Big Red Rage - Pass Rush Forecast

dot com, Slash podcasts. The Red scen Rising Guard, temperaturizing vision, flurring rage, taking it over. Here's Paul Calvci. I'm ready. I'm one hundred percent ready. I'm telling you I'm ready. And Ron Wolflee it doesn't get any better than that. Unleash the far. I don't know about either one of those, but I do know that I'm about to quote. Here we go. You can't win right now, but you can lose.

The words earlier today from Pro Bowl running back James Connor, who brings both the attitude and perspective, how about it talking to the media after an ota earlier today, In fact, did you see where the Cardinals tweeted out Ron Wolfley and I quote here, it's a beautiful day for OTA's high temperature today by the way, officially one oh nine. Yeah, Polly, I did see that. What's your point. It's host You know, guys are out there, they're getting used to the heat.

You know, you get It's there's a difference of opinion perhaps amongst some guys. J J. Watt, for example, says he loves how the heat feels on his body and the natural turf at Cardinals practices. Of course, he probably didn't love going viral when he tripped over in bag during one of the d Line drolls earlier today, Down

goes JJ Watt. It's one of the coolest things, Polly, just watching that, I mean J. J. Watt not going down it was I mean that just watching him work his way through that drill, Polly, I mean, that was to the wall, as we used to say back in the day. That was that was a guy that was going through those bags and he was doing it with intent and that's why he spilled it right there. But I love the fact he poked it himself. Yeah, you know,

a little. He did one on Twitter he had some fun with it, right, he owned it, and that's nothing Wolf. I mean, that kind of embarrassment is nothing coming from a guy. Correct me if I'm wrong, who once upon a time lost his cookies on the boots of John bon Jovi. Yeah that was me, Polly, Sorry, Yeah, you know what, Oh John Bond. Actually I didn't hit his boots ball, but it was really really close and he backed away. As a matter of fact that I looked up after puking all over the field and yes, Paul,

there was John bon Jovi. And by the way, Polly, he had a blonde on his arm. I'm just say it, right, befitting John Bond. Okay, I get it. Well, look, it's the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert. We are santan Ford and we will have outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen joining us momentarily. I mean, if you have questions about where the Cardinals and how the Cardinals are going to generate a pass rush, well we're going to talk to one of the guys working on that.

We'll talk about Chandler Jones. The absence thereof the emergence of Dennis Cardak, the rookies. The scheme will cover all that, right, just like we're going to cover the week that was as we get towards the end of the week. Here on Big Red Rage, was Kyler at OTAs this week? No, he was there last week and he's expecting next week for the mandatory mini camp. In between, we heard from zach Ertz on the Dave Pash Podcast Wolf And here was zach Ertz the tight Ends answer when asked about Kyler.

Kyler is the most talented player I've ever been around, player player period. There is no doubt. There's nothing he cannot do on a football field. He can be like La R. Jackson and take off and run for a hundred plus yards in a game, or in my opinion, you can sit in the pocket and not even worry about his legs and just dinking dunk all the way down the field. He's super, super accurate, and there's just nothing he can do. I don't know that. I can't

really explain it. That's pretty strong. On the Dave Fash Podcast, your reaction what zach Ertz said about his quarterback. Yeah, the first thing you have to look at is he could have easily qualified it PAULI. He could have qualified it by saying he's one of the most talented players I've ever played with. He could have qualified it. He did not qualify at all. He said he is the most talented player that I've ever played with. Now, Paul, let me just caution you, though, and I think zach

Ertz would agree with us. When you say somebody's the most talented, it doesn't necessarily mean he's the best player I've ever played with. There's a big difference, I think between that. But the talent is certainly there with Kyler Murray. That's something we've all known. Meaning there's still a ceiling, right, I mean exactly, there's still potent. She'll be realized and we get it. He's got three years in the league, he's still twenty four years of age. He has two

Pro Bowls under his belt. And for all that, here's what DJ Humphreys told the media this week when asked about whether Kyler is the future or not. And let's just say, the left tackle and former namesake on this show had a message for all those Kyler doubters. If you think that Kyler is not our future, you are a plumb fool, you know, what I mean. I just

I said that again. If you think that he's not our future, you are absolutely and you just start out on the drinking in the daytime, you know what I mean? Like I know Scott Stale big on Sunday Funday, but you got ditted back a little bit. You know. Well, do you first off, in all the years we've done this show with DJ Humphreys, do you remember him using the phrase plumb full? That's the South Carolina in him. Yeah, no, that It certainly came out right there. And Paul, I've

never heard him say plump full. I laughed out loud when I first heard that. I don't know about you, Paul. Anybody plumb full. I haven't heard plump full and a long long time. Yeah, It's like belongs in a John Steinbeck novel or something. It was good. That was good. I think. I think what DJ is saying once again, Um yeah, there's no doubt about it. The organization, I think we all agree they're going to extend Kyler Murray.

They're going to do it this summer at some point in time when that is, I don't know, Polly, I said June twenty eighth, I just picked the number out of the air of you. What say you, Polly, I don't know when thirteenth, the day before the mandatory mini camp. I don't like my odds at this pet okay. June thirteenth, the day before the mandatory mini camp. Yes, indeed, And Cliff Kingsbury says, by the way, he expects Kyler Murray to be there, correct, Polly, he does so for me.

Once again, there's no doubt about Kyler Murray and his talent. There is no doubt whatsoever they are going to extend him here. He is the future of the Arizona Cardinals. I do want to see him continue to develop and grow. You know, we had a chance to talk with Trace McSorley earlier today ninety eight seven FM, did we not, the third string quarterback, And one of the things he said about Kyler is his ability to find guys in space and zach Ertz's ability to use space and find openings.

And what do you think about the potential of those two now that they have a full off season, because we remember zach Ertz arrived in a trade and they had to ramp things up in a hurry in the middle of his season. When we talk about potential. We always talk about Kyler to d hop or Kyler d aj Green and now Hollywood Brown obviously, but what about Kyler to zach Ertz. Yeah, no, PAULI it's a great question. I think zach Ertz is going to have a massive year.

And one of the big reasons why is in week seven, DeAndre Hopkins is going to come back. It's going to be Marquis Brown and DeAndre Hopkins on the outside for all we know. Listen, Rondelmore, that is a question mark right now, Rondelmore, will he take that step forward? Will he become the vertical threat that I was hoping he was going to be able to do last year. I

don't know. That remains to be seen. He's got a prove it mentality right now, and I would love to see him go out there and get the opportunity to prove it. Because listen, if you've got guys that are on the outside, you're not going to be able to double a zach Ertz. You're not going to be able to do it. Paul. If you're doubling Marquis Hollywood Brown and you're bracketing DeAndre Hopkins on the other side, or

Rondel Moore for that matter. On the other side, guess who's one on one in the middle, you know, and I like the odds of zach ERTs winning one on one. Well, think about it. It It was the Houston game where zach Ertz had to catch across the middle, turned it up the far sideline and went a good thirty yards to six. Right.

That tell me, if I'm wrong, was a byproduct of all the attention being paid to DeAndre Hopkins, and he just found a massive opening in the middle of the third level of the defense and then he housed it so and then to hear zach Ertz tell Dave Pash also that there might be some confused durations where he's out at the X and he's way wide, which he did for Doug Peterson once upon a time in Philly. That's intriguing if they get creative minus de hop Yeah, no,

it is, Polly. And there are so many weapons on this offense right now. I mean it. I was thinking about this the other day. You and I were talking about it today, Polly. But when you think of nuke, you think of DeAndre Hopkins. And again I realized he's gonna miss the first six games of the season. Yet when he comes back, that means he's gonna play in eleven Lord Willing, He's gonna play in eleven, Polly, and then of course you got Marquis Hollywood Brown, Rondale Moore.

We all expect him to take that step forward. A j Green, a guy we talked about a guy that had almost nine hundred yards receiving last year and he was disappointed he didn't get a thousand yards receiving last year. He felt like he left that on the field. As a matter of fact, you got James Connor, you got Kyler Murray, Hello, Kyler Murray. And then all of a sudden, you're gonna tell me you got zach Ertz as well, Paulvis.

This offense is absolutely stacked. It's got everything that it needs to be one of the best offenses in the league. But I don't want to hear about it. I don't want to. You know what, go prove it, Just go do it. That's what I want. That's the mentality I want to see them adopt. JJ Watt coming off the injury last year, he has been a mainstay at the Cardinals headquarters. What Ever, since Day three of the off season.

I mean, he has been there almost every single day, and he was explaining the media why it's important to him now. He pointed out to start that there are a number of players, not just Kyler, a number of players not with the card not only the Cardinals, but around the NFL who have not been attending voluntary the offseason sessions. And so with that in mind, here's what JJ Watt had to say being here with the guys

at OTAs. I think that being on the field is extremely valuable because I don't think you can get better at football without playing football. Taking advantage of every single opportunity, taking advantage of every rep, all the individual drills and everything. Camaraderie and getting the guys together I think for me

personally is very big. And I think that obviously we have a new dealne coach this year as well, so making sure that we're on the same page and making sure that we're we all know what the expectation is and we all set the culture that we want to set. Yeah,

Matt Burke, the new defensive line coach. It was interesting to hear him, you know, getting after the guys early in OTAs this week, yelling at him get the weekend audio and then putting him through drills, and and like we talked about earlier, JJ Watt is the first guy up in every drill, as you might expect a three time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He's just a guy who sets the culture on the defensive side, not unlike how James Conner sets the culture and the physicality

on the assee offensive side. And then there's jj Watt and what he does on the social media side. Did you see his shout out on video where he captured Rondale Moore and him near the Cardinals weight room roll that everybody's Rondale's birthday. I'm sure you say that birthday to Rondale. We're just having all this time for our baby. And they said it's bigger than him already tell more, Oh, Mike Bolton, he didn't want any anymore. That video on social media from jj Watt, I mean, come on now,

slam there dominion of Americans like Rondale Moore. I thought those a little un called for. Albeit entertaining, No, you know what, it was entertaining, And that's the one thing JJ Watt understands. He knows how to entertain. But then I love the fact he was talking about focusing on the process. That's what when you hear him say every day, the opportunity that you have on every rep to get better, to go through it and do it with intent. Man, he's telling you right now to focus on the process,

not the end result. Focus on the process, and you have a chance of actually getting to the end result if you do that. Day Pash Podcasts recently featured JJ Watt, most recently zach Ertz. As we mentioned, wherever your podcast, find the Day Pash podcast or on Twitter via at pashpod. All right, do we all have questions when it comes to generating a pass rush? You bet. Let's talk to one of the coaches working on the answers, Charlie Boland,

outside linebackers coach. Next, when we return the Big Red Rage presented by Satan Ford and Gilbert, we are Satan four garapolo three steps, drop steps up, gets hit and sack back at about the thirteen yard line by Marcus Golden. When you need a play forty four is there? Star Barkin get the Robinson running right and met by Cannard who got off a block and stuff the play, hands it off nowhere to run between the tackles. Devon Knard back to throw Flacco sacked by Gardck. Oh my goodness,

what a move by Dennis Gardak. The barbarian Flacco in the pocket, gonna get hit and sacked. Dennis Gardak got him again. Dennis Garda got up and did a little barbarian dance around the fire. I'll pick up where Dave Passion Ron Wilfully left off there. Those three names all have one thing in common at least, and I'm not just talking about the position. Actually, those three names and their position coach all have one thing in common, and

that is the super extra energy that everyone feeds off. Up. Okay, we're talking Dennis Gardeck, Marcus Golden, Devon Kanard, and Charlie Bullen, the outside linebackers coach who joins us now on the big red rage. Charlie, how are you doing? You worked us in between meetings? Good? Great? You know you're running the up tempo as an assistant coach here, durn OTAs you know, how's everything going right now? In mid June? Everything is good. This is a good time of year,

you know, back out there with the guys. It feels good after a couple shortened off seasons for various reasons over the last two years to finally get back out and do what we love, play ball. There's no you know, there's no stress who wins and loss yet. So we're just as we like to say, we're crafting our time of year to get better, get back in the lab, as we like to say, and focus on fundamentals. So

it's all ball and it's all good. Can guys really get better in OTAs in your opinion, and of course I mean mentally you can understand the offense better, the defense better, or covering a kickoff mentally you can understand all a bit better. But can you actually get better as a football player, Yeah, for sure in my opinion. Absolutely.

You know, it's the it's all about repetitions, and you know this time year, wherever they come, whether they come in a non competitive environment in individual drills or a competitive environment seven on seven team walk throughs, this time year, in my opinion, it's all about repetition. So guys getting them now we'll pay off in the season. And you know, it's funny, there's there's things that happen in practice that

we're looking at right now. We're talking about we're reflecting on and they happened last year in games, you know, and as a group and a coach and players, we pointed out to each each other, Hey, this is no different than week you know whatever against this particular opponent. Here it is again in June, and it's the same situation. We're getting the same training. So it's another shot on goal. And you know, I always say it's amazing as much football as you know, some of these you know players

have played. There's yourself included, Wolf, long career in the NFL. Right, there's no chance you've defensive perspective. There's no chance you fit every run or defended every pass concept in the NFL versus every play call you have in your defensive scheme. So every every opportunity is an opportunity to get a shot on goal, as I say, And that's where we're at this time year. So yes, Wolf, for sure I

can approve it. Coach outside Linebackers coach Charlie Bulling our guest in the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert Well. As J. J. Watts said the other day, you can't get better at football without playing football, without practicing football, and I'm guessing, Paul pencil Neck over here, I'm just merely guessing that if, for example, you need to develop a counter move as a pass rusher, now

is the time. This is where it comes in, right, Yes, for sure, and you know something of that too, you know, before you get to the counter move, you know, this is a time where you're where you can train perfect muscle memory. So we're out there, you know, going through it,

working our fundamentals, working our pass rush moves. And then when you get sped up in competitive environments, you either got to hit it quicker or get into your move quicker, or you end up getting into your pass rush moveing from in an unorthodox way that you don't necessarily train. But it's the it's the reps right now in the training of the move that gets you ready to react

at that particular time. It could be a counter move or that type of thing, but for sure, at least we're training the baseline fundamentals, you know, so that when we get sped up in competitive situations where we're ready to roll with that muscle memory. Charlie, what does not having Chandler Jones out of the field, What is that like, and what does that do? And how do you replace him? Yeah?

Thing for starters, you can just you can't replace him, um, you know, at least for a long period of time, franchise sack leader, you know, great shot at the Hall of Fame. You can't replace the guy like that off the jump. You know, love chan, miss him dearly, wish him the best, you know, And it's a great opportunity for our group to step up and take these steps, you know, to replacing that production as best we can.

You know, when Marcus is a great rusher who's produced a lot of years, so we expect, you know, him to pick up right where he left off last year. And you know, to to replace Chandler's production. It may be by committee, you know, or you know, somebody may step up in a big way, you know, and uh, that's where we're at, you know, to be, you know, And we lost Chandler in twenty twenty and kind of we're in the right. He had one sack in that season and you guys still finished number five in socks

per attempt. Yes, you know, so that was kind of a similar you know, you know deal. We had to have other guys step up Hassan Reddick had his breakout first year, Dennis Gardak had his breakout years. So we may have to piece it together, you know, you can't. You can't replace that production from a great player like him. And if we do, we at least feel comfortable that

we've been there before. You know, it's amazing. I just saw this stat again that season after Chandler Jones went down early in the game against the Jets Week five. The Cardinals ended up with an NFL high eighteen players who had at least one sack in two twenty and an NFL leading dozen players who had two or more sacks. Yeah, so yeah, what do you attribute to that too? And to what degree can the Cardinals replicate that? Well? Scheme

for sure. I mean, you know, um, this scheme going back to you know, um advances time in Denver, the there have been guys that have produced in this scheme and we always you know, some characteristics. We look for tough guys who can just attack off the ball, you know, and at the outside back of position. Those have been two traits that have translated to production, you know. And what's been really kind of cool, you know, having been the coach of this group the last two years is

even just body type wise. You take Chandlers six to five, you know about two sixty, all the way down to Dennis, you know who six feet two hundred thirty two thirty five, and all the way in between, from Marcus to Hassan. You know, different body types, different skill sets have produced in this scheme, and the common denominators have been tough guys who just attack. The pressure. Packages are really complex

here for this team. You have to have smart guys as well, because you have a tendency I think defensively of bringing five guys a lot. You just don't know which five are coming. Does that make sense? Yeah? Yeah, no, you definitely you definitely have to be smart to play in this defense. You know so obviously toughness is the first component, but you also have to be able to process and remember your defensive calls and execute because like

you said, it is complex. How about seven sacks in ninety three defensive snaps for a healthy Dennis guard at unbelievable in two twenty What I mean in fact, that game where he got injured against Philadelphia, that was week fifteen, I believe, twenty twenty. In that game before he went down with a season ending injury. He had three tackles, he had two sacks, he had two tackles for loss, he had two quarterback hits, and then two more tackles on special teams, and then he went down with the

season and any knee injury. In fact, he was asked the other day, what did you learn while you were out and rehabbing. Here's what he had to say. I don't like the guarantee. When I first tore my ICL, I was going through that, I was like, I guarantee I'm coming back stronger and this and that, And I found that it's so much more inspiring and it pushes me so much more understanding that it might not it might be done, it might be over. And I think that's why being on the fifty three is my number

one goal. Just understanding the sense of urgency and that kind of pressure, I thrive. And that's in response to Cliff Kingsbury saying that Guardek literally won't talk to him because he thinks a Guardeck thinks he's gonna get cut every single day he's out on that field. There is no bigger question mark that Dennis Gardeck is there nobody knows whether to figure whether twenty twenty was a fluke.

Can you count on him this year? What is your response when you're trying to figure and factor him into the equation this season? Yeah, well, you know, it's a good sound bite by him. No guarantees, of course, you know, and it's obviously a testament to his humble mindset. But you know, the one thing about Dennis last year. First of all, a lot of times it can take two years or fully come back from an injury like that.

Whether it does or doesn't, I think that's individualized, and Dennis felt his way back through it for a little bit, i'm sure last year. But the one thing that I look at, there's some things he did on film last year that we're outstanding. You know, they didn't result in a sack. But a lot of times when somebody on the defense gets a sack, there's other guys across the ball or wherever they're lined up that do a heck

of a job that contribute to that sack. He was involved in a lot of situations last year where he was an integral part of the pass rush group that led to a sack for somebody else. So to me, I look at that he did his job. Last year, they didn't result in the sack numbers all good, and so this year, hopefully he just picks up where he left off and you know, the numbers will be what they are. And as we like to say in the industry, you know, sacks come in bunches. Sometimes your numbers called,

sometimes it isn't. But last year he produced at a high level doing what he had to do. The numbers just weren't there. So, coach, you got some young guys coming in or, as my old coach used to say, some fresh meat coming in here. My j Sanders of course and Cameron Thomas. Talk about these two young guys right now, and do you coach them any differently than some of the other guys in the room. Yeah. First of all, they fit the profile. They're tough guys that

love ball and they attack. You know, two of their distinguishable traits coming out of college was their motor play, speed and effort. So that's number one for us. They passed that test. They're both great people and they worked hard, so it was they were easy decisions for us in that regard. And um, so that's the first step. You know, skill set wise, they're they're really different. You know, they're both long, you know six five and six four six five Cam six four. Um, so that's good. We got

some length there. Body type wise a little different. Maj's leaner, a little longer. Cam's got a little more power. So, um, they're built the right way from an intangible standpoint. And then skill set wise, they both bring past rush to the table a little a little bit differently, but um, we're fired up to have them. And um, you know they've they've been they've been great so far. Yes, Wolf, coach them a little different, coach them harder. Man. They're

they're rooks. They haven't earned anything yet. Yeah, fresh meetings, it was Quitin Harris, VP of player Personnel, said that my J. Sanders missed at least seven sacks a year ago at Cincinnati, just just didn't finish. And then someone else told me that he's just a walking question. He's always asking questions. My J. Sanders really curious, really wants to get better. Is that your only impression on him? Yeah? For sure, high football IQ, which is part of it.

He understands the game, which is good. You know, the rookies though they got it there's a lot of information. They got a process and compartmentalize. That's the phase they're both in. But from a football IQ standpoint, high IQ, he wants to know, he wants to ask questions. So yes, you know that that part is accurate, so OTAs that is one level in the off season, of course, and one level of intensity. I say for the most part, you got mandatory mini camp coach that is coming up

right here. Do you increase your intensity level on purpose? Do you increase it at all? As a matter of fact? Do you change how you coach? Do you become more vociferous? Do you become louder? In other words, I'm saying, well, if I start out, I start out in one in April the same way I'm gonna be in in so it never changes that intensity level. Not for me. We start out as high as it can go. We'll check

this out. Our man here, Okay has a bachelor's degree from IOWA in finance and a master's degree in sports management. Charlie Bulling here, can you investigate the rams and see how they're getting around the salary cap and how they're paying all this cash? That's what I want to know. My goodness, what's going on around here? I'm gonna I'm gonna stay away from that question. Is how about this question? What is the best thing about being an assistant coach

in the NFL? You know, I think it's funny. Maj. Sanders asked a similar question that on his visit here, and I've never you know, I don't, I don't think about it all the time, but it as I did reflect on it, it is collective results with people that you love and respect, who are on the same grind that you are. When when your blood sweat and tears with those people throughout the process and you have opportunities to achieve great things. Nothing better still about the competition.

It's still about its being a group and being on a team and trying to accomplish something. Yeah, I think I think I mayrimnod have been passed the numbers. I want to Chandler sax in Week one against Tennessee. So there's nothing better for me than when my guys have success, our defense has success. Team, you know, But it's it's

just it's the best. Speaking of the Titans in week one, the joint practice that's coming in August, you look forward to that yeah, those are well, no, those are In my experience, those are good because it's a little break from the Manatia training camp and when you're when you're competing against another team, the intensity always goes up. So the one question you'd love to have answered by the end of the preseason the end of August with your position group would be what is there an easy answer

to that is the music is rolling? Is there an easy instant answer to what question you really want answered by the end of the preseason. I don't have one, Paul, I don't have a question right now. You know it's all the same, That's all the same, all the same, Charlie, thank you so much, Buddy. Absolutely. I mean we got an Aeron man here. He did seven years with the Dolphins South Florida summers now Arizona summers with the Cardinals.

Charlie Bolin, the Cardinals outside linebackers coach. We continue with a big red rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert hands it off. No running room off the right side and back of loss up two on the play. Saban Collins the first guy there, and that is a big man coming down from the week's side shooting the gap. Saban Collins again throws over the middle, tipped into the air and in complained he was going for his tight end pass was off the mark. Xaban Collins at coverage

that time, and it's fourth down. Saban Collins bats that ball into the air with all of that great white use check in motion. It is a quarterback drop the middle. Lance's head drives the legs forward, Gonna be close. The forty nine ers are short. Zaven Collins with the tackle. Savan Collins, the rookie at two sixty playing downhill, came in and laid some lumber baby six four two sixty. That's more like an inside linebacker from your era, Wolf, is it not that sort of size and just velocity

from a Xavin Collins? And your question of Charlie Bullen. In the last segment here on the Big Red Race presented by Santan ford in Gilbert, the Cardinals outside linebackers coach, he answered right away when he asked him, can a player get better in the off season, Yeah, he said, absolutely for sure. And if there was one guy you'd love to see them make the most progress in the off season, it'd be hard not to choose Zaven Collins.

I would imagine now, right, Paul, listen, and this is exactly when you want Zaven Collins out on the field. And you have to remember he wasn't given that luxury after his rookie year. For the most party, wasn't given the ability to do it, Paully, and I should say Isaiah Simmons was not given the ability to do that, and I think that really kind of set him back a little bit. And Zaven Collins, to me, this is the guy, Paul. If there's one guy in training camp

that I want to follow around, it's Zaven. I love the kid, I love his qualities, I love the talent he's been given. But man, he's got to develop mentally, and let's hope that happens. Yeah, and he was annointed the starting middle linebacker from day one, right after the draft round one April of last year. But it quickly became apparent that pe in the quarterback of an NFL defense in a very advanced and complex scheme like Mans Joseph,

that was a lot to ask. So you saw Jordan Hicks, obviously, who got the most defensive snaps of any player on the Cardinals defense. He was voted to team captain by the locker room, okay, And there was Savin Collins, and we saw him in different roles, and you also saw him banged up at times. And he met the media today and he was forthcoming out everything. In fact, he was asked, Okay, first and foremost, what are you working on? Obviously, you know last year didn't go as you know everyone want.

But that's that's part of life, just learning from those mistakes, applying him to now and trying to get better, which I have. I think that I've done a really good job in some of the areas that I've messed up as far as you know, mental errors or you know, stuff like that. I mean, Wolf, I'm just going to take a guess that. Yeah. His primary objective right now is to gain the absolute trust of his coaches, of

his defensive coordinator. If nothing else bans, Joseph has to trust the guy wearing the green dot and calling the defense and making the checks right. Yeah, no, Paul, you're right, You're you're right on this. But it's also his teammates, PAULI. He's got to earn the trust of his teammates, the guys that are out there. They have to be able to trust him that he is going to make the right call, that he is going to make the right check.

And you got to remember it's not just him. There are some other guys that are out there as well. I think a Buddha Baker, I think of Jalen Thompson. I think of these guys that are also making calls in the secondary. But you get you need that green dot in the box. You need that mic linebacker in particular. You need him to actually be the guy who's getting everybody lined up and getting him lined up correctly. So

his teammates got to trust him to polly. Yeah. In an ideal world, the two first round inside linebackers are playing side by side and they're just rocking and rolling all season long. Obviously, Dance Joseph was asked about Isaiah Simmons and Zavan Collins a little bit earlier this offseason, and here was his response. It's their time. You know, Isaiah's going into his third years, Avan's going into a second year to first round picks to have to help us,

you know, and it's heading that way. You know. I've been proud of his Zaven, how much time he's put in. Isaiah has always been a good worker. You know. It's the next step for him. Obviously watching him last year, he made plays, you know, but now he has to make consistent plays and not give up play. You know. That's this next challenge and for Zavan to stand healthy and keep learning. But both guys are physically gifted, you know, so we have to get those guys ready to play

because we need him. What'd you think of vance Joseph there, the defensive coordinator, what he said first about Isaiah Simmons and just he has to make those consistent plays. That's the next step for Isaiah in year three. Yeah, he just has to play more consistently. There's no doubt. And I think the fact that he's actually getting an off season, I think dad really an offseason where he's actually on the field, Paul, I think that's going to help Isaiah

Simmons a lot. Having said that, listen, there's there's no two positions that are more important than the inside linebacker position for the Arizona Cardinals, the mic backer and of course the weak side inside linebacker. Paul, those two guys, Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons. I believe this is just my opinion here. I believe they hold the keys to

the kingdom of defense for the Arizona Cardinals. If you tell me they both take a step forward, that they both get better, that they're they're they're guys that are improving, I'll tell you right now, the Arizona Cardlos have a chance to be good defensively. If those two guys don't take a step forward and don't improve, now, all of a sudden, there's a question mark there and they're gonna struggle. Yeah. Think think about the division itself, right, Kyle Shanahan has

he hell been on running the ball? Absolutely does, even have a very complex scheme where he keeps a defense on us. Yes, it's always a challenge going agains the Kyle Shanahan designed offense and run game. The Seahawks come on, they basically have no choice but to run the ball, and they have a couple of really stout running backs

they're gonna do it with. They've invested heavily there. And then of course we know about Sean McVay and how he keeps a defense on us, and with Cam Akers healthy and the way they transition to more of a run oriented offense last year, all the way to the Super Bowl title. It's a task. So I completely agree with you how Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins go, There's no doubt about it. Now. Here's the thing. As Craig Grielou told us earlier today, Isaiah Simmons has been in

a lot of the safety drills. So as much as the coaches in these last two years have told us about how Isaiah Simmons is an inside linebacker, the game film would belie what they're telling us, because he seemingly is that X factor Wilf Isaiah Simmons. They use them in a whole variety of positions. Yeah, you know, Polly, I'm just wondering right now because the pads aren't on,

right the pads aren't on. Because the pads aren't on, they want him to learn maybe playing in the secondary and what that's like, because I think they want to move him around. You know that, Polly. They still want to make him that X factor right now, So listen, if the pads are on and he's still continuing to work out with the safeties, that I will get a little concerned with I will, Paul, because that means, Okay, what are you telling me that he's actually gonna be

a safety. Well right now, you don't think of the Arizoto Cardinals needing a safety. You just don't. Now. Of course, you can play with three safeties. There are defensive personnel groups where you're gonna do that from time to time, no doubt. But man, that weekside inside linebacker, that's the position I want Isaiah Simmons to really focus on and grow. And PAULI, I will tell you right now, the pad's not being on. Maybe that's why they got him in

the defensive backfield. Maybe. And Jalen Thompson told the media today that both him and Buddha have the ability to play in the slot if needed. So if all of a sudden, there's a ten personnel scheme and all of a sudden, boom, you know, Buddha or Jaalen Thompson drops into the slot and then all of a sudden, you see Isaiah Simmons in center field, which we saw at times last year. Who knows, there's a lot of possibilities. To your point, they're trying to coach everyone up at

every position. But for Zavn Collins, it's that mic linebacker spot. And here's what he had to say today coming off year one, it's not going to be a Cinderella story always. You know, it's it's a it's it's life. That's what it's what it is. You know, if everything was easy, then you know it'd be two get to be true.

You got to go through something, and you know, hopefully that's if that's the hardest thing I have to go through it in my NFL career, I think, you know we're going to be all right, because there's no doubt he has the skill set. He has that ability at two hundred and sixty pounds to be that thumper, to really fill the A and B gap and really be that stout run stopper. But at the same time, we've seen him run. They used him on the edge of times last year. He can run with the tight end

or cover the back out of the backfield. He is that complete linebacker potentially. Well. I do like the fact that he has said that he has cut down on his mental errors, that that part of his game has improved, and that's what he needs to do. Man going forward, he needs to be in the playbook big time. He needs to be watching tape big time. He needs to be sitting down with Vans, Joseph and Billy Davis and going over a lot of these schemes. And I think

that's what he's doing right now. But don't quit. Don't ever quit on Zaven Collins and Zaban. Don't you ever quit. Arizona Cardinal season tickets available now. Go to Acy Cardinals dot com slash season for more information. Maybe the strongest position group on this team. We'll talk running back next than the big red rage presented by satan Ford in Gilbert Tyler Back. I'll throw fires right side, want to catch the runs right to the ten of the five

into the end zone. Four of the touchdown. James Connor stabbing a ball that was an errand passed. This is the part of James Connell's game that nobody on the offensive side of the ball saw coming. Remember when he first signed and well, we had James Saxons on right and we asked him about him as a pass catcher and his line was one of the great all time lines. Well, you don't put an elephant on a sailboat. Can he catch the ball? Is he a threat out of the

backfield to catch the ball? Yeah, I mean, but I don't think you want to ask you elephant, you know, ride in a sailboat. Well that sailboat was just out on Michigan and it just went twenty three yards of the one hit of graph. It was in Cleveland, actually, Chicago is what it was. He was great all year long. And you know what it was in Chicago where he had Cliff Kingsbury screaming down the Cardinals sideline to the end zone and just dapping up his Pro Bowl running back.

No one appreciated the skill set of James Connor more than coach Cliff. It's a big Red Rachel PRESENTI by Santan Ford in Cleveland, and I'd tell you, Wolf, I'm not sure there was a player I enjoyed watching more last year than James Connor. Maybe because of the struggles in short yardage and goal line the year before, but everything he did, not just the power run game, but the complete running back he was and how he ended

up in the Pro Bowl. Yeah, you know, PAULI, it's amazing because I know that the Pittsburgh Steelers, I know that Mike Tomlin really liked James Connor. Of course, I still think to this day there could be there could have been a schism between Kevin Colbert, of course, who as a general manager at the time for the Steelers not thinking maybe that James Connor wasn't every down back, and then you had Mike Tomlin thinking that he was and every down back. Those guys got along very very

well together. I'm not saying they were yelling at each other, screaming at each other in the front office, I am. You know what James Connor said today that it's all about fit for any player in any offense, and that if you find the right fit that can maximize your skill set dot dot dot. So that's kind of curious based on what you just said. No, you're right about that, and I do believe the fit here is great. You think about it, man, this is an every down back.

In my opinion, James Connor is at every down back. He might be the definition of it in today's NFL. The fact that he can actually hold up and pass protection, the fact that he is good coming out of the backfield in terms of being a receiver and then running the ball. Never forget this, Paul. His three point seven yard average last year was brought down because how many times that they give him the ball in third and

one situations. How many times that they give him the ball in third and goal, fourth and goal on the one yard line? How many times did you see that happen to him? This is a guy that's averaged over four yards of kerry his entire career. Cliff Kingsmary asked today about his Pro Bowl running back and just the options having that knowledge conceptually throughout the offseason, you can put in new plays for him, pass plays for him, things they get him isolated or last year we didn't know,

you know, he had that in him. So it's definitely opened some things up in the playbook that we can get to using him as a pass catcher. I guess here's my question is how much is too much of James Connor. You have a seventeen game regular season. He has the capability of being every down running back. You certainly don't want him every down and you have a

deep running back room now with Darryl Williams. You know, Benjamin who got a shout out from coach Cliff today, is having maybe the best offseason of any player on the roster. Jonathan Ward has been dynamic at times and is a tough runner as well who can catch the ball So if you're coach Cliff, I mean, and we know he wasn't one hundred percent in the playoff game James Connor, which another tough aspect of that loss at the Rams. So you're gonna have to choose your spots

to some degree, aren't you. No, Yeah, Paul, I mean honestly, when you think of all the talent on that side of the ball, it truly is pretty incredible. Uh. You know, I know they're not going to have DeAndre Hopkins for the first six weeks of the season, but man, I yeah, I think about spreading the ball ball, Yeah, with all of those weapons out there. I love the fact that James Connor can be that every down guy, But you know what, you don't want a running back to have

to be and every down guy. Even Derrick Henry is not an every down back with the Tennessee Titans, even they like to mix it up. And you know, I think it's important that the Arizona Cardinals really monitor the reps that James or gets. No, that's that's a really good point in terms of the reps in the usage. You know, Coach Cliff has said and he said again this week that you know what, when the Cardinals offense

was really rolling, they were running the ball. Yes, they now have Darryl Williams, they you know, you know, Benjamin and Jonathan Ward. I mean, so what Degredia think it's gonna be a rotation or just in general? Do you believe him when he says, you know what, there might be a renewed emphasis on running the ball. No, I totally believe that, Paulie. It's got to happen for the Arizona Cardinals. You have to attack the line of scrimmage.

You go back and you watch the tape. You go look at it, paul I'm telling you right now, for the first ten or twelve weeks of the season, they were attacking in between the tackles, and that's when their offense was the best. In particular, go back and look at the first five weeks of the season when you had a stud tight end by the name of Max Williams who was out there and playing well. Man, you didn't know. The defense did not know what the Arizona

Cardinals were gonna do with a football. They didn't know if it was a run, they didn't know if it was a pass. It didn't matter what the down and distance was the personnel group. They didn't know if it was a runner pass, and they had to respect both. And when you try to respect both, you're in trouble. The two wins with Colt McCoy, what did the Cardinals do?

They ran oh yo ball, oh yeah at the forty nine ers at the Seahawks ran it down their throw about the Browns game, poh yeah, without Cliff Kingsbury as a play caller, right, And what they do the is got on, went out there and just physically manhandle the Browns came straight off the ball and went straight ahead with that run game. So I think they learned a lot, not just about James Connor, but just the value of the run game. Mike Burcovici told that to you recently

as well, the offensive assistant. Hey Cardinals single game tickets available now at easy Cardinals dot com slash tickets secure your seats today. Special thanks Charlie Bull and the outside linebackers coach for Jim al Mohandro Zach Larson, Ron Wolfley on Paul KELVC. This has been the Big Red Rage presented by santan Or in Gilbert Chaw Number one. Kil you've been listening to the Big Red Rage presented by

Santanford in Gilbert. Are you Santanford State Farm? Talk to an Agent today at eight hundred State Farm, And by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts visit acy Cardinals dot com Slash Podcasts. This has been an exclusive presentation of the Arizona Cardinals Football Club