Cardinals Cover 2

Ep. 940 - Coming off the bye week, yes, changes have been made. Minor changes. Some tweaks. Nothing major or dramatically different. That’s what we’ve heard from coaches and players leading into the game at the Dallas Cowboys. And that’s about all we’ve heard. No specifics. That’s OK, because Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck did get into specifics; ideas that they have that may help the team dig itse...

Ep. 939 - So, this Sunday is National Tight Ends Day. And because the Arizona Cardinals don’t play on Sunday - more on that in a moment - Trey McBride doesn’t get to celebrate the day. Not to worry, Bird Gang. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman do their best to celebrate both the player and the person. McBride is among the best tight ends in the league, something he’s shown over the past season-and-a...

Ep. 938 - Here we are again, Bird Gang. A one-score game. A one-score loss. Though say this for the Arizona Cardinals, they know how to make the end of games exciting. It’s just that they are on the wrong side of these end-of-game scenarios. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi look back at Sunday’s 27-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The offense, with Jacoby Brissett once again leading the charge, pla...

Ep. 937 - OK, so nothing definitive as of Friday regarding QB1 for this week. Kyler Murray practiced on a limited basis with a foot injury, which would appear to keep the door open for Jacoby Brissett to get a second straight start. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss what they think might happen when the Cardinals host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Also, the guys go over the rest of the in...

Ep. 936 - It’s been a little while - OK, a long while - since Walter Nolen III has been on the field. The Cardinals’ first-round draft pick had his practice window opened on Wednesday, allowing him to be on the field with his teammates for the first time since the offseason. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss Nolen’s return, including when he might play. Craig and Zach also touch on Darius Ro...

Ep. 935 - New week. Same result. And same issue: The Arizona Cardinals have yet to find the answer in how to finish games. Sometimes it’s the offense and sometimes it’s the defense. On Sunday, it was both. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi look back at Sunday’s 31-27 loss at the Indianapolis Colts. The offense, with backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who earned the coveted Angry Bird Award, played w...

Ep. 934 - So, there’s Jonathan Gannon’s return, Jacoby Brissett’s return, but it’s the return of Marvin Harrison Jr. that has grabbed the most headlines this week. Harrison returns to Indianapolis on Sunday and plays his first regular season game at Lucas Oil Stadium, the place where his Hall of Fame father had so much success with the Colts. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman look ahead to the Week...

Ep. 933 - It’s still early in the week, but it’s never good when your starting quarterback misses practice. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss Kyler Murray’s absence because of a foot injury; the confidence head coach Jonathan Gannon has in backup Jacoby Brissett; and what the offense might look like with Brissett under center. That’s all hypothetical right now. What will be an adjustment for t...

Ep. 932 - It was a great start. In fact, the Cardinals couldn’t have started much better with three touchdowns on their first four possessions. And then the bottom fell out and the Cardinals couldn’t finish, the story of the last three weeks. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman try - and they try real hard - to make sense of what happened, or better said, what didn’t happen on Sunday as the Cardinals...

Ep. 931 - For fans and for media, yes, it’s easy to maybe look past an opponent. For coaches and for players, no, their focus must be what’s immediately in front of them and that’s the Tennessee Titans. And what we’ve heard from all parties this week is that the Titans’ winless record is not a reflection of the talent on the field. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman preview Sunday’s matchup, includin...

Ep. 930 - No James Conner. And now no Trey Benson. The running back room has taken another hit, and a significant one at that. The role of RB1 will now be played by Emari Demercado, Michael Carter, and Bam Knight. And it may just take all three. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss where the Cardinals go from here, who might be asked to carry the load and whether the run game - slow to get going...

Ep. 929 - Yes, the offense needs to be better. Head coach Jonathan Gannon made that clear after Thursday night’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and he has repeated the sentiment since. The question is what needs to “change and adapt” and, maybe more importantly, how much change is needed. Craig Grialou - back from a big ‘change’ in his own life - and Zach Gershman discuss what they think may change...

Ep. 928 - In just five days, the Arizona Cardinals have suffered two heartbreaking losses that both came down to their opponents making last second field goals. Dani Sureck and Zach Gershman are here to break down what happened in the Cardinals' 23-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. The offense sputtered for the first three quarters; Marvin Harrison Jr. was able to rebound...

Ep. 927 - Lost the game. Lost James Conner. The Cardinals did not enjoy their weekend in the Bay Area. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi try and make sense of what happened on Sunday, a 16-15 loss to a 49ers team minus its starting quarterback, No. 1 wide receiver and tight end plus played without its best pass rusher for the final three quarters. There are a lot of concerns with the offense, from an...

Ep. 926 - After taking care of a pair of NFC South opponents in the first two weeks, the Cardinals play their first division opponent on Sunday. They hit the road to face the San Francisco 49ers, a team, like the Cardinals, that is 2-0 to begin the season. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss the NFC West matchup; their thoughts on what it’s going to take to win; how injuries, especially at the...

Ep. 925 - So, first it was Sean Murphy-Bunting, then Starling Thomas and now Garrett Williams, who on Wednesday landed on injured reserve. On top of that, Will Johnson missed practice because of a groin injury. The cornerback depth is being tested. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss what the plan may be moving forward, beginning Sunday in San Francisco. Will that mean more opportunity for Kei’T...

Ep. 924 - Offense wins games, defense wins championships, right? Well, at least to begin 2025, defense is wining games for the Arizona Cardinals. For the second straight week, it was the defense that finished the game, and if we’re being honest, it was a game that was a lot closer than it needed to be. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi look back at Sunday’s 27-22 victory over the Carolina Panthers. T...

Ep. 923 - Last season. And five times in the last six seasons overall. For whatever reason, the Carolina Panthers have not been a favorable matchup. But that’s going to change this season, right? Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman look ahead to Sunday’s game at State Farm Stadium. What’s it going to take for the Cardinals to win their home opener and improve to 2-0? And are there any lessons learned...

Ep. 922 - Yes, the Cardinals finished off the New Orleans Saints. But it was the defense and not the offense that was on the field at the end of the game. And that bothers Kyler Murray. So, what needs to happen to avoid that same scenario this week or any other week the rest of the season? Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss what they hope to see out of the offense moving forward, beginning Sund...

Ep. 921 - A win is a win no matter how it looks, right? At least it does in Week 1, and it most certainly does in Week 1 on the road. The Cardinals survived their trip to New Orleans, beating the Saints, 20-13. Sure, there’s a lot to correct. But isn’t it better to get those mistakes cleaned up after a win rather than a loss? Of course it is. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi look back at Sunday’s vi...

Ep. 920 - For the third straight year, the Cardinals are opening the regular season on the road. New Orleans is the site, more specifically, the Caesars Superdome, one of the loudest venues in the league. The challenge is very real, despite the home team’s recent struggles and low expectations for 2025. Yes, on paper the Cardinals are more talented than the Saints. But games are not played on pape...

Ep. 919 - It is officially game week, the first one of the season. Coaches are excited. Players are excited. And you know Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck are excited, joining the rest of the Bird Gang. There’s just something different about Week 1. Perhaps even more so this year given the expectations so many have for the 2025 Arizona Cardinals. With the season opening in New Orleans, Craig and Dani...

Ep. 918 - Don’t get too comfortable. A lot can change between now and the season opener in New Orleans. Yes, the Cardinals announced their 53-man roster, but did you happen to notice that it didn’t include a long snapper? And that’s one of the reasons why head coach Jonathan Gannon made it clear on Wednesday that things are “very fluid” with respects to the roster. Of course, that didn’t stop Crai...

Ep. 917 - By 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon teams must reduce their rosters to no more than 53 players. For the Cardinals, that process has already begun. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss what’s happened - the initial waive of cuts - and what might happen. Plus, Craig and Dani talk about who might’ve helped themselves with their effort and performance in the preseason finale against the Las Vegas R...

Ep. 916 - It’s a big week around the NFL. It’s the final week to make evaluations. And for the Arizona Cardinals, the final evaluation happens this weekend or more specifically, Saturday night at State Farm Stadium. The preseason finale sees the Cardinals host the Las Vegas Raiders. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman look ahead to the game and discuss who they want to see play. (FYI, as of Wednesday,...