Cardinals Cover 2

Ep. 844 - It’s something Jonathan Gannon says all the time. And based on what we saw during the divisional round of the playoffs, the head coach is right. The ball matters. Specifically, taking the ball away and protecting the ball. Turnover margin is important, and it’s a big reason for the success of the four teams - Commanders, Eagles, Bills, and Chiefs - remaining in the postseason. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss how the Cardinals fared in 2024 regarding takeaways and giveaways and how they might improve their numbers. Also, the guys give their thoughts on Championship Sunday, Drew Petzing not landing the Bears head coaching job and review the season’s top plays; both offense, defense and special teams.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 843 - Let’s start with the most important question: How is everyone’s German? That’s right. German. There is a chance, based on an announcement from the league earlier on Wednesday, that the Cardinals play a regular season game in Berlin. Again, a chance. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi are both big fans of a potential trip to Germany. They discuss why the Cardinals would be an attractive option. They then dive into the offseason, one that will be full of questions. They pick out some of the biggest questions they have that they hope GM Monti Ossenfort provides an answer; from the interior of the offensive line, the wide receiver room, and, of course, the pass rush. Also, they look ahead to this weekend’s Divisional Round of the playoffs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 842 - It’s award season, and well, we didn’t want to feel left out. It’s time for the 2024 Cardinals Awards, as voted by our 13-person panel. Craig Grialou is joined by both Dani Sureck and Zach Gershman to break down the results. Some winners are more obvious than others; Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, while not unanimous, did produce the most clear-cut choices. Other winners faced tougher competition, most notably Newcomer of the Year, Beyond the Box Score Player of the Year and Player of the Year. And as far as Most Valuable Cardinal? All three - Craig, Dani, and Zach - agree it’s James Conner. Do you agree? Do you disagree? All results have been posted on azcardinals.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 841 - It’s been three days since the regular season ended. So, yeah, the offseason has arrived. And after a brief conversation about Dani Sureck’s cryptic post on social media Wednesday afternoon (really, a tease to some exciting new content), she and Craig Grialou discuss, what else, their biggest takeaways from 2024. More specifically, however, what did they learn from 2024; be it about a player, a position group or maybe something completely different. Plus, even though the Cardinals aren’t participating in postseason football, Craig and Dani look ahead to the six playoff games scheduled for Wild Card Weekend. Is it the best two days - two-plus days - on the NFL calendar?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 840 - Beat a division foe. Sweep the season series. Send the fans home happy. That’s what the Cardinals accomplished in Week 18. And no, the goal of making the playoffs was not reached, but a 47-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers is a decent consolation prize. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi discuss what happened on Sunday; from Kyler Murray’s four touchdown passes, the improved play of Marvin Harrison Jr., the career-year by Trey McBride to a defense that fought - literally in fact - and forced three takeaways. They guys also begin to look ahead to the offseason, what potential moves might be made; Kelvin Beachum’s future with the team; and react to Drew Petzing reportedly being a candidate for the head coaching job with the Chicago Bears.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 839 - It is the last Football Friday of the 2024 season. So, how do you want to go out? How do you want to be remembered? With a win, of course. The Cardinals will look to do just that on Sunday. They host the San Francisco 49ers in the regular-season finale. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss why a win in Week 18 matters to the coaches and to the players, and why it should matter to the fans. Plus, as the guys have done all season, they head into enemy territory. Lindsey Pallares, team reporter for 49ers.com, joins the show. The 49ers are coming off a short week; they’re banged up; and they’ll be quarterbacked by a familiar face, Joshua Dobbs, who was QB1 for eight games just last season as the Cardinals waited for the return of a healthy Kyler Murray.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 838 - On this first day of 2025, the focus remains on 2024, at least in terms of the football season. Yes, the calendar has flipped to the *new* year, but there remains one more game to be played before the *new* season can be discussed. With that said, however, Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck talk about what they’d like to see in the regular-season finale that may carryover to next season, i.e., the chemistry between Kyler Murray and his wide receivers (namely Marvin Harrison Jr.). Also, Craig and Dani react to the breaking news that James Conner will not play against the San Francisco 49ers, and what that may mean for Michael Carter and the rest of the running back room. Plus, will the Cardinals see a familiar face as QB1 for the Niners? Will it be Joshua Dobbs against his former team?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 837 - Heart-breaking. There’s no other way to describe it. The win was there until it wasn’t. And that’s been the story of the Arizona Cardinals’ season more times than not in 2024. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi, aka Paulie Play-By-Play, look back at the 13-9 loss on Saturday night in Los Angeles. For much of the game, the offense looked good; in fact, the numbers said as much. Defensively, the same thing. The Cardinals played well enough to win, but the only thing that matters in sports is did you score more points than your opponent. The Cardinals did not. The guys discuss everything. Plus, Paul hands out his weekly Angry Bird Award; and this week, it goes to a player who stepped up his game in the absence of his teammate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 836 - So, the stakes are not as high as we all had hoped, but there is still plenty on the line coming up on Saturday night in Los Angeles. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman look ahead to the Week 17 matchup against the Rams, an opponent the Cardinals have not seen since early September. A lot has changed since then, which is discussed when Jourdan Rodrigue joins the show, as she did ahead of Week 2. Rodrigue covers the Rams for The Athletic. Before that conversation, though, Craig and Zach have a conversation about where the Cardinals are at, coming off the loss at Carolina that eliminated them from playoff contention; what can still be accomplished over the final two games; plus, who is and who isn’t available to play this weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 835 - And that’s the sad reality, unfortunately. Losing at Carolina plus the Rams winning at the New York Jets equaled playoff elimination for the Cardinals. So, what happened? How did the Cardinals fall to a three-win team (at the time) in a got-to-have-it game? Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi discuss the 36-30 defeat to the Panthers in overtime. Yes, injuries were a factor; too many penalties, especially at the start of the game; the run defense was not great. The Cardinals dug themselves a 17-point hole halfway through the second quarter before digging themselves out thanks to James Conner (before he got hurt; Conner, by the way, earned Paul’s Angry Bird Award) and the right leg of Chad Ryland. And now, with two games left, the Cardinals are forced to play the role of spoiler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 834 - The Cardinals took care of business last week, beating a three-win opponent. They face another three-win opponent this week. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman, before he heads to the airport to join the team on its flight to Carolina, discuss the game against the Panthers coming up on Sunday. What are the key matchups? What must the Cardinals do in order to win to help keep their playoff hopes alive? (Spoiler alert: run the football.) Also, they are joined by Darin Gantt, senior writer for panthers-dot-com, as they head into enemy territory ahead of Week 16. Before any of those conversations, however, Craig and Zach react to the injury report: two starters and two key backups will not play in the game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 833 - One of the bigger questions this offseason has been answered in-season: Budda Baker isn’t going anywhere. He and the Cardinals reached agreement on a three-year contract extension, keeping him in Arizona through the 2027 season. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck react to the news. They then discuss why the team rewarded the player, and maybe more importantly, the person; what the extension says about where the team is headed; and what GM Monti Ossenfort is building after extensions to Baker, James Conner, Hjalte Froholdt and Zaven Collins. Plus, Craig and Dani go over the roster moves made on Wednesday and wonder if it’s too early in the week to worry about Paris Johnson Jr. missing Wednesday’s practice because of a knee injury.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 832 - It was a much-needed win on Sunday. No, it wasn’t perfect. But thanks to the play of James Conner and Trey McBride, the Cardinals “stayed relevant” in the playoff hunt, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. And let’s not forget the defense. In fact, that’s where Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck begin their discussion when looking back at the 30-17 victory over the New England Patriots. The defense played well despite losing Mack Wilson Sr. and Jesse Luketa five plays into the first quarter; a number of players stepped up in their absence. And, yes, the Cardinals got lucky - and there’s nothing wrong with that - from an interception that wasn’t to a fumble that turned into a touchdown, for a second time this season. Playoff football remains a very real possibility.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 831 - No, a win doesn’t clinch a spot in the playoffs. But if the Cardinals want to keep their postseason hopes alive, then they need to win on Sunday. They need to beat the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman look ahead to the matchup in Week 15; what it’s going to take to get past the Patriots, get back in the win column and get those positive vibes back around the team. The guys also head into enemy territory and speak with ESPN’s Mike Reiss; long-time Patriots beat writer. Before that conversation, though, a conversation on how the San Francisco 49ers did the Cardinals no favors on Thursday Night Football.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 830 - Hey, it’s just a suggestion. But it is an aspect of the Cardinals offense that, in recent weeks, appears to be missing; at least to both Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck. That’s the main topic of discussion on Wednesday’s show; what if Kyler Murray were to have more rushing attempts, might that help spark the offense? The Cardinals are searching for answers in the midst of a season-long three-game losing streak. Also, Craig and Dani look ahead to this week’s game against the New England Patriots, focusing on rookie quarterback Drake Maye; who’s punting on Sunday, given the injury to Blake Gillikin; and rookie offensive lineman Isaiah Adams is the team’s new starting right guard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 829 - So much was on the line Sunday. And so much was lost. No, the season isn’t over. The playoffs are still very much in the picture. It’s just now the road to get there has become a lot more difficult to travel for the Arizona Cardinals. They no longer control their own destiny. So, what happened? Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi look back at the 30-18 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks; turnovers were an issue; couldn’t stop the run; and it’s never good when your kicker is needed to punt, shout-out Chad Ryland. Another player deserving of some praise, safety Budda Baker. He earned Paul’s weekly Angry Bird Award after a career-high 18 tackles, including eight solo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 828 - The stakes could not be any higher. Win, and the Cardinals are back in first place in the NFC West; more importantly, they control their own destiny the rest of the way. Lose, and the road to postseason football becomes a lot more difficult. Plus, it’s the Seahawks, and who doesn’t enjoy beating the Seahawks? Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss the matchup coming up on Sunday at State Farm Stadium; why the Cardinals need to win and what they need to do in order to win (hint: all the things they didn’t do in the first meeting two weeks ago.) Plus, the guys head into enemy territory. For the second time this season, they speak with John Boyle, senior reporter for seahawks-dot-com, to get his thoughts on the rematch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 827 - Two games. Two winnable games. Yet, the Cardinals were on the short end against both the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings. So, what must change to change the outcome this week? Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi offer their thoughts, whether it’s finishing in the red zone or the defense finishing by getting off the field. The one big difference this week: the Cardinals are home; it’s the first time in nearly a full calendar month. Also, the guys spotlight the team’s two first-round draft picks, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. - were the expectations too high coming into the season? - and defensive lineman Darius Robison, who may be in for a larger role this week after making his season debut in Minnesota.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 826 - Six times; more times than any other game this season. Six times the offense reached the red zone, yet only one time did the trip result in a touchdown. That’s not good enough. And that’s why, at least a big reason why, Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck are discussing a loss rather than a win. The two look back at Sunday’s 23-22 loss; the offensive struggles near the goal line, the inability to throw the ball downfield with any consistency, all the penalties at what seemed like all the wrong times. There is also talk of a defense that played well until they didn’t; how did Darius Robinson look in his debut; and what more can be said about the play of Mack Wilson Sr., this week’s winner of the Angry Bird Award.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 825 - The number is seven. There are seven coaches, including the head coach and both the offensive and defensive coordinators, who have ties to the Minnesota Vikings organization. Will that mean anything on Sunday? Maybe. Maybe not. There’s also a handful of Vikings personnel who have ties to the Cardinals as Craig Grialou and Darren Urban discuss on the show. Their conversation, though, begins with whether or not this is the week rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson makes his debut. It certainly sounds like Week 13 is the week, finally. Plus, Craig and Darren head into enemy territory. They speak with long-time NFL writer Kevin Seifert. He covers the Vikings for ESPN.com and gives his perspective on the matchup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.