Reactions to Doug Franz's Three Takeaways from SF 36 ARI 30 and why Mike LaFleur through 3 games deserves a C- grade as head coach
By Walter Mitchell
One of the Arizona Cardinals'-related streams that I find most interesting and insightful is Doug Franz's. "Unplugged" Podcast. Franz, the former co-host of Arizona Sports Radio's "Doug and Wolf Show" has a knack for getting right to the gist of the Cardinals' current state of affairs.
In this week's episode, Doug Franz provides his three "things we learned" from last Sunday's game in Santa Clara. Here's the link. You can fast-forward to his Cardinals' comments.
Doug's three main points:
1. Monti is bad at his job of drafting.
2. Jeremiyah Love is an exception, given his superior talent.
3. Mike LaFleur looks promising as a head coach.
Reactions:
As always, I enjoy your takes on the Cardinals, Doug. You sound amazingly coherent for someone taping the show at 3:30 am!
1. I completely agree with your assessments on Monti's dubious first 3-year's track record with 1st round picks, regarding Paris Johnson Jr., Marvin Harrison Jr., Darius Robinson and Walter Nolen III. Not that this quartet lacks talent, it's just that there were stronger and more fitting talents for their systems on the board when each of these players were taken.
Would love to hear you piggyback that with an account of Monti's 2nd round picks, his trade backs and what players he passed on in doing so.
Plus, 3rd round picks, other than Michael Wilson and Isaiah Adams have stifled the rebuild.
Here the Cardinals thought that for 3 years they could rebuild around a highly overpaid, skittish QB with a defensive-minded HC who ran a soft, play-on-their-heels type of defense that never was given any sorely needed adjustments or personnel upgrades --- the HC's hiring: rookies at OC, DC --- a bevy of college assistants --- and NO veteran advisors.
What could go wrong? Is it any wonder or coincidence then, that now in 2026, the two weakest areas of the team are managed by the two main holdovers from Gannon's staff in OLC Justin Frye and DC Nick Rallis? 2. Your points about Jeremiyah Love are particularly salient given that Love is being run into crowded boxes that he has beaten mostly on his own and surprisingly, he has not yet been employed creatively in space where he could be an absolute game breaking YAC phenom. 3. Regarding Mike LaFleur, whose offense, despite the early season small ball approach, has been good enough to win two games.
However, if anyone on the staff has been in a position to help the struggling DC, given MLF's years of coaching in the NFC West as an assistant under Kyle Shanahan for 4 years and under Sean McVay for 3 years, and given that he should know better than anyone how to dismantle Rallis' defense the way the Rams did last year to the whopping tune of 81 points and 925 yards last season, that coach should be Mike LaFleur ---
And yet, MLF has had zero impact on the defense to date.
During the off-season, he made the bullshit excuse that the Cardinals' defense struggled mostly in 2025 because of injuries, when, in fact, 10 of the team's 11 Week 1 starters were starting versus the Rams in Week 18. Messers Collins, Campbell, Tomlinson, Robinson, Sweat, Davis-Gaither, Johnson, Thompson, Baker and Burke. At the beginning of training camp when Zaven Collins reported that Nick Rallis said there wouldn't be any real major changes to the defense, that was the worst possible message, not only to the players, but to the rightfully pissed off fans. That's why if MLF does not get more heavily involved with the defense or, if he doesn't at least turn the defense over to Teryl Austin whom is by far the most experienced and qualified DC on the staff, then MLF will deserve a failing grade as a HC this season --- simply for not giving his players the best chance to succeed.
The HC has to own all three phases of the team. Even if it means giving Matt Schaub some of the play calling duties, MLF needs to show this team how to win in all three phases --- most especially on defense.
Grading Mike LaFleur as head coach through 3 games: In recent polls on X, most fans are giving Mike LaFleur a B grade as HC through 3 games.
But here are some comprehensive head coaching grades to consider, per some game grading metrics:
Offense:
Game 1: B+
Game 2 F
Game 3: B+
Average: B
Defense:
Game 1: B
Game 2: F
Game 3: F
Average: F
Special Teams:
Game 1: A-
Game 2: C-
Game 3: B+
Average: B-
Offense Average: B
Defense Average: F
Special Teams Average: B-
Mike LaFleur's Head Coaching Grade: C-
Cardinals' DVOA Rankings through 3 Weeks: (thanks to our good friend, Jace)
Offensive DVOA: 11th --- corroborates the B grade
Defensive DVOA: 31st --- corroborates the F grade
Team DVOA: 22nd --- corroborates the C- grade
Penalties Factor
Sunday at the Giants is the test. No Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston is starting. Turnover Machine Winston will throw it to us if we make him uncomfortable. If this defense can't sack Jameis and this offense can't get Brissett's yards per throw back at least above 6, the overall team grade drops to a D-
ReplyDeleteBottom line: we may be stuck at a D- no matter who's coaching, because this is Monti's roster. Two first-round defensive linemen, less than a handful of sacks between them. A big-money edge rusher with zero. Two of seven drafted O-linemen can start, so Brissett has 2.2 seconds to throw. You can't scheme your way out of that. Three years in, Monti hasn't built a single trench.
If they can’t beat NY right now it will get ugly again fast. But with a poor D line and the battery ram of big pad RBs from NY and a hard nose HC, he will want to run it down AZ throats, so it will be close. AZ better be prepared for LB Reese.
DeleteI have advocated for AZ to trade Marv, Sweat and Paris, sums up how bad Monti as a GM. Marv and Paris will not be worth their future next deals. Sweat wants to play in GB. But the owner isn’t going to rid his favorite ass kisser in the building. Should also trade Minshew, TB would love him. Could bundle all of these lower round draft picks in return to make sure moving up in first round in 27 with plenty of ammo for a franchise qb.
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DeleteMLF is another rookie so I'm going to give him a season before I judge him too harshly. I think Petzing was a better fit for Brissett but I'm optimistic on MLF and JB eventually clicking. I agree on Monti being below average in building this team. To me it looks like MO prioritizes raw talent over how a player would fit in with this team. I'm not sure if he has the personality for it but I'm hoping MLF works with MO and MB to make better draft picks but so far, Arians has been this teams only HC that had the credentials, personality and skillset to heavily influence how MB runs this team.
ReplyDeleteAnd those Arians teams were the best we’ve had -competive and great fun to watch.Coaching is everything
DeleteAgreed about coaching, plus BA has been the only HC that MB couldn't or didn't try to control. I bet during their first meeting at the old Monti's La Casa Vieja steakhouse, BA made it clear that if he accepts the position, he was going to do it his way and to this day, BA has been the only Cardinal HC with enough clout to make MB and his puppet GM agreed to play by his rules.
DeleteLOVE THIS!
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