Cardinals Cover 2

Ep. 773 - Fans ran to their seats at State Farm Stadium to get their first glimpse of the 2024 Arizona Cardinals on Thursday. And those in attendance did not leave disappointed. Kyler Murray throwing to Marvin Harrison Jr. was the highlight of the first open practice of training camp. Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch each made nice grabs; rookie tight end Tip Reiman stood out; and things did get a little heated, albeit briefly, between the offense and defense during 11-on-11. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman have all the details, including a review of the first-team offense and defense. They also discuss the importance of the quarterback-center communication and the competition to be QB2.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 772 - Day 1 is in the books. After reporting on Tuesday, coaches and players hit the field at State Farm Stadium on Wednesday for just over an hour to kickoff training camp. First impressions? Glad you asked. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss what they saw; Kyler Murray being a participant is a nice change of pace from a year ago at this time. Also, they discuss what they heard; Budda Baker addressed the team the night before practice, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Baker set the tone as James Conner put it. In addition, the competition fans should expect to see - at running back, wide receiver, and cornerback to name a handful of positions - when they head out to the stadium. The first open practice is Thursday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 771 - A healthy Kyler Murray. Adding a true No. 1 wide receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. Which one -- or is it both of them -- is the biggest storyline on offense? Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi debate on the day before coaches and players report to State Farm Stadium for the start of training camp. That’s right, the offseason is over. Regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, this much is certain: there is a lot to be excited about concerning the offensive side of the ball, especially considering how that unit finished last season. By the way, in addition to the top storyline, the guys discuss the No. 1 position battle, player most excited to see: newcomer, and player most excited to see: returner.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 770 - New faces. Familiar faces. How are they all going to fit together? And more importantly, how are they all going to improve a unit that struggled for much of last season? Second-year defensive coordinator Nick Rallis saw additions, whether in free agency or the draft, made at all three levels in the offseason. Also, there should be a natural jump from Year 1 to Year 2 with the players who are returning. So, with one week to go before the start of training camp, Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck spotlight the defense; the top storyline, No. 1 position battle, position group with the most intrigue, player most excited to see: newcomer, and player most excited to see: returner. Feel free to agree, or disagree, with their takes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 769 - It is a much, much different looking team in the Pacific Northwest. For the first time in 14 years someone other than Pete Carroll will be the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. The Mike Macdonald era is underway. On Monday’s show, Craig Grialou is joined by John Boyle, senior reporter for seahawks.com, to discuss all things Seahawks. Topics included his first impressions of Macdonald; how the defense may look a little (or a lot) different, especially without long-time linebacker Bobby Wagner in the middle of the field; offensively, is Geno Smith still QB1; how much longer will wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett share the same field; and the offensive line underwent a major overhaul in the offseason, highlighted by the loss of center Evan Brown, who is now playing for the Cardinals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 768 - No Aaron Donald, no problem. Or is it a big problem? It was a big deal when long-time Rams defensive lineman - and long-time thorn in the Cardinals’ side - Aaron Donald announced his retirement. So how do the Los Angeles Rams and the Rams defense adjust? Who is going to be asked to step up their game(s)? All questions Craig Grialou posed to Stu Jackson on Monday’s show. Jackson is the senior staff writer for therams.com. Besides the Donald conversation, other topics discussed included new defensive coordinator Chris Shula; quarterback Matthew Stafford not being happy with his contract; the running game with Kyren Williams and third-round pick Blake Corum; plus what does wide receiver Puka Nacua do for an encore after a record-setting rookie season?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 767 - According to many, they are the team to beat in the NFC West. They’ve won the division in each of the past two seasons, and the roster – at least on paper – looks every bit as good once again. Of course, we’re talking about the San Francisco 49ers. Craig Grialou is joined by Lindsey Pallares, team reporter for 49ers.com, to discuss all things 49ers. Topics included quarterback Brock Purdy enjoying a healthy offseason (very similar to Kyler Murray); running back Christian McCaffrey showing no signs of slowing down (not good news for Cardinals fans); and for the third time in as many seasons the defense will be under the direction of a new coordinator, though defensive end Nick Bosa remains and the team signed Leonard Floyd (10.5 sacks last season with the Bills).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 766 - On this, National Mascot Day (yes, it’s a thing; shout-out to Big Red), Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi discuss where they think the roster has most improved since the end of last season. They take into account free agency and the draft as well as other roster additions. On offense, the guys singled out wide receiver; the selection of Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick, the free-agent signings of Zay Jones and Chris Moore, plus Year 2 of Michael Wilson. Might Greg Dortch be a candidate for breakout player of the year? On defense, no position room underwent a bigger makeover than d-line with five new names while cornerback added four new faces. Both positions are expected to see significant improvement this season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 765 - Yes, Marvin Harrison Jr. is talented. Very talented. And as we found out this week, he’s also perspicacious. (Show of hands who knew what that word meant - or even knew it existed - before Michael Wilson used it to describe his new teammate?) Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss their lack of vocabulary, at least compared to Wilson’s; plus, they give their thoughts on what they heard from MHJ when he met the media this week; how he’s fitting in; the relationship between him and his fellow rookies; what his presence means for the offense as well as what his teammates have had to say about him. Also, the guys review Flight Plan: Stick & Pick and promote Zach’s story on the new kickoff rule, from the players’ perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 764 - The season doesn’t kickoff for another three months, but if Kyler Murray had his way, then the Cardinals would be playing a game tomorrow. At least that was the vibe K1 gave on Wednesday when he met with the media for the first time since the season finale against the Seahawks. First and foremost, Murray is healthy. Also, he’s excited about the changes the team made in the offseason, none bigger than the drafting of Marvin Harrison Jr. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss what they saw and heard from Murray, who acknowledged he’s in a much better place than a year ago at this time. Murray also had nothing but good things to say about both Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch; the latter of whom was brought up - unprompted - by the head coach earlier in the day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 763 - It didn’t happen a year ago. And before 2023, it was all the way back in 2015 - eight years earlier - in which a Cardinals team did not have a player record at least 10 sacks in a single season. BJ Ojulari, and the rest of the Cardinals outside linebackers, want to make double-digit sack-seasons a yearly occurrence. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi discuss the expectations for Ojulari, who on Monday explained why he’s wearing No. 9 rather than 18. Plus, Budda Baker wants to be a Cardinal beyond this season; long-time special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers predicts a big increase in kickoff returns; the joint practices against the Colts in Indianapolis will be at night; and the final week of OTAs brought the heat, quite literally the heat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 762 - A top-5 run game a year ago, yet listening to several players talk this offseason, the Cardinals expect to be much better in 2024. Collectively and individually, especially when it comes to James Conner. The offensive linemen have a goal, a goal Paris Johnson Jr. shared with reporters this week. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman reveal the goal as well as discuss the goal Paris has for himself plus the type of leadership Paris hopes to bring to the team. Also, it’s Week 2 of OTAs which brought some clarity when it comes to the role(s) both Cameron Thomas and Evan Brown are expected to have this season. And speaking of this season, the new kickoff rule - what will it look like? Zach got a glimpse of it during the open portion of practice on Tuesday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 761 - Size. Speed. Trey Benson has both. The Cardinals rookie running back recently stopped by to talk with Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck. The three discuss Benson’s draft-day phone call(s); how fast he really is; meeting now teammate Michael Carter ahead of the draft; learning special teams; and why he’s wearing No. 33. Benson is expected to have a big role this season. The same can be said for several of the team’s draft picks. Craig and Dani look at one projection; from how many rushing and receiving yards for Benson and Marvin Harrison Jr., respectively, to how well Max Melton and Darius Robinson will do defensively. Plus, some more observations - and that’s all they are - from the first week of organized team activities, or OTAs for short.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 760 - What had been speculated became official on Monday: Paris Johnson Jr. is moving to left tackle. And really, it makes sense. For starters, it’s the position Johnson Jr. played in college. Also, Jonah Williams, who the Cardinals signed to a big-money free-agent contract this offseason, played a solid right tackle a year ago for the Cincinnati Bengals. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi discuss the news on what was the first day of Phase 3 of the offseason strength and condition program. Other topics the guys dove into included the addition of Zay Jones to the wide receiver room; how Kyler Murray is spending time with his teammates away from the facility; joint practices will be held against the Indianapolis Colts ahead of the second preseason game; and the weekend-retirement announcement by former Cardinals running back David Johnson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 759 - It’s out. The Arizona Cardinals schedule has been released. The who and the where have been known for months, but now we know the order in which the Cardinals will play their 17 regular-season games. Craig Grialou, Dani Sureck and Paul Calvisi have their thoughts, i.e., the tough stretch to begin the season, three straight weeks with a home game, no back-to-back east coast trips, and division matchups in four of the final seven games. Plus, the Cardinals received one primetime game; their bye week is Week 11 – a little earlier than the previous two seasons; and they have five early kickoffs, including three at 10 a.m. There is no international game as well as no game on Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. So, who’s ready for the season?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 758 - People call him Rabbit, so Rabbit it is. A nickname he earned as a kid, Rabbit – given name Dadrion Taylor-Demerson – was the Cardinals’ fourth-round draft pick. He’s got a lot of personality which was on full display when he joined Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck following rookie minicamp. Rabbit talked about his name, his position versatility, being teammates with Budda Baker, what he hopes to accomplish in his first season and so much more. It is easy to see why the Cardinals selected the former Texas Tech safety early in Day 3 of the NFL Draft. But before that conversation, Craig and Dani discussed the newest addition to the team, wide receiver Zay Jones. He signed a one-year contract, providing another veteran presence in what is now a very crowded position room.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 757 - And now the work begins. Rookies arrived on Thursday. They practiced on Friday. Minicamp is underway for the 12-member draft class, three undrafted free agents and one tryout player – welcome former Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. So, how did everyone look in their first on-field work in the NFL? Good question. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss what they saw; and to be honest, it wasn’t much; practice – the portion that was opened to the media – was more of a walk-through. Still, Marvin Harrison Jr. looked good, rocking his No. 18 uniform, and Darius Robinson looked every bit of 6-5, 285. Plus, Kyler Murray and several of his teammates are in Oklahoma, bonding over playoff basketball, Sooners baseball and Murray’s on-campus statue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reading about and listening to Darius Robinson, it's very clear the man loves the game of football. The second of the Cardinals’ two first-round draft picks, Robinson and the rest of the 2024 draft class arrive this week and they will be on the field on Friday for the start of rookie minicamp. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss where Robinson will play, or at least where he will initially line up along the defensive line. They then hear from Robinson, who joined Grialou and Paul Calvisi following his introductory press conference. Plus, news on what numbers some of these rookies like Robinson and Marvin Harrison Jr., will be wearing and the first roster addition post-draft is a special teams standout who adds depth at linebacker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 755 - Expectations are high for Marvin Harrison Jr., but not any higher than the expectations he has for himself. As he told Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi, when you have the name ‘Harrison Jr.’ on the back of your uniform, expectations will always be high. Hear the full interview with the Cardinals’ first-round draft pick as he joined the guys following his introductory press conference. Harrison Jr. and the rest of the 12-player draft class will be on the field later this week for rookie minicamp. And Harrison Jr. won’t be the only new wide receiver in action for the first time. The Cardinals selected Tejhaun Palmer out of Alabama-Birmingham in the sixth round and added Colorado’s Xavier Weaver as an undrafted free agent; a pair of intriguing prospects who will be given every opportunity to earn a spot in what is a crowded wide receiver room.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 754 - After hearing from both the GM and the head coach, it’s now time to hear from the coordinators. Drew Petzing and Nick Rallis, the offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively, addressed the media over the past two days. Their thoughts on not only the 12 draft picks but also the players added in free agency. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss what stood out; from Rallis’ excitement about cornerback Elijah Jones, linebacker Mack Wilson and the veteran leadership in defensive linemen Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols to Petzing looking forward to seeing wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., running back Trey Benson and tight end Tip Reiman on the field to really get a sense of what they can do. Also, some Zaven Collins talk; his fifth-year option was not exercised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.