Big Red Rage - Thomas Riding Rookie Wave

and buy Arizona Cardinals podcasts. Visit Hacy Cardinals dot com, Slash podcasts, The Rods Rising Guard, temperaturizing vision, flurring rage taking over. Here's Paul Calveci. I'm ready. I'm one hundred percent ready. I'm telling you I'm ready. And Ron Wilflat it doesn't get any better than that. By unleash the far right out of the gate, I'm just gonna make it clear. Forget about Niners and Seahawks tonight on Thursday

Night Football. Come on now, the real NFC West spotlight is right here on the Big Red Rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert. We are santan Ford because we have in a guy who has been surging his game has been growing and evolving, and you just saw him star in the most recent episode of Hard Knocks and Wolf Ron Wolflee There, Paul calBC here and Wolf. As we intro our special guest tonight, I'm making my Listen, I'm checking it twice for Santa. You're never too old

to make a list for Santa. So you know what I'm asking for. Yeah, I'm asking to be, Oh, I don't know, sixty four, two hundred and seventy pounds. I'm asking to be twenty two years of age, you know, being an evolving NFL star. And I also wish that I was from Carl's Bad, you know, from the California coast, and that I was wearing a shirt that said Carl's Bad. Right now, as our guest Cameron Thomas, is this evening? Cam welcome? Hey guys, thanks having me on. Yeah, Cam, No,

thank you so much for joining us. Man, we really do appreciate it. You're from Carl's Bad, Cam, Yes, I've been very blessed to be from Carlos Bad. Okay, No, No, honestly, what is Carl's Bad California? Like? Man, you know what, I honestly will say this, I kind of get a lot of vibes from the Tempe area from Carlos Bad. However, we do have a beach. We do have that. We have the town lake, but they have the beach. Um. Yeah, so you're north of San Diego, right, yeah, about forty

minutes north. Okay, okay, So Cam, did you also know that Carl's Bad, California is the host to one of the best motocross tracks in the United States of America? Did you know that? It's a little new new news to me? Um, you know, which is surprising. You know, I grew up going to glamis not too far from here either, so that's something I should probably know. Oh my goodness, Yes, the five hundred grand Prix a Carlsbad, Cali, Fornia. Man Hike Michela here he is on his bull talk.

Oh okay, don't get me started. Well, if is that a flashback to like the eighties? Because they are you sure they haven't paved it over and put down multimillion dollar homes on that racetrack? Are you sure there's a real possibility? Okay, there is because we've got someone from Carl's Bad. He hasn't heard of it, so all right, We'll get into that a little bit later. So here we are, it's week fifteen. You tell us what has

this season been like, especially as a rookie. I mean, compare and contrast, for example, how you feel now in the NFL versus Oh, I don't know, last time we had you in, which was a matter of weeks after you had been drafted way back in May, I think is the last time you're in this studio. Yeah, you know, I feel like every week I do feel more comfortable with this within myself. This was as a person as

a player. Um, you know, I just continue to be able to learn from the other players and just take what they what they give me and try to applaut to my own game. And uh yeah, I do believe every week I feel more comfort And I'm just you know, looking back from when I was first on this show, when I first had drafted in here, and looking from where I was there too now, I you know, it's really crazy on that note right there, How have you

changed though? Specifically, Cam, how do you think you've changed from the beginning to where you are now? I would say this, I remember, you know, coming from college football, you know it's the the toughness wins games kind of aspect to kind of more like, you know, more of a mental game. I will say that it's a lot

more mental that at this level. And yes, being able to just kind of just to learn and just study teams and just be able to take little pieces from here and there and be able to apply it in the week, Um, is something that has definitely helped it grow and expand my game. Cameron Thomas is our guest here at Cardinals round three, rookie out of San Diego State. In fact, Buddha Baker just stood in front of his locker and said, seventy five percent of the NFL is mental. Absolutely, yeah,

a hundred percent agree with them. Yeah. So let's fast forward to April or May, right, and the new crop of rookies comes in. What sort of advice do you think you would give them? What would you tell them to expect? And I don't know, would you give him any any sort of best practices? What would you say to say? Keep your head in the game, you know, and it gets easier every week, it really does. And um, you get in that playbook because it's only gonna get

in the field faster. So Cam, good or bad. Were you surprised by anything to do with the National Football League? Uh, you know I would I would probably just say the same thing I just said, you know, just with the knowledge of the game, you know, coming in, Um, you know, when you think of the NFL, you know, I thought it was like, you know, a next up, next step up, a level of grind um and and it really is, but just a different aspect going from the physical more

to mental. Um. You know. I thought if by you know, by graduating college, you know, I would be able to kind of relax and studying. But it's the exact opposite. So so far, you've played what thirteen game games? Right, So who's been the biggest, baddest, most difficult assignment for you so far? That's a great question. I think the biggest time I had came actually back from training camp, you know, going from interior d lineman back to a standopouts a linebacker. I think there was a bit of

an adjustment there. And you know, every week I think I just like I said, I get just way more comfortable. Um, you know, it's rolling off my ball from my stance. Um. And yeah, about an opponent, how about about like an opposing offensive lineman. Who's the toughest guy you've gone against for whatever reason. You know, I'm gonna I'm gonna have to give it to Trent Williams. You know, he's earned his reputation for a reason, just be able to watch

you know. Uh, you know how he takes other very high calibert um you know NFL players, and how he kind of treats them and neutralizes them. Yeah, exactly. But you know, um, I will say that, Yeah, I watched Marcus gold and get after that dude. And after seeing that, you know, I did learn that. You know, you know, you can respect players in this league, but at the end of the day, they are just players and players

can be beat. So oh that is great, Cam, That really is man, That is that is growth I think from you. Um. You know we're in December, as Paul he was talking about, it's almost Christmas. Cam, you got four games left. Man, did you hit a wall at all this year? Uh? No, not at all. Actually, you know, I'm still very excited to be able to play every

single Sunday. Um, no, not at all. How about physically though, I mean physically, if you have you had a week or have you gotten to the point because honestly, there were a number of rookies last year that about this point sort of faded physically, and just you know, a long NFL season, it goes so far beyond a college season in so many ways, and in a lot of ways, you haven't had a break because you had to prepare

for the draft and then you just kept on going, right. Yeah, no, absolutely no, there is Uh, the season is obviously much longer, and uh, you know, I think I think I've been doing a pretty good job of keeping up with my body. You know, I've had obviously just the normal bumps and bruises throughout the season here. But yeah, I think I've been doing a good job and just taking care of my body, and it's been taking care of me. So who was the toughest dude to tackle this year? If

I may ask, you know, Kenneth Walker. I gotta give him a lot of respect. Oh yeah, I do give him a lot of respects. Christian McCaffrey is up there as well, just just in terms of how elusive they are or is it the combination of the ability to make you miss and or run over you. Yeah, So Kenneth Walker's you know, he's got he's gotten a little more of the run through you type of m part to his game. But Christian McCaffrey, you know, he'll make you miss in a phone booth. So yeah, you just

gotta respect both of them. They have different games, but both very good players. Yeah, Cam, I'm going to ask you to go ahead and look at your season and evaluate your season for us if you don't mind, Like, how do you think it's gone for you? Well, I'll say this right now. I'm a lot tough for them on myself, and I think a lot of people will

agree on Have you always spend that way? Absolutely? You know, even my last year of college football when I came out, and you know, I still think that there was still a lot to improve on. You know, I still took my chances came out in the draft, but yeah, no, I definitely think there's a lot more that I could prove on through the year, you know, And I would

say a lot more. I mean, yeah, more mental, Like I said, like, it's still learn a lot more of the game of the football, and you know, definitely some big steps there. But yeah, I think every single week I am improving and taking those steps. But yeah, there's definitely a bit of adjustment period. So when your position group is out there, you're working with the outside linebackers. Correct, Yes, yet you are a nose tackle at times of San

Diego State. Yeah, it's amazing. And then during games you're used in a variety of ways just till some of the different spots you've already played this year. Yeah, so this year, you know, I played a little bit of obviously stand upouts a linebacker, whether it was a five you know, head up on or outside shade of the office tackle or a nine technique outside of the state of the tight end. You know, there's some packages and they were off on myself in there from a three

tech rushing and I'm very comfortable doing that. You know, that's something actually coming into the NFL, I was a lot more comfortable doing the rushing the edge. And it's funny how things it flits, but yeah, you know that's something I don't mind doing it. I really do enjoy it, you know, And with Zach you know, obviously you know, hurting his hand that, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if I found myself more in there this week and going forward, and yeah, just anything I could do to

be valuable to this team. I'm up for doing. Cam, what do you think was your best game this season? And why do you think it was your best game? That's a great question. So a big trait or one of my best traits I believe I have as a players my effort and you know there might be, you know, some games where I might have more win percentage or you know, I might have better statistics. But I actually

really liked last game against New England. I think my effort are out more in that game than it has in the other games, and that's kind that's kind of something I usually based myself off. So I think I think New England was a game I said I look up to. I'll tell you what. We got a little insight into the lead up to that game on Hard Knocks And for everyone who doesn't know, Cameron Thomas is our guests round three rookie And in college you wore number ninety nine because J. J. Watt and so there

you were. It was the two of you in one of the meeting rooms and Hard Knocks caught that moment and here's a little clip. The number one thing you got to remember is that you also have strengths. Never talk yourself out of being successful. So like you have a great bull rush and you have a great long run. Just because this guy is good against it doesn't mean you can't win with it. I'm here or twelve, I'm still learning. That's JJ Watt to our guest Cameron Thomas.

Is it possible to summarize, just capitualize what have you learned from JJ Watt this year? Yeah, there's there's definitely some of the things that I've learned from him, you know, whether he's physically told me or just me observing him. Um, as a player, you know, I'm the reason he got to where he is today. Is his worth ethic and you know, his leadership is is something. Um, you know

that's also a very big aspect of him. But yeah, just being able to see him, you know, kind of do his workouts, be able to see his practice habits, um, just kind of see the way the way he carries himself throughout this building is something you know that's really inspiring and really helps the young player like myself. Kim, What is he like? You know what I mean? It's as a teammate, you know, we know the public perception of J. J. Watt of course, but as a teammate, Um,

what is he like? Is he is he a funny guy? Does he like to laugh? But what does J. J. Watt like as a teammate? Now, JJ definitely has to have fun. Um, you know he's he could be sarcastic, definitely and um, now he'll definitely joke around with you, but at the same time he'll be locked in and you know, understanding where he needs to be. And um yeah, yeah, some of those clips him giving given Zach Allen the business on the sideline during practice. Yeah, that's him, right, Yeah,

that's that's JJ. And how many times are you asked that? Do people come up to you and say, Cam, I know you play with JJ? Want man, you know what's he like? Do you get Do you get asked that all the time? Yeah? No, I definitely get asked that a couple of times. Um, you know, definitely from from people I'm close to. So and hey, you wanted to know the answer to that yourself once you got drafted. Right. In fact, here's Van's Joseph just JJ's impact on you

earlier today, Cam win his number in college. I mean, it was as obvious that he was a hero of Cams and Cam's first day on a job, it was funny to watch him, you know, just walk around JJ and to stare at him, and he wouldn't say anything to him, but he would just stare at him, you know. He was funny to watch that. But now Cam's got those straits, you know, and he's a young guy. He's

eager to learn. I mean, you know, if like Joe Buck was in here or some premier broadcaster, I'd probably be staring at him too, right, I mean it's just sort of natural, right, Yeah. No, I definitely remember that first time I saw It was definitely an eye opener, you know, seeing this guy that I've just watched for so long, you know, right in front of me. I think VJ kind of exaggerated a little bit. I'm the staring h He's gotta tell the media a good story,

you know. No, I definitely remember the first time I met him, though. It was right when I got drafted. Walked in here. He was in the middle of a workout and I didn't want to distract him, but I walked up to him and induced myself while he was talking to VJ. I do remember VJ making a comment. I don't remember exactly what it was, but yeah, you're like, hey, DJ, I'm not a stalker around here. Yeah, go ahead, Wolf. No no, I was just gonna say, man, that did

this year teach you anything? And if so, what what did it teach you? I taught me to shoot a ton of things. And honestly, at the top of my head here, um, I don't think there's any more about confidence, cam. I mean, honestly, like I think every rookie, every rookie has got to experience a point in the season where

it's just you the pillow at night. Man, for whatever reason, you're up at two thirty in the morning and the shadows are creeping across the ceiling and you're awake, and yet you're thinking about your profession, you're thinking about your sport, you're thinking about your game, and at some point of time camp you have to be able to say to yourself, man, I got this. If you had that moment this year, uh yeah I did. Actually, Um, that was that was

eye open it for me in training camp. I remember I started off you know, um, there's a little bit of a transition from the you know, the change of the positions and I never really blamed that at all. I never looked at it like that way at all. But I remember there was a period of there's a dry period where I wasn't making any place. Shoot. I remember it was like maybe like four or five days in the camp and I haven't done anything, and I was just like I look at myself like like, you know,

like what's going on right now? Like this isn't the camera, I know, And I remember there's something happened. I don't remember remember exactly what it was, but I was like I was getting pretty down on myself. I was just like this is you know, it is what it is.

And I remember like the first main made play Main training camp, I got like washed from one side of the ball all the other and the tackle basically put me right to the running back because you know he put me there um and a gap that was like four over um. And I was really embarrassing myself. And I remember that night in my room at the hotel, I was just like, I'm just gonna cut this thing loose, you know, you know, I don't got much to lose.

I'm you know, I don't have anything. I haven't really gained too much as I've been here, so I'm just love this thing loose. And as soon as I did that, I mean, it was a whole new player. And that was the player I was at San Diego State. You know, I just I went out there. I have fun and I did not care. I just I went out there and I went and um, ever since then, I think us exactly what it's been. I've just gotten out there

every single day. UM, enjoyed playing the sport. You know, I grew up loving and I'm very blessed to be in the position I'm in. Now that's a great story and it's echoes what JJ Watt tells. The Vans Joseph was on that he's and staff when jj Watt was a first round rookie said, most of his rookie year he struggled. And jj Watt said, I was trying to do this for that coach and this for that coach, and I realized, I just gotta be myself. I'm already struggling.

I just gotta I gotta be myself. And if I stink, well I already stink. And then he said, boom, that was the turning point. And Vans Joseph said the game was a playoff game his rookie year, and according to Van's Joseph, he did things that he never seen a defensive lineman ever do. And that's where JJ watt more initially and eventually into a three time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. So that that's a great story sort of that having that epiphany at that moment. So we'll

continue here with Cameron Thomas. We'll talk about the Broncos and what's straight ahead on the Big Red Rage presented by Santan four in Gilbert snapped, the Smith drops back to throw pressure on his face. He's in trouble and he goes down. He sacked back at the twenty one yard line. Cam Thomas, the rookie, is there for the Cardinals to make the play. First career sacked or Cam Thomas. Herbert back to throw up third down in trouble, steps

up sect again at the forty four yard line. This time it's Cam Thomas steps up in the pocket, gets hit, armed, is hit, ball flutters picked off by Simmons at the forty yard line and tackled at the thirty seven Cam Thomas. Swite had the throwing arm of Mac Jones. The ball fluttered into the air, picked off by Simmons. There you go.

A highlight montage twenty twenty two, the Rookie Year for our guest in the Big Red Rage, presented by Santanford in Gilbert Cameron Thomas, who was the first San Diego State player drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the top three rounds since Wolf, a former team eighty years. It was actually nineteen eighty seven, the year before they moved to Arizona, round three out of San Diego State at tight end by the name of Rob A Wall. Rob. Yeah, he was awesome. Wolf. Did you ever fight Rob a Walt?

I didn't see Cam. You have to ask Wolf these questions because he tended to mix it up with a lot of a lot of players, including his own teammates. So you have to be real clear as Booth had that mentality as a player. Ye, please don't judge. Yeah, oh no, no judgment at all here. I actually respect it. Thank you. What's your favorite play so far this season that you've made? And dare I say against the team you grew up watching, maybe the Chargers a couple of

weeks ago, early first quarter. You can take us through it. If you want and give us the play by play if that's indeed your choice. Yeah. Um, you know, looking back, you know there's there's a lot of plays in there that I'm in a high fire favor of, but that play in particular, that was a pretty special play for me. You know, being a kid from San Diego, you know the Chargers growing up, you know about thirty minutes in my house. So yeah, that was a super special play.

I had a ton of people that game, you know that you know, drove up, um, drove on over and um yeah, I just I just remember that was actually my first play of that game. Wow, it was the first play the game. Am I got in there and uh you know JJ already kind of warmed him up and kind of Sacaron right before I did. And uh yeah, I just remember I took I was I took my

rush up the field. Um. You know, Junk had a really good markets school and had a really good rush on the other side, flushed them up, and um I was able to counter at the level and you know, uh hit Herbert fur through the ball and then there was the celebration yes do tell um, which is kind of funny. Uh yeah that I'm being a kid from San Diego. That was my fifth time ever surfing and it was on grass, So that's good. That was Yeah, that was definitely something to remember. So, Cam, where's your

future on the line of scrimmage? Man? Is it? Is it? Edge? Five? Technique, three technique? I know you got to be able to move around, But if you had a preference, where would it be? Cam? Yeah, you know, I definitely say I would be comfortable at all those positions. However, you know, I feel really happy I'm in the spot now, you know,

being a stand up backer. Um, you know, I just you know, I always I never would have thought I would have ever said that, you know, I thought I was always gonna be a traditional hand of the dirt type of guy. But you know, being able to kind of get best in both worlds. I do really enjoy standing up on the edge because wol if you remember Zach Allen after his rookie year, right, he went into a real rigorous offseason regiment and he put on weight

and strength and size. I could see you maybe doing that following that, Zach Allen, But no that you don't envision that as your off season, you know, obviously, you know, whatever the team wanted to do with me if they did want to put me inside, Um, you know, it's something we could definitely talk about doing. But um yeah, if I if I was to have a preference, I'd be pretty happy where I'm at now. Oh I love

that Cam's the stand up. It's some more edge correct. Yeah, okay, So what do you think would you have to drop some weight? Do you think you'd have to drop weight or do you like your right your weight right where you are now? Yeah? You know, I've actually dropped a decent amount of weight since I've been here. I came in here around I remember my first way in here it was like two sixty nine, although I remember like just not drinking any water prior to that way, and

I was the closer to like two seventy three. Uh. You know, right now I'm sitting anywhere from like fifty eight to two sixty and you know, I feel really comfortable in that in that range, and um, yeah, I feel like I didn't lose really any strength or any power and just gained some speed off it. So god. Yeah, Well here's your defensive coordinator earlier today, just on the progress you have made during your rookie season, Cam, with

more turns, you know, we'll get more sacks. You know, it's just playing with a lead, you know, and having more chances to rush freely. You know, that's that's been our problem. But Cam's a guy who can win one on one rushes. I mean he's he's played awful lot in the last month. He's won a lot, you know, but he needs more turns, you know, with a fair game and a lead. Yeah, think about that, right, Like

last week, look at New England. They had two sacks in the first three quarters, they get a two score lead, and then they had four or sacks in the fourth quarter. It's sort of the way it works, right because now you can just rush with abandon right, Yeah, exactly. You know, UM, give your your defensive freedom, you know when there when the offense has it through the ball down to feel like that, um, you know, when they're down. You know, it definitely creates a lot more opportunities for a defense

to make this place. And you know, Cam, we want you to look forward obviously, this beautiful part of the program here, we want you to look forward to down the road. Um, where do you think you can actually make the biggest strides next year? Is it? Is it as the n edge rusher and your techniques? Is it? Is it against the run? Where do you think you can actually take your biggest strides. Yeah, there's definitely a

lot of aspects. You know, I still got to grow at um, you know something for me, I think I could definitely just take that next step, the next jump in the run game and just lock it down. You know, obviously I have some I have some good players, have some bad places, but just the consistency, I'd say in the run game, who would be something that could really take me to that next level. And obviously you know in the past game, you know, I could definitely there's

definitely a lot of area of improvement there. And um, you know, I'm sure as um, the more I play, the more comfortable I'll get. So what do you expect of the Denver Broncos. What do they do well? And what what do you know so far about what's going to be most important on Sunday? Yeah, so just watching from whyviously, the Denver Broncos, whatever the media has portrayed them so far is not what they'll click on film. I think they are a very good team and you know, Um,

whether Russell plays or not, he's a very talented player. Um. He could rip the ball down the field. You know, he could run out of the pocket, and he is a difference maker in games. Um. So I mean between that and you know, stopping the run, Um, you know there they are a good opponent. If in fact, Russell Wilson plays, I question whether or not he will. But if he does, Um, what would it mean to wax is back? I mean with that, with that kind of

geek you out a little bit. I would imagine you've been watching him as a kid for a long time. Oh absolutely. You know, there's I think a lot of edge rushers when they come into the league. There's always a couple of guys they kind of have at the top of the list. Everybody's on the list, but there's a couple of guys that are just sitting out. There's a little bit more and I would I would put him up there. Um. Yeah, you know, I remember my

first draft of Arizona. I was like super fresh, like within the hour of getting drafted, you know, I was kind of like looking things up on the team, how to put up the roster this than that, obviously, I know Seattle was in the conference and I was bummed out. I was like, dang, he just got traded, and you know, I'm not gonna have the opportunity. And then the schedule comes out a couple of weeks later and there he is, so um, you know, I hope he plays and yeah,

I hope, I hope it works out well. Wolf. You remember we had my j Sanders in here. I think it was in May. It was, you know, fresh out of the draft. And I didn't even finish the question. I said, my Jay, which NFL quarterback do you want to sack the most? He jumped the question. It said Tom Brady Immediately he said Tom Brady, how about you? Oh, I mean Tom Brady. I think he's up there and too well everybody list, I mean, how how could he not be? That would that'd be a merry Christmas right there,

if in fact you were able to get that. Um. When it comes to the Denver Broncos, describe their offense for me if you could. I you know, from your perspective right now, are they trying to run the ball. Do you think they're a power rushing team? Do you do? I mean, do they like to use play go ahead and describe the Denver Broncos what you see on tape. Yeah, they do pass the ball, you know, it's a little bit more than they do run it. I mean when they do run the ball, they like to you know,

it's like use variation of zone plays. Um, they'll use slashers you know here and there and um yeah, then they'll obviously they'll pass the ball. So, um, we gotta we have to be ready. I mean they got hot against Kansas City. They're down twenty seven nothing, they lost thirty four twenty eight. Yeah. They put a lot of yards and a lot of points on the scoreboard in our hurry last week, didn't they? Oh yeah absolutely Yeah. Like like I said, you know what they look like.

I'm um, film from what you know, from what I've heard going into this game, they do not correlate to me, like I really, Um, do you give the Broncos a ton of credit? Cam? Did you have any goals coming into this season? My biggest goal is to have fun, to make plays. Um, so good one. Yeah. How about rookie duties? You know, Trey McBride said earlier today that he still has rookie duties that Max Williams made him

decorate the tight end room for Christmas. Oh yeah, we got we got two trees in our room actually, so not trying to make it a competition at all, but you know we do have that. We got the whites, We have the stockings, U should we had a reef and snacks. Do you have to get snacks and stuff for the guys still too? Oh yeah, we got some snacks two days ago or a couple of days ago. Hit Costco got the Celsia strengths. Load him in the fridge, you know. And of course every Saturday we gotta get

donuts for the groups. So yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, Wolf still getting my drinks around here. That's the way I work. So Cameron, thank you very much. Yeah, thanks for having me on. Guys. We continue with a big red rage presented by Santan four in Gilbert play fake Murray setting up looking deep that takes off running the right at the thirty five, at the forty and dives to about the forty four yard line, a gain of three for

Kyler Murray and and I'm injured Cardinal. It's Tyler who went down very awkwardly that time as he tried to cut Oh no, non contact. He cut right, then tried to cut left and just buckle, and there was a Patriot player right there who called to the Cardinals sideline to bring on the training staff. It looked like when he went to the ground the injury had already happened. He was in pain, his head started to come back, and he just went to the ground. Oh boy, we

got to one. We got the one. We got a roupree boards and poker, we got a roupup books, we got some brothers. Now, let's go regroup and get one for one. Let's go, everybody, regroup, get one for one. Let's go. That's JJ Watt right there. That was from Hard Knocks in NFL films. As several players were miked up.

Almost all the players were around Kyler Murray when he went down, and just like that, three plays into the game, the Cardinals had to go with Plan B. Colt McCoy and it will be Plan B the rest of this season and then unknown into the off season, sort of like we're going Plan B right now. Technically, Ron Wopley is yours truly with an issue on the line, so we've got to go with an alternate game plan here. Paul calvc Ron Wopley The Big Red Rage presented by

santan Ford in Gilbert. We are santan Ford props to Cameron Thomas, and we'll talk a little bit more about Cameron Thomas and what he had to say. But first your thoughts on loss. Forget the game, and it's much worse when you lose your franchise quarterback to a season ending knee injury torn ACL non contact on the third play of the game. As we're just hurt, Yeah, Paula. Really is a just a horrible situation that has happened

with the Orizinal Cardinals. Right now, we all know the kind of season that they've had, we all know the many distractions that they've had. This just seems like an exclamation point on the entire season. And to see your franchise quarterback Kyler Murray go down on play number three of this game, another non contact injury. We've seen it all over the National Football League this year, of course, with a Cardinals non contact and now all of a sudden you see Kyler Murray go down. It's a horrible

occurrence for Kyler Murray. Yet at the same time I have to wonder if it gives him an opportunity to reflect as to where he's been and where he wants to go. Yeah, he was emotional. We all saw it. It was on Monday Night football. He was on the card the towel was on his head. He took the towel off. He acknowledged the crowd or some tears maybe even in his eyes as they were carting him off. Matthew Judan knew it right away. I was on the sideline.

You could see Judan immediately signaling to the Cardinals sideline. And then after the game, Colt McCoy, who finished the game and as your QB one the rest of this season, shared with the media this week about how he left the stadium and he went right over to Kyler's house. Yeah, touched Kyler. Bunch spent a couple of hours with him at his house after the game Monday night. His spirits were fine, like he's smiling, but I mean it's an injury,

and you know we're all upset. He's upset, you know, he's frustrated, but his spirits were in a good place and he'll attack the rehab. We've got great doctors here and lots of guys have come back from acl hasn't been just fine. So I think he's got full confidence in that, and you know, it's part of the game, but it's a it's a shock and so you know, well, I'll put arms around him for sure. That is a

lot of different angles here. Well, what about the game that Kyler plays though, because you know, we can talk about a Joe Burrow as the most recent example, but obviously Kyler is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the league, and his legs are so vital to what he does. Is that present a different dynamic, a different challenge in this case? Yeah, you know, honestly, I think anytime you blow your ACL out you have to worry about that in the long term effects that that could have.

But you're talking about Kyler Murray, who's still so young, Paully and also too just the way they deal with acls today, it's not like back when I was playing in nineteen eighty five, when I came into the league. Polly nineteen ninety even, I can tell you that if you blew your ACL out most of the time, you were never going to be the same. It didn't mean you couldn't come back from an ACL you could, but most of the time, PAULI, it meant you weren't going to be the same guy. That no longer is the

case anymore. It's not the metaphorical death sentence that it once was. For guys that use their athleticism to make plays, Guys like Kyler Murray, guys like running backs and wide receivers and cornerbacks. You can come back from an ACL and it be darned near one hundred percent of what you were before. Now is that going to be the case with Kyler Murray? We don't know. We're going to have to wait and see. But man, being as young as he is, I honestly don't think this is going

to inhibit him and his career in the near future. Yeah. I think of a young Tyr Matthew. Remember the end of his rookie year, and that was hillacious knee injury. It was much worse than a torn a cl and the Cardinals medical team did a phenomenal job with that surgery in that rehab, and obviously Tyron Matthews had a borderline Hall of Fame career ever since. You know, But you know, Paul, that first year back, PAULI, do you remember that, Yeah, first year fourteen. It took a while,

You're right, it did. It took a while for him, you know. And everybody's different, man, everybody heals differently. Everybody has a different knee, a different reaction. Maybe there was more damage done to Tyrone's knee, maybe there wasn't. I don't know the specifics of that, but I just know that everyone's different. But Tyrone is an excellent example to a guy that came back and yet it took him a year to look like himself. Yeah, yeah, no question

and so, and it just presents so much uncertainty. Obviously in the off season, are you actually gonna invest assets into another quarterback? Is this Colton McCoy show, maybe even through a considerable part of next year. So those are just huge offseason questions. As for the final four games, and especially what you're looking at in Denver, I mean, Wolf, there's no doubt that this team trusts Colt McCoy, Right,

he's decisive, Yes, either's you knows. As hollowand Brown told us yesterday, there isn't a single coverage or scheme he hasn't seen before. So if nothing else, you come in with a quarterback who really is almost like a player coach in so many ways. Yeah, no, he really is listening for the next four games. Colton McCoy, this is one of the best backups in the league to me right now for this situation, this offense Kyler Murray. Of course, for Colton McCoy to be a backup, he has already

proven his value and his worth to this team. It's one of the reasons why the Cardinals went ahead and extended him, signed him to a two year contract. So he's under contract going into next year. He's not only going to finish this year. I think they're okay going into next year with Colton McCoy. Now, PAULI, what does that mean? What does that look like? Do they bring another veteran in? Is that a possibility bring another guy in in case something were to happen to Colton McCoy.

Do they bring another veteran in to compete with Colton McCoy. I don't know those answers. I just know and you know this as well. Cliff Kingsbury and the Arizona Cardinals are very very comfortable with Colton McCoy as their quarterback. And here's the other thing. I think it just heightens the importance of improving everything else around Colt McCoy this offseason.

Why are the Niners still winning with a third string quarterback because they have great We have great offensive line and defensive line right the number one defense in the league. They have a great running game, and they have the ability to just throw the ball short guys make you know, defenders miss in all the yack yards you It is imperative that you build it up around Cole McCoy, starting with his Denver game, that you don't get behind by Q scores so you can stay balanced and have a

run game. Yeah, Paulie, no doubt about it. We're all gonna have a front row seats, So hold on. And Cole McCoy, by the way, you know, look, he was one quarterback in the first three quarters and then that final quarter of Monday Night Football when he got sacked four times as a defense in New England was just team off on him. So he got to stay in the game, and you got to continue to run James Conner and open up the passing game. As we continue with a big red rage present of by San tan

Ford and Gilbert we are santan Ford. We'll be back right after this. I'll be the first one to say I made some calls, all right, but the basic that we know how to do it means a lot in these games. It's hard, we're coming. It continues to happen. It's getting it right in practice. And hold each other accountable, all right. Treat you like men. That's how it's going to be. That may be a fault of mine, but

I'm gonna treat you like men. So we got to hold each other accunable somehow the last month because we're better than that. Can I understand that? That's it? We're better than that And that's all I want to see for this group the last month. But your best football because I love being around you guys, love ting to work every day with you. You practice hard, you fight your assi for each other. But we have to do it right because we're giving away. That's one thing to

get beat, it's another thing to beat yourself. And will if we talk so much up until that Money Night game about what are you gonna get out of the rest of this season? And job number one was k one? Was Kyler Murray? Well, now that he has this season and he knee injury, dare I say the job that Cardinals need to do first and foremost is to get

rid of the word self inflicted. Just eliminate that from their vocabulary, because it's been persistent throughout the season, Cardinals beating Cardinals, and that's what Cliff Kingsbury was lamenting there after the game. Courtesy of Hard Knocks. Yeah, Paully, you know what, I really enjoyed that part of it, minus the profanity, of course. I mean just saying right now, Cliff, I thought was as assertive and resolute as I've seen

him in front of the team at all. I don't know about you, Paully, if you were impressed as well, but you know, just yeah, just the way he was speaking right there. This is this is a little bit of a window that the Arizona Cardinals have got a crack, and Cliff Kingsbury has got to look through. Right now. This is what it's got to be like next year. I think, more than anything else, you've got to surround Cliff Kingsbury with a bunch of guys that are dogs

inside the locker room. I think to some degree they have already done that, but I think you've got to hold them to a higher standard. He's got to become the alpha mel In my opinion, that doesn't mean he's got to be screaming at guys. It doesn't mean he's got to be yelling at guys or threatening guys or being anybody that he isn't. He's just got to be resolute, I think, for the most part, going forward and demanding that you do your job. And if you don't do

your job, maybe you're not going to be here. Do the Ears of the Cardinals have an accountability problem in your opinion, because we've heard it from Buddha Baker courtesy a hard Knox after the Eagles game. We've heard it at different times, even in the offseason. Wolf. In fact, what's ironical, if you will, as I make up a word, is that hard Knox was brought in why to add an extra layer of accountability. Yeah, and so now we see late in the season that it's obviously still an issue.

I mean, it is something that still needs to be addressed. Obviously, I think, PAULI they will. But once again, I also look at this situation and I know nobody wants to hear this. They don't and nobody wants to hear it. They look at it and they say it's an excuse, and I understand that you never want to look for an excuse, But when you have the rash of injuries that the Arizona Cardinals have had, and I'm not talking about Kyler Murray, Okay, I'm not talking about that Kyler

Murray played. He had five games remaining before he blew his knee out. I'm talking about everybody else around him. To a point where your offensive line, eighty percent of your offensive line is out gone and has been for weeks. Dare I say months that right there, Polly, Once again, all bets are off. At that point in time. You could have the most talent in the world at the skill position. You really could. Yeah, you could have the

most talented wide receiver. But if you can't protect your quarterback, if you can't give him a reasonable amount of time for him to act, actually go through his progressions and find an open receiver, it doesn't really matter who you have out there at wide receiver unless you're going to go ahead and one, two, three and get the ball out every time. Now, that may work for one game, but two games in a row with a defensive coordinator, that's not going to cut it. Paul it just won't.

At some point in time. NFL defenses are going to catch up with you. The entire situation this year has just been a mess for the Cardinals. Yeah, and then think about it. They had three big plays are eliminated by a couple of illegal shifts and offensive pass interference you know in aj Green going out of bounds coming back in. These are the sort of mistakes and it's

what Colt McCoy was talking about to the media. The penalties crushed us right and their self inflicted wounds, and you know, we've talked about them kind of all year at certain times, and they just they bid us on Monday night. And so just I think have a really point of emphasis on some of the things that we're trying to do with some of the motions and shifts, like just being very detailed, no presnap penalties, and that will give us a chance, you know, the self inflicted

wounds Polly too. Once again, when you're playing an awful lot of backups in your lineup, they're backups for a reason. I was a backup, Polly, Okay, I'm just telling you there, you're a backup for a reason, and sometimes it's because mentally, you have a tendency of making mistakes. Now, this has been something that the Cardinals have dealt with all season long, and it's not just backups who make it. We also saw d hop Right and DeAndre Hopkins. We also we

saw him and Hollywood moving at the same time. You can't do that. But those self inflicted wounds that Colt is talking about, that has been I would say, the most prevalent, consistent thing we've seen from the offense in the second half of the season. And it's been whackable. We've talked about it, right, It's been different guys at different times making different mistakes and so it's hard to identify.

And honestly, the release of a Trey von Mullen, I wonder if that somehow relates to accountability, because there's one way to motivate and get everyone's attention, and that is with job security. So I truly wonder about that. We'll see,

we'll see what it looks like in Denver. Obviously, Cliff had a message to send after the loss against the Patriots on Monday Night Special Thanks as always, Jim Amhondro, Cody Fincher Special thanks to Cam Thomas Right our extra special guests tonight and how we actually put up two Christmas trees in the outside Linebackers meeting room there at the Cardinals HQ. For on We'll play on Paul Calvic. This has been the Big Red Rage presented by santan

Ford and Gilbert. We are santan Ford number one. You've been listening to the Big Red Rage 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.