Arizona Cardinals In Holding Pattern Rest of Season is Best Case For Future

Alex Clancy opens the show by addressing the current state of the Arizona Cardinals, describing them as being in a "holding pattern" for the remainder of the season. He discusses what this means: rather than making drastic changes like firing coaches mid-season, the organization is likely opting to ride out the rest of the year and assess things during the offseason. He argues that letting coaches go now wouldn't offer any more benefit than simply not renewing contracts at the end of the season and suggests that such decisions are best handled with maturity and patience—what he calls a “mature way to go about things.”

He examines the coaching staff's status:

Drew Petzing (Offensive Coordinator):

Alex Clancy is undecided if Petzing should remain beyond 2026, but leans towards letting him finish the season and then re-evaluating.

Jonathan Gannon (Head Coach): He’s leaning "yes" on Gannon staying as head coach, though admits results haven’t been great this year. Injuries and other challenges are cited as contributing factors.

Quarterback Situation:

Alex Clancy expresses that it’s time to move forward and close the loop on the debate over whether Kyler Murray is the long-term QB; he believes the playmakers are more involved now, even if the offense continues to struggle.

He talks about the broader organizational philosophy, asserting that while the Cardinals are clearly not playoff-bound and this season is a missed opportunity, it’s better to maintain stability for now. The team isn’t “laying down,” he insists, but rather managing the dysfunction in a controlled, non-reactionary way, which contrasts with the typical dysfunctional behavior of the organization in the past.

On the field, he notes:

Personnel Evaluation: With injuries, inconsistent execution, and a depleted roster, the team has shown moments of promise—especially on defense with key stops—but lacks any playoff hope. Promising young players should be evaluated to help make offseason decisions.

Offensive Performance: The offense has looked mediocre at best, and the run game in particular has been disappointing, especially in the absence of James Conner.

A focal point of the episode is whether rookie running back Trey Benson could be the “skeleton key” to unlocking the offense’s real potential. Alex Clancy argues that Benson’s return could open up the playbook and make things easier for Jacoby Brissett (the current QB), possibly reducing the pressure on the passing game and leading to better offensive flow. Benson’s skills as a pass-catcher and his ability to take on a larger workload will, over the tough upcoming games, determine whether he can be the lead back next season or if the Cardinals need to draft more RB help.

In the back half, Alex Clancy defends defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, stating that despite late-game collapses and criticism, Rallis deserves a “pass” due to the crippling number of injuries the defense has faced. At points when personnel was healthy, the defense performed well statistically.

He closes by reiterating the importance of patience and assessment rather than rash decisions, and encourages listeners to stay tuned for more analysis, including an upcoming Locked On Cardinals Squad show. Let's discuss.


The Best Daily Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Host Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) take an unbiased approach covering the biggest Cards stories.

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