Cardinals Need Key Veterans to Take Command of the Team

photo: @azcardinals.com
By Walter Mitchell

When certain veterans on a team have more years of NFL experience than their coaches and can relate what they have seen work in other organizations, if and when they feel the urgency, they need to take charge of the team. 

The most significant word here is urgency --- something this 2025 Cardinals team lacks. 

Key Veterans:

* QB Jacoby Brissett --- not only did he show in the pre-season that he feels very comfortable in the Cardinals' offense which is practically identical the one he ran in Cleveland, the younger players like Marvin Harrison Jr. have been lauding Jacoby's leadership and the special way in which he has taken interest in their development. Kyler Murray and Drew Petzing have been at odds with one another. That's not the case with Jacoby --- which is why it behooves the team to see how the offense operates with Jacoby under center.

* C Hjalte Froholdt --- the Cardinals' offensive line, now more than ever, needs a veteran to step up and remind the group of the lessons, motivational tools and teaching points that Klayton Adams imparted to them so brilliantly. The Cardinals' "Great Dane" has the ability to galvanize the chemistry of the group and its "dawg" type physicality that is of paramount importance to the success of the offense. 

* DT Calais Campbell --- there is no way that Calais Campbell does not understand how flawed the Cardinals' defensive schemes are in the 4th quarters of their games. Mina Kimes pointed out yesterday that the Cardinals' defensive EPA/play in quarters 1-3 is #1 in the NFL, but in the 4th quarter the Cardinals' ranking plummets to #27. Over the course of Calais Campbell's 18 NFL season, he has played for the following defensive coordinators:

* ARI Clancy Pendergast

* ARI Ray Horton

* ARI: Todd Bowles

* JAX Anthony Campanile

* BAL Don "Wink" Martindale

* BAL Mike Macdonald

* ATL Ryan Nielsen

* MIA Anthony Weaver

What Calais Campbell is able to share with the Cardinals' coaches and his teammates is a treasure trove of defensive knowledge. He could share the brilliant in-games adjustments that Todd Bowled made, including how Bowles went "full-tilt boogie" on opposing QBs to close out games. Then, he could tell the coaches and players precisely why Wink Martindale's and Mike Macdonald's defenses in Baltimore were so consistently successful --- and be able to provide key insights on how his defenses wherever he has played were able to close out games in the 4th quarter. 

* S Budda Baker --- for whatever reasons, Budda Baker has not been the team's lightning rod on defense so far this season. Everything about the genius of Budda's game is based on cat-quick reads and bolting down the fastest path possible to the football. He is the best finisher as a tackler the Cardinals have had since they moved to Arizona. The passive aggressiveness of Nick Rallis' defense, particularly with games on the line in the 4th quarter, must be driving him crazy. Nick Rallis has been relying on Budda to help with the weekly game plans. It would be wise of the DC to have Budda and Calais help create a much more aggressive approach to finishing games.

Mina Kimes' take on Cardinals' defense:

https://x.com/cory_cards/status/1976062564216844475

Veterans' Years of NFL Experience --- compared to their position coaches':

* Jacoby Brissett - 10 ---- Israel Woolfork - 3

* Hjalte Froholdt - 7 --- Justin Frye - 1

* Calais Campbell - 18 --- Winston DeLattiboudere - 1

* Budda Baler - 9 --- Patrick Toney - 3

Cardinals' Coaches' Years of NFL Experience as Coordinators:

* Jeff Rodgers - 15

* Drew Petzing - 3

* Nick Rallis - 3 

* Jonathan Gannon - 2

"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." — Phil Jackson




Comments

  1. BurberryOctober 9, 2025 at 9:33 AM

    Can’t imagine any scenario where having players who’ve got more experience than the coaches is a positive, ESPECIALLY the types of variances youve described above. You mentioned the sinecure JG has cultivated, it’s quite comedic the owner has allowed such a setup. Just goes to show how not serious both of them are about putting the best product on the field(winning), with priority #1 being the gravy train.

    ReplyDelete
  2. RedrunOctober 9, 2025 at 10:16 AM

    Love, love the premise of players learning from Vets. I was hoping Tomlinson ^& Campbell for certain would be able to mentor our young draft selections. To dare its is apparent that the coaches don't desire to have their veterans teaching the younger players. Rather our coaches (younger & less experienced) feel that they have it all handled (no assistance required). Of course I am speculating the hubris of no need mentors for coaches extends to the players themselves.

    The culture of this team is fundamentally broken.

    IF ONLY...

    ReplyDelete

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