INDIANAPOLIS -- It's a road trip mailbag, prior to the Cardinals working out with the Colts. You know what they say: Defense and mailbags travel. 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 Dez Mcmillan:
"Does Zaven Collins' contract extension suggest he's been doing really good as a pass rusher in practice? As a fan, it's hard to understand. He didn't really have any impact last year, which is why the declined his fifth year and now they suddenly extend him? I'm hoping this is one big bet."
I don't agree with your assessment here. The details matter. They didn't decline his option because they didn't want to pay him $13+ million for next season, not because they didn't think he could play. You aren't alone; there are more than a few who assume declining the option means they don't want him period. It's just off the mark. They essentially get two years for the same price of one. Jonathan Gannon made clear that they want Collins to up his sack total. But that isn't all they see in him, which is why they gave him an extension.
From Cleo Bald:
"Haason Reddick. Proven star pass rusher in JG's Philly system. He's holding out in NY, after NY bizarrely traded for him and then didn't extend him. Give them a pick and go get him. Yes, he will be expensive, and yes, you get what you pay for. We need a No. 1 pass rusher. He's now proven it three times with three different teams. What are the odds we do this?"
I don't know if I can give odds. Reddick is a Jet and the Jets came out Monday -- after it was reported Reddick officially asked for a trade -- to say he wasn't going to be dealt. You make good points that Reddick is proven and that he excelled with Gannon. But I don't see this team surrendering draft capital and a huge contract at this point in the rebuild. I will never say never. But he turns 30 next month and his age -- considering he wants a giant new deal -- doesn't seem to fit what Monti Ossenfort is trying to put together.
From Jason Glenn:
"Hi Darren, best wishes going out to BJ Ojulari. It's so unfortunate he got injured now with such a big year ahead of him. I heard Mack Wilson discuss his pass rush prowess. On one hand that might just be boasting. On the other hand we've seen players who thrive at multiple positions. Micah Parsons was an ILB at Penn State and is now a full-time pass rusher. Haason Reddick was a pass rusher, moved to ILB, and back to pass rusher and is a good one. So I just wonder if the team will at least give Mack a small look just to see what he can do?"
It has been made clear since they signed Wilson that he was going to have a chance to rush the passer at times even before Ojulari got hurt. His stint doing that last year in an injury-replacement piece was effective. He won't be full-time off the edge, but having a guy who can slide over there and also play inside gives DC Nick Rallis a nice chess piece.
From Nigel Green:
"Hi Darren, hope you're well, my question is about preseason. I always thought it was about getting your team sharp for the start of the season, but it seems to be a see-what-we've-got process, which I get to an extent but surely it's more important to get your first team firing on all cylinders?"
I guess I will answer that by saying what is more important is to have the coach map out what he thinks best readies his team and go from there. When you hire a coach, this is one of the decisions he is supposed to make, and this is -- I am sure -- one of the things that comes up during those eight-hour interviews coaching candidates undergo. Gannon has stressed multiple times in context of whether players do or do not play preseason snaps that it is all set up for regular-season success.
From Webby Lincoln:
"Darren, with the new kickoff format, how are surprise onside kicks supposed to happen? It occurs to me this new alignment makes them impossible right? That's a HUGE blow to the game. I've not heard anyone discuss this."
Webby, buddy, you're aren't reading the mailbag? We just talked about this last week! Anyway, in a nutshell, surprise onside kicks aren't supposed to happen. They are indeed impossible. And as I noted last week, that is collateral damage to essentially find a way to keep the kickoff in the game in the first place -- because at the rate it was going, the kickoff was going to disappear period, and then you wouldn't have onside kicks anyway.
From T Amabisca:
"I have a couple questions:
- I was at the preseason game. Who were the two guys on the Cardinals sidelines with turquoise hats and shirts? One guy had a headset on. They acted like some type of officials sometimes giving occasional signals and going on the field. I never noticed them at a game before.
- Who decides that cheerleaders must continue to wear outdated go-go boots? The NFL or the team? Thanks for the mailbag."
Well, I have a couple of answers.
- I did not know this answer. Matt Caracciolo, the team's VP of football operations and facilities, has a billion things going on this time of year, but took the time to get me the info. The one with the headset is the Instant Replay Field Communicator, who is the communication link between the replay booth and on-field officials. The second one was likely a person in training.
- The Cardinals make the decisions about the cheerleaders outfits.
From Debo Mikey:
"Xavier Thomas was a one-time No. 1 recruit in the nation. He's looked good in practices. By no means does Ojulari's injury make him the starter, but do you think this means Xavier just got bumped up the depth chart?"
I think he's got a good chance to move up, but an injury alone won't do it. He needs to continue to show the flashes that he had in the preseason opener. Thomas is a great story, He's got the tools. He's got the opportunity. We'll see how this plays out.
From Lorna Green:
"Darren, please say it ain't so! We were getting ready to go to the game today but couldn't find out anything about the Brew Haus. We texted and got an answer -- No Brew Haus this year! What happened? It was so very popular. It was just part of our game day."
You aren't the only one that has asked. But as part of the overall changes and upgrades that have taken place for game days -- and the game presentation will get even better when the regular season begins at State Farm Stadium -- the Brew Haus is no longer, with the space becoming the Morgan Athletic Club, which is part of the field seats experience on that end of the stadium.
From Bo Harshbarger:
"Is there any talk of Budda Baker's contract situation? I am hoping for an extension, whatever it takes. Budda is the best player we have on defense and I don't see him slowing down any time soon. I am afraid we will lose this great player. The only accepted way I can see losing No. 3 is if he truly does want a trade or a new start. But let's hope he is staying with the Big Red! We need you Budda!"
From Thomas Krepelka:
"I understand declining of Zaven Collins fifth-year option, and subsequent extension. Seems like the Cards got an additional year at a lower cap number. What wasn't on my bingo card was the Cardinals re-signing or extending anyone on the defense until Budda's contract situation was resolved. Do you have any insight on Baker's future?"
There has not been any talk that I have heard of a Baker extension, but to be fair I hadn't heard anything about a Zaven Collins extension until it happened. I think this team works hard to keep its information under wraps until the right time. I understand the wish to keep Baker around. But I'll say this of two of the (many) guys heading into contract years: Baker and James Conner have been all about the team and what is to come this season. Collins was the same. As for Collins "over" Baker, the two things aren't connected. Every GM better be multi-tasking when it comes to managing the roster.
From Matthew Stroh:
Hey Darren, thank you for the mailbag. I know it's just the first preseason game but I am very happy with the performance of the entire team. I know QB Tune did better in the game then QB Desmond Ritter did in the game. I'm not saying a great defense but I think this year we are not going to be 30th overall. What is your opinion of the pass rush as a whole for Game 1 of the preseason?"
It was fine. I did think they pressured a few times, but it's so hard to tell to be honest. The pass rush was the No. 1 thing to watch coming into camp and the season, and I don't think that has changed. Until they do it in the regular season, it'll stay there too.
From Francis Nash:
"Hi Darren. I don't want Kei'Trel Clark to become an afterthought. It seems he's not even mentioned anymore among the top five cornerbacks and I don't know why. I thought he played admirably last year. It would be a massive mistake to focus on all the new cornerbacks and forget the ones from last year who are positioned for a second-year leap, but only if given the chance to leap."
Kei'Trel will have a chance to show why he shouldn't be an afterthought. But if you bring up the top four guys -- Sean Murphy-Bunting, Garrett Williams, Max Melton, Starling Thomas V -- they have been slotted higher. I do think Clark is the fifth guy now, but they drafted Elijah Jones in the third round, and regardless of what people say, unless the guy totally washes out, draft status matters at first. I like Clark and I agree he had some good moments. He has a month to make his case.
From Dylan L:
"As far as coordinators go, how many if not all want to be head coaches. I know Drew Petzing is now on a short list and I don't want to lose him. But is head coach something he is aspiring to be? I've been promoted within my job and am in the position I plan to retire from. I just have no idea if coordinators have different aspirations all the time. Thanks!"
I do think there are coordinators who are OK with being coordinators. But almost all of them have already had a chance to be a head coach and it didn't work out. I feel confident that both Petzing and Rallis would like that chance someday. Most coaches do want the opportunity to run their own team. I don't know if Petzing is "on a short list" but if they have another good season, people are going to pay attention.
From Devon Herbstritt:
"What are your camp thoughts on the single least-talked-about-third-round pick in the history of football: Elijah Jones. I had to look at the draft recap to remind myself what round we took him. I dont think I've heard his name mentioned once. So please Darren, give us a full rundown of Elijah Jones, or make a mental note to ask JG about him."
After I saw this and I did ask Gannon. He said, generally, that he likes the work Jones has done and that he's where he needs to be right now. It's a crowded room for sure. I think this week and the Broncos game will say a lot of Jones' situation, because I expect him to get a lot of playing time. However, props to you for looking up the least-talked-about-third-rounders ever. That's research I wouldn't have thought to do.
From Bari Kuumar:
"I have a gripe that Christian Jones is the third left tackle. The thing about that is Jones is a right tackle and a pretty good one. When we drafted him, I envisioned him being the backup at right tackle and even possible future starter. So putting him at left tackle depth, with no exposure at all to right tackle, is concerning to me."
So when Jonathan Gannon tells everyone not to worry about the depth chart right now, it feels like a message to you, Bari. I'm trying to figure out how you think Jones has had no exposure to right tackle simply by looking at the depth chart? I have watched every practice. Trust me, Jones has had work on the right side. Unless you are a starter -- which he is not right now -- you better be able to play both sides, whether you are a tackle or a guard. You will never be active as a backup otherwise. As the roster stands, Jones is the guy who is seen as the potential long-term right tackle. That's been true since they drafted him, it was true when he was playing right tackle in OTAs, and it remains true while he works both sides to make him worthy of a roster spot.
From Chuck W:
"My question deals with final cuts and the waiver wire order. Do practice-squad players go through waivers then get claimed depending on team order? If the Cards cut a player, does he have to go unclaimed by all the other teams or just the teams in front of the Cards?"
If a player is released, it matters if he has four accrued seasons. If he does, he is immediately a free agent and can sign with any team, whether it is a roster or practice squad spot. Waivers don't matter. Less than four seasons, he must pass through waivers -- all teams have a chance to claim -- before the Cardinals could re-sign him to their practice squad. Anyone claimed must go to that team's 53-man roster. The Cardinals will be fourth in the waiver claim order as well, through the first four weeks of the regular season.
From M Travers:
"Hello Darren. Thanks again for the this forum to ask a question. The Buffalo Bills have added retired referee John Parry to contribute on their decisions whether to challenge a call. Since the NFL changed the rule this year if successful you get a third challenge, do you know if Monti and JG have considered adding a former NFL referee to do the same for the Cardinals?"
I have not asked the question, but I don't believe that's been considered. To be honest, I don't know how much it would help -- challenges aren't about rules but what the video shows. I don't know if you really need an official to do that.
From Collin M:
"Greetings! I love Michael Wilson's commitment to the Cards, and it's awesome to see him building momentum and positioning himself for a breakout year. In light of that momentum, would you mind suggesting to him that he definitely should fly to Paris on Saturday to watch his fiancee play in her gold medal match? This is bigger than the Super Bowl for her and she won't have another shot at it for four years. Happy wife, happy life. Go Cards."
Obviously this came in last week, and Sophia Smith and her USWNT teammates won the gold medal game, 1-0, while Wilson was here in Arizona prepping for the preseason game. I'm sure Wilson would've loved to be there. Fortunately the game was on Saturday morning so he got to see it uninterrupted, but one of the things I've liked about Wilson is how he shows his devotion to what Smith has done while also focusing on his own career. He's still trying to establish himself. That doesn't make for a situation where flying to Paris during training camp -- as cool as it would be -- makes sense.
