Buddha a
little more free reigns to kind of do his thing
in the secondary, while he will still be up to
the line of skimmerge literally because I think that's where
he's best suited, just because I don't think there's a
(21:26):
better box safety per se at affecting the run game
than Buddha Baking the NFL. But it definitely will give
him more free range in those passing situations third and
longs chase.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
What is the state of football? Give me the state
of football in your opinion in the year twenty twenty five.
Where are we I think.
Speaker 8 (21:42):
The state of football right now? What you're seeing is
you're seeing a lot of teams one they want the
dual threat quarterback, right Yeah, anytime you can get a
quarterback that can ease the run game up and help
the run game as the offense just because they're an
extra threat for another defender in the box. That's something
that I think teams are really going after a lot.
I will say last year, I'm intrigued to see our
(22:06):
teams approach the running back market or just the running
back uses, because I think last year there was a
lot of running backs that went over a thousand yards. Man,
it was kind of as anomaly of how effective running
backs were just for some team. So I'm eager to
see how that it kind of goes because if you
asked me this two seasons ago, I just kept telling
you that, yeah, minus a passing league, it's a passing league.
(22:27):
It's going that way the whole way. But now you're
starting to see, you know, running backs get used a
little bit more to kind of help the quarterback out.
And I also will say that just because of how
talented the position is across the board. Now, if you
don't have a one A and a one B in
the receiver room, your offense probably won't be the upper
half of the NFL in terms of just like scoring.
(22:49):
That's that's something that I think is really key. Now
you look at a lot of receiver rooms in the NFL.
The best offense in the NFL usually have a one A,
one B receiver room.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
In my opinion, Chase Edmund's former Cardinals running backs still
remember when Kyler came into the league, you said he's
like an extra blocker because the defense has to account
for him. Here he is going into year seven, Chase,
he took twenty seven design runs last year. There's been
a lot made of this. Should Kyler run the ball more?
For example, Lamar Jackson ran it seventy nine times in
(23:18):
design runs. Jane Daniels fifty eight times design runs. What
do you think the risk reward is that Kyler running
the ball more?
Speaker 8 (23:27):
I think kay one should absolutely run the ball more
in terms of design runs. And not only say that
because Kyler knows how to not get hit. It's not
like Kay One's gonna go out there and get himself
hit or get himself in a situation where he's getting
risked by a big tom blow for injury. He's one
of the better quarterbacks, I think, probably the best quarterback
at not taking a big hit. So I think that
you kind of roll with that model. I would love
(23:48):
to see him get I mean, you said he had
twenty seven last year's seventeen games season. If he just
has two to two and a half per game, you're
looking at like the thirty five to forty five range,
and then you know him keep doing what he does
on the scrimms when they come. But I think, again,
that's just something that helps with the run game as
a whole, because now the defense has to scheme for that,
you know, and when you have a quarterback design run,
(24:10):
it allows you to have an extra blocker and you
know you're really running the man or man basch ups
when it comes to the run game and trying to
break out those explosive plans. So that's something that I
would love to see Kate Well just get a little
bit more active in the design run calls for him,
just because again I think he's tremendous at protecting himself.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
So, Chase, you said one A and one B in receivers.
You think that an offense in twenty twenty five has
got to have a one A and a one B
in receivers. Do you count tight ends in that as well?
Speaker 8 (24:39):
Yeah? Yeah, good catch with you. I should have just
said past catchers because I think Trey mcbrid is gonna
be the best tight in the football next season.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Okay, he's a dog.
Speaker 8 (24:46):
I never got to meet him. He's a dog. But
I definitely believe that you need a one A one
be like, if you don't have two people in your
past catching ability team to that have a thousand yards each.
And I know that's a little aggressive, but I'm gonna say,
you know, one with twelve hundred eighty one, nine hundred,
but you're gonna need two guys that really carry that
load to create an effective offense. And if you don't
(25:07):
have that, then you probably just have a lot of
depth in the office of on the offensive side of
the bay. You know, you got a lot of guys contributed,
But I am a firm believer that you need to
to alphas to carry that load to have a top ten,
top twelve offense in the NFL right now.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
Well, one A for Chase Edmonds is to be playing
ball in twenty twenty five. One B would be if
we could talk to them every week, because great, so
we'll see how that game plan works out.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Man.
Speaker 4 (25:36):
We always enjoy Chase really good stuff. Thanks for the
time and the insight.
Speaker 8 (25:40):
Appreciate you guys. Always good talking to you guys. I
hope everyone stays healthy and will and always go cars.
I'm always in debited to the car.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
Yeah, there you go, double ding, all right, Chase Edmonds,
our guest. We continue with a big red rage presented
by Santan Ford in Gilbert the staff to Murray and
he's gonna keep the money to the right.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
He's got rumb with the forty five forty He points
to the sky as he takes up with the larning
and the twenty the tenth to five touchdown a design
run for Kyler Murray.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
It goes for fifty yards.
Speaker 7 (26:17):
You know, we haven't had a lot of national games,
and you know this guy can make all of those
inside the pocket, outside the pocket, and he's quick. You
see it on tape. He's out running everybody all the time,
even like that forty nine Ers game where in San
fran he he points up to the touchdown, you know,
forty to fifty yards away, knowing he's going to score it.
(26:40):
You know, I haven't seen a QB do day.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
Yeah, that was straight out of Texas high school football.
I mean he got to the second level, the number
one went into the air and he gone fifty yard
touchdown run on the Cardinals second play from scrimmage. The
only thing hotter than the one to eleven out on
that field was Kyler Murray number one himself. It is
the big red rage by Santan Ford in Gilbert. We
(27:02):
heard the respect Chase Edmonds has for Kyler Murray. There's
still buds and uh Ron Wolfley, Paul kelbyc back with
you here, and I tell you what when it comes
to Kyler, there's been a lot of talk about all right,
how and where can he get better going into year seven,
and a lot of it and this is a lot
of Kyler's doing revolves around his legs. He's the one
(27:25):
to first really bring it up two months ago going
into a softball game.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Wolf Yeah, you're right about that, Paully. But I've just
got a comment on Dave Pash. David, only David would
talk about pointing to the sky in the middle of
the call, in the middle of the call, only Pash
would see you pointing to the sky and say that
in his call. Okay, I just wanted to get that
out of the way right there. Kyler Murray has got
to run the ball and be more spontaneous doing it.
(27:51):
That's I think it's the unscheduled run that JG and
Drew Petsing would like to see from Kyler Murray. That's
my guess. Paully, I could BEng on that. That's my guess.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Well, for example, there are certain stats and analytics that
said he ran the ball really well, really effectively last season.
For example, at a career high in yards per carry
seven point three and in terms of his rushing yards
over expected. One of those analytics, he was the best
among all quarterbacks according to Next Gen Stats. He just
(28:23):
didn't run it as much as a Lamar Jackson, a
Josh Allen, a Jayden Daniels. And and even if Patrick
mahomes and here Kyler talk about it, at least with
the media, sounds like he was sitting around watching the
AFC playoffs wolf and he's like, Oh, look at the threat,
look at the weapon legs on a quarterback can become
when it's Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, you know, Patrick mahomes On,
(28:45):
Keith urd Downs. Hey, wait a minute, I can do that.
I run a four to three.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
And especially Paul right, especially because when you think about it,
how well the Arizona Cardinals run the ball, yes, in
between the tackles, in particular, how well they run on
the ball where they can line up in the gun
with James Connor right next to Kyler Murray and here
comes the zone Raad, Here it comes, and Kyler can
(29:09):
keep it and off he goes. It is a great
weapon to have, and I love the fact that Drew
Petsing likes to show it early. Almost at least in
I want to say, the vast majority of the games, Paul,
in the first quarter, you'll see the Arizona Cardinals with
a called run for Kyler Murray. And I think that
(29:29):
is because Drew Petsing is just letting the DC, the
defensive coordinator know, hey, listen, you don't think we'll do this,
watch this. Oh we'll do it all right. You know what.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
Lorenzo Alexander was on the Red Sea Report earlier this week,
and he actually gave you props for that observation. He said,
that's absolutely true. He said he does think that's by design.
I look into the Chandler Jones back in his heyday,
he would always throw a bull rush into the first
series or two just to let the tackle know I
can go through you if I have to. So there's that.
There's also more Buddha on the minachime show, and he
(30:02):
was just talking in general about what he's seen from
Kyler this offseason.
Speaker 7 (30:06):
He practices really hard, you know, he tells receivers what
to do, you know, how to do it. He's kind
of been in his bag this whole off season, you know,
doing no look throws and you know, having a great
offseason training camp. So K one's gonna you know, he's
gonna run a little bit more, you know, a little
outside of the pocket inside the pocket throws. You know,
(30:28):
he's he's gonna kind of do it all.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
That's intriguing. I mean, sort of like Kyler putting his
finger to this guy calling a shot Buddha Baker forecasting
more Kyler in the run game. I think the question
is more design runs or to your point, more off schedule,
which Drew Petsen has talked about.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
That's exactly it. Pay again, maybe maybe both, Maybe yes
is the answer. Now, maybe they're gonna encourage him to
pull the ball down and run more. And I think
that is an excellent thing to do when you think
about it. Paully, think of Russell Wilson up in Seattle.
How many years he tore our hearts out by watching
him on a third and ten rush, pull the ball
(31:08):
down third and ten and rush for eleven yards and
move the chains. Just a backbreaker. And it's one of
the reasons why you want to do it as well,
because polly sucking the life out of your opponent is
a good thing in the football field. It is a
good thing. You want to demoralize them. There are a
couple of ways you can do that. Number One, you
(31:30):
just line up and run the ball right over him
and a north southway. It's the most demoralizing thing in
the game. I've said it many many times in the past.
Number Two, have a quarterback who can pull the ball
down when it's third and eight, third and obvious and
convert with his legs. That is demoralizing as well. And
that's what you want to do, not only beat a defense,
(31:52):
but demoralize him in the process.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
You go back to the Cardinals last playoff season. It
was Week four, I believe at the La Rams. It
was a tight game, was third and sixteen. I remember
it vividly. Kyler ran for seventeen. The entire Rams defense
was deflated, was demoralized, depressed. It was a route from
that point forward. He absolutely demoralized him. Yep, So, okay,
(32:15):
we have that. I have a few other areas where
I believe Kyler can get better and dare I say
will get better in year seven? You're ready for this
quick checklist?
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Number one deep pass. His first couple of years in
the league, he was among the league leaders in efficiency
on the deep chunk throws.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Paul, I'm so glad you said that, though, because everything
else comes off of that.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
Okay, proceed Number two throwing wide receivers open. They might
be covered, but you're gonna throw it to a spot
where only the receiver can get it, in particular a
Marvin Harrison Junior and a Michael Wilson, and that.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Means attack the ball. Marvin Harrison Junior attacked the ball.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Okay. Number three, chemistry with receivers sort of like what
you've been able to forge with Trey McBride ever since
his rookie year. Can you achieve some of that with
Marvin Arrison Junior, Michael Wilson, Greg derch Zay Jones.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
The only thing I would say is don't force it.
Don't force it. Let it happen very organically.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
Okay, I've tried to force the mantra, come for the arms,
stay for the legs over the years, hasn't got a
lot of traction. But we already talked about the legs.
So I'll go to number five, passing under pressure when
pressured and in weeks yeah, twelve, thirteen and fourteen, a
critical stretch of the Cardinals season coming out of the
by when Kyler was under pressure. According to next Gen Stats,
(33:31):
he went seven of twenty seven passing fifty nine yards,
zero touchdowns, five picks. Now, once again, it's not always
on the quarterback where the receivers in the right spot,
where the receivers coming back for the ball. Were the
receivers making adjustments when they knew the quarterback was under duress.
I think as an offense, they have to be better
when Kyler is under pressure.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
Yes, Paulli, it's a great observation by you right there,
and think about this. You gotta go ahead and get
the ball out quicker two. That's why you don't want
to be in third and obvious pass situations, Paul, you
don't want Kyler in third and obvious. It's the reason
why first and second down really matter. You want him
in third and three, third and four, you want him
(34:14):
in that area. So now, all of a sudden, anything
could happen. A quick pass could beat you and move
the chads right.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
Speaking to receivers, get ready for the twenty twenty five
season with the latest gear from the Cardinals team shop,
including the recently drop Marvin Harrison junior jersey. Go to
Azycardinals dot com slash shop today, Azycardinals dot com slash shop.
You know where else Kyler I think gets better this
year is when he has to compete against a much
improved defense in practice every day. That Cardinals defense in
(34:45):
mini camp, I'm told was really balling and really give
them the offense all they can handle. We'll talk more
about that next. It is the Big Red Rage presented
by santan Ford and Gilbert We are sandtan Ford.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
So it takes play fake boot to the left looking
dumping it off near side. He'll caught it and tackled
immediately by Buddha Baker. It's going to be a negative
play right now, they're saying incomplete as Hill and Buddha
Baker are jawing a little bit.
Speaker 9 (35:14):
He's not backing down from anybody, man. I mean he's
a captain for one of the reasons he's a captain
is his intensity and his mode of play. And that's
how he's always been and he's going to max out
every single snap and he ain't backing out from anybody.
Speaker 4 (35:30):
Five time team Captain, seven time Pro bowler, four time
All Pro Buddha Baker, and one epic memorable trash talk
session with Tyreek Hill there on the road in Miami
early in the game, set in the tone face mask
to face mass rooting in a tutin two of them
going at it as a There was Buddha and guess
(35:50):
what there were the Cardinals pulling away in the second
half for a win at Miami. It is the Big
Red Rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert. We are
santan Ford, Paul calvic, Ron Wolfley, and a Bodah Baker,
who I still well for all his accolades. I still
don't think people appreciate it, especially last year, quite to
the degree they should. He set a career high in
tackles of bucks sixty four, number two in the NFL,
(36:13):
and tackles the top ten were all inside linebackers and Buddha.
And it's the most tackles by a Cardinals player in
a single season since at least nineteen ninety one.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Oh my goodness, Paul, didn't you get in between Buddha
and Tyreek Hill. Didn't you get in a.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
Couple of fine diminion of Americans? They said, guys, come on,
break it up. Over here, break it up. We got
a long game.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Truly incredible. You know, I say this all the time
about Buddha, Baker, Polly, it is. It's amazing. Though you
just watch him on tape. He does two things. He
does two things. He goes to the wall fearlessly, and
he does it every play. Those two things, that's what
he does.
Speaker 4 (36:51):
And this defense, Johnathan again and Nick Ross, they are
getting the best out of Buddha, as evidenced by those numbers.
Not only a career high end tackles, but he had
ten tackles for loss, He had five passes defense, he
had three quarterback hits, two sacks. In other words, he's
all over the field. And here he is with Mina
Kimes and she asked him just about how the Cardinals
(37:12):
have evolved their defensive scheme.
Speaker 7 (37:14):
They did a great job just watching the film each
and every year and kind of evolving their defenses. You know,
they came from Philadelphia and they did a lot of
stuff in Philly. They also had a great d line.
But in this scene, it gives the ability for the
you know, the dbs and the linebackers to kind of
not exactly show our hand to the offenses until the
(37:38):
ball snapped. So add that with the with the great
defensive line and some edge rushers, you know, we're cooking
with hot reed.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Is there any doubt in your mind that they unlocked
Buddha Baker last season?
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Yeah, now you're you're right, Balie. They put him in position,
keeping him in the box, around the box an awful lot.
I should say, not just in it, but around it
and in it from time to time. He did both,
but just allowing him to use his instincts. Paul, I've
said this many times. It's the truth. It's Troy Palamalu.
Palamalu was just like that as well, and the Steelers
(38:14):
used him just the way that I saw Nick rawlis
using Buddha Baker last year an awful lot. Sometimes the
blantz sometimes not to giving him the option whatever it is,
keeping him in the middle of the field, letting him
read plays, diagnose plays. Buddha is really good and he's
got good instincts. And then to make tackles. Oh my goodness,
(38:37):
that's why Buddha had over one hundred and sixty tackles.
Speaker 4 (38:41):
So, you know, last year I was sort of on
a mission. I was trying to figure out exactly what
and how they were unlocking Buddha. Baker and I kept
getting the heisman in that locker room. But then then
Wolf late December January, I started to get a little
bit info from a few guys, and you're on it.
I mean, there's not much more I can add to
that other than they really allowed Buddha to have more
on the quarterback. They put him inside more so it
(39:04):
wasn't as easy for offense as to go to one
side or the other because he was more in the
center of the box and so he could get, you know,
to either side at the same time when he wanted
to go, when he wanted to shoot his gun, he
would just do it with instincts, like you said, Troy Polamalo,
and then the secondary would adjust accordingly. They would watch
number three and they say, Okay, is he going, is
he going? He's going boom? Everyone would check and they
(39:26):
would have some of his responsibilities if he decided to
let it rip and go downhill.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
PAULI, that is that is really brilliant. It is that
the rest of the secondary is basically going to read Buddha.
Very interesting. Just like a wide receiver has got to
read coverage on a read route yep. So all of
a sudden, you've got this secondary actually reading one player
that might blitz or not. That that is brilliant to me.
Speaker 4 (39:51):
In fact, Mina Kaim smart enough to drill down a
little deeper with Buddha and just the scheme and how
it allowed him to be near number one receivers more.
Speaker 7 (40:00):
I love it. You know, it gives me the opportunity
to kind of be where opposing number one receivers are
instead of just you know, being at free statety all day.
And you know that can give offenses opportunities to kind
of stay away, and this game is it's not like that,
So I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (40:18):
Well, if you had a chance to interview a lot
of Cardinals players in the offseason, like yours truly did.
I had two guys, Jalen Thompson and Starling Thomas both
confirm that team started stealing the Cardinals defensive schemes and
their coverages towards the end of last season. Is there
any greater compliment then when you're plagiarized, when people are,
you know, just copying what you're running and you're seeing
(40:41):
on a film, when you're watching other teams.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Yeah, no, you're right about that, Polly. There is no
better compliment than imitation. You're going to start ripping off
from other teams. That is amazing. But you know what, Pauline,
I want to go back to Buddha Baker and Buddha
Baker when he signed his extension with the Arizona Cardinals.
Don't tell me for a minute. The culture is what
he loves here. But you also have to believe that
(41:05):
Nick rawlis using him the way that he does and
allowing him to play in this defense. Don't tell me
that that didn't have something to do with Buddha Baker
looking at himself and his career in saying, yeah, this
is the place for me.
Speaker 4 (41:22):
And what's amazing is what James Connor has done for
Trey Benson. Trey Benson admitting recently the yeah, a lot
of his play style now has been influenced by James
Connor kram at vertical. There's no doubt that has rubbed
off on Trey Benson. I asked Rabbit this week, right
year two safety, and he said, absolutely, JT and Buddha's
playing style has rubbed off on me. I thought I
(41:43):
was a pretty good tackler, but I watch those guys.
They try and plant people. They try and pick him
up and plant him into the ground. So now that's
what I'm trying to do. It's really interesting. I think
you're seeing this in all the position rooms. It's a
key reason why the Cardinals obviously added Kaleis Campbell with
two young first round defensive linemen. These younger guys learning
from experts of the craft, the veteran guys, some of
(42:04):
the team leaders in that locker room.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Well, especially too if you're a Rabbit, because Rabbit is
not a big guy. He's not a proto typical safety
in the National Football League. He's more towards Buddhist size, yep.
And because of that, he's got to be greatly encouraged
watching this guy do what he does right in front
of him every Sunday. That's got to help.
Speaker 4 (42:27):
So we asked Chase Edmonds about the Cardinals improved pass
rush and potentially what that could do for the secondary
and the interceptions in general. I'm pretty convinced if you
made me give you a forecast, a prediction, a hot
take for this coming year, the Cardinals will double their
interceptions from twenty twenty four to twenty five as a team.
(42:47):
Great the pass rush, yes, and because of the improved
hopefully cornerback play with instinctive ballhawks like Will Johnson for example,
Max Melton in year two, you know, Buddha getting his
hands on the ball, mors, they are able to free
them up even more. Cardinals had nine interceptions as a
team last year. Only seven teams had fewer. The team
(43:08):
leader last year was Minnesota with twenty four. The Houston
Texas number two with nineteen interceptions. Woh, I mean.
Speaker 1 (43:15):
Wolf, think about that, Paul, twenty four picks to nine.
That's a huge difference.
Speaker 4 (43:22):
When NFL games are decided by one, two or three
plays a game, right if you're getting a pick. For example,
the Cardinals loss at Seattle coming out of the by
what was the decisive play in the game. The Kobe
Bryant picked six Yeah. To me, I think the Cardinals
will have a ton more interceptions, you know. I mean
they can end up with eighteen, and they can double it.
I think you could almost go ahead and put it
(43:44):
in pen. They're a postseason team if they get that
many more turnovers considering how critical turnovers well, in this case,
interceptions were on the offense down the stretch a year ago.
Speaker 1 (43:55):
Just stay secondary's past friend to have a vicious pass rush,
and I think that's what we're going to see. And
it's not just what I love about this Polly. It's
not just skulls. It's not just the fact they've added
Josh Swatt. It's not the fact that Delvin Tomlinson, it's
not Kalais Campbell. It's not the fact that they've added
the just these skulls. It's also the scheme that Nick
(44:19):
Rawlis can come up with as well. Listen, sometimes one
of the most effective things you can do is not
bring five or six, just rush four. Are they going
to have the ability to do that? Yes?
Speaker 4 (44:34):
And you know how we know that because Nick Rawlis
confirmed as much with you, well almost he just speculated
openly when he was on with you. A couple of
weeks ago, and he said, well, it's totally different when
you don't have to worry about bringing numbers to stop
the run. When I can line up four and feel
confident we're going to stop the run because I have
the dudes upfront who can win their one on ones. Right, man,
(44:57):
think of what's possible if you're the defensive coordinator. What's
schemes might be coming this year? Cardinals single game tickets
on sale now at Asycardinals dot com Slash Tickets. Special
thanks as always Jim Mamahundro, Cody Fincher, Ali Narini, our
special guest former Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds for Ron
Wolfley on Paul Calvic. This has been the Big Red
Rage presented by santan Ford in Gilbert.
Speaker 2 (45:21):
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 Valvista.
The Rage is brought to you by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts.
Visit Azycardinals dot com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
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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