Big Red Rage - Cards Camp In Full Swing

Talk to an agent today at eight hundred State Farm and buy Arizona Cardinals podcasts, Visit Acy Cardinals dot Com, Slash podcasts, The red scen Rising Guard, temperaturizing vision, blurring, rage taking over. Here's Paul Calvc. I'm ready, I'm one hundred percent ready. I'm telling you a'ready and Ron Wolflee. It doesn't get any better than that, boy, unleash the far. We've been saying it since May, and we say it again today. HBO, the Hard Knocks crew, they done pick

the wrong half of the Cardinals season to document. I mean, you want drama, you want storylines, you want compelling reality TV. The first half of this season continues to tell the second half. Hold my beer and we'll get into that here. Momentarily, it is the Big Red Rage. We will have rookie pass rusher My J. Sanders as a very special guest tonight, all presented by Santan Ford in Gilbert. We are Santan Ford, Ron Wolfley on assignment again Wolf is off. It is

still technically the month of July. You hear the laugh, the scoff, the the reality and acknowledgement of one Rob Frederickson, former Cardinals linebacker, and and just Rob can't tell you how great it is. Have you feel in at the last second here and boom looking forward to the next hour. It's ratings week, Paul. So we gotta you know, we gotta boost things up here. So whenever it sweeps, we bring you in. Right. That's the way. That's the way it works. You know that's because you know it's about

a production and performance bace business. That's exactly what it's all about. And uh, man, do we have a lot to talk about tonight? Do we not? Do we? Why? What's happened? I don't know? Well, let's see um okay, see spend nearly a decade in the NFL playing linebacker, right, former first round pick? Yourself? Uh? Can I say that that Kyler was playing defense today that Kyler was a two way player, that he you know, look, the headline on NFL Network was Kyler's clap back. Yeah, yeah, I don't.

I don't think he was playing defense. I think he was going on the offense. And and and really good for him because had he not come out and set things straight and you know, explained himself and explained kind of his situation and the situation with this contract and with the homework quote unquote clause, it would have been left to social media and to talk radio to tell that story. And so I think it was important Number one for Kyler as a leader. I think that showed

great leadership. Number two just for him to get out there and set the narrative and to really reset things going forward for him, for the Cardinals and for this relationship. And if you're just getting back from a vacation yourself, it went something like this. On Monday, Kyler Murray signed on the line that has dotted literally at the Cardinals headquarters.

And then about two hours later it came out Ian Rappaport NFL Network reporting that there is the independent study addendum, i e. The homework clause requiring four hours of independent film study per week away from the team facility, but there can't be any distractions from the internet or video games or anything like that. So you know, and then ever since then robbed your point, there's been a NonStop

negativity revolving around it. And so with that in mind, Kyler got up today impromptu press conference and he had his say talking today because, um, you know, I feel it's necessary with what's going on as far as regarding me and the things that are being said about me. Um, to think that I can accomplish everything that I've accomplished in my career and not be a student of the game and not not have that passion and not not take this serious is almost it's disrespectful, and it's it's

almost it's it's almost a joke. You know. Um, it's to me, I'm not sixty seven to two thirty. I don't throw the ball eighty five yards. I'm I'm already behind the eight ball. You know, I can't afford to take any shortcuts, no pun intended, but those things you can't accomplish you don't take the game serious if you don't prepare the right way. And you know, it's like I said, it's it's laughable, you know things, and Rob you can relate to this as a former Raider yourself.

Things really got just a nine and outlandish when there were actually comparisons to JaMarcus Russell thrown out there earlier this week. I mean, come on, Kyler was the NFL offensive rookie either or Kyler Murray's been a Pro Bowl or each of his next two years. DaMarcus Russell did absolutely nothing zero, And so I think that's probably just one of many things that that irked Kyler and prompted

him to get up there, unscheduled, unannounced and addressed the media. Yeah, I think he was irked, and he should have been, because you know, before he got there, before he got up there and spoke, it was really up to social media and and to talk radio to set the narrative, to to feed on all these stereotypes or all the all these um, you know, misconceptions that you know, he's not a hard worker, he doesn't put in the time that you know that it's video games over video, watching

football video. So it it really was up to him to get up there and set the record straight. And you know, going forward, I still don't think that this thing has put to bed. I think it will continue to linger on. Now it'll it'll just be little social media equips and funny little posts by people. When maybe Kyler throws an interception, I guess he didn't study this week. You're gonna have that, um, But I do think he did.

He went a long way today and what he did in that press conference and writing it and putting his mark on what the story really is. Again Kyler saying, quote, it's disrespectful. It's almost a joke. And then he continued and once again, this is right off the top. He didn't take any questions to begin. He had a statement, and he continued with this, I refuse to let my work ethic and my preparation be in question. You know, I've put an incomprehensible amount of time and blows, sweat, tears,

and work into what i'd do. To those of you out there that believe that I'd be standing here today in front without having a work ethic and without preparing, I'm honored that you think that, but it's not possible. He was asked also rob whether he has any regrets about the New York Times article, in particular the quote where he said he doesn't quote unquote kill himself watching film. And his response to that was no, not at all.

That there's multiple different ways to learn and watch the game. So, you know, once again pushing back against some sort of narrative that he can just roll out there on game day and you know, and just create organically that there's no preparation whatsoever, which look, which started to get out of hand obviously throughout the entire week to the point where Kyler felt compelled to address it. Yeah, and look, his work ethic. Work ethic is a couple of things

in football. It's it's the physical aspect and it's the mental aspect, and you need both to be successful in this league. There's not a football player in the NFL on the Arizona Cardinals. Kyler Murray included that does not put in extra work beyond what is required via the collective barning agreement or via individual player contracts. Everyone does. They have to otherwise you won't succeed. You will you

will you won't be on the team. Um. This really, this clause though, really spoke only to the mental aspect, the mental preparation UH in game week and leading up to the game. It didn't speak to I've never seen it before. I've I've seen physical clauses in contracts before. You know, you have a weight clause, you have to be under a certain weight. UM, offseason workout uh, incentives for players to keep them around the building, keep them

in good shape. But this, this is, this is groundbreaking, Phil Paul Honestly, UM, I'm interested to see the ripple effect of this and what this means for future contracts for other players other leagues. Is this going to be the new normal? I'm not sure. And look, I'm convinced it goes back to that New York Times article. Now, whether the team was aware of it or not, but that certainly did you know, set a precedent of sorts,

and it got it out there. And when you're giving a franchise record contract to a player, any player, there's going to be safeguards in there. And for the most part, I haven't seen anyone who said they've ever seen a

clause quite like this. The Andrew Brands of the world who've been doing NFL contracts and or studying them for three decades and l Brian Baldinger was NFL Network today saying, and I quote I'm against these sort of clauses because they're very divisive, but once again team Kyler agreed to it obviously, and I'll just said zoom out for a minute. I said this earlier this week on Cardinals Underground, the podcast that to me, it's just in keeping with the

off season. Last year, the off seam was a season was all about leadership and physicality, adding those two elements to a Cardinals team that started ten in two, but after yet another or late season swoons, second year in a row, losing five year, last six, and getting blown out into the playoff game, I think the mission this offseason was to add accountability, to try and create layers of accountability, whether it's hard knocks and the HBO cameras

in the second half of this season putting everyone's face on it literally, or in this case, a cause that tries to guard against these late season swoons and tries to make sure that that no one's relaxing, that no one's getting comfortable. Those are some of the euphemisms we've heard from from various team leaders to the media as to what happened when you're trying to diagnose the end of last season, and as for watching film Kyler Murray.

He also had this to say today to the medium, to the film side of things, there's multiple different ways to to you know, to watch film. There's many different ways to process the game. There's many different ways quarterbacks learn the game and break the game down. Of course, I watched film by myself. That's that's a given that doesn't even need to be said. But I do enjoy and love the process of watching the game with my guys, the quarterbacks, my coaches, and we heard that offseason anecdote.

It was Kelvin Beecham telling the media after one of the OTAs that Kyla was in a meeting room breaking down a seven on seven session with some of the new receivers and leading the way. But look, every young quarterback robed to a certain degree, has to improve in

that category. What's amazing is when you hear a Kurt Warner like we had last week in the Big Red Rage, or even at David car today in the NFL network, they talk about how much more potential there is for Kyler Murray, a guy if you remember going into the Green Bay game week eight last season, Troy Aikman started that broadcast Cardinals and Packers on Thursday Night seven and oh Cardinals against the six and one Packers, and Troy Aikman called Kyler Murray the leading candidate for NFL MVP

at that point in the season. And whether it's Kurt or David Carr talking about, you know, how he gets better, it's just the little things, just completing this simple passes what Kurt calls the layups, what David Carr called today, not trying to make the hero play, just passing up the easy pass, but instead making that connection in that completion. And they both think that's where he takes off in

terms of his production as a queue. Well, obviously you mentioned earlier accountability in this offseason, and I think that's right, Paul. It is about accountability. It's it's usually though historically it's been verbalized, right, it hasn't been formalized in a contract, So that that is where this has really gone into uncharted territory. And to your point, really about what is Kyler's ceiling and where can he go? Yeah, Look, I don't think he's even come close to scratching the surface

of that ceiling. And a lot of it to me is those pre snap reads. What what is the defense trying to do in this situation, in this personnel group, this down in distance. Those are the little things that you don't always pick up in the meetings with coaches before practice or after practice. A lot of times you're breaking down the practice film, you're looking at that and you're out of there. There's no question Kyler Murray knows

this playbook inside. Now that I've heard some some of his teammates come to his defense about how he knows the playbook, of course he does. That's not I don't think that's in question. That's that's never in question. That Really, I think the crux of this whole thing and what it's getting at is getting him to trying to help him help himself to do those little things that Kurt Warner talked about and get to that place where he already knows what the defense is doing before he snaps

the ball. And that's exactly what Kurt Warner used to say, that he knew where he was going with all at least knew his first two reads pre snap, just based on the defensive front and what the defense was showing. So you're saying that correlates directly to watching game film

of the opposition, the opposing defense. Each week you pick up, you pick up tendencies, you pick up simularities from the week before in certain situations, certain packages, you can you can pick up so many little things just by watching that film. You know, I know Kyler does it. And unfortunately this thing optically has just gotten a little out of whack. But I know Kyler will be prepared every Sunday, and I'll tell you what. That's something David Carr talked

about today as well in NFL Network. Those pre snap reads will come back. Remember my J Sanders coming up. In this edition of The Big Red Rage presented by satan Ford and Gilbert we are Santan Ford and a couple of headlines from the defensive side and J. J. Watt next gave to Henry hitting the backfield by J. J. Watt who got off a block and drags it down, knocked down and complained it's j J. Watt, got his hands up, he bumbles them all. It's flues on the

far side. Another takeaway. J J. Watt force the fumble leveled in the backfield by J. J. Watt. J Terry Watt gets the penetration right at the point of attack, hitting the backfield and down he goes for a loss. JJ Watts snailed him at the eighteen yard line. Mintel running straight ahead gets dropped for a loss. JJ Watt in the backfield with the takedown penetration on the backside. That is jj Watt, Baby, tip and complaint. It was tip and it was jj Watt who Gonta and the

Cardinals stop him on fourtown again. It was the Cardinal's record with jj Watton in the lineup last regular season seven and oh he was very productive. I've called him not only the rising tie the lists all boats on the field, but on the sideline as well. Just a different vibe on the sideline when jj Watt is in uniform.

And we'll get into what he had to say today a very entertaining press conference, the big red rage my j Sanders, the Cardinal's third round rookie pass rusher coming up here shortly or Rob Frederickson in for Ron wolf le Year's truly Paul calvesian Wright. As we wrapped up the first segment there, Rob, we got a tweet for me and Rappaport and I quote the Arizona Cardinals have

removed the controversial independent study clause from QB Kyler Murray's contract. That's, according to sources, a move that happened yesterday, says Rappaport. Your reaction good. I mean, honestly, it was. It was just a mess, if I could speak candidly about it, for both sides. It was a bad look for both sides. And it wasn't not necessary. How are you going to police?

At number one? It sets a dangerous president. So you know, they believe that Kyler is the future quarterback, is the present quarterback, is the one that can lead them to the super Bowl. They believe that they wouldn't have invested that kind of money in Kyler Murray. Kyler Murray believes that he has the work ethic they'll desire, they want to and the leadership to make that happen. It's a perfect marriage. Let's get rid of all the pre nups. It's a good way of looking at it. And look,

it was in there for a reason. Even if it was there to send a message, which I think maybe, just maybe that's what it was all about. Perhaps, well guess what mission accomplished? Message sent? So now you're removed from the contract and try and do anything and everything you can to make sure it doesn't come up and

be a persistent distraction over a seventeen game regular season. So, once again, according to Ian Rappaport NFL Network, the Cardinals have removed the independent study clause from Kyler Murray's contract. There you go. Now, as we said, he was maybe a two way player today playing some defense at the podium. But as Rob said, he basically went on the offensive, which is what he did. We know a three time NFL Defensive Player of the Year is JJ Watt, and

we know he is a master with the media. Rob he had an opinion most everything, including those Guardian caps, said he feels like a bobblehead wearing those big, padded extra layer cap on top of the helmet. And then he lamented after he gave his opinion, he might be fined by Roger Goodell. So that was good stuff. And then of course somebody asked him the obligatory you know question about camp and jeez, do you enjoy your thirteenth training camp? JJ? I don't think anyone does. Anyway, Here's

what Here's what JJ Watt had to say. Okay, from a work standpoint, from what you can accomplish from working on your game, working on your craft. It's it really is the best time of the year to make yourself better as a player because you're you're working every single day. You have tons of film to watch every day to improve on, and then immediately the next day you get

to go out there and fix the mistakes. And you also get to talk to the old line and talk to the tight ends and the quarterbacks about you know, what did you see when he blocked me on this player? Or I saw this? What do you think if I tried That's it really is the best time if you utilize it properly to improve yourself as a player. All of training camp last year and he's still ready to go in week one at Tennessee. But look, some guys need it more than others, do they not, rob they do,

especially the young guys. It's training camps a great opportunity for first year players, for undrafted players, for guys looking to hook on with a new team. Training camp is the greatest interview of your life. It really is job interview of your life. So um, it is necessary. I think it can be beneficial, as JJ mentioned for veterans in terms of just what do you see from JJ Watt is a defensive lineman, he can ask offensive lineman, what are you looking at it? What am I tipping?

What are my tells? Is there anything that I could be doing differently? Just that mental aspect of it in terms of getting getting an advantage over your opponent. Those are the little things that veterans will take from from training camps now in the modern era where training camps are not as physical as they once were in the olden days, Paul training camp is basically used to get in shape for the regular season, but now it's really it's just about honing your craft, perfecting your skills, and

getting ready for that opening opening season. Yeah. For example, he said he has a Veteran's Day coming his way tomorrow. DeAndre Hopkins had one today along with probably Rodney Hudson today. So I know one area you've talked about with JJ Watt and all the defensive lineman is, man, if they can just keep that offensive line off those young inside linebackers. Because I want to get into Isaiah Simmons here a

little bit. Rob Rouderson is someone who played the linebacker position for as long as you did in the NFL. And here's JJ Watt. Just initially, here's we'll start by JJ talking about the unique skill set in just the variety of spots that in Isaiah Simmons can play. He's a unique individual, and I think he has a unique skill set that can be utilize in different ways. And I think that trying to unlock that and trying to find what that best way to serve our team is

is what we're doing right now. And I think that I trust DJ and everybody to find that right And look, Rob, nobody has said he is the weak side inside linebacker. Right Cliff Kingsbury made some comments yesterday that he might be better suited from what they've seen too, being a little farther away from the ball or being up on the edge. So it's really intriguing. This sounds like they've found a role for him and it's gonna be a little different than what we've been told in the past. Yeah,

I don't. I don't think Isaiah Simmons is going to make his career being an inside the box, inside the box, off the line of scrimmage linebacker. He's not going to be a middle linebacker, inside linebacker in a three four defense. That's just not who he is. It's not what his body type is. Um he's That would be a dereliction of his talent, it really would. He needs to be in space. He's a kind of player that moves um like a like a cornerback. He can run like a cornerback.

He's big, but he needs to be in space. And I'm not I'm not so sure either that that's off that coming off the edge. I really think Isaiah Simmons is when he's blitzing with speed and power, he's an effective blitzer, but out in space and the ability for him to move and make plays in space is really where he belongs for the majority of snaps. Okay, So there's being in space, and then there's being a deep center field safety, which we saw at times last year.

And there's being in space, and then there's being assigned a slot receiver, which could be part of a nickel package. Will I say, simm it's how comfortable are you with him in those sorts of roles. Well, he's comfortable with it because he did the majority of that at Clemson. In college, he played deep middle, he played deep safety, he played slot corner. So these are things that he's done throughout his college career and last year in the NFL as well the last two years in the NFL.

So that's something that he's comfortable with. I just don't think he's comfortable in the box. I don't think he's comfortable taking on three hundred and forty pound offensive lineman, and by the way, who is. But if they are going to make that commitment to really get him the reps and get him to be an inside linebacker off the line of scrimmage, those defensive interior defensive linemen have

to hold up against the offensive lineman. They can't allow those double teams to come up to the second level, chip off and get into the body of Isaiah Simmons, because if they do, he's just not big enough thickness wise to really to take on those guys, neutralize those guys, get off and make plays. By the way, the Cardinals reportedly signed a defensive lineman today by the name of

Antoine Woods, former Colts and Cowboys d lineman. He started a bunch of games from twenty nineteen through twenty twenty one with the Cowboys, so we might see him in camp real soon. But to your point about Isaiah Simmons and you know where exactly he's gonna play and is he really a weak side inside linebacker. Cliff Kingsbury has asked this we go, can you define, coach, what position he's playing and what we're supposed to call Isaiah Simmons

slash something. I don't know, Yeah, slash something. We're excited about the role he's in right now he can do. I mean, we'll have him rushed off the edge, we're having pressure, We'll have him play some safe team. We're trying to maximize what he has as a player, and that's a dynamic athlete, then go tackle the football. So it sounds like he's going to be that wild card. He's going to be that guy that when a quarterback breaks the huddle he's looking for number nine? Is that?

Is that sort of the way you're translating this, rob I think So as far as him playing safety, you're not going to take Jalen Thompson off the field. You're not going to take Buddha Baker off the field to replace him with Isaiah Simmons. You're just not. So how do you fit You have all these players that are similar in skill set, but you have only a limited

number of positions traditionally that they can play. So it's going to be interesting to see how they navigate this within a three to four concept of the front of the defensive line. Maybe maybe a four three look at times would be better. Would would play more effectively and allow him to roam a little bit on the outside and play that slot area more effectively. But as far as taking out Jalen Thompson or Buddha Baker, I don't see that happening. No, no, totally totally agree. And look, yeah,

it's a game of matchups and it is. I said this to Wolf last week. You know his position in Week one against Kansas City, the guy who covers Travis Kelsey, Right, yeah, I mean that's why he's been working with all these dbs and been going to the dB camps and everything. He's I mean, Travis Kelsey is an all pro tight end with wide receiver skills, and I'm guessing Number nine is going to be checking him most of that game.

And I have no problem with that, Paul. In basketball, you'd call it a boxing one where you have one guy playing playing man to man on Michael Jordan. Everyone else is playing zone. I'm okay with that. But let's let's define it. Let's get him comfortable with the reps in preseason, in training camp, and let's see what this

guy can do. By the way, speaking at DBS clip, Kingsbury told the media today the Cardinals are still on the market for a veteran corner and at Josh Jackson had a nice and impressive interception today during a seven on seven drill. My J. Sanders next on the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford in Gilbert to take it down by my James Sanders. It's a great job by my J. Sanders, starting a field and working inside third down to eight. They come with a voice again

and he's sprung down by Sanders. Oh, my my j my J. Sanders the first one on the set. Love watching this guy. My J. Sanders makes a great play and he found a way to make that into a highlight. Two time first team All Conference, former semi finalists for the Bednarik Award, awarded to the best defensive player in college football. Nine Cincinnati Bearcats drafted in this last draft,

hundredth pick overall Cardinals third round selection. My J. Sanders joins us on the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford in Gilbert, my j How you doing? How you doing? How I do? I'm doing good? Thank you for giving these opportunity. How's life in a Z so far? How you liking Arizona at this point? Uh? Other than man hot, it's all right? Yeah, you haven't had a brush with wildlife? Do you hear the story? Hollywood Brown? Like a couple of weeks into living here and he found a rattlesnake

in Yeah, he told me about Yeah? Did he? Did he him bell shoot a little bit? Did he did he tell you like he waged a big battle with it? Or did he just run for his life? What happened? I think he just rap his life. That's one good thing about when you're running four to three? Yeah, yeah, the rattlesnakes? I catch you? No, But wait a minute. Now,

you're from Jacksonville. Didn't you tell the media after you're drafted that that you were the one guy when it would hit seventy eighty degrees in Cincinnati, like you'd be wearing a sweatshirt. Yeah. Yeah, honestly, I'll be catching myself slipping and I have a sweatshirt on up here, but I had to take it off in the middle of

the day because I'm like, yeah, it's too hot. How does the Arizona heat compared to the floor to heat, I say, the Florida is more like like more like stuffy heat up here is just like just strictly just heat, you know, just surface of the sun. Yeah, yeah, that's good. All right, my j Sanders our guest. All right, so what do you think about life in the NFL so far?

We had Cameron Thomas on a few weeks back and he said that moment where he first put on an NFL jersey might have been a practice jersey, but just the helmet, just seeing the NFL logo was a moment for him. How about you, I'd definitely say when I when I first got here and I seen my name on the locker, but I feel like when I really come to come since it's uh, when I when we play against Cincinnati first preseason game and I really I can't wait, or maybe training camp because that's when we

put on pass again. So yeah, you know what we were talking and there's that first day of pads right where it's full go, full contact, full pads, and we were talking with the Lisidas right about maybe he might have to go against J. J. Watt. Yeah, how about you? Is there? I mean, is there sort of a guy over there like, Okay, wait a minute, I might have to match up with him. DJ Humphrey. You know that's the that's the odog and guard And I say guarding a tray tray mc brian my rookie mate, and I

would definitely say Guardian zach ERTs. Yeah, sure, absolutely. What do you think they're gonna find out about you? What's the NFL gonna find out about you? I know Steve Kim Cardinals GM right around the draft said, you know what, he played some of his best games in his biggest games, like when you went against Bama and Notre Dame. You would like if I was to grab some of your game film, would you say, start with those games? Yeah? I definitely say them two games, but I definitely say

my junior year when I played against Georgia. That was really one of the games that sparked a lot. So give me a self scattered report. What do you think Steve Kim and the Cardinals person old guys saw in your film? What's sort of players jes a play hard, a person that's gonna come to work every day, and I definitely say that they see that I'm I'm a playmaker in different ways, even though I was like maybe out of position the whole time I was in college.

And uh, I'll definitely say that they've seen that I'm I could be a person that can make plays and do a lot of different things on the field. Now, how so out of position, my j Sanders Cardinal's third round pick, you played the edge, didn't you at Sinse Yeah? I played more like filetech, like inside for four eyes and stuff like that, which is as the edge is like my position, my position, but outside linebacker is like way more. I feel way more comfortable at that position

standing up a lot. And that's where Evans Joseph has your right. It's Cardinal's defense. Yeah. In fact, we had your position coach in studio not too long ago, Charlie Bowl on the outside linebackers coach, we were talking about you. We're talking about Cameron Thomas. Here's your position coach. On the pair of third round rookies. They're tough guys that love ball in the attack. Two of their distinguishable traits coming out of college was their motor play, speed and effort.

So that's number one for us. Stay past that. They're both great people and they worked hard, so it was they were easy decisions for us in that regard. But um, we're fired up to have him, Yes, wolf coach from a little different coach. I'm harder man. They're rooks. They haven't earned anything yet, you know. I think also used the word fresh meat, so you know it's all right. So you guys have been good. So look, that's just life. Is a rookie, everybody goes through it. Camra Thomas was

in here. I asked for a word that described his game. He used relentless. Yeah. Uh, we call Cam the coach killer. So yeah, okay, how so I'll ask I'll ask the dumb guy question why coach killer? Because he I was talking to him earlier to telling him that he had to learn how to change his speed because the like we'll do stuff for that's seventy five percent and he will still go one hundred and twenty. But they're just how he is. He only had one speed. It's just

like the things he do. He go alway. He'll asked, you go, I love that he funny though in a game though, I mean, you're known for your motor, right, Yeah, how how far can a motor go in a pass rusher?

I mean, how valuable can that be? How productive can you be if you have that that trade you can do, You can do a lot of great things, especially if you just stayed doing it, because it's not that many people that want to block you every down, that want to keep going against that and just non stop because the play is always for at least forty six seconds, so it dude, not gonna want to be able to block, especially if you go after the play. So definitely, I've

heard a few of your coaches. In fact, I think it was GM Steve Kim as well on ro on Board with my J. Sanders here on the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert and they said, you know what, you easily could have had seven more sacks last year. Yeah, I let a lot of sacks away. Steve Kim also said that my J. Sanders was as disruptive as he was productive. So you feel like you were there, you were in position quite often, right, Yeah.

And it is about affecting the quarterback. I know, like Charlie Baalhen was talking about Dennis Gardack and he might not have had the sack numbers last year coming off the injury, but he said when you watch the film,

he was affecting the play and the quarterback. Ye to find that for us, what does that mean for a pass rusher just being in the quarterback way or just being in because at the end of the day, the quarterback he feels where you at, no matter what if you in front of him, on the side of him, if you just slightly tapped the quarterback show that he gonna feel it and he gonna know that you're coming

like one of these plays. And that was one of the biggest things that I just wasn't finishing in college. And that's one of the big things that I know I'm gonna have to get better at while I'm in the in the league, and I know coach bug gonna help me get through the finishing part. And you know the eyes are gonna be on that position, right minus Chandler Jones. Yeah, I mean this team, there was an opportunity for someone opposite Marcus Golden, is there not? Yeah,

it definitely is. Have you guys been told, hey, you know what you produce, you're gonna play. Yeah, we gotta we got as a me and Cam and Jesse, I say we had one to like some as rookiees. We had the biggest roles on the team because we had the biggest shoes to fill. And when the media asked you after the draft about Chandler Jones, yeah, you shut that down right away, didn't. Yeah. Yeah, any kind of those comparisons, nah, because you are you. You have some

of the same physical traits. You're long, you're lean, you're athletic. But but you want to know part of being compared to fifty five? Right? Who did you watch growing up? Who's whose film you know we had? You know, Kyle Vannenbosch, former pass Rusher, He's one of our broadcasters. And when we came in with Cameron Thomas they met each other, his eyes lit up bright. Cam's like, oh, Kyle van Eenbosch. He shook his hand, little extra you know, I'm vigorous

there with with the handshake. Who's the guy you watch growing up? You're like, man, I'd love to meet him as as I start on my career in the NFL. Uh Well, already met him forever. Von Miller though, nice. Yeah, von Miller is one of the dudes. I've always watched how so did he help you through your college career? Nah? I met pre draft training training in California and West Lakes um Proactive and I met him in Proactive and me and him chatted up. What do you respect out

of his game? By the way, von Miller? How he just played, He played relentless, he made plays. He made plays and don't need to be made and they usually don't get made. And uh, he's just different when it comes on to be on the field. H Miles Garrett too, sure? Those are Yeah, those are some big names. Absolutely a couple of all pros right there, My j Sanders, our guests on the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert. What are you looking forward to finding out

the most? You mentioned that game at Cincinnati right the preseason opener, just the NFL, the game in the NFL maybe camp when you guys go full pads, full contact. What are you looking forward to finding out? Is ething you're curious about? How hard is it to sack Tom Brady? He's on the schedule this year? Yeah, Christmas night, that would be good, There's no doubt. How that do you still write goals on your bathroom mirror. Yeah, you have to really, Yeah, can you share one for this year? Sat?

Tom Brady? Why Tom Brady? Why the infatuation with TV twelve? Because he just he just a goat, you know, and uh, he just so amazing just watching him. And uh, since I've been in college, that's always been like one of the biggest dances for me to do, and I'm I'm going to do it. Who's the first person you would tell if you get a sack of Tom Brady in the game's over and you grab your phone, who are here? You're gonna let know first what you just did? Probably

Von Miller? Well, hey, best of luck when camp starts. Best of luck preseason, regular season, Hey count me among those who are looking forward to seeing you play this year. And what exactly the Cardinals guy to Mike J. Sanders out of the third round, I appreciate you. There you go, My J. Sanders will come back and continue to roll on. Here The Big Red Rage presented by Sam tan Ford and Gilbert we Are satan Ford Honnor runs left, He's

down to the five. It keeps defeat cobbing James Connor is into the ends up or the touchdown James Connor with a second score of the day, and the Cardinals are right back in this game. You want to be smart with James first off, made sure that he's healthy going in a week one. He's a guy that wants to practice all the time. He goes as hard as he can every rep. So you want to make sure we're smart there. And then those other guys are gonna

battle it out. Excited to have Darryl veteran presence, very smart player, and then he talks about him multiple times so far he's come and what he did this ring. And then Jonathan Ward has stepped up every year, and then obviously the rookies that we brought in. So it's going to be great competition. It's a talent and great Yeah. It's arguably the most loaded position room on the roster

right now, Cart's camp under away. It is the Big Red Rage presented by Santanford in Gilbert Paul Calvesi, Rob Frederckson, former Cardinals linebacker, and James Connor, the Pro Bowl running back who will hear from momentarily just how realistic it might for him to go ahead and match his eighteen touchdowns from a year ago. An unbelievable Pro Bowl season for James Connor. But we have more breaking news during

this edition of The Big Red Rage, Rob. First, we had the development that the Cardinals had removed the homework clause, the independent study addendum from Kyler Murray's contract, And now they have issued a brief statement and it reads as follows. After seeing the distraction it created, we removed the addendum from the contract. It was clearly perceived in ways that

were never intended. Our confidence in Kyler Murray is as high as it's ever been, and nothing demonstrates our belief in his ability to lead this team more than the commitment reflected in this contract up to two hundred and thirty point five million dollars worst. So there you go,

trying to put this past him. And as we know from the press commerence earlier, the imprompt to unannounced press conference by Kyler Murray this afternoon, Rob, Kyler did decline to answer a couple of times whether he was upset with the clause or now now it's non existent, they've removed it from the contract. Yeah, it's it's time to move forward. Clean slate. You know, I don't I don't see I don't think he could have been too disappointed with it, given the fact that he signed the contract.

But that's neither here nor there. Now it's it's over, It's it's behind us. Let's put it behind us, and let's move forward with the season. My J. Sanders, we just start from maybe a quick word in any impressions, any reactions to what he how about is tom Brady comment? There at the end, I asked him for a goal this season. He immediately said, I got to sack tom Brady. He said, I've always wanted to do it ever since college. And then he ended by saying, quote, and I'm gonna

do it, sack tom Brady. I love the confidence. And look, you know, when you're out there playing, you don't you don't necessarily think about in the moment who you're playing against us as a player. You don't. You don't think about, oh my goodness, that's that's tom Brady there. You're You're just you're trying to do what you're supposed to do, do within the scheme and the defense and get to the quarterback whoever it is, whoever you maybe after the play you'll see that it's tom Brady. But I love

his enthusiasm. I love his vigor, and I think he's going to be a huge Asian to this outside rush for the Arizona Cardinals this year. And it's interesting he said in his opinion he was playing out of position at Cincinnati, that he was playing more five technique and that he's really comfortable at outside linebackers. So I think everybody is looking forward to seeing you know what that

might mean in the Cardinals defense. And in get opinion, I mean, if there's one rookie position out there where you can plug and play, I mean third and long, second and long, a situational pass rusher, right, you can just unleash young guy even if he doesn't have a ton of experience in the league. Yeah, that's that's the perfect position because there's there's relatively little in terms of

responsibilities other than to keep contain. And I love the fact that he said that he's work worked with von Miller to gain knowledge from from one of the best pass rushers to ever play this game, to learn different techniques. Those are things that are going to carry over onto the field in training camp and onto the field in the preseason as well. Yeah, he describes himself as relentless, he said, not many offensive linemen want to block you all play every play, So that's what he that's what

he prides himself on. How about James Connor, he want relentless, just the sort of physicality brought last year and then something beyond that. We saw the athleticism, We saw his ability to catch the ball, and then we saw his nose for the end zone. And James Connor asked by the media this week if those numbers from a year ago, in particularly those eighteen touchdowns, if it's realistic he can

match that here in twenty twenty two. Absolutely, Yeah, I'm shooting for more schwan win ball games and do everything we can. But he's very realistic. Training like no other this year. You feel like I'm in dog shape, so ready to rule. And of course he's in dog shape, rob because he trained a lot of the offseason with Aaron Donald, his former teammated pit So yeah, you got a figure he's in good shape. Absolutely, you're gonna train with Aaron Donald, You're you're in for it. But you

know you're right, Paul. Just the biggest surprise last year. Everyone knew that he was a grinder, that he was a you know, just a put put your head down and run over you a type of running back, but just the athleticism, the one handed catches, the ability to get out there and make plays in the passing game. That to me was the most pleasant surprise to James

Connor's game that we saw last year. And you know, if he can continue that, if he can continue that aspect of his game this season and stay healthy, I certainly believe that he can continue to put up the numbers that we saw last year. And you know what, at the same time, true or false, when the Cardinals were really rolling last year, it's when they had Chase Edmonds and James Connor firing, and they were alternating those

two guys and they were keeping fresh legs. Over the second half of last season, and especially the last month and a half, they seemingly had one or the other due to injuries, and it just wasn't the same run game. Yeah, the days of the one running back being the bell cow that those days are over. It's it's really by committee now because those that position takes so much impact, takes so many hits from from defenders every play, whether you're blocking or out in your passing routes or running

the ball. So to have that that complimentary back with James Connor, I think will only help James Connor. And if that's Darryl Williams, if that's you know, if that's you know, Benjamin or maybe even the rookie Keyante Ingram. You know, there's there's some depth here at this running back group that I think really could surprise some people. Minus DeAndre Hopkins, especially the first six games, you think it'll be a different offense. Do you think the Cardinals

commit more to the run. I know it's a loaded question, but what's your expectation. I think when the Cardinals were really rolling, when they were really humming last year, they were dedicated to that running game and it didn't always have to be effective, it didn't always have to be productive. That just had to be there so that it really helped with the play action pass and you got these tight ends. Now you got mix Max Williams back. He's a great blocker. I think the running game is going

to be strong this year. Right once again recapping the news that went down during this edition of The Big Red Rage that Cardinals have removed the independent study clause from Kyler Murray's contract and just citing the distraction it created, how that was unintended and according to the statement they put out that nothing demonstrates the Cardinals belief and Kyler's ability to lead the team more than the commitment reflected

in the franchise record contract. So there you go. Special thanks to my j Sanders, the rookie pass rusher, for joining us. A reminder Cardinals single game tickets available now at ECY Cardinals dot com slash tickets to secure your seats today, Rob Frederson, thank you very much. Special thanks to Jim Almahondro and Zach Larson and Paul KELBC. This has been the Big Red Rage presented by santan four King Gilbert Number one. You've been listening to the Big

Red Race presented by Santanford in Gilda. Are you Santanford State Farm Talk to an Agent today at eight hundred State Farm and by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts. Visit acy Cardinals dot com Slash podcasts. This has been an exclusive presentation of the Arizona Cardinals Football Club