Cardinals Underground

The Cardinals chose Jonathan Gannon, the defensive coordinator of the Eagles, as their new head coach, and that gives Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck plenty to talk about. Topics include Gannon’s secretive path to the job, a new energy level, what comes next at offensive (and defensive) coordinator, how he might mesh with Kyler, his background lending itself to building up the lines, an...

Super Bowl week has arrived, our trio of Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck have been sent to a proxy studio, and the Cardinals are still looking for a head coach. That gives plenty to discuss in this week’s podcast, including analyzing reported coaching finalists Mike Kafka and Lou Anarumo, the possibility of any other candidates post-Super Bowl, who has the edge between the Chiefs and th...

What annoys Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck? Sure, they delve into that, but it’s interesting in real time as they talk about the Cardinals’ coaching search, only to have the news Sean Payton and DeMeco Ryans are headed to different teams break while the trio records. How will the coach search proceed? Also, what about Kyler Murray’s rehab timeline? Or the possibility Tom Brady ends up...

The Cardinals are in the process of choosing their new po.., er, coach, and that gives Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban, and Dani Sureck plenty to chew on. Taking a look at the reported coaching candidates: Brian Flores, Frank Reich, Sean Payton, Dan Quinn, Vance Joseph, Ejiro Evero, Aaron Glenn and (maybe) DeMeco Ryans, the trio talks about who makes sense, what the timeline to a hire might be and what...

The new GM has arrived, and with Monti Ossenfort’s hire comes plenty to discuss between Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck. There are the first impressions of the new hire, the decision to hire externally rather than internally, Ossenfort’s desire to put his own spin on what he has learned in his career, DeAndre Hopkins’ future, Ossenfort’s to-do list, dealing with free agents, how to tole...

Luckily, the bike cops weren’t at the Dignity Health Training Center for Paul Calvisi and Dani Sureck. Of course they weren’t there for Darren Urban. So with that Super Bowl intrigue avoided, the trio had a chance to discuss the Cardinals moving on from Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim, the need for accountability and what that means in a coach, the importance of the relationship between coach and G...

As promised, Dani Sureck created the Paul Calvisi Bingo cards, although we don’t have a winner yet. Still, the two – plus Darren Urban – had plenty to chat about going into the season’s final game, including the quarterback shuffle, Kyler’s recovery, David Blough’s opportunity (and facing Nick Bosa), the offensive line going forward, Brock Purdy’s emergence, J.J. Watt’s final game, the recovery of...

J.J. Watt surprised everyone with his announcement this week he was retiring, but Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck were probably going to talk about how well the defensive end was playing anyway, so it’s an easy segue. The trio discuss Watt’s decision, his big final season, the impact he’s had on the Cardinals in a short time, and even his Hall of Fame timeline. They also chat about Budd...

With a Christmas game on deck, Paul Calvisi lets us know about the phrases no one should be using in the workplace. (No, not _those_ phrases. The other ones.) Then he, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck discuss the Cardinals’ quarterback quandary, Trace McSorley’s likely first start, Tom Brady’s troubles, the fight for respect during such a tough season, the drama and distractions of 2022, and why no on...

The season isn’t over for the Cardinals but it is over for Kyler Murray, and that’s mostly what Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck discuss as we hit the final stretch of games. How will Kyler deal with his rehab both mentally and physically? What might the timeline look like, and how the comeback of Joe Burrow might encourage Murray. Other topics include Colt McCoy taking over at QB, how t...

It’s a day-early-posting of the podcast coming off the bye, and Paul Calvisi was in such a fog he almost forgot to turn on his mic. Nevertheless, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck rescued Paul from himself as the trio talk about what the expectations are for the final five games of the season. Other topics include battling the Patriots who have almost as long of prep time before next Monday’s game, if...

Under the umbrella of the U.S. advancing in the World Cup, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck, talk about the other football as the Cardinals hit their Week 13 break. There is, as as always, much to discuss: The bye week plan; playing hard against the Chargers but not finishing; when Kyler talked about how schematically the Cards were fu… ,er, messed up on a fourth-down play; missing deep...

Back from Mexico, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck discuss where the Cardinals now compare to the rest of the NFC West, as well as the dismissal of OL coach Sean Kugler, Kyler Murray’s status to return, Budda as unquestioned leader, defending the 49ers through the prism of Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins, Greg Dortch’s emergence, Thanksgiving needs and Paul finding a way to bellow “Darr...

It’s been 17 years since the Cardinals and Paul Calvisi and Darren Urban have gone to Mexico – Paul’s haircut isn’t quite the same anymore – and now it’s time to go back amid a lot of Cardinals’ news going on. They join Dani Sureck to discuss Colt McCoy’s game, Zach Ertz’s injury, Eno Benjamin’s release, Budda’s inhuman turn as Wolverine, Myjai Sanders breaking out, J.J. Watt breaking bad, and why...

Welp, Paul Calvisi and Dani Sureck didn’t win the Powerball, so they remain with Darren Urban talking about the Cardinals as the team sets to live their lives on “Hard Knocks In Season” beginning this week. What will those cameras capture? The trio discusses what swirls around the team: What’s out there at the bottom of the NFC playoff race, losing Budda Baker for now, the struggles on defense, Ro...

The Cardinals head into their most important stretch of the season, three division games of teams they are chasing. So Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck get past their Halloween moments to talk about the important games to come, the trade deadline, “self-inflicted” problems, the process of winning, the Seahawks and international play, Pat P’s lingering resentment, balancing Hop and Moore...

Rested up from the minibye, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck attack all the big topics of the moment: The dominance over Andy Dalton, the plays of Marco Wilson and Isaiah Simmons, the bipolar showing from the Cardinals’ defense, what DeAndre Hopkins means off the field and on the sideline, the dustup between Kyler and Kliff, seeing Patrick Peterson again, how Eno’s play could impact the...

The Cardinals lost their offense on the way to Seattle, and Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck try to talk through their feelings on the subject. The discussion has many layers: the defensive performance of late, Hollywood Brown’s injury (and Justin Pugh’s season ending), the trade for Robbie Anderson, Kliff considering a different playcaller, Kyler Murray’s running – which was good – and...

After a frustrating loss to the Eagles – and this being the NFL – there are no such thing as moral victories on this level. But you squeeze out some optimism when you can. Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban, and Dani Sureck discuss that, the way the defense is playing well (and what still could be better), why the QB sneak isn’t going to be a thing in Arizona, Justin Pugh’s defense of Matt Ammendola, the...

The Cardinals, after evening their record at 2-2, have a chance to do big things with the undefeated Eagles coming to town. Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck tackle that overarching theme while discussing the release of Andy Isabella and the current receiving corps, what the Cardinals feel like at .500, how the Eagles may be like the 2021 Cardinals, Zach Allen’s explosion, “revenge” games...

After a disappointing loss to the Rams, the Cardinals still aren’t sure why they are mired in weekly slow starts. So Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck workshop what they can. Discussion includes the need to lean on the offense, Isaiah Simmons’ snaps, being “awake” around Kyler, the running back situation, potential rain in Carolina, what it means when coaches or players talk about “good p...

The Cardinals head into their big NFC West game with the Rams after hitting the jackpot in Sin City, so Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and the internet-less Dani Sureck have lots to discuss. Of course, there is the magic of Kyler Murray, and how his vibe has changed and never has that been more apparent than against the Raiders. There is the stellar offensive line play against Chandler Jones, Isaiah S...

It was an ugly Week 1 for the Cardinals, but when have Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck let that be a problem? The games matter, so too does the analysis. Our trio breaks down the need to play with urgency vs. practice habits vs. personnel; dealing with Derek Carr; the offensive fits and starts; Vance Joseph choosing to blitz Patrick Mahomes; potential veteran additions; the lack of comm...

The games that count are here, and it doesn’t get much better than a visit from Patrick Mahomes, who just happens to be Kliff Kingsbury’s best player from his college coaching days. With that as a backdrop, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck jump right into all the Mahomes storylines – facing Kliff, facing Kyler, facing a Cardinals’ cornerbacks situation that still has question marks. Wher...

The Cardinals have gotten to the end of the preseason with their initial 53-man roster, and sure, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Dani Sureck can’t be together but they don’t let that stop them from some scintillating analysis. The Cardinals go without a long snapper – kind of; Two QBs means all is right with Colt McCoy; The future and angry play of Andy Isabella; Moving on from Devon Kennard; Hold...