Cardinals Cover 2

Ep. 890 - His individual numbers may not jump off the stat page, but Zaven Collins brings more than just numbers to the defense. He brings versatility. More importantly, he’s earned the trust of both head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis. They see value in Collins more so than perhaps fans and many in the media. Craig Grialou, back from vacation, and Darren Urban discuss...

Ep. 889 - The Cardinals will be back out on the practice field this week as Week Two of OTA’s are set to begin. What do we want to see? What are we expecting to see? Dani Sureck and Zach Gershman give their thoughts. Plus, the two discuss the depth at offensive line and how the starting line might look come Week 1; what offensive coordinator Drew Petzing had to say about Kyler Murray’s unscheduled...

Ep. 888 - As OTAs continue to roll along for the Cardinals, the conversation surrounding the team’s depth continues to be discussed. Zach Gershman and Darren Urban (yes, you read that correctly) talk about the latest on Cardinals Cover 2. With the arrival of Jacoby Brissett, what does that mean for Clayton Tune in the backup quarterback competition? Can Trey Benson take that sophomore season leap...

Ep. 887 - The Cardinals are back on the field as Phase Three begins with the start of OTAs. Paul Calvisi, Dani Sureck and Zach Gershman fill the shoes of the vacationing Craig Grialou to discuss what stood out to them the most from the first practice; what a Year 1 to Year 2 jump can look like for Darius Robinson; the new look defensive line as a whole; who will challenge for the starting right gu...

Ep. 886 - It’s called Phase 3, when teams can line up offense against defense. Still no contact but practice looks more like football. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck preview the start of organized team activities, better known as OTAs for short. How much do we see of the newcomers, whether that’s Josh Sweat or Walter Nolen III and Will Johnson? What about those players who we didn’t see a lot of in...

Ep. 885 - A new look Marvin Harrison Jr. met the media on Monday. He “added some muscle” he told reporters. And there was a very specific reason why. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss what Harrison had to say; why it was important for him to get stronger, how he’s treating his first full offseason, what a successful Year 2 looks like for him, and in Year 2 it’ll be good for him to see his No...

Ep. 884 - And now we know the when. The Arizona Cardinals schedule is out. It was released with much fanfare – more on that later. The who and the where have been known for months and on Wednesday, we got the when. Craig Grialou, Dani Sureck and Paul Calvisi dive into the 18-week, 17-game schedule. What do they like? What do they not like? How many primetime games did the Cardinals get? When is th...

Ep. 883 - Rookies. Veterans. The entire team is together for the first time. That’s what Monday signaled, the next step in the offseason. (By the way, shout-out GM Monti Ossenfort, the architect of said team; he delivered the commencement address at his alma mater on Saturday.) After giving Monti his due, Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi discuss rookie minicamp; why Hayden Conner may be an early can...

Ep. 882 - It’s been a busy two days for Jordan Burch. He, and the other rookies, arrived Thursday. Then Friday the seven-player draft class and six undrafted free agents gathered on the practice field for the start of rookie minicamp. In addition, Burch added a stop in the radio studio to speak with Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck about his time at Oregon, expectations for Year 1 with the Cardinals,...

Ep. 881 - Two weeks after they heard their names selected, the Arizona Cardinals’ seven-player draft class arrives at the Dignity Health Training Center on Thursday. Ahead of rookie minicamp, which also will include a half dozen undrafted free agents and a handful of tryout players, Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss who they are most looking forward to seeing on the field. Obviously, first-r...

Ep. 880 - Six free agents. Six draft picks. In just two months, the Arizona Cardinals have added 12 new players to the defense. And now, it’s up to Nick Rallis to figure out how they all fit together. While he does that - and he’s got four months before the season starts - Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi have a way-too-early conversation about the defense. What will it look like? Might there be a s...

Ep. 879 - To players, to fans; yes, numbers matter. Specifically, jersey numbers. On Wednesday, the Cardinals’ seven-player draft class received their first jersey numbers. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss what numbers stood out, like Cody Simon being issued No. 50; does this mean he’ll be in the middle of the defense as an inside linebacker? And how cool is it that Will Johnson will wear ‘...

Ep. 878 - The grades are in. So, how do the experts feel GM Monti Ossenfort did with his selections in the 2025 NFL Draft? Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss some of what has been written since the end of the draft on Saturday. A lot of the words written has focused on the Cardinals’ first three picks: DT Walter Nolen III, CB Will Johnson, and Edge Jordan Burch. In total, Ossenfort made seven...

Ep. 877 - Four picks on Saturday. Seven picks overall. Nearly every pick, six, went towards the defensive side of the ball. Yes, the real winner of the 2025 NFL Draft is defensive coordinator Nick Rallis; so many new toys to play with, and don’t forget about all the defensive additions in free agency. Craig Grialou, Dani Sureck and Paul Calvisi – it’s another Cover 3 edition – talk about the most...

Ep. 876 – On Friday, the Cardinals doubled down on defense in the 2025 NFL Draft. Again, are we surprised? OK, maybe a little, but defense has been the team’s MO all offseason. Craig Grialou, Dani Sureck and Paul Calvisi – call it Cover 3 – talk about the selections of Michigan cornerback Will Johnson (second round, 47th overall pick) and Oregon Edge rusher Jordan Burch (third round, 78th overall...

Ep. 875 – As Paul Calvisi likes to say, players know players. So, why don’t we get a players’ perspective on Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen III. And it makes sense to hear from a defensive player, right? Well, for the first time in this show’s history, Adrian Wilson stops by. That’s right, Cardinals legend and Ring of Honor member Adrian Wilson joins Calvisi and Craig Grialou. Exactly what...

Ep. 874 – Why was Walter Nolen III the selection with the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft? In a word, disruptive. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman are back to further discuss the defensive tackle out of Ole Miss. First, they are joined by former Cardinals linebacker Rob Fredrickson; why he likes the addition, what it means for the defense. Later, Craig and Zach are joined by Dani Sureck; ca...

Ep. 873 - With the 16th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select: Walter Nolen III, defensive tackle, Ole Miss. Really not a surprise. The Cardinals have prioritized defense for much of the offseason, starting with free agency and again here with their first-round pick. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman react in real time just moments after Nolen was selected and held a conference ca...

Ep. 872 - Everyone is familiar with the Swedish rock band Europe, right? No? Well, everyone is - or should be - familiar with “The Final Countdown,” their one and only hit song. Heck, even Zach Gershman knows the music; and after humming a few bars, he and Craig Grialou have one final conversation about the 2025 NFL Draft. What do the latest mock drafts say? Who’s been mocked to the Cardinals at 1...

Ep. 871 - Three days, Bird Gang. Three days until the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s been a long wait, and now that wait is just about over. So, what’s the latest buzz? What is the latest talk, not only league-wide but focused on the Arizona Cardinals? Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi discuss what they’ve heard, what they’ve read; what positions make the most sense with the 16th overall pick. Als...

Ep. 870 – It’s become an annual spring tradition: the pre-draft press conference. GMs, and often head coaches, meet with the media and answer questions ahead of the NFL Draft. A lot of words are spoken, but not a lot is said. To put it another way, no one is going to tip their hand or show their cards. Everything is kept very close to the vest. (Have we used enough idioms?!) Still, that doesn’t st...

Ep. 869 - Another day, another day closer to the NFL Draft. Many draft experts, including multiple on this show, have raved about the depth at defensive line in this year's class. But, with the additions of Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell, will the Cardinals target a different position in the first round? Dani Sureck and Zach Gershman discuss all the possibilities. Could it be an offensive li...

Ep. 868 – Cardinals tight end Trey McBride joins Paul Calvisi and Darren Urban to discuss his new four-year contract extension that keeps him signed through the 2029 season. McBride talks about what he was doing when he got the news from his agents, what it’s like to be the NFL’s highest-paid tight end, his future development and the upside of the Cardinals offense. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Ep. 867 - Six picks. One in each of the first five rounds. The Cardinals don’t have nearly the draft capital as they did a year ago. Still, GM Monti Ossenfort should be able to find some solid players, starters even despite the lack of a lot of star power in the 2025 NFL Draft. That’s how Paige Dimakos of The Draft Network sized up the draft when she joined the show from the Scouting Combine in In...

Ep. 866 - It may be April Fools' Day but this is no joke. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell, one of the most popular players in modern Cardinals history, is returning to Arizona on a one-year deal. Paul Calvisi and Dani Sureck gather for an impromptu pod to share memories of Calais and forecast what he can mean for the 2025 Cardinals both on and off the field. Entering his 18th NFL season, Campbel...