October 2, 2025 • 32 mins
Titans Wire writer Mark Mihalko, who joined Jess in the offseason opponent preview show about Tennessee, joined him again to talk about the Cardinals' Week 5 matchup with the Titans. They talk about the Titans' season, keys to the matchup this week and make predictions.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Zz.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Yes, this is the Rise Up Sea Red podcast all
about the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL, featuring insider and
outsider perspectives. Enjoy the best hour of Cardinals talk on
(00:23):
the web. Now Here are your hosts, Jess Root and
Seth Cox.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
While there's in a Cardinals fans and welcome to the
latest edition of the Rise Up Screit podcast, the best
our Cardinals Talking Web. I'm your host Jessroot from Cardswire
dot com. US say today's NFL wireside, the covers, Ears
and the Cardinals. And this is episode seven hundred and four.
This is ow I'm sorry, seven hundred and five. This
is our Week five opponent preview for the Cardinals and
(00:52):
their Week five opponent of Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
The second show we have this week. Seth and I
will be back for our regular picks a preview, Picks
and predictions show. But this is preview picks and Predictions
from the enemy from behind theimly lines. And I've got
from the Titans Wire guests that we had on before
the season to talk about their expectations for the upcoming year.
Mark Mahalco from the Titans Wire, Mark, welcome back. To
(01:16):
the show. I'm glad to have you back. I'm sure
it's been a tough sled of the first four weeks
of the year, And even cam Ward said, as much
as she goes if we're if we're keeping it a buck,
we're ass.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, it's I'm glad to be back. I'm glad you
had me back. It has been a tough start to
the season. But I think when we talked last time,
we even said the first four games we're going to
be rough right out of the gate with the Broncos
followed by the Rams. I don't think we anybody expected
(01:52):
it to be as rough as it's been. But with
the rookie quarterback and with all the changes, you knew
there were going to be some growing pain. But clearly
it's not been smooth sailing at all.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Now, what can you say about the play of cam
Ward through through four weeks, He's only got two touchdown passes,
he's been sacked the league high seventeen times, only has
two interceptions, so that's not terrible. But if you look
at it statistically, she's worse than will Levis was. What
(02:27):
is the good and what is the badge? So far
from cam Ward.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I mean Ward has made some throws and he's actually
looked good at times. His last game against Houston probably
is worst outing in the stats showed that, but he
hasn't gotten much help from the offensive line. You mentioned
the sacks, but the pressures are are worse at times.
(02:56):
That's all statistic. Last week I think where he was
next to last or third from last in actual amount
of time to throw on a play in playoff basis.
I mean, he's made some throws, He's had some drops.
Colvin Ridley has really struggled with drops this year. I
mean he first game against Denver when they were in
(03:19):
it and you know, until the fourth quarter. I think
they had seven drops in that game. They have more
drops the falling weak against the Rams again close until
the fourth quarter and they imploded. And and really that's
been the story of the season, just as it was
last season. They'll keep it close. Even this last game
(03:42):
that they were shut out by Houston twenty sixth to nothing,
that was a sixth other game at halftime and Tennessee
missed two field goals. It could have been tied at halftime.
They gave him twenty.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Fourth spun out of control in the second half.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Yeah, in a fourth quarter, they you have twenty points
in the fourth quarter. What started in the third Houston
had a seventeen play almost eight minute drive, and end
of third quarter they pretty much put the game out
of reach. You know. So, like I said, there are
signs and Ward has played okay for a rookie, not great,
(04:21):
but your point is valid. You know, his numbers are
worse than Levis's through the first four games, and the
Titans as a whole are worse than they were last
season through the first four game. So it's it's hard
to tell. I mean, it's it's been a crazy season,
to be honest, and it's only week four.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
What does that do for Brian Callahan? Is is he
at all on the hot seat right now? Is this
just more or less the expected growing pains from a
young team that is lacking in talent and has a
rookie quarterback that they believe in.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Well, you know that is that is a great question,
and that's one that I wish I had a crystal
ball that I could could tell you. On one hand.
They said all off season that they were going to
take it slow, they were going to be growing pains.
You know, they were playing cam Ward. This was going
to be a youth movement. I mean, the general manager
(05:21):
at the start of training camp said, we are going
with the youth movement. You know as well as I
do that that's not always a recipe for success. And yet,
especially early, Callahan already turned over play calling duties to
quarterback coach Bahart agree, and I would have to think
(05:45):
that he is on it. I think his seat is
really hot, just because I mean, there has been no
real growth and I agree with you that their roster
isn't the best and they have they have, you know,
severe depth issues, which but all that has to be
(06:08):
factored in. And you know, I listened to Callahan speak
this week. He you know, like you said, he's always concerned,
but he feels like he has a support of the
front office. So I think there's gonna be a give
and take there. How much can the fan base take?
How much? You know that's gonna eventually fall squarely on Callahan.
(06:34):
And you know, do they have another option even on
the staff as an interim basis? I mean that's you
have to look at all those things. But his seat
is definitely hot, and he's gotta do something soon or
I don't think he can you know, survive. I don't
(06:55):
think he could survived another you know, they get shut
out this week by Arizona. I don't think he can
survived that. Yeah, I really don't.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
You know, it has to be especially a little bit
hot because since they since they fired rand karth then
karth On in the front office, Callahan's not this guy's dude.
So yeah, you can imagine that he's he drafted Campbell,
brought in guys, and but he might want to bring
in his coach.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, that's a that's a great point. And you know,
the rookie class that they had, I think we talked
about it right after the draft. That rookie class has been.
If there's been one like high point of this year
so far, it's the way those rookies have come on scene.
Now they all haven't like made true you know, tremendous strides.
(07:50):
I mean, Oladejo is still working his way, but he's
into rotation. Is our second round pig. But you know
a yaman Or is there leading receiver over over Ridley?
Uh DK has you know scored like three touchdowns that
have been called back for penalty, you know, one on
a punt return, you know, one on a run and
(08:16):
he's made some big plays and it showed that speed
and explosiveness and you know, so you're absolutely right Borganzhu
didn't bring in Callahan, which you know complicates this whole
dynamic they have there. And I think it was a
bit of a shock, you know, it was. I can
tell us tightens a lotter. We we discussed this when
(08:39):
they hired BORGONZI was Callahan gonna be safe? You know?
And you know they made the decision to keep him.
So now it's almost like, do you ride it out
for the year or or you know, ripped the band
aid off early. I I don't know, Like I said,
(09:00):
I don't think he can survive another shut out, another blowout,
another massive collapse by the defense, or any of that.
And I don't know who seat's got to be really hot,
I would want to tell me.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
So tell me about both the offense of the defense.
Are what are the bright spots? What do they do
well offensively defensively if anything at all? And what is
what have been the troubles? Because statistically they are the
league's worst scoring offense and one of the worst defenses,
and in terms of allowing points, What are the bright
spots on both sides of the ball, and what are
(09:35):
the issues on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
All right, we'll still with the offense. They can run
the ball. They showed last week Tony Pollard. Yes, he
only had like sixty four yards, but that was on
fifteen carries. You know, it went and that included three
right at the end of the game when you know,
everybody the game was over and they were at the
(09:59):
one yard line, you know, so they were just punching
it out, trying to get out of the end zone,
get out of their own way because they had down
the ball. You know, he had had at that point,
he had like eleven carries, were twelve carries for like
sixty yards. He was almost averaging almost five yards of
carry at that point. He's ran the ball well for
(10:20):
three games. And the game he didn't run the ball
well was against Indianapolis and they were missing the entire
right side of their offensive line because Zeitler and Laban
were out. So that's not really to me, that's not
really a hit, you know, hit on the back. That's
tough matchup with reserves at your offensive line, You're you're
(10:41):
asking for disaster. So they can run the ball and
they can establish it and be successful. They've had receivers open,
like I said, they had some drops, they've missed some passes,
so that's that they can't sustain anything. You know, it's
(11:02):
like they'll get two or three good runs and maybe
mix in a nice throw and they'll hit the thirty
yard line forty yard line, and they will just bog down.
I mean, through the first two weeks of the season,
Joey Slide was ten for ten on field goals, so
they were moving the ball in those first two games.
(11:23):
And then against Indianapolis he missed two sixty plus yards
where they kind of got knocked out a field goal
range when they had moved the ball, and it was
a very similar thing. And even last week, like I said,
that first half would have been sixty six if he
made two extremely makeable field goals. I mean they were
forty one and forty three yards. In today's NFL, those
(11:45):
are chip shots for these kickers. You know, that game
sixty six at halftime, it's a totally different game. Defensively,
they their numbers are a bit skewed, but they do a
good job stopping to run. But they seemed to give
(12:06):
up a big play. You know, in every game they
you know that they were holding the teams to you know,
below four yards of carry. Then they gave up a
forty yard run to Like again, week two, they gave
up a forty three yard run to the kup On
End a round with a mistackle. So they don't tackle well,
(12:26):
especially in their secondary, and their corners in coverage are
an issue. They just traded away brownly, which was a
shocking move to a lot of people because he was
one of the starters and lugarious dude. It's been a bust.
(12:51):
You know, he only played like three games last year,
four games last year, and you know he gave up
the critical play, you know, the momentum changing play against Houston.
They had a second and twenty two or second at
thirty two with Houston backed up, and he gave up
(13:11):
basically an uncontested thirty seven yard catch to Nico Collins.
You know, you can't do that, you know, when you
you know you're when you're a struggling team, you can't
give up those big chunk plays like that. And you
know he was a target in the Rams game with
Nakua and you know Devonte Adams and you know he
(13:33):
didn't do any better against Indianapolis either. So you know,
their secondary is their corners right now, you know need
to be you know, need to step up their game.
But like I said, they're solid against the run for
(13:53):
at least three quarters. You know, that's been the problem.
The offense hasn't sustained the drive, so the defense is
always on the field, and it seems like end of
the third quarter, beginning of the fourth they'll give up
that big play. You know, last game it was that pass.
You know, the week Beformer it was a run by
(14:15):
Jonathan Taylor. You know, it just seems like every game
there's a play and then from that point on, the
ploodgates open and the will swallof So, I mean, you know,
it should be a good game for at least a half.
This week, I haven't got I haven't got to see
Arizona play. I missed him on Thursday night. I mean
(14:36):
I looked at him. But I mean all four games
with the Decidans have play have been good for a half,
you know, at least competitive for a half, and then
you know the second half the other team takes control,
which was the case last year, which gets back to
Callahan and his job security.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
So the next one the RESFC podcast, but card talking
about let's move on to talking about the matchups in
this game? What are the keys to to winning? What
matchups will we look at most? That's coming up next
to rise Ups. He read We're back on the Rise
of Here podcast, the best start of Cardinals stock on
the web talking to Mark Mihawko from the Titans Wire. Now,
let's look at this game Cardinals Titans. Titans have struggled.
(15:20):
The Cardinals are two and two. They've played a bunch
of one score games, lost their last two games on
a last second field goal, and there are lots of concerns. Uh,
they just lost. They've lost James Connor for the season.
They the news came out today that Tree Benson goes
on injured reserved will he'll miss four to six weeks,
which means that the Cardinals are down to their third
(15:41):
and fourth fourth string running backs against this Titans team,
where it's going to be a Mariti Mercado and Michael
Carter against that defense. First and foremost, the Titans if
they're going to upset the Cardinals and they're bigunderdogs right now. Uh,
(16:02):
what would have to happen? What would be How would
you see this game going if the Titans were to
pick up their first win of the season and upset
the Cardinals. What would it take.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
I think it would take a couple of things. I
think they need to establish the run and you know,
a bit of good news for Titans is they're potentially
getting Ta j. Spears back to complement Tony Pollard in
a backfield, which would add you know, another explosive weapon,
you know, who could help out as a receiver, you know,
(16:34):
an outlet receiver for ward and you know, just add
a little bit of you know, speed and stuff to
the back. Pollard shifty, but he's more of a he's
been more of a physical back than an explosive back
this year for the Titans. The win, though, they have
to hit on some big plays. That's been If there's
(16:59):
been one thing that has been missing through four weeks,
and there's been a lot of issues, is they have
not hit the chunk plays down the field. They've you know,
missed a couple, They've had to check down on a
few and he's been a sacked on a few. So
if he can, if they can hit a big play
or you know, especially if they can hit a big
(17:20):
play early and get some momentum that would help the offense.
Then where that comes in the run game or the
pass game, it doesn't really matter. I think their longest
run is like twelve yards or that they had a
twenty eight yard run in Week three, I think it was,
And that's like their longest rush of the year. And
I think their longest pass is like thirty two yards.
(17:41):
So we're not talking like you know, those big quick
strike one score things, and it's there. They're having to
you know, string together is eight, nine, ten, twelve plays
and you know, you guys know as well as I do,
that's a recipe for disaster in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
So yeah, and I noticed something that you know, after
they got the four takeaways against the Broncos, but they
turned the ball over twice themselves. They've only had one
takeaway in the last three games. And that's you know,
when you're turning the ball over because they've turned of
the ball over at least once every game and you're
not taking the ball away, that really next things worse.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Yeah, and you know what, to be honest, though they've
actually protected the ball really well in comparison to you know,
last year. War does have the two picks. The one
he threw last game, you know, hurt because it was
still a ball game at that point, you know, and
(18:43):
they were they were actually moving the ball when he
threw it. But you're gonna have that. He's a rookie.
I mean, all quarterbacks throw picks, but rookies are going
to They had turned the ball over, which is good
way for momentum, but they haven't been the you know,
the one against the Colts was a pick six on
(19:03):
like the first drive of the game, and it was
just a misread and you know those those you're gonna
live with those. Yeah, you have to with a you know,
quarterback making his third start.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
So any particular matchups like individual areas, position matchups that
you're gonna have your eye on, in particular this game.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I'm gonna have. I'm definitely gonna have my eye on
the offensive line, especially whoever you know, Josh Sweat lines
up opposite. You know, if it's Dan Moore, dan Moore's
gotta he struggled this season the free agent acquisition, which
everybody kind of knew that he was going to. But
(19:50):
if it's not Dan Moore. Most likely they're still going
to have a backup at right tackle, because I haven't
heard that lath I'm going to be back yet. They
were going to try him out today and I didn't
see the practice report before I got on to see
if he went. He's missed the last you know, the
last two weeks, actually the last three weeks after going
(20:12):
out in the third quarter of the opener. So really
it's going to be the pass rush against the tackles
of whoever they end up being, because if they could
just hold up a little bit and allow Ward to
settle in and throw on time, that would be a
(20:34):
huge step in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
On the I think on the other side of the ball,
what I'm going to be watching as well is because
obviously Jerious Sneed has not been great, but he's got
a big task with Marvin Harrison Junior, who's who's been inconsistent.
But I think that'll be an important matchup because the
Marves is probably the type of the receiver that Sneed's
(20:59):
gonna want to shut down, but he hasn't really done that.
So and I'm interesting because especially since the Titans only
have four sacks this seedon season. Jeffrey Simmons has two
of them. Would be to watch Jeffrey Simmons, their best
defensive player up against the Cardinals interior offensive line, which
(21:21):
has struggled this year.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Simmons is playing. This is probably simmons best season as
a player as a whole. He is. He has been dominant,
and you know they're playing without Demandry Sweat, who's on
into reserve for another couple of weeks. But Simmons has
been their pass rush. They've got zero production from from
(21:47):
their edge thrushers. I think arden Key ended up with
a half sack or maybe a full sack last week.
That was the first sack by somebody you know, not
named Simmons or a defensive back this season, and they
need to get edge pressure. Simmons he has been, like
(22:09):
I said, he has been dominant, and you know there's
he's shown those signs of slowing down. That matchup between
Snead and Harrison is one that you know, if you
ask me, you know before the season, I would have said,
you know, it could have been a draw. I don't know.
Snead hasn't played well at all, and I don't even
(22:31):
know if he's gonna end up being you know, they're
gonna let him follow or they're gonna play sides. You know, Uh,
last game they used you know, somebody they had just
picked up all you know at the end of the
preseason Armor Davis, and he played pretty well. Uh, he
came over from Baltimore. It was you know, it was
never a question of talent. It was one of those
(22:53):
ones where it was always he had the injury bug
follow him around, and you know he's healthy and familiar
with the defense, and you know he was solid last week.
So we'll see how you know, that matchup goes. You know,
the matchup I'm gonna watch and I don't know how
it's gonna be impacted now that you know with the
(23:16):
issues you mentioned about the running game with bloss O'Connor
and the other back is the inside linebackers the Titans
and livebackers make tackles, but they're usually a big down
the field. You know, they're not twenty right at the
line of scrimmage. And you know, if they can get that,
(23:38):
you know, they he's turn those three four yard games
into one two yard games. That would be a big help,
is you know, getting teams off the field, because it
seems like teams are able to stay on track, you know,
get them into that third and three, third and four
where it's tough to play defense, you know, and get
teams off the field. So but yeah, I mean the
(24:02):
pass rushes, Titan's pass rush. It's a struggle. The struggle
is real.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I'm going to next on the resids here A podcasts
are Cardinals talking, Let's move on, look at this game?
What do we predict will happen? Picks, predictions and more
that's coming to next in recips you read back on
the resids here podcast best are Cardinals Talking the Web
talking to Michael Mahawko from the Titans Wires. We are
now in the preview. We're in the predictions part of
this game. Cardinals eight and a half, nine and a
(24:31):
half point favorites, depending on the sports book you're looking at.
How do you see this game play? Now? What do
you is it another script of competitive for a half
and falling apart? What do you see from this Titans
team against the Cardinals?
Speaker 3 (24:47):
You know, until they until they show me something else.
I kind of expect that every week. You know. I
hate to say that, because you know, I'm usually optimistic.
I actually picked them to win once this year once,
only only once, but I did pick them to win once.
(25:07):
But I until they show me something else and they
can show me that they can close out a game,
I'm gonna think that that's gonna be the script because
I've seen it now for almost two you know, a
full season last year minus a couple of games, and
through four games this year. So until they show that
(25:29):
they can close out a game in the fourth quarter
or in the second half, I think that's gonna be
the same script. They'll keep it close in the first half,
and then eventually that mistake, that penalty, that turnover, you know,
that big play by you know, by Arizona, is gonna
just open the floodgates. I don't. I actually think they might,
(25:52):
you know, cover that nine and nine and a half
of such a huge number for me. I don't have them,
you know, winning, but I have them. I'm leaning towards
something like twenty one, you know, twenty one, thirteen, twenty one,
you know, fourteen somewhere and at twenty to twenty, you know,
something like that. I mean, like I said, they should
(26:13):
have had six points last week with two missed bield
goals and so yeah, I said, I don't see the
Titans winning this one because I think they fall apart.
But I think it's going to be closer than nine
and a half points.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
And I think the Cardinals, who badly need to get
well gained, are going to going to take advantage, and
I think it'll be I think they'll come out stronger
and it'll be a little bit of a flipped script
is that the Titans will fall behind early ending get
some get some garbage time points. I've got twenty seven
thirteen Cardinals in this one. But let's talk some of
(26:54):
the individual performances. What do you expect to see from
cam Ward? Does he throw a touchdown pass? Does he
throw an interception in this game?
Speaker 3 (27:03):
From everything I've seen with war I know it's Wargate
regular season games, but I go up, you know, watch
a lot of training camp, especially they had, you know,
two weeks of joint practices, and the one thing they
said during joint practices and this was done even the
opposing team said this was Ward bounced back after the
(27:23):
rough performance. You know, he had a rough performance on
day one of the joint practice, looked sharp week two.
That's been the theme that he's a tireless worker. He
knows I see him bouncing back. Now I don't Again,
once again, I don't see him, you know, throwing for
coming out and throwing for three point fifty. But I
(27:45):
could see him completing about sixty percent of his passes
and breaking two hundred with at least, you know, with
a touchdown pass maybe two, especially if the script plays
out like you said and Arizona comes out early and
get into a a you know, a you know, prevent situation,
(28:05):
which is what you know he's I think he threw.
He threw at least one touchdown. I think there was
another one called back they ended up turning into a
rushing touchdown for Pollard against the Colts. But yeah, I
think if he throws at least one, maybe two touchdowns,
and you know, I'll never take gas off the table.
(28:27):
He he's a rookie and he's a gunslinger, So I mean, yeah,
I expect one a week.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
I really think, all right, how do you think the
run game will look for for Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
I think that the Tennessee of the shot, they have
to get the run game going. You know, Pollard's had
had three of the four games Pollard's broke sixty yards
he had and he had ninety eight I think in
Week two against the Rams. So I mean I could
see Pollard going for about you know, at least sixty
(29:03):
and now with Spears back, if they work it, if
if Spears comes back, I mean they opened his window
and all signs pointed that he was going to be available.
If they use him, he could put in I think
the Titans could break one hundred yards in some combination
against the Cardinals. And they have to, you know, with
(29:26):
the rookie quarterback, with the struggles on the outside with drops,
they have to get that run game going and they
have to lean on that running game. And you know,
if they do that, it's it's you know, I grew
up a Steelers fan, so I'm kind of used to
ugly football. And that's ugly, and that's ugly football, but
you know what, it wins games. I mean, and if
(29:49):
that's and that's really what needs to happen, you know,
whether or not it's ugly or not, they need they
need to win Kylla Handy to win.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
They do know Cardinals need to win too, and that's
going to be the interesting thing. He said, This is
a Cardinals team that is that is hungry because they're
frustrated by the losses, but going up against the dense,
desperate Titans team, and you know, people made fun of
what cam Ward said, like he's just he's just like,
we need to walk in. He's not saying that they
(30:19):
can't win. He's just saying we haven't. We need to
do more. We're a bad team right now. And so
with that, we will be an interesting weekend to see
if you get the competitive push from the Titans, or
if the Cardinals stomp the Titans of the ground, or
if it's if it's one of those cases where they
compete early fade late, that that is all possible for
(30:41):
all of those. So thank you Mark for your time.
That will wrap up this edition of the Rights of
Secret podcast Best Our Cardinals. Talking the web, you can
find marks work on the Totan Titans wire, along with
another a bunch of other people who do the work
on that side. Mark, thank you so much for your time.
We'll I don't know how often we'll have you on
because the Cardinals and Titans don't play for often, do they.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
No, not at all. I think it's just what I
just looked it up the other day. I because it's
like only like the thirteenth or fourteenth matchup, fifteenth something
like that. Yeah, it's not very many a lot of it,
and some of those were early. The last time these
two teams got together, I think was twenty twenty one
(31:22):
and the Cardinals won in Nashville, like thirty two to
thirteen or something like thirty two sex sixteen. I don't know,
it was a while ago.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
It was all right, Thank you Mark for some Soviet time.
We'll be back Seth and I will be back for
another show later this week and they'll wrap this up show.
Thanks for listening. As always, we'll be back again soon.
Thanks for listening to the latest edition of the Rise
Up Sea Red podcast. Listen to previous episodes, and subscribe
to the show on Apple Podcasts, stitcherr Radio, Audio Boom,
(31:53):
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star rate and always support the sponsors who support the show.
We'll be back soon for the best hour of Cardinals
talk on the web, Rise Up Red, c b Red
Sea Red, and of course Rise Up s Red
Zz.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Yes, this is the Rise Up Sea Red podcast all
about the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL, featuring insider and
outsider perspectives. Enjoy the best hour of Cardinals talk on
(00:23):
the web. Now Here are your hosts, Jess Root and
Seth Cox.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
While there's in a Cardinals fans and welcome to the
latest edition of the Rise Up Screit podcast, the best
our Cardinals Talking Web. I'm your host Jessroot from Cardswire
dot com. US say today's NFL wireside, the covers, Ears
and the Cardinals. And this is episode seven hundred and four.
This is ow I'm sorry, seven hundred and five. This
is our Week five opponent preview for the Cardinals and
(00:52):
their Week five opponent of Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
The second show we have this week. Seth and I
will be back for our regular picks a preview, Picks
and predictions show. But this is preview picks and Predictions
from the enemy from behind theimly lines. And I've got
from the Titans Wire guests that we had on before
the season to talk about their expectations for the upcoming year.
Mark Mahalco from the Titans Wire, Mark, welcome back. To
(01:16):
the show. I'm glad to have you back. I'm sure
it's been a tough sled of the first four weeks
of the year, And even cam Ward said, as much
as she goes if we're if we're keeping it a buck,
we're ass.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, it's I'm glad to be back. I'm glad you
had me back. It has been a tough start to
the season. But I think when we talked last time,
we even said the first four games we're going to
be rough right out of the gate with the Broncos
followed by the Rams. I don't think we anybody expected
(01:52):
it to be as rough as it's been. But with
the rookie quarterback and with all the changes, you knew
there were going to be some growing pain. But clearly
it's not been smooth sailing at all.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Now, what can you say about the play of cam
Ward through through four weeks, He's only got two touchdown passes,
he's been sacked the league high seventeen times, only has
two interceptions, so that's not terrible. But if you look
at it statistically, she's worse than will Levis was. What
(02:27):
is the good and what is the badge? So far
from cam Ward.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I mean Ward has made some throws and he's actually
looked good at times. His last game against Houston probably
is worst outing in the stats showed that, but he
hasn't gotten much help from the offensive line. You mentioned
the sacks, but the pressures are are worse at times.
(02:56):
That's all statistic. Last week I think where he was
next to last or third from last in actual amount
of time to throw on a play in playoff basis.
I mean, he's made some throws, He's had some drops.
Colvin Ridley has really struggled with drops this year. I
mean he first game against Denver when they were in
(03:19):
it and you know, until the fourth quarter. I think
they had seven drops in that game. They have more
drops the falling weak against the Rams again close until
the fourth quarter and they imploded. And and really that's
been the story of the season, just as it was
last season. They'll keep it close. Even this last game
(03:42):
that they were shut out by Houston twenty sixth to nothing,
that was a sixth other game at halftime and Tennessee
missed two field goals. It could have been tied at halftime.
They gave him twenty.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Fourth spun out of control in the second half.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Yeah, in a fourth quarter, they you have twenty points
in the fourth quarter. What started in the third Houston
had a seventeen play almost eight minute drive, and end
of third quarter they pretty much put the game out
of reach. You know. So, like I said, there are
signs and Ward has played okay for a rookie, not great,
(04:21):
but your point is valid. You know, his numbers are
worse than Levis's through the first four games, and the
Titans as a whole are worse than they were last
season through the first four game. So it's it's hard
to tell. I mean, it's it's been a crazy season,
to be honest, and it's only week four.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
What does that do for Brian Callahan? Is is he
at all on the hot seat right now? Is this
just more or less the expected growing pains from a
young team that is lacking in talent and has a
rookie quarterback that they believe in.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Well, you know that is that is a great question,
and that's one that I wish I had a crystal
ball that I could could tell you. On one hand.
They said all off season that they were going to
take it slow, they were going to be growing pains.
You know, they were playing cam Ward. This was going
to be a youth movement. I mean, the general manager
(05:21):
at the start of training camp said, we are going
with the youth movement. You know as well as I
do that that's not always a recipe for success. And yet,
especially early, Callahan already turned over play calling duties to
quarterback coach Bahart agree, and I would have to think
(05:45):
that he is on it. I think his seat is
really hot, just because I mean, there has been no
real growth and I agree with you that their roster
isn't the best and they have they have, you know,
severe depth issues, which but all that has to be
(06:08):
factored in. And you know, I listened to Callahan speak
this week. He you know, like you said, he's always concerned,
but he feels like he has a support of the
front office. So I think there's gonna be a give
and take there. How much can the fan base take?
How much? You know that's gonna eventually fall squarely on Callahan.
(06:34):
And you know, do they have another option even on
the staff as an interim basis? I mean that's you
have to look at all those things. But his seat
is definitely hot, and he's gotta do something soon or
I don't think he can you know, survive. I don't
(06:55):
think he could survived another you know, they get shut
out this week by Arizona. I don't think he can
survived that. Yeah, I really don't.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
You know, it has to be especially a little bit
hot because since they since they fired rand karth then
karth On in the front office, Callahan's not this guy's dude.
So yeah, you can imagine that he's he drafted Campbell,
brought in guys, and but he might want to bring
in his coach.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, that's a that's a great point. And you know,
the rookie class that they had, I think we talked
about it right after the draft. That rookie class has been.
If there's been one like high point of this year
so far, it's the way those rookies have come on scene.
Now they all haven't like made true you know, tremendous strides.
(07:50):
I mean, Oladejo is still working his way, but he's
into rotation. Is our second round pig. But you know
a yaman Or is there leading receiver over over Ridley?
Uh DK has you know scored like three touchdowns that
have been called back for penalty, you know, one on
a punt return, you know, one on a run and
(08:16):
he's made some big plays and it showed that speed
and explosiveness and you know, so you're absolutely right Borganzhu
didn't bring in Callahan, which you know complicates this whole
dynamic they have there. And I think it was a
bit of a shock, you know, it was. I can
tell us tightens a lotter. We we discussed this when
(08:39):
they hired BORGONZI was Callahan gonna be safe? You know?
And you know they made the decision to keep him.
So now it's almost like, do you ride it out
for the year or or you know, ripped the band
aid off early. I I don't know, Like I said,
(09:00):
I don't think he can survive another shut out, another blowout,
another massive collapse by the defense, or any of that.
And I don't know who seat's got to be really hot,
I would want to tell me.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
So tell me about both the offense of the defense.
Are what are the bright spots? What do they do
well offensively defensively if anything at all? And what is
what have been the troubles? Because statistically they are the
league's worst scoring offense and one of the worst defenses,
and in terms of allowing points, What are the bright
spots on both sides of the ball, and what are
(09:35):
the issues on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
All right, we'll still with the offense. They can run
the ball. They showed last week Tony Pollard. Yes, he
only had like sixty four yards, but that was on
fifteen carries. You know, it went and that included three
right at the end of the game when you know,
everybody the game was over and they were at the
(09:59):
one yard line, you know, so they were just punching
it out, trying to get out of the end zone,
get out of their own way because they had down
the ball. You know, he had had at that point,
he had like eleven carries, were twelve carries for like
sixty yards. He was almost averaging almost five yards of
carry at that point. He's ran the ball well for
(10:20):
three games. And the game he didn't run the ball
well was against Indianapolis and they were missing the entire
right side of their offensive line because Zeitler and Laban
were out. So that's not really to me, that's not
really a hit, you know, hit on the back. That's
tough matchup with reserves at your offensive line, You're you're
(10:41):
asking for disaster. So they can run the ball and
they can establish it and be successful. They've had receivers open,
like I said, they had some drops, they've missed some passes,
so that's that they can't sustain anything. You know, it's
(11:02):
like they'll get two or three good runs and maybe
mix in a nice throw and they'll hit the thirty
yard line forty yard line, and they will just bog down.
I mean, through the first two weeks of the season,
Joey Slide was ten for ten on field goals, so
they were moving the ball in those first two games.
(11:23):
And then against Indianapolis he missed two sixty plus yards
where they kind of got knocked out a field goal
range when they had moved the ball, and it was
a very similar thing. And even last week, like I said,
that first half would have been sixty six if he
made two extremely makeable field goals. I mean they were
forty one and forty three yards. In today's NFL, those
(11:45):
are chip shots for these kickers. You know, that game
sixty six at halftime, it's a totally different game. Defensively,
they their numbers are a bit skewed, but they do a
good job stopping to run. But they seemed to give
(12:06):
up a big play. You know, in every game they
you know that they were holding the teams to you know,
below four yards of carry. Then they gave up a
forty yard run to Like again, week two, they gave
up a forty three yard run to the kup On
End a round with a mistackle. So they don't tackle well,
(12:26):
especially in their secondary, and their corners in coverage are
an issue. They just traded away brownly, which was a
shocking move to a lot of people because he was
one of the starters and lugarious dude. It's been a bust.
(12:51):
You know, he only played like three games last year,
four games last year, and you know he gave up
the critical play, you know, the momentum changing play against Houston.
They had a second and twenty two or second at
thirty two with Houston backed up, and he gave up
(13:11):
basically an uncontested thirty seven yard catch to Nico Collins.
You know, you can't do that, you know, when you
you know you're when you're a struggling team, you can't
give up those big chunk plays like that. And you
know he was a target in the Rams game with
Nakua and you know Devonte Adams and you know he
(13:33):
didn't do any better against Indianapolis either. So you know,
their secondary is their corners right now, you know need
to be you know, need to step up their game.
But like I said, they're solid against the run for
(13:53):
at least three quarters. You know, that's been the problem.
The offense hasn't sustained the drive, so the defense is
always on the field, and it seems like end of
the third quarter, beginning of the fourth they'll give up
that big play. You know, last game it was that pass.
You know, the week Beformer it was a run by
(14:15):
Jonathan Taylor. You know, it just seems like every game
there's a play and then from that point on, the
ploodgates open and the will swallof So, I mean, you know,
it should be a good game for at least a half.
This week, I haven't got I haven't got to see
Arizona play. I missed him on Thursday night. I mean
(14:36):
I looked at him. But I mean all four games
with the Decidans have play have been good for a half,
you know, at least competitive for a half, and then
you know the second half the other team takes control,
which was the case last year, which gets back to
Callahan and his job security.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
So the next one the RESFC podcast, but card talking
about let's move on to talking about the matchups in
this game? What are the keys to to winning? What
matchups will we look at most? That's coming up next
to rise Ups. He read We're back on the Rise
of Here podcast, the best start of Cardinals stock on
the web talking to Mark Mihawko from the Titans Wire. Now,
let's look at this game Cardinals Titans. Titans have struggled.
(15:20):
The Cardinals are two and two. They've played a bunch
of one score games, lost their last two games on
a last second field goal, and there are lots of concerns. Uh,
they just lost. They've lost James Connor for the season.
They the news came out today that Tree Benson goes
on injured reserved will he'll miss four to six weeks,
which means that the Cardinals are down to their third
(15:41):
and fourth fourth string running backs against this Titans team,
where it's going to be a Mariti Mercado and Michael
Carter against that defense. First and foremost, the Titans if
they're going to upset the Cardinals and they're bigunderdogs right now. Uh,
(16:02):
what would have to happen? What would be How would
you see this game going if the Titans were to
pick up their first win of the season and upset
the Cardinals. What would it take.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
I think it would take a couple of things. I
think they need to establish the run and you know,
a bit of good news for Titans is they're potentially
getting Ta j. Spears back to complement Tony Pollard in
a backfield, which would add you know, another explosive weapon,
you know, who could help out as a receiver, you know,
(16:34):
an outlet receiver for ward and you know, just add
a little bit of you know, speed and stuff to
the back. Pollard shifty, but he's more of a he's
been more of a physical back than an explosive back
this year for the Titans. The win, though, they have
to hit on some big plays. That's been If there's
(16:59):
been one thing that has been missing through four weeks,
and there's been a lot of issues, is they have
not hit the chunk plays down the field. They've you know,
missed a couple, They've had to check down on a
few and he's been a sacked on a few. So
if he can, if they can hit a big play
or you know, especially if they can hit a big
(17:20):
play early and get some momentum that would help the offense.
Then where that comes in the run game or the
pass game, it doesn't really matter. I think their longest
run is like twelve yards or that they had a
twenty eight yard run in Week three, I think it was,
And that's like their longest rush of the year. And
I think their longest pass is like thirty two yards.
(17:41):
So we're not talking like you know, those big quick
strike one score things, and it's there. They're having to
you know, string together is eight, nine, ten, twelve plays
and you know, you guys know as well as I do,
that's a recipe for disaster in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
So yeah, and I noticed something that you know, after
they got the four takeaways against the Broncos, but they
turned the ball over twice themselves. They've only had one
takeaway in the last three games. And that's you know,
when you're turning the ball over because they've turned of
the ball over at least once every game and you're
not taking the ball away, that really next things worse.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Yeah, and you know what, to be honest, though they've
actually protected the ball really well in comparison to you know,
last year. War does have the two picks. The one
he threw last game, you know, hurt because it was
still a ball game at that point, you know, and
(18:43):
they were they were actually moving the ball when he
threw it. But you're gonna have that. He's a rookie.
I mean, all quarterbacks throw picks, but rookies are going
to They had turned the ball over, which is good
way for momentum, but they haven't been the you know,
the one against the Colts was a pick six on
(19:03):
like the first drive of the game, and it was
just a misread and you know those those you're gonna
live with those. Yeah, you have to with a you know,
quarterback making his third start.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
So any particular matchups like individual areas, position matchups that
you're gonna have your eye on, in particular this game.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I'm gonna have. I'm definitely gonna have my eye on
the offensive line, especially whoever you know, Josh Sweat lines
up opposite. You know, if it's Dan Moore, dan Moore's
gotta he struggled this season the free agent acquisition, which
everybody kind of knew that he was going to. But
(19:50):
if it's not Dan Moore. Most likely they're still going
to have a backup at right tackle, because I haven't
heard that lath I'm going to be back yet. They
were going to try him out today and I didn't
see the practice report before I got on to see
if he went. He's missed the last you know, the
last two weeks, actually the last three weeks after going
(20:12):
out in the third quarter of the opener. So really
it's going to be the pass rush against the tackles
of whoever they end up being, because if they could
just hold up a little bit and allow Ward to
settle in and throw on time, that would be a
(20:34):
huge step in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
On the I think on the other side of the ball,
what I'm going to be watching as well is because
obviously Jerious Sneed has not been great, but he's got
a big task with Marvin Harrison Junior, who's who's been inconsistent.
But I think that'll be an important matchup because the
Marves is probably the type of the receiver that Sneed's
(20:59):
gonna want to shut down, but he hasn't really done that.
So and I'm interesting because especially since the Titans only
have four sacks this seedon season. Jeffrey Simmons has two
of them. Would be to watch Jeffrey Simmons, their best
defensive player up against the Cardinals interior offensive line, which
(21:21):
has struggled this year.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Simmons is playing. This is probably simmons best season as
a player as a whole. He is. He has been dominant,
and you know they're playing without Demandry Sweat, who's on
into reserve for another couple of weeks. But Simmons has
been their pass rush. They've got zero production from from
(21:47):
their edge thrushers. I think arden Key ended up with
a half sack or maybe a full sack last week.
That was the first sack by somebody you know, not
named Simmons or a defensive back this season, and they
need to get edge pressure. Simmons he has been, like
(22:09):
I said, he has been dominant, and you know there's
he's shown those signs of slowing down. That matchup between
Snead and Harrison is one that you know, if you
ask me, you know before the season, I would have said,
you know, it could have been a draw. I don't know.
Snead hasn't played well at all, and I don't even
(22:31):
know if he's gonna end up being you know, they're
gonna let him follow or they're gonna play sides. You know, Uh,
last game they used you know, somebody they had just
picked up all you know at the end of the
preseason Armor Davis, and he played pretty well. Uh, he
came over from Baltimore. It was you know, it was
never a question of talent. It was one of those
(22:53):
ones where it was always he had the injury bug
follow him around, and you know he's healthy and familiar
with the defense, and you know he was solid last week.
So we'll see how you know, that matchup goes. You know,
the matchup I'm gonna watch and I don't know how
it's gonna be impacted now that you know with the
(23:16):
issues you mentioned about the running game with bloss O'Connor
and the other back is the inside linebackers the Titans
and livebackers make tackles, but they're usually a big down
the field. You know, they're not twenty right at the
line of scrimmage. And you know, if they can get that,
(23:38):
you know, they he's turn those three four yard games
into one two yard games. That would be a big help,
is you know, getting teams off the field, because it
seems like teams are able to stay on track, you know,
get them into that third and three, third and four
where it's tough to play defense, you know, and get
teams off the field. So but yeah, I mean the
(24:02):
pass rushes, Titan's pass rush. It's a struggle. The struggle
is real.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I'm going to next on the resids here A podcasts
are Cardinals talking, Let's move on, look at this game?
What do we predict will happen? Picks, predictions and more
that's coming to next in recips you read back on
the resids here podcast best are Cardinals Talking the Web
talking to Michael Mahawko from the Titans Wires. We are
now in the preview. We're in the predictions part of
this game. Cardinals eight and a half, nine and a
(24:31):
half point favorites, depending on the sports book you're looking at.
How do you see this game play? Now? What do
you is it another script of competitive for a half
and falling apart? What do you see from this Titans
team against the Cardinals?
Speaker 3 (24:47):
You know, until they until they show me something else.
I kind of expect that every week. You know. I
hate to say that, because you know, I'm usually optimistic.
I actually picked them to win once this year once,
only only once, but I did pick them to win once.
(25:07):
But I until they show me something else and they
can show me that they can close out a game,
I'm gonna think that that's gonna be the script because
I've seen it now for almost two you know, a
full season last year minus a couple of games, and
through four games this year. So until they show that
(25:29):
they can close out a game in the fourth quarter
or in the second half, I think that's gonna be
the same script. They'll keep it close in the first half,
and then eventually that mistake, that penalty, that turnover, you know,
that big play by you know, by Arizona, is gonna
just open the floodgates. I don't. I actually think they might,
(25:52):
you know, cover that nine and nine and a half
of such a huge number for me. I don't have them,
you know, winning, but I have them. I'm leaning towards
something like twenty one, you know, twenty one, thirteen, twenty one,
you know, fourteen somewhere and at twenty to twenty, you know,
something like that. I mean, like I said, they should
(26:13):
have had six points last week with two missed bield
goals and so yeah, I said, I don't see the
Titans winning this one because I think they fall apart.
But I think it's going to be closer than nine
and a half points.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
And I think the Cardinals, who badly need to get
well gained, are going to going to take advantage, and
I think it'll be I think they'll come out stronger
and it'll be a little bit of a flipped script
is that the Titans will fall behind early ending get
some get some garbage time points. I've got twenty seven
thirteen Cardinals in this one. But let's talk some of
(26:54):
the individual performances. What do you expect to see from
cam Ward? Does he throw a touchdown pass? Does he
throw an interception in this game?
Speaker 3 (27:03):
From everything I've seen with war I know it's Wargate
regular season games, but I go up, you know, watch
a lot of training camp, especially they had, you know,
two weeks of joint practices, and the one thing they
said during joint practices and this was done even the
opposing team said this was Ward bounced back after the
(27:23):
rough performance. You know, he had a rough performance on
day one of the joint practice, looked sharp week two.
That's been the theme that he's a tireless worker. He
knows I see him bouncing back. Now I don't Again,
once again, I don't see him, you know, throwing for
coming out and throwing for three point fifty. But I
(27:45):
could see him completing about sixty percent of his passes
and breaking two hundred with at least, you know, with
a touchdown pass maybe two, especially if the script plays
out like you said and Arizona comes out early and
get into a a you know, a you know, prevent situation,
(28:05):
which is what you know he's I think he threw.
He threw at least one touchdown. I think there was
another one called back they ended up turning into a
rushing touchdown for Pollard against the Colts. But yeah, I
think if he throws at least one, maybe two touchdowns,
and you know, I'll never take gas off the table.
(28:27):
He he's a rookie and he's a gunslinger, So I mean, yeah,
I expect one a week.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
I really think, all right, how do you think the
run game will look for for Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
I think that the Tennessee of the shot, they have
to get the run game going. You know, Pollard's had
had three of the four games Pollard's broke sixty yards
he had and he had ninety eight I think in
Week two against the Rams. So I mean I could
see Pollard going for about you know, at least sixty
(29:03):
and now with Spears back, if they work it, if
if Spears comes back, I mean they opened his window
and all signs pointed that he was going to be available.
If they use him, he could put in I think
the Titans could break one hundred yards in some combination
against the Cardinals. And they have to, you know, with
(29:26):
the rookie quarterback, with the struggles on the outside with drops,
they have to get that run game going and they
have to lean on that running game. And you know,
if they do that, it's it's you know, I grew
up a Steelers fan, so I'm kind of used to
ugly football. And that's ugly, and that's ugly football, but
you know what, it wins games. I mean, and if
(29:49):
that's and that's really what needs to happen, you know,
whether or not it's ugly or not, they need they
need to win Kylla Handy to win.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
They do know Cardinals need to win too, and that's
going to be the interesting thing. He said, This is
a Cardinals team that is that is hungry because they're
frustrated by the losses, but going up against the dense,
desperate Titans team, and you know, people made fun of
what cam Ward said, like he's just he's just like,
we need to walk in. He's not saying that they
(30:19):
can't win. He's just saying we haven't. We need to
do more. We're a bad team right now. And so
with that, we will be an interesting weekend to see
if you get the competitive push from the Titans, or
if the Cardinals stomp the Titans of the ground, or
if it's if it's one of those cases where they
compete early fade late, that that is all possible for
(30:41):
all of those. So thank you Mark for your time.
That will wrap up this edition of the Rights of
Secret podcast Best Our Cardinals. Talking the web, you can
find marks work on the Totan Titans wire, along with
another a bunch of other people who do the work
on that side. Mark, thank you so much for your time.
We'll I don't know how often we'll have you on
because the Cardinals and Titans don't play for often, do they.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
No, not at all. I think it's just what I
just looked it up the other day. I because it's
like only like the thirteenth or fourteenth matchup, fifteenth something
like that. Yeah, it's not very many a lot of it,
and some of those were early. The last time these
two teams got together, I think was twenty twenty one
(31:22):
and the Cardinals won in Nashville, like thirty two to
thirteen or something like thirty two sex sixteen. I don't know,
it was a while ago.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
It was all right, Thank you Mark for some Soviet time.
We'll be back Seth and I will be back for
another show later this week and they'll wrap this up show.
Thanks for listening. As always, we'll be back again soon.
Thanks for listening to the latest edition of the Rise
Up Sea Red podcast. Listen to previous episodes, and subscribe
to the show on Apple Podcasts, stitcherr Radio, Audio Boom,
(31:53):
or many other podcast platforms so shows are delivered directly
to your mobile device. Please give the show a five
star rate and always support the sponsors who support the show.
We'll be back soon for the best hour of Cardinals
talk on the web, Rise Up Red, c b Red
Sea Red, and of course Rise Up s Red
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