Well that was a dramatic win. But now it's a short week before hitting Miami Beach. A chance for .500 beckons. A chance to read the mailbag is here as we speak. Questions have been edited for length and clarity. Don't forget to send a question for a future mailbag with at least a first name and last initial.
From Jason B:
"I love the win, but what is the issue with the offense? Had it not been for the defense holding the Chargers to five field goals, this could have been another blowout. For years, we needed a QB. We have Kyler, then we just needed WR. Now on offense we have Harrison, Wilson, Jones, Pascal, Weaver, Conners, McBride, Higgins, Reiman, Benson, Demercado and we seem to not be able to score points. Are they forcing an offense that doesn't fit our personnel or are we really this bad at putting points on the board?"
I received a lot of questions that were some version of this (sorry if yours was not picked; Jason's will serve as your proxy). I think until the passing game can find a rhythm it is going to have an adverse effect. Everyone is trying to figure out why the team can't find something with Harrison. That was supposed to unlock the passing game and instead it seems to have made it more complicated. Harrison's learning curve is more steep than expected. I'll also say that, in the case of Monday night, they were playing a defense that was only giving up 13.2 points a game. I was not expecting an offensive explosion regardless.
From John Turilli:
"I think the No. 1 problem with our Cardinals is everyone celebrates when simply doing their job. I see celebrations when we knock down a pass, recover a punt, make a tackle etc. I just do not understand a 2-4 team motivating an opponent? When I see people congratulating James Conner on the sideline when we are losing the game? I just don't get why Gannon allows this? I would better understand if they made the sack or the pick and the game ended on that play however I see celebrating in the first quarter? All that does is motivate the other team."
Are there times when I think a player is celebrating at an odd time, like making a tackle in the fourth quarter when you are down 20? Sure. But otherwise, we're going to disagree here. For starters, the other team isn't being "motivated" by a simple celebration. Every single team does that stuff. So you can't congratulate a teammate after a good play? I'm not sure I'd want you as a teammate. Some guys are going to be act-like-you've-been-there-before like Larry Fitzgerald was. But I assure you none of the players on either team have an issue with the stuff you do.
From Michael S.:
"Darren, I saw in a mailbag that you considered putting Jake Plummer over Kyler on the Cardinals all-time list and I just can't understand it. With all respect to a great ASU QB, Plummer was a disappointment whenever I watched him with the Cards. Through 6 years he had a 31-53 record and threw 114 interceptions, which is more than the 107 touchdowns he accounted for in those 84 games, while never finishing with even 60 percent completion in a season. K1 is 30-40-1, and has 139 TDs to just 48 picks, averaging 67 percent. Don't forget being rookie of the year, a two-time Pro Bowler, and a playoff appearance. Can you please explain your thought process? And don't say 'it was a different time' because Rich Gannon won MVP in 2002 with better numbers than any 2024 QB."
I love it when people tell me how I am allowed to argue my point. Do you really want my opinion? I'll start by saying I didn't say Murray wouldn't be above him. I suggested someone might. That's what the question mark is for. Passing has taken a huge step back this season, so to compare the last 20 years (or 22) to this year I think is a mistake. I also think expectations were higher for Murray than Plummer. Would I put Murray ahead of Plummer? Yes. But to say Plummer, who took a franchise that was in a much worse place and lead them to a playoff win, has zero place in this conversation is a mistake.
From William Joeckel:
"What are your predictions for the trade deadline? Also, Budda Baker specifically keeps getting brought up in speculation. I think rightly so. We aren't a fire sale, per se, however he is older, expensive, and most importantly we do have potential replacement in DTD. What do you think will happen?"
I don't see Budda being traded. Baker said the same thing when it was brought up recently. I don't know if the Cardinals bring him back; I think in a perfect world Nick Rallis would love to employ a three-safety defense, so having Baker and Jalen Thompson and Rabbit can work. (Need to keep beefing up the front seven, which I'm sure is the plan.) Something else to keep in mind with the Budda situation -- depending on overall FA comings and goings, if Baker really were to get a big-money deal elsewhere, the Cardinals could still get a third-round comp pick out of it. As for the overall situation, I don't know what will happen. Any trade, I would think if the Cardinals brought in a player, he'd have to have long-term stability. I don't see them trading for a player in the last year of his contract.
From Mac Fidelis:
"Hi Darren, I saw that clip where you asked Kyler why is he so positive about this season still. And it was a good question, thanks for asking it, because I also recognize the difference between wishful thinking optimism, and maybe-he-knows-something-we-don't-optimism. However, I did not like that laugh he does; as if it was a silly question. Since he was replying to your question, what was your interpretation?"
It doesn't bother me. Everyone reacts in a different way. I think Kyler gave a thoughtful response to my question and he and I have a good enough relationship that I think he tries to give me a thoughtful response every time I ask a question. That's all I can ask for. The rest is just the moment and it doesn't matter to me. Much better to have that than to not but get a canned cliche response.
From Roger Gettler:
"Hi Darren. Maybe I'm in the minority, but five years into the Kyler Murray experience, I'm not confident he is an NFL quarterback. Do you see the Cardinals using a high draft pick next year to go after one of the top college QBs? Thank you for all your hard work."
To start, we are six years in. I think I know what you are getting at, but seriously, to say Kyler isn't "an NFL quarterback" is just wrong. If you want to argue he isn't on a level of a Mahomes or Allen, OK. Fair. But not only is Kyler a good NFL QB, he's around the top 10-12. Many teams would take him over who they have now. (No I don't see the Cardinals drafting a quarterback high.)
From Ben C:
"Our best two pass rushers got injured before Week 1, and our 'best' two free-agent additions on the defensive line are already out on IR. Rumor has it that the Browns' Quinton Jefferson is on the trade block, and Monti recently has says he always considers players who are available to trade. Say he's available for a sixth- or seventh-rounder, we have more than enough cap space to make the move to bring in a veteran with proven production who is healthy now and can mentor some of the younger guys who clearly need it. Who says no?"
I'm not a fan of "rumor has it" so I don't know what we are talking about here. With all the defensive line injuries, I'm not going to rule out a deal, but when you are talking about a player -- any player -- who has been to multiple teams, is that player really going to be an upgrade over, say, Ben Stille, who you have on the practice squad? I do believe Monti is evaluating the trade market always. So I think it's safe to say if there is a guy that might be had, if they don't pull the trigger, there would be a reason -- whether it is contract status, or trade price, or knowledge of the player in the locker room, or whatever.
From Matthew Stroh:
"Hey Darren. I know this year has not gone as well as we thought but I'm a Cardinals fan through and through. Do you ever look around the league and say, 'Well it could be worse and we could be some of the other teams?' At least as a fan we know that we're building a team and it takes time. I look around the league and see what some of these other teams are dealing with. Do you ever dare to say 'Thank God I'm not trying to cover that kind of stuff?'"
Are there teams with which I would rather not have this job? Yes. Is it always about wins and losses? No. And that's all I've got to say about that.
From Devin Conroy:
"Hey Darren. I'm sure you've seen by now some info on social media making the rounds that Garrett Williams is the No. 1-ranked CB in the NFL. Now you can nitpick it based on snap count, etc. but even so, he's firmly in the top 10 CBs through six games. My question is whether he exclusively plays slot, or if we could get him out on on the boundary? If we've landed ourselves a No. 1 CB then let's use him as a No. 1 CB."
This kind of analysis can be tricky. In the context of what Williams is doing, he has been very good. But playing slot and playing outside are different positions and very well could change how a player's success might be (including covering tougher receivers usually.) Sean Murphy-Bunting has gone through the same things playing both spots in his career. I am not counting Williams out as a potential outside CB (although it should be noted some draft pundits saw Williams as a safety on this level too), but I am going to defer to what Jonathan Gannon sees, given that he has coached defensive backs his whole career.
From Roger Johnson:
"Great work Darren! I'll guess this will be your silly question of the week. Do you know if any players read your mailbag so they know what fans are saying?"
I have had a coach or two mention the mailbag in the past, but I have never had a player note it to me. All the players usually say they don't pay attention to what the outside says -- whether it be fans or media -- so I am going to guess that's a no.
