So that trip to Seattle didn't go the way the Cardinals would've hoped. I know what the team would be thankful for this week -- a win against the Vikings. (See what I did there). OK, mailbag time. 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 Ted K:
"Hey Darren, First time to ask a question. I appreciate your mailbag each week. Do you think Trey McBride is getting enough national recognition? In my honest opinion, he is right there with Kelce, Kittle and Bowers. No question our passing attack runs through him. Thanks again for what you do."
I have gotten questions similar to this from time to time over the years, when people ask about national recognition for this or that. I am not someone who really cares about such things, to be honest; the Cowboys and New York teams are always going to get the most attention, and certain players are going to fall into that bucket too. I agree McBride should be in the discussion for top tight ends. But until the Cardinals win regularly, that kind of run will be more difficult to get. I know that if he keeps grabbing 8 to 10 receptions a game, though, that could change quickly.
From Dale Hatfield:
"Darren, thumbs up on the mailbag. Great job again this year. I look forward to reading fan questions. Sometimes I find gems of information from the fans. And there is always a ton of information in your answers. Disappointing loss to the Seahawks. But in an odd way that's a good thing. We wouldn't be this disappointed unless the game meant something. There is lots of room for optimism though. The Cardinals still control their own destiny, especially in the NFC West. My question, if and when Matt Prater comes back, what are the ways the Cardinals could handle Chad Ryland, assuming Prater returns as the starting kicker?"
If the Cardinals brought Prater back this season, you could either just carry two kickers on the roster or you could release Ryland and try and sign him to the practice squad. But I would need to see Prater return to practice before I started thinking he'd have a chance to return.
From Rubio Aguilar:
"Hi Darren! After a loss like that I think we are entitled to point fingers. I said it before, and I say it again: starting Jonah Williams at right tackle was a mistake. Our OL was playing great. Is it a coincidence they change the OL configuration and it suddenly has the worst game on the year? I don't know, we're always told how the OL operates as one cohesive unit. So maybe that's a question for JG or the OL coach, or whoever made that awful decision which may or may not have cost us the divisional title."
Wow. So you aren't sure if it is a coincidence, but you're willing to say a) Williams was the problem and b) one loss doomed this team? Feels a lot more harsh than a simple pointing of fingers there, Rubio. Obviously the O-line and the overall blocking was not good. The way Leonard Williams played, I don't think even prime Luis Sharpe or Lomas Brown would've handled him. (Plus Williams was doing a lot of damage against the interior OL.) In the end, I actually do think it was a coincidence. I don't think Beachum at right tackle makes that big of a difference for what happened against the Seahawks.
From John Tharp:
"Two questions. First, during the Seahawks game, I thought I saw Hjalte Froholdt coming off the field. I do not think he is the center on special teams. Do you have a depth cart of special teams, that shows all 11 players? Second, in reading about players exchanging jerseys, you had mentioned the player is responsible for the cost of the jersey. I just assumed, wrongly, that the team provided a new jersey every game. Is it safe to assume that the teams do not provide a new jersey every game?"
They do not provide a new jersey every game. Sure if it gets damaged (or if the player chooses to give it away) they get a new one, but when you talk about three jerseys spread out among 17 games, I can understand why you would use one multiple times. As far as a special teams depth chart, I'd have to figure that out during a game. They don't put together such info. Froholdt is definitely not the center on special teams; that's what you have long snapper Aaron Brewer for.
From Jeff S:
"I remember watching the then St. Louis Cardinals play the Vikings in Minnesota in the fall of 1977. Running back Wayne Morris, who I believe was a native of Minnesota, had a huge rushing day. I don't remember the Cardinals winning in Minnesota since that game. I know that they don't play in Minnesota every year but has it been 47 years since the Cardinals have won in Minnesota? Also , I know that they won against the Vikings in the infamous last game of the year to knock them out of the playoffs and they beat them on a Sunday night when BA was the coach. Are these the only three times that they have beat the Vikings during the last 47 years? Happy Thanksgiving Darren!"
Indeed, that win in 1977 was the last time the Cardinals won in Minnesota. They have dropped the last 11 games they have played there, including the playoff game during the 1998 season. In Arizona since that 1977 game, the Cardinals have beaten the Vikings five of nine meetings including McCown-to-Poole.
From Harrison C:
"What is wrong with the O-line? That might've been the worst pass protection I've ever seen in a football game. And on the flip side, we couldn't pressure Geno at all (after a couple of early sacks) despite the Hawks having one of the worst offensive lines in football. How did it go wrong?"
This feels a little reactionary; I've covered this team for 25 years and I know I've seen more difficult days for the pass pro. Was it good? Not at all. Given how well the line has played this season, I think one bad game is going to happen. I am confused about the feeling about the defense too. The Cardinals sacked Smith just as much as Murray, and even with the long drive in the fourth quarter (that cannot be allowed to happen, I will give you that) the Seahawks had fewer yards. At no time did I fear the Seahawks offense was overwhelming the Cardinals. The offense was not good and that might've skewed your view.
From Luke Barnett:
"Hi Darren. Why didn't Darius Robinson play Sunday? The reasoning 'he's not 100 percent' doesn't compute, because no player who has been playing the last 10 weeks is 100 percent either. This was a divisional game, and so it essentially counts double. This kid-glove handling of Darius has been incredibly frustrating. Either play the guy or put him on IR."
I'll be honest, the number of people who want to make definitive decisions on things -- in this case, Robinson, and I promise Luke, you aren't the only one -- is kind of frightening to me. I get that people want all the information, but they aren't going to get all the information (trust me, I wish I knew everything behind the scenes too) but for random people to make sweeping pronouncements about his situation is kind of mind-boggling to me. Whatever the reasoning might be, it doesn't matter if it computes to you or me. It has to "compute" with the front office, the coaches, the medical staff and Robinson.
Not saying it's the same thing, but the Warriors once did the, 'no player is 100 percent this time of year" thinking with a particular player's calf injury, and Kevin Durant tore his Achilles and was out for over a year. I mean, I don't even know if you stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. If it makes you feel better, Gannon said Robinson is "on track" to play in Minnesota. (And if it doesn't, he's still on track to play in Minnesota.)
From Juan de la Peña:
"Hi Darren. Which players do you think have a chance of being on the All-Pro team this year?"
A reminder that All Pro is much better/higher level than Pro Bowl, since it is the best of league-wide. Right now, I'd think the only ones who might have a chance are McBride and maybe Budda Baker, although there are a lot of good safeties out there.
From Dave F:
"I've been wondering how Clayton Tune is developing. don't recall hearing much about him. Can you throw us a bone with a little meat on it? Thank you sir, and keep up the good work!"
To be honest, his name has not come up of late; perhaps I can ask Drew Petzing one of these Tuesdays. But whatever answer it'll be I can probably paraphrase a guess that Tune is working hard and growing every day. The reality is there is no way to know exactly how much he is growing without seeing him in real game action. Obviously, the Cardinals are hoping that doesn't happen.
From Alex P:
"Darren, I was perusing some turnover statistics on ESPN (as one does), and found that we have eight fumbles, which is the MOST in the league (save for the Raiders). Is that a concern?"
Well, if you are having to throw a "save for" in there, it's not the most then, is it? But no, I don't think it's a concern. You don't want to fumble the ball, but the Cardinals have lost three of them I think? Both of Conner's were recovered by teammates, and half of Kyler's six. The Cardinals have taken care of the ball pretty well this season.
From Lorna Green:
"Darren, appreciate the mailbag! Why do they only offer three games during the morning/afternoon slots on Sunday? I would really like four. Is it because the NFL wants us to get NFL +?"
I don't think NFL+ gets you live games on Sunday like that (save Red Zone.) A big part of the reason -- really the only reason -- is that these networks pay millions of dollars for TV rights, and they work it so they can get the most eyeballs on their games. That means one network gets the national game in the afternoon, usually. But it's all about creating demand.
From Shravaka:
"Hi Darren. There is a sense that the real story of the evolving success of this Cardinals team is the result of the coaching. We all know JG very well by now and also know Nick Rallis, Drew Petzing, and Jeff Rodgers very well. Could you help us to identify the other coaches though, and provide a little background and maybe your own perspectives about them? It might even be interesting to have a small presser with them from time-to-time to detail what they are doing and how they approach their work. Thanks in advance for the work you are doing in this amazing season!"
I appreciate the suggestion. The staff is pretty big (as you can see). It's funny you mention small pressers; an assistant talks each Friday to the media. We don't shoot it, but we use the comments in various stories if needed.
From Darrell From Pinetop:
"While that game was a big embarrassment to watch, I would like to know a simple statistic if you'd humor me. What is the Cardinals' overall win-loss record coming off the bye?"
All-time off the bye since moving to Arizona the Cardinals are now 14-22, including 2001 when their bye was actually Week 1 and then they didn't play the following week after games were postponed for 9/11. (And, it should be noted, that generally, the Cards do OK out of the bye when they have had good teams and struggle out of the bye when they aren't as good. As one would expect.)
From Elliot Hyde:
"Hi Darren, is Tip Reiman the quintessential Monti/Gannon draft pick? Team-first, humble, eager to learn, good character. Do you think he might be the most underrated rookie in the current class? What's the behind-the-scenes view on Tip, do people believe he can develop into a dual-threat blocking/catching TE?"
I think the team-first, humble, eager-to-learn is essentially every pick they make. That's kind of the point. But he is exactly who you'd think they want. Is he the most underrated? Probably just because he isn't going to have stats but he's usually going to play a key role as another blocker. As for a pass catcher, I don't know how much of that part of his game is going to show up. Trey McBride is Trey McBride, and Elijah Higgins, who they like, is the other receiving tight end who has already proven he can do it.
From Rob Ert:
"When a player is fined can or does the team pay for it? Do they have a one-time payment or can they spread it out?"
When a player is fined, he pays for it and it goes to a fund that helps former players in various forms. Pretty sure it's a one-time payment (would guess it comes out of the paycheck before the player even gets his stub.) The fine schedule and system has been collectively bargaining with the NFLPA.
