The Cardinals are coming off an awful game against the Commanders, and games like that create questions. Good thing we have a mailbag. Queries 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 Sebas Quiros:
"Hey Darren. I'm as optimistic as the next guy, but what's going on? You can cut some slack to the defense in a way I guess since they only let up 10 against the rams and a shout-out in the second half against the Lions but the offense has been bad. I can't see how anyone could say differently. With these first four games, the 41 points against the Rams looks more like an outlier than anything else. Is a drastic change needed? Obviously not suggesting a coaching change, but taking a different approach to games and how to call the offense?"
Jonathan Gannon said after the game the Cardinals needed to adapt and not keep doing the same things because they aren't working. So yes, change is needed. Now, Gannon isn't going to get specific publicly -- he is rarely going to get specific with many things -- but something will happen. And then you wait to see what it translates to on the field. I am as surprised as most. I expected this offense to be much more consistent -- and much better.
From Shane Erich:
"It doesn't seem like we've been very much of a 'run-first' offense. I love our wide receivers and I get the idea behind switching to a third-down back, but give Conner the ball and let him do Conner things. Am I wrong?"
So against the Commanders, here was the Conner usage up through his TD run that made it 27-14 (essentially the last gasp for the Cardinals.)
- 5 of 9 plays (TD)
- 3 of 6 plays (punt)
- Didn't play series, punted on 4th and 1
- 1 of 3 (punt, Conner stuffed on first down)
- 3 of 4 plays before going into hurry mode at end of half (turnover on downs)
- The third-and-34 series
- 5 of 11 plays (Demercado also got a carry, Conner scores TD)
It felt like they were letting Conner do stuff. But you also have to pass once in a while, and when you punt/turn ball over on downs and the other team is scoring every time, eventually that's going to affect playcalls. The Lions game was different, I agree.
From Jerry J:
"Hi Darren. There is an inexhaustible list of complaints one can lay on this team, but I think one stands out among all: pass rush. The reason pass rush is a travesty is because we saw it coming. Of the top three question marks coming into the season, pass rush was arguably No. 1. I know you've been asked about it before, but maybe the pressure of failure changes things. Now can we go get Reddick?"
No, the pass rush wasn't good against the Commanders. Jayden Daniels had too much time too often, and Gannon even said the Cardinals need to do a better job affecting the quarterback. Will it be Reddick, who remains holding out with the Jets? Nothing has happened to make me change my thinking. I didn't think they'd do it before and I still do not.
From Wyatt F:
"On the Garrett Williams interception, I noticed he was lined up at deep safety? Why is that? I didn't know Williams was also a safety option. I love Budda but we need more interceptions from our secondary, specifically the safeties. I'm all for Rabbit Taylor-Demerson and Williams being our 1-2 at safety and start getting turnovers."
I think there is a lot that goes into interceptions, and you are way oversimplifying it. To begin with, the Cardinals cross-train almost all their cornerbacks with the safeties, so I am not surprised to see someone like Williams play off ball and deeper. (On the play, Jalen Thompson was near the LOS, so they essentially swapped roles for that play.) But to assume Rabbit and Williams would suddenly create a bunch of turnovers Baker and Thompson would not is an odd leap of logic.
From Ken Moroney:
"Our OC is frustrating Kyler exactly like Kingsbury did. He scripts his first few call and they work and we move the ball and many times score. But he has zero imagination. We are shorthanded on defense and now also in need of offensive linemen. Spend some money. Lastly, our coach needs to allow reporters to ask questions fans would ask and answer them, and not get angry and avoid the questions."
Under the heading of "questions have been edited for length and clarity" Ken won this week. Just know he had a laundry list of possible kinds of plays the Cardinals should call. Not sure where the question for me is here exactly. It's safe to say he -- and many other fans, truth be told -- would like different plays run. (I'm not sure how you know what Kyler is feeling either -- I am around him way more than you and I wouldn't say the same.) As for the questions, I'm not sure anyone is paying attention to coaches across the NFL. Fans want to know stuff, coaches -- not just Cardinals coaches -- prefer not to say. (And again, I am curious what questions aren't being answered -- a lot of what I hear from fans are rhetorical questions at best.)
From Nathan Palmer:
"Couple of questions for you Darren. Is there any more sting to you for a loss like that with Kliff Kingsbury on the other sideline dicing up our defense? With us being a year away, what are your thoughts on Nick Rallis and Drew Petzing? Do you see them as our coordinators of the future? How has Paris Johnson Jr. been doing this season? Who is your favorite Cardinal to interview or talk to all-time?"
There isn't more of a sting because losses don't sting me. This is my job and while I like to see the Cardinals win, it would be unwise for my mental health to let it affect me that much. I also got along well with Kliff. That showing was going to leave a mark regardless of coach. On the coordinators, when you say "a year away,' I assume you mean being competitive? There is still a big part of this season to go, but I don't see either one going anywhere. Paris has been solid when you look at most metrics. And my favorite Cardinal all time? I've had a lot of guys I've connected with. Tyrann, A-Dub, Breaston, Calais, Fitz, among others. Not sure I could pick a favorite.
From Juan de la Peña:
"Hi Darren! We are seeing early success on other franchises that are in 'rebuild mode' but it's taking it more time to the Cardinals. Why do you think this is happening? What change would you like to see in the short term to try to get results this season?"
I am not surprised with the time this potentially is taking with the Cardinals. When Monti Ossenfort came in, he cleaned out the roster and made it pretty clear they wanted to build up through the draft, and two years isn't a lot of players when it comes to the lift he was attempting. In the short term? Again, I still think this offense can be much better than it has shown from a consistency basis. If their offense can click more often, they will be OK. But I don't expect any major roster moves during the season. Ossenfort is going to stick with his plan.
From Jerry Brown:
"Kyler recently said that Greg Dortch is 'unguardable.' But through four games, he's been more like invisible. Is he not getting open or not getting targeted? With all of the coverage MHJ and Trey McBride seem to be getting, why isn't Greg getting more catches?"
Dortch is tied for the team lead in receptions (15) with Harrison (although McBride has 14 as does Michael Wilson.) It was nice to have Murray called Dortch unguardable back in June, but I'm pretty sure if he was unguardable truly he'd have a different career arc. Dortch, Harrison and Wilson are getting all the WR snaps. He's out there. I'm sure he will be part of the equation. I don't expect him to surpass MHJ and McBride, however.
From Kelly Cardinal:
"Who's eligible to come off IR? And who's likely to come back this week?"
From Michael T:
"Never thought we would be 4-0 but 2-2 would have been nice. Anyway maybe some help if we get some starters back. Who do you expect will be back in the starting lineup for next game?"
From Parish Penn:
"Hi Darren. Darius Robinson is eligible to return! So is he returning and playing this Sunday?"
So many similar questions! (That exclamation point was for our social team and photographer, who love them so.) There are three players who, in theory, could have their practice windows opened/be activated this week. Robinson, rookie tackle Christian Jones and cornerback Elijah Jones. Next week, it is tackle Jonah Williams and, from suspension, wide receiver Zay Jones. To be clear, the IR guys will first return to practice, but to play, all of these guys have to be put back on the active roster -- which means someone else has to be released.
I don't know if Robinson plays this week. He could. First he has to practice. If he does, we likely wouldn't know until Saturday when they would put him on the roster.
From Bryan Rowlan:
"I was in the front row during the season ticket holders-only training camp practice. Michael Bidwill stood in front of me stating that we were gonna get rid of the season ticket holders who sell their tickets. I was driving home from the stadium (after the Lions game) and heard a caller state how disappointed he was in the ticket holders who sold out and that he had tickets in the English Premier league and would lose the right to renew his tickets if he sold any to an opposing team. I couldn't have said it any better. I have never sold a ticket. How can this not impact player morale at some point?"
To be honest, that isn't something I've asked players specifically. Sure they have talked about the crowd before, but actual morale? I don't know about that. I think morale was fine when the Cards hammered the Rams. When they play poorly, I would think that would impact morale more than crowd. Could they use a full house of Cardinals fans? Absolutely. But it's not like there are no home fans.
From Jerry M:
"Where is D.J. Humphries? Is he playing somewhere else? If not, we could sure use them here especially if Justin Jones is out for awhile. What do you think?"
I think a) Jones is indeed out awhile. All season in fact; b) Humphries isn't on a team right now because he is still rehabbing from his late-season ACL tear; and c) he is an offensive tackle, and Justin Jones is a defensive tackle.
From Matthew Walsh:
"Thank you for all that you do. Can you please, respectfully, request that Phoenix Suns players refrain from attending any future Arizona Cardinals home games? In all seriousness, outside of the tackle position, which do you feel has been the biggest injury to the team this year?"
Losing Darius Robinson, with the way he looked in training camp, to me has been the biggest. I know the Cardinals need edge rushers and I think BJ Ojulari is a close second, but I really had high hopes of what Robinson could be. As far as the Suns, tell the schedule makers not to put any more home games for teams Suns players root for, and we should be good.
From Andrew D:
"Darren, I moved to the Valley a bit ahead of you in the fall of 1971. I was 9. The early 70s saw the launch of Al McCoy's career, as I recall. As a young new Suns fan I did attend some games, but I really enjoyed getting to listen to Al call the games on the radio. And I did so for about the next 15 years before leaving for college. His excitement and passion and creativity really brought the game to life in my mind. Like you, I was a Dodger fan in those days. Vin Scully was the best ever at calling baseball games and Al was the best ever at calling basketball. I cherish memories of hearing them both. A shout out to Dave Pasch and his 'shazam!' touchdown call this past Sunday. Awesome. Darren, It takes decades to build the kinds of legacies those two did. Will we see that sort of thing ever again?"
Probably not. Not because there aren't men and women who can't do it, but because of the change in outlets/platforms and how we consume games.
Also, let me be clear. I loved Vin Scully. His voice was the voice of baseball. But I have always hated the Dodgers, even before the Diamondbacks. (OK, hate is a loaded word. I've always had a strong desire to see them lose baseball games.)
