Big Red Rage - Chasing The American Football Dream

Talk to an agent today at eight hundred State Farm, And by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts Visit acy Cardinals dot Com, Slash Podcasts, The rod Scen, Rising Guard, Temperatureizing Vision, Flurring Rage, taking it over. Here's Paul cal VC. Get the popcorn ready. It's gonna be a show and Ron will flee. It doesn't get any better than that horn unleash the far.

Simply put, if the Sons are going to make a run into late June, then we have absolutely no problem calling an audible and giving you a Wednesday edition of The Big Red Rage in between games of the Western Conference Finals. Especially Wolf, Since what one DeAndre did to the Bills, another DeAndre just did to the Clippers, did he not? That is a great way to say it. Polly truly incredible the value Polly lives and I'll tell

you what a great night for mandatory Psycho. Yes, Bernhard psychovis who who really was the inspiration the trash talking in German. Whether the translation was accurate or not, it doesn't matter, but the tweet was out there, and you know what, he set the tone for the Lakers series. And now it's beat La times two as the Clippers are in town and Sons are on their way hopefully to the NBA Finals, and we are often running on the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert.

We are Santanford, Paul kelvc Ron Wolfley and soon to be joined by the Cardinals player from the International Pathway Program, Bernhard Psychovits and wolf Let's just say he made a comment in the offseason that I think is going to make him one of your favorite guys, just based on the mentality and mindset of the guy we're calling Psycho. So, Paully, what exactly are you talking about? Because I actually had the opportunity to meet Bernhard Psycho bits. Really there's a

name drop. Wow, Okay, right out of the gate we get a flex from Ron Wolfley, no doubt about it. Paully had the chance to meet him, and let me just say I was very, very hopeful after our conversation just talking to him. Psycho is what he prefers to be called, right, not obviously in the terms of a psycho path, but he goes by Psycho. That's what everybody calls him. Of course, everybody he's been in the locker

room with, they call him Psycho. And that's what I'm gonna call him tonight when we talk to him, not Bernhard, I'm calling him Psycho. That's his nickname. That's what he goes by, even in the locker room balling. Well, look, you guys share one thing in common. It might be the only thing, but it's a big thing, and it's the reason you both play and played the game of football.

We'll get into that a little bit later. We do know that one other definite directive from the top the GM, Steve Kim, was to find guys who love the game of football this offseason to the point where you know what they're gonna bring, the leadership, they're gonna bring the physicality and right out of the gates Wolf. Because you've talked about it over and over again and I think it's what all eyes are gonna be on when the preseason starts, especially when the regular season starts in Tennessee

Week one. Steve Kim on that leadership that he hope just permeates that entire locker room. Here's the GM two of our offseason goals. I think that really stand out to me was becoming more physical as a football team and adding leadership to our locker room. And I think that in many respects, I call itself policing your locker room, which we can't go home with these guys at night. We can't tell them how much tape to watch. They have to do it on their own. They have to

have the passion and the want to. And those three editions, certainly, in my opinion, have really raised the bar for us in that respect. And he's talking about JJ Watt and Rodney Hudson and AJ Green in particular, all three guards guys part of that twenty eleven draft class. And to me, Wolf, he's trying to change the DNA of this team from the inside out. No, that is a great way of

putting it, Paully right there. It's all about your leaders walking around and modeling what it is that you believe in and how they play, how they go about their business, Paul, In the game of football, do you think knocking people to the ground is a big deal? Do you think

that is big that checks a big box, Paully. Do you think there are players that respect that when they see another guy knock another man to the ground, right, or whip another man physically, Whether you're running a route and you do it in a physical way, aj Green, whether you're line up and your JJ want and you arm under, rip on somebody, get the edge, make a sack, just physically whip somebody. Man. This game is about beating people. It's about driving people into the ground. It still is, PAULI.

Even though it's not nearly as brutal as at once was. This game is still about forcibly removing another man from the line of scrimmage. It will always be about that. And when you do that, and when you do it well, Paul, the respect level just goes up in the locker room tremendously. And then that guy who's got all that cred, all that respect, walks around and then challenges his teammates to do the same thing. It's a mentality, Paul, that takes over a locker room. And it's not just the addition

of a JJ Water, Rodney Hudson and AJ Green. It's the addition of a Brian Winners, a Maller right card his job to lose. It's the addition of a big back, of bruising running back like James Connery two. And then you have even a cornerback like Malcolm Butler. A quick anecdote, I had a chance to talk with Rob Moore, former Cardinals greater receiver, now the receiver's coach for the Tennessee Titans. What was the last team for Malcolm Butler? And where

is he coming from? Yeah, Tennessee, Paul and so there. And as soon as I mentioned Malcolm Butler, Rob Moore said, oh, oh, he'll fight you on every down, now, street rat, Yeah, that was the way. That's by design, is it not? Wolf? I mean, Steve conn went out and targeted these guys. I guess my question is why what did he see?

Obviously there are needs and wants every offseason, why did he target this particular area right Bally, First of all, let me just say I was answering your question rhetorically, of course, right because I assume that's how you asked it. Right there was Tennessee indeed, of course. And let me just say this right now that when you bring a guy like Malcolm Butler in right now, Paul, you're you're you're what do I call you? I call you the wolverine. That's what I call you. Why do I call you that?

Because you don't want to back Paul KELVC to a corner place the staff all right, I see him to take a bottle over the head. Now listen, Paul, I'm not going to talk about that right now. I'm just saying there are guys. It doesn't matter what your size are, what your size is, I should say, there are guys that go out there on the field and they play much bigger than their stature. Malcolm Butler is that guy.

He is a dog through and through. And Paulie, this is what Steve kind clearly when you look at the six names that you wrote down, here are there are guys on this list. When you're talking about Malcolm Butler, James Connor, Brian Winters, JJ Watt, Rodney Hudson, and AJ Green, those guys are all dogs. And now you put him in a locker room that has some notable dogs as well,

including guys like Marcus Golden and Chandler Jones. I expect really good things from this culture change, the physicality, the accountability, that leadership. Buddha Baker was talking about the defense and his quote this offseason was quote, we're able. We're now able to hold each other accountable. Yeah, that's something that guys haven't really done the past few years, hold each other accountable. That's Buddha Baker, all Pro Safety talking about.

There was a need for that accountability. So yeah, that sort of leadership. Yeah, that physicality, and when it comes to the XS and os, I'm real curious, Well, if what does this mean, for example, in the Cardinals run game. Yes, for example, here's DJ Humphries when Sean Coogler was promoted to run game coordinator. Right, and that was back in January.

Here's what the Cardinals left tackle had to say. I know who Cooks is, and I know if he's involved, I know we're gonna be downhill and we're gonna be running that people, and we're gonna be physical because that's just what he coached. That's that's who we are as a unit. I'm so excited. Congratulations to him, super excited for my guy Coops. So to what degree, and I've said this for years, are the Cardinals about to hit

the big red rees? Said Button again, Wolf, And do you expect the offense to look a little different, especially that run game? I do, Polly, I do you know? Again, it is going to be the biggest thing that I'm looking for going into the regular season. I don't know how much we're gonna see during preseason. Of course, only three preseason games, and once again we know that Cliff Kingsbury likes to play it very close to the vest and not tip his hand in any way, shape or form.

So I don't know if we're going to see it in the preseason. But man, I am certainly interested in how the Arizona Cardinals in rundown situation are going to line up and whether or not with a guy like James Connor who's two hundred and thirty two pounds, even Chase Edmonds runs the ball very well in between the tackles. To see them line up and actually try to hammer the ball in between the tackles, that to me is

the biggest question I have going into training camp. How often are you going to put Kyler Murray under center, and what kind of play action game are you going to tie into that off that hammering of the box. We know he has a brand new center and Rodney Hudson. The question on that offensive line is right guard. We mentioned Brian Winners six four three, twenty and eight year vet with the Jets in Buffalo most recently. You got Justin Murray who's had seven starts a year ago at

thirteen starts twenty nineteen. Josh Jones, the rookie third rounder yesterday from last year that is six seven three ten right, four year starter at left tackle at Houston. He's in the mix. Max Garcia is in the mix, but once again, Brian Winners is the guy they target in free agency. Here's the GM on the potential starting right guard. The addition of Brian Winners excites me. He's a guy that I've watched for years, dating back to Kent State when

he came out. Really physical player, smart, really good quickness in a short area, and I think he does a great job in pass protection. So he's a guy that certainly will have a chance to compete. Not a lot of position battles going into camp I'm thinking cornerback two perhaps, you know, I mean, you have some different but right guard is probably gonna be the biggest position battle I would imagine going into camp. No, you're right about that,

Bally right guard right justin Murray. Of course, maybe Josh Jones getting some reps at right guard as well, Brian Winners. It's gonna be Yeah, that's gonna be one of the

more hotly contested positions. Baali. And you know your point about what will Cliff Kingsbury show in the preseason, because year number one, twenty nineteen, he showed nothing and what happened the first half of the first game was arguably the worst half of offensive football the Cardinals have played in the Cliff Kingsbury era against Detroit right they didn't have a preseason last year. And remember on the Coaches Show he said as much that he regretted and perhaps

learned a lesson. So I'm wondering how much more they do show this August in the three preseason games about it. Sometimes you gotta line up and just be better than your opponent. Paul, will we come back. We're gonna line up and unleash mandatory Psycho bernhard'sych of. It's next on The Big Red Rage. How did you get into football? Well?

What was that process like? If if you getting introduced to the sport as a kid coming from Europe, every young kid starts with soccer, but I never really enjoyed it a lot. What I like most about football is like the physicality and you can do stuff you can really not do in real life, Like you can hit people and you can lose your mind. Basically, I don't know that really excites me and I couldn't find it

in soccer. Well, if there you go. That's the answer to the question we pose in the first segment here and the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert. What do you four time Special Team Pro Bowler and Wedgebuster have in comment with Bernhard's psyche it's one of the newest Arizona Cardinals and if nothing else, mentality and mindset, physicality, Polly, that's what we have, Ding Ding Ding when her chickened and her yeah, I mean there's no way he could

have continued to be a quarterback over in Europe. You know, good thing he changed positions. We can't answer. It's all about you presented by Santan Ford in Gilbert and when no further ado Bernhard's psychists joins us on the big red rate. Bernard, how are we doing tonight? That's so guys, I'm great. How are you doing great? Now? Is it okay if I call you Psycho? Because I've met you, right, I've met you, and I hope you remember meeting me

in the conversation that we had. I am the color analyst for the Arizona Cardinals, and I hope it's okay if I call you Psycho? Is that all right? Bernhard? Of course yes, I remember the meeting. You told me the first thing you told miss that you love playing chickoff. It was it was so liberating. If you can imagine Psycho running down the field and there were four men that were three hundred pounds the size of Saturn's third moon, and you had to take two of those men out

to the wedge. Is no longer allowed in the game of football. And that is what I did for ten years. And Buddy, I gotta tell you, I think you would have been really really good at sticking your face onto a man's sternum and breaking it. I'll tell you what I tell you what he remembers. That's his first takeaway. Wolf. His other takeaway, I guaranteed is who's the guy with a pro wrestler voice? That's that's his other takeaway. Right, I'm talking to a guy. Now, wait a bit of ball.

It's like, oh, I've got to ask you this right off the top two? What is the best food in Austria? Oh, the best food. I gotta go with the schnitzel. Oh, I think it's also something you know, Yes, the schnitzel. Okay, that to be right there, I'd have to go to Vienna, all right, in order to get the best with the last name like wolf Ley and your German heritage. I mean, you know, it's all about the schnitzel with the wolf. Let let's just put it that way. What are you

missing the most from Austria in the homeland, Bernhard? What are you missing the most being here in Arizona? Um? First off, I really felt really welcomed at the Cardinals, and everybody took great care of me. So it was a really smooth transition for me. Um. Even um, even though I don't have family or any friends are new from before over here. Um. But to be honest the most, Like the biggest thing I miss is the family of course, like missing seeing them all the time and my granddad

and all that. Um. Um. So I'm really looking forward going back home for for like short two weeks before I come back again. Um. But to be honest them, it's been pretty good over here, so I haven't been homesick or anything. So how is it going for you here your experience in the National Football League? How's it going? Um, It's going pretty pretty good, um, I believe. I mean we're practicing hard every day, um um, putting everything in we have. Um. Um. The transition so far has been

really smooth. As I said, um Um, I came in and I thought it would be a little bit more up temple, but I guess the okas this year are um I don't know how to say it, but like we only had helmets on and stuff like that, so um, it wasn't too taxing on the body. Um. But I guess for a rookie that's good because you can kind of smooth in there. But yeah, it's it's been pretty good. Um. I'm still trying to meet everybody at the facility, which

is pretty hard for me. Remembering all the names and stuff. Um, but I'm gonna get there. The last time he met the media, and we're on board with Bernhard's Psyche it's newest Arizona Cardinals. Tight end. You were still in quarantine in a hotel room. You had just arrived from Europe. So what have you learned so far about the NFL

that perhaps you didn't know? Um? I mean I came in prepared to kind of this business monster the NFL, like the cup throat style, but I've I've as I said, I walked into a facility everybody welcome with open arms, so I didn't really feel any of that. Um. It's it's honestly, it's just been a great experience and I have fun every day I walk in there and get

to work. And that's also really rewarding because all the time playing in Europe and like not getting anything out of the sport except for playing the sport that you love with your friends. But now you even get like like a reward, like actual money reward, which is really cool for me. M Yeah, that's probably the biggest change for me. Psycho are you Are you honestly a celebrity

over in Austria? Right, I mean, how many guys are playing in the National Football League, How many guys actually have the opportunity to play in the National Football League walking around Austria, do do your friends know that? How

big of a deal is that? I mean, I don't want to say it's like a really big deal, but of course, like the football community in Austria which is growing every day, I guess everybody knows about it, and people are really intrigued by it, especially the young players that I've even coached at the Vikings and all the other teams are really like happy for me and into it, because that's everybody's dream, even if you grow up in Austria.

Of course it seems so far away. But if if, even if only if one guy makes it, or like gets a chance in the NFL to make it, that fuels a lot of young kids all went off to in Europe. I've been talking to kids from Germany, from Swiss. I mean a lot of people people reached out to me, and it's it's just really humbling to see what kind of like effect you have on young people back home.

Very cool Bernhard's side. If it's our guests from the International Pathway Program on the Cardinals roster competing for a spot and Wolf. To answer your question, just go ahead and go to Twitter and check the hashtag German bird Gang, Okay or Vienna Vikings. I mean, yeah, he's a big deal, no doubt about it. Going back to how you got into football, you said, if I saw this correctly, you fell in love with football after your first Oklahoma drill.

Is that accurate? Yes, that's accurate. I mean I'm back in the days in Vienna. The coaches used to be pretty old school, I would say, so the first thing the rookies would do is like tackling drills and one

really big tackling drillers of course, the Oklahoma drill. And still to this state, I always see the young guys, the under ten guys doing tackling drews and Oklahoma drews, and yeah, like the first d it I felt weird at the first, but I don't know, I kind of enjoyed it, and yeah, that's what made me stick to the sport. So Psycho, I was a fullback for ten years in the National Football League, a blocking fullback. They did not give me the ball. I had twenty three

receptions in ten years. If you can imagine that twenty three in ten years. So those are all checked out. Knock it off, Paul, it was not they hit me in the flat on multiple occasions. Okay, UM, how many times would you like to be put into a three point stance in the I formation? I'll ask you that, would you are you are they putting you in that? Or would you like to be put at that? Um? As of right now, I have not been put in that, but I will, of course do whatever coach asks for me.

I'm not afraid of any challenge. I think, Um, if it helps you to you, of course I would do that. Um. But I also think that I have upsides in the catching game, of course, passing game. Um. But yeah, I just enjoyed playing the sport. I've played numerous positions growing up, and I've enjoyed every one of them. So I don't think it would be a problem for me. Okay, Psycho on that note right there, would rather catch a touchdown pass or knock somebody on their butt? I think I

think those are pretty much on the same level. Um. Like I really enjoyed like the physical physicality of the game. Yes, um, and when you just man handle another guy that is a grown up man just like you are. That's that's a really great feeling. But also, um, running away from someone or choking someone else to catch to touch some it's also a really vorting feeling for me. That's a

good answer right there. We'll see Wolf had a regroup with another question because he failed yet again to put a fullback into Cliff Kingsbury's offense, so he had to change directions and call an audible right there. You know, when you met the media initially, you said that you felt like you're ready to compete at this level. Have you proved? Has that proven? Have you seen from what you've seen? How confident are you you can compete when

training camp comes around? Um? So, of course, growing up overseas, UM, I never watched the NFL game live, so I could never or college games, so I could never see how big the buddies really are or how fast they move. Um. So the biggest thing for me coming over here, the first thing I wanted to see for myself is how big are they? How fast are they? U? And even as I said, we didn't do any like we just had helmets on, so we didn't go head to head or like man on man blocking or any of this.

But seeing that from the physical standpoint, I'm right with those guys gave me confidence in myself. So now it's just, um, can I play better football than those guys? Um? Can I learn the playbook faster? And yeah, especially things like learning the playbook? I think that's one hundred percent on me. So if I really study my playbook, which I am, UM, I think I can show the coaches that I'm a fast learner. And UM, I hope they start trusting me

more and more. And who knows what happens after this. Um, how do you say I'm going to kick your butt in German? How do you say that? Do you know how to do that? Psycho? I mean yeah, it would be created at the end in ash. I don't know what you said, but I like, yeah, well it sounds like you just change one letter at the end of that three letter work. That's what you just How Psycho, how is the playbook and learning the offense? How is it coming to you? Is it? Is it easier than

you thought it was going to be? Um? No, it's not. I mean I expected I expected the worst, of course, Um. Coming from Europe, always here the exotic playbooks and how many players you have? UM. But UM, Lucky for me, UM, we ran a similar UM like scheme back in Vienna, also like spread offense no hutle offense. So I'm so I'm used to a lot of UM, a lot of

the thinking behind the playbook. UM. Of course it's all new words and how we call stuff and UM and all that, but UM, the general idea behind UM the scheme is pretty similar. So I guess that helped me. UM. So, so it's going pretty good. I would sorry. In fact, Drew Grigson was on director of player Personnel here on the Big Red Rage recently, and I think the question let's find out was indeed about you and your ability to pick things up in the playbook rolling bernhardake it.

I've been impressed with him already, just with him picking up what we've thrown at him so far. He hasn't been swimming in it. I thought that's where he would be at this point. And you know, with that allocation, we may again lucky with that one. There you go, that's a nice compliment coming from one of the decision makers right there. And I know you told the media maybe it was the German media that you do have

a chip on your shoulder. A lot of guys come in a chip on their shoulder for various reasons, you know, their draft status, what have you. Even Tom Brady still has that chip on his shoulder pad right from being a six round pick. And to you, it was sort of that international angle, right that in your words you said, and you can elaborate on this, you know, hey, for the most part, no one thinks I can play football because I'm coming from Austria. Is there some accuracy to that?

That's exactly how it's still a few But no offense to any of the coaches over here, of course. I mean if I would be in their shoes, I would probably few of the same because they have never been in contact with football in auster or even an auster and football player, So how would they know that we

actually played football over there in Austere. But um, yeah, I mean, as I said, every day I come in, UM, I try to make the best of it and I try to prove that I'm um not just another guy or um not just the international guy um that is here. But I'm trying to prove that I, um actually can't play. So it'sycho. What is Salzburg like sis Book? Yes, Um Sizbook is a really nice um. It's it's it's not not as big as Vienna Um not not not as many people there, but it's a really historic place. A

lot of old like houses and um Um palace. You could say, I guess like Villa's fortress, a really big ski resort. They got a fortress there, a castle there somewhere. A lot of castles in austri and general are almost every like hill there's castle, So you could since you can really start getting into all the medieval time and trying to think high wall aspect, then let's just say Wolf is really excited if the NFL plays international games

in Germany and the Cardinals are in one of those games. Yeah, is there one guy who's really last question, real quick, one guy has really impressed you, Bernhard, one guy like man, whether it's J. J. Watt or Kyler Murray, is there this one guy You're like, Wow, Okay, that's the NFL. Um. Of course, when I first saw J. J. Watt, I was impressed by his cusique, but more in my position, I'm really impressed by Max, Like how detailed he knows everything.

Like for us Rucaus, it's like when we talk over stuff, it like we have to think about it a little bit and then we come up with the right answer most of the time. But for him it's like shooting out of the pistol. So um, I kind of set my benchmark there to like, that's how I went on all the playbook and um. And Max Williams is a big time guy to emulate, no doubt about. Thank you back right after this on the Big Red Rage. All right, thank you guys, thank you. Second down and ten back

to throw flack oh sacked by guardack. Oh, my goodness, what a move by Dennis Gardak. The barbarian came inside hair, flying blacko in the pocket, gonna get hit and sack Dennis Gardak got him again. And then Dennis Gardak doing an interesting sack dance where he just kind of bounced back and forth on his feet with his hands out, palms up. I don't know what he was asking for. What is good? Guard Dennis Gardak got up and did a little barbarian dance around the fire as one of

the two popular sack dances he had. One was titled hit the Strobe so there was, there was I'm trying to remember the other one. Um, but you know, seven sacks in ninety three defensive snaps. I mean, think about that production. It's just a good ball absurd. It is a big red rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert. We are santan Ford special thanks to Bernhard's psychovits. How about that? That was outstanding on so many levels. Wolf. How about the news that the Oklahoma drill is alive

and well in Europe? How about that? Yeah, not a surprise, right there, Paulie. Honestly, you line up and see who's the better man on any given play. Let me tell you, it is a tribal thing to do. It truly is the most intense part of practice you'll ever see or

ever come across. And after three months here in Arizona, he's an official resident because he survived one eighteen and he survived what six straight days of one fifteen plus, so boom, he's officially a resident of the az So looking forward to seeing what he brings in camp, especially when they put on the pads and we'll see how he holds up at the point of attack. No surprise that he's been oppressed by Max Williams, who's able to

excel one of those duel tight ends. And then how could you not be impressed by what Dennis Gardeck did a year ago. The only reason he got into that Jets game Wolf was because it was a dire emergency. There was Chandler Jones in the sideline. I vividly remember MetLife Stadium, eighty thousand seats all empty. We're on the mezzanine level, and you could hear this sideline better than you could in a regular game when you're standing on the sideline. It was just it was And then there's

Chandler with a torn biceps tendon and Guardeck. No one truly knew what was going to happen. Give me your take as you look back now on what he was able to accomplish last year rushing the past. Well, Paula, you've already said it right there. I mean the fact he had seven sacks and ninety three snaps, that is just a ridiculous ratio right there. I that's got to be Lawrence Taylor's stuff. And yet here's a guy that does it completely different than Lawrence Taylor did it. Because

he's a motor guy. That's what he is. He's a guy that is an effort guy, a guy that plays very very well in transition on special teams, special teams captain of course for the Arizona Cardinals. But you know what, listen, he's just a guy that you can bring in and get some quality snaps from and that is fantastic. I love the fact that Dennis Gardeck is going to be part of this team going forward. He ended up second in sacks on the Cardinals defense. Think about that. And

that's despite missing the last two games. Because remember the bad news was Week fifteen against Eagles. Down goes Guardeck with a torn ACL and he's been rehabbing big time. In fact, you go to Acy Cardinals dot com and or Darren Rman, he talked with Guardek and got the latest. Now, look, he tore an ACL in high school, So good news, bad news. Yeah, he retour it. But the good news is he's been through it and so he thinks he's on track. It's still uncertain exactly when or whether he'll

be on POP to start the season. Of fact, Cliff Kingsbury asked about guardex timetable Dennis I wouldn't put anything past Innis. I mean, he looks great, sound like he's ahead of schedule by all accounts, and so we'll see how he feels going into training camp. But if he's not ready for the start, I would expect him to be ready soon thereafter. And we know how the Cardinals feel about him. They gave him a second round tender, so he's gonna earn two million plus this year. He

was a restricted free agent. But we'll think about it. Think about that Cardinals pass rush hit zoom out. Yeah, you have Chandler Jones coming back from the torn by j R. JJ Watt, I mean, Marcus Golden. And then if Dennis Gardeck is actually available and he's anywhere near as effective as last year, Yeah, pretty stout pass rush I got. I gotta throw in Chandler Jones of course, JJ Watt, Jordan Phillips, I gotta throw Jordan Phillips in there,

and Marcus Golden. Those four guys right there, um, light up and get to the Q man, get home to the quarterback right there, and then you throw in guys like Dennis Gardeck. No doubt about that. Balsam effort. Guys right there I'm really excited about it. When you think that the Arizona Cardinals were number five in sacks per attempt, it's a much better way to quantify what kind of pressure you're actually getting on a quarterback sacks per attempt.

And to think there were number five in the National Football League without Chandler Jones staggering, Jordan Phillips getting hurt as well, it just, honestly, Paul, that number, to me is really really encouraging, and hopefully they can do a better job with their rush defense, do a better job with the in the box bringing up third and obvious pass situations, third and seven, third and eight, third and ten, because you're shutting it down, you're shutting down the run,

You're doing a good job and rundown situations. You're getting to those third and obvious pass situations and then you can let the dogs eat your Cliff Kingsbury, your defensive coordinator, Advanced Joseph. You're going into camp just over a month away. What are some of the big questions you want answered on defense? And keep in mind the GM Steve Kime is allocated nearly one hundred five five million in cap space to the defense, which is the fifth most on

that side of the ball in the NFL. So it's been a point of emphasis and the investment has been there in terms of salary cap dollars. My question you is, what do you think the coaches want an answer to by the time they're done with camp. You tell me how those inside linebackers are going to play, Polly right now, you tell me Osavian Collins and Isaiah Simmons are going to play, not only physically, of course, going about their business playing inside linebacker. Paul would just say, that's a

physical position in the National Football League. If it isn't, you're in trouble. Yeah, put your mouthguard in and you better have all four buckles buckled up, because it is going to hurt playing inside linebacker and the National Football League, it's a very physical position. The only thing that pals to that is the mental side of playing inside linebacker in the National Football League. It's even more intense than the physicality. You've got to know exactly what you're doing.

You've got a not only defenses in the responsibilities of other guys that line up in the box, but you also have to have all the checks. What happens if formation strength changes, what happens if they're in this personnel group. It's all game plan and you've got to know the checks that come with it, Paul, And a lot of times those happen. Oh boy, here comes jet motion. It happens quickly and you've got to be able to call it out for everybody. So is that realistic? I mean,

should our boxers, should our collective boxers be bunging right now? No? I was bunging last year about Isaiah Simmons playing in the box as a week side inside linebacker and trying to move them all over. Let's put them all over the play. Now, they did move them over, but it was in selective plays. It wasn't like they were putting it moving them all all over the place so we could make all sorts of plays. PAULI. Yeah, of course there's going to be a learning experience for Zaven Collins here.

There's going to be a learning curve. Man. But you know what, Hey, sometimes you just got to throw dudes into the fire and see how they come out of it. You know what gives me solace, You know what gives me confidences? Advanced Joseph has been through this to a large degree when he was on the Niners defensive staff, when they had Patrick Wilson, Navarro Bowman's and when Patrick Guilis was that rookie and he started from day one,

just like Zavan Collins's schedule to start. So at least you have a defensive coordinator who's been there and done that. And based on what Van Joseph told us recently on the Big Red Rage, he's going to simplify things accordingly. Right, Yes, no, absolutely, boy, I think you're right about that. That is an astute observation in a great comparison as well, that being the forty nine ers and Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman. I

think the same dynamic to some degree exists here. My second question will be about that defense will be the corner position and that secondary in general, Paulie, how did those corners come together? Right, We've got some X would prospects. If Robert Alford, of course, if Byron Murphy playing on the slot, Malcolm Butler the dog, how's he going to play?

And how are they going to come together? And mention that secondary, that's my second question, as once again Vance Joseph would love to put his two corners on an Island, then dial up the other nine guys. Right, but but Kenny Willie, will he have that ability with a Malcolm Butler and Robert Alford, or perhaps if Byron Murphy or one of the young guys, the Tay Gallen's or Marco

Wilson's make a run and get some playing time. We'll see Cardinals last year finished number twelve in the NFL and points allowed per game, see if they can get into that top ten. We'll continue with a Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert. Right after this, are you ready for the n Yes, jaj want signed to the Cardinals. Yes, let's just say that video went viral. A couple of Cardinal fans, mom with her young fan right there and forming her him of the news that

the Cardinals had inked jj Watt. Once the tweet came out from jj watt the official account, we realized it wasn't some sort of photoshop, that it was legit and you know what, channeling the reaction from basically every member of the Red Sea that jj Watt is on board. As we wrapped this edition of the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert, we are Santa Ford, Paul calBC, Ron Wolfley and wolf It was impressive to

watch JJ Watt. I know it's mini camp. I know they have on shorts and helmets and no shoulder pads. But you're looking for leadership, you got leadership. He was a guy who led off every single drill. He's very vocal, he's bringing tons of energy, he's setting the tone. So so far, so good. I'm what the Cardinals have seen

out of many camps. One of the things I've really appreciated about JJ Watt and just listening to JJ Watt Pauly, is his willingness to walk up to teammates and challenge them and question them, what are you doing Guys that you stare down, so to speak, Guys that you know can help you win games, and if in fact they're not doing what they should be doing. The accountability inside a locker room is so important. Paul, Just stop and think about how important that is that you got teammates

that care enough about you. And this is one of the fascinating things about listening to JJ Watt talking about his approach getting to know each and every guy and getting to know what makes him tick. So what so we could walk up on them and do it out of love and yet be stern and let them know, I'm going to keep you accountable. I'm going to keep myself accountable first, and I'm going to keep you accountable

as well. To me, that is one of them most impressive things about JJ Watt and what Buddha Baker tell us on the Big Red Rage recently, right, that's exactly what he's been doing. He's been asking some of the other team leaders, Okay, tell me about this guy, tell me about that guy. And yes, he's trying to get to know these guys inside out. So to your point, on game day or and that that moment where the game's on the line, he knows how to motivate or how to talk to another guy. And you know what

Paul just said, though I got to interrupt you. What you just said, you brought up Buddha Baker, right, yeah, think, okay, think about Buddha Paul. Is Buddha Baker the biggest player on the field, far from it, Far from it, Paul, And yet he is an absolute man when he plays this game. So do you think his profile in the locker room is a big profile? Yes, is the answer. To that. And because of that, I look at Buddha Baker.

Everyone watches Buddha go about his business knowing he's not the biggest guy, yet he plays ten times his size. His shadow was massive on the gridiron. That's the kind of respect. So now, if Buddha Baker, by way of example, walks up on you and says, what are you doing? Do you think that's going to have an impact on you as a person. It better because if it doesn't, you're gonna be out of that locker room as it goes.

If you want to know Buddha's value to the Cardinals defense, just go back and queue up the game film from Week four at Carolina last year, and that was the worst defensive performance by the Cardinals d all season long, and they look lost without Buddha Baker. As for that defensive line, Wolf, we know it's imperative. Hello, you opened against Derrick Henry and in week two you get Dalvin Cook, you get Mike Vrabel and Mike Zimmer to very physical

mindset type of coaches. They're gonna come right at you, and it starts with stopping the run. We know that Cliff Kingsbury was asked how he likes the looks of his D line room, the addition of JJ, the young guys who drafted last years, signing Jordan Phillips. We really like where it's at. I think with Coach Buck and what he brings the table where those young guys makesten with some bets who've had a ten of success in

this league, it's going to be a great run. The young guys, primarily being Lucky Foe two or Shard Lawrence, who both definitely stood out during minni cams. Zach Allen, I'll tell you what, Zach Allen was getting a lot of props from Jordan Phillips as they were going through. I'm curious. He had the unbelievable game Week fifteen against Philly, you know, the eleven tackles and he had done things that only the elite guys had done in a single game for defensive lineman in NFL history. We'll see if

he can be a little more consistent this year. But overall, Wolf, how do you like the looks of the depth chart at D line? Yeah? No, I like it, PAULI I really do. I'm glad you brought up Zach Gallen because once again I think a guy playing a five technique which is over an offensive tackle. Whether it's the left offensive tackle right right offensive tackle, really doesn't matter. I like him as the five technique out there. He plays very very well. I think the defensive line is going

to be tested. I'm glad you brought up the first two games, the Tennessee Titans and the Minnesota Vikings, two very similar offenses, Paulie, two offenses that are built on running the ball in between the tackles or using play action to throw the ball. They do with Tennessee, by way of example, is probably better than anybody in the league in regard to play action passes, even better than Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers and their tackle

zone scheme. They're gonna line up Derek Henry, They're gonna run him downhill. He's gonna try to run your face over behind a very physical offensive line. When you hear Steve Kime talking about we've got to get more physical and we need better leadership in the locker room, think of Week one and the Tennessee Titans, because that is

going to test them, especially being on the road. And then the Minnesota Vikings, once again, two very similar offenses that are predicated on hammering the box and then throwing the ball over the middle of the field and taking some shots down field. Because of that rushing attack, and guess what, especially against Tennessee, it's not so easy now to load the box and put eight in the box when they just added Julio Jones. I mean, think about that.

So it's imperative that your front seven can stand on their own and stop the run because the moment you start loading the box, Ryan Tannahill to your point play action, Now, boom, They're going down the seams and over the top to the likes of their two big weapons. Who are you going to single up? That's the question, right, who are you going to single up? In man cover? I don't know, Man, you gotta put seven guys in the box and fight for your life. Right by the way. That Week two

game against the Vikings the home opener. Asy Cardinals dot Com Slash Game Ticks that is where you go. Single game tickets on sale now Easy Cardinals dot Com Slash Game Ticks ti X Special thanks Bernhard's Psychovents Mandatory Psycho here tonight for Ron Wolfley and Paul KLVC. Special thanks Jim Almondro and Cody Fincher. This has been the Big

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