Red Rain Blog for Arizona Cardinals Fans

 Red Rain Podcast 222: 53 Reactions, Hoorays and Bummers                                                                 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQE1rrpaZ58 Sportify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0zuj18huOoap09K4EP9u2l?si=bedada36856d4e2c&nd=1&dlsi=b034da3b1c3a40f7 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/red-rain-episode-222-initial-53-man-roster-reactions/id1572161044?i=1000787007233 Who are your hoorays and bummers?

Ram Tough: Owen Pappoe and Elijah Jones        Jeremy Chen/Arizona Cardinals By Walter Mitchell Astounding info. If you go back to the Cardinals' 2 games versus the Rams last year, wherein the Cardinals' defense surrendered a combined: * 925 yards * 82 points * With Matthew Stafford's average QB passer RTGs of 124.2 Week 14 Rams 45 Cardinals 17 Owen Pappoe 71.6 overall, 80.5 tackling, 72.1 coverage Will Johnson 33.3 overall, 27.7 tackling, 38.1 coverage Denzel Burke 40.1 overall, 58.0 tackling, 37.6 coverage Week 18 Rams 37 Cardinals 20 Owen Pappoe 83.2 overall, 71.4 tackling, 76.1 coverage Elijah Jones 82.4 overall, 76.7 tackling, 83.0 coverage QB-RTG: 59.0 Will Johnson 43.7 overall, 23.1 tackling, 40.0 coverage QB-RTG 118.8 Denzel Burke 43.0 overall, 55.8 tackling, 35.2 coverage QB-RTG 147.9 One would think that Nick Rallis would have been very proud to see at least two of his players stand tall versus the Rams, especially when so many of the ot...

Cardinals' Defense: An Exasperating Case of "Arrested Development" By Walter Mitchell Here is a list of young offensive players whom Monti Ossenfort has drafted or signed as free agents who are developing nicely within the Cardinals' offense: QB Kedon Slovis RB Korey Kiner (traded), Evan Hull WR Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jalen Brooks TE Elijah Higgins OL Paris Johnson Jr., Isaiah Adams, Jon Gaines II, Hayden Conner. Call these Cardinals' offensive players "developments in progress." "Arrested Development" Conversely, on the other side of the ball, how many of Monti's draft picks are showing signs of being well developed with Nick Rallis' defensive system? The only one I can think of is ILB Owen Pappoe --- yet, the irony is, Arizona pundit and fans don't believe he will make the team this season.  Pappoe has been the team's best cover ILB since he arrived as a 5th round rookie from Auburn in 2023.  Where he struggled e...

Cardinals' 2026 Pre-Season - Unsung Stars By Walter Mitchell Here is a list of the unsung Cardinals who imo have been making strong cases for roster spots, even though some of them are in deep position groups: * QB Kedon Slovis - 18/26, 69.2%, 211 yards, 8.1 ave, 1 TD, 0 int, 106.4 RTG - 92.5 PFF grade * RB Corey Kiner - 173 total yards, 4.3 ave, 2 TDs - 68.7 PFF grade * WR Jalen Brooks - 193 yards, 15.0 ave, 1 TD - 91.5 PFF grade * WR Reggie Virgil - 135 yards, 15.0 ave - 77.5 PFF grade * WR Simi Fehoko - 70 yards, 11.7 ave, 2 TDs - 73.2 PFF grade * C/G Jon Gaines II - 85.4 PFF grade * T Jayden Williams - 73.6 PFF grade * G Oli Udoh - 81.9 PFF grade * C Ka'ena Decambra - 70.0 PFF grade * LB Owen Pappoe - team leading 11 tackles, 0 tackles missed - 68.3 PFF grade * OLB Cam Robertson - 6 tackles, 0 misses, 7 QB pressures, 0 sacks - 84.9 PFF grade * CB Elijah Culp - 8 tackles, 0 misses, 51.0 QB-RTG - 6 catches on 16 targets, 37.5%, 68 yds, 11.3 ave, 0 TD, 2 PBU

Cardinals' Coverage Issues via Flawed Schemes and Personnel Decisions Getty Images: credit Cooper Neill By Walter Mitchell It is bullshit to say that the Cardinals suck on defense due to a lack of talent,  Any player in the NFL will tell you that his success is dependent on his coaches putting him in the best positions to succeed.  What that essentially means for players is two things: 1. The schemes need to be tailored to the strengths of the players. 2. The coaches need to do their best to prepare the players in a manner that breeds confidence, sound fundaments and mutual trust.  Over the past four years, what we have been seeing from the Cardinals' defense is how inherently flawed their schemes are. Let us count a few of the ways: 1. Players are being put in positions that are not their strengths.  2. The soft zones, which the coaches are playing over 80% of the time are improperly taught. Example A: when you see two players standing next to a receiver, but not on...

 Red Rain Podcast 221: Cardinals' "Unsolved Mysteries" plus updated 53-Man Roster Projections YouTube: Cardinals Unsolved Mysteries + Need for a Defensive Intervention Spotify: Red Rain Episode 221: Cardinals Unsolved Mysteries + Need for a Defensive Intervention - Red Rain Podcast with Walter Mitchell | Podcast on Spotify Apple: Red Rain Episode 221: Cardinal… - Red Rain Podcast with Walter Mitchell - Apple Podcasts Your thoughts?

 ESPN's Team Rankings By Position Groups, Cardinals #31 Overall By Walter Mitchell Here are the ranking that ESPN gave the Cardinals at each position group: QB: 32 Not sold on Jacoby Brissett, obviously, despite his brilliance with Trey McBride and Michale Wilson and his finishing #14 in QB passer ratings in 2025. Plus, most passing yards per game in his 12 starts, RB: 6 They are sold on Jeremiyah Love. Good to see. WR: 20 Not sold on Marvin Harrison Jr. or the depth. TE: 2 Sold on Trey McBride. Raiders at #1 because they have two TE1s in Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. OL: 16 Sold on left side and center, not sold on right side. DI: 22 Sold on Walter Nolen. Not sold on Darius Robinson. ED: 27 Sold on Josh Sweat. Not sold on any9one else. LB: 30 Not sold on Mack Wilson Sr. or any player here. CB: 31 Not sold on Will Johnson, Denzel Burke and Garrett Williams. While Monti has drafted 7 CBs in 4 years, ESPN is not sold on any one of them, and the team still lacks a slot CB who can co...

Opinion: Cardinals' Best Players at Each Position By Walter Mitchell If Kurt Warner can get frustrated by not seeing coaches not starting the best players on their team, then ... https://x.com/kurt13warner/status/2090120305255879056?s=20 Kurt Warner @kurt13warner · 18h I hate that too often at the highest level it’s not “the best player plays”!! I have competed my whole life and always thought this is what sports was about, all I ever wanted… then to get to the highest level of sport and watch other factors dictate who plays, way too often, just seems wrong! Thank you, as always, Kurt. In my opinion, here are the Cardinals' best and brightest players at each position (who have been practicing with the team): QB Jacoby Brissett RB Jeremiah Love TE Trey McBride WR Michael Wilson WR Marvin Harrison Jr. LT Paris Johnson Jr. LG Isaac Seumalo C Hjalte Froholdt RG Jon Gaines II/Isaiah Adams (tie) RT Elijah Wilkinson TE2 Elijah Higgins WR3 Jalen Brooks SOLB Jordan Burch LDE Walter Nol...