Red Sea Report - Cardinals Shift Focus To The Commanders

Published Sep 24, 2024, 7:44 PM
The Cardinals dropped a tough home game to the Detroit Lions on Sunday and now must shift their focus to the Washington Commanders who visit State Farm Stadium in Week 4. Craig Grialou, Paul Calvisi and Rob Fredrickson discuss the Lions aftermath, how the offense can jump start a run game that had little production against Detroit, the strong second half by the Cardinals defense and the physical toll the game took on both teams. Plus, a look ahead to the Commanders team that saw a great offensive performance from rookie QB Jayden Daniels on Monday night against the Bengals.

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To the fifteen to ten Murry's.

Gonna score touchdown, Welcome to the Cardinals Red Sea Report.

Swam to the ground by Budda Baker like a torpedo. He came flying into the backfield Connor to the ten, to the five, and then of the ends off of the touchdown.

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Here we go, one handed catching a touchdown. Oh baby, I'm that fail.

Here's Craiggrioloud, Paul Calvic and nine year NFL veteran Rob Frederickson.

Well, what a difference a week makes, and not in a good way, as we say good morning on this Tuesday, two days after the Cardinals lost at State Farm Stadium by the score of twenty to thirdeam to the Detroit Lions. A lot of like on aw that game started offensively, A ton of the like on how that game went at the end in the second half for the defense. But bottom line, Rob, this Cardinals team is one and two with another home game to come, and we will get into what the Washington Commanders have done and did last night to the Cincinnati Bengals. But big picture, it for me as far as what looked good and then what disappeared offensively in quarters three and four.

Yeah, I think leading up to this game, it was billed as just this physical game between two teams that really that that's their identity, right, you know, we're going to run the ball and we're going to play tough defense. And it lived up to it, especially early. You know, there was unfortunately, there was a lot of injuries and a lot of physical play out there. Detroit Lions, really, you know, you got to tip your hat to them. They did an excellent job up front on both sides of the ball. Initially starting the game, they were able to run the ball at will, really carving up the Cardinals defense. And then defensively, you know, Detroit Lions, it's been twenty two games since they've allowed a running back to rush for over seventy yards. So they did a great job again of just bottling up the run game of the Arizona Cardinals and forcing the Cardinals to be one dimensional.

Most physical game i've seen in that building, second most since the twenty sixteen.

Seattle slug Fest.

It lived up to the billion we talked about that pregame and sure enough, yeah, and you saw guys leaving the field both sides. So that was testimony to that. Talking to some of the players on Monday, they were very sore. I'm a little fearful of the physical hangover. As for this, you know what will happen come this Sunday. We'll see, we'll see. I'm guessing the coaches are going to adjust accordingly. But it was a slug fest. The moment the Lions came out with six offensive linemen and two tight ends, they were sending a message, Okay, we're physical. You think you're a goal let's find out.

And you did.

For four quarters.

Early in that game, the Lions players were dropping like flies. And then at the end of the game it was Cardinals players. But to the physicality and rob again, it's it's different from when you played to win now. But you play a game like that on a Sunday and then you come into the facility on Monday morning, you have Tuesday off. Wednesday, you're back on the practice field. How much, how tough how long does the body need to recover. Yes, it's still early in the season. But to Paul's point, he was on the sideline watching that, hearing it and then seeing the reaction from the players and how slowly they got dressed in the locker room postgame to make their way back home.

Yeah, it's it's interesting. After a physical game like that, typically you don't start feeling normal again until Saturday.

Oh wow, geez.

Yeah, no, legitimately, and I think they've come a long way in terms of just recovery and what the technology and what player can do to get themselves feeling more normal earlier in the week. But you know, when I was playing, you were not feeling normal until the day before the next game.

And think about it, at the very end of the game, you know, your minus Justin Jones, your minus Kyrie's Tonga. So you had those four defensive linemen who were they were closing out that game and the Lions weren't kidding around. The Lions have four first round picks on that offensive line. They controlled the game at times, the first half of the first half in particular, and then you know, by the time you were done, okay, you know the Cardinals defense redeemed itself, but the Cardinals run game did not. You had to abandon the run. The final eighteen plays were all pass plays. You had to go into two minute mode. You were trailing in the game. But anytime Kyler Murrays you're leading rusher. That's problematic, especially for this offense.

Game was Todd after the first possession for each team Todd going into the second quarter. It was twenty to ten in favor of the Lions. At halftime, and that was it. The Lion did not score again. The Cardinals would add a field goal late, but to your point, Paul, the offense just could not get into gear despite the number of different opportunities the defense gave Kyler Murray and company. On Monday, the day after, head coach Jonathan Gannon on where he thought his team was after that loss of the Alliance.

We're a pissed off team, I know that, but so is everyone that loss, you know what I mean. So now it comes down to what do you do about it? And to make sure that we keep learning and improving. So that's what I would say we're at right now.

And how long does a loss like that linger? We heard from Dennis Gardek on how he processes a loss to get ready for the next week.

For me, it's letting the things that I need to get better at burn for a little bit. I think if you put it to bed too soon, the motivation to get it corrected in a timely and urgent matter isn't there as much. So I want to let it burn. I want to feel like I let the guys down on the plays that I need to get corrected.

Look, the Cardinals had chances, just like they had chances Week one on the road in Buffalo, and I think that's why the frustration to use Jonathan Ginn. Yeah, it's a pissed off team because you let a game potentially slip out of your fingers, a game that you helped rob in November and December. You're not looking back saying what could have been in twenty twenty four.

Yeah, there were some opportunities, certainly opportunities for the Cardinals to change the dynamic of the game. You look back to the two minute warning in the first half and mac Wilson conceivably went for a go ahead touchdown to go up fourteen thirteen, and it's called back, and then Detroit was able to march down and get a touchdown. So all of a sudden, that's a huge swing, not only in momentum, but also in your psyche a little bit. And so you got to kind of brush that off at halftime, come back out in the second half, and I think the defense did you know, you look at their second half performance. Detroit didn't get another point in the second half. Now, they were able to string together some drives and chew up some clock, and that then limits the opportunities that the Cardinals offense have. But you know, the defense did an excellent job in that second half of bending, but they didn't break, and they got stops when they needed to and afforded the offense some opportunities.

September is the new August. I think we got more evidence of that in this game.

I really do.

It was a physical game. Lions earned the win. They were better in the trenches, but the passing game is not quite yet in sync. And I'm guessing that a month from now it's going to be a lot more productive regardless of the defense you're going against, especially since the Lions are playing man quite a bit.

Now.

Cardinals got more zone than they thought, but Lions coming in typically a play eighty five percent man, so Cardinals receivers were looking forward to it. And you saw Kyler rip off some runs in the first half, mainly because guess what, Lions DB's had their backs turned and then they went into more of a zone. But you're Jonathan Gannon also mentioned cryptically without naming names, that final third and eleven at the two minute warning in the second half that sealed the game. Cardinals did not get the ball back. That was a basic coverage that was not executed correctly by the Cardinals defensive backfield. A couple of yards here, a couple of yards there, a couple of minor adjustments here and there, and I just think this team's balling but it's not precise yet in a lot of ways. And you go against a team that was just in the NFC Championship. That's enough to lose.

Cardinals ran fifteen fewer plays, were out gained by nearly one hundred yards, and trailed in the time of possession thirty seven to twenty three. Yet they had time and time again opportunities in the second half offense, though, just could not find the ball into the end zone. Kyler Murray postgame after the loss to the Lions.

I know what this team is capable of, and that's the exciting part. I mean, that's that's all it comes down to. I know we're capable of. I love what we have in that locker room. Again, we just didn't make enough plays today and I know, I know those plays are out there to be made and we will make them.

Hearing JG Kyler postgame, Hearing JG again on Monday, and you heard and JG you heard it mentioned enthused on what he saw. Kyler Murray a little bit more upbeat than we've heard from him in years past, coming off a loss and a tough loss like that. Is that year two under Jonathan Gannon? Is that a more mature Kyler Murray to set the tone for everyone else because everyone is looking at those two gentlemen to kind of set the stage for the rest of the week, the rest of the season, because it was you get like, really, I mean there's some frustration there, but you didn't hear it from the powers it be.

Yeah, after a tough loss like that, I think it's the leadership and the coaching staff's job to, you know, you tear down the guys a little bit in the film review. But then you've got to build them up. You got you got to show them what was really good and show them what what happened out there Sunday that that is something that we can build on. You know, when you win a game, it's it's never as good as you think when you will look at the film. And then when you lose a game, it's never as bad as you think. It really isn't. Every game, it seems like in this league, comes down to three or four plays, just a handful of plays that that really changed the entire dynamic of the game. And so, you know, the car obviously you make the corrections, but the Cardinals need to, you know, realize that, you know what, there's a there's a lot we can build on from this and and scrap it, forget about it and move on to Washington.

I think a lot of it does have to do with the opponent. Yeah, I mean if you had just lost to Carolina, would you hear that sort of positivity like like the Raiders, oh boy, right, And especially now after Buffalo absolutely just thrash Jacksonville all of a sudden that game, you're a little more bullish about that. So you know, you played three really tough opponents to start well. The Rams are ultra banged up, but you dominated them. And now you have a high flying Washington team in so you still have that opportunity to go to and two to start the first month of the season, stay right in the thick of the playoff race. Obviously this week is critical, but that Lion's team has a two year head start on the rebuild. They have two more draft classes under their belt. And I also think because the Cardinals are so young, so many players from last two draft classes, that's another reason why Kyler and the head coach wanted to keep it positive.

As we speak here on this Tuesday, nothing definitive, No further updates on a handful of players who did get hurt on Sunday, Justin Jones with a triceps, Kyrie's Tonga a knee, Jackson Barton, who played real well at right tackle, did not finish the game because of a toe injury. And I think the one that's really concerning because of the violence and the collision, was Trey McBride being evaluated for concussion. But that was a scary part, a scary moment on the football field.

This has nothing to do with anything other than just anecdotal information. He sprinted from the sideline into the locker room when he came out of the blue medical tent. So I think as sort of a just play, you know, sort of the thumbs up, like I'm good and I'm going to show it. He ran into that locker room.

Go to the right locker room. Yes he did. Okay, that's a good sign.

He appeared to be fully cognitive.

He did.

Yes, Okay, that's uppeared. That's good news. And I think now you hope that there is good news for Tustin Jones. Remember a year ago at this time, it was the defensive line and the biceps injuries to LJ. Collier, Carlos Watkins. Later in the season it was Kaiser White. So now it's triceps. But you hear muscle injury with the defensive lineman and all of a sudden, okay, this is this is problematic.

Potentially, look at Javon Hargrave. He's done partially torn triceps. So yes, Craig, you are hoping for the best. But there is a pattern historically where it's not good news with that injury.

Yeah, no, typically with the tricep injury. That's it's it's not good bicep injury. You know, if you tear one of the biceps, you can you can still work, you can still play, But the tricep injury is tough. So we'll see where that goes. But I gotta say real quick, Dante Stills has really done a good job. And I know we'll probably get into it, but he's really done a good job when he's had opportunities, and he showed up on Sunday.

The thing is on the sideline. I'm looking at Darius Robinson in sweats, just going home man.

When you're gonna get d rog man.

I mean that he would have been really helpful in that game. That was a game for Darius Robinson and you want big picture, thanks for asking, Craig. At the end of that game, I'm thinking, you know what, Lion's the number two seed, Cardinals number seven seed. You might see this team again playoff opener in the d the three to one three in mid January poll predictor here. That's see just sort of had that vibe at the end of the game, Cardinals team that would love a rematch with Allions.

Cardinals looking to get back contract this Sunday against the Washington Commanders. You want to go Single game tickets are on sale now. Got to Azycardinals dot com forward slash by tickets. That's Azycardinals dot Com forward slash by tickets to secure your seats today. Back more on what didn't happen in the second half Offensively. This is the Arizona Cardinals radio.

Network snapped to Murray Bakes the handoff boot to the left, backing up the lobbs at left corner of the end zone, put by Harrison shuz Um touchdown Cardinals. Harvin Harrison Junior with his third touchdown already?

Are you not entertained? Are you kidding me? Do you light up? Harvin Harrison Junior. He's one on one against a corner. You bring a safety over the top. He runs all the way across the field and Kyler Murray fathers the ball in there.

Awesome.

Just a great response by the Cardinals offensively. After the Lions on the first possession of the game, march downfield running the football to take a seven tozzing lead. Cardinals needed just over five minutes to tie the at seven. Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Junior for the third time this season. By the way, Kyler on that drive four four thirty eight yards passing, two carries, thirty four yards rushing, and that was a sign of things to come, because outside of Kyler Murray running, didn't see a whole luck, hell whole heck of a lot of anyone else running with the football. But first things first, the Marvin Harrison Junior highlight. That was one of the few highlights in the passing game rob as far as MHJ is concerned, targeted eleven times, five catches, sixty four yards and the touchdown big interception. Kyler admitted postgame that he probably shouldn't have made that decision trying to force it in there. At the same time, what were we talking about after week one? You got to force the ball at eighteen. Kyler did, and it backfielded.

I mean, Kyler did what we've been we've been advocating for is to just throw it up and let Marvin Harrison Junior make a play. And and you know, you'd love to have that back. Kyler wishes he had that pass back, but you know, it's encouraging to see that he is making an effort to get the ball to Marvin Harrison Junior, and and somebody that's been really quiet first couple of weeks but really kind of showed up as Michael Wilson, you know, with eight eight perceptions on nine targets.

For sixty four yards.

So that's encouraging, you know, if you can if you're looking for something to be encouraged about in this passing game, you know, I think involving Michael Wilson because he brings so much to this offense and what he can do, I think that's a that's a you know, something that you can look forward to now. One for nine on third downs though you know that that's tough, and I think Greg Dortch has been a big target on third downs and that that really wasn't the case yesterday.

You know, the Michael Wilson production makes sense in hindsight, just because he's so good at the contested.

Catch, right.

He was good out of the gate last year. Remember his breakout game Week four against the forty nine ers. Every catch, every chunk throw was a contested one. He's got a dude, get off me, and he's ripping the ball away and he's he's very physical and very strong in that way. I think that's one area Marvin Harrison Junior can get a little better, a little bit on the interception, maybe a little late. Yeah, in terms of getting that. Obviously it was short the throw itself, and the phrasing Kyler used postgame was maybe not the right time to throw that. It's second and four, you're at the Lions thirty seven, you're driving, you know, is there an underneath route? It's second and manageable just to get the first down, extend the drive instead of going for it all in that moment. So maybe that was a learning moment even for Kyler within the framework.

BUTOD on the.

Other hand, how many times had he heard in the last two three weeks, right, oh, just throw it up for eighteen even when he's covered. He's not covered, So okay, But the Lions they have very aggressive defensive secondary and obviously there was safety help over the top Kirby Joseph with the pick.

And to your point, Rob about the third downs. Cardinals converted their first one and then missed on each of their next eight, and half of those were nine or more yards. So it goes back to what are you doing on first and second down to make that third down a little bit more manageable, so you have the entire playbook at your disposal.

Yeah, they just there was no running game at that point. There was no running game for the Arizona Cardinals. So everything was relying on the on the pass pass play. And so Kyler was under some pressure, you know he did. He was under some duress during that game. And and certainly that's you know, with a backup to the backup at right tackle, there's there's gonna be that. But you know, you got to find a way to be more efficient on first and second down.

Well, let's hear from Kyler Murray on the lack of production from the offense on Sunday.

We just didn't make place. You know, last week we executed. This week, we didn't execute when when it was when it was needed. Came on first drive, executed and then you know, obviously turn the ball over trying to give more of a chance to go up and get a jump ball. Probably not the right time to be doing it, but you know it is what is. I trust my guys, you know we got we just gotta be better next week. Like again, that's a that's a great team over there. Credit to them.

And the Lions made the Cardinals one dimensional. As you mentioned earlier, Paul, the last eighteen plays were pass plays or not a single rushing attempt in the fourth quarter seventy seven rushing yards. That is a season low. In the fact that James Connor was held too is worth worst production in a Cardinal's uniform, only nine carries for him, and it was you got to keep trying, and at some point, I think Drew Peessing just said, all right, this is just not working and we'll just keep it in the air.

And obviously the Lions were loading the box. They went with five d linemen quite a bit. They were all out, selling all out to stop James Connor.

I get it.

Try and make the Cardinals one dimensional, make Kyler beat him. Here's I think the game within the game. One thing that hampered the passing game is Kyler didn't have as many targets out in patterns because you had to keep extra pass protection in too often you had to go max protect because he had a backupright tackle, a third stringer who fared pretty dang well most of the game. When he did get beat, at least he didn't get beat instantly. He gave Tyler a couple of seconds. But more importantly, I think you had to keep so many tight ends in to chip Aiden Hutchinson. It just gave Kyler fewer options out in space to get the ball out. And I think that was sort of the story behind the one for nine on third down. Is Kyler really only had a couple of targets out in pass routes.

Well, let's talk about that lack of a run game. Let's hear from the head coach, Jonathan Gannon on just seventy seven rushing yards.

We knew coming in that's a good defense, and they stopped the run well, you know, but it's just we never got that one explosive.

You know.

I know Kyler had the one, but I don't think we had any explosives in the run game, and you know, you're waiting for one of them to pop. We knew it was going to be dirty two three yards, you know, but you're kind of waiting for that one to pop. And give hats off to them.

They did a good job.

Look, this is a run first offense and it's predicated on your running backs, not your quarterback, to get those rushing yards. And Kyler Murray is your leading rusher. That is not a recipe for success. Maybe a couple of times, but not season long and forty five yards including a twenty one yard or you need whether that's Connor Benson, de Mercado got to find a way to be able to run the football to establish that pass because that didn't happen, especially in the second half.

Yeah, And a byproduct of not being able to run the football is it takes away the play action pass and that to me in this offense is so vital, especially Kyler under center and just his ability to boot leg out and get into some open field. And what happens when you get into a play action pass scenario like that, a bootleg or something a play like that is all the defensive coverages, you know, we talk about defensive backfields now in the NFL, playing that shell coverage, playing that you know, keep it in front of you, keep keep the check downs and come up and tackle. Well, that all goes away when you run a play action pass. It converts in demand demand coverage based on the route concept. And so if you don't have the ability to run a football all you now you can't run play action pass. And you don't you lose that ability to get guys in man de man situations.

Conversely, Jared Goff had that at his disposal. I can't tell you how many defensive guys going into the game told me we got to stop the run. A to stop the run B because you got to take away the Jared Goff boot game, the play action game, that's.

Where he's at his best. Sure Enough, he.

Had David Montgomery near five yards of carry, Jamier Gibbs over five yards of carry, and Jared Goff was very efficient eighteen of twenty three and two touchdowns passing. And when the run game was firing for the Lions, so was Jared Goff. He then had time to throw and you saw the result. And to Rob's point that I thought was the difference in the two offenses.

Completed his first fourteen passes attempts. As far as Jared Goff. Now, we talked about the injuries to the offensive line. Nol Kelvin beacham inactive because of a hamstring injury. So all of a sudden practice squad elevation, both Jackson Barton and Charlie Heck elevated on Saturday, Barton getting his first career start actually played very very well as far as just two pressures on twenty seven pass blocks according to Next Gen Stats. Next man Up is the mentality across the league, especially along the offensive line. Here's Will Hernandez.

You know, as part of the game there, if you go into season thinking you're going to be one hundred percent, you know, it's very one foolish and two not realistic. So we got to just find a way to navigate through these things. We've got to make sure the guys are ready in case when these things happen, and we got to make sure that we play as best as we can even when we have these things.

Now, it's one thing to deal with injuries at a position or a position group throughout the season. It's another rob where we are looking potentially at your fourth different starting right tackle in Week four, and that's just hard to maintain the chemistry and the continuity that you would like with those five guys up front.

Well, it is, and you're right, you know, these players that are on the practice squad and players that are brought in, you know, they need to create some cohesion, some chemistry with the other offensive lines and knowing the playbook as well and knowing the blocking concepts, So there is a learning curve there, but you know there's an expectation as well when when you're out on the on the field and when you're out in the game, you're expected to do your job and we're going to give you some help, right We're gonna we're gonna keep some tight ends in there, maybe some running backs chipping and helping you out as needed. But for the most part, you know, when you're out there and you're your number is called, you're expected to go out and perform.

It was a rare recent game where the Cardinals offense didn't wear down the opposing defense. Three of the four final games last year, they ran for over two hundred yards over two hundred yards rushing against the Rams in that victory. One of the few times in recent memory the Cardinals offensive line the Cardinals offense didn't wear down a defense. Kudos to the Lions, very physical game. They're very deep, especially in that front seven. They suffered some casualties. It's a couple of season ending injuries to the Lions and that one was a very physical game. But to hold James Connor to seventeen yards rushing on nine carries and As Jonathan Gannon said after the game, we just never got that one run to pop close a few times, but some sure tackling by the Lions, you just couldn't get that chunk run.

Is it just me or do I notice a lot of James Connor runs are bouncing to the outside and maybe they're trying to run outside, maybe they're trying to get a get the edge, but it just doesn't seem to me like vintage James. James Connor to me, is downhill. When he's most effective, he's hitting it downhill. And I think a lot of it, to some extent might be the offset running back out of the shotgun and he's kind of gotta gotta go at that angle. But I'd love to see them kinda and I know a lot of it depends on game plan as well, but I'd love to see them just get James Connor going downhill, cram it vertical as we talked about.

And if he is running off the edges of the offensive line, then it's in't coming upon the tight ends to do their job blocking right, And I think that was part of the issue in Buffalo.

And the wide receivers. Yeah, yep, a.

Lot more horizontal runs from James Connor. Least that's what it appears to be again three games in. We'll see what it looks like on Sunday, and you can run against this Washington Commander's team. At least so far this season, Bengals were able to just not enough to get the w and we can talk about Washington as we continue here on the Cardinals Red Sea Report. Learn more about Arizona Cardinals season tickets, single game tickets, premium seeding group tickets, and the all new luxury field seating experiences.

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For all Cardinals ticket information, visit Azycardinals dot com forward slash tickets. That's Azcardinals dot Com Forward Slash Tickets. The defense and what they did in the second half pitching a shutout, we'll talk about that next here on the Arizona Cardinals Radio Network.

Saint Brom motions left for right, snapt off play action pass setting up quick throw, picked off across the middle by Gardak at the forty and he's tackled at the thirty.

Three.

Oh brother Dennis Gardak comes up with a pick. It sets the Cardinals up midway through the third quarter. Gonna have the ball in plus territory.

What might youhge play by Dennis Gardak dropping back into his own room and making the pick. Oh, that is big time by the Barbarian. What is good Dennis Gardak?

By the way, Dennis Kardak having a heck of a start to the twenty twenty four regular season his second career interception on Sunday, and fortunately though the Cardinals is not able to capitalize on that turnover, as they turned it over on downs their midway through the third quarters. We say welcome back. It is the Cardinals, Red seaer Port, Craig Reiolu, Paul Calvici and Rod Frederickson turning our attention rob to the side of the ball that you dominated for so many years, and that is the defense and the fact that the defense in the second half, What are you smiling about? What he's murring about?

He crushed it.

Man, Gotta give you your promise because you won't, so I'll dude for you. Cardinals. Though in that second half they pitched a shutout, no points over seven possessions, only eight first downs, one third down convert, and of course it was the last third down converted that kept the Lions on the football field. But I digress, but just what that defense in the third and fourth quarters were able to do to give the offense opportunity upon opportunity upon opportunity.

Yeah, and I think that was really the game within the game. The halftime adjustments by rollis to come out in that second half defensively and really shut down Detroit. They scored twenty points in the first half, didn't score another point in the second half. And you think in this league, if you hold a team to twenty points, you should win that game. And the Cardinals did have opportunities. The defense in the second half afforded the Arizona Cardinals offense offense to really have those opportunities. And you highlighted the guard deck interception. You know, he continues to make plays. He always does. The linebacking crew, I mean, Kaizer White, Mack Wilson, those guys flash, those guys are everywhere. Buddha Baker, I mean, he's playing with his hair on fire this year, lights out. So you know there's some there's some good positive takeaways defensively when you look back at this film and look back at this game. So moving moving on to Washington, another high powered offense that's coming in here, they're going to have their hands full, but you gotta you gotta feel good about where the defense is right now.

Yeah, no one will say it, but I still think it's my theory. I contend that Buddha Baker has been unlocked this year. They're using them more in a Troy Polamalo role than ever before. We'll see, we'll get to the bottom of this for you. Craig over here, Okay, the IT team, we got an investigation out there, but I think he's using his instincts more than ever. Speaking of Dennis Gardak, who just turned thirty, he had a great explanation on Friday going into the game that over the course of his career he's not at the point where he has a tool belt instead of a tool box. In his explanation, right, he tries to go football one oh one for us media simpletons over there, Rob And here was his explanation that earlier in his career he had certain skill sets, different tools, but he'd have to use him one at a time, so they were in a tool box maybe on the sideline. He'd come back makes some adjustments. Now he has all his tools on the belt, so if he's on a pass rush and the on line shuts down one. He reaches for the next tool and he uses a different so he's got different things that he can now go to on the fly, and it makes them more of a barbarian than ever.

Well, if he's batman with all with his tool belt, you must be robbing, Paul.

Okay, that's it, that's it. You know what I'm done. I'm done here. That was well played there, rob Yeah, the two belt versus the tool box the Cardinals in that second half, I'll tell you who's the tool around. I was gonna open up that door and I was like, you know, I'll just let it slide you. You walked in very well, Paul. The second half. What the head coach liked about his defense?

I thought they battled and gave us a chance, you know what I mean, And that game could have got out of hand if they're not psychologically prepped the right way, and I think they had showed me that they were that first time we've been down at half, right, and okay, what are you gonna do about it?

You know?

I thought that we made some adjustments, which they executed the adjustments, and then we had guys make a bunch of plays, you know what I mean. So that was really good to see. That was one of the things I was enthusia about last night watching it was we responded the right way. That's typically the sign of a good unit.

And that's a good Lions team as far as the ability to move the football and get into the end zone. And it's a bit of a little bit of a slow start for the Lions as far as scoring points. But they've got they've got playmakers, quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tied end. Although Sam Laporter carted off that carted off the field in the first half in that game. But this is a I think we've gotten now answers in each of the last two weeks, rob about the questions we had about this defense. Could they stop teams, could they get to the quarterback? Could they give the offense opportunities to win games? In the last two weeks they.

Did, Yeah they did.

And you know, you look at look back to Buffalo game, right, there's a really good offensive line and last week against Detroit, really good offensive line, and the Cardinals struggled defensively up front to stop that run. They really did, and and so that's something moving forward that we're gonna have to keep an eye on and and see where that goes. But you know, the Rams were beat up offensive offensive line, and the Cardinals showed up and did a good job. But against these good offensive lines right now, the Arizona Cardinals defensive line is is kind of kind of struggling a little bit, you know, staying stuck on blocks and you're getting pushed a little bit back. You know, it's it's it's certainly an area of concern. But outside of that, again, you know, they they bent, but they didn't break, especially in that second half.

And you heard Jonathan Gannon what he said at halftime. He basically challenged the team, first time you've been trailing at the half, All right, what are you going to do about it?

Defense?

Us responded in that second half, right, I mean in that second half the Lions went punt interception, you turn over the ball and downs punt, punt, punt, end of the game. So they came out. Dante Stills, for example, he was sort of the embodiment of that. He was deactivated the week before, came out. He bawled out in that game at a sack at a big stop on a third down. So okay, you know, I think this coach staff does a real good job of not only motivating these players, but then giving them the tools, giving them the analysis off their film and how to get better and how to get more playing time.

So what did we learn about the defense not only on Sunday, but so far through three weeks. Here's Dennis Gardek.

We've shown that we're competitors regardless of anything else. We're gonna fight with you to the very end. We've kind of put our calling card as our our motive play. JG always talks about we're fast, physical, we're smart football players. So I think that's what we're going to hang our hat on and that's what's going to carry us for the season.

And now you just hope that there's some good news with Justin Jones Kyrie's Tonga. Going back to your point, Rob about the defensive line and how maybe they get pushed back against solid offensive line fronts. Buffalo, Detroit, Washington has shown that they are capable of running the football at least through three weeks. But that is where that's where this defense. I think that's the next step as far as being a little bit more consistent stopping the run. Did it against the Rams, but to your point, they were banged up. Can you do it against a healthy offensive front?

Yeah?

And as Gardex said, you know, you know you're always going to get effort from this team, from this defense in particular, and you can go back to last year, there was always effort given by this defense. The question, you know, really where they're at now though relative to last year is I think there's there's it's a better roster, there's more talent on the defensive side. Again though the defensive line, that's the area where the improvement has to come if they're going to be on the other side of these heavyweight bouts.

And there were two big third downs third and twelve after the two minute tobaccle where the official screwed that up, where Jamar Gibbs had a fourteen yard run on third and twelve at the end of the half which led to that final hooking ladder touchdown. And then there was the third and eleven Cardinals trying to get the ball back at the two minute warning in the second half and the big completion I'm on Ross Saint Brown where Jared Goff had plenty of time and maybe there was a coverage breakdown right there. So those were two big plays. I think we're learning moments for the Cardinals defense as well as the defense played.

There's but and it's the end of the first half and how the game ended. Defense not able to get off the football field, and that is something that will be worked on this week. Offensive coordinator Drew Petsing. He is the guest of episodes seventy nine of the day Patch podcast. It is available via Apple podcast, Spotify, and the Cardinals official YouTube page. This is the Arizona Cardinals radio network. It is fourth and ten.

A minute, in eighteen seconds to go, the Cardinals with a one point lead.

The snap towards to throw, He looks, he throws down the middle of the field. It's in complete and you can turn off the lights.

The Cardinals are gonna win it, and let's home for twan since into Arizona Wins on Tuesdays. Serve Kwame lawsoner guarding Albert Connell and the Cardinals are.

Gonna put off the upset.

They played an exceptional football game.

Fredrickson got a fingertip on that ball, John and that's what knocked it away from Connell.

That's all she wrote.

So now we know why State Farm Stadium exists. It's because of you, Rob Fredrickson. That's right, Okay, I just want to make sure I take full credit.

I got that stadium bill. I take full credit for that.

Do you have like a lifetime black Amex card that gets you access to any and all events wherever you want to go? I mean, you know, anybody should have all access. It should be the guy responsible for the building.

I think they can find me to the press box. They don't. They don't want me to strumming around.

That is in the wayback machine. November fifth, two thousand Cardinals beating Washington sixteen to fifteen. And yes, as you heard Tom Dylan say, two days later, voters approving Prop three to zero two, which led to the way for State Farm Stadium to be built. So again, congratulations. We owe everything to Rob Frederickson.

So when there's climate control, okay, this Sunday, all right, it's over one hundred degrees and we have ac you know, Rob, thank you. I think it's the first time in the history of show up actually said thank you and appreciate it. And I even look past the slight the insult earlier moments ago, and I still offer a debt of gratitude.

Oh you know what, It's okay, Paul, you know, I do what I can do.

For the people.

That's right, the people. For the people. Yes, yeah, you know.

I want to give them a good environ to watch the Cardinals. Sunday.

Rob is all about the people. Speaking of Sunday, Washington back in town State Farm Stadium, the house that Rob built. One oh five is the kickoff eight thirty Pregame coverage begins on the Arizona Cardinals radio network. And this Washington team two and one, coming off a big time win on Monday Night football, a road win at Cincinnati thirty eight to thirty three, head coach Dan Quinn making the news or making the announcement after the game that they are going to be headed to Arizona after that. So they're already here, going to practice in temp at Arizona State. So plenty of homecomings this week, including for quarterback Jadon Daniels, who got his college start at ASU before heading to LSU or he won the Heisman Trophy and Daniels last night twenty one of twenty three for two hundred and fifty four yards two touchdowns plus a rushing touchdown set the single game rookie completion mark ninety one percent. Daniels postgame last night.

I mean yeah, yes and no. Yes, because obviously it's something new to me as I continue to join my rookie year, but also just knowing the aspect, No, I put in the work and was done in the dark, Whilay's coming to light. So I just know I'm prepared for these moments week in and week out. I'm just gonna go out there and play football.

I sq Commanders are two and one with offensive coordinator Cliff Kingsbury running that offense.

Yeah, so you know the Commanders coming out to Arizona after their game to a couple of things. I think working in the Arizona Cardinals favor on this. First of all, you get the Commanders on a short week, right, they get Monday night football, so they don't have enough the extra day to prepare and to get healthy. And secondly, anytime you take players out of their routine, out of the facility where they're used to practicing, where they're used to getting their their treatments done, where they're used to just lifting weights and doing all those things, players don't like that. They don't like being in their routine. And I'd go so far as to to say that when you look back at at all the teams that do these type of things that go travel, Cardinals used to do that, they used to go to some some resort in Greenbrier, it doesn't ever seem to work out for the team that does that. It really doesn't. And so you know, I don't know, maybe I'm maybe I'm speculating here, but I just think this bodes well for the Arizona Cardinals.

Here's the other thing I'll throw out there, Dan Quinn, are you aware of the National Weather Service forecast or Phoenix? There is a bubble no Wednesday high one eleven, Thursday one oh nine, Friday one eleven, Saturday one twelve. So yes, I'm guessing you will be in the bubble. But ASU was also practicing.

They're actually there's there in the bye week. Also, I think I think it. I think it works well, okay as far as scheduling and facility availabil.

So that means Jane Daniels won't have that awkward moment when he sees all his former ASU peeps that he transferred away from so okay, all right, that that works very well. Then I guess for Washington schedule wise.

Yeah, as I mentioned homecomings, Cliff Kingsbury, head coach for four years, Zach Ertz tight end had a big catch last night on fourth down. So yeah, this Commander's team is playing well. Cardinals, well, they've been kind of up and down. Head coach Jonathan Gannett wants more consistency.

You're just looking for consistency, you know what I mean. And that's why there's a lot of things that we have to do a better job of to put us in better position to win. It's just a couple plays here and there of consistency. And I know that's why I'm enthused because I know we can do it.

I think a lot of people Paul going into the season looked at week four and so, all right, Washington still kind of relatively young new head coach, although it's the second time Dan Quinn has been a head coach. You've got a rookie quarterback. But this Commander's team from week one to week two to week three, I mean, it was all Daniels in week one running the football. They kicked a bunch of field goals, in week two and then last night exploding for thirty eight point and now all of a sudden, there is a lot of talk, a lot of buzz with this Washington Commanders team.

They haven't punted in two games, no turnovers. They had seven field goals and seventh possessions two weeks ago, and that win against the Giants, and then against Cincinnati last night four touchdowns, a field goal and another touchdown. So hello, now, can I be a Tuesday morning quarterback here off Monday night football? Of course, lou ANORUMO, what are you doing? What is the kryptonite to Cliff Kingsbury? It's the shell coverage, the two high safeties. How is Terry McLaurin getting behind your defense twice in single coverage? What are you doing? Hasn't it been proven that you have to force a Cliff Kingsbury offense to deal with that too high shell coverage make them go twelve, thirteen to fifteen plays down the field because they're more apped to go east west than north south. And so I just thought that was a critical error by the Bengals defense.

Well, I think the Cardinals this week will be brushing up on their our wide receiver screen defense just to be ready for that. I think we might see a steady dose of that come Sunday.

And think about it.

Buddha Baker and Jalen Thompson and Dennis Gardek. I mean, they know that offense really well. Kyler Murray knows that offense better than anyone. We joked on the Head Coaches TV Show this week, Nick Rowlis, you want to bring Kyler in for an extended coffee, you download some info there as to the scheme. And then the other thing is Jaydon Daniels does not hesitate to run it. He doesn't hesitate to run it straight up the field and take some hollacious hits. I mean one in the same name of RG three is going on if you're gonna subject him to that sort of physical beating.

So far, so good, But how risky is that?

Because he's run it more than any quarterback in the NFL thirty eight.

Carries for Jayde Daniels. That's better than ten a game so far this season. Now, defensively for the Commanders, they are not very good. It's the first year defensive coordinator for Joe Witt, and this is a team right now that's twenty nine and scoring they rank near the bottom and total yards passing yards allowed. Well, you talk about the Cardinals the ability to run, get that run game going, This Commander's team allows better than five yards a rushing attempt. So perhaps this is the week that you can get that ground game going on a more consistent basis.

Yeah, and you look at the Commander's defensive line and it's just first rounder after first rounder. I mean, they must be underachieving because the talent is there, it's just they just haven't put it together. And so you know, hopefully the Cardinals take advantage of that.

I mean Deron Paige, Jonathan Allen Cleveland Farrell right, a former number four pick overall. Dante Fowler Junior. On the other side, he's a former first round pick. They went after Jeruson Newton High second round. So to Rob's point, it figures to be another test for the Cardinals offensive line.

One oh five is the kickoff on Sunday at the stadium that Rob Frederickson built, otherwise known as State Farm Stadium. Eight thirty pre game covers begins on the Arizon a car Cadinals radio network. You want to be their Sunday single game tickets available good Ezycardinals dot Com Forward Slash by Ticket special Thanks behind the scenes, Jim Momhundro, Cody Fincher, Matt Lezareth for Rod Frederickson, punk OUTVC. I'm Craig Real Louis will talk to you in one week's time. It's the Cardinals Red Sea Report on the Arizona Cardinals Radio Network.

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