Big Red Rage - Grigson Provides Details On Draftees

and buy Arizona Cardinals podcasts. Visit Hacy Cardinals dot com, Slash podcasts, The Rods, Rising Guard, temperaturizing vision, flurring rage, taking it over. Here's Paul KELVC. Get the popcorn ready, It's gonna be a show and Ron will flip. It doesn't get any better than that. Unleash the far long time, and notice that I'll go with media member because then I want to get into the whole argument on whether you are a member of the media or not a

media figure round wolf Lee. You need three things. I said three things in your arsenal these days, you're a repertoire to be part of the media. Twenty twenty one Are you ready? And a mock draft? Do you have a mock draft. Wolf, You ain't Jack without a mock You've yet to, really, from what I've seen, publish an annual mock draft. Paul, I'll never have a mock draft, as you all know, but I will mock some drafts.

A pod. Do you have a podcast? Okay? You know, no, you need a pod where you are the expert, the unquestioned expert. No one shall question you, the football expert on your own pod. That's hence on poly podcast over here. So there's number number three would be fantasy football. I mean, yeah, now said, hundreds of millions play fantasy football, and so okay, you know, I know you probably still outsource your fantasy football team. Can I just say right now? I still

it is the bane of the National Football League. The fact that fantasy football influences a lot of the decisions I think that come out of a commissioner's office. Interesting, Well, that's a whole nother show. Well it is, Paul, Yes it is. I'll get my podcast. You can cover that, that's right on your podcast, or you can assemble your mock draft Accordingly. I bring all these up because all

three have one thing in common. What's that belly? All revolve around being an NFL decision maker, a personnel decision maker to some degree. And with that in mind, guess what forget about the two of us, We're bringing on the director of a player personnel Drew Grigson will be our guest tonight as the Cardinals are coming off rookie mini camp and obviously the NFL Draft, and here we go with the offseason workouts and straight ahead tea minus less than a month until the mandatory mini camp is

like so on right here in late May. So, PAULI, he refreshed my memory here. Didn't we actually have Drew Grigson on a couple of weeks ago? A few weeks ago? Right? Didn't we have him mine? And didn't he just destroy it? And I mean that in a very good way? Yes? So, um, here's the game plan, wolf, Less of us, more of Drew. Okay, maybe make way for him to give more insight, because you're right when he was talking, he was excellent. So

is that what you're saying he does? Should I don't know, he's got you know, he's got too many Scotter reports to file, but uh yeah, he should put it that way. And do we not have questions around here, Are you kidding me? Look at last year's first round pick, look at this year's first round pick, and you don't have to look very far to see where they're going to be playing. In fact, Cliff Kingsbury was asked about Isaiah Simmons and Zavn Collins. Two really fast trees, which is good.

But when they line up, they'll when the prettiest linebacker due award when they line up side by side him. And those are two big, long, athletic cats, and so we know there's gonna growing pains obviously, two guys who are getting, you know, indoctrinated to the league. Isaiah played some last year, but as far as the full time starter goes, is to be kind of his first run

at it. But they're athletic enough to make up for some of the you know, experience they don't have, and we're excited to grow with them and you know, see what they can to come together. Paul, Certainly not the terminology I would use. Okay, certainly not that, Paully, But I can tell you right now, Cliff Kingsbury's gotta have some Texas in them. Just gotta have a little bit of Texas the only coaches I've ever heard used pretty to describe a football player. They come from Texas, Paul,

they come from Oklahoma, and they come from Missouri. Those three states right there. Man, they love using it. I know a coach Paul, one of the most grizzled coaches on the face of the planet, A guy that I love and respect, a guy that was a very hard coach. All all he did was talking about how pretty football player looked in uniforms. Right, But he always asked the question, now can you play? And that is what matters? Is it not? Well? This time here, I don't necessarily mind it.

I'm guessing if you want to be a mean, rough and tough middle linebacker, you probably don't want that as your moniker going forward. But when they're only in shorts and there's no physicality to speak of, you know there can be worse things to be called. Then okay, because that's all you're looking at. You're looking at how did these guys appear to the eye. You can't truly tell if they have game or not. In fact, Zamon Collins was asked about his game and what part of his

game he wants to elevate. You got to elevate all your game coming in as a rookie to play at this level, you know, no matter where you're at, you got to elevate every single part of your game because those guys who have been here for four or five years, they know way more than you, and they're way better than you. They have efficient movement, they have them efficient minds.

You can see it whenever you watch them, especially on Sundays, compared to you know, what we're doing here right now, and we just try it as a team, just kind of build to get to that. Man. I love the fact, Polly, that he was talking about efficient minds. Did you hear him right there, Paul? I mean, honestly, that is so odd next level, that's so two point zero for a rookie right there. I love the fact that it's not

just about the physicality of it all. We all know the game of football is an in your face, physical confrontation, There's no doubt about that. And so much of the time when you get a young guy like Zavian Collins Pauly, he'll focus on the physical. What I love is just listening to him on that cut right there, he's talking about the mental and the mind as well. That's huge. Well,

it wasn't too long ago. Larry Foote went from Arizona Cardinals starting middle linebacker to the linebackers coach the very next year. And let's be honest, his last two years in the league, how did he get by? How did he make plays at an advanced age with high mileage on that body, with what he had between the years, right, Wolf, Well that he was just one ca Paul. Yeah, I mean he was a step ahead mentally. That's what allowed Footy to stay about it Pall. On the field, it's

the experience of it all, it really is. It's not just about knowing what to do. It's not just the mentality of it all that matters, Polly. It's the experience. It's going out there and actually seeing yourself do it successfully. It's the reason why these mini camps, the rookie mini camp that has been going on of course the OTAs Paul. It's so important that you get it down mentally because before you can actually do you have to know what to do, and that's gonna take a lot of experience.

There's going to be some good and there's going to be some bad, and that will extend into the season. Mark my words, He's not going to get it all right all the time, but let's hope he gets it right a vast majority of those times. Look, I've said this on Cardinals Underground, the podcast that I've talked to a number of people who do not expect Jordan Hicks to be on this roster when training camp starts. Yes, their job appears to be Zavian Collins from the get go.

And last week here on The Big Red Rage, we asked Buddha Baker about what the rookie should expect. The biggest challenge he'll probably get is the speed of the game, calling him you know guy, He's like you guys, he's seen. He's huge, very fast. He thinks of hisself as a Brian er Lacker, So it looks like a guy who can shoot the gap and you know, play the man, plays zone, do the things that we want him to do on a defense. So I definitely think he's gonna

be well in this league. I mean, if er Lacker is truly the comp then okay, I get it. Let him make mistakes and use his athleticism to compensate. Jordan Hicks is limited. He has that ceiling that no matter how much he knows, he's always going to be limited physically with this athleticism. There's just even though he knows to cover the running back out of the backfield, can he do it. So there is that upside, obviously, and a guy like Zavian Collins who has all the measurables,

all the athleticism. But then again, there he is, to your point, Wolf and he's thinking and maybe he's swimming mentally. Thank goodness for three preseason games this year. I can't say believe I'm saying thank goodness for preseason games. It's gonna be invaluable even though teams are running vanilla schemes.

I get it. But as soon as Week one starts against the Tennessee Titans, he's lined up and he's calling that defense, and then he realizes, wait a minute, what is Tennessee doing lining up a defensive end at tailback because that guy's six three, two fifty and here he comes downhill. Yeah, here's a great thing about that, Polly. I think that the Tennessee Titans and the Minnesota Vikings are gonna see a lot of eight man fronts. I think they're gonna see a lot of Buddha Baker down

in the box. That's the good news. Polly Jaalen Thompson maybe playing the center of the field and Buddha Baker down as a box safety. We all know how good he is around the line of scrimmage. We all know how Vans Joseph likes to blitz him as well. I think Buddha Baker will be that box safety down there. And Buddha is so smart, you know that, Polly so good. He's like having another coach. He's the guy who gets everybody in the secondary lined up. Boodhoo will be able

to help. I think Zaven Collins, by being down in that box help him with a lot of checks. I would imagine Van's Joseph might even lean on Boodho a little bit in regard to making sure the rookies getting it right. You know, maybe the most telling thing worthwhile comment of all a rookie minicamp is when Zaven Collins paused when he was asked about preparing and actually able to be on a field as opposed to doing it virtually, and he shook his head and he said, I don't

see how you could do this virtually. So that gave me. That gave me a lot of encouragement. When it comes to Isaiah Simmons, you maybe begin to understand why he was behind the eight ball correct and then yeah, so you go okay. Hopefully that learning curve was that much more difficult for a first rounder who never got on the field in the preseason, the word zero preseason games. He was thrust into it from Week one against the Niners.

And we know Kyle Shannon was smart enough to exploit that with the Raheem most on the first touchdown, we get it. With a back out of the backfield, we

get all that. But hopefully, hopefully this early season, this offseason work is going to be invaluable because just the look on Zamon Collins face when he has asked that question makes you realize the degree of difficulty those rookies are facing in the year twenty twenty one of our Lord Paul going forward to the National Football League, I can tell you right now that having your Navarro Bowman and Patrick Willis, if in fact that's what Zaban Collins

and Isaiah Simmons turn out to be, that is going to be huge for the next decade. A single game tickets on sale now Godasy Cardinals dot com slash game ticks. That's Asy Cardinals dot Com Slash Game t i X, as advertised. The Director of Player Personnel Drew Grigson is up next. We'll go through the rookie draft class exactly what else is in store this offseason. It is the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford in Gilbert. We're the sixteenth pick in the twenty twenty one NFL Draft,

The Arizona Cardinal select Zavin Collins, linebacker and Tulsa. I got it right here on my phone, told billion Vance. I said, starter day one, right here back starter day one. You got it big, fast and smarter. Put that on camera. Guys. It's been a great day so far. It's gonna be hard, hard, dress getting better. Zavin has got a rare size speed atalyticism combination, and it actually is a little bit of a throwback. Hey bro, just turn it up through your corner.

Don we go to work, little thing fan, Hey one, the little thing. Well, let's go a draft the draft. There you go. Good. Hopefully I can go out there and just show them I mix happy who everyone says I am? Season four, Episode two of Cardinals Flight Plan coming our way this coming Monday May twenty four, seven pm on the Cardinals YouTube channel. That's YouTube dot com

slash a Z Cardinals. And we heard it right there the GM Steve Kim, the inside the all access from the Cardinals war room, first Round Draft night and the quote starter day one put that on camera. Oh boy, here we go. How about episode two of Drew Grigson, the Director of Player Personnel right now and the big red rage instead of It's All About You presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert, It's all about Drew, mister Grigson. How are we doing tonight? Guys? How are you doing tonight?

We're doing? Good man? How's the body fat right now? Deep ball man? Good well? If we don't need a lame joke about when he gets around to the big weight in the offseason, you're gonna jump in, Okay, none of that. There's gonna be no Tim Tebow questions, Wolf, no Larry Fitzgerald questions. We're just getting right into it. I mean, Drew. If there's one thing I know, PAULI pencil neck, it's standing next two NFL players. I've been

doing it for two decades in the Cardinals sideline. Okay, And when I stood next to Zavan Collins at Cardinals rookie minicam, I'm like, this guy's the middle linebacker, six five two sixty. I pick it up from there. What did you see over the three days? That's that's kind of the feeling I had when I put on a tape, because when I first watched him, you see, you know, you see, you see a big man. He's athletic, he's running, you know, he plays bath They could you could tell

right away he's about a four six guy. But then you keep going back and forth and looking at it. This can't be right. It's six five two sixty because you don't you just don't see Mike's or second level players that size and especially with that skill set. So you know, and and then again you see how big he how how broad his shoulders are, how thick he is through his lower how just well put together he is.

And then the athlete he's, he's, he's he's a special player, and he's going to be a special player for for our organization going forward. And Drew other than the quarterback. When you're in shorts and helmets, is it easier to evaluate players the further away you get from the ball. Uh, you know I would say that, Uh, that's a that's a good question. I you know, for for Zaven, he's right over it. Uh you know, he's playing Mike, he's playing right in the middle, and he's got such a range.

He's a sideline the sideline player. UM. But you know it's it's equal across the board with uh with with you know, value player valuating players or whether it's over the ball or off the ball, um outside or inside, and he's got everyone kind of gets the same same scrutiny. So when you hear Steve Kin the GM declare on camera and say put it on cameras starter day one, Cliff Kingsbury has reiterated that what's the risk reward of

a rookie at that position from day one? Considering that guy in a lot of ways is the quarterback of the defense. Oh that that that is the first concern. But that concern is was quickly taken away when you start interviewing the kid in the year about it the background, you start talking to coaching staff there, so you know, if we're going to give the kid the green die, you know, he's calling the defense for us. He's he's uh,

you know, setting the front, he's making adjustments. And that's one of the first things you noticed out of community camp with him was how comfortable he was doing that, how quick he was to make adjustments, and how great of a communicator he was, which is exactly what you want to see, like you said, just on the flip side with the quarterback that you want to see and

that's that's what we saw, was zavn Um. You know, these first few practices that that he's had with us Um and you know, there's not much you can see right now in these practices other than that, and that give you a lot of confidence going forward with handing the kids, you know, handing him the keys of the car, Drew, do you think that Buddha baker Um would be able to help him out a little bit in certain situations and just knowing how around the box Bood is going

to be absolutely but you hope he doesn't have to, right, you know, with with with Buddha's eyes and his instincts, his awareness and his ability to know where everyone needs to be here, he'll he will help out. But I expect Zaven. I expect Zaven to know where Buddha is supposed to be, where JJ is supposed to be, where Channel is supposed to be. That you know, that's his job. Again, that's why we drafted him, and that's again the confidence that we have in him and what we expected him

going forward. Director of Player Personnel Drew Grigson on the Big Red Rage presented by satan Ford and Gilbert. On draft night, Michael Bidwell told us from inside the war room there was a little bit of anxiety over whether Zavin Collins would make it past pick fifteen, and later the Patriot shared that if it wasn't for the quarterback Mac Jones, z Avan Gollins would have been their guy. So take us into the draft night because we haven't talked to you about that yet. And you know how

much consternation was there as it was unfolding. Well, you know when when we interviewed Zavan over zoom and he hung up, he you know, he pressed the leave button, we all looked at each other in the room like, oh boy, Like it's almost like we knew that that was a guy, that this is going to be a consideration at sixteen. And then its evolved and it became what it was and that's always in the back of your mind as as the guys are falling and we start to look at is Zaven gonna get past this

steam where he's gonna get past this team? And then sure enough he fell right to us and we were able to pick him. And again we feel great about him at sixteen. But I think we got to steal at six So has there been in another rookie when you think of the rookies and rookie mini camp, has

there been a rookie that has actually stood out? He's the first one that I would just going back to everything I said when with his command of the huddle, with his command of the defense, his ability to make adjustments even before he gets him from vance, I mean he is, he's knocking stuff out, you know, vants telling me that if he makes a mistake, that's it. It doesn't happen again. Um, you know, his his ability to h to communicate with the rest of the defense, move

people around, and be confident doing it. Now. I know it's still rookies, but it could be different again when he's looking at J. J. Watton and Chandler Jones, Buddha Baker. But again I think it was his maturity and the respect that he's going to get from those guys who's going to be an easy trans Just listening to you right there, that really bodes well that this kid is doing as well as he is in rookie mini camps. Absolutely, and again they're still noting a ton at him, but

just watching him out there. Again, I was, I left the first couple of practices to day and wallkay, all right, this is this is this, this was pretty good right now. So we're at about him, as you know, and having him um inside call of defense, uh, with Isaiah next to him, and you know, Steve heard Steve mentioned that those are those are two gigantic freaks in the middle of the field and with two incredible skill sets for

for a Mike and mow for us. So again, I mean, you get a quarterback count the line of scrimmage, there's a lot to consider when you see ninety nine and fifty five and the two inside linebackers and there's Buddha Bakers. So yeah, there's a lot that Vans has to work with there. How About on offense and the round two receiver Rondale Moore, you talk about first impressions were like man, every day is leg day for this guy. Oh my goodness,

Rondale Moore. He looks like a specimen. Yeah, you know, and you look at the height on paper and it says five seven. I talked him. I was in the dining hall with him the other day, and he might be five seven. But you saw Paulie. I mean he is. He has put together and he has slapped together, and he's not a frailed, meek individual. He is a solid one hundred and eighty five sounds. And he's a kid that I've been following at producing day one when he

stepped down the field against Northwestern in twenty eighteens. My brother was a captain at Purdue UH in ninety four, so it's a program that I was following, and just going back to that that year in eighteen that he had it was special. Uh you know college accolades, you know, all American teams and trophies, and that doesn't necessarily translate to to pro production. But one interesting fact about the kid is, I mean he was he was only the third player in NCAA history to be a true freshman's

consensus All American. The only other guys to do that were Adrian Peterson and herschel Walker. If that tells you anything about that tells you special, that's crazy. So um that just again and then he you know, he had some injuries going into into nineteen and then the COVID year and that threw a curveball to everyone. But we know what the kid can do. He's gonna make his dynamic inside. He's arguably the best Ronie for catch guy in his draft. He was I'm sorry, go ahead and

finish your thought. Yeah yeah, just when he when he and he hits it straight line. It's unbelievable. But this kid's ability to move a ladd early and I mean he just get teleports. He hasn't just changed directions. It's unbelievable to watch. Um, and he's you know, he's he's a video game in real life. I heard every one of the defensive coaches sat the other day, Uh, you know this kid is This kid looks quick and slow motion. So, um, I just don't know when that I just I'm excited

to see him for seventeen games for US. Well, first of all, Drew, you know that Pauli's still looking up to Rondel Moore. You you do realize that Number one, Hey, there's an analytic that he made more guys miss in space than any player in the last twenty years. Somebody crunched that stat. I don't know where it is, but to Drew's point about his ability in space and making guys miss anyway, go aheadible no, no, no, Paul, that

was an excellent addectote right there. All the other rookies we haven't talked about, is there one that you went, m boy, I like that. Well, you know, when we talked last time pre draft, I told you about the the kind of guys that we were adding in terms of personality and leadership, and we continue that through the draft. I'm not just you know, I'm not just saying that.

He's not just saying that. It's real and those are the guys that when we set our one twenty, those guys are going to take precedence and then they fall to us. We're gonna take him. So. Uh. The Victor T. McCage was another guy that adding a big, fix, strong outside linebacker. I was excited about. Um, you know, he was a he started every single game he played in college. I think he was forty six forty seven straight games you know, Charlie Bullen and I, Quentin Harris and I

we went to the pro day. The coaches start talking about this guy and you know, they just light up the kids all business. They say, is the alpha the group. I would actually use the word scary to describe him. So, um, you know, no one messages with the guy. So you get that alpha personality with a Duke's degree. It's kind of rare, you know. So um, he's he's going to be a hard, charging ball and muscle for us. He

just plays with a relentless motor. Reminded me of Marcus Golden when I watched him, So I'm excited that right. He's got a great last name. When you think about a demo, KG, it just it's gonna us sound really good and look good on the back of a jersey. I have the tough tough to figure out. You know, when you're first looking at him, you just call him Vic and then you here you have I mean here was one factory. They said he bench pressed two twenty five thirty two times as a seventeen year old in

high school. So when you call him a ball of muscle and an alpha, yeah, I guess he'd probably started getting that reputation in the weight room. What about the two corners though, I definitely had an eye when I was out there last Friday, Marco Wilson, Tay Gowan. You know, if nothing else, just based on the need, what do you think can you tell anything about how ready they might be? What it was Marco, you know you're getting a guy that's got heighth weight speed. He ran well.

I don't know if you guys saw the picture of him out jumping the VerTech where he jumped forty three inches or something like that. So yeah, we know, we know he could run and jump. But he's also a you know, a thirty plus game starter in the SEC. He's seen three top receiver, He's seen first round draft picks weekend and week out. He comes from a football family. You know, his dad played at Miami. His brother obviously played UM at Florida a few years before him. He's

a hard worker. He's gonna be a tough outside corner. He could play press man. So he's a He's a guy that fits us, and he fits us personality wise. He's going to contribute Drew personally. What is your favorite position to evaluate? Probably linebacker, just having played it. Um, I just uh, And that's why I Zavan was such a fun one for me to watch again because I kept going back and forth like I just I've never

seen anything like this, um again at at Mike. Um. But I you know, I'm sure just as you would wal say, you like to look at the at the fullbacks and you can find him and you're critical of him all you know, he didn't see this, he didn't see this, this this pulling guard here and his eyes were taking them the wrong way here and so forth and songs. I I was enjoyed looking at the linebackers,

you know, from the outside looking in. I think a lot of people and we're on board with Drew Griggson, director of a a Player Personnel, said, the only box left unchecked right now is tight end. Did you see anything from the undrafted guys from perhaps the guy the Wolf's already named Psycho Bernhard's psycho vets Uh. Do you think that's possibly on the radar as a kind time sign? Maybe all the above tell us about tight end right now in this roster. Well, you know it's it's something

that we still need to improve. There's no doubt about it. Um. You know, we know what uh what we have with Max Williams. We have a solid vet is going to be very good in the run games. He's going to do his thing in the passing game. Um. But after that it's you know, it's Darrell Daniels. We know him well and we know we're gonna get with him. But

then it's young and inexperienced. Um. And you know that just goes to show you said, we're always going to take the best available in the draft because if if a Titan's not there, we're not going to reach. And there wasn't one available and it's a tough position in the draft because it's supplying demand. There's so few. Some are good blockers and then they're you know, they're pouring the passing game and then vice versa. Very rarely are they are. They big, strong, tough, and they they're good

in both phases. And if they are, if they go the first or second round. Um. So there, we didn't have the opportunity to draft on. We signed to obviously in free agency with Kry Angeline, who is a USC transfer went to North Carolina State. Uh, you know, very tall, long, very good in the passing game. Athletic. And then Bruno LaBelle, who's almost his exact opposite. He's a big body, six four, two hundred and fifty pound kid who's really really good

in the running game. And then they're they're gonna kind of feed off of each other. So um. And then even with Bernhard sake of his I've been impressed with him already, just with him picking up what we've thrown to 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 have gotten lucky with that one true has Iver been a player

with the Cardinals? You wrote off while you watched him in shorts and helmet, and then all of a sudden, when he put the pads on, you said, oh my goodness, what where has this been? Have you ever come across

a guy like that? Good? Good question. And one of the things I try to ignore across the league is any type of chatter going on right now or even into camp when you know when it's just helmets, well, if you know, you know everyone is separated, you know, if it's the separation of the men, you know when when that shoulder pads and the helmets go on that we find out, you know, that's what separates the men from the boys. So um, I try to avoid getting

too excited about anything in training camp. That's why again I said, you get excited about with Jesevin's communication and his ability to make adjustments right now and jes See and Rondale move around and snatch the ball out of the air. We don't know anything until those guys pad up um because it's obviously it's a different game when you know Victor t mcage's coming off the line and he can run through your midline and push into the quarterback as opposed to you know, just dancing around in

shorts and jerseys right now. Though, yes, well, Drew, we appreciate the insight and uh, I tell you it fires us up. And uh, you know, we don't say it. We didn't say it in the past till we lost it. We didn't appreciate it till we didn't have any longer. But thank goodness for training camp in preseason games because hey, a lot of these guys who need the experience, and b we can't wait to see him on the field before September. So we appreciate the time in the insight tonight. Absolutely, guys,

thank you, Yeah, thank you, Drew. Really appreciate it right there. I wonder how many reps he'd get at two twenty five, Paul, how many reps do you think Drew would get at two twenty five? You know, I'm going thirty three. You know, Wolf, you don't have to ask these questions. You can actually show up in the weight room once in a while and actually a few it for yourself. You know, you keep wondering from afar. Oh, I don't let you show up in the weight room. Drew. Thank you, man. We

appreciate you, Love you, bro. Talk to you later, all right, guys, appreciate it. Good night. Yeah, you know, Wolf, every day was biceps day when he was a player. Fact with Moore on the Big Red Rage right after this pleasure down it is it hicked up in the air. Then the other way with it is JJ watt and he is going to go eighty plush yards with a touchdown fall of street next the round and it's good trophy. Want to pick up running in it to the fluty

to the thirty to the dry He's gone touchdown. What can he do? Portal for time UK. Here comes walk and he brings that portal to the end. Zide. J J. Watt with the sack looking up from behind. Here comes one and second time he has gotten to the quarterback Stafford back in the past. Books comes out upside intercepted by J. J. Watt and he's gonna take it in for a touchdown. Conversation with Zach Allen, Cardinals third year

defensive lineman last month round Wolfley. Here we are on the Big Red Rage Special thanks to Drew Grigson for

Join US Director of Player Personnel. I'll brought to you by Santan Ford and Gilbert and Zach Allen says he still has those moments when he gets text messages from JJ Watt where he looks at his phone and he pauses and it's sort of surreal because he grew up and he attended Boston College watching all of JJ Watts's film when he was a three time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and now JJ Watts Texas saying, what's up, bro, how's it going? PAULI, It's like me when I was

collecting Walter Payton's cards. Walter Payton, the greatest running backup all time. Walter Payton is I was twelve years old when he came into the league. I'm collecting his cards. Suddenly my locker is next to his in the Pro Bowl. Are you kidding me? Wow? Blew my mind. Yeah, So there you go. JJ Wat little highlight montage courtesy ar

Jim Almahundro. And look, we heard Drew Grigson, and he ought a lot of great things to say, the things you want to hear, at least when it comes to Zavan Collins said, guess what the things that you can see during a rookie minicamp and that matter he excelled at, like setting the front and making the adjustments and communicating like he should because they're going to give him the green dots as Drew said. He even went on to say they got to steal the Arizona Cardinals at sixteen.

Then he talked about ron Dale Moore. Probably the quote of the whole interview was what was it he doesn't move laterally, he teleports teleports Polly. That was great an eye. So it leads us to the following question. Other than JJ Watt and Zaven Collins, who are you most excited to see when training camp gets going two months from now. So PAULI are we talking about the free age and newcomers here? Is that what we're talking anybody? Okay? JJ

can I can I say Rodney Hudson. Rodney Hudson, PAULI right. I think Rodney Hudson epitomizes excuse me, I think everything that this team culturally needs to become. I listen, He's physical, Paul, Rodney Hudson is a physical center. He's smart, he's tough, and he's gonna bring so much leadership to that locker room right there. This is where the Arizona Cardinals I think need to get better culturally. They need to get more physical, smarter, tougher, with better leadership inside that locker him.

I think he embodies. He epitomizes all of what the Cardinals need to collectively become. Polly, that's a great pick. I'll go with two other names. I'll go one just because they need it. Robert Alford. I mean we had an argument. You know, I didn't want to go all Skip Bayless with a hot take, but I said, the key to two twenty one is named Robert Alfred. If

you're telling me he's a legitimate number two corner. If you're telling me he can stay healthy and actually regain the form we saw in two thousan nineteen and two twenty and I know everybody now he hasn't played a fully healthy season since two thousand and seventeen. But if he can show if he can somehow be that guy, think of how far that'll go. And you don't have to rely on the youth and an experience, which from all indications, you know one of your top three corners

is going to be mighty inexperienced. Right now, if Robert Alpherd doesn't come through, right, it's a good point, Bully listen. I would also have to say Kyler Murty, I would also have to say it, and not because he's going into year three. Remember last year, Paul, everyone was talking about, oh, year two, and you know Pat Mahomes won the NBA pay and year two and Lamar Jackson wanted to remember all that talk, the narrative surrounding Kyler Murray going into

year two. I don't want to go into the whole Well, Josh Allen made huge strides in year three, right, Paul, I don't want to talk about that. What about Baker Mayfield. Oh, here we go. So you're gonna fall into the narrative. I don't even want to talk about Paully. I started this narrative in January. Go ahead, you did start it, and you know what, we're gonna finish it right here on Big Red Rage, Paul Um Kyler Murray. I just

I have this feeling, Paul. It's a weird feeling. It's it's strange, and I mean this, you know, Paul, I I don't talk to anybody over there. I haven't talked to anybody. I want my thoughts to be my thoughts. So when I'm wrong, I'm just flat out wrong. And I don't offend to anybody over there, right, Kyler Murray, I just have this feeling this offense is gonna morph into something. And what that something is I don't know, Paul.

It's going to have elements of the air rate, it's gonna have elements of what Cliff Kingsbury is so pronounced at and what he knows so well. But I think that Cliff is going to incorporate if I don't, if I'm not missing the mark here, I think he's going to incorporate, PAULI some more traditional elements into the offense and use that brilliant mind that he has to actually freshen up more traditional sets and personnel groups and plays.

I think we're gonna see something different in twenty twenty one, and I want to see Kyler Murray in that different part, all right. So in between Kyler Marine, Zavian Collins, the first rounder Isaiah Simmons, and you could easily name him because we didn't see a whole bunch of him last year. And when we did see him, he did things like lead the team in tackles at Seattle with tend and have a sack Okay Cam Newton yep and so, and the big pick in overtime to seal that win against

the Seahawks. But here's what Jim trot Or, a longtime NFL insider, had to say on what he told Vance Joseph or what Advanced Joseph told him recently about Isaiah Simmons, and speaking to defensive coordinator Vans Joseph recently, they are expecting a lot more. In fact, Vance told me he said, look, he's comfortable at outside linebacker, he's comfortable rushing the passer.

We even used him at safety for two games. But the one area we want to work with him on this year is playing inside linebacker behind that line of scrimmage, in the run game and in the dime package. They are expecting a huge improvement from Isaiah Simmons this year. Okay, Okay, here we go, Paul Yats. Yes, what happened to Isaiah Simmons last year? The Cardinals are not going to allow

to happen to Zavian Collins this year. And by that, I mean the worst thing happened Isaiah Simmons a year ago was Davondre Campbell, a veteran who was better than the rookie. Yes, so this year they're making darn sure, are they not? Ron Wolfley. This is just my observation that there's no impediment, there's no obstacle, there's no viable option to beat out Zavan Collins this year, right because that guy has been granted permission to seek a trade. Yes, absolutely, Paully.

And again it's these two young guys in the middle of the field right now. It's so critical if in fact you can find you can identify two human beings that can actually play that Mike and that mo backer on the week side, the week side inside linebacker. If you can do that, Paul, and you can leave these two guys on the field for three downs, three down backers, Oh my goodness, Paul, what a huge advantage that is. You heard me talking about Navarro Bowman and Patrick Willias Willis.

You've heard me talk about that in the past, Luke, Keekley, Thomas Davis. It's such a massive advantage when a defense can do that. That's why if these two guys develop, it's going to be the best trend defensively that Cardinals could possibly have, in my opinion, will be Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons and staying on the field for three downs, Paul, and I just don't want to see him. I don't want to see him on the edge. I don't want to see him out there. I don't want to see

him in the slot. I don't want to see it. I want to see him off the ball. And that's why I was really glad to hear that gentleman say what he just did off the ball playing the week side inside linebacker. You know what else you want? Ron Wolfley is a bonus player that I'm most excited to see in two twenty one, Thanks for asking or less of you, AJ Green. If you're bullish and AJ Green, you say, nobody had fewer on targets right at fewer passes thrown, they were catchable last year than AJ Green.

And when they were on target, guess what he caught him in traffic. Now, if you're critical of AJ Green a year ago, you say, you know what. The ankle is never right, the foot was never right. He didn't get much separation. However, what's intriguing to me is I was talking to Carlos Dansby recently wolf as a name drop again. Yes, he said he's never practiced with any player who practiced harder than AJ Green. He said, the

dude balls out in practice. And he said, once you get him off the turf, Carlos is left the fifteenth former Bengal to say, once you get him off the turf and you get him onto the real grass, lookout. For that reason, AJ Green is definitely on my list. We continue with a big red rage. Within the one hundred and thirty sixth pick in the twenty twenty one NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Marco Wilson, cornerback Florida

smart player too, and that's what they value. Rundale Moore graduated for DW in two and a half years and Davan Collins was a high school valedictorian. Marco Wilson aptitude test off the chart, smart player with the of course athletic Adrilona. Yeah, he should be known for more than throwing the shoe against lshoe. He's a good player, trained by his father who was a college defensive back. His brother Quincy Wilson also in the NFL. Good bloodlines, good intellect.

What's that line from the movie? Look, you know, football and crab cakes, that's what Maryland does. Well, guess what football and cornerbacks. That's what the Wilsons do, whether it's Dad as a cornerbacks coach, whether it's the brother or a round to pick Quincy Wilson, Marco Wilson a round four pick of the Arizona Cardinals. It is the final segment here, the Big Red Rage, presented by santan Ford and Gilbert. We are santan Ford, Paul kelvc Ron Wolfley

our special guest. Earlier, the Director of Player Personnel Drew Grigson. He was talking about the measurables and how he out jumped the VerTech the vertical jump measurement system and if you believe the next gen stats to give him a ninety nine athleticism score. Marco Wilson the likes of a. Todd McShay said, you know what, terms of the talent and the measurables, he's at worst a day two picks. So if you're gonna take a flyer on a corner in round four, how about a guy with a lot

of upside and that appears to be Marco Wilson. Yeah, I love that belly. Did you say you had a forty two inch vertical? Is that what you say? It was forty three point five? Oh okay, Paul I had a thirty two inch just for the record, right there, Paully. But you know what, it's interesting when you think of the cornerbacks. Of course, some of the young guys that are coming in here. It makes me think of Robert

Alford and Malcolm Butler and Byron Murphy, Paully. It's not just about Marco Wilson Wilson, I should say, and Tay Gowan, of course, it's not just about these young guys and how they're gonna come in and develop. To me, I'm very interested to see how those three corners, in particular, how they mash because think about this, Paully. In the National Football League right now, eleven personnel in first and ten situations. Guess what is the number one personnel group

in the National Football League. Eleven personnel, Paul. That's one back, one tight end, three wide receivers. That is the number one personnel group on first and ten in the National

Football League. What does that mean? Well, you know what, if in fact you've got Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons as you're every down linebackers, If in fact you're gonna go with a four to nickel front against that eleven personnel, that means you better have three corners, three corners that are going to be able to go out there and play in lockdown in man coverage. Robert Alfred of course,

Malcolm Butler a guy that I absolutely love. When you talk about a dog, we all know about his past, we all know about how he likes to walk up and jam receivers as well. Byron Murphy. As the slot corner, you've got Buddha Baker and Jalen Thompson. I think those will be your safeties in that situation. But that's gonna be huge, Paulie, how those three corners play, especially in press man covered something vance. Joseph loves to play quarter coverage as well, which is a forty zone. They love

to employ these techniques. It's going to be critical how those three corners in particular play, PAULI. Now that means, hey, who knows, Tay Gowan might surprise, might shock everybody. Marco Wilson the same way. But typically there's gonna be a learning curve there, Paul. So I'm focusing on those three guys in particular, and it makes sense absolutely. Cliff Kingsbury did share they consider Marco Wilson an inside or outside guy. You go inside on the side, he could go press

man outside, as Drew Grigson said the same thing. Take Gallan more of an outside corner. And you remember Wolf last week on the Big Red Rage, we asked All Pro safety Buddha Baker about the two young corners. Definitely excited to see what those guys can do. First and foremost, we're going to see him on the field and you know, helped them out however we can. But for me being a dB, being a safety. I'm definitely gonna have to give him the cause, help him out whatever they need

help with. And I have a lot of we have a lot of faith in g Money, the corners coach over there. I'm excited to see what these guys can do. There you go, Buddha Baker. And by the way, Gee Money was our guests recently on the Big Red Rage, Greg Williams, the cornerbacks coach, and we asked him about Marco Wilson, right and what he needs the most. And

here was the corners coach. As we watched him, we knew that he had talent, you know, he had he has a skill set just like some of the other elite corners that went earlier in the draft, and it's just a matter of getting consistent and then we think that he has that in him, so we think the

best ball is ahead of him. You know what I remember about Greg Williams in that conversation even more Paully, was when he said confidence was the key, right, the number one thing that a corner needed, Polly was confidence. Can you imagine, I mean, there you are, You're out there on the island by yourself, Paul, and you're looking across the way, and that's DeAndre Hopkins. Okay, Paul would just say DeAndre Hopkins one of the best wide receivers

in the National Football League. Yes, asked the Buffalo Bills Pail Murray. Yeah, that's right, Paul, I mean right, honestly, Julio Jones, whatever it may be, can you imagine you've got him in man cover and maybe you know you're not going to get any safety help over the top on this play. Oh baby, you better have more than a monicum of confidence if you want to be able to hold up in those situations. And when I think of rookie corners, I think they come in with a

lot of swag. But how's that confidence going to be week four, week five when they get burn him from time to time. Well, he was a starter from day one as a true freshman at Florida going against SEC receivers. The only other corners to do that in Florida history Joe Hayden, Genores Jenkins, and Marcus Roberson. Think about that, they could play and then take Allan he likes to call himself Gowan Island. Well, you know what, I don't mind that because of the confidence factory and Greg William said,

you know he has the work ethic to back it up. Okay, special thanks Drew Grigson or Jim Almandro, Jeff darch, Ron Wolfield, Paul KELBC. This has been the Big Red Rage presented by Santa Ford in Gilbert. Number one. You've been listening to the Big Red Rage presented by Santanford in Gilbert. Are you? Santanford State Farm talked to an agent today at eight hundred State Farm and by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts

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