Big Red Rage - Simmons Impressive In 2021 Opener

and buy Arizona Cardinals podcasts. Visit Hacy Cardinals dot com, Slash podcasts, The Rods, Rising Guard, Temperatureizing, Vision, Flurring, Rage, taking it over. Here's Paul KELVC. Get the popcorn ready, It's gonna be a show and Ron will flip. It doesn't get any better than that horn. Unleash the fiar. You know there, there's nothing wrong with making a statement. I mean, Wolf, you got a team minus sixty minutes. We'll see what you got in store here. There's nothing

wrong with being asked that you know what? Hey? Was that a statement game? Was that a statement win? And you answer yes, which is exactly folly no. That's exactly

what Christian Kirk did right after the game. Remember in the postgame radio interview, we were down on the field in the locker room, and he said it was definitely a statement, a statement from us, and then he want on to talk about how there's a big chip on the old shoulder pad individually as a team, how they're quote tired of being counted out and they were trying to set the tone for the rest of the year. I think we would all agree they check that box,

did they not? Yeah, Paully, it was an impressive win. There's no doubt about it. And even though I know we're parsing words, I would not call it a statement win. I would call it a standard win, a standard they set the standard week one stop and think about it in all three phases. My goodness, Paulie, did they play well against the Tennessee Titans, A team in Nashville, I might add, a team that many people believe will make some noise in the AFC postseason. And for me, it's

a standard. It's got to become the standard game that they look at and say, hey, we did it in that game. We can do it in every game, and we should do it in every game. That is the standard. Now go play like that or as J. J. Watt said walking off the field. To anybody who was listening, We're not surprised. Yep, it was expected. That's the expectation. So we'll see. We all know what happened last year. Justin Pugh brought it up right, the big start and then the fade at the end, and so you still

have sixteen to go. It is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert. We are santan Ford. Did we mention our special guest leading tackler Isaiah Simmons tonight? Well, for earlier today did all interview with the legendary longtime voice of the Vikings, Paul Allen. I'll tell you what he had to say. He was watching the film. Okay, this guy's been watching the NFL forever. He's watching Cardinals film from week one. The first name, the first name

he brought up was Isaiah Simmons. He said, I'm not familiar with number nine. Wow, does he jump off the film? So we'll get into that and what exactly Isaiah Simmons is tracking four after an unbelievable first game from him?

Your takeaway, Wolf, I mean, do you look We're gonna start with Chandler Jones obviously in the five sacks in the NFC Defensive Player of the Week, but I'll be honest with him after the broadcast, whether it was on the team plane, on the way home, or even every passing day since I'm like, I'm not sure we gave

him enough credit. That's how ridiculous Chandler Jones was on Sunday. Polly, I know you want to start with Chan, and that is a great place to do it, because he really did set the tone, especially with that first play of the game on the defensive side of the ball where the Tennessee Titans targeted him and ran the ball directly at him with King Henry, and that all of a sudden after the play had minus three yards because of Chan slipping underneath Taylor Luan, who had a horrible game,

but slipping underneath him and making a play in the backfield right there. But can I tell you overall, PAULI, my number one takeaway is the Arizona Cardinals do not have a reputation at all of being a physical team. They went in to play the Tennessee Titans, who offensively, I think is the most physical team in the National Football League. And they beat him at their own game. Physicality on both sides of the ball. They beat him at their own game. And they've got Kyler Murray and

DeAndre Hopkins going off. In fact, quoting Taylor one after the game via his Twitter account, Chandler Jones kicked my bleep. He had to issue a public apology to his teammates and Titans Nation. I mean, that was your chicken fried left tackle in Tennessee, Taylor. Luwe. Here's Cliff Kingsbury on your NFC defensive Player of the week, Chandler Jones. As good as I've seen since I've been here, There's no doubt.

I mean, he was dominant. He's been unblockable in practice at times where it's almost like I'm like, do we tell him and go sit out a few serious so we can get a pass off. So I knew he was going to impact the game. I didn't know he's gonna have five sacks, but he's been playing an extremely high level. Yeah, and then throwing two forced fumbles, six quarterback hits, he had six tackles, he had four tackles for loss. You realize that with one hundred two career

sacks in one hundred twenty five career games. His sack rate is second only in NFL history to Reggie White. Let that hang in THEO the Minister of Defense. Right, that's pretty good, right there, Paulie. There's no doubt about it because Reggie we all know, one of the greatest, if not the greatest defensive linemen of all time. But once again, man, coming out of training camp, did you think of the Arizona Cardinals is one of the most

physical teams in the National Football League. Nobody would have talked about the Arizona Cardinals being the most physical team in the National Football League. And they came out and they got physical anytime, Pauli, you got a general manager, a general manager who makes a statement in the off season. We had two goals to get more physical and have better leadership. More on the better leadership as the show unfolds.

But to go out and play that kind of physical football game with a bunch of playmakers on the field, man, I'm telling you what. I could not have been more impressed than I said that to you all the way home. Well, the physicality started before the game. It was a mentality on the sideline. It was guys like JJ Watt and some of the other team leaders demanding it from the

young guys, demanded it from everybody. I witnessed it, and then during the game Wolf The other word we heard in the offseason was accountability, right, leadership, and we saw that from Kyler Murray. And you know it has since been something that both Diab has talked about and Kyler and so I can tell you that Kyler Murray held both d Hop and Rondel Moore accountable. He aired out both guys at different times during the game and they nodded, Paula,

you were down there, were you not? They nodded and they responded yes. And that's something we had not seen in years past. And as Christian Kirk said after the game, real quickly said, you know what, that's by design. We're not letting that stuff slide this year. I heard him say that, PAULI, and honestly, this is exactly the kind of accountability that has to happen. You can't take it personally. You could be upset that you were wrong, but you

cannot take it personally when somebody calls you out. And I don't care who you are. And that is the reason why again you've got to have guys like Kyler Murray holding himself to a higher standard than he'd hold anybody else on the team too. You have to do you want to be the best leader you could possibly be, You've got to hold yourself to a standard you won't hold anyone else too. And you admit it all the time. When you make stakes, you own up to it. You

don't try to sweep it under the rug. You own up to it. Just for the very reason you mentioned that, I can actually walk up to somebody else and say, dude, you're killing us. And what do you say the week before going into the game that I have more than enough weapons. If I don't make it happen, it's on me. So he said that going into the game. After the game, he had five total touchdowns for passing his fifth game

ever with a passer rating of one twenty plus. And here's his head coach, and we asked him about what he liked from K one. A couple of those touchdown throws that he got us into different plays versus coverage that he liked. That was a big step. When he can see the field like that and take our matchups that we had favorably in those situations. I think that's

moving in the right direction. And by the way, he has freedom to make checks when he sees fit, and he did so on at least two of the touchdowns, the lob to Christian Kirk and then the d Hop catch and run, which was aided in great part by Rodney Hudson who recognized the blitz, and then the two of them working in concert and boom. That's what happened when Tennessee decided to bring the house against Kyler Murray.

I mean, think about it. They made some of those decisions in going after Kyler with his escapability and now his ability which is much improved by all accounts, in reading those blitzes and finding the open man, and then number two, they never made an adjustment on Chandler Jones. The guy had three sacks in the first quarter and they never adjusted. Well, they started to chip them a little bit more, I think, but it wasn't a little hope.

But even J. J. Watt brought that up today, He's like, you think they would have done a lot more and they didn't. Yeah, exactly. But you know, once again, I think they were shocked through the whole thing that was going on. But I gotta tell you right now, man, the most impressive play I saw Kyler Murray meg was the first touchdown to DeAndre Hockets. There's just no donabout it. To scramble out of the pocket, running to his right, getting outside and then throwing the ball right across his face.

That was just stunning to me. And what a catchy I d hall. Did you see the NFL Films clip they put out. A J. Brown was miked up. He was in disbelief. He was utterly stupefied by the catch from DeAndre Hopkins, shaking his head and just he was in disbelief. And then he said he had to do that. I gotta do that. A episode A of the Day Pash Podcast featuring Scott Hanson from NFL Red Zone, available now wherever you get your podcast. Fall along on Twitter

at pashpod. Isaiah Simmons is next on The Big Red Rage presented by Santan four in Gilbert. They run Henry off the left side and he's dumped immediately and it's Isaiah Simmons knifing into the backfield to take him down.

I want to play, by Simmons, You want to talk about playing downhill Isaiah Simmons coming from the backside the weak side inside linebacker, making a play on King Henry Baby tan Hill takes the shotguns that backs up as time steps up, throws over the middle to plect it into the air and it is intercepted by Isaiah Simmons at the forty five yard line. Isaiah Simmons with a heads up, play about it. Playmakers make plays. A team

mine nine tackles for Isaiah Simmons, seven solo. By the way, he had two passes defense and that interception right there in Tennessee Week one, and that's really the only downside guys is had. Poor Buddha got hawked again instead of DK Batcalf, this time it was friendly fire from his teammate who joins us now Isaiah Simmons on the Big Red Rage presented by satan Ford and Gilbert Isaiah, how are we doing? And maybe more importantly, how's Buddha doing?

After a sure interception and boom you came in at the last second. I'm doing pretty good and you know, thankfully Buddha doing well too. You know it came after game healthy. How did you feel, Isaiah going into that game because you played a Fantas asked the game, how did you feel going into it? Um? I felt really good, so great about the game plan. UM, very confident in that, UM, and you know, very confident in just the defense of the whole going into it. I felt we were all

very prepared. Um. Everybody was focused in on the on the fine details and not just the whole thing, you know, just the little things that go into everything. So UM, you know, I knew we're all going to go out there and with the effort that we have a very solid game. And after you actually watched the tape, how did you feel coming out of there? Isah? Um, Yeah, I mean I'm I'm a huge critic, but um, what I saw coming out of the game is how well

we played. But also, you know, like the upside that our defense and defense can have just there's there's plenty of things that we could have done better. And you know, just just being able to see that we could play at such a high level like that but still have so many things that we could we could fix and become a better defense is It's something that I definitely I have a smile about. You know, I could sit here and I could cite the numbers in the stats.

I mean all show the six sacks, the three takeaways, and nine quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss by that Cardinals defense, the NFL low less than four yards per play given up right, the fact you rendered Derrick Henry a non factor. But you mentioned the game plan and that's something Robert Alfred mentioned a few times last week going into the game. After the game, Cliff Kingsbury told us he called it a real masterpiece quote end quote. What can you tell us now about Vance Joseph's game

plan going against the Titans? Yeah, I mean, I think we did what every team intends to do, and that's take away the run and forced them to pass and just everybody playing the discipline football so that we we came out really strong with a lot of three announce which you know, obviously as a coordinator you wouldn't want to go back to things that you're getting stuff that

right out the gate. So just just being able to just take the runaway from them, Um, I think that was the most pivotal thing that we that we had going But masterpiece, I would definitely would say, is a way to explain our game plan. Isaiah. There was a couple of times where I saw you bring down King Henry buy yourself. So tell me what was it like to tackle number twenty two? Yeah? You know, I I just was trying to play him my play through, my technique.

But no, um, you know, he runs hard. He's definitely a big guy to take down. So you know, I just wanted to I just wanted to stop where all the power comes from, and that's that's through your legs. So you know, I just just hit him in the legs each time, and you know, more than more times than one, I thought I would win. And look and

you're a big guy, so so I get it. But you know what, maybe like when you're a grandfather and you got the r kids around you, might you know, tell that story, Hey, that legendary running back six three two fifty and I took him down in the open field multiple times. I'd tell it. What what do you tell yourself though, when there's a guy that size? I mean, mentally, what's your approach? I know so much of it just bang bang in its reaction, But is is there a

strategy to tackling a guy that size? Um? I mean I would say this, everybody has I mean, you can call it a weakness or a flaw in that game. So I would just say trying to attack that and not necessarily a flaw. But he he's a taller guy, so I would say the best idea would be would to be go lower. So, um, just did the attack the lower portion of the last saying you know. And one of the things I loved about it as well Isai, you did attack? You did? I went back. I looked

at the tape. You attacked him. You didn't wait for him to come to you. Very well done on your part right there. Tight. Take us if you will through the pick. Talk about that play. It was a great play by you. You went up, you elevated and you are taller obviously than Boot. It was, and you came down with the ball. Tell us about that pick. Take us through the play if you don't mind. Yeah. So, Um, I was just kind of a hub player over the running back and after I saw the ball thrown. Great

play by Rob breaking up that ball. Um, I've just seen it pop up in the air, and for whatever reason, I felt like Julia was somewhere in the area. I'm not sure if he was, but so I wanted to make sure that he wasn't gonna get the ball. So I'm like, I gotta go up and get this, and I didn't. I saw booted when we got up in the air, but it was too late. I saw it. I saw in your bio you were a first team All state receiver. So so did your your old high

school receiving skills come into play? Yeah, they did. I've been trying to tell them. I was actually just telling on coach today. You know, I was a pretty good receiver back in back in my high school days, and he was you know that. He's laughing at me. But I'm like, no, I'm serious. But you know, some people forget about that, but I still know. I still know I got it. Who were you saying that too? Was the cliff you were saying that too? M okay, oh

you went right to the source, right to the wide receiver. Yeah. Yeah, I'm getting straight to the point. You know what's amazing about that guy's and Wolf. If there was a comp in Cardinal's history at his position, would it not be Carlos Stansby. Yes, Carlos Stansby went into Auburn as a receiver. Think about that, because I find that intriguing. So okay, that was a big play you made. We asked Cliff Kingsbury after the game just about your play overall. And

here's the head coach. He's a gamer, there's no doubt. Um. He shows up and he loves to play. Uh when you get him out there when the lights are on. So it was fun to watch. You know, he's a guy who we've moved around some and just continues to flash and make plays. After the game, I asked you, did you know how many different positions you played? Because you heard coach they're say how they moved you around, and you said, I think I played four spots. So

when you watch the film, did that end up being accurate? Yeah, I believe it was. For what's your favorite position to play? Isaiah Um, I don't know that that's hard because I mean, i'd say outside linebacker. You know, did you get the luxury of being able to rush the quarterback as well as you know, dropping the coverage because and I would say that because I like to get sacks just as

much as I have to get interceptions. So when you watch your film, you mentioned you're you're usually critical of yourself when you watch film. What is what is it you say that you see in your in your film that you're like, oh, okay, is there anything that's a constant that you've been trying to remedy? Um, not really anything, not anything um in particular, but UM, I don't know.

I just mostly look at maybe like fucking take like a better angle, Like maybe I made the play, but I could have made it better, or maybe made it for tackle for loss, or you know, just maybe just one step closer to the receiver. Whatever it could be. Um, But those are mainly the things that I would say I to cheat myself about. So it could be something really small. But so Isaiah, would would you say I'm sorry? Would you say that you nitpick yourself? Um? Yeah? At times?

Can I can? I just tell you? Can I can? I just tell you right now, with your incredible talent, that's not a bad thing to be, Isaiah. I'm just telling you right now, if you if you are nitpicking some of the greatest players I played ten years in the league, Isaiah, I can tell you right now, some of the greatest players I ever played around, they picked at themselves. They the worst critic. Is that something that has always been the case with you. Yeah. Yeah, I've

always been like that. Like my dad. He would always tell me after my games, he would ask me how I thought I played, And you know, I could have had a really good game, but I'll probably point out all the negative things as far I talk about anything positive. And sometimes you gotta, you know, just enjoy it that you played good. I'm not here. Yeah. I don't know if you know who Walter Payton is, but you just said exactly what Walter Payton said to me many many

years ago. Isaiah, go google Walter Payton. He's simply the greatest running back to ever played the National You know is that that's exactly how he was. He didn't want to hear about one hundred and fifty yards that he rushed for. He didn't want to hear about the three touchdowns that he scored. He wanted you, He would say to you, did you see the block that I missed? Did you see the blocks that I mean? Here's that's incredible, Isaiah. That is something for you to culture, my friend, because

that will help you have an incredible career. How about brown board with Isaiah Simmons, Cardinals second year guy. How about what you heard from J. J. Watt before the game ever started. He was wired up. He was miked up this week, and there was a great pep talk he gave you and a lot of other guys on that sideline before kickoff. Go into that a little bit and what exactly he shared with you. Um, yeah, So, I mean actually didn't even know he was miked up

until that video was posted. But m you know, JJ's he's always been a guy, like ever since day one when he came in, he's he's believed in me, and you know, he just pushes me each and every day, no matter what it is, He's always just pushing me, like he always mentions, I'm gonna show you had to be great. I'm gonna show you had to be great. He's because you know, he just tells me that he

knows he sees it aside of me. So I would say, ever since you know he's got here, he's been formed me about everything just just because you know, not trying to be like you know that guy that's always saying something, but you know, really just genuinely trying to help me, just because he says he's always believed in me. So I really think that's where that came from just because he's always been like that. Isaiah, what about the communication on Sunday? How was it? We were you guys all

on the same page. How were the calls coming in, and how were the logistics of those calls and the communication they're off? Yeah, I think our communication was was great. Everybody was on the same page for the most part at all times, and there was not too much confusion going on out there. Obviously there was gonna be some just first game back, still getting the wrinkled out of things, but for the most part, all the communication was great.

Isaiah Simmons, we continue with the Cardinals first round pick last year. I want to talk about the Seattle game last year, and not the big pick in the first meeting, the game the Cardinals won in overtime, but the second game at Seattle, the complete game that he put in and whether that was a turning point of sorts for

Isaiah Simmons. And then you got to hear what Paul Allen said, the Vikings legendary long time voice and when he was watching Cardinal simim he's watched a lot of football woolf and just what stood out to him unprompted, whose number he's cited, and then we'll talk about that single digit as well, because Tom Brady has an issue with linebackers wearing the single digits. That's all straight ahead.

It's the big Red Rage with Isaiah Simmons, presented by satan Ford and Gilbert we are satan Ford, Damn Hill. Pikes fakes the running crubal the t Chandler Jones forrss A fumble, It's picked up by Corey Peter, hit from behind by Jones and sack. They cannot flock fifty five. Here comes Chandler Jones. Another sack. Chandler Jones is obliterating Taylor Lawan a hit by Jones, fumbles the ball hits loose and recovered by the Cardinals. Another sack. Chandler Jones's

sport tying a career high hand. Hill on fourth down hit and sacked. Chandler Jones. Five sacks on the day for fifty five. Right now, you could not find one hair on Ryan Tannehill's back because it has been thoroughly waxed by the professor who's got the PhD at backwaxing Chandler Jones with his fifth sack. The Titans old line was sort of like what Wolf had for dinner Saturday night in Nashville's Tennessee style barbecue smoked and shredded, pulled, sliced,

and slow cooked in ninety degree heat. As down went Taylor Lawan and Company and a historic team record time five sack game for Chandler Jones, your NFC defensive Player of the Week. And we got to get a comment from Isaiah Simmons, our guest, the leading tackler on the day, had an interception and and I know you fielded a lot of questions about Chandler Jones. Everyone hasn't and rightfully so right I mean, you think about the historic magnitude of what he did in the numbers alone, Isaiah, it

was pretty breathtaking to watch, wasn't it. Yeah? It was um what on the when he got his fifth sack? Actually, I would say after the third sack and the first quarter, I was like, I was like, bro, oh my god. Because he's he's been telling me and Chandler we're pretty close, and you know he's been telling me. He's been telling me like I never you never even seen me play.

You've never seen me playing. I'm like, okay, well I'm about to see you playing soon, So I hope you do, son, you know, justs and then um, I said wow, So I said, three sacks in one quarter. I said, okay, you got my attention. And then um, after the fourth one, I was looking to see if it was him, and lo and behold it was him. And then on the fifth one, I was just I was just completely amazed.

I've seen someone get five sacks last year with Hassan Reddick, but I don't know just for whatever reason the white chandler was doing it was it was just it was just crazy. It's something that you do don't see often. Yeah, the JJ watch guys, the Wired where j J Wat comes to the bench and he says, are you serious? Are you kidding me? Hello? Excuse me? Are you serious? Just his reaction alone was unbelievable. Wolf. Yeah, there's no

doubt about that, Bolli. But okay, so you're one and old right now, how do you not how do you how do you avoid a leftdown next week? UM? Just just treating it, treating every week as its own season mcause those just to go want to know every every week. So um, I was saying, just not having the mindset of of carrying in to this like, you know, we just won. We high emotions and everything, but just understanding that this week is just a season of its own and we're just trying to get to one to know.

Do you think guys are doing that, Isaiah? Yeah, you know as fun as that when was. You know, I don't really even hear guys talking about it too much around the building and more talk on the vikings and what we have coming up. So I think everybody understands that that win that we had last week isn't gonna do anything to help us win this game coming up. I tell you, Minnesota has some whole line issues, various issues.

They had a lot of flags in Week one because in addition everything else, Chandler Jones he drew two false starts in addition everything that's in the box score, and just to put some punctuation at guys, here was Christian Kirk. Listen to what he said after Chandler Jones his story game. You know, Chandler Jones might have put on the best

football performers I've ever seen in my life. I mean I saw it all offseason, you know, working out and just seeing his mindset and the way he approached it, and especially during during you know practice, you know, leading up to this week. It's not surprising. And all those guys all eleven over there, you know, they played their hearts out. You know, I wasn't an easy task whatsoever. And they came out and made a statement. And I say, you know, it goes beyond Chandler. There's JJ Watt next

to him. You guys have a very deep D line room as a linebacker, right and the guy who plays on the second level, what does that do for you? And just explained a football one on one. When those guys are dominating up front, how beneficial is it to you? Oh? It minimizes the game for us. Um, you know, then we can start to predict things more and then uh, you know, we can run the plays that we wouldn't run.

And you know when when you have guys playing like them, um, you know, things things start to become pretty simple back there with us. I don't have to cover for very long or if so, the balls come now quickly. Um, you know, get John Browts just do a lot. You can just do so much more when you have guys that are just that dominant up front. Isaiah, how would you describe the Minnesota Vikings offense. Um, you know, they have as everyone knows they have, you know, similar to Tennessee.

They have a great run game with Dalvin Cook. Um, I'd say personally he's one of the I think he's one of the top backs in the league. And then as well as you know, being able to get the ball out on the perimeter with Dean and Justin Jefferson, you know, also two really good receivers, so you know, we're definitely gonna have to cover this game as well as being able to stop the run game. And speaking of the run game, they have the number two rusher

in the NFL last year and Dalvin Cook. But but he's a different style running back obviously than at Derrick Henry. Isn't he break that down for us? What do you expect? What are people going to see in Dalvin Cook? Yeah, definitely different than Henry with you know, him having he has a really good jump cut, very twitchy, you know, uh, light on his feet, great balance, Um, can catch the ball out the backfield. UM, So you know, he he

brings a lot to the table. So the Minnesota Vikings overall, would you say they run a physical scheme because I see a lot of power personnel groups from the Minnesota Vikings and run down situation first in ten second and one to six, would you say they run a physical scheme? I would say so, um, you know, just with the tight end, the usage at the tight ends and and um you know, extra lineman and whatnot. Um, definitely you would have to classify that as a as a power office.

And they got down twenty one seven, they came back at Cincinnati, forced overtime, they ended up losing nt Dalvin Cook had critical fumble in that one. So they come in on one. We all know the stat at least in a sixteen game season, teams to start O and two have like a twelve percent chance of making the playoffs. So they're gonna be desperate. There's gonna be intensity and urgency.

And the Vikings announcer Paul Allen, who's been doing this for decades, I was talking to him today about the matchup and just on his own, guys, on his own, he says he's watching Cardinals film. Well, and I'll let him take it from here. When I watched back the Cardinals game, Isaiah Simmons is it's unbelievable. What I see

in him. I mean, he sticks out because of number nine, so you notice him immediately and just you know, and I know he he's supposed to be good, and he's a high first round pick and all that, My heavens, is he good And it permits Buddha on the back end to freelance even a little more than he generally does. I like the construction of the Cardinals Isaiah, where you are in your evolution as a player. To what degree

are you now playing and not thinking? Especially when you probably have more on your plate than anyone considering your position, flexibility and all the variety of spots you play. Um, you know, just having the opportunity to really learn everything this preseason has helped me, you know, just to just go play and not thinking, just reacting. And you know, I would say that was something that may have slowed me down my first year, but it has has been

something that's been able to really really benefit me. Was this preseason this year? Isay of the four positions that you have played? On that note right there, Um, what's the hardest? What is the hardest mentally to play? Hardest mentally? I would say probably being inside of the box, maybe just because it's just something I'm not quite so you too, just reading the pollision everything. But I wouldn't even really

consider that hard anymore. I think I have that down down pretty good, so I wouldn't really say that's something that's mentally hard. But that's probably my hardest hardest thing mentally, at least you mentioned last year. I would guess the most memorable play for most folks would be your interception

in overtime as a Cardinals beat Seattle at home. But then you went to Seattle later and in that game, you played forty five snaps, you had a team high ten tackles, you had your first career sack, you had two tackles, floss and a quarterback hit. Was that sort of an evolutionary moment? Was that a breakthrough moment for you? Or not only did you get the playing time, but you started to really get traction in the NFL at that point. U. Yeah, I think, I mean you can

consider it as a turning point. But I would say that was really my first game getting a lot of consecutive snaps, and I felt like I was able to get a feel of the game and that just you know, just go out there and play and be who I am. And then after that I felt I thought, I then the coaches you know, had had they they showed them that I was ready, showed them that, um, you know I could, I could make plays, and um, ever since then,

I feel like we just grew off of it. Isaiah, I don't know how you're actually doing it playing all the different positions that you are right now and not committing a ton of mental errors. I mean, how how are you doing in that regard? Right now? They're moving you all over the field. How many mental errors are you having in that first game? Um, I don't think I had any. I don't think I had any serious Wow, you know how good that is? Right? Yeah, I mean

that doesn't happen too often. But um, I feel like it's something that's kind of dis expected, just with my preparation how I come into each week. I like the number nine, by the way, you like in the number ninety. You get reactions. You know, some of the older quarterbacks in the league don't really like the linebackers wearing single ditch it says, anyone giving you a reaction? Yeah, I've heard about that, But um, I've got I've got a lot of positive things said about it. Most people are

are actually fans of it. Um, most of the most of my friends that are all one teams, different teams, um, just for one country. You're talking about how let's just looks so much better than the forty eight. So I guess that's a positive thing. I liked it. I'm used to seeing myself in it now, so well, Zaiah, thank you man. Yeah, something tells me you're getting a lot more fans day by day. It's just gonna build all season long. So we appreciate the time, the insight and

look forward to Sunday. Thank you, Isaiah, absolutely, thank you. There you go, Isaiah Simmons off to an unbelievable start and this twenty twenty one season will come back more on Sunday. Cardinals and Vikings. Right after this on the Big Red Rage, that's the Murray straight drop back, feeling pressure, watched out of the pocket of the right now throws back across the middle and it's caught in the back of the end zone by Hopkins and he got his

feet down for the touchdown. Quick for over the middle. Hopkins, as a catch of the ten, turns to his laft at the five head hit Paydird touchdown. DeAndre Hopkins run Murray to the right, sticks the ball out, walks into the end zone, pitches it to the official. HiT's a two yard touchdown run. That's J J. Watt eye candy

on the left side. A fade deep right side over the shoulder, catched by Kirk in the end zone for a touchdown, fires right side of the end zone, back shoulder, Kirk a just beautifully pad bowls it in for the touchdown. Christian Kirk with his second touchdown, and the Cardinals leaded thirty seven to thirteen. Thirty eight thirteen was your final? They were a missed forty three yard field goal away from a forty burger at Tennessee. And how about the offense?

Four hundred sixty total yards, one under thirty six rushing yards. They were above fifty percent on third down, They were four or five in the red zone. It is the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert. Where we asked Ron Wolfley, wolf you tell us about the offense. What stood out to you? You know what? Honestly, it was the passing game of the Arizona Cardinals. Just how incredibly professional it looked end well oiled. We all know

about the preseason. We all know about the concerns other preseason Polly right and nine plays nine plays. ESPN is going to do a thirty thirty on those nine plays of preseason and juxtapose it over the course of this season. How about the snark from Cliff Kingsbury after the game in our postgame radio interview, right, I mean you know he won't say it. I will. We're talking about preseason, Matt, Yeah, Paully.

It was just the passing attack, man. I mean, Kyler Murray was on the same page with all of his wide receivers and the fact that he was actually checking out and checking into different plays for touchdowns. Boys, that a good good sign. It really is. In fact, Kyler Murray was asked, Okay, how do you sustain that Week one success? How you sustain it? You gotta keep working hard. I can keep the mindset and that's what we'll do. You know, like I said, I won't let our offense

get him placent. We know how good we can be. We know the scuy's the limit for us. But at the end of the day, penalties, turnovers, stuff like that can happen. Yeah, you had sixty or eight penalties early and then you really started to wonder. But then obviously the Cardinals got past that. I'll tell you just hit zoom out for a minute. If you have a quarterback, you can protect that quarterback and you can get to the quarterback, then guess what you've got the potential will

be a pretty good team. Potential to be a pretty good team. And and there's no doubt that offense looked different. And even Cliff Kingsbury said after the game, well, if we asked him straight out, how many new wrinkles were there, and he he didn't get into a lot of details. Christian Kirk admitted, Yeah, we saw a lot of new stuff including wait for it, Kyler understand exactly Bali, especially in the red zone. Five snaps in the red zone

of Kyler under center. Very very important right there. Listen, this is what we've been talking about all offseason, the expansion of the football universe. I love the fact that you did not know what was coming from Cliff Kingsbury. You did not know what was coming from the Arizona Cardinals offense. And you know what, it's going to be a very similar situation when they confront the Minnesota Vikings because I can tell you right now their defense. You

have no idea what Mike Zimmer's going to do ball. Yeah, that's true. You're right. It's gonna be a good mental test. But the young quarterback Kyler Murray, is it not. But when you hear him talk about how critical a vital Rodney Hudson was in recognizing a lot of this fronts.

When you hear some of the offensive lineman GJ. Jumprey said it last week, Justin Pugh confirmed it today that Rodney Hudson is reading and recognizing a lot of what the Cardinals are seeing and then conveying in communicating that to Kyler Murray, combined with the fact that Rodney Hudson is so stout at the point of attack, and then his ability as athleticism. If you saw on the plane we broke this down with Cliff Kingsbury on his TV show the Rondelle Moore catch and runs straight up the

seam on the wide receiver screen that hit big. It's one thing for DJ Humphreys to get downfield us to his side as a left tackle, but for Rodney Hudson to get out and get downfield twenty five yards and actually get a block, Yes, spring Rondelle Moore. That was beyond impressive. Yeah, but I want to go back to the protection because this is going to be huge of course, coming up against the Minnesota Vikings, because this is going to be the game. This in a gross simplification of

the truth. Paulieu. The onus once again very similar to Tennessee. The onus is on the offense to go out and win a game. And if you're gonna win this game, that means Kyler Murray has got to beat. Mike Zimmer has got to beat Here it comes, you don't know what's going to happen. He's so divers Mike Zimmer and the defenses that he runs, they're always buttoned up. There's

no doubt. Harrison Smith gets him lined up in the back end and Zimmer he typically fields a very competitive defense, but he doesn't have a bunch of stars on it. And it's because he demands that you are smart first. He demands that because he loves to mix it up and given opposing quarterback all sorts of looks. Rodney Hudson is going to be huge this week for Kyler Murray because of Mike Zimmer and what he does. And look,

I have a lot of respect from Mike Zimmer. But to your point about personnel, they had three big cogs in that defense that did not practice today, including those two talented inside linebackers, Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr both miss practice, and then Everson Griffin he missed with a concussion. So there's a lot of uncertainty as to who exactly is going to be available the other corners beyond Pat Pe. Talking to Paul Allen the radio voice today, Pat Pi

barely got tested. He's a pap. He got bored and actually went for a ball late in the game. They probably shouldn't have. He just thinks he was bored. But but shot Brulan. The other corner got torched. And then as far as Zimmer's defense, Joe Burrow had a career high passer rating one's twenty nine. Yes that's from a second year guy. It's exactly right, PAULI. And so you know, look,

you know this thing could get sideways. So the Vikings early potentially, kay, you know, and then you look at their inability to stop the Bengals run game at times as well, and I see opportunity for the Cardinals. With all due respect to a guy who's been really at the top of his game coordinating defenses for decades. Look, the strength of the Tennessee Titans was their offense. The

strength of the Minnesota Vikings is their offense. The weakness of the Tennessee Titans team period was their secondary in particular, just in the bottom third and almost every major category in regard to the past defense. The same thing can be said for the Minnesota Vikings is this game is so similar. We were talking about this all off season, Paully. But again, this game is so similar, and yet you're

playing it at home. The only difference is you're going to have a desperate Minnesota Vikings team against a team that being the Arizona Cardinals that is coming off a very impressive win. Paully. When you hear Steve Kim say, we've got to have better leadership in the locker room, think of this game coming up. Think of this game because this is why you went out and got JJ Watt. This is why you went out and got Rodney Hudson and AJ Green and Colt McCoy and brought these guys in.

This is the very reason why you did it, so that they'll all look at each other and go, we haven't done Jack, knock it off. It's one game. It's expected. That's what JJ said, right. This is not a surprise, it's expected, Paully. This game is about leadership in the Arizona Cardinals locker room. Is this game about targeting Patrick Peterson? Is this game because I'm guessing that Patrick Peterson won't be lonely like he was in the last game. I'm

guessing that they will go after Pat. Whether he's gonna travel and shadow DeAndre Hopkins. That's typically not the Mike Zimmer way, but I think there will be some targets Pat Peasway. Yeah, there's no doubt they're not gonna target him. They're not gonna game plan him. They're gonna go ahead and run their game. And if he happens to be over DeAndre Hopkins, it's not like Kyler's not gonna look at him. Had two touchdown catches. Christian Kirk had two

touchdown catches. Think about it. You really didn't hear from A J. Green There could be a breakout game coming for him. Ron Hilmore, we saw him and I'm impressive he was. Max Williams wasn't really involved, so there's no

doubt Kyler has weapons. Special thanks to Iaiah Simmons for joining us here today as always, Jim Almahondro and Jeff darg Ron Wolfley on Paul CALVC, Straight Ahead, Cardinals and Vikings Week two on Sunday, all presented by Big Red Rage in Santanford in Gilbert Number one kil You've been listening to the Big Red Rage presented by Santanford in Gilbert Ard Are you Santanford State Farm Talk to an Agent today at eight hundred State Farm And by Arizona

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