June 16, 2025 • 30 mins
Ep. 893 - Seven weeks. From the start of the offseason strength and conditioning program to the final day of minicamp. Whether it was on the field or in a press conference setting, what were the top takeaways? Craig Grialou and Darren Urban - before Darren goes on vacation - discuss what stood out to them; a lot of talk about the offense, counting on wide receiver as is, adding extra ‘sauce’ as Trey McBride explained the pre-snap motion that has been worked into the scheme. Defensively, youth is really served at cornerback after the season-ending injury to Sean Murphy-Bunting, and why not, especially given the amount of draft capital invested in the position. Also, there are no worries that Will Johnson has yet to sign his first NFL contract.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
So what did we learn? Burgang? What can we take
away from nearly two months of work here in the
off season? Darren Urban joins me to discuss training camp
will be here before you know it. Before then, before
we report the State Farm Stadium, we go over our
top takeaways from the off season. It's Cardinals Cover two,
episode eight ninety three, and it starts now. Welcome to
(00:28):
Cardinals Cover two. Food to Baker, what Heart? What rent?
This guy's unbelievable?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast Visit Azycardinals
dot Com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
He's at the ten half of five. He's it again,
so more hurry magic.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Whow here's Craig Greielo.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
So summer vacation begins soon for one of the two
of us, and it's not me. So that leaves you, Darren?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
You went to Europe ready again?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
We just we went over this. It was meary oas
I was here for mandatory mini camp. Although is it
really mandatory mini? Shouldn't we just call it mini camp?
Because isn't it assume that it's mandatory?
Speaker 4 (01:21):
It's not The other funny thing is it's usually called
mandatory veterans Mini camp, and I like, all the rookies
are there, so what are we doing.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So yes, Mini Camp is now over, and by the
looks of the parking lot, pretty much everyone has left
town or at least left the facility to begin what
is a six week break. I believe Jonathan Gannon mentioned
that everyone would return July twenty second.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
I don't think I'm talking out of school by saying
it's report day will be July twenty second.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Okay, Well that's what the head coach said.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So that's fine, so we're I can confirm.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
You can confirm that. Okay, that is report day at
State Farm Stadium. So as we have this little bit
of a break and we say goodbye to Darren for
however long, maybe until we're date. I mean, that's and
there is that always that possibility. But these seven plus
weeks from April twenty second, which was the start of
the off season strength and conditioning program, to last Thursday,
(02:13):
June twelfth, the final day of Mini camp, which was
a true three day mini camp, which I believe is
the first time for JG to have used all.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Three days correct yes, I think that's the first time. Wow,
it's that any coach has used all today. Well, but again,
one of the reasons they were willing to cut it
short is because you always had ten OTAs. And this
is the first time I can remember a coach ever
having fewer than ten OTAs. Maybe maybe Bruce arians had
nine one time and turned one into like an outing
(02:43):
day or whatever. But like usually if with ten ota,
so's it's about the total number. And that's what Gannon
was looking at, was like, Okay, we have nine practices.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
This is what we got on.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
It wasn't though the time spent the same, just divided
up a little bit differently.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Yeah, they still had they still had the same amount
of days, I believe in terms of being in the
building and being around each other, it's just being on
the field.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Okay, all right, all right, speaking of on the field
and being out there for those three days of mini
camp or even going back to when this all began
in April, and this I wouldn't say, all right, the
biggest takeaway the offseason is the overhaul the defensive line
and signing Josh what I think we've talked about that enough.
But what you either saw what you heard out on
(03:30):
that field and the press conferences from mid April to June,
and now what you're excited about before we get to
training camp again we report July twenty second.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Well, I mean the thing that I think ultimately struck me.
There was a few things, obviously, but one of them,
and it goes back to last year's top pick, is like,
they apparently are okay with this wide receiver corps and
they're going to stick with these guys. Now, can something happen?
(04:05):
Of course something can happen, But I said this, I
think I said this basically as soon as the season
was over. I always thought the biggest factor in how
they saw the receiver corps is Marvin Harrison has to
make that big jump in year two. And that was
always going to be the thing, way more than signing
(04:26):
a guy. And now that we've gotten through this part,
it sure looks like that is the focus now, is
that Marvin Harrison Junior is being counted on to make
a big jump in year two and that's that's going
to be the deciding factor in what this wide receiver
corps can be. Rather than necessarily adding a body.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
You look at the room itself and at least the
top half hasn't changed. Yeah, there were some guys that
were brought back or signed to futures deals. The big name,
or you said the veteran name in that mix was
Quaes Watkins, who you did a story about his phone,
or as someone who can actually move a little bit
as far as the speed. And then Simmi Fajocco was signed,
(05:09):
maybe perhaps as a replacement for Zach Pascal, more of
a special teams guy who plays wide receiver. But in
that room, the other idea going into the offseason was Okay,
what's missing, and it was all right, do they have
that speed guy to take the top off stretch the defense.
And a conversation that you had all the way back
(05:30):
at the annual league meeting with GM monti astin fort
not that he dismissed it, but it didn't sound like
it was much of a big deal to him as
it maybe was to us or fans. When you're like, hey,
what is missing offensively specifically in the wide receiver room, right.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
He basically said, Look, it's it's not Speed is nice,
but speed is one factor in everything that we are doing,
and it's you're not making a decision based on that,
and you can have lots of different conversations. And when
he said it, which again at the league meetings, which
is after free agency and before the draft, after the
main part of free agency, you know, Okay, maybe that's true,
(06:09):
maybe it's not. Well, now that we sit here, sure
sounds like that's he wasn't kidding, Like, yeah, this is
what we're looking at. And so like when you see
a number two receiver, the fact that Michael Wilson's a
pretty good blocker that makes a lot of that makes
a big difference to them. And Okay, maybe he's not
the first guy you would think about it as a
(06:30):
number two, But like all these people that say, let's say,
why don't you chase for instance, in Amari Cooper, like
I'm thinking, for what they want to do, Michael Wilson
probably fits better. And what you're doing there, And again,
when you're talking about adding somebody, what is the role
that you're asking to bring them in on and how
much money are they looking forward to to be that guy?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
And I go back to.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
I go back to Cliff Kingsbury's first year when in
twenty nineteen, when they signed Michael Crabtree, which was a
disaster basically from the time they got he got here,
he didn't fit. He didn't fit in the room, he
didn't fit what they wanted to do offensively, it wasn't
It just didn't make. It end up not making any sense.
And I think many Austin Fort and Jonathan Gannon are
(07:13):
very aware of how that all works and it's got
to make sense. And I think what they think is
going to make sense at wide receivers having the guys
that they have, and I know that frustrates some people,
but you've got Trey McBride. This idea that Trey mcgride
gets left out of the equation. I mean if Marvin Harrison.
I was talking to Michael Wilson about this a little
(07:35):
bit and he's like, look like I went back and looked,
and Trey had one hundred and forty targets and I
think Marvin had like one hundred and sixteen something like that,
and then Michael Wilson was next on the list. I
think it's like seventy five. And he said, I don't
I don't necessarily see, especially with the way we want
to run the ball, I don't necessarily see those numbers.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Changing a whole lot.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
So then what are you bringing somebody else in for?
You're gonna throw the ball less to Michael Wilson's He's
not gonna have a role. You're gonna bring somebody else in.
It makes no sense to me to throw the ball
less to Tray McBride, or or even if you want
to throw it a little bit less to Tray McBride.
Isn't Marvin the one getting those targets in theory? So yeah,
I mean, I just I'm okay with how this works.
(08:22):
I still think you need to make more efficient what
you're doing with Marvin Harrison and probably Michael Wilson to
a certain extent, and even Greg Dors, But I don't
I'm okay with having what they have if if Marvin
Harrison does the kind of things that.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
He should when you look at this offense.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Don't let me monologue like that. Craig cut me off.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
You were You're on a roll, and I didn't want
to too much. I'm sorry, but everything that you said
I was. I was eagerly listening, as I'm sure much
of the rest of the listening audience was as well.
Here on Cardinals cover too, I understand nationally even locally,
as you take a look at this offense and say,
(09:01):
all right, what's missing or what can be better? And
I understand why all of a sudden, it's okay, well
you need speed, maybe you need that number two wide receiver.
Go out and sign someone who's on the streets. Well
there's a reason they're on the streets. But you have
to remember what Drew Petsing likes to do and what
we've seen offensively, what this offense is. It's run first,
(09:22):
maybe even run second, and then throw the football. And
I like what you said. And you had an article
up on Easycardinals dot com about can you have success
as an offense if your number one receiver is a
tied end, And yes you can. So I do look
at Trey McBride as a wide receiver within this offense
as far as a pass catcher is concerned to where Okay, yeah,
(09:46):
you can bring in a big name, veteran free agent receiver,
but you brought it up. If you can't block, you're
not gonna fit. And then all right, you're not really
gonna have that role as a two or three wide
receiver because it's Marvin, it's James Connor, it's Trey McBride.
Those are your top three right there, and then is
(10:09):
there really room for anyone else as far as to
have a big time role within this offense.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
I will agree with the idea that the Cardinals need
more big plays on offense. Now, whether that means you're
necessarily throwing at fifty yards.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
In the air, I don't know. I mean in a
perfect world, yes, I don't know. I know.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Michael Wilson said, one thing that we do have to
get better as a receiving corp is the yards after
the catch. He goes, you see it with Trey. He goes,
that's what we need to start doing. Me and Marv
and Dororsch does a pretty good job. But Michael Wilson
and Marvin Harrison in particular, I think if they can
ramp up their yak yards. And if you remember, which
(10:50):
many people listening might not remember, but that was not
Larry Fitzgerald's game when he first showed up. He was
he looked a lot like Marv when he first showed up.
I mean, his number were similar as a rookie, and
it was you go, you catch the ball, and then
wherever you catch the ball, it's the plays.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Is essentially over.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
And then when Todd Haley showed up in two thousand
and seven, he basically challenged Fits and he probably said
a few bad words while he was doing it. He
challenged Fits to be like, hey, dude, you're a big dude.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Don't let them take you down. As soon as they hit.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
You, go get another five, six, seven yards. And then
we see Marvin bulk up. Clearly he's going to be
able to be more physical. I mean, Marvin Harrison's year
could change dramatically if all of a sudden, you're adding
five yards at the end of every catch. So that
can help too.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
And remember as a rookie, and he talked about this,
referring to Marvin about year one was Okay, you run
your route, and you run your route, and now it's
more nuanced. It's you're running your route. But if you
see something defensively, then you have to know to break
off your route or come back to the ball, or
go inside, go outside, knowing that Kyler's going to know
(12:04):
exactly what you're thinking because you've talked about it, you've
repped it in practice. Now all of a sudden, you're
catching the ball in stride as opposed to maybe last
year it was turn around, catch the ball, Secure the
ball first and foremost, and then if you can break it,
tackle great. But throwing these guys open, getting these guys
on the move, and that leads me to what I
(12:26):
thought was the most interesting thing said, there were several things,
but as far as what this offense potentially could look like,
as far as being a little different, and that was
when Trey mentioned the pre snap motion we called extra
sauce and how much we've seen other teams do it,
have not seen the Cardinals do it much. Now, it's
(12:46):
how many guys in motion? Is it just simply sending
Marvin from one side of the field to there could
be that simple, a small little tweak, but to get
that defense thinking a little bit more as opposed to
just waiting for the ball to be snapped, having that
Mike linebacker direct traffic, sending guys different places because all
of a sudden, Trey splits out as a wide receiver
or as in the backfield and you're wondering, what's he
(13:08):
going to do? That is what I think, potentially, going
back to our original conversation about wide receivers in those
explosive plays, if the offense in year three now and
the continuity, perhaps things just naturally get better and the
team gets better.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
I'm I'm a big fan of pre snap motion or
motion at the snap. I love all that stuff. It
makes a lot of sense. Now you're potentially, you know,
when there's more moving parts, there's more chance at pre
snap penalties, and you gotta be careful you're not heading
up field ahead.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Well maybe JG. Looking at last year's numbers, this was
one of the better teams as far as penalties were concerned.
All right, we are a smarter team. We can handle
a lot of this, and much of that is you know,
the offensive line maybe staying in their stance a little
bit longer, a wide receiver not not moving and all
(14:04):
that stuff. Okay, well, year three, we should be able
to do it. And then all of a sudden, okay,
let's see if we can. Now again, there's a difference
between what is said and what we see out on
the practice field in May and June versus what potentially
you see when the season begins.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
They've made very clear every time they talk about this
stuff that it's gonna be week to week and whatever
it takes to win the game.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Now, I love that. By the way, well that's just
so they don't have to tell us that cling.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
And the reality is is, if you are getting good
at it, why wouldn't you use it every week? I'll
be honest, I've always been one of those like I've
never hearn like when Cliff was here, I didn't. I
understand all offenses are different, but I'm not a I
don't understand why you don't switch some things up unless
you're just so concerned that your players can't handle it mentally.
And that's a concern anyways. So I would just say
(14:53):
that I'm hopeful that that follows them through. And there's
there's a lot to it, and but we're gonna we're
gonna have to wait and see. I mean, I'm not
even gonna say preseason. You're not gonna see this in
the preseason, not and not in terms of the games.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
No, But here's my hope. And the other comment that
really stuck out was JG talking about friction. Now, you
can define that however you want, and I know many
people went towards all right, he says he wants more
friction and training camp. Does that mean more physicality, the
pads are on a little bit more. There's only so
many times you can put on pads between training camp
(15:29):
and the start of the regular season. But I kind
of made it. I'm hoping it means you might see
a little bit more in the preseason because I always
go back to Bill Belichick saying, how do you get
better at football? You play football. The Kansas City chiefs
Andy Reid plays his starters. Now, what works for one
(15:51):
team doesn't mean it's gonna work for another. But I
need to see Marvin Harrison Junior on the field for
more than just what was it that three or four
snaps on that first series three and Darius Robinson getting
ten snaps because he looks so good. I'm sorry, that's
that's not enough in my opinion to get ready for
Week one. And I go back and remember the conversation
(16:14):
that I think it was even a question you asked
the Carson Palmer about preseason saying I want to get hit,
and everyone was taken aback. It's like, what do you mean, Well,
the body needs to feel what it is like to
get hit. Now, you don't want your quarterback to get hit.
But I understand what he's saying you don't want to
wait until week one. That should be happening in practice
(16:37):
or in preseason games. Now, whether it does or not,
I don't know, And I get it. If something happens
in a preseason game, then I'll get the phone calls
on Cardinal Talk. Why was he in the game.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Well, you can get hurt when that's your first problem.
Why you're taking phone calls on Cardinals Talk.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
I believe that's what it's kind of what it's for, Darren.
If you ever had a chance to listen with you
don't because you're working hard, but I know you would.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
I'm never sure to do anything. You could just telling
me this happened. I don't know it happened.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
That's true, But that's what going back to my no
or you completely derailed that conversation.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
But well then you started monologueing, and it's like it's
not good for anybody.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
I would I want to see more players play in
the preseason.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
I'm I don't disagree with you. The the fine line
that we have to walk here, Craig is that we're
in now that we're moving into the older age bracket,
like we don't want to get off my long guys,
and yeah, and I get it, and I don't want
to be wolf love you man, but like, the game
is different now. I don't I have Look, I don't
(17:39):
care if they play in the preseason. But what frustrates
me is when we start hearing the quotes after the
first or second game of the year where it's like, well,
you know, we were just getting into it, like we
haven't played a lot of football yet.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Well, whose fault is that?
Speaker 1 (17:55):
And that's you have seventeen games so this into the
regular season when a year ago you're a game, two games,
two wins away from the postseason. Well, who's to say
that's in September where you're like, well, we're just not
quite ready to really go.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Full throttle, especially with this schedule.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Yeah, where it looks very favorable as we speak here
in June as far as how that first month of
the regular season goes versus the back half. But you
can't afford to hey, it's early, no, no, no, no.
In the NFL, it's never early. And that's the frustrating
part because you do hear those comments, whether it's postgame
(18:39):
or the day after, and it's like, well, we're gonna
revisit this conversation in January and everyone's gonna wonder, well,
what happened, Well, it's because what you did in September.
You're not gonna be able to clinch a playoff spot,
but you can damn sure lose a playoff spot in September.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
I I'm with you. I think JG cares about what
you think. Yeah, hell no.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
We convince him. And again, I'm not talking about a
full game or a full half, but at least be
on the field for a couple series.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
See like, like even Marvin Harrison last year when he
got three snaps, it was literally.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
They didn't even bother to look his direction.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
I don't. They threw one pass and I think it
was a sad like. I don't.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
They just wanted him to get They wanted an experience.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
But I just that feels weird to me.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
But whatever, all right? Defensively, yes, for you, yes, I
understand the defensive line and Josh what But is there
something else that not concerning? But we talk about takeaways
or what we learned here in this offseason and the
number of changes defensively, but is there a player position
(19:48):
group that you're like, Okay, well, I'll be keeping my
eye on those guys.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Well, I mean, I think I think it would have
been cornerback even before the Sean Murphy bunting news and
now with no Seann Murphy bunch, it comes even.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
But they're going young. Now.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
I will say this, this is a position where I
actually I like what they're doing there. If you're going
to spend all this draft capital working to build up
this position, then I'm totally fine with you running with
those guys and the idea that you've built up your
front seven so that maybe you have more help that
maybe you can rush for and have seven back in
(20:25):
coverage to help out this young cornerback crew. I'm good
with that. I think that's a smart idea. That's the
whole point that you're doing to get that. So unlike
some other places where I'm like, eh, maybe maybe they'd
get a veteran, I don't. I'm okay with them not
getting another veteran. I mean, first of all, like Starling
Thomas and Garrett Williams have played a lot of football already,
(20:46):
you know so, and you're drafting will Johnson in the
second round, You're drafting Max Mountain in the second round.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
These guys you better hit on them.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Seven cornerbacks selected by Manti asin Ford. In his three
years as general manager, he's made a total of twenty
eight selections, all of whom, by the way, are still
on the team. But seven of twenty eight you went
too Arizona State. You know that math. That's a high
percentage to devote to one position group as a general manager.
(21:19):
But if you invest that draft capital in those guys, well,
wouldn't you want to know what they can do or
what they can't do before you go out and land
a It's back to the back to the wide receiver
conversation to add someone. Okay, well you're not going to
do it now because you haven't received them in pads
on whether they can handle it or not. Now. Could
(21:39):
that change closer to the regular season, sure, but I'm
hoping it doesn't because otherwise that's a that's an indictment
on those young kids that you brought in, whether drafted
or claimed off waivers that Okay, maybe we maybe we
do don't have what we want talent wise in that room.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
And I would also say too, Jonathan Gannon, being a
defensive back guy, played safety as coach defensive backs extensively
in this league. He knows what he has, I think,
and I think if there were major concerns, I think
they would have been addressed.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Let's put it that way.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
The one name in that group Elijah Jones. Because of
where he was drafted in the third round, his size,
you don't find a lot of six to one sixty
two cornerbacks. But we didn't see him last season outside
of what there were maybe three or four practices. Didn't
even see him on game day.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
No, No, No, he because a couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
So I think he ended up getting hurt in the
Denver preseason game.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
No, I was talking regular season. Oh well, we didn't
see him at all in the regular season.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
No, we didn't see him a on the r and
it was towards.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
The latter half of the regular season. Was practice wise,
Oh yeah, it just never materialized. But you've got and again,
I don't include Garrett Williams in this conversation just because
I know he's going to be on the field, and
it's just he's one of your three corner or even
one of your two cornerbacks, depending on if you play
him more as an outside guy. He's going to be
(23:06):
on the football, correct, and now it's just all right,
You've got Star, You've got Max, You've got Will and
Elijah Jones. Don't forget about Denzel Burke, another draft pick.
And I think those one on one matchups in training
camp covering a wide receiver or running back a tight end,
I think you'll learn more about that room. And then obviously,
(23:28):
again going back to the conversation about preseason, you're gonna
have to play those guys. Otherwise you're rolling the dice
week one just to see, Okay, can they cover anyone?
Speaker 3 (23:37):
No, And again there are no sure things.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
I mean, even if you went out and signed a veteran,
you don't know if the guy is gonna stay healthy,
or if he's got anything left in the tank or
any of that stuff. So I just I feel like
you've seen enough from the guys that you've already had
here that makes you encouraged. And then again you draft
a couple of guys like Will Johnson. I mean, the
(24:02):
guy better be good. You took him in the second round.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
By the way, for those that follow the Arizona Cardinals
on social media trying to get news, Will Johnson was
a participant all three days of mini camp. He might
have been limited. He was limited A participants all three days. Now,
the news with Will Johnson is the fact that he's
unsigned and the only draft pick that has yet to
put pen to paper. But I did see this was interesting.
(24:27):
I believe this was Pro Football Talk there are I
knew this before.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Pro Football tal Okay, so just don't credit.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Everybody, all right, Well, Darren Urman had I mean I
knew this.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
And I didn't.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
The point being is like Pro Football Talk made it
an article about but it was clear as soon as
I think it was Higgins, the receiver from Houston. He
was the first second round pick to sign, and I
think he was second, and the Schlushinger kid, whoever the
linebacker was, who went for whatever it was. Bottom line
is the first two picks of the second round got
(25:00):
full of guaranteed contracts. That's a first. So now every
second round pick is looking for guaranteed money and so
it's slowed down tremendously the second Those are the only
two second round picks that are signed.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
So it could be a while.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
Now do I am I fearful that Will Johnson isn't
going to be signed before training camp?
Speaker 3 (25:16):
I am not.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
There are forty unsigned players and overall in the draft
cloud and the the yeah in the overall thirty of
which are in the second round. To your point, can
you push the envelope if you're an agent going all right, well,
the first two did it, So now all of a sudden,
you're that third pick in the second round. You want
a four year guaranteed deal. I do believe it's gonna
(25:40):
get done. But the difference between offseason and training camp,
if you're not signed, you're not on the football field.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
Correct, And look, Will Johnson was what the sixteenth, fifteenth
pick of the second round. There's gonna be a lot
of waiting for him because because the the domino right
now is whoever the third pick of the second round
is right now, is he gonna get his full of
guaranteed because everybody's gonna wait for what's around them. They're
(26:09):
they're not gonna want to go ahead and mess with
somebody else. They Will Johnson doesn't want to sign and
then have pick sixteen of the second round get full
of guaranteed money, so which I don't think would happen,
because then if if Will Johnson signed with no guaranteed money,
then the team behind him is gonna hold the line
and the team and the pick isn't gonna be able
to It's just again, it's we'll see where we are.
(26:33):
Somebody's gonna give in at some point in the second round.
Somebody's not gonna get a guaranteed pick, and then everybody
after that or guaranteed money, and somebody after everybody after
them is gonna have to deal with it.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
But it's gonna be it's not sooner rather than later.
You based off of base, you know, I'm gonna make
it lots empty. So there's people are scattering and it's
not top of mind to get a deal.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
I'm not saying there can't be a couple of phone calls,
but there's nothing's gonna happen before we get to before
it's it's at least gonna be.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Uh. We're gonna get to like a week before training
camp and.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Everybody needs to just say, oh my god, Will John's
it's July fourth, Will Johnson is a signed. No, he's not,
and he's probably not gonna be signed until another couple
of weeks because nobody's doing anything because people need time off.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
And really, with the Arizona Cardinals, nothing can be done
while you're gone, correct me, Yes, you.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Oh, you'd be surprised with how much could be done
if I'm not around.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I mean, there's not gonna be a But.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
There's a reason, there's a reason why I go places
when I do, because I know that's when everybody else,
all the football people are leaving.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
It's yeah, that's this parking lot out here is pretty
darn empty. Have not walked around the building to see
how many doors are closed and shut whatever. The rookies
are still here getting what for an only only for
a couple of days, but at least it's a couple
of days to where they can feel like they own
the place, because once they were assimilated with the rest
of the veterans, it's like all of a sudden, their
(28:00):
reps and all of a sudden and they just got
downgraded a little bit as far as their their responsibilities
and their priority orders within this building because for a
while there they were the only players here required outside
of guys that were working out on their own and rehabbing.
But uh, yeah, it's it's it's it's gonna be a
little quiet between now that we still don't know training
(28:22):
camp schedule, not officially, no open to the public.
Speaker 4 (28:26):
As far as training, that'll that'll come, that'll be out
before the energy, so that's sooner.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
Rather than later, I would yes.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Okay, anything out on in your mind, Darren, besides vacation time.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Away getting hungry?
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Craig, really do not eat breakfast.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
I do eat breakfast.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Okay, shouldn't that tide you over a little bit?
Speaker 3 (28:45):
No, I it's it's time for lunch.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Oh okay, all right, boss has spoken time to go
to lunch fist. Okay, well some people don't. Some people
skip meals.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
That's stupid.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
Now you're calling people that listen to the show stupid.
Do you eat breakfast sometimes?
Speaker 3 (29:04):
No, then you're being stupid. Sometimes they wake up?
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Do you have to eat because of time? Like my
father it was six am, noon, six pm based off
of time of day.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
And when I come home, I get breakfast before I
go to work. But like, why aren't you eating breakfast?
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Not hungry?
Speaker 3 (29:25):
But then it's just not good for you.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Okay, well I appreciate that. Maybe I should start listening
to you more more than I do already. All right,
Darren says, we gotta go get lunch. Let's uh get
your you packed ready to go on vacation. No, okay,
we used to be texting and.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
I saw a couple of days of work with a
lot of things to.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Get taken your computer with you, I will not wow. Okay,
well Johnson will definitely be signed then, while tearing his
way without a computer. Mark that down here on June.
What is today? June sixteenth? Yeah, predicting will Johnson gets
signed while Darren is on vacation? Just out of spite
on that note, we'll put all in on this edition
(30:09):
of Cardinals Cover two presented by Hyundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our executive
producer Jim Mamahandro for associate producer. COULDI Fincher for Darren Nerman,
I'm Praigrielou. We'll talk to you next time here on
Cardinals Cover two,
So what did we learn? Burgang? What can we take
away from nearly two months of work here in the
off season? Darren Urban joins me to discuss training camp
will be here before you know it. Before then, before
we report the State Farm Stadium, we go over our
top takeaways from the off season. It's Cardinals Cover two,
episode eight ninety three, and it starts now. Welcome to
(00:28):
Cardinals Cover two. Food to Baker, what Heart? What rent?
This guy's unbelievable?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast Visit Azycardinals
dot Com slash podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
He's at the ten half of five. He's it again,
so more hurry magic.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Whow here's Craig Greielo.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
So summer vacation begins soon for one of the two
of us, and it's not me. So that leaves you, Darren?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
You went to Europe ready again?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
We just we went over this. It was meary oas
I was here for mandatory mini camp. Although is it
really mandatory mini? Shouldn't we just call it mini camp?
Because isn't it assume that it's mandatory?
Speaker 4 (01:21):
It's not The other funny thing is it's usually called
mandatory veterans Mini camp, and I like, all the rookies
are there, so what are we doing.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So yes, Mini Camp is now over, and by the
looks of the parking lot, pretty much everyone has left
town or at least left the facility to begin what
is a six week break. I believe Jonathan Gannon mentioned
that everyone would return July twenty second.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
I don't think I'm talking out of school by saying
it's report day will be July twenty second.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Okay, Well that's what the head coach said.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So that's fine, so we're I can confirm.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
You can confirm that. Okay, that is report day at
State Farm Stadium. So as we have this little bit
of a break and we say goodbye to Darren for
however long, maybe until we're date. I mean, that's and
there is that always that possibility. But these seven plus
weeks from April twenty second, which was the start of
the off season strength and conditioning program, to last Thursday,
(02:13):
June twelfth, the final day of Mini camp, which was
a true three day mini camp, which I believe is
the first time for JG to have used all.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Three days correct yes, I think that's the first time. Wow,
it's that any coach has used all today. Well, but again,
one of the reasons they were willing to cut it
short is because you always had ten OTAs. And this
is the first time I can remember a coach ever
having fewer than ten OTAs. Maybe maybe Bruce arians had
nine one time and turned one into like an outing
(02:43):
day or whatever. But like usually if with ten ota,
so's it's about the total number. And that's what Gannon
was looking at, was like, Okay, we have nine practices.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
This is what we got on.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
It wasn't though the time spent the same, just divided
up a little bit differently.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Yeah, they still had they still had the same amount
of days, I believe in terms of being in the
building and being around each other, it's just being on
the field.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Okay, all right, all right, speaking of on the field
and being out there for those three days of mini
camp or even going back to when this all began
in April, and this I wouldn't say, all right, the
biggest takeaway the offseason is the overhaul the defensive line
and signing Josh what I think we've talked about that enough.
But what you either saw what you heard out on
(03:30):
that field and the press conferences from mid April to June,
and now what you're excited about before we get to
training camp again we report July twenty second.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Well, I mean the thing that I think ultimately struck me.
There was a few things, obviously, but one of them,
and it goes back to last year's top pick, is like,
they apparently are okay with this wide receiver corps and
they're going to stick with these guys. Now, can something happen?
(04:05):
Of course something can happen, But I said this, I
think I said this basically as soon as the season
was over. I always thought the biggest factor in how
they saw the receiver corps is Marvin Harrison has to
make that big jump in year two. And that was
always going to be the thing, way more than signing
(04:26):
a guy. And now that we've gotten through this part,
it sure looks like that is the focus now, is
that Marvin Harrison Junior is being counted on to make
a big jump in year two and that's that's going
to be the deciding factor in what this wide receiver
corps can be. Rather than necessarily adding a body.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
You look at the room itself and at least the
top half hasn't changed. Yeah, there were some guys that
were brought back or signed to futures deals. The big name,
or you said the veteran name in that mix was
Quaes Watkins, who you did a story about his phone,
or as someone who can actually move a little bit
as far as the speed. And then Simmi Fajocco was signed,
(05:09):
maybe perhaps as a replacement for Zach Pascal, more of
a special teams guy who plays wide receiver. But in
that room, the other idea going into the offseason was Okay,
what's missing, and it was all right, do they have
that speed guy to take the top off stretch the defense.
And a conversation that you had all the way back
(05:30):
at the annual league meeting with GM monti astin fort
not that he dismissed it, but it didn't sound like
it was much of a big deal to him as
it maybe was to us or fans. When you're like, hey,
what is missing offensively specifically in the wide receiver room, right.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
He basically said, Look, it's it's not Speed is nice,
but speed is one factor in everything that we are doing,
and it's you're not making a decision based on that,
and you can have lots of different conversations. And when
he said it, which again at the league meetings, which
is after free agency and before the draft, after the
main part of free agency, you know, Okay, maybe that's true,
(06:09):
maybe it's not. Well, now that we sit here, sure
sounds like that's he wasn't kidding, Like, yeah, this is
what we're looking at. And so like when you see
a number two receiver, the fact that Michael Wilson's a
pretty good blocker that makes a lot of that makes
a big difference to them. And Okay, maybe he's not
the first guy you would think about it as a
(06:30):
number two, But like all these people that say, let's say,
why don't you chase for instance, in Amari Cooper, like
I'm thinking, for what they want to do, Michael Wilson
probably fits better. And what you're doing there, And again,
when you're talking about adding somebody, what is the role
that you're asking to bring them in on and how
much money are they looking forward to to be that guy?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
And I go back to.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
I go back to Cliff Kingsbury's first year when in
twenty nineteen, when they signed Michael Crabtree, which was a
disaster basically from the time they got he got here,
he didn't fit. He didn't fit in the room, he
didn't fit what they wanted to do offensively, it wasn't
It just didn't make. It end up not making any sense.
And I think many Austin Fort and Jonathan Gannon are
(07:13):
very aware of how that all works and it's got
to make sense. And I think what they think is
going to make sense at wide receivers having the guys
that they have, and I know that frustrates some people,
but you've got Trey McBride. This idea that Trey mcgride
gets left out of the equation. I mean if Marvin Harrison.
I was talking to Michael Wilson about this a little
(07:35):
bit and he's like, look like I went back and looked,
and Trey had one hundred and forty targets and I
think Marvin had like one hundred and sixteen something like that,
and then Michael Wilson was next on the list. I
think it's like seventy five. And he said, I don't
I don't necessarily see, especially with the way we want
to run the ball, I don't necessarily see those numbers.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Changing a whole lot.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
So then what are you bringing somebody else in for?
You're gonna throw the ball less to Michael Wilson's He's
not gonna have a role. You're gonna bring somebody else in.
It makes no sense to me to throw the ball
less to Tray McBride, or or even if you want
to throw it a little bit less to Tray McBride.
Isn't Marvin the one getting those targets in theory? So yeah,
I mean, I just I'm okay with how this works.
(08:22):
I still think you need to make more efficient what
you're doing with Marvin Harrison and probably Michael Wilson to
a certain extent, and even Greg Dors, But I don't
I'm okay with having what they have if if Marvin
Harrison does the kind of things that.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
He should when you look at this offense.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Don't let me monologue like that. Craig cut me off.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
You were You're on a roll, and I didn't want
to too much. I'm sorry, but everything that you said
I was. I was eagerly listening, as I'm sure much
of the rest of the listening audience was as well.
Here on Cardinals cover too, I understand nationally even locally,
as you take a look at this offense and say,
(09:01):
all right, what's missing or what can be better? And
I understand why all of a sudden, it's okay, well
you need speed, maybe you need that number two wide receiver.
Go out and sign someone who's on the streets. Well
there's a reason they're on the streets. But you have
to remember what Drew Petsing likes to do and what
we've seen offensively, what this offense is. It's run first,
(09:22):
maybe even run second, and then throw the football. And
I like what you said. And you had an article
up on Easycardinals dot com about can you have success
as an offense if your number one receiver is a
tied end, And yes you can. So I do look
at Trey McBride as a wide receiver within this offense
as far as a pass catcher is concerned to where Okay, yeah,
(09:46):
you can bring in a big name, veteran free agent receiver,
but you brought it up. If you can't block, you're
not gonna fit. And then all right, you're not really
gonna have that role as a two or three wide
receiver because it's Marvin, it's James Connor, it's Trey McBride.
Those are your top three right there, and then is
(10:09):
there really room for anyone else as far as to
have a big time role within this offense.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
I will agree with the idea that the Cardinals need
more big plays on offense. Now, whether that means you're
necessarily throwing at fifty yards.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
In the air, I don't know. I mean in a
perfect world, yes, I don't know. I know.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Michael Wilson said, one thing that we do have to
get better as a receiving corp is the yards after
the catch. He goes, you see it with Trey. He goes,
that's what we need to start doing. Me and Marv
and Dororsch does a pretty good job. But Michael Wilson
and Marvin Harrison in particular, I think if they can
ramp up their yak yards. And if you remember, which
(10:50):
many people listening might not remember, but that was not
Larry Fitzgerald's game when he first showed up. He was
he looked a lot like Marv when he first showed up.
I mean, his number were similar as a rookie, and
it was you go, you catch the ball, and then
wherever you catch the ball, it's the plays.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Is essentially over.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
And then when Todd Haley showed up in two thousand
and seven, he basically challenged Fits and he probably said
a few bad words while he was doing it. He
challenged Fits to be like, hey, dude, you're a big dude.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Don't let them take you down. As soon as they hit.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
You, go get another five, six, seven yards. And then
we see Marvin bulk up. Clearly he's going to be
able to be more physical. I mean, Marvin Harrison's year
could change dramatically if all of a sudden, you're adding
five yards at the end of every catch. So that
can help too.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
And remember as a rookie, and he talked about this,
referring to Marvin about year one was Okay, you run
your route, and you run your route, and now it's
more nuanced. It's you're running your route. But if you
see something defensively, then you have to know to break
off your route or come back to the ball, or
go inside, go outside, knowing that Kyler's going to know
(12:04):
exactly what you're thinking because you've talked about it, you've
repped it in practice. Now all of a sudden, you're
catching the ball in stride as opposed to maybe last
year it was turn around, catch the ball, Secure the
ball first and foremost, and then if you can break it,
tackle great. But throwing these guys open, getting these guys
on the move, and that leads me to what I
(12:26):
thought was the most interesting thing said, there were several things,
but as far as what this offense potentially could look like,
as far as being a little different, and that was
when Trey mentioned the pre snap motion we called extra
sauce and how much we've seen other teams do it,
have not seen the Cardinals do it much. Now, it's
(12:46):
how many guys in motion? Is it just simply sending
Marvin from one side of the field to there could
be that simple, a small little tweak, but to get
that defense thinking a little bit more as opposed to
just waiting for the ball to be snapped, having that
Mike linebacker direct traffic, sending guys different places because all
of a sudden, Trey splits out as a wide receiver
or as in the backfield and you're wondering, what's he
(13:08):
going to do? That is what I think, potentially, going
back to our original conversation about wide receivers in those
explosive plays, if the offense in year three now and
the continuity, perhaps things just naturally get better and the
team gets better.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
I'm I'm a big fan of pre snap motion or
motion at the snap. I love all that stuff. It
makes a lot of sense. Now you're potentially, you know,
when there's more moving parts, there's more chance at pre
snap penalties, and you gotta be careful you're not heading
up field ahead.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Well maybe JG. Looking at last year's numbers, this was
one of the better teams as far as penalties were concerned.
All right, we are a smarter team. We can handle
a lot of this, and much of that is you know,
the offensive line maybe staying in their stance a little
bit longer, a wide receiver not not moving and all
(14:04):
that stuff. Okay, well, year three, we should be able
to do it. And then all of a sudden, okay,
let's see if we can. Now again, there's a difference
between what is said and what we see out on
the practice field in May and June versus what potentially
you see when the season begins.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
They've made very clear every time they talk about this
stuff that it's gonna be week to week and whatever
it takes to win the game.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Now, I love that. By the way, well that's just
so they don't have to tell us that cling.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
And the reality is is, if you are getting good
at it, why wouldn't you use it every week? I'll
be honest, I've always been one of those like I've
never hearn like when Cliff was here, I didn't. I
understand all offenses are different, but I'm not a I
don't understand why you don't switch some things up unless
you're just so concerned that your players can't handle it mentally.
And that's a concern anyways. So I would just say
(14:53):
that I'm hopeful that that follows them through. And there's
there's a lot to it, and but we're gonna we're
gonna have to wait and see. I mean, I'm not
even gonna say preseason. You're not gonna see this in
the preseason, not and not in terms of the games.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
No, But here's my hope. And the other comment that
really stuck out was JG talking about friction. Now, you
can define that however you want, and I know many
people went towards all right, he says he wants more
friction and training camp. Does that mean more physicality, the
pads are on a little bit more. There's only so
many times you can put on pads between training camp
(15:29):
and the start of the regular season. But I kind
of made it. I'm hoping it means you might see
a little bit more in the preseason because I always
go back to Bill Belichick saying, how do you get
better at football? You play football. The Kansas City chiefs
Andy Reid plays his starters. Now, what works for one
(15:51):
team doesn't mean it's gonna work for another. But I
need to see Marvin Harrison Junior on the field for
more than just what was it that three or four
snaps on that first series three and Darius Robinson getting
ten snaps because he looks so good. I'm sorry, that's
that's not enough in my opinion to get ready for
Week one. And I go back and remember the conversation
(16:14):
that I think it was even a question you asked
the Carson Palmer about preseason saying I want to get hit,
and everyone was taken aback. It's like, what do you mean, Well,
the body needs to feel what it is like to
get hit. Now, you don't want your quarterback to get hit.
But I understand what he's saying you don't want to
wait until week one. That should be happening in practice
(16:37):
or in preseason games. Now, whether it does or not,
I don't know, And I get it. If something happens
in a preseason game, then I'll get the phone calls
on Cardinal Talk. Why was he in the game.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Well, you can get hurt when that's your first problem.
Why you're taking phone calls on Cardinals Talk.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
I believe that's what it's kind of what it's for, Darren.
If you ever had a chance to listen with you
don't because you're working hard, but I know you would.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
I'm never sure to do anything. You could just telling
me this happened. I don't know it happened.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
That's true, But that's what going back to my no
or you completely derailed that conversation.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
But well then you started monologueing, and it's like it's
not good for anybody.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
I would I want to see more players play in
the preseason.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
I'm I don't disagree with you. The the fine line
that we have to walk here, Craig is that we're
in now that we're moving into the older age bracket,
like we don't want to get off my long guys,
and yeah, and I get it, and I don't want
to be wolf love you man, but like, the game
is different now. I don't I have Look, I don't
(17:39):
care if they play in the preseason. But what frustrates
me is when we start hearing the quotes after the
first or second game of the year where it's like, well,
you know, we were just getting into it, like we
haven't played a lot of football yet.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Well, whose fault is that?
Speaker 1 (17:55):
And that's you have seventeen games so this into the
regular season when a year ago you're a game, two games,
two wins away from the postseason. Well, who's to say
that's in September where you're like, well, we're just not
quite ready to really go.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Full throttle, especially with this schedule.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Yeah, where it looks very favorable as we speak here
in June as far as how that first month of
the regular season goes versus the back half. But you
can't afford to hey, it's early, no, no, no, no.
In the NFL, it's never early. And that's the frustrating
part because you do hear those comments, whether it's postgame
(18:39):
or the day after, and it's like, well, we're gonna
revisit this conversation in January and everyone's gonna wonder, well,
what happened, Well, it's because what you did in September.
You're not gonna be able to clinch a playoff spot,
but you can damn sure lose a playoff spot in September.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
I I'm with you. I think JG cares about what
you think. Yeah, hell no.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
We convince him. And again, I'm not talking about a
full game or a full half, but at least be
on the field for a couple series.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
See like, like even Marvin Harrison last year when he
got three snaps, it was literally.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
They didn't even bother to look his direction.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
I don't. They threw one pass and I think it
was a sad like. I don't.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
They just wanted him to get They wanted an experience.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
But I just that feels weird to me.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
But whatever, all right? Defensively, yes, for you, yes, I
understand the defensive line and Josh what But is there
something else that not concerning? But we talk about takeaways
or what we learned here in this offseason and the
number of changes defensively, but is there a player position
(19:48):
group that you're like, Okay, well, I'll be keeping my
eye on those guys.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Well, I mean, I think I think it would have
been cornerback even before the Sean Murphy bunting news and
now with no Seann Murphy bunch, it comes even.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
But they're going young. Now.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
I will say this, this is a position where I
actually I like what they're doing there. If you're going
to spend all this draft capital working to build up
this position, then I'm totally fine with you running with
those guys and the idea that you've built up your
front seven so that maybe you have more help that
maybe you can rush for and have seven back in
(20:25):
coverage to help out this young cornerback crew. I'm good
with that. I think that's a smart idea. That's the
whole point that you're doing to get that. So unlike
some other places where I'm like, eh, maybe maybe they'd
get a veteran, I don't. I'm okay with them not
getting another veteran. I mean, first of all, like Starling
Thomas and Garrett Williams have played a lot of football already,
(20:46):
you know so, and you're drafting will Johnson in the
second round, You're drafting Max Mountain in the second round.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
These guys you better hit on them.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Seven cornerbacks selected by Manti asin Ford. In his three
years as general manager, he's made a total of twenty
eight selections, all of whom, by the way, are still
on the team. But seven of twenty eight you went
too Arizona State. You know that math. That's a high
percentage to devote to one position group as a general manager.
(21:19):
But if you invest that draft capital in those guys, well,
wouldn't you want to know what they can do or
what they can't do before you go out and land
a It's back to the back to the wide receiver
conversation to add someone. Okay, well you're not going to
do it now because you haven't received them in pads
on whether they can handle it or not. Now. Could
(21:39):
that change closer to the regular season, sure, but I'm
hoping it doesn't because otherwise that's a that's an indictment
on those young kids that you brought in, whether drafted
or claimed off waivers that Okay, maybe we maybe we
do don't have what we want talent wise in that room.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
And I would also say too, Jonathan Gannon, being a
defensive back guy, played safety as coach defensive backs extensively
in this league. He knows what he has, I think,
and I think if there were major concerns, I think
they would have been addressed.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Let's put it that way.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
The one name in that group Elijah Jones. Because of
where he was drafted in the third round, his size,
you don't find a lot of six to one sixty
two cornerbacks. But we didn't see him last season outside
of what there were maybe three or four practices. Didn't
even see him on game day.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
No, No, No, he because a couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
So I think he ended up getting hurt in the
Denver preseason game.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
No, I was talking regular season. Oh well, we didn't
see him at all in the regular season.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
No, we didn't see him a on the r and
it was towards.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
The latter half of the regular season. Was practice wise,
Oh yeah, it just never materialized. But you've got and again,
I don't include Garrett Williams in this conversation just because
I know he's going to be on the field, and
it's just he's one of your three corner or even
one of your two cornerbacks, depending on if you play
him more as an outside guy. He's going to be
(23:06):
on the football, correct, and now it's just all right,
You've got Star, You've got Max, You've got Will and
Elijah Jones. Don't forget about Denzel Burke, another draft pick.
And I think those one on one matchups in training
camp covering a wide receiver or running back a tight end,
I think you'll learn more about that room. And then obviously,
(23:28):
again going back to the conversation about preseason, you're gonna
have to play those guys. Otherwise you're rolling the dice
week one just to see, Okay, can they cover anyone?
Speaker 3 (23:37):
No, And again there are no sure things.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
I mean, even if you went out and signed a veteran,
you don't know if the guy is gonna stay healthy,
or if he's got anything left in the tank or
any of that stuff. So I just I feel like
you've seen enough from the guys that you've already had
here that makes you encouraged. And then again you draft
a couple of guys like Will Johnson. I mean, the
(24:02):
guy better be good. You took him in the second round.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
By the way, for those that follow the Arizona Cardinals
on social media trying to get news, Will Johnson was
a participant all three days of mini camp. He might
have been limited. He was limited A participants all three days. Now,
the news with Will Johnson is the fact that he's
unsigned and the only draft pick that has yet to
put pen to paper. But I did see this was interesting.
(24:27):
I believe this was Pro Football Talk there are I
knew this before.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Pro Football tal Okay, so just don't credit.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Everybody, all right, Well, Darren Urman had I mean I
knew this.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
And I didn't.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
The point being is like Pro Football Talk made it
an article about but it was clear as soon as
I think it was Higgins, the receiver from Houston. He
was the first second round pick to sign, and I
think he was second, and the Schlushinger kid, whoever the
linebacker was, who went for whatever it was. Bottom line
is the first two picks of the second round got
(25:00):
full of guaranteed contracts. That's a first. So now every
second round pick is looking for guaranteed money and so
it's slowed down tremendously the second Those are the only
two second round picks that are signed.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
So it could be a while.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
Now do I am I fearful that Will Johnson isn't
going to be signed before training camp?
Speaker 3 (25:16):
I am not.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
There are forty unsigned players and overall in the draft
cloud and the the yeah in the overall thirty of
which are in the second round. To your point, can
you push the envelope if you're an agent going all right, well,
the first two did it, So now all of a sudden,
you're that third pick in the second round. You want
a four year guaranteed deal. I do believe it's gonna
(25:40):
get done. But the difference between offseason and training camp,
if you're not signed, you're not on the football field.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
Correct, And look, Will Johnson was what the sixteenth, fifteenth
pick of the second round. There's gonna be a lot
of waiting for him because because the the domino right
now is whoever the third pick of the second round
is right now, is he gonna get his full of
guaranteed because everybody's gonna wait for what's around them. They're
(26:09):
they're not gonna want to go ahead and mess with
somebody else. They Will Johnson doesn't want to sign and
then have pick sixteen of the second round get full
of guaranteed money, so which I don't think would happen,
because then if if Will Johnson signed with no guaranteed money,
then the team behind him is gonna hold the line
and the team and the pick isn't gonna be able
to It's just again, it's we'll see where we are.
(26:33):
Somebody's gonna give in at some point in the second round.
Somebody's not gonna get a guaranteed pick, and then everybody
after that or guaranteed money, and somebody after everybody after
them is gonna have to deal with it.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
But it's gonna be it's not sooner rather than later.
You based off of base, you know, I'm gonna make
it lots empty. So there's people are scattering and it's
not top of mind to get a deal.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
I'm not saying there can't be a couple of phone calls,
but there's nothing's gonna happen before we get to before
it's it's at least gonna be.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Uh. We're gonna get to like a week before training
camp and.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Everybody needs to just say, oh my god, Will John's
it's July fourth, Will Johnson is a signed. No, he's not,
and he's probably not gonna be signed until another couple
of weeks because nobody's doing anything because people need time off.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
And really, with the Arizona Cardinals, nothing can be done
while you're gone, correct me, Yes, you.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
Oh, you'd be surprised with how much could be done
if I'm not around.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I mean, there's not gonna be a But.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
There's a reason, there's a reason why I go places
when I do, because I know that's when everybody else,
all the football people are leaving.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
It's yeah, that's this parking lot out here is pretty
darn empty. Have not walked around the building to see
how many doors are closed and shut whatever. The rookies
are still here getting what for an only only for
a couple of days, but at least it's a couple
of days to where they can feel like they own
the place, because once they were assimilated with the rest
of the veterans, it's like all of a sudden, their
(28:00):
reps and all of a sudden and they just got
downgraded a little bit as far as their their responsibilities
and their priority orders within this building because for a
while there they were the only players here required outside
of guys that were working out on their own and rehabbing.
But uh, yeah, it's it's it's it's gonna be a
little quiet between now that we still don't know training
(28:22):
camp schedule, not officially, no open to the public.
Speaker 4 (28:26):
As far as training, that'll that'll come, that'll be out
before the energy, so that's sooner.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
Rather than later, I would yes.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Okay, anything out on in your mind, Darren, besides vacation time.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Away getting hungry?
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Craig, really do not eat breakfast.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
I do eat breakfast.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Okay, shouldn't that tide you over a little bit?
Speaker 3 (28:45):
No, I it's it's time for lunch.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Oh okay, all right, boss has spoken time to go
to lunch fist. Okay, well some people don't. Some people
skip meals.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
That's stupid.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
Now you're calling people that listen to the show stupid.
Do you eat breakfast sometimes?
Speaker 3 (29:04):
No, then you're being stupid. Sometimes they wake up?
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Do you have to eat because of time? Like my
father it was six am, noon, six pm based off
of time of day.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
And when I come home, I get breakfast before I
go to work. But like, why aren't you eating breakfast?
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Not hungry?
Speaker 3 (29:25):
But then it's just not good for you.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Okay, well I appreciate that. Maybe I should start listening
to you more more than I do already. All right,
Darren says, we gotta go get lunch. Let's uh get
your you packed ready to go on vacation. No, okay,
we used to be texting and.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
I saw a couple of days of work with a
lot of things to.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Get taken your computer with you, I will not wow. Okay,
well Johnson will definitely be signed then, while tearing his
way without a computer. Mark that down here on June.
What is today? June sixteenth? Yeah, predicting will Johnson gets
signed while Darren is on vacation? Just out of spite
on that note, we'll put all in on this edition
(30:09):
of Cardinals Cover two presented by Hyundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our executive
producer Jim Mamahandro for associate producer. COULDI Fincher for Darren Nerman,
I'm Praigrielou. We'll talk to you next time here on
Cardinals Cover two,
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