June 9, 2025 • 35 mins
Ep. 891 - More points. Less turnovers. Of course, that’s the easy answer. But what else might ‘efficient’ look like, and, by the way, that’s the word Jonathan Gannon used when talking about the offense going into this upcoming season. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck have their own thoughts on what to expect from an offense that is running it back from a year ago, at least in terms of personnel. Also, on the eve of mandatory minicamp, what, and maybe better said, who do Craig and Dani want to see on the field? Will there be anything shown over the next three days that give hints as to what the 2025 Arizona Cardinals might look like both offensively and defensively? This is the final week of work before the start of training camp.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Mandatory mini camp. What does it mean? What can we expect?
What do we hope to see? God Danny Surrek joining
me to talk about all of the above. Bird Gang.
Also we talk offense, an efficient offense, one that's under
pressure to succeed this season, and that's how they want it.
It's Cardinals Cover two, episode eight ninety one, and it
starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Welcome to Cardinals Cover two. Budda Baker, What Heart?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
What rent?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
This guy's unbelievable. 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 (00:45):
He's at the ten half of five. He's it again?
Some more hurry magic.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Whow Here's Craig Griolu.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
So it occurred to me as I was getting ready
for this edition of Cardinals Cover two, presented by Hyundai,
probably partner of the Arizona Cardinals. As we speak, this
is the final week of players and coaches being in
the building. Now. I think some rookies might hang on
a little bit through a couple of weeks towards the
end of June. But as we embark on mandatory mini camp, Danny,
(01:20):
this is it until six weeks from now when we
all reconvene at State Farm Stadium for training camp. Now
we'll be here. There's plenty of work to be done,
but as far as coaches in the building, players in
the building getting ready for the regular season, this is now.
After this week, this is when they get their break,
(01:40):
their time away and get to recharge.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
You got to do it now because by the time
they come back for training camp, it is full steam ahead.
I mean, that's the point in the off season. People think, oh,
the off season, the dead time must be right when
the season ends. Nope, dead season is in about four days.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
I'm trying to think if there's ever a slow time
National Football League, whether that's Cardinals or league wide, and
I think it's after Mini camp, that period of time,
that month month and a half between Mini camp and
the started training camp. Because other than that, even at
the quote unquote end of the regular season and postseason,
there's always well there's a scouting combine, and then there's
(02:18):
free agency, and then there's the draft and all that
preparation leading onto those tent pole events. You don't have
that after you get to mid June, before the end
of July.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
And at this point, if you're a veteran free agent,
there's a good chance you're not getting signed until training camp,
until teams are seeing the players they already have on
their rosters how they look on a football field, or
somebody gets hurt. So yeah, we're about to be in
the true dead season of the offseason.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
It's a good point. Why sign now when there's nothing
to work on because there's no availability of the building
or coaches. So yeah, as far as signings to happen,
unless and hopefully, knock on wood, that doesn't happen with
the AARs and the Cardinals, the team that we will
see on the field this week is the team that
will report to State Farm Stadium. Now we just have
(03:07):
to wait and see. Now, I do think and this
is good news Cardinal fans, that this should be these
next three days Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mandatory mini camp.
The only difference is that it's mandatory. The difference between
mini camp and OTAs is that it's mandatory. You're still
can have contact, you're not in pads. You can do
(03:29):
eleven on eleven, but no one on ones. But I
do believe that these three days should be controversy free.
No one's holding out, no one's got big time injuries
that are the real or not real because they need
a contractor would hope to get a contract. But I
think for the most part, it's pretty easy to see
(03:50):
what the news should be and it should be all
on the field.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
As a boes off, Yeah, I mean, and then that's
just how the Cardinals are set up right now in
the off season. Not to say every other team is
going to find themselves in that positions, but the Cardinals
don't have any players that are currently waiting for a
new contract, extension or a whole new contract altogether. Given
the voluntary attendance throughout OTA's the last two weeks, there's
(04:16):
really not a lot of big names that you're not
expecting to see at mandatory mini camp. So we'll see.
That is the first thing you're gonna do. If you're
going to talk about the differences as watching practice, that's
the first thing you do is you're going to take
attendance and you're going to look and see who was
not here at mini camp or at OTAs rather, and
who's here at mini camp, and if someone's not there
(04:36):
a mini camp. That's when you're your start to burk up, right,
you're starting to wonder okay. And the questions will be
to head coach Jonathan Gannon, who will speak all three
days of mini camp this week, is why is this
person not here? Are they hurt? Were you aware they
weren't going to be here, and what's the plan moving forward?
Speaker 1 (04:53):
And if they're hurt or they're coming off of an injury,
are they working out inside as opposed to outside where
we are watching practice, because that's also a possibility. Yes,
they're here, we just might not see them. And that's
probably been the case for a handful of the vets
that were mia during OTAs. You were here during OTAs.
I made a very clear last time I was on
(05:15):
this show with Darren last week that I put the
voluntary into voluntary otis and left for a week and
a half. So I am reporting from mandatory mini camp.
I just was not here for the two open OTAs.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
And the first thing you're gonna look at is, even
if players are here, is what does a player like
Bijo Jelari look like one Is he out on the
field participating in two? Is he a full participant to
the level that these players can at this point in
the offseason. Somebody who training camp last year had a
season ending knee injury, and if he's not out there,
the question is, okay, where is he at in his
rehab process?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Jonah Williams the first week of OTAs, was working out
on the side, was participating the second week of OTAs.
Where is he in mini camp?
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Are we going to see back to back weeks? These
are the type of questions Ballall Nichols, the defensive lineman,
we didn't see out there during OTAs. He was still
working off on the side during the open portion of
practice that I was out there that first week. Where
is his level of participation? That's kind of what you're
keeping an eye on, And it's not necessarily something to
get concerned about. It's just now it's an appropriate time
(06:14):
to ask the questions of where are they at in
their rehab process?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And those are the two names that I wrote down
as far as right are they out there? If they're not? Okay?
What's there where they are in their rehab Because to
my knowledge, and you can correct me if I'm wrong,
those are the only two names as far as players
who are coming off of injury that we have not
seen at least participates or work out on the side.
(06:38):
Correct it's been Bjo Juli and Belall Nichols. Justin Jones
was out there, which is a good sign because I
think Justin Jones and Bla Nichols are very interesting pieces
to this puzzle. Because a year ago at this time,
what was the talk of the defense additions to the
D line? Justin Jones, Bolon Nichols, guys who were you
(06:59):
could count on, who are consistent, they were healthy, and
then all of a sudden both get hurt and you
don't see him and it's out of side, out of mind,
and all of a sudden, since then, a number of
new faces have been added to that D line. So
where do Jones and Nichols fit within that defensive front?
And it makes it even harder to figure it out
(07:20):
if they're not even participating.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Absolutely, yeah, you put on the nose. How are you
to know what you have if they're not out there
participating and you don't want to rush your recovery. But
it was good to see that Jones was back out
there during OTAs and able to work out with the
team after having that season any triceps injury.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Three veterans that are healthy that we have not seen,
fairly confident that we will see this week Kalais Campbell,
Dalvin Tomlinson and Josh What And as we peel the
curtain back a little bit here on Cardinals cover two
Monday Content Gathering Day, Media Day, I could safely say
I saw all three of those in Cardinals uniforms going
(07:57):
through station to station to station. So they are here.
And I guess, Danny, if you're here on Monday, you're
going to be here Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. You're not
just going to show up for a photo shoot and
then disappear. So and again, you're talking about three players
who've been in the league. They're veterans. They know what
the offseason is all about. And the example of them
(08:18):
being here on the field, not just in the locker
room and out of sight from the media, I think
it does. It does mean something to have them in
the building at least for only a week if that's
all they've been here.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah, but you're leaving out the most meaningful part is
why they're going to be their Tuesday crag. They've been paid.
That's what this all stems from if a player is
not at Mini camp, it has something to do more
times than not with money. While all that is great
to have a veteran here and you want to get
them caught up to speed and you want to get
that chemistry and that camaraderie going. Absolutely that's all still important,
but the players have been paid, right, so it's definitely
(08:51):
something to keep in mind of, Oh my gosh, great,
this new veteran is here this week at Mini camp.
They must really care about getting acclimated. Well, yes, to
a certain extent here because they got paid. That's really
what it boils down to for people who show up
in Nolt Trump to Manicanop and it.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Just seems to me so easy, especially if you live
here in Arizona. If you don't live here, I know,
I get it. But at the same time, to your point, Danny,
if you don't show up, there are consequences, meaning you
lose money, and it's money that you cannot recoup and
so fines build. But again, those are twenty nine, those
(09:27):
are thirty one. Excuse me, there are thirty one other
teams that are dealing that. With that potentially, I just
don't see that with the Arizona Cardinals, given how Manti
Austin Ford in this front office have constructed this team
through now three off seasons and making sure that those
players that they want here have been taken care of,
either with a contract extension and that something that has
(09:48):
been dragged out if you.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Will, Yeah, absolutely, they've put themselves a knight's position of
making sure financially that players are set and ready to
go and bring in the right type of players that
want to be here, to make sure that everybody's getting
on this page. I expected to see everybody out there
on Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Case in point, if a contract extension had not been
worked out with Trey McBride, would he show up. That's
I think what we're getting at, because now all of
a sudden, it's you don't want to cost yourself, you
don't want to get hurt even though you're not going
full speed, and then all of a sudden that hurts
your future earnings. But again, that was taking care of
(10:25):
well in advance of mandatory mini camp, and again that's
the benefit of the team getting it done early, setting
the market and then seeing George Kittle reset the market,
and then for the player knowing that it's off my shoulders,
I can strictly talk about football.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Yeah, one less thing to worry about.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Speaking of the offense, and Trey McBride comments the last
two weeks when we've had a chance to hear from
Drew Petsing McBride and James Connor, the offense is running
the back. The only new addition to that starting line
as we speak here is your starting right guard. Now
(11:04):
we'll have to see if that changes between now and
August and September, if Will Hernandez somehow is brought back.
But that is the only change to this starting offense
unless because you're looking at me.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Like am Adams, I'm talking talking as your right guard.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
No, that's what I mean. That's the only difference from.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Week one because Isaiah Adams has a ton of chemistry.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
I was talking about who was penciled in week one
and now penciled in week one this year, because if
you're looking at last year in Buffalo, it's will Hernandez.
So that's that would be the only difference as far
as going into twenty twenty four versus going into twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Five kind of, I mean, Isaiah will Hernandez got hurt
early in the season, right like Week four San Francisco.
So then you started rotating Isaiah Adams in So yes,
on a technicality, that is the only difference from your
starting lineup from week one twenty twenty four season to
where you are expecting your starting lineup to be where
things stand right now in twenty twenty five. At the
(12:06):
same time, the change in right guard is somebody who
spent more than half the season getting snaps there. So
it's it's yes and no. Like yes on a technicality,
that is true that the starting lineup is different, but
Adams has a ton of experience. It doesn't necessarily mean
there is in competition for depth at right guard as
somebody going into their second year in the league. But
(12:28):
that consistency there still transfers over that still means something
to the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
And I'm glad you said that because it's it's not
a new name that's coming in that's different from last season.
It's a good point. It's the difference is that one snap,
that first snap in Buffalo. But to your point, and again,
I'm glad you brought it up, because it's not like
there's a fresh face potentially at right guard. It's someone
that's been there.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
I get the point you're making of you kept consistency
here for a reason for this offense, because this coaching staff,
in this front office believes in the players that they
have across the board on that side of the ball.
Now is the time to step up. Okay, they have
proven their confidence and your ability as individuals and as
a group. So you need to go out there and
needed to make a difference. They have beefed up this
(13:14):
defense really in the trenches, that defensive line, to keep
your quarterback on the field longer. You have paid your
tight end. You have your number one wide receiver who's
been making gains physically and you know in his physical
game right out on the field going into year two.
So you have the pieces that you need. You now
have to go out there and you have to be
(13:35):
more consistent and you have to win more games.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
More efficient. That's the phrase that JG used when he
was asked about It was specifically about Kyler Murray, but
then he turned it into a larger conversation about the
offense overall. Be more efficient. Now, what does that mean?
This offense was twelfth in scoring, seventeenth in the red zone.
Be more efficient? Means obviously score more points, but be
(14:01):
better when you have possession of the football, you get
into that red zone, Danny, you score touchdowns, you don't
settle for field goals. And yes, it's okay to punt sometimes,
but if you are an efficient offense, you are not
putting your defense at a disadvantage. Yeah, it's gonna happen,
but to me, being more efficient means obviously score more points,
(14:22):
keep possession of the football. Now it just becomes all right,
how are you more efficient? Does it look any difference
because this offense is being run back or there're gonna
be some tweaks or I mean Trey McBride brought it up.
He said, it's quote definitely a lot more complex. Now
what does that mean again to the eye test versus
(14:44):
what they are running and the different concepts and maybe
it does look somewhat different, but maybe not radically different
in our eyes versus what they're being asked to do
on the field. Talking about the.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Players, that's what I want to hear McBride talking about.
They're working on having more restap motions and adding in
a few differences in the offense because now you can
you're going to year through with this coaching staff, with
this offensive Cooridnat or Drew Petsing who was also the
play caller year three for a lot of these players, Right,
you have that continuity not just within themselves as players,
also with the coaching staff and the play caller. Would
(15:18):
it makes sense to have things feel different this point
in the offseason than they did this time last year. Right,
you should be adding new things to the offense and
becoming less predictable, right, and giving yourself more of an
advantage against these defenses. When you're talking about efficiency, the
first thing that comes to my mind is ball security.
The amount of times the Cardinals fumble the ball. Now
(15:38):
they might not have lost possession, but they had a
hard time with protecting the ball last season. Interceptions, especially
late the season, we're a problem. So when you're talking
about efficiency, it's not just putting more points on the board,
it's taking advantage when you have the ball in your
hands regardless, and don't put yourself in a position or
you are getting in your own way. And there are
(16:00):
gonna be games where you're gonna have to rely on
the run a little bit more games we're gonna have
to rely on the pass. A little bit more. The
run game was consistent, you could rely on that. Last
year for this team. Couldn't say the same about the
passing game. It was just too inconsistent and how it flowed.
And so when you're talking about efficiency, what comes to
my mind with the offense is ball security and more
(16:21):
consistency and being a threat in the passing game.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
All right, let's take these two points. First, the more
efficiency as far as taking care of the football, because
towards the end of last season, you were keeping track
and I don't remember the stat off the top of
my head, but how many games in which the Cardinals
had the ball on the ground meaning not a drop,
but and you brought up fumbles Whether there's lost fumble,
(16:48):
there's fumbles, then there's lost fumbles. I mean, Kyleer Murray
had a number of fumbles, but he maintained possession of
the football. But what that means is instead of first
and ten, now you're looking at second and thirteen. So
more efficiency is less negative plays, and ball security falls
into that, as does pre snap penalties. When all of
a sudden, you're facing a first and ten, All of
(17:09):
a sudden, it's a first and twenty and you're playing
from behind the sticks, looking.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
At the numbers. Right now, there was not a single
game in which the ball did not touch the ground
or get intercepted.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Right now. That's now Again, that's you say that out loud.
Now again, that's not a.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Lost, not necessarily right. And there's some games where it
was one interception, you didn't fumble the ball. But every
game last season, at some point the ball hit the
ground or it went into a defender's hands.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
And that that makes it so much more difficult for
an offense, for a team, And all of a sudden
you look back at okay, well what separated the Cardinals
from the postseason? How do you get from eight wins
to nine to ten to eleven? Well, you maintain possession
of the football. You don't lose the ball, yes, but
you don't fumble a snap and fall on a maintain possession.
(18:01):
But again, now you've just wasted a down. And the
more plays you run offensively on one particular drive, that
leads to more mistakes. And again that word more efficient,
and how do you define that efficiency? It's not just
about the point scoring, but can you keep moving forward
as opposed to taking two steps forward? One step back
(18:21):
and all of a sudden like, okay, well this is
taking forever and you can't do that to be successful
on a scoring drive when you want it to be five, six, seven,
eight plays versus nine, ten, eleven, and twelve.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Just you have to be better with the ball in
your hands whoever that is on offense, and you can't
fall behind the stix because then you're under pressure and
you are trying to force things. So it all is
all encompassing. However, ball security has to be one of
the things high on the list for this offense to
really improve on this season. Again when you have this
(18:55):
continuity as well, like there are no.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Excuses differences on how it might look like when Trey
brings up a little bit more motion pre snap motion?
Is that Marvin Harrison motioning across the line of scrimmage,
which we did not see a whole heck of a
lot of last season. I believe the stat was from
ESPN with there were seven seven total snaps all season
(19:21):
into which Marvin went in motion before the ball was snapped.
Does that change? Does that mean Trey McBride lines up
a little bit more as an outside threat as a
wide receiver? Does James Connor motion out of the backfield.
Do we see both James and Trey Benson in the
backfield a little bit more of a dual threat as
(19:43):
far as the run game is concerned. And then all right,
well who steps up to be that other wide receiver,
Michael Wilson, Zay Jones, Greg Dortch, Xavier Weaver, whomever it is,
because that factors into this as well. Can you be
a little litle bit more efficient in that area with
that wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I'll be curious to see the differences and how Benson
and Harrison are you specifically at those players you were
mentioning going into year two. When Harrison was speaking with
the media a couple of weeks ago, the first week
of OTAs, he was talking about how the game he
can already feel is slowing down for him, and that
is a rookie. It was a lot of I just
(20:25):
need to focus on getting from point A to point
B and doing my job. And now going into year two,
it's already becoming more of let me look at the
big picture when talking about my route or my footwork
and my timing. It's not just about me. What is
the quarterback also looking at and thinking through what are
the other players around me doing? And also what is
the defender showing me? So it's now becoming less about
(20:47):
I just need to get from point A to point
B and only focus on what I can do. And
now it's okay, let me look at all the other
pieces around me and how I can use my skill
set to my advantage and get from point A to
point B. But do so maybe a little more savvy
and win some more contested catches, right like things are
going to change from year one to year two for
(21:08):
the receiver, And how does that also change for Benson
out of the backfield and his skill level, and how
is he going to be used with Connor now that
he is more comfortable. I don't foresee this as a
true fifty to fifty split. However, are they going to
be able to utilize Benson a little bit more and
preserve Connor's health? The question of wide receiver two is
(21:29):
an interesting one because you need somebody who can go
out there and draw a defender's attention. You don't just
want somebody out there and say, okay, well, we're still
mostly just going to keep our eyes on Harrison and McBride.
You need somebody out there, and now is the time
for Michael Wilson going into year three to step up
and prove that he can do that on a consistent level.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
The Marvin conversation is a fascinating one because listening to
him talk about what he now sees defensively becomes almost
more of a mental game for him. The physical traits, yes,
and knowing what the play call is, yes, he's got
that down pat but if you're lined up and all
of a sudden you see something differently knowing that all right,
(22:09):
well a year ago my rookie year was like, didn't matter,
I just need to go straight ahead. But now based
off what the corner is showing me, or I see
the safety or the linebackers shade over, I know now
I can cut inside because Kyler knows that's where I'm going.
And there's not that miscommunication. There's not that what fifty
(22:29):
three percent target rate, it jumps up to sixty five,
maybe even higher than that, because now both quarterback and
wide receiver are on the same page. It's an unspoken
communication because of now, all of a sudden, the wide
receiver and Marvin being more familiar and a little bit smarter,
the football IQ is a little bit higher.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
That's why it makes sense that we didn't see a
ton of pre snap motion last year. Is think of
everything he was having to go through as a rookie,
and he was automatically deserving so getting attention from defenders.
So now that he is more comfortable and what his
individual role is and what the offense as a whole
is doing on every single play, not just him, that's
(23:11):
going to allow him to be able to move around
pre snap and create some different looks for the defense
and still be able to know what he's doing and
get from point A to point B in a reliable
sense for his quarterback.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
The other aspect you brought it up, James Connor Trey Benson. No,
it's not a fifty to fifty split. James Connor is
RB one and Trey will get as many snaps reps
as he can and do whatever he can with those.
Do we see more of Trey Benson earlier in games
to keep James fresher? Do we see Trey Benson more
(23:44):
early in the season to keep James Connor? That to
me becomes almost Okay, Well, you can't really plan on
that because if you're the head coach, the play caller,
the players on the field. You're doing whatever it takes
to win that particular sunday, not paying attention to what
happens six weeks, seven weeks from now, because seven weeks
from now might not mean as much if you don't
take care of what's happening this particular Sunday.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
I can't foresee any situation in which a coach on
this staff is going to James Connor and saying, hey,
we're actually gonna cut back some of your carries in
the first three week. This is somebody who will admit
he gets better the more he gets tackled, the more
touches he gets not just carrying the ball but from defenders,
(24:29):
the better he gets throughout a game. So I think
earlier in the season we will see Benson more often.
I don't know about earlier in games, just because every
single game last year it was Connor who was setting
the tone. That was how this offense really got rolling.
And if that's what's worked, which it did, I can't
imagine them trying to reinvent the wheel with someone who
(24:50):
is a similar runner to Connor. I just think it's
going to be we're gonna see Benson mixed in a
little bit more. Again, the mental side of not being
a rookie anymore and understanding and what your role is
and where your options are, where you can go. That's
going to allow Benson to be able to have more
time on the playing field because the coaching staff is gonna.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Trust him earlier, tell JC that we're gonna sit you
out a little bit here on this particular drive. Now,
I've seen that a couple of times, but that's only
because James has had like ten twelve straight carries all
of a sudden you need a breather, and okay, you
take a series off. But yeah, it's I think maybe
more so, maybe we do see more two back sets,
just to get them both on the football field, because
(25:31):
it's gonna be hard to keep six on this sideline.
They'll all say this, watching James Connor as a spectator
and then seeing Trey Benson do something, well, James is
the first guy up to congratulate. I mean, that's that's
the relationship that those two have, which is great because
(25:51):
it beats the alternative where you feel threatened if you're
James Connor because you invested a Day two pick and
all of a sudden, Oh, I see my playing mortality
ahead of me, And all of a sudden, there's that
tap on the shoulder and like, okay, here comes Trade
Benson and I'm out the door. Now that's not the
case here, but it is a good problem to have
(26:12):
when you have two backs, one a veteran. You know
what you're getting out of and you've seen flashes in
Trey Benson.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Well. Also, I mean just look look at the position
as a whole around the league. It's no seekert. That
is a tough position as a player to stay fully
healthy the entire year. So it really only benefits Connor
if Benson is growing and getting better every single day,
which is only going to be easier for Benson if
he has Connor's support and he has that knowledge and
(26:39):
advice coming in. Because the more that Benson could do again,
the healthier Connor is going to continue to be, and
the less of a drop off there is going to
be if Connor's not on the field for that offense.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
I thought James said something great when he addressed the
media during OTAs because he was asked about this particular
thing as far as the offense being run back as
far as the continuity, the number of players who are
returning and the familiarity within this offense, and does that
mean something to those guys in the room. Is there
more pressure on you guys because there's not a There
(27:13):
wasn't an overhaul like there was defensively, so there might
be a little bit more of a little bit more
of a rope for the defense because they're still trying
to figure things out. For the offense. You should be
coming out of the gate on fire. That's that's day one,
week one, And James said, quote, it's up to us
to own up to that responsibility and understand it. And
(27:34):
he mentioned that pressure is good for us. And I
do think and we'll probably have this conversation several times,
but if you talk about which side of the ball
has more pressure on them going into year one, it's
easy to say, well, the defense because of the different changes. Well,
I'm looking at the offense and leaning more on the
offense to score more points, to be ahead of the defense,
(27:56):
just because as we've been talking about, nothing's changed. All
you've done is tweaked some things with the same personnel
because all your major players are still here.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
One hundred percent the rope is shorter for the offense
because from the top down it has been very well.
It has been made very clear these are the pieces
they believe can help them win games, and they've brought
in those pieces on defense, and it is going to
take a little bit of time as you get through
a couple games of the season of figuring out how
(28:28):
do you want to utilize players and what kind of
schemes you want to use in all of those things.
You already know that with this offense. Now there's still
going to be competition when you're talking about depth. There
may be at this wide receivers two or three spot
that we've been talking about, but for the most part,
you know what you have and they clearly like what
they have in the players here, so you need to
(28:49):
step up again. There's no excuse. Everybody has had multiple
offseasons now working together. They've had multiple seasons with this
coaching staff, multiple seasons with the play caller. The time
is now.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
The one major change offensively free agency with cha Kobe Prissett,
and that's your backup quarterback, someone you hope to never
see on the field at all this season. That's the
only significance and it's hardly significant if he's not going
to play. But that was maybe the only quote unquote
(29:21):
upgrade offensively was trying to figure out, right, something happens
to Kyler, how are we? How prepared are we to
handle those couple of weeks series? And again, maybe it
never happens, but at least you've got a solid plan. B.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Yeah, you need to be prepared. That is a position
that you don't really want to think about because that's
kind of worst case scenario. But if you think about
it and you plan for it, it doesn't necessarily become
a worst case scenario. It's just another wrinkle for you.
That's not to say that Brissette is going to go
out and be the exact type of player that Kyler
(29:59):
Murray is. Any means you don't want to have a
drop off. You want to have somebody who can go
in with command and have the football IQ and the
skill set and the accuracy and the power and all
those things, so you're not having to drop off with
the offense. And the only other change would be your
offensive line coach. Because of Clayton Adam went to Dallas
to become the offensive coordinator, and so now you've got
justin Frye, it's a good point.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
I had not thought about that. And it's a different
voice in the room. How much does that look differently?
And you get the same five guys, You got continuity
along that offensive line, but could there be some tweaks?
And again to just the eye that we have from Afar,
(30:40):
maybe we don't notice anything. But is the footwork a
little bit different? Is a hand placemant a little bit different?
Are your blocking schemes a little bit different? Bottom line?
All the fans care about and you and I when
we talk about what happened on Sunday is all right?
What was the yardage total? Did they ultimate is? Did
they win the game? And don't care how it looked?
Did you get the but a different voice in that room?
(31:03):
How much is it going to matter to us compared
to what matters a great deal in that locker room.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
We'll get a better look at training camp in a
couple of weeks and we can really start to see
some contact and you can see offensive linemen and defensive
lineman going up against each other. Get a better feel
for maybe what this coaching staff is leaning towards in
terms of combinations. Although offensive line doesn't seem like it's
really going to change much from what we're expecting, but
something to keep an eye on.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
And we talk all about this going into mandatory Mini Camp,
yet at the same time, Wor'll only be out there,
We'll be out there for the duration, but only the
first twenty minutes or twenty five minutes is open to
be reported upon. So again, all that stuff that we
hope to see or would like to see, we might
see just can't discuss it until we get to July,
(31:52):
late July, early August, and now all of a sudden,
it's open in front of everyone. But I do think
we'll get a sense of where things are trending, and
then we'll see if it holds up during that six
weeks before or until we get to training camp.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
And I don't expect to see a lot of surprises
offensively during that.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Period during mandatory Mini Camp.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
Yeah, and even those first couple of weeks of training
camp for all the reasons we've set right like, I
don't expect to see a lot of surprises in terms
of what things are leaning towards. For your Week one
starting lineup, Greg Dortsch.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
In the backfield, all of a sudden on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
You know what, Craig, if I had a dollar for
every time we have hyped up Greg Dorts throughout the
off season and training camp and then for whatever reason
he is not a key player for the first ten
games of the season, what is this my favorit? I'd
have four dollars for all four seasons.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
It's an interesting player to keep an eye on. And
could it be this season.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
For great Maybe that's wide receiver through it. Maybe that's
maybe answer to our question.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
And that's why at least there's a confidence level amongst
the front office and coaches in him now because they
didn't go out and get that.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
They continue to bring it back for a reason.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
So get your sunscreen ready for these three days. Although
it is they say the afternoon, it's it's it's late morning.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
When and I work on screen every day. You must know.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
I just I don't want you to burn I mean
with age. But thanks, you're ageless. Thanks, it's good. Had
any back on. It's been a little while.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
Right, just a little well, I've been here again.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
It's called voluntary for a reason. I don't know why
everyone can't understand this. You put there, you put me
in I am pro vacation.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
I told you to not listen to any of the podcast.
Don't get on Twitter. You didn't listen to me, No.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
I mentioned it, Darre. At least I didn't take my computer.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
I know. I am proud of you, A little surprised,
but proud.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Some of us in our department take their computer with them.
There's no room in my.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Couldn't be me. Let me tell you that, not me.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
I just put myself in the same category as the
Kalais Campbell. You know, I'm a venteran. I tell me
what I need to show up, not when I think
I should show up.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
Well, we're glad to have you back.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Appreciate that. It's always good to be back and be
on the show here with you. So Mini camp Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, three days of coverage here on Cardinals
Cover two and azcardinals dot Com. What we learn anything
different from the previous handful of weeks.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Get an idea of who's healthy and ready to go
and who's not. That's about it.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Yeah, that might be the biggest answer that we get
this week. Again. Well, we will wait and see a
lot to look forward to here this week. Final week
with the players on the field and in the building.
And on that note, we'll put a lid on this
edition of Cardinals. Cover two, presented by Hyundai, proud partner
of the Arizona Cardinals, has always special thanks to our
executive producer Jim Mamahre, our associate producer Cuddie Fincher For
(34:52):
Danny Surrek, I'm Craig Real Lou. We'll talk to you
next time here on Cardinals Cover two.
Mandatory mini camp. What does it mean? What can we expect?
What do we hope to see? God Danny Surrek joining
me to talk about all of the above. Bird Gang.
Also we talk offense, an efficient offense, one that's under
pressure to succeed this season, and that's how they want it.
It's Cardinals Cover two, episode eight ninety one, and it
starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Welcome to Cardinals Cover two. Budda Baker, What Heart?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
What rent?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
This guy's unbelievable. 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 (00:45):
He's at the ten half of five. He's it again?
Some more hurry magic.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Whow Here's Craig Griolu.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
So it occurred to me as I was getting ready
for this edition of Cardinals Cover two, presented by Hyundai,
probably partner of the Arizona Cardinals. As we speak, this
is the final week of players and coaches being in
the building. Now. I think some rookies might hang on
a little bit through a couple of weeks towards the
end of June. But as we embark on mandatory mini camp, Danny,
(01:20):
this is it until six weeks from now when we
all reconvene at State Farm Stadium for training camp. Now
we'll be here. There's plenty of work to be done,
but as far as coaches in the building, players in
the building getting ready for the regular season, this is now.
After this week, this is when they get their break,
(01:40):
their time away and get to recharge.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
You got to do it now because by the time
they come back for training camp, it is full steam ahead.
I mean, that's the point in the off season. People think, oh,
the off season, the dead time must be right when
the season ends. Nope, dead season is in about four days.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
I'm trying to think if there's ever a slow time
National Football League, whether that's Cardinals or league wide, and
I think it's after Mini camp, that period of time,
that month month and a half between Mini camp and
the started training camp. Because other than that, even at
the quote unquote end of the regular season and postseason,
there's always well there's a scouting combine, and then there's
(02:18):
free agency, and then there's the draft and all that
preparation leading onto those tent pole events. You don't have
that after you get to mid June, before the end
of July.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
And at this point, if you're a veteran free agent,
there's a good chance you're not getting signed until training camp,
until teams are seeing the players they already have on
their rosters how they look on a football field, or
somebody gets hurt. So yeah, we're about to be in
the true dead season of the offseason.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
It's a good point. Why sign now when there's nothing
to work on because there's no availability of the building
or coaches. So yeah, as far as signings to happen,
unless and hopefully, knock on wood, that doesn't happen with
the AARs and the Cardinals, the team that we will
see on the field this week is the team that
will report to State Farm Stadium. Now we just have
(03:07):
to wait and see. Now, I do think and this
is good news Cardinal fans, that this should be these
next three days Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mandatory mini camp.
The only difference is that it's mandatory. The difference between
mini camp and OTAs is that it's mandatory. You're still
can have contact, you're not in pads. You can do
(03:29):
eleven on eleven, but no one on ones. But I
do believe that these three days should be controversy free.
No one's holding out, no one's got big time injuries
that are the real or not real because they need
a contractor would hope to get a contract. But I
think for the most part, it's pretty easy to see
(03:50):
what the news should be and it should be all
on the field.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
As a boes off, Yeah, I mean, and then that's
just how the Cardinals are set up right now in
the off season. Not to say every other team is
going to find themselves in that positions, but the Cardinals
don't have any players that are currently waiting for a
new contract, extension or a whole new contract altogether. Given
the voluntary attendance throughout OTA's the last two weeks, there's
(04:16):
really not a lot of big names that you're not
expecting to see at mandatory mini camp. So we'll see.
That is the first thing you're gonna do. If you're
going to talk about the differences as watching practice, that's
the first thing you do is you're going to take
attendance and you're going to look and see who was
not here at mini camp or at OTAs rather, and
who's here at mini camp, and if someone's not there
(04:36):
a mini camp. That's when you're your start to burk up, right,
you're starting to wonder okay. And the questions will be
to head coach Jonathan Gannon, who will speak all three
days of mini camp this week, is why is this
person not here? Are they hurt? Were you aware they
weren't going to be here, and what's the plan moving forward?
Speaker 1 (04:53):
And if they're hurt or they're coming off of an injury,
are they working out inside as opposed to outside where
we are watching practice, because that's also a possibility. Yes,
they're here, we just might not see them. And that's
probably been the case for a handful of the vets
that were mia during OTAs. You were here during OTAs.
I made a very clear last time I was on
(05:15):
this show with Darren last week that I put the
voluntary into voluntary otis and left for a week and
a half. So I am reporting from mandatory mini camp.
I just was not here for the two open OTAs.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
And the first thing you're gonna look at is, even
if players are here, is what does a player like
Bijo Jelari look like one Is he out on the
field participating in two? Is he a full participant to
the level that these players can at this point in
the offseason. Somebody who training camp last year had a
season ending knee injury, and if he's not out there,
the question is, okay, where is he at in his
rehab process?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Jonah Williams the first week of OTAs, was working out
on the side, was participating the second week of OTAs.
Where is he in mini camp?
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Are we going to see back to back weeks? These
are the type of questions Ballall Nichols, the defensive lineman,
we didn't see out there during OTAs. He was still
working off on the side during the open portion of
practice that I was out there that first week. Where
is his level of participation? That's kind of what you're
keeping an eye on, And it's not necessarily something to
get concerned about. It's just now it's an appropriate time
(06:14):
to ask the questions of where are they at in
their rehab process?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And those are the two names that I wrote down
as far as right are they out there? If they're not? Okay?
What's there where they are in their rehab Because to
my knowledge, and you can correct me if I'm wrong,
those are the only two names as far as players
who are coming off of injury that we have not
seen at least participates or work out on the side.
(06:38):
Correct it's been Bjo Juli and Belall Nichols. Justin Jones
was out there, which is a good sign because I
think Justin Jones and Bla Nichols are very interesting pieces
to this puzzle. Because a year ago at this time,
what was the talk of the defense additions to the
D line? Justin Jones, Bolon Nichols, guys who were you
(06:59):
could count on, who are consistent, they were healthy, and
then all of a sudden both get hurt and you
don't see him and it's out of side, out of mind,
and all of a sudden, since then, a number of
new faces have been added to that D line. So
where do Jones and Nichols fit within that defensive front?
And it makes it even harder to figure it out
(07:20):
if they're not even participating.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Absolutely, yeah, you put on the nose. How are you
to know what you have if they're not out there
participating and you don't want to rush your recovery. But
it was good to see that Jones was back out
there during OTAs and able to work out with the
team after having that season any triceps injury.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Three veterans that are healthy that we have not seen,
fairly confident that we will see this week Kalais Campbell,
Dalvin Tomlinson and Josh What And as we peel the
curtain back a little bit here on Cardinals cover two
Monday Content Gathering Day, Media Day, I could safely say
I saw all three of those in Cardinals uniforms going
(07:57):
through station to station to station. So they are here.
And I guess, Danny, if you're here on Monday, you're
going to be here Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. You're not
just going to show up for a photo shoot and
then disappear. So and again, you're talking about three players
who've been in the league. They're veterans. They know what
the offseason is all about. And the example of them
(08:18):
being here on the field, not just in the locker
room and out of sight from the media, I think
it does. It does mean something to have them in
the building at least for only a week if that's
all they've been here.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah, but you're leaving out the most meaningful part is
why they're going to be their Tuesday crag. They've been paid.
That's what this all stems from if a player is
not at Mini camp, it has something to do more
times than not with money. While all that is great
to have a veteran here and you want to get
them caught up to speed and you want to get
that chemistry and that camaraderie going. Absolutely that's all still important,
but the players have been paid, right, so it's definitely
(08:51):
something to keep in mind of, Oh my gosh, great,
this new veteran is here this week at Mini camp.
They must really care about getting acclimated. Well, yes, to
a certain extent here because they got paid. That's really
what it boils down to for people who show up
in Nolt Trump to Manicanop and it.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Just seems to me so easy, especially if you live
here in Arizona. If you don't live here, I know,
I get it. But at the same time, to your point, Danny,
if you don't show up, there are consequences, meaning you
lose money, and it's money that you cannot recoup and
so fines build. But again, those are twenty nine, those
(09:27):
are thirty one. Excuse me, there are thirty one other
teams that are dealing that. With that potentially, I just
don't see that with the Arizona Cardinals, given how Manti
Austin Ford in this front office have constructed this team
through now three off seasons and making sure that those
players that they want here have been taken care of,
either with a contract extension and that something that has
(09:48):
been dragged out if you.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Will, Yeah, absolutely, they've put themselves a knight's position of
making sure financially that players are set and ready to
go and bring in the right type of players that
want to be here, to make sure that everybody's getting
on this page. I expected to see everybody out there
on Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Case in point, if a contract extension had not been
worked out with Trey McBride, would he show up. That's
I think what we're getting at, because now all of
a sudden, it's you don't want to cost yourself, you
don't want to get hurt even though you're not going
full speed, and then all of a sudden that hurts
your future earnings. But again, that was taking care of
(10:25):
well in advance of mandatory mini camp, and again that's
the benefit of the team getting it done early, setting
the market and then seeing George Kittle reset the market,
and then for the player knowing that it's off my shoulders,
I can strictly talk about football.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Yeah, one less thing to worry about.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Speaking of the offense, and Trey McBride comments the last
two weeks when we've had a chance to hear from
Drew Petsing McBride and James Connor, the offense is running
the back. The only new addition to that starting line
as we speak here is your starting right guard. Now
(11:04):
we'll have to see if that changes between now and
August and September, if Will Hernandez somehow is brought back.
But that is the only change to this starting offense
unless because you're looking at me.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Like am Adams, I'm talking talking as your right guard.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
No, that's what I mean. That's the only difference from.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Week one because Isaiah Adams has a ton of chemistry.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
I was talking about who was penciled in week one
and now penciled in week one this year, because if
you're looking at last year in Buffalo, it's will Hernandez.
So that's that would be the only difference as far
as going into twenty twenty four versus going into twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Five kind of, I mean, Isaiah will Hernandez got hurt
early in the season, right like Week four San Francisco.
So then you started rotating Isaiah Adams in So yes,
on a technicality, that is the only difference from your
starting lineup from week one twenty twenty four season to
where you are expecting your starting lineup to be where
things stand right now in twenty twenty five. At the
(12:06):
same time, the change in right guard is somebody who
spent more than half the season getting snaps there. So
it's it's yes and no. Like yes on a technicality,
that is true that the starting lineup is different, but
Adams has a ton of experience. It doesn't necessarily mean
there is in competition for depth at right guard as
somebody going into their second year in the league. But
(12:28):
that consistency there still transfers over that still means something
to the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
And I'm glad you said that because it's it's not
a new name that's coming in that's different from last season.
It's a good point. It's the difference is that one snap,
that first snap in Buffalo. But to your point, and again,
I'm glad you brought it up, because it's not like
there's a fresh face potentially at right guard. It's someone
that's been there.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
I get the point you're making of you kept consistency
here for a reason for this offense, because this coaching staff,
in this front office believes in the players that they
have across the board on that side of the ball.
Now is the time to step up. Okay, they have
proven their confidence and your ability as individuals and as
a group. So you need to go out there and
needed to make a difference. They have beefed up this
(13:14):
defense really in the trenches, that defensive line, to keep
your quarterback on the field longer. You have paid your
tight end. You have your number one wide receiver who's
been making gains physically and you know in his physical
game right out on the field going into year two.
So you have the pieces that you need. You now
have to go out there and you have to be
(13:35):
more consistent and you have to win more games.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
More efficient. That's the phrase that JG used when he
was asked about It was specifically about Kyler Murray, but
then he turned it into a larger conversation about the
offense overall. Be more efficient. Now, what does that mean?
This offense was twelfth in scoring, seventeenth in the red zone.
Be more efficient? Means obviously score more points, but be
(14:01):
better when you have possession of the football, you get
into that red zone, Danny, you score touchdowns, you don't
settle for field goals. And yes, it's okay to punt sometimes,
but if you are an efficient offense, you are not
putting your defense at a disadvantage. Yeah, it's gonna happen,
but to me, being more efficient means obviously score more points,
(14:22):
keep possession of the football. Now it just becomes all right,
how are you more efficient? Does it look any difference
because this offense is being run back or there're gonna
be some tweaks or I mean Trey McBride brought it up.
He said, it's quote definitely a lot more complex. Now
what does that mean again to the eye test versus
(14:44):
what they are running and the different concepts and maybe
it does look somewhat different, but maybe not radically different
in our eyes versus what they're being asked to do
on the field. Talking about the.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Players, that's what I want to hear McBride talking about.
They're working on having more restap motions and adding in
a few differences in the offense because now you can
you're going to year through with this coaching staff, with
this offensive Cooridnat or Drew Petsing who was also the
play caller year three for a lot of these players, Right,
you have that continuity not just within themselves as players,
also with the coaching staff and the play caller. Would
(15:18):
it makes sense to have things feel different this point
in the offseason than they did this time last year. Right,
you should be adding new things to the offense and
becoming less predictable, right, and giving yourself more of an
advantage against these defenses. When you're talking about efficiency, the
first thing that comes to my mind is ball security.
The amount of times the Cardinals fumble the ball. Now
(15:38):
they might not have lost possession, but they had a
hard time with protecting the ball last season. Interceptions, especially
late the season, we're a problem. So when you're talking
about efficiency, it's not just putting more points on the board,
it's taking advantage when you have the ball in your
hands regardless, and don't put yourself in a position or
you are getting in your own way. And there are
(16:00):
gonna be games where you're gonna have to rely on
the run a little bit more games we're gonna have
to rely on the pass. A little bit more. The
run game was consistent, you could rely on that. Last
year for this team. Couldn't say the same about the
passing game. It was just too inconsistent and how it flowed.
And so when you're talking about efficiency, what comes to
my mind with the offense is ball security and more
(16:21):
consistency and being a threat in the passing game.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
All right, let's take these two points. First, the more
efficiency as far as taking care of the football, because
towards the end of last season, you were keeping track
and I don't remember the stat off the top of
my head, but how many games in which the Cardinals
had the ball on the ground meaning not a drop,
but and you brought up fumbles Whether there's lost fumble,
(16:48):
there's fumbles, then there's lost fumbles. I mean, Kyleer Murray
had a number of fumbles, but he maintained possession of
the football. But what that means is instead of first
and ten, now you're looking at second and thirteen. So
more efficiency is less negative plays, and ball security falls
into that, as does pre snap penalties. When all of
a sudden, you're facing a first and ten, All of
(17:09):
a sudden, it's a first and twenty and you're playing
from behind the sticks, looking.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
At the numbers. Right now, there was not a single
game in which the ball did not touch the ground
or get intercepted.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Right now. That's now Again, that's you say that out loud.
Now again, that's not a.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Lost, not necessarily right. And there's some games where it
was one interception, you didn't fumble the ball. But every
game last season, at some point the ball hit the
ground or it went into a defender's hands.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
And that that makes it so much more difficult for
an offense, for a team, And all of a sudden
you look back at okay, well what separated the Cardinals
from the postseason? How do you get from eight wins
to nine to ten to eleven? Well, you maintain possession
of the football. You don't lose the ball, yes, but
you don't fumble a snap and fall on a maintain possession.
(18:01):
But again, now you've just wasted a down. And the
more plays you run offensively on one particular drive, that
leads to more mistakes. And again that word more efficient,
and how do you define that efficiency? It's not just
about the point scoring, but can you keep moving forward
as opposed to taking two steps forward? One step back
(18:21):
and all of a sudden like, okay, well this is
taking forever and you can't do that to be successful
on a scoring drive when you want it to be five, six, seven,
eight plays versus nine, ten, eleven, and twelve.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Just you have to be better with the ball in
your hands whoever that is on offense, and you can't
fall behind the stix because then you're under pressure and
you are trying to force things. So it all is
all encompassing. However, ball security has to be one of
the things high on the list for this offense to
really improve on this season. Again when you have this
(18:55):
continuity as well, like there are no.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Excuses differences on how it might look like when Trey
brings up a little bit more motion pre snap motion?
Is that Marvin Harrison motioning across the line of scrimmage,
which we did not see a whole heck of a
lot of last season. I believe the stat was from
ESPN with there were seven seven total snaps all season
(19:21):
into which Marvin went in motion before the ball was snapped.
Does that change? Does that mean Trey McBride lines up
a little bit more as an outside threat as a
wide receiver? Does James Connor motion out of the backfield.
Do we see both James and Trey Benson in the
backfield a little bit more of a dual threat as
(19:43):
far as the run game is concerned. And then all right,
well who steps up to be that other wide receiver,
Michael Wilson, Zay Jones, Greg Dortch, Xavier Weaver, whomever it is,
because that factors into this as well. Can you be
a little litle bit more efficient in that area with
that wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I'll be curious to see the differences and how Benson
and Harrison are you specifically at those players you were
mentioning going into year two. When Harrison was speaking with
the media a couple of weeks ago, the first week
of OTAs, he was talking about how the game he
can already feel is slowing down for him, and that
is a rookie. It was a lot of I just
(20:25):
need to focus on getting from point A to point
B and doing my job. And now going into year two,
it's already becoming more of let me look at the
big picture when talking about my route or my footwork
and my timing. It's not just about me. What is
the quarterback also looking at and thinking through what are
the other players around me doing? And also what is
the defender showing me? So it's now becoming less about
(20:47):
I just need to get from point A to point
B and only focus on what I can do. And
now it's okay, let me look at all the other
pieces around me and how I can use my skill
set to my advantage and get from point A to
point B. But do so maybe a little more savvy
and win some more contested catches, right like things are
going to change from year one to year two for
(21:08):
the receiver, And how does that also change for Benson
out of the backfield and his skill level, and how
is he going to be used with Connor now that
he is more comfortable. I don't foresee this as a
true fifty to fifty split. However, are they going to
be able to utilize Benson a little bit more and
preserve Connor's health? The question of wide receiver two is
(21:29):
an interesting one because you need somebody who can go
out there and draw a defender's attention. You don't just
want somebody out there and say, okay, well, we're still
mostly just going to keep our eyes on Harrison and McBride.
You need somebody out there, and now is the time
for Michael Wilson going into year three to step up
and prove that he can do that on a consistent level.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
The Marvin conversation is a fascinating one because listening to
him talk about what he now sees defensively becomes almost
more of a mental game for him. The physical traits, yes,
and knowing what the play call is, yes, he's got
that down pat but if you're lined up and all
of a sudden you see something differently knowing that all right,
(22:09):
well a year ago my rookie year was like, didn't matter,
I just need to go straight ahead. But now based
off what the corner is showing me, or I see
the safety or the linebackers shade over, I know now
I can cut inside because Kyler knows that's where I'm going.
And there's not that miscommunication. There's not that what fifty
(22:29):
three percent target rate, it jumps up to sixty five,
maybe even higher than that, because now both quarterback and
wide receiver are on the same page. It's an unspoken
communication because of now, all of a sudden, the wide
receiver and Marvin being more familiar and a little bit smarter,
the football IQ is a little bit higher.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
That's why it makes sense that we didn't see a
ton of pre snap motion last year. Is think of
everything he was having to go through as a rookie,
and he was automatically deserving so getting attention from defenders.
So now that he is more comfortable and what his
individual role is and what the offense as a whole
is doing on every single play, not just him, that's
(23:11):
going to allow him to be able to move around
pre snap and create some different looks for the defense
and still be able to know what he's doing and
get from point A to point B in a reliable
sense for his quarterback.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
The other aspect you brought it up, James Connor Trey Benson. No,
it's not a fifty to fifty split. James Connor is
RB one and Trey will get as many snaps reps
as he can and do whatever he can with those.
Do we see more of Trey Benson earlier in games
to keep James fresher? Do we see Trey Benson more
(23:44):
early in the season to keep James Connor? That to
me becomes almost Okay, Well, you can't really plan on
that because if you're the head coach, the play caller,
the players on the field. You're doing whatever it takes
to win that particular sunday, not paying attention to what
happens six weeks, seven weeks from now, because seven weeks
from now might not mean as much if you don't
take care of what's happening this particular Sunday.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
I can't foresee any situation in which a coach on
this staff is going to James Connor and saying, hey,
we're actually gonna cut back some of your carries in
the first three week. This is somebody who will admit
he gets better the more he gets tackled, the more
touches he gets not just carrying the ball but from defenders,
(24:29):
the better he gets throughout a game. So I think
earlier in the season we will see Benson more often.
I don't know about earlier in games, just because every
single game last year it was Connor who was setting
the tone. That was how this offense really got rolling.
And if that's what's worked, which it did, I can't
imagine them trying to reinvent the wheel with someone who
(24:50):
is a similar runner to Connor. I just think it's
going to be we're gonna see Benson mixed in a
little bit more. Again, the mental side of not being
a rookie anymore and understanding and what your role is
and where your options are, where you can go. That's
going to allow Benson to be able to have more
time on the playing field because the coaching staff is gonna.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Trust him earlier, tell JC that we're gonna sit you
out a little bit here on this particular drive. Now,
I've seen that a couple of times, but that's only
because James has had like ten twelve straight carries all
of a sudden you need a breather, and okay, you
take a series off. But yeah, it's I think maybe
more so, maybe we do see more two back sets,
just to get them both on the football field, because
(25:31):
it's gonna be hard to keep six on this sideline.
They'll all say this, watching James Connor as a spectator
and then seeing Trey Benson do something, well, James is
the first guy up to congratulate. I mean, that's that's
the relationship that those two have, which is great because
(25:51):
it beats the alternative where you feel threatened if you're
James Connor because you invested a Day two pick and
all of a sudden, Oh, I see my playing mortality
ahead of me, And all of a sudden, there's that
tap on the shoulder and like, okay, here comes Trade
Benson and I'm out the door. Now that's not the
case here, but it is a good problem to have
(26:12):
when you have two backs, one a veteran. You know
what you're getting out of and you've seen flashes in
Trey Benson.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Well. Also, I mean just look look at the position
as a whole around the league. It's no seekert. That
is a tough position as a player to stay fully
healthy the entire year. So it really only benefits Connor
if Benson is growing and getting better every single day,
which is only going to be easier for Benson if
he has Connor's support and he has that knowledge and
(26:39):
advice coming in. Because the more that Benson could do again,
the healthier Connor is going to continue to be, and
the less of a drop off there is going to
be if Connor's not on the field for that offense.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
I thought James said something great when he addressed the
media during OTAs because he was asked about this particular
thing as far as the offense being run back as
far as the continuity, the number of players who are
returning and the familiarity within this offense, and does that
mean something to those guys in the room. Is there
more pressure on you guys because there's not a There
(27:13):
wasn't an overhaul like there was defensively, so there might
be a little bit more of a little bit more
of a rope for the defense because they're still trying
to figure things out. For the offense. You should be
coming out of the gate on fire. That's that's day one,
week one, And James said, quote, it's up to us
to own up to that responsibility and understand it. And
(27:34):
he mentioned that pressure is good for us. And I
do think and we'll probably have this conversation several times,
but if you talk about which side of the ball
has more pressure on them going into year one, it's
easy to say, well, the defense because of the different changes. Well,
I'm looking at the offense and leaning more on the
offense to score more points, to be ahead of the defense,
(27:56):
just because as we've been talking about, nothing's changed. All
you've done is tweaked some things with the same personnel
because all your major players are still here.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
One hundred percent the rope is shorter for the offense
because from the top down it has been very well.
It has been made very clear these are the pieces
they believe can help them win games, and they've brought
in those pieces on defense, and it is going to
take a little bit of time as you get through
a couple games of the season of figuring out how
(28:28):
do you want to utilize players and what kind of
schemes you want to use in all of those things.
You already know that with this offense. Now there's still
going to be competition when you're talking about depth. There
may be at this wide receivers two or three spot
that we've been talking about, but for the most part,
you know what you have and they clearly like what
they have in the players here, so you need to
(28:49):
step up again. There's no excuse. Everybody has had multiple
offseasons now working together. They've had multiple seasons with this
coaching staff, multiple seasons with the play caller. The time
is now.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
The one major change offensively free agency with cha Kobe Prissett,
and that's your backup quarterback, someone you hope to never
see on the field at all this season. That's the
only significance and it's hardly significant if he's not going
to play. But that was maybe the only quote unquote
(29:21):
upgrade offensively was trying to figure out, right, something happens
to Kyler, how are we? How prepared are we to
handle those couple of weeks series? And again, maybe it
never happens, but at least you've got a solid plan. B.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Yeah, you need to be prepared. That is a position
that you don't really want to think about because that's
kind of worst case scenario. But if you think about
it and you plan for it, it doesn't necessarily become
a worst case scenario. It's just another wrinkle for you.
That's not to say that Brissette is going to go
out and be the exact type of player that Kyler
(29:59):
Murray is. Any means you don't want to have a
drop off. You want to have somebody who can go
in with command and have the football IQ and the
skill set and the accuracy and the power and all
those things, so you're not having to drop off with
the offense. And the only other change would be your
offensive line coach. Because of Clayton Adam went to Dallas
to become the offensive coordinator, and so now you've got
justin Frye, it's a good point.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
I had not thought about that. And it's a different
voice in the room. How much does that look differently?
And you get the same five guys, You got continuity
along that offensive line, but could there be some tweaks?
And again to just the eye that we have from Afar,
(30:40):
maybe we don't notice anything. But is the footwork a
little bit different? Is a hand placemant a little bit different?
Are your blocking schemes a little bit different? Bottom line?
All the fans care about and you and I when
we talk about what happened on Sunday is all right?
What was the yardage total? Did they ultimate is? Did
they win the game? And don't care how it looked?
Did you get the but a different voice in that room?
(31:03):
How much is it going to matter to us compared
to what matters a great deal in that locker room.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
We'll get a better look at training camp in a
couple of weeks and we can really start to see
some contact and you can see offensive linemen and defensive
lineman going up against each other. Get a better feel
for maybe what this coaching staff is leaning towards in
terms of combinations. Although offensive line doesn't seem like it's
really going to change much from what we're expecting, but
something to keep an eye on.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
And we talk all about this going into mandatory Mini Camp,
yet at the same time, Wor'll only be out there,
We'll be out there for the duration, but only the
first twenty minutes or twenty five minutes is open to
be reported upon. So again, all that stuff that we
hope to see or would like to see, we might
see just can't discuss it until we get to July,
(31:52):
late July, early August, and now all of a sudden,
it's open in front of everyone. But I do think
we'll get a sense of where things are trending, and
then we'll see if it holds up during that six
weeks before or until we get to training camp.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
And I don't expect to see a lot of surprises
offensively during that.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Period during mandatory Mini Camp.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
Yeah, and even those first couple of weeks of training
camp for all the reasons we've set right like, I
don't expect to see a lot of surprises in terms
of what things are leaning towards. For your Week one
starting lineup, Greg Dortsch.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
In the backfield, all of a sudden on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
You know what, Craig, if I had a dollar for
every time we have hyped up Greg Dorts throughout the
off season and training camp and then for whatever reason
he is not a key player for the first ten
games of the season, what is this my favorit? I'd
have four dollars for all four seasons.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
It's an interesting player to keep an eye on. And
could it be this season.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
For great Maybe that's wide receiver through it. Maybe that's
maybe answer to our question.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
And that's why at least there's a confidence level amongst
the front office and coaches in him now because they
didn't go out and get that.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
They continue to bring it back for a reason.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
So get your sunscreen ready for these three days. Although
it is they say the afternoon, it's it's it's late morning.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
When and I work on screen every day. You must know.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
I just I don't want you to burn I mean
with age. But thanks, you're ageless. Thanks, it's good. Had
any back on. It's been a little while.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
Right, just a little well, I've been here again.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
It's called voluntary for a reason. I don't know why
everyone can't understand this. You put there, you put me
in I am pro vacation.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
I told you to not listen to any of the podcast.
Don't get on Twitter. You didn't listen to me, No.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
I mentioned it, Darre. At least I didn't take my computer.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
I know. I am proud of you, A little surprised,
but proud.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Some of us in our department take their computer with them.
There's no room in my.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Couldn't be me. Let me tell you that, not me.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
I just put myself in the same category as the
Kalais Campbell. You know, I'm a venteran. I tell me
what I need to show up, not when I think
I should show up.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
Well, we're glad to have you back.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Appreciate that. It's always good to be back and be
on the show here with you. So Mini camp Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, three days of coverage here on Cardinals
Cover two and azcardinals dot Com. What we learn anything
different from the previous handful of weeks.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Get an idea of who's healthy and ready to go
and who's not. That's about it.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Yeah, that might be the biggest answer that we get
this week. Again. Well, we will wait and see a
lot to look forward to here this week. Final week
with the players on the field and in the building.
And on that note, we'll put a lid on this
edition of Cardinals. Cover two, presented by Hyundai, proud partner
of the Arizona Cardinals, has always special thanks to our
executive producer Jim Mamahre, our associate producer Cuddie Fincher For
(34:52):
Danny Surrek, I'm Craig Real Lou. We'll talk to you
next time here on Cardinals Cover two.
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