Cardinals Underground

Thanksgiving break is over, well timed with the bye, so Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Felipe Corral Jr. are rested and ready – right? – for the final six-game stretch of the season. The guys consider where the NFC West stands as the Cards push for the division title, the chances of Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins playing in Chicago, the rest/rust factor coming off the bye and the potential of a playoff bye, the Cards staying off the national radar, the crucial Cardinals going forward, Paul’s choice of cold-weather gear and the benefits of napping on the couch.

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The Cardinals have the best record in the NFL going into the bye, and what a walkoff with the win in Seattle. Paul Calvisi, tired as he is, nevertheless works with Darren Urban and Felipe Corral Jr. in discussing Seattle’s “Sign Guy,” Chandler Jones huntin’ the Seahawks, Colt McCoy answering the call (again), missing Chase Edmonds and the Rondale Moore effect, Matt Prater’s tough day, and Kliff Kingsbury no longer being called names.

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Much like Darren Urban, the Cardinals are dealing with some aliments in-season – including a disappointing loss at home – and are trying to get to the bye. But first there is a trip to Seattle, so Darren, Paul Calvisi and Felipe Corral Jr., chat about such things as the quarterback injuries (and just who exactly is going to play QB for the Cards), emergency quarterbacks, pesky Cam Newton and a rough afternoon against the Panthers, the number of favorites losing games in the NFL, Russell Wilson’s return and what the Cardinals might see against the Seahawks, what constitutes must-win, and just what would you do with Kyler Murray with a bye on the horizon?

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The Cardinals are 8-1, but with all the injuries, keeping the foundation of the team is crucial, right? Darren Urban, Paul Calvisi and Felipe Corral Jr. discuss how the Cards are making every section of the roster help as they go to 5-0 on the road, how Kliff Kingsbury is a Coach of the Year candidate, a defense that continues to play excellent when needed, the NFC team to be feared the most, Colt McCoy’s moment to shine, Aaron Brewer’s importance, the struggling Panthers come to town, Golden v. Reddick, Kingsbury’s emotions and James Conner’s huge season.

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With Felipe on the temporary IR, Paul Calvisi and Darren Urban try to bounce back follow the Cardinals’ first loss even as Paul’s back is acting up. Yet Paulie perseveres to talk – with Darren -- through the trade deadline, the Rams adding Von Miller and the NFC West battle, Kyler’s health and Colt McCoy’s readiness, the true measure of a backup QB, getting more practice time with Kliff Kingsbury, D-Hop’s impact when he’s not available, searching Liberty’s playbook, and the upcoming change of clocks – which, of course, Arizona does not do.

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It’s a quick turnaround for the Cardinals and for the guys, even if Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Felipe Corral Jr. don’t have to stay at a hotel for two games in five days. With the Packers coming to town, the discussion is lively when it comes to Green Bay without Davante Adams, the greatness of Aaron Rodgers and who is better right now between he and Kyler Murray, the offense’s incredible output even with a slow start against Houston, Vance Joseph’s excellence and a defense dominant, Markus Golden’s hot streak, Zach Ertz’s debut, a red (zone) menace and Isaiah Simmons’ friendly chat with Danny Amendola.

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With the Cardinals holding some meetings outdoors to slow the Covid problems, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Felipe Corral Jr. slip inside the studio to discuss a 6-0 team that for some reason has yet to capture the pundits’ collective confidence. There is plenty to discuss, like the impressive win in Cleveland despite the absence of Kliff Kingsbury, among others; how Sports Illustrated “minority reported” the Cards in their rankings; how J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins may view their first game against the Texans since leaving Houston; Kyler’s MVP level and a defense that may be even better than some stats show.

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Paul Calvisi is riling up the Cleveland fan base on Twitter, but what else to do before the undefeated Cardinals head to Ohio to play the Browns? That’s not all Paul brings to the table with Darren Urban and Felipe Corral Jr. about this 5-0 team, talking about how the defense might be down Chandler Jones this weekend because of Covid, but J.J. Watt is coming off his best game and the Cards’ defense has been fabulous; the excellence on fourth downs; the challenge of a run defense that still is up and down against the best running team in the league; comparisons to the 2015 team (and 2008 for that matter), the emotions after Maxx Williams’ injury and what to do at tight end now.

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For now, the Cardinals are the lone undefeated team left in the NFL, and they got there will their most impressive showing of the year. There is a lot for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Felipe Corral Jr. to chat about, not the least of which is Kyler Murray’s ascension to one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Meanwhile, there is also a defense that soundly frustrated the Rams with a secondary that may have a sneaky excellent future, some pregame bad blood between Rams tight ends and Cardinals safeties, the way GM Steve Keim built a quality roster, what Kyler meant as the “best game plan,” a dominant run game without Kyler, and being best in the NFC West.

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No, this isn’t basketball, although there are some hoop-related memories at the outset of this episode from Darren Urban, but Paul Calvisi and Felipe Corral Jr. steer it back to the Cards’ 3-0 start and all that have come with it as September comes to a close. The guys discuss what the Cardinals have done well and not as well in building this start and the crazy win in Jacksonville; the need to counter a good Rams defense; the importance of getting the ball to DeAndre Hopkins; the struggles of third down; the pros and cons of a 68-yard field-goal try; the importance of Sunday’s results against the Rams; and just how much emotions are coaches allowed to have on the field? (Paul and Darren disagree.)

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