Arizona Cardinals Underground Podcast

With training camp only a couple of weeks away, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard delve into the Cards' defense as the it heads into the preseason. Sure, cornerback is always something to consider, and the spotlight will be on Byron Murphy, Robert Alford, Malcolm Butler and others. But what does J.J. Watt bring to that defensive line? Meanwhile, the Cardinals are going to be walking a fine line with the inexperienced Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons at inside linebacker. Meanwhile, Budda Baker is an all-pro at safety, but the Cards need Jalen Thompson back there too.

With training camp only a couple of weeks away, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard delve into the Cards' offense as it heads into the preseason. Can Kyler Murray make more strides as a passer, and how will that impact what his legs do when the Cards have the ball? Plus, the idea of Chase Edmonds as RB1 (and how physical will this offense get?), A.J. Green's potential bounceback season, and an offensive line that looks very different with Rodney Hudson in the middle.

With Paul Calvisi on vacation, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard line up a very special podcast with a What If edition. Among the topics: What if Kyler finds that consistency in the intermediate passing game? What if every team stays healthy in the NFC West? What if Chandler Jones returns to 2019 form? What if James Conner has more rushing yards than Chase Edmonds? What if the Cardinals start 5-2 again? And, of course, what if Larry Fitzgerald plays in regular-season games this year?

With Kyle Odegard vacationing – or is he? – Paul Calvisi and Darren Urban have an intimate discussion on Kyler Murray's place in Steve Keim's headspace, what it would take to win the NFC West, DeAndre Hopkins' rank among NFL players, what Chandler Jones might be thinking, the ability to wear alternate helmets, a Scouting combine on the move, and just how difficult it might be for Larry Fitzgerald to end his playing career (whenever it might happen).

Vacations are coming, but for now, the power trio of Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard remain in place to talk about the Hail Murray's ESPY chances, Dennis Gardeck's rehab, how the defense might (should?) be better than the offense, the left tackles in the NFC West, this week's Fitz theory, Rondale Moore's potential and A.J. Green's impact. And oh yeah, Paul thinks the Cards might have a Super Bowl preview to play in the regular season.

No, Kyle Odegard's middle name isn't Disagree (or Sebastian), but that doesn't stop Paul Calvisi or Darren Urban from going after Kyle's take on Kyler Murray's need to run the football. Plus, it's tough not to thinking about the Titans in Week 1 (yes, D-Hop, Julio is a Titan for a second-rounder), Murray's baseball dreams, the hopes for A.J. Green and Robert Alford, leaning on young inside linebackers, Zach Allen's needed big year, and Fitz's waiting game (and middle name.)

After some time off, Darren Urban returns just in time for minicamp, so Paul Calvisi and Kyle Odegard bring him back in the fold to talk about the lone time the (nearly) full roster will work in the offseason and what they noticed, the absence of Chandler Jones as Jones goes into the last year of his contract, the decisions that will have to be made at cornerback, Eno in the backfield (and maybe J.J. Watt?), bandwagoning with the Cards, what players should be talked about more, and even seeing Fitz's face (on the freeway, but still.)

After a completely virtual offseason in 2020, the Cardinals returned to the field for organized team activities this week. Paul Calvisi and Kyle Odegard discussed J.J. Watt, Kyler Murray and more while Darren Urban took advantage of the OTA session's voluntary nature and chose a vacation. Plus, a breakdown of Budda Baker's beef with Pro Football Focus, the tight end rumor mill and much more.

Finally face-to-face, there is plenty for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard to talk about, not the least of which is Chase Edmonds' willingness to "run through a damn wall" for his starting running back opportunity. But there's so much more – more Fitz speculation, the big year facing Christian Kirk (again), how much Rondale Moore was needed, Rodney Hudson as the best center in the NFL, Kyler Murray throwing to A.J. Green and how good Green can be, and oh yeah, some tattoo chatter.

In the wake of rookie minicamp and offseason on-field work for the first time since 2019, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard discuss Zaven Collins' doppelgänger and his immediate placement into the starting lineup; how Collins might look alongside fellow tree Isaiah Simmons; the benefit Collins gets with on-field work (and what Simmons might've lost last offseason); the cornerback room; Rondale Moore's drive to play big; how roster building might signal an offensive direction, Larry Fitzgerald's locker, and what are the keys for a playoff berth.

Yes, the 2021 schedule is here. Why wouldn't Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard want to have some deep discussions about whether the Cardinals have enough primetime games, opening at Tennessee (and what it means for the young ILB tandem of Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons), dealing with weather like the heat in Jacksonville and the cold of Chicago, the most intriguing game on the schedule, Patrick Peterson's return, the return of fans, potentially playing rookie QBs and the best road trips available for fans.

No, Tim Tebow hasn't signed with the Cardinals, but that doesn't mean the discussion doesn't go all over the place with Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Oedgard. There are single-digit jerseys on players, a tight end with a potential nickname of Psycho, what it will mean for the rookies to actually have some on-field and in-person time during rookie minicamp, Tay Gowan's confidence, Kyler Murray's quiet offseason before a crucial third year, Larry Fitzgerald's limbo, and DeAndre Hopkins' charitable foray into the breakfast cereal market.

Any easy subject this week for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard. Sure, Paul first asks about longsnappers, but quickly enough the guys delve into the athleticism of the Cardinals' draft class, choosing Zaven Collins in the first round and the kind of impact he can make compared to other positions, Rondale Moore as the latest second-round wide receiver and how his skillset can change the offense, how rookies can make an impact, the secondary help on Day 3, the curious case of Marco Wilson, Tay Gowan as steal, Budda Baker's new number and, of course, a dollop of Fitz.

The draft is here – hopefully, Kyle Shanahan, the world won't end this weekend – so Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard have a lot to chat about. Who should/will the 49ers take at No. 3 for quarterback, who might the Cardinals take at 16 if all the "hot" names are gone, could the Cards trade down, whether a running back in the first round makes sense, the fears of the Caleb Farley injuries, cornerback as priority and maybe trading up, the Kliff House, spending a pick on a punter, and yes, a little more Fitz speculation.

The time for the NFL draft is near, which means we're hip-deep in mock drafts and speculation. Little wonder Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard use that to their advantage, as they talk about oh so many mocks, how desperate is the need for cornerback in the first round, just what is valuable in the first round (is it receiver?), the second round and whether an edge rusher fits (and a story about Denny Green's draft predictions), the importance of the class overall in future roster-building, trading for a tight end, P2's goodbye essay and of course, this week's Fitz theory.

Fitz might be talking more golf than football these days, but the guys have talked about adding a running back for weeks, and now the Cardinals have one. So Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard have plenty to say about newcomer James Conner, how he fits in with Chase Edmonds, what it means – or doesn't mean – for the draft and Eno Benjamin, the question of just what will the Cardinals' offense look like this season, whether players will skip the voluntary offseason work, Paul's latest theory about Fitz, and just how much might the Cards reach for a cornerback in the draft?

It's good that Paul Calvisi and Kyle Odegard have settled their differences from a week ago, leaving an easy transition for the two to join Darren Urban to discuss the Reggie White/J.J. Watt parallels, what's left for the Cardinals to do in free agency, that cornerback position heading into the draft, the pros and cons of trading away the first-round pick for an established veteran or the need for immediate impact from 16, the offseason aggressiveness in the NFC West, the need to chase a QB in the NFL, Colt McCoy's role and, of course, Fitzwatch and the A.J. Green meaning.

It should've just been another podcast talking about 17-game seasons and Malcolm Butler's arrival, but Paul Calvisi and Kyle Odegard nearly came to virtual blows on the subject of leadership and how important it really is for the Cardinals -- with Darren Urban trying the play peacemaker. Thank goodness they were able to get past it all, and move on to Butler's impact and what is still needed at cornerback, how the 49ers trade impacts the NFC West and the its future, the addition of a 17th regular-season game to the schedule, and Paul's latest why Fitz-is-waiting theory – and how we may all want to be checking our fax machines.

The Cardinals have done a bunch in the first week of free agency, but there are still areas to address, and who better to chat about them than Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard. There is a deep dive into the cornerback spot now that Patrick Peterson has departed (and the options if we get to the draft), what makes sense at running back whether or not Chase Edmonds is No. 1, tight end needs (no, not Fitz), Paul's latest Fitz announcement conspiracy theory, with a dollop of Magnús Ver Magnússon debate.

Call it free agency with a flourish. After the first day of the new league year, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard discuss the trade for Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson; how Hudson now solidifies the offensive line; the signing of A.J. Green and what Green has left in the tank; how Green has patterned his career after Larry Fitzgerald; what Green's arrival might mean for Fitz's decision on his future; the addition of kicker Matt Prater and the confidence level needed with kickers; and Paul takes a moment for storytime and his bond with Green.

As teams begin to talk with free agents around the league, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard begin to talk about the moves and potential moves of the Cardinals, including the important retention of Markus Golden, the market for Haason Reddick and Patrick Peterson, the question of Fitz, if the Cards might fill all their needs in free agency, and Paul's growing addiction to props.

Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard cannonball into the deep end of free agency talk with free agent talk – and the franchise tag – dominating the days a week out. The trio discuss no tag for Haason Reddick and Reddick's future; the potential of another high-profile signing despite the Cards closing in on the cap; the rookie contract window of Kyler and the inevitability of a giant Murray extension; what the future looks like at cornerback and Patrick Peterson; FitzWatch 2021; and what position the Cardinals should chase in free agency.

It's still true – J.J. Watt is a Cardinal, as odd as it sounds. Does his presence impact not only the pass rush but the culture? Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard chew on that topic, as well as considering the unretirement of No. 99, Watt's ability to be inspirational for the defense and the "whole lot" of gas he says he has left, how his salary cap number might be figured and what it means to the Cards, the opportunities the Cards have in free agency as they look ready to push their chips in, what it means for Pat P and Haason Reddick and again, much discussion on the ripple effect for a Fitz decision.

Who saw this coming? Not Darren Urban, Kyle Odegard and Paul Calvisi, who were as blown away by the addition of J.J. Watt to the defense as anyone. So much so, here's a special all-Watt, all-the-time podcast. The guys talk about the energy and leadership Watt will bring to the field and the locker room, the trickle down impact it may have on contracts and on drawing other free agents, what Watt has left, if Haason Reddick could still return, Watt's teaming with Chandler Jones and Jones' future, Watt's potential jersey number, the remaining cornerback questions on defense, Watt's draw for prime time games or Hard Knocks, and what – if anything – this could mean for Larry Fitzgerald's decision for 2021.

It's the first time since he started going in 2001 that Darren Urban isn't in Indianapolis for the Scouting combine, so with both he and Kyle Odegard protocoled out of that trip, they join Paul Calvisi on a cornucopia of topics. That includes Andy Isabella's at-home powerlifting; the possibility of playing tag with Haason Reddick; Kenyan Drake and the uncertainty of most free agents right now; the likelihood of one-year contracts in a year of a cap crunch; and Fitz as player, retiree and/or recruiter.