Clayton Tune: The Fateful Path of an NFL Legacy by Walter Mitchell photo: @azcardinals.com via Instagram During the second night of the 2023 NFL Draft, Clayton Tune received a call from the Green Bay Packers. The Packers wanted to assure Clayton of their interest in drafting the University of Houston quarterback at some point on day three. When the Arizona Cardinals selected Clayton Tune with the #139 pick a day later, he was surprised, given that the Cardinals had not expressed any significant interest in him during the pre-draft process. The Cardinals were not one of the six teams that brought him in for 30 visits (Texans, Saints, Browns, Steelers, Bucs, Giants). Tune had also been given a private workout by the Rams. The eventual link the Cardinals had to Clayton Tune was that Israel Woolfork was one of his coaches at the Senior Bowl. At that time, Woolfork had just finished his second year of a Bill Walsh/Bill Willis coaching fellowship with the Cleveland Browns. A...
Happy for the win.
ReplyDeleteThere was a lot of good on both sides of the ball for the 1st three qtrs the Cardinals looked unstoppable on Offense and unbreakable on Defense. The the offense basically stalled out again in the 4th quarter (Harrison had 6 catches in 1st half to 1 catch in 2nd half). Our Defense got two turnovers in the 4th qtr to close-out the game plus sacks by Nolen & Campbell). We still have to figure out play-calling on offense in 4th quarter (overly conservative, relying on Defense). We got a bit fortunate with the turnovers, or else we might be crying a repeat of prior 5 weeks.
Both J Williams & Beachum had rough day, Beachum and J Williams continues his inferior level of play.
It was very nice to see our young guys stepping up...
> Nolen, 1st game, 1 sack and I think two pressures on limited action - very nice to see him on field)
>Johnson PBR against CD Lamb
>Burke - everywhere, game sealing INT
>Simon - game saving forced fumble (reversed momentum)
> D Robinson didnt make any splash plays but he also didn't look horrible.
>Harrison was open whole game. Less focus on him in 2nd half and more on McBride.
ESPN - Really really wanted to highlight the offensive struggles of Cardinals (Harrison Sr. article & and commentators hammering on Brissett -v- Murray). Thats the story they wanted to tell. As for their subscription model...I had the bundle at one point, I cancelled it all as it wasn't worth price in my opinion. We were allowed to watch for free on ABC aired in AZ. NFL as a whole is nothing but a money grab to make the NFL and its owner-class wealthier. The push to pay to watch commercials is astounding in its effectiveness and we the people are their enablers. It really is quite easy to say no to paid services when you get so little in return.
Great stuff, Redrun. Per usual. We are going to have to raise your salary.
DeleteHaven’t had a chance to listen yet so forgive me if this was covered, but looking at the PFF defensive grades the top 6 (I believe) players were Monti’s picks and big FA signing (Sweat).
ReplyDeleteInjuries have been an issue for that same group but seeing them all playing at a high level was awesome!
That's correct, Matty. What a night for the rookies under the brightest of lights!
DeleteDoes naming JB as starter (soft benching Kyler) move the needle in restoring faith in the current regime moving forward?
ReplyDeleteI have to give the coaches credit, assuming the severity of Kyler's injury is not a real issue (there are reasons to believe it isn't --- like if Kyler has a legit Lisfranc why would team doctors give the ok for him to practice where he clearly is putting weight on the foot? He should have been in a walking boot). No question this was a better coached team after the bye, particularly on defense. If that continues then the coaches will be making a strong case for being retained.
DeleteBruce Arians says owner Michael Bidwill will make the call to put Murray back out there. "Now, if he fails, if we put him back in there and he fails, maybe we'll go back to Jacoby - but Kyler is starting when he's healthy. I promise you," Arians added. While acknowledging that JB has carried the team and is a better fit ,Arians says Murray's paycheck is the reason why he'll start when fully healthy.
ReplyDeleteMurray's injury is a Lisfranc injury (supposedly a sprain of mid-foot; not the more serious form of broken/dislocation) and projected from beginning to miss 4-8 wks (from wk5). There is good chance the injury could be smoke screen as multiple sources have said injury used as excuse for benching after first 5-game debacle with Murray at helm. Which knowing the Cardinals owner has a pretty fair ring about it (no way of saying if true or not) but Bidwill calling the benching through an injury would leave some market value (though imo his market value is pretty low, nothing towards what Bidwill paid for Murray). Arians would know how Bidwill operates 'behind the scenes' in forcing his coaching staff to do his bidding.
DeleteThis regime it seems uses injury as a holding spot on roster. Not that I have any proof it just has seemed suspicious to me since Gannon took over the players who go on IR when it seems the player is struggling to secure his spot.
Maybe the most illuminating stat of the season-With a touchdown reception Monday night, Trey McBride increased his receiving touchdowns total to four in three Jacoby Brissett starts. McBride has five receiving touchdowns in 39 career games played with Kyler Murray as Arizona's starting quarterback.
ReplyDeleteAnyone think McBride, MHJ, M Wilson want KM under center?
This was one of my big takeaways. It's clear MHJ and Wilson are playing better ball with Brissett. McBride has always had good receptions and yardage, but has been unlocked as an endzone threat.
DeleteI think Bidwill has been able to hedge on the QB situation due to Kyler's injury. If Kyler hadn't been hurt, we never get a look at Brissett. But now Gannon names Brissett as starter and points at least partially to Kyler's injury. Seems like smoke and mirrors to me somewhat, since Kyler (1) came back into the same game in which he was injured, and (2) has taken 1st team reps multiple weeks since the injury occurred.
Now they're saying the recovery time might be another 3-4 weeks? Either they underplayed the injury coming up to the trade deadline or they are overplaying it now to avoid Kyler as a healthy backup.
No long time Cards fan could ever credibly accuse KM for ruining a long successful aggressive franchise. No Cards fan with any tenure could credit KM with a turnaround on this franchise's failures. Murray was on his way to running another entire coaching staff, maybe FO, out the door. Can the staff and FO convince the Owner, who has stewarded this franchise to historical rock bottom of the League, to move off his poor decision to sign this kid long term? A look at the Bengals who luckily drew the J Burrow top pick card will provide some insight how the right QB can turn around another franchise with a cheap meddling owner. Is the '26 QB draft the best time for us to grab our Joe Burrow?
ReplyDeleteI think that Harrison Sr. Forgot that he had Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne along with himself Harrison didn't break out until the 4th year of his career when Manning came along, however he doesn't stand out without a Peyton Manning in his prime.
ReplyDeleteHarrison should just be quiet about Junior.