Big Red Rage - Hump, O-Line Ready For Rams Rematch

Talk to an agent today at eight hundred State Farm and buy Arizona Cardinals podcasts, Visit Acy Cardinals dot Com, Slash podcasts, The Rods, Rising Guard, Gimperatureizing Vision, Flurring Rage, taking it over. Here's Paul KELVC. Get the popcorn ready. It's gonna be a show, and Ron will fleep. It doesn't get any better than that horn. Unleash the fiard. It comes to regular season NFL football games, It doesn't get any better than last Sunday in Chicago. For one.

Ron Wolfley, you got that right, Polly. Let us count the ways here, Bolf, Okay, you stop me when I'm wrong. One the conditions, Yeah, wet Cole Windy, did I mention wet? We're going to put that in the plus column. Long slick grass right late, erasing a lot of that athleticism, as you say, bringing everyone down to the level of a wedgebusting fullback. Right, that's exactly right, boy, And never forget this the blurt badge, of course, Paul. You know, one part blood, two parts dirt. You mix it for

thirty seconds and let it stand on your jersey. Speaking of two number two, you got to watch Jordan Hicks do his Dick Bukus, Mike Singletary, Bryan or Lacker impression at Soldier Field, your NFC defensive Player of the week. Thirteen tackles, two sacks. Two tack was for loss number three. And I might be burying the lead here play calling thirty five runs versus a paltry fifteen passes. That was a beautiful thing right there, Pauly, honestly, right now, are

you kidding me? We can be whatever we need to be to win on that day, That's all I could think of. Cliff Kingsbury said, that's the fewest attempted passes by any game he's been involved in since flag football in sixth grade. And he didn't crack a smile. I think he was serious. And then and then, and this might be in reverse order of importance, speaking to the play caller. There he was when he was dialing up all those runs and shunning the pass while, by the way,

wearing a hat with nineteen twenty on it. How fitting was that, because that's where the game plan was circa nineteen twenty. While he was doing all that in the fourth quarter, he was spitting up blood as he was spitting out the play calls. Honestly, right now, Pauly, I just think that image right there, it's something I'm not going to forget at anytime soon. I know you're not going to either. Just the entire reputation of Cliff Kingsbury.

And then you go ahead and you juxtapose exactly what you just said right there in this gloomy, rainy, drizzly, freezing dirty day in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field, and then all of a sudden, you've got your coach out there and he's looking dogged. He's looking like a guy that is out there in the rain, he's all wet, and he's spitting blood. It doesn't get much better than that, Paul.

I'm just saying, so you can take your marquee Monday night football matchup in the bright lights and the prime time and the perfect field conditions and the climate control, and it won't compare at least for Wolf to last. Sunday in Chicago is our point as we start the Big Red Rage featuring DJ Humphries tonight. How good does it sound right when we say DJ Humphries is back in the Big Red Rage where he belongs. How about that?

It's fantastic, Pouli, It really is. He's one of my favorite it's in the thing that makes him one of my favorites is he plays the game the way that it should be played. It doesn't mean he goes out and he's perfect. It doesn't mean that he never gets beat. It doesn't mean that he's always doing his job. It just means you better believe he's brawling you all the way down to the grass. That's what he is. He's a dog through and through. One of my favorite players.

By the way, remind me to ask him. It was a moment in the second half and he got dinged up a little bit, a little bit, and he was slow getting up and he came to the sideline and they actually called a time out so he didn't miss a snap. And I think that was at the best of his quarterback. I don't think Kyler Murray had any interest in taking a single snap minus his franchise left

tackle Dj Humphreys. I'm gonna ask Dj about that right after we hear from Kyler Murray on his return and what he told Fox Sports on the field after the win in Chicago. I was a little rusty, you know, obviously the weather conditions, you know, didn't really help as much. But proud of the team. Nfel good to be back with these guys, offensive, defensive, special teams and collective. You know, we'll play compl Murry football. And it was, like I said, it was going to be back. So we had two

passing touchdowns, he had two rushing touchdowns. And this is the most ridiculous stat to me, eleven completions in his fifteen attempts to eight different receivers. Unbelievable. Polly still spreading the ball, and that is a common theme. We have seen that all season long, that Kyler Murray was going

to go out and spread the ball. It was something we were really talking about early in the season in the first half of the season, the way Kyler Murray went out and spread the ball even in that cold, drizzly day at Soldier Field. To your point, eleven passes completed to eight different guys. Man, I listen, you know what I also love Polly. Just listen to the tone in his voice after the game when talking about the game. Is he down in the dumps that he only got

one hundred and twenty three yards passing? Is he down in the dumps that he only completed eleven passes? Man, he's happy, he's content. It's all about winning with Kyler Murray. And that's what I love and appreciate about the kid. You're talking about a guy who right now leads the NFL in completion percentage and passer rating well, and you still have to worry about his legs. In fact, Cliff Kingsbury, just because Wolf did we not site during the radio broadcast, Like, man,

he's got some acceleration. Those legs do look fresh. And here's what Cliff Kingsbury said about that. When he's feeling it like that and using those legs, I mean, I think he's the most dangerous weapon in the NFL. And we's got to get him back comfortable, get him back in a rhythm and get a try and play at really high, high level of the remainder of the season.

The most dangerous weapon in the NFL period. That's what Cliff Kingsbury told us in the postgame radio interview after Kyler Murray and the Cardinals went out fifth straight game on the road, by the way, no turnovers, Yeah, Polly, no turnovers. That is just unthinkable to me. Five straight games on the road. You do not turn the ball or Polly, You're you're not going to lose a lot of games when you've got Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, when

you have the talent the Arizona Cardinals have. If you had to look at one stat if they don't turn the ball over, they're not going to lose a lot of games. That's that's not going to happen. And I just want to say this about Kyler Murray as well. You were talking about the highest completion percentage in the National Football League, the highest passer rating quarterback ratings is what I call it in the National Football League. But you know what else, he's got the best yards per

attempt in the National Football League. Is that a big deal? Seriously? Is that a big deal to you? Yes, it is a big deal because he's got the highest completion percentage and yet he's throwing the ball. It is yards per attempt. It means he's pushing the ball down the field. He's not just thinking and dunk in his way. It matters to me, Yes, you're right when you pair those two together, Yes, that is significant. The highest completion percentage and the highest

yards per attempt correct, I mean Paulli. It just it speaks so much to who Kyle La Murray is. And and once again, the development of this young man into a franchise quarterback where we have seen him beat teams with his brain, not just his legs, not just his arm, his brain. We've seen it, We've witnessed it, and he's only developing and growing and getting better. Don't make me say it again. Come for the arms, stay for the legs. Fear the mind is where Kyler Murray is right now.

He met the media today, and you know what, there is one box left to check. The Arizona Cardinals are ten and two on the season. They are seven and o on the road, they are four and oh in the division, but they are just three and two at home. Here's Kyler. I think that has to be you know different than it has been. But you know, you look at our record underfield the road, three and two at home.

Closer games have been at home, starts slow at home. Yeah, there's a lot of things we talked about at home that we don't do on the road. So I think we, like you said, we got to somehow bring that type of energy. It's got to be different because what we've been doing hasn't a working. Every player this week has brought up the home record and I'm guessing that's because the head coach has brought up the home record and some lackluster performances. Yeah, we know there's something wrong there.

We know there's no denying it. You play so much better on the road than you play at home. Each player's got to look inside of himself and say, why is that? For me? Paul, I think it's because they have so much talent. They have so much talent on this team. I've talked about it many many times, and I think a lot of times when you're at home, it says, man, we're really talented, we're really good. We're sitting here at ten and two. All is well, All

is well. You don't have to go out there and be desperate to get away, right, Paul all Is well, I think I think again, Roy Green did not have to be He did not have to be prepared to do his job the way I had to be prepared to do my job. Because Roy was so talented. He could be laughing at you as he ran by you for the third time that day, scoring yet another touchdown. That was how good he was. But again, I think they have to be intentional about it. And that's why

I like what Kyler Murray just said. We've got He's acknowledging the fact that there's a problem. Now all of a sudden, you have the opportunity to overcome that problem. We'll see if DJ Humphreys has a theory, right. I mean, he's very by his own admission, you know, he's great at the power of observations. So we'll see if maybe

he's gleaned something about the Cardinals at home. He is up next episode ten of Cardinals Folk Tales, entitled nine More available now in the Cardinals YouTube channel YouTube dot com. Slash Asy Cardinals the story of former Cardinal safety Rashad Johnson losing the tip of his finger during that game in twenty thirteen while and You can also check out the original podcast by searching Cardinals Folk Tales wherever you

get your podcast. We continue with a big red Rage DJ Humphreys next, brought to you by Santan Ford in Gilbert. The Cardinals will go for it four minutes in fourth and two on the Bears pointing back. The throw goes. Kyler looks right, goes a deep ball right side of the end zone pen It's caught, hits a touchdown, touchdown DeAndre Hopkins Kyler Murray with the dime on four down. Murray takes the shotguns snap straight drop back, flushed out

of the pocket, rolling right, being chased, he talks. He runs at the five and he heads to the corner and he's into the end zone. Four the touchdown. Kyler back, the'll throw fire's right side, want to catch by more at that's twenty, runs right to the ten of the five. It's Connor actually into the end zone. Four the touchdown. James Connor stabbing a ball that was an errand pass. It looked like it was going to go over his head.

He grabbed it with his left hand and then he ran down the right sideline into the end zone for the touchdown. And the Cardinals lead at twenty to seven. Snap to Murray, he keeps it again, runs right, he's at the five, and he walks into the end zone four his second rushing touchdown, and the Cardinals just put the Bears away. You know what's complimentary football, Ron Wolfley, when your defense has four takeaways and that results in

three touchdowns and a field goal. And it gets even better because if you take those drives and the three touchdowns in a field goal, it was a total yardage of seventy six yards to go ahead and accomplish the three touchdowns and the field goal by a Cardinals offense, though right now, is the number three scoring offense in the NFL Top ten and total offense top ten and

rushing and number two in rushing touchdowns. And I know someone who likes the sound of that stat The longest tenured Arizona Cardinal on this roster and the former player host of The Big Red Rage None then DJ Humphreys joint us Dach how are we doing, hey man, I'm doing good man. I appreciate that having me back. Man, it's been a while. Yeah, it's been a while. DJ No dona at that man, Thank you so much for joining us. Really to appreciate that, my goodness, tennant two

brother ten two has got to feel so right. Oh yeah, it feels good, man. I'll be lying if I said it, Dude. I feel like I feel like, if you've been a fan, or if you've been around for a while, we deserve we deserve this one. What's most gratifying about it When you say been around a while, do you go back to some of those early years, you know, your first few years in the league. Is that what you think of automatically? Yeah, I think I think of when I came into the league, you know, going to the NFC

Championship as a rookie and not playing. It made me feel like, yeah, this is like what you do. Like you can just go to the playoffs and like every year you have a chance to win the Super Bowl. So like I was fooled to think that that's just what happens and it doesn't take hard work and it doesn't take building and stuff like that. So to be here at this point where where we have we're two to two and we have so much, you know, then we have everything that we want is right in front

of us. It feels good to be have been here over the last few years and seeing what things, how we evolved in what we are now. DJ, you got bumped up, nicked up a little bit. I'm sure you got nicked up before earlier in the season. You're never feeling like you're one hundred percent at this point of the season. But how does the body feel overall here in December? You know, it's funny, my body feels really good. I joke around. I took you a lot of times that, man,

I really see twenty seven. Now, how old are you? Well, so you feel that was that? Now I'm a football player. You know we had a dog year, So that's a good point. It's right now. You know, hey, when you got when you were a little slow to get up and you came to the sideline, Cliff Kingsbury called a time out. And this is just my observation. Now, you're the expert at the power of observation, Dee, and you talk about your powers are going to Walmart and so forth,

and people watching, But but this is just me. It didn't look like your quarterback wanted any part of the even a single snap without his franchise left tackle. That was my take. What do you think, hey, you said that, not me. Remember remember that Polly said that it wasn't me that said that. Which part are you talking about? The Walmart part or the part of my bag the quarterback? But the Walmart was all me I take. By the way, speaking of shopping, uh, you know we buried the lead here.

What do the kids want? I mean, come on, what do the kids want? What are you shopping for? What's the big item for the kids this holiday season? They're both getting cold, both of them getting cold, But not because that not because they've been bad. Just sold them because I'm not getting them anything for Christmas. There they just they need. I may take them somewhere and we give back to something for Christmas. No, I'm kidding now,

I'll probably get them something. I know. My daughter and my son both they've been they've been on my head about a place set they want to play. Oh yeah, something that you could join in on right home plat maybe a little break out. I don't know. Does it does it support a three hundred pounder? Yeah? Yeah, better. That's the only way I can get in my backyard. If it's supports, if it's old live friendly, that's only way I can make it in my backyard. Listen, guy's

got to be able to turning out the slide team. Now, Yeah, talk to me about your season personally. I'm talking about not the team, not the unit. I'm talking about you personally right now. How is the season going for you? How are you developing, how are you growing? How are you getting better? I feel like it's it's been, Uh, it's been going pretty good for mans. I feel like I had some els and flows earlier on, just kind of trying to get my foot in under myself and

trying to feel things out. But none of the things I've been kind of going on, I feel like I've been getting better and better every week. I feel like I've been getting better and better every week and every week and finding something my technique is is sinking in and it's feeling it's feeling like myself more and more

every week. And I feel like that's a good feeling with the jiujectory that we're going at, you know what I mean, Still being able to go out to get these wins and play and play well and still feel like I can approve, I can improve and there's more that I can be doing and I can be doing better. I feel like that's a good that's a good sign for for what we're going as a team. I mean, there have been eight different starting old line combinations, but

you have been the rock. You have been the constant. I mean that's pretty impressive, right, I mean, you guys have a deep old line room. When you've been able to change parts out and boom, this team is still ten and two. Yeah, yeah, it's it's it's it's unlike anything I've ever been a part of UM. I think anybody that's a fan out of the Cardinals or a a better part of this organization. You know, Historically, when we lose key pieces of our offensive line, that's usually the

turning point of our season. And that's been the case every year that I've been here. I would say I think that every year where we've had major injuries go on, or guys miss a lot of time up front, or even even key players aside from the offensive line, we've we've that's been kind of the turning point in our season. And for us to have that go on so many different times and so many different ways and wrinkles and still be able to be on this side of to be on this side of the standing in the NFL.

It's definitely a testament to what's been going on. And I did hump you are the number two run rate team in the National Football League. I just by the way, wolf one, I confirm that. I didn't believe you. So I actually confirm that with Cardinals media relations that the run rate percentage for the Arizona Cardinals is number two in the NFL. That's just a mind blow. What do you think about that day? Would I say that, man, you're number two? So much for the pretty boy football.

That's exactly what I was just about to say. I was saying, many ball right, Yeah, but did you take that to heart? Did you guys take that to heart? How proud are you on the offensive line, man, that you are the number two run rate team in the NFL coming off the ball with a dark heart? I have to take take that. I think that's a big deal. That's something that's very important to me. Uh, running that ball, man,

it changes the game. It's something that I didn't really understand as young player, like you know, and just kind of like just called the plays and we just run the plays. You know, That's how it was like now kind of learning the game and learning how players change and how how running the ball and deter guys from one to even be involved in the game. Like, it's crazy, how how big of a difference maker it is what we're doing it, and we're doing it high efficiency. So, uh,

to even hear those numbers again is news? Tobody Well speaking a run game and difference maker and numbers. How about James Connor fourteen total touchdowns, a dozen rushing touchdowns what he calls bowling ball. I know what, you guys embrace up front and and then you had to catching the run, the one ended grab and uh. We asked Cliff Kingsbury about that after the game, and here's what he said about James Connor. That's got to be Sports

Center Player of the Week, right, that was unbelievable. Catches in one hand, he breaks a tack on then goes for a touchdown. Me and I had to run down there and get my hug because I'm like, that is insane. You know, a third down too. So he's been just a god send for us, especially with Chase out being able to shoulder the load like he has offensively. He

just continues to get better and better. We see James Connor, what don't we see what don't we hear in the huddle and on the sideline, Because I mean he said, you know what, if my mindset is contagious, so be it. But from what I could tell, guys really feed off him. Man, it's it's it's one of those things that it's hard

not to feed off of. Like he gets in this mold where he gets just looks on his face and you could tell he just wants to just just run his face into somebody else's Like it's the craziest thing. But it's one of those things that, like you said, like it's in Faci's in the hoddle. Like when I see him get like that, like it turns it gets me so turned up. And I can see it happened to everybody else. I've seen Kyla. He's still on the

he's still on the guard of the sideline. I just seen Kyla like get like like like bustle up on. I guess he's dropping into the line. I'm like, yeah, this is this is like, this is what ball is about. This is you running the ball so hard you get you get your quarterback involved, and you get him excited. That's a big deal. You know. So James has been man, he's been a load for us. Man that I watched

that joker still for him, a guy so hard. And then I looked up and I started He was a sixty five or two hundred and sixty pounds a end and I was like, this is this isn't normal? Set were running the middle back? Does it listen? Does it do anything to you? Guys on the offensive line? We've talked about this in the past, but I mean, to what degree does it get you even more locked in, even more focused, even more ferocious coming off the ball when you got James Connor behind you? Doesn't do anything

to you? Add all? Or is that just gonna be the way you're always approaching? Yeah? You know, you know me, I pretty much I get I run that ball. Every time we running the ball. I get out there and now I feel like, you know, the ball coming behind me. It doesn't matter if I'm on the backside or not.

So I'm going crazy. But when you're getting a play, when you get a guy like James and you run, I run a toss with him, or I should say a power pretty much a tackle power with him, and he's I could feel him grabbing the back of my jersey. Guy to my block in high school. Again, it definitely does something like it definitely gets you, gets your skin, the skin rolls in a little bit and gets you, gets you fired up. So that's what that's what I

said about about that guy. It's like, I'm using one of those guys as a self starter and he gets me fired up. Yes, hump. I mean, this is the one thing I gotta tell you, honestly, because I was I was in the NFL only because I was able to manufacture desperation, right yeah, and yet I blocked for Jerome Battis I blocked for Jerome Battis Man, And when I knew Jerome was in the eye behind me, it focused me even more, even more than I thought I

could be focused. For that very reason, I can tell you they say selling you know, and we're on board with DJ Humphreys here. It's all about you, brought to you by Santan Ford. You mentioned that at some points in some games, defensive fronts were like you know what

I'm done, you know we're and think about it. There have been games where you guys have finished off with long drives put where you've held time and possession and you've run the ball primarily, So without naming names, there's definitely been some defenses have been like you know enough no Moss. Yeah, there's definitely it's definitely been some guys that are hunt it up a lot, a lot, And it's it's something that I that we kind of hang

our head on it. We really we really enjoy it, you know what I mean, seeing guys come out of being being who they are, who they are portrayed to be to start the game and then Washington end and the game, seeing them not wanting to possible we're trying to put out there, Well, think about it. The Cardinals are trying to sweep in La Rams team they dismantled in week four, thirty seven twenty. It wasn't even that close.

And Wolf, we all remember that game ceiling drive, a dozen plays, eleven runs and a Matt Prater field goal. Oh my goodness, in fact us right here, twelve plays, ninety four yards, eleven runs and then the field goal. It took eight and a half minutes off the clock. And that is not the first and probably won't be the last time the Cardinals have done that this year. Can you feel that, buddy. They choose the best seat options that best fit your needs. Single game, group tickets,

club level seating, priority list and more. Go to Acy Cardinals dot com slash tickets. That's Asy Cardinals dot com slash tickets for all the information. We continue with DJ Humphreys Franchise Left Tackle on the Big Red Rage presented by satan Ford and Gilbert. We are Satan four. Let's start that off as Bruce arians at. I'm talking about that at Murray and shotgun snapped the collar at a

ton a little short set. See I did that. It sent a little bit now throwing deep fireside and has pulled in into five yard All right, hold on, I gotta grab myself a crown royal here. I have a little sipping, little sipping Dippydos new NIPPERU finished the callege, Jack Nicholson, AJ Green just too strong, too big, too athletic. To Tracy Morgan, I what a great read by Kyler Murray to throw the ball. Say it is, Morgan Freeman, what a great read by Kyler Murray to throw the ball.

You've got a scarecrow on a stick. Put it out there, let him go get it. Thanks exactly what J. Green did. Can you do it? As Liam Neeson on a great read by Kyler Murray to throw the ball. You've got a scarecrow on a stick, put it out there, let him go get it. That's exactly what a J. Green did. Is that your line, by the way, will scarecrow on a stick is a ball? Yeah? I tell you why,

Frank's it's so much better. Yeah, the Cooper talented Frank Calli and I tell you want a good time, just go to the Daypash podcast and dial up the Frank Caliendo audition. That's just NonStop laughs. I honestly, this season, the only people having a better time is Cardinals postgame locker room. I mean DJ Humprey's is with us here on the Big Red Rage a reunion show of sorts, but especially on the road, DJ. I mean, you know,

the music's pumping and you could just hear. I mean, I've heard chance of Undefeated from the Cardinal's visiting locker room after games. I mean, just take us inside and what the chemistry is like on this team, Man's the chemistry is okay, is unmatched. Man, I'm gonna be honest with you. The chemistry on this team is unmatched. The locker room is so much fun, man, especially after that winning is it almost turns into a club in there. Man.

It's like the hop gives on the music man, you know, getting them music, one of them guys, and then it goes all the way from from us being turned up right out of the game to old school right before we head out to the buses. Man's it's a fun time. I can't even sit here in a lot to you, like, it's not. We have so much fun on that bus, you know what. Sorry, d I'd like to ask you personally.

I'd like to ask you personally if if you feel the outside noise, And I'd also like to ask you collectively if you guys are aware of the outside noise one way or the other, good or bad. How much are you guys listening to that. I'm gonna be honest with you. I'm a big Netflix guy, So I always missed the like news people talking about us on TV. Okay, so always because I'm pretty much I'm only on like Netflix and Amazon and stuff like that. Most part I'm

not watching cable, so I usually miss it. So it really doesn't matter to you personally, Yeah, it really don't. It really don't catch me. It really don't catch me much, honestly, Um, I know it's just something I never my dad like kind of treating me into that when I was young and they coming up started playing sports. I just never really like watched it, like would paid attention to what they were saying about us or anything that. Like, I just never even watched it, So I never really got

into doing it or even sitting down watching it. I'm one of the guys that don't sit down and watch ESPN all day. I'm not even gonna sit there a lot like I do. How about how watch the TV show though in a heartbeat? And I'll tell you what, you know what, you're probably better off for that, just your own mental health. There's no doubt about it. And and you know what, there's a lot of shall we say, misinformation slash ignorance. I think about this team still in

a lot of ways. We don't get into all of it, but I think it's important because on Monday night, everyone's gonna go to look for the second time. The last time they saw the Arizona Cardinals the only time in national TV, was against Green Bay and it didn't go to the Cardinals way. So now it's Monday night, and and you know, Kyler said today that something has to change when it comes to home games. How would you

diagnose the three and two home record? And more importantly, when Cliff Kingsbury says, you know what, the energy isn't quite the same at home like it's been on the road, I think he's not. He's not. He's not saying it wrong. I think that's a fact. It's not the same. Um. I think that that's we're actively trying to figure that out. And I think that's the that's a big thing getting started fast and getting that same vibe recreated in that

locker room. It's kind of what we're trying to We're trying to find that that sweet spot for us, and I think we're going to We just have to keep what you have to see. We don't have a choice. Honestly, you got to keep focused on and figuring out that way to get it done because they're gonna keep coming. Do you think other guys in that locker room collectively, do you think they're paying a lot of attention to it? To you guys talk about it, what people are saying.

I don't about you. You don't think so. Yeah, I honestly don't think so. Um. I just don't get that vibe. And we have a young, a younger team, you know, like it's not as old as it was fifteen I would say, um, And I still feel like guys are not as dialed into the outside world as as I thought they would be. Well after the game, Zach Allen after his unbelievable one handed interception, right, and he's been playing some ball man the last six games and afterwards.

IM right, Just in terms of your own team, your own locker room, and the confidence level, where does it stand right now? Zach? It's hard not to have confidence, especially when you're on the field and you look at the guys that you're playing with, I mean across every single position you have, you know, pro bowled caliber studs, all pros, whatever it is, future Hall of famers. So, I mean, this is definitely the most fun I've had. I know for a lot of guys, you'll get that

same answer. So, you know, the cool thing is that we can be so much better. I think. So we still have yet to play a complete perfect game, and you know that's what we're striving for and I think you know, we're not too too far away from that. Yeah, that's what you guys are chasing, right, I mean that self motivation is a team DJ. Right. You guys are still searching that complete game from start to finish. Yeah, I think I think that's that's the exact hitting right

on the head. It's like, it's it's one of those things that makes me so optimistic because we the win games that we do all the stuff that people are excited about it, and we're watching the film with our head down because it's like, hey, we left this out there, we left this arder, we could have hit this, and that's the thing. It's like, we still haven't played the game that we want to play yet, and we looked

up when we're still tended too. So it's it's we just got to keep that same mentality of trying to get a week better and trying to be better than we would today before and just staying focused in that light. And I think it's it's gonna be nothing but but greatness for us if we can do that hump. When I watched tape of the Rams, that box has really tightened up, that front seven has really tightened up an

awful lot in regard to the run earlier in the year. Man, I mean, they were not as good as as they have been in the past, certainly not as good as they were in twenty twenty. But now when I juxtaposed the beginning of the season to what I'm seeing now, it really has tightened up a lot. Would you agree with that and what else has changed with this, dude? Definitely, definitely,

I would definitely agree that a lot. Uh uh. When you when you watch that, it's definitely not the same deference that we played that first that first go around, and we can't walk out there thinking that that's that's what we're gonna get because it's definitely a It definitely looks a lot different when you watching more film. Um, you know, they've added a few pieces since they fitted two guys to add a few pieces since the last time we played, and you can definitely see it coming

to life for them. But we, just, like I said, thank god, daring and playoff stole the ball and trying to nutralize all that the first time around. When you guys went to LA and won thirty seven twenty Aaron Aaron Donald ended up with the worst pass rushing grade of his career for a single game. What was the formula there and can you replicate that on Monday night? Yeah? I think I think uh. I think it was uh and went with it and and made it hard for

those guys. I think that's what we just got to do the same thing again and to replicate that same thing, because you know it doesn't happen after so we animation, We got out there and do the same day hump. Do you think that James Connor has changed Cliff Kingsbury's philosophy? Do you think do you think that James Connor has maybe opened the eyes of Cliff Kingsbury a little bit?

Because I listened to Cliff talk about James Connor and he talks about James Connor as if man he really was an eye open or not only the fact that he would pound the ball, of course, but a guy that could come out of the backfield and make great plays and great catches. Do you think James Connor has brought a little bit of that physicality to life for

Cliff Kingsbury? I definitely hope. So, I definitely think that when you when you see him his eagerness, when James was in that mode as seems like Cliff can tell you know what I mean. So I definitely definitely they're feeding off each other and it's something that it's something awesome to watch because I'm on the I'm on the positive end of that. I get the b get the run block, and I really enjoy that. So you guys talked about how the Rams defense is different from Game

one Week four. One big difference the addition of von Miller. So what does that mean for your offensive line when you get a Hall of Famer like that added mid season to the Rams? Yeah, man, it's it's it's definitely. Uh, I guess I see what teams go through when they deal with us, trying to figure out how they who they're gonna double d hyper aj. You know, it's just kind of that, it's kind of that say that that would go the flip side for me. But it's definitely

those guys give you a hapeful chance. Like you said, both of those guys are too you know what I mean, we know we're gonna be Hall of famers and them being on the saye, I saw one flip of them like Aaron Donald at the four and and and Vaughan at the outside linebacker spot. I was like, Wow, that's that's something that's something that you would normally see in a Pro Bowl. And that's yeah, that's their base BA Here's you know, you guys don't talk an awful lot

about the number one seat, do you. It's it's more like the next game, you guys. I don't know if I've ever been around a team that seems so hyper focused as you guys are. Would you agree with that? Yeah? I would, And that's I think that's one of my favorite things about our team is like everybody's focused on right now. Nobody's really got their their eyes set on the future or what's gonna happen though, or what's what's gonna go. It's all about right now, this play, this

and that's that. Seems like that's all that anybody's focused on. And that's that's that's one of my favorite things about our team. Everybody's right now. We're at practice, we're focused on practice, when we're in the game, focusing the game, we're not looking at all. When I looking back, it is right now. And that's that I love that about our team. Well, if you go on to know on Monday. You win, You're in to the playoffs. How does that sound?

That sounds awesome. That sounds awesome just to be my first opportunity to to to It will be my first time going and playing in the playoffs. So I'm excited. Man. This is this is every day hopeful. You know what it sounds like to me? A bunch of dogs sparking, That's what it sounds like to me. DA thank you so much for joining us, Buddy, loo it man. I appreciate y'all, haven't it. Man. It's been a while, and

hey appreciate it. DJ. We always love spending time with you and getting the insight and chopping it up and all the best. You know, Happy holidays to the kids. You got to work on that play set for the backyard, so we'll let you go. You gotta get out there and place that order there. So that's good. It's uh great to have DJ Humphreys on. We'll continue with the Big Red Rage. We'll get into the Rams in depth when we come back. All brought to you by santan

Ford and Gilbert. We are santan Ford. You came into LA today and you dominated the Rams. The Cardinals slay

the Dragon. Sean McVay finally goes down again in Arizona after an eight and o record, The Cardinals beat the Rams and beat them soundly in Los Angeles by the final score of thirty seven to twenty behind an MVP caliber performance by their franchise quarterback Kyler Murray back the Red Sea was in LA, and as he left the field, they started channing MVP MVP, just like they did in other games this year, including the most recent game at Chicago red Z representing and channing MVP is Kyler left

in that Rams game about four hundred and sixty four total yards, Cardinals ran at forty times for two hundred sixteen yards, that's five four yards a toad, and after the opening punt they scored on seven of their next eight possessions. Cardinals won big at LA, trying to sweep the Rams just like they did the forty nine Ers. We were wrapping up this edition of The Big Red Rage, presented by Santan and Ford and Gilbert Yours, Truley, Paul

Kell VC, and Ron Wolfley. You know, for me, Polly, honestly, coming up this Monday night, it would you say this is a big game Paul, would you say it's a big game because I think it is the biggest game of the season. Now, They're all going to start getting bigger and bigger as we continue to push towards that number one seed. But I think this is the biggest game in the season here, Paul, you could argue, you

could argue Week four was the biggest game. You could argue Week one, in my opinion, was the biggest game in the tone you said and what you established out of the gates and how many doubters are we're going in to Tennessee. But yeah, considering this is on national TV, you have a chance to clinch a playoff spot, you haven't done it since twenty fifteen and sweep a RAMS team that had been eight and oh against you under Sean McVay until this season. Yes, go five and oz

in the division, Polly, and not only that too. Once again, we all know you're three and two at home, you're seven and ozo on the road, and you're three and two at home. You got to do something about your home field in the home field advantage right here. I just there's so many variables that come into play. Why this is a big game coming up here. So I'm not really worried about Kyler Murray. I'm not worried about him.

I think big games are in his DNA. Now he's gonna have to go prove it, Paul, He's gonna have to go prove it by playing well. But I'm not really worried about Kyler Murray. I think he's gonna play very very well. If I were a RAM, though, I might be looking at Matthew Stafford and wondering if Matthew Stafford is in fact that guy, is he really going to get us over the hump? Now? Matthew Stafford has had a very very good season. Of course, early in

the season, I think he was an MVP candidate. As a matter of fact, I think he was the MVP candidate. Right now, I think that arc that arrow has become declivitous. I don't think he's an MVP candidate the way that he was, of course, But I'm gonna be watching Matthew Stafford very closely to see how he plays in this big game. Well, they had a three game losing streak and he threw a pick six in every single game. Yes,

so three straight games of the pick six. Whereas, for example, Aaron Rodgers has thrown three pick sixes in his entire career, so that has dogged Matthew Stafford his ability to win big games. Yes, and this obviously is a big game. In the last four games, they have turned the ball over seven times the Rams, and Stafford has been involved

in six of those turnovers right there. So yes, I honestly, I believe there are guys that are looking at him inside the locker room because no offense to Matthew Stafford. He's got all the ability in the world. I have so much respect for him and the player that he is. But when you want to get down to it and what people say about Matthew Stafford, the one question mark they had is could he win big games? Was he tough enough? And I'm not talking about physically tough, I'm

talking about toughen his soul. Was he tough enough to withstand the the pressure of a big game? And we're gonna find out. I'm very interested to see how he plays. Yeah, well, he's going against a top five scoring defense in the NFL, while Kyler Murray is going against Aaron Donald and company. The new addition Von Miller, Jalen Ramsey obviously top corner

in the league. Here's Kyler on that challenge. No, that's just, uh, that's kind of what you you know, I didn't sign up for it, but that's you know, that's you know, you get drafted areas on a cardinal somebody. The first thing you think about his damn well, you already know you gotta go against he's talking about ninety nine in particular,

Aaron Donald right there. Yeah, you know. So look, here's the thing that was interesting about their win against the Jacks and yeah they beat him thirty seven to seven. Forget the final score, forget the opponent. It was all about what the Rams did. They came out and on their first possession, their first snap, they went into a jumbo set. They had an extra offensive lineman out there, and they started running the ball straight ahead. They started

changing up their personnel groups. Until that Jacksonville game last week, they had run more three wide receiver sets as a percentage of plays than any team in the league. They basically went back to the Todd Gurley days. Yes, and so they're taking a page maybe Sean McVay for everybody who said when the Cardinals hired Cliff Kingsbury, Oh, they're trying to duplicate the Sean. No, maybe it's the other

way around right now. Or you know what, Sean mcvay's looking over the block wall into the Cardinals backyard and taking a look what a Cliff Kingsbury's doing. Yeah, the Arizona Cardinals, they have the highest quarterback rating in the league right now, and again I think it's an excellent measurement of how a human being is actually playing the quarterback position. Kyler Murray has the highest quarterback rating in the National Football League. The Rams defensive quarterback rating, which

is very very important. It takes into account your coverage, how buttoned up you are in the back end, how will you tackle, and how well you pressured quarterbacks as well. Their number seven in defensive quarterback rating. But the matchup to me is the quarterback rating number three Matthew Stafford in the Los Angeles Rams number three in the National Football League to number five hit the Arizona Cardinals are number five defensive quarterback rating. That to me, Pauli is

going to be the matchup of this game. So can they make him one dimensional? Can they shut down the Rams ability to run the ball and make Matthew Stafford one dimensional, because right now, over the last three games that the Rams run rate has been thirty one percent, Yes, thirty one percent, Paul, where they actually run the ball over the last three games, and sixty nine percent they're throwing it. And don't forget the first time the Cardinals

played the Rams, the headline screamed empty Cup. We're talking about Cooper Cup who led the league in every single receiving category and was a complete non factor in Week four five catchers for sixty four yards on thirteen targets. Yes, and he comes in leading the league and receiving touchdowns and receiving yards. So we'll see how he fares in the rematch. That's going to be the matchup right there.

If they can make Matthew Stafford one dimensional, shut the Rams down from running the ball, and then here we go Matthew Stafford versus that defensive quarterback rating. Hey the Day Pash Podcast, by the way, episode nineteen available now featuring ESPN Great Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton. Okay, this is a singular experience. I saw some of this

walla is being recorded. I mean, you gotta go to at pashpod on Twitter wherever you get your podcasts and it is a can miss Bill Walton and Dave Pash special. Thanks as always, Jim Almandro, Mitch Vildis, Hey, DJ Humphrey's was our guest tonight. Monday Night is the next stop in primetime for Ron Wolfley Paul calBC. This has been The Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford in Gilbert Chaw Number one. Til You've been listening to The Big

Red Ray presented by Santanford in Guildall, 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 Arizona Cardinals Football Club.