Brandon Staley on Cardinals offense, Kyler Murray | New Orleans Saints

prepare for that and you know what’s kind of your expectation of you know your approach to yeah Ross they do a really good job with their running game both with their scheme and I think the way they use their personnel uh I think their O line is extremely well coached uh they play with a lot of tight ends uh and then I think the running back group runs really really tough and physical. So uh I’ve got a ton of respect for James Connor. Uh I think he’s one of the underrated backs in the league. Uh he’s got a great story and he’s just a really physical player. Uh, and then when you factor in Kyler as a part of that equation, too, uh, you know, they’re very dangerous in that phase. Um, and that’s kind of, you know, been the engine of their team the last couple years. I was going to ask you about the the tight ends, like the amount of 13 they play is like, I think the highest in the league and some some of the stuff they’re able to do with those guys. Like, how does that maybe dictate some of the matchups and how do you deal with it? Yeah, I mean, you’re adding gaps in the run game and you’re adding vertical threats in the passing game. So, um, I think Drew Ping does a really good job tying it all together. uh the marriage of the run and the pass. And I think all three of those uh tight ends complement one another uh and it gives them a lot of flexibility with how they play uh because they all play really different roles but impactful roles for their team. So um you know they’re one of the teams that’s unique in that way right now. I I always want to qualify when I ask a 34 versus 4-3 question because I know it’s not that simple, but but in general, is is a 34 scheme better suited to handle mobile quarterbacks and and keep them corral, do you think, or or that’s case by case? I think it’s I think it’s based on your personnel, whether you’re 4-3 or 34. Uh your actual people um rushing and how you rush the quarterback. Um that’s the biggest factor. And you know, I think when you’re playing a player like Kyler, uh, you’re not going to bat a perfect percentage for four quarters. Uh, so it’s really a team operation. It’s not just the rushers, it’s the coverage players, too. Um, and so it’s a 60-minute fight against a player like that. And you got to have great stamina. Um, you got to play a lot of people because you want to be fresh in the fourth quarter, uh, to be able to rush him at the end when it counts. Um, but yeah, he’s one of the premier guys in the league, uh, running the football and and making plays. um outside the pocket. Can it be hard to find the right balance between how aggressive you want to be and and you know how you want to make sure you don’t leave any openings if you’re too aggressive? Yeah, definitely. Uh you’re trying to find the right balance of how to rush them, who to rush them with, uh and also being really mindful that they’ve got really good skilled players, too. So, you want to make sure you try to tie your rush and your coverage together. Um and force them to work, you know, make them earn it. uh and knowing that, you know, he’s a really good player. He’s gonna make plays. You know, just like in basketball, there’s some guys who are going to make shots, you know, no matter how well you cover. So, he’s going to make some shots and our guys just got to keep it moving. Um we got to keep our composure. Uh and we got to try and have our best at the end. With Chase Young dealing with injury right now, um have y’all done anything in that edge rusher room to maybe add another option? Yeah, I mean, we’re going to roll with the guys that we have and it’s going to, you know, it’s going to take everybody in that room and every other room, too. So, uh, we’ve got guys that are going to be ready to do do the job. Uh, that’s why we’ve been trying to prepare so hard in camp, you know, to get those guys live looks and, um, you know, some of those guys that are role players, having them play against starters in the preseason and stuff like that, uh, that helps them, you know, so that game one isn’t the first time they played against, you know, the big time competition. So, it’s going to take everybody. Um, and uh, you know, I’m excited about our guys. They do it the right way and um, it’s going to be a great challenge for us on on Sunday. Talk about personnel wise when it comes to managing mobile quarterbacks. How much does that star position sort of factor into that along with the defensive front? Yeah, I mean, I think all the the ways that you can rush them. Um, if you can have uh, multiple different, you know, types of rushers, I think that that can help you. Um, but again, uh, in theory, they’re faster players. Um but they’re also uh not used to rushing the passer as much as our guys on the edge. So um it’s again it’s how you rush them. Um and it’s everybody. If you are going to decide to rush somebody from, you know, the perimeter or from behind the ball, um they’ve got to rush just like the guys up front, you know, and they’ve got to have that same um type of awareness of the pocket and and how he plays and and then how um dangerous he is um in the pocket. I like to like how we were talking before about how Julian and Justin compliment each other. Do editioners like complent each other at all? Like do Carlin Chase? Yeah, I I do. I I agree with that 100%. Um I think about the Dome Patrol, you know, New Orleans, um Pat Swilling and Ricky Jackson, you know, you have a power rusher in Ricky Jackson with a speed rusher like Pat Swilling. Um I’ve been fortunate in the NFL, you know, a Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd, those guys playing together. um Von Miller and Bradley Chub. Uh you know, I think that that there’s a lot to that. Um and so, you know, I think if you look at the great combinations, um that’s certainly, I think, something that you want to have. And I think we have enough versatility here that we can play that way, too. Um and as you mentioned, our guys are accomplished rushers. You know, we’ve got three guys for sure that have, you know, produced at a high level, and Chris has been a veteran in this league for a long time, too. And um, you know, we have Fidel, too. and um a couple other guys too that we feel like at least you know they fit the description of an edge player. So just personal level like how cool was it for you to be on the opposite sideline from John? Yeah, it’s one of those um you know we’ve come a long way um you know since playing each other on the basketball court in the fourth grade. Um so you know he’s one of the the best I know. Um, you know, he means a lot to me and, you know, I’m just so happy for him. Not surprised at all where he is where he is. Um, cuz I’ve seen it for a long time. So, he’s done a hell of a job coaching and leading that football team. And, um, and on Sunday, you know, it’s going to be, you know, uh, one of those special moments that we get to to share together, but at the same time, you know, we’re there to win. So, one of the more innovative schemes right now, just like the way they use our safeties and disguise them and all that stuff. Yeah, I mean Jonathan’s one of the top coaches defensively in the league. Um but he’s not just a defensive coach. I mean I think the way they play offensively uh fits, you know, very well with how, you know, he believes in leading a team, too. Um and I think on special teams, uh with Jeff Rogers, who I had the chance to work with Jay’s brother, um they’re very very specific on special teams, too. So he’s just a complete coach. Um and uh again, very happy for his success. You guys have had a chance to work together, right? We have not. But what just a lot of conversations about working together, you know, uh, you know, we’ve both, uh, benefited from, you know, just, um, I think that love for the game, you know, we’ve always loved the game ever since we were kids. And, um, you know, to see him go out and do what he’s done, you know, to see him, you know, get off to coaching from the beginning, what a lot of people don’t know about him is he he’d be he would never have be a coach if he hadn’t gotten hurt. He would have been one of the top DBs in the league. He was a hell of a player at Louisville. And that’s what a lot of people don’t know because he’s too humble. But, uh, if he had never gotten hurt, he would have been a pro player for a long time and he probably would never be a pro coach uh cuz he’d have made too much money uh doing that. So, um, but um, yeah, man, it’s just, you know, it’s great to have a friend and uh, you know, somebody that means a lot to you that’s doing the same thing you’re doing. Does anything stand out to you about Nick Ralis as well and the way that he, you know, draws up pressure and kind of the the design that he brings to? No, I mean, they got a lot of good coaches on that staff. You know, one of my former players at John Carroll, Matt Feni is on that staff. Um, you know, who’s uh really important to me. Um, they do a really good job, I think, in all phases of their team coaching. I think Jonathan’s put a quality staff together. Um, and I think that you’ve seen it in how they’ve played their first two years. They’ve really made a lot of progress and um you know I think that he’s doing a a fantastic job leading that team. Thank you guys. Take care.

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley speaks with the media ahead of Week 1 vs. the Arizona Cardinals from the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
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