Cardinals' DC Nick Rallis Deserves Major Props, Plus Team's CB Plans
by Walter Mitchell
Major Props for Nick Rallis
Outstanding scheme:
https://x.com/ZachAZCards/status/1967624166640848916
Detailing the nuances of Kyle Shanahan's offense:
Probably the most brilliantly articulated assessment of Kyle Shanahan's offense imaginable.
This is about as perfect an assessment of Kyle Shanahan's offense as anyone has ever uttered. Kudos to Nick Rallis for delivering this overview with such precise articulation and without a single hitch. Man, this presser was special!
Excited for "next up" players and coaches:
https://x.com/cardsfanjoanna/status/1968054769249087782
Coaching up Elijah Jones:
https://x.com/BoBrack/status/1968053591471784024
A+ Presser by Nick Rallis:
At this Tuesday press conference Nick Rallis was supremely articulate, dialed in and --- you can tell how genuinely sincere he is about his players, from Calais Campbell all the way to to Elijah Jones. Very curious and interesting to see the game plan that Nick Rallis will devise for defensing Kyle Shanahan's multi-dimensional offense.
The CB Situation:
Replying to @WBJMItch
Hey Tucker, I would start: RCB Kei'Trel Clark/Denzel Burke; LCB Elijah Jones; SCB Darren Hall (played Garrett Williams' role very well in pre-season). Today Nick Rallis spoke very highly of Elijah Jones and all of these CBs and said he is excited for them and the coaches because they have been working very hard and progressing nicely.
Possible CB Roles for Week 3:
* Kei'Trel Clark and Denzel Burke take Max Melton's role.
* Elijah Jones takes Will Johnson's role.
* Darren Hall takes Garrett Williams' role (Dadrion Taylor-Demerson is also an option).
CB Tryouts:
The Cardinals worked out cornerbacks Andrew Booth, Shemar Bartholomew and Ekow Boye-Doe, per the NFL transactions page.
DL Zach Carter also visited the team.
Player profiles:
I liked what I saw from Ekow Boye-Doe (6-0, 177, 4.39, Kansas St.) in the pre-season. He only gave up 3 receptions on 8 targets for 21 yards for a QB-RTG of 45.1 He was signed as a CFA in 2023 by KC. Dude has a SB ring when he was promoted to the Chiefs' roster that season.
Andrew Booth (6-0, 194. 4.38, Clemson) was a 2nd round pick for the Vikings in 2022. Was traded to the Cowboys and was released during final cuts this year. At Clemson he excelled in their "shell" defense, which is likely why the Cardinals are interested in him.
Shemar Bartholomew (6-1, 200, 4.45, Georgia Southern) was a CFA for the Jets in 2023 who gave up 0 receptions in 9 targets during the pre-season, yet Jets released him and 4-5 teams put in waivers claim for him with the Panthers being awarded the claim. He was released by the Panthers during cuts this year, was signed to their PS but was then quickly released. That may have been by his and his agent's desire.
DT Zach Carter (6-4, 301, 4.99, Florida) was a 3rd round pick in the 2022 draft by the Bengals. He most recently was playing for the raiders but did not make their 53. NFL career stats per Wikipedia:
| Total tackles | 68 |
|---|---|
| Sacks | 2.0 |
| Forced fumbles | 1 |
| Pass deflections | 3 |
I hope the Cardinals sign all three CBs to the PS. I think it is very likely that Darren hall will be promoted to the 53-Man roster.
The Cardinals also have Chigozie Anusiem (6-1, 200, 4.40, Colorado St.) on their PS. He was promoted to the Browns' 53 last season, but was released during cuts this year and was promptly signed by the Cardinals to the PS.
More on the "Tank for Marvin" Saga
Satirical Tweet
Tank for Marv fanatics' post-game reactions:
1. Cards Win! Marv in a Leading Role! - "Well it's about freaking time."
2. Cards Win! Marv in a Supporting Role - "Fire Petzing."
3. Cards Lose. Marv in a Leading Role - "Fire Petzing."
4. Cards Lose. Marv in a Supporting Role - "Fire Petzing."
Matt Harmon with Nate Tice ---
What do you think of this assessment of the Kyler and Marvin fit? I think it is what many of us have suspected and worried about. Again, I do not think this is Drew Petzing's fault. I also want to reiterate, a completely reliable source told me that there was an outspoken faction of Cardinals coaches who were banging the drum for Malik Nabers. And time and time again, Michael Bidwill has the tendency to listen to what the fans want more than his coaches want.
Through two weeks, we got the Marvin Harrison Jr. deployment change we wanted to see from a route standpoint. But the production has still been hit and miss.
and I talked about why there's still an oil and water feel to his fit with Kyler Murray.
Listen to Matt's assessment here:
This is why, in order to aid and abet Kyler's and Marv's chemistry, I have been suggesting that Drew Petzing, at times, flex Marv opposite of Trey McBride and have Marv run Trey's route tree to the other side of the field.
The majority of those routes, as we have seen the past couple of years, are right in Kyler's wheelhouse. And with Marv lined up flexed (in the slot) it is going to be nearly impossible for team to bracket both Trey McBride and MHJ.
But then again, the way Elijah Higgins looked versus the Panthers, he's a natural fit in that "Y" receiver role.
Your thoughts on Nick Rallis, the CB options and the Kyler/Marv chemistry?
Leading up to the MHJ drsft was hell for me. I was screaming from the rooftop to draft Nabers if we insisted in an WR. Alt and Bowers were the other two obvious options to anyone with some decent eval chops. Nabers was (and has since shown himself to be) in an entirely different stratosphere as a player/nfl prospect. That’s why I know 95%+ of the fans who give opinions on the draft in places like rotb, here etc either have no business giving their opinion or they just flat out don’t have a decent eye for the game. I was the dummy who didn’t agree with the experts screaming MHJ isn’t generational, he’s far from it but if we’re looking for generational we had several options. Monti has zero excuses. He’s either a poor eye for talent or he’s a duck. Either way it’s not good. There’s only two ppl the Cards need to fire, it’s Monti and Murray. We won’t get to yoy playoff contention with either of those guys in place, especially in light of the inherent disadvantage we’ve got in place having Mikey as owner. Our only legit chance at contention is someone with balls comes in and takes over the show (Arians, Harbaugh, Payton, Jimmy Johnson types). The standard fare yes men with poor eye for impact talent like Monti absolutely won’t cut it. Every weekend I get more and more irritated with the MHJ pick bwcause it’s playing out EXACTLY how I predicted and I shouldn’t
ReplyDeletebe more adept at foreseeing these types of things than the GM.
I'd say he gets an incomplete with an almost equal hit and miss from draft picks and FA at this juncture. It takes a few seasons of play to fairly assess draft picks.
DeleteWe are going to find out just how savvy smart our GM is when he deals with the Murray situation end of this season or maybe next. I agree someone with balls is needed in the building but no one with balls, or a bright future would work for Shitbird Jr and he sure wouldn't hire them anyway. That's despite learning and benefiting so much from a football mind like Arians who they had no idea would be so independent and forthright.
I think there is a lot more to the MHJ pick then we will ever know and I am sure it's more to do with business than MO's ability to hit on a pick.
DeleteA quick look at the Cardinals picks over the last 3 years would show that he has hit on everyone of them. If not for a couple of injuries, there would be nothing to complain about.
I would certainly like to see a little more out of Robinson right now I will admit. And Alt would have looked great in Cardinal red.
Knowing that a contingent of Cardinals' coaches were banging the table for Malik Nabers, it seems clear that Michael Bidwill made MHJ the pick in order to please the fans. Like most football decisions where Bidwill intervenes, choosing MHJ at #4 to please the fans has now created a 400-pound elephant in the room. The problem is the fans are not good, well-informed judges and neither is Bidwill.
DeleteBurb, I wouldn't put that pick on MO. We all know the type of owner MB is, and I guarantee he made a business decision and forced the pick. If it was truly up to MO, I bet he would have traded back a bit and grabbed Nabers or Bowers.
DeleteI agree with Rallis' assessment of Kyle Shanahan's play calling-brilliant regardless of talent and personnel he can draw up plays to excel in every situation. He is the sequential play caller in the game today. This ability is what we haven't witnessed from Petzing's second half play calling and its deservedly frustrating (same goes for the D play calling). 3 points against the Saints and 7 against the Panthers is unacceptable and whether the play caller is to blame, the OC carries the responsibility for it. Petzing must do better.
ReplyDeleteI like the suggested replacements for our injured CBs and think we will find some diamonds in the rough who will get the job done this week with a depleted SF WR/QB group. It's a good game to get their feet wet.
KM/MHJ chemistry? Petzing must do better scripting involvement from Marv and with all the receivers. No reason not to mix up the plays and routes for MHJ and McBride etc.
If Shany is the NFLs best, or one of, and most situationally creative play callers, where does Petzing rank?
The cb room injuries are a total bummer, especially Melton. WJ and GW were injury risks and fell in the draft due to their inherent risk so they just can’t be considered a surprise. Monti’s massive missteps in the draft are already rearing their head.
ReplyDeleteNate Wiggins was my no1 choice on the board when we drafted Darius Robinson. He’s balling out for Baltimore currently.
Enter W Nolan, along with Robinson and we got failure for sure. Both players were question marks by most draft pundits.
DeleteI think Monti and Dave, personnel-wise, are making good strides. Where they are most vulnerable is in the coaching hires --- it's fine to go young if you give them senior advisors.
DeleteIt gives me a small amount of peace you think so Walt as I like the way you see the game but I’m beyond unimpressed with the overall haul they got from their 25 picks and what they’ve done in free agency.
DeleteOur season will go the way of these next two games...
ReplyDelete...Shanahan gets more from his QB's than their talent
...Kyler doesn't get a Shanahan (Kingsbury was his best QB coach to date)
...CB Injuries hurt but don't doom Cardinals, puts more pressure on our DL to play lights out
...Robinson, does he need more bulk to be effective? He isn't getting any penetration or making any impact in-game.
...Hernandez, is he ready to play - play him
...J Williams struggles, is it time to make the move to backup Beachum...
Darius Robinson after 4 years of college ball playing inside was looking like an udfa. They kicked him outside tackle, he went bananas and Monti made him a frp based off that tape. There’s literally zero evidence that he’s an impact guy as a college interior lineman, let alone pro.
DeleteDitto Nolan?
DeleteGreat point, Burberry. Darius is a 2- or 3-point stance 43 DE.
DeleteRegarding NR's articulation of Shanny, you can tell the amount of thought, time, and work he puts into his job. That was much more robust than the typical, "He's one of the best coaches in the league, so it will be tough to scheme against him" responses. Players have said NR is one of the most detailed and thorough coaches they're played for, so maybe we shouldn't be surprised by his answer to the question.
ReplyDelete