1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: Happy Monday, folks. I thought about doing I'm Alex Lewis. 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: By the way, I covered the vikings for the Athletic. 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:11,239 Speaker 1: I'm in for Dan Brero, Brett Blakemore is in for 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: Justin Gard. 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 2: I thought about doing this is your but. 6 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: I mean you can't really, I mean replicate no excellence, Kane. 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 2: It would be the leader if you had your choice. 8 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 2: So do you have something ready? 9 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 3: Yeah? 10 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 2: So that was it. I was like, this is your How. 11 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: Much money is Brian Floraz gonna make leader? 12 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 3: Fan? 13 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: But no, I look, it's really like I said, it's 14 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: tough to replicate excellence. Couldn't pull it off today. But 15 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: I am honored and privileged to be here in for 16 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: Dan Brero again. My name is Alec Lewis. I write 17 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: about the vikings for the Athletic. I also host a podcast. 18 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: Wherever you get your podcast. I used to be annoyed 19 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: when I heard other people say that, and now I'm 20 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: the one saying it because everyone in the whole entire 21 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: world has a podcast. If there was one place you 22 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: would recommend people listening to podcasts, or would. 23 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 2: That be the iHeartRadio app? 24 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, Chad Abbitt is really gonna appreciate me saying that, 25 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: but I also it's on YouTube, Spotify, Apple. 26 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,119 Speaker 2: Et cetera. I wish guards he was here. 27 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: In some capacity, Brett, because we could you know, I 28 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: get that we could go No, no, we would go 29 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: through the Brozemer day on Thursday, and I just it 30 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: would be a welcome session for the both of us. 31 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: But to all of you listening, hope you hope you 32 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: had a merry Christmas. If you're driving around, I hope 33 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: you're safe. I mean, if you don't know, I'm from Alabama, yeah, 34 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: and this this weather is not drivable for me. I 35 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: mean I actually hitch hiked Tier from the North Loop. No, 36 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: you're looking at me like a serious no chance. No 37 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: I drove, but it's just I mean, prayers to all 38 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: of those who were driving next to me on the 39 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: roads is what I would say. We're gonna start with 40 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: Brian Flores on you know, I mentioned it at the top. 41 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: But Kevin O'Connell at his press conference probably about two 42 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 1: hours ago, was asked about Brian Flores. It was pretty 43 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: clear in terms of how much he wants him to 44 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: be the defensive coordinator. 45 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: For the Vikings. 46 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,119 Speaker 1: Kevin O'Connell said as long as he can have him, 47 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: which is sensible with what they've been able to do. 48 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: My joke is that, like this might be the biggest 49 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: free agent since Shoe Otani in the marketplace, just given 50 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: the job that Brian Flores has done, and it's been spectacular. 51 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: And if you've listened on the Friday and Football Feast, 52 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: when I sit up there at some random Buffalo wild 53 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: Wings in some city across Minnesota, we praise Brian Flores 54 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: and the job the defense has done against young quarterbacks, 55 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: against veteran quarterbacks. And before the season, the Vikings weren't 56 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 1: able to re up Brian Flores's contract. And Brian Flores, 57 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: like if you've read anything that I've written about or 58 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: that many have over the course of years, he is 59 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:10,119 Speaker 1: a very strong minded, confident, convicted individual that is very 60 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: much kind of the ethos of who he is, and 61 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: a lot of that derives from where he comes from 62 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 1: up in Brooklyn, New York. And so he entered this 63 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 1: season essentially with the bet on yourself situation and go 64 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: to give you a few numbers, Brett, is that okay 65 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: with you? 66 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 2: You know me, I'm a big numbers guy. 67 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: Brian Flores took over a defense that ranked twenty third inefficiency. 68 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: That was the ed Donatel defense, and twenty third feels 69 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: very kind to what that ed Donatel defense was. He 70 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: immediately Brian Flores did transform the defense went from twenty 71 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: third to eleventh and twenty twenty three. And those listening 72 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: to this show will remember that the cornerbacks on that team, 73 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: it was, yes, Byron Murphy, but a Caleb Evans was 74 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: out there, Andrew Booth was like the number three cornerback. 75 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 2: On that team. 76 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: Yes, they had Daniel Hunter, but a lot of the players, 77 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: very few of them were identified by Brian and brought 78 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: in to fit this particular scheme. 79 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: So eleventh, Cam Danceler, what are you doing? Cam Dancler? 80 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: Eleventh and twenty twenty three, and then twenty twenty four 81 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: of the defense moved to second inefficiency and then this 82 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: season they're up to sixth in efficiency, and it's just, 83 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just absurd. Like again, you can't overstate 84 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,559 Speaker 1: enough the job that he's done. And I'm not gonna 85 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: sit here today on this microphone in for Dan Bururo, 86 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: you in for Justin Guard. 87 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 2: My name is Alex Lewis. 88 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: I'm not going to sit here today and tell you 89 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 1: that I know what's gonna happen with with Brian Flores, 90 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: that would be faulty on my end. He's represented by 91 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: a conglomerate called CIA that typically puts their clients in 92 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: the best position to be successful to use a coaching line, 93 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: and Brian Flores, look, he wants to be a head coach. 94 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 1: He has not made any you know, he hasn't hid 95 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 1: behind that. He's been very open in previous press conferences 96 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 1: that that is something that he wants. And when he 97 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: was in Miami, like, he did a fairly good job 98 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: down there, and you've seen obviously in the recent years 99 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 1: with Mike McDaniel it's not the easiest place to do 100 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: an exceptional job. And so I think from everything Brian 101 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,559 Speaker 1: Floreses has done from an on the field perspective, from 102 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: a influence on personnel perspective, Brian Flores has shown an 103 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: ability that should garner the attention of other owners. But 104 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: rather than like sit here today and talk about what's 105 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: gonna happen, and there's a lot of dynamics at play 106 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: with you know, the lawsuit. Obviously I mentioned like his 107 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: strong mindedness and he carries that with him kind of 108 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: on a day to day basis coaching. But I'm just 109 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,040 Speaker 1: going to give you what I think is maybe the 110 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: most underrated aspect of Brian Flores. Is that okay with you, bro, 111 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: if I give that to you and the listeners. So 112 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: here's the deal. I don't think a lot of people 113 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: know that Brian Flora's first job in the NFL was 114 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: not on the coaching staff with the New England Patriots, 115 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: but it was as a scout with the New England Patriots, 116 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: and so Brian Flores. They used to have these offices 117 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 1: in New England in Foxborough where Brian Flores would he 118 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: was essentially like sitting in the very back of the 119 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: entire office with a shelves of tapes of football tapes. 120 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: And what Brian Flores did really from from morning, from 121 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: sun up to sun down, was he would put these 122 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: tapes in and he would go through all of these 123 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 1: evaluations of players, college prospects, low level college prospects, free 124 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: agent prospects, and he would watch these tapes and essentially 125 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 1: organize them by hand in the back of this office 126 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: with no one knowing who Brian Flores was or would 127 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: what he would be. 128 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 2: And that was like his education in the business. 129 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: And so when when you think about Brian Flora's defense, 130 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: what I often am of the belief gets lost is 131 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: how much that scouting background that shaped his view of 132 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: the game has allowed him to be as successful as 133 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: he's been. And it's scouting his own players, it's evaluating 134 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: potential free agents. Like I remember I did a story 135 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: on him in The Winner of twenty twenty three and 136 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: I was sitting in his office. 137 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: He's got this. 138 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: Big wall in his office with just tabs of players. 139 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: Some of them were on the roster already, some of 140 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: them were free agents. He was already coveting for the 141 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: upcoming cycle. That's how his brain thinks. He is as 142 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: much a personnel guy as he is a coach on 143 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: the field, and that evaluation ability plays a key role 144 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: in the game plans that he puts together on a 145 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: week to week basis. His evaluation of the opposing pass 146 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: protection unit factors into how he calls the game. His 147 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: evaluation of what the quarterback opposing quarterback can do and 148 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: can't do factors into the game. 149 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: And so like when you so many of these coaches. 150 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: In the NFL in this day and age, their their 151 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: scheme guys and really like all all their whole philosophy, 152 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 1: their whole mindset is just how can I put the 153 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: best scheme together? On its surface, Brian Floores is so 154 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: there's so much more to it with him that all 155 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: really all of it dates back to his introduction to 156 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: this league, and so his scheme is so adaptable based 157 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,719 Speaker 1: upon the evaluations that he puts together on a day 158 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: to day, week to week basis. 159 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 2: Like he's almost like the way. 160 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 1: I would describe it is, you know, there are probably 161 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: people who are less into this who are really good 162 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: at putting puzzles together, legos together, and like you have 163 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: an intuition on what to put together. Brian Flora's defense 164 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: is almost like he created the puzzle with a very specific, 165 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 1: clear intent, precise detailed plan and knows exactly why each 166 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: piece fits where it's supposed to fit. Like that is 167 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: the way this guy coaches on a week to week basis. 168 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: So for me, it's just the one thing that I 169 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: hope people you know, listen to take think about as 170 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: they evaluate future coaches is the ability that he has 171 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: to really be kind of the personnel mind for his 172 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: unit that he then pieces together on a daily basis. 173 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: It's a pretty special skill to get when you have 174 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 1: a guy in his role, and so I just wanted 175 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: to start with that and we'll see where it goes. 176 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: People ask me all the time if Brian Flores leaves, 177 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: who on the current staff could take that position. 178 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: The two obvious. 179 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:04,319 Speaker 1: Names for me would be Derante Jones or Mike Saravo. 180 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: But the hope from everyone here you probably not Brett, 181 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: because you're a Packers fan, uh, but the folks listening 182 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: to this from Vikings fans, would be that Brian Flores 183 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 1: does not leave this building, and we will see if 184 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: that happens. That's my first segment, Brett in here for 185 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: Dan Burrero. I wanted to come in with some energy. 186 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,320 Speaker 1: I'm Alex Lewis. I cover the Vikings day to day. 187 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 2: Uh. 188 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: This is kfa IN and we'll be back with multiple 189 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: guests today, John Krazinski, the athletic Ben Lieber, uh, the 190 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: legendary former player Ben Lieber. Those two guys will be 191 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: here for the next hour and a half and I 192 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: cannot wait to uh, you know, shepherd the program in 193 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: that direction. I'm Alex Lewis, and we will be back 194 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: in a second on kfa IN. 195 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:59,599 Speaker 3: It's time, Tony, Tony, I can do something about that 196 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:02,079 Speaker 3: right now. 197 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Bumper to Bumper program. In for Danbrero, 198 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: I am Alec Lewis, and our guest now is John Krasinski, 199 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: the best in the business. He writes about the Timberwolves 200 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: and really everything, the Vikings, national NBA stuff for the 201 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: athletic John, can you hear me? 202 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 2: How is your Christmas? And what'd you think of Snoop Dogg? 203 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 4: I did hear I can't hear you, Alec, and I 204 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 4: can tell you that Christmas was great for the Krasinski 205 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 4: family and the in laws as well. We kind of 206 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,199 Speaker 4: were over the river and through the woods for all 207 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 4: of this last three four or five days, but love 208 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 4: Snoop and I think it went over pretty well with 209 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 4: the kids as well. Snoop has transcended, you know, kind 210 00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 4: of age and demographic and everything, and he's a star everywhere. 211 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 4: So we very much enjoyed it in our fold. 212 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: We missed you in the press box. Imagine you would 213 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: have been dancing or so actor. You probably would have 214 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 1: been down there with Snoop. I don't know, I mean, 215 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 1: I don't know, that might be possible. 216 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, I would have loved to jump right in with it. Yeah, 217 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 4: I mean, the only thing that could have made it 218 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 4: better would would be the witness alive as you did. 219 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 4: But you know, I was able to watch from the 220 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 4: comforts of home and enjoyed that just as well love it. 221 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: Before we get to some Vikings and some Wolf stuff, 222 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: because there's a lot to talk about on both fronts, 223 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: I do want to ask, because you usually see this 224 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: stuff pretty clearly. I know you watch a lot of 225 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: the games, but what do you think of where the 226 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: NFC North is right now with Chicago, with Green Bay, 227 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: with what we saw from Detroit Thursday, Like, how do 228 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 1: you in many ways view the Vikings place and what 229 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: is a very interesting NFC North is? 230 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I think interesting is the way to 231 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 4: put it, because you know, I was quite frankly shocked 232 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 4: at what I saw from Detroit against the Vikings. I 233 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 4: mean I know that, you know, kind of they sell 234 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 4: on hard times a little bit, but I just didn't 235 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 4: anticipate the steep drop offs in execution and quality of 236 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 4: play all of that that we saw, you know, against 237 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 4: the Vikings. I mean credit to Brian Flores and the 238 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 4: defense and kind of everything that they did to make 239 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 4: to really fluster the Lions. But that one. I didn't 240 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:35,679 Speaker 4: see this whole season coming for the Lions. I thought 241 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 4: they were going to be the class of the division. 242 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:39,439 Speaker 4: I thought they were going to be in the running 243 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 4: for the super Bowl. I thought all of that, and 244 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 4: it's just. 245 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 2: Really gone the wrong way. 246 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 4: Now. I do think that with the infrastructure that they 247 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 4: have in place, that they can recover fairly quickly. They're good, 248 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 4: they're a really good drafting team, they're smart front office, 249 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 4: they're well coached. I think if they hire an offensive 250 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 4: coordinator and kind of things going on the right track, 251 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 4: that way, they can bounce back. But if you're the Vikings, 252 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 4: you do have concerns because if the Lions do pull 253 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 4: things back together fairly quickly and this is more of 254 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 4: just a stub your toe year than a decline, then 255 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 4: you're also looking at Caleb Williams, who looks legit, and 256 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 4: then Jordan Love has looked really good down the stretch aft, 257 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 4: you know, prior to the injury, and so you're looking 258 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 4: at facing some really good quarterbacks for the foreseeable future here. 259 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 4: And I think that's a that's a big mountain for 260 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 4: the Vikings to climb, even if they do have talent 261 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 4: around the roster that it appears they do, so they've 262 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 4: got some work cut out for them for sure. 263 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. 264 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: Kevin O'Connell talked earlier today about JJ McCarthy and his 265 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: availability for Sunday, essentially said it's going to come down to, 266 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: you know, whether he can grip the ball consistently and 267 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: kind of what that looks like from a you know, 268 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: just comfortability standpoint. How important do you think him playing 269 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: this weekend is. 270 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 4: I mean, it would be nice, Alec, I really do 271 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 4: think so. It would be nice to see him out 272 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 4: there and play another solid game to kind of you 273 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 4: bookend what has been a good finish for him prior 274 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 4: to that injury, and just give a little bit more 275 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 4: data on what he is as a quarterback, on who 276 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 4: he is as a leader, and playing a rivalry game 277 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 4: like this like that would be a really nice way 278 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 4: to finish this season. I don't if he doesn't play, 279 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 4: I don't know that it should change things terribly drastically 280 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 4: for the Vikings in their plans. I mean, when you 281 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 4: look at what you've gotten from him, the improvements that 282 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 4: did come down the stretch, I think it's worth staying 283 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 4: invested in him and giving him a little bit more 284 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 4: of an opportunity next season. But I also do think 285 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 4: that whether he plays this week or not, that you 286 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 4: do have to have a very high caliber number two 287 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 4: quarterback who will be able to fill in for multiple weeks, 288 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 4: just because McCarthy has not proven to be a guy 289 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 4: who can stay healthy. I really do like what we 290 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 4: see what we've seen from McCarthy prior to this last injury, 291 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 4: and it did look like he was turning a bit 292 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 4: of a corner. But I do think that this is 293 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 4: a team that just cannot go into next season kind 294 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 4: of with the same haphazard backup quarterback plan that they 295 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 4: seem to have this year around, just because McCarthy has 296 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 4: shown that at any moment he could be out for 297 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 4: a week, two weeks, multiple weeks. 298 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 3: And. 299 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 4: So they better have a stronger plan in place. But 300 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 4: I don't think they have to have a plan to 301 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 4: go get a brand new starting quarterback, if that makes sense. 302 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think I'm with you in terms of 303 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: this weekend, Like it would be nice to have more data, 304 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: even if the Packers aren't going to play all of 305 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:08,479 Speaker 1: their starters, to have, you know, to situate him in 306 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: that environment a couple of weeks after playing the Cowboys 307 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 1: and the Commanders and the Giants. It would it would 308 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: absolutely be nice. You mentioned Brian Flores earlier. We're talking 309 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 1: to John Krasinski, the athletic. 310 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 2: Here in for Dan Bururea. 311 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:27,880 Speaker 1: You mentioned Brian Flores in the job that he did Thursday, 312 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: in the job the defense and he has done all year. 313 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 2: What would your reaction. 314 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:38,479 Speaker 1: Be if twenty twenty six comes and Brian Flores is 315 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: no longer the DC here with the Vikings. 316 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean that would be very unfortunate, but also 317 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 4: not surprising. Like I mean, he has done so many 318 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 4: good things here as defensive coordinator, and I and you know, 319 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 4: you know, I have talked about this a little bit, Alec, 320 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 4: and I've talked with Dan about this as well. Like 321 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 4: I think the Vikings have good personnel on defense. I 322 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 4: think with Van Ginkel, with Grenard, you know, Harrison Smith 323 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 4: in his you know, waging days, and a few others. 324 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 2: You know. 325 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 4: Jalen Redman is another one that deserves you kind of 326 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 4: mention here. But I don't think that he is dealing 327 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 4: with an abundance of elite players, and so I don't 328 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 4: think that this is a situation where the Vikings defense 329 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:27,199 Speaker 4: is achieving something because of the overwhelming talent they have 330 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 4: on the roster. I think they're doing a lot of 331 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,239 Speaker 4: it because of scheme, because of understanding, because of the 332 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 4: connection that lareescorges with his players in the buy in 333 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 4: that he gets, and so when you lose if you 334 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:42,680 Speaker 4: were to lose a coach of that caliber, it would 335 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 4: be a huge blow to the Vikings. He's been such 336 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 4: a huge part of what they've done so far, and 337 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 4: how do you kind of replace one of the very 338 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 4: best coordinators in the league. That would be a big 339 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 4: ask for Kevin O'Connell to go find the next Brian Flores, 340 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 4: because I think he is singular in the way that 341 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:07,919 Speaker 4: he gained plans, the way that he gets guys to 342 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 4: believe and figure things out and an absorb a system, 343 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 4: and the way they that they go play, And so 344 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 4: it would be, you know, a really big obstacle to 345 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 4: overcome this offseason to go find someone who can go 346 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 4: do the exact same things with this defense that Brian 347 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 4: Flores has done over the last you know, several years here. 348 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, you said, and we've talked about it many times, 349 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 1: both in the press bocks and probably just off Mike 350 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 1: or what have you. But I mean, it is hard 351 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:44,440 Speaker 1: to just fathom among the abundance of questions that they're 352 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 1: going to have this off season, whether it is the 353 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: type of quarterback insurant that they seek or figuring out 354 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: a way to climb up, you know, from being in 355 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: the red from a cap perspective. The way I phrased 356 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: it for multiple weeks now is like, if you add 357 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 1: losing something that has been as sustainable and something you 358 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:08,399 Speaker 1: can bet on to the list of at him leaving 359 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: to the list of the amount of questions that you have, 360 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 1: it does become tedious, even more tedious from an offseason perspective. 361 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, he's he's the quarterback of the defense. 362 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 4: I mean, I know that you know Harrison Smith on 363 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 4: the field obviously, but when you look at what he 364 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 4: has done week in and week out, you know, there 365 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 4: was a period of the season earlier this year where 366 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 4: they were underwhelming, but they've never been bad. They've typically 367 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 4: been not just good, but really good and playing always 368 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 4: over and above the level of talent that they do have. 369 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 4: They confuse quarterbacks, They recavoc with an offensive coordinators game plan, 370 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 4: They just are such a difficult unit to play against, 371 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 4: and that is kind of a thing that it's hard 372 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 4: to find out there. It is really hard to find 373 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:08,640 Speaker 4: guys who can come in and can take a collection 374 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:12,199 Speaker 4: of solid players and then kind of elevate them to 375 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 4: elite level status. And these last whatever six seven weeks especially, 376 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 4: I mean they've beny Lee what they're doing every week. 377 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 4: You know, that's the one thing Alec when when you 378 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 4: look at and try and evaluate JJ McCarthy and I 379 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 4: do think that he's done a really good job, you know, 380 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 4: kind of finishing the season, but you can kind of 381 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 4: didpick like, look, they're not playing you know, the best 382 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 4: defenses that he's had some success against some weak units. 383 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 4: But what the Vikings did to the Lions on Christmas 384 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:47,439 Speaker 4: Day was staggering. Like that's a that was a very 385 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,679 Speaker 4: good team. Yes, they're dealing with some things up front, 386 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 4: but they have incredible skill possession player, single position player. 387 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 4: Jared Goff is a really good quarterback, you know, Gibbs, 388 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 4: Sam Brown, like all these and they just rendered them 389 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 4: completely in apt essentially. And so to have that kind 390 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 4: of ability to do that with a defense that is 391 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 4: again just full of really of good players and a 392 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 4: couple of really good players, but very few elite talents. 393 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 4: I mean, it would be it'd be an incredible loss, 394 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 4: There's no question about that. 395 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 2: It's interesting. 396 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 1: I was texting with someone in the league last night 397 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: and we were just talking about like how first round, 398 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 1: second round picks are just so important, and this defense 399 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: was really the subject of the conversation. It was like, 400 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,719 Speaker 1: when's the last time the Vikings have hit on a 401 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: first or second round pick defensively? 402 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 2: And potentially Dallas Turner might be that guy. 403 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: But we had to go back to like twenty fifteen 404 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:47,919 Speaker 1: with Eric Kendricks and Trey Wayns, which it was jarring 405 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: for me obviously, who has not been here since. 406 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:51,400 Speaker 2: Then. 407 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:54,120 Speaker 1: All Right, we're gonna transition to the Wolves really quickly 408 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:57,919 Speaker 1: here because I didn't watch the game Saturday night, and 409 00:22:57,960 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: I'm thankful probably that I did not. 410 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 2: But can you explain to me, John, why the Wolves. 411 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: Seem to have these at home letdowns frequently against teams 412 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: that you just frankly would expect them to be better. 413 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 4: Then, Yeah, it's a character flaw of this team, There's 414 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 4: no question, alec Now, I mean, the Brooklyn Nets are 415 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 4: playing good basketball, and that's almost like the worst case 416 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:28,919 Speaker 4: scenario for sure the Timberwolves is that they play a 417 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,199 Speaker 4: team where they just they come into the arena and 418 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 4: they look at their record and it's not a good record, 419 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,640 Speaker 4: and they look at the guys on the other side 420 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,679 Speaker 4: of it, you know, and yeah, MPJ is a nice player, 421 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 4: but they don't really have any household names otherwise, and 422 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 4: these guys just do not play with the same intensity, 423 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 4: the same energy, the same focus as they do Oklahoma City, 424 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 4: as they do Denver, as they do a lot of 425 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 4: these other teams. And you kind of heard some of 426 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 4: the commentary in the locker room after the game from 427 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 4: Anthony Edward saying, you know, this is just symbol of basketball, 428 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 4: I guess, and Dante DiVincenzo, you know, basically saying, I 429 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:08,199 Speaker 4: don't know why we keep doing this. We talk to 430 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,120 Speaker 4: each other about it all the time, but we do. 431 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 4: And it's maddening because they are a very talented team 432 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 4: and they belong, you know, in the discussion with the 433 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 4: top four in the Western Conference. I truly believe that 434 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 4: from a talent standpoint, and they just consistently do go 435 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 4: into these games against teams with losing records without like 436 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 4: the all star, you know, bona fide players, and then 437 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 4: they just they lay eggs and they don't they don't 438 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 4: take it seriously, and then by the time they figure 439 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 4: out that they're in trouble, sometimes like Saturday night, it's 440 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 4: too late. And so you know, I'm not sort of 441 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:52,200 Speaker 4: like upset necessarily on Saturday with how with who they 442 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 4: lost to, because the Nets are seven and three in December, 443 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 4: they have the best defense in the league. In December, 444 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,439 Speaker 4: they are playing really good basketball. But you do have 445 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:03,359 Speaker 4: to be upset with how the Timberwolves approached the game 446 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 4: and how they played. They just did not have any 447 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 4: sort of connectivity, any sort of juice for most of 448 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 4: that night. And those are the nights that when you 449 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 4: look back at the end of the season and you're 450 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 4: jockeying for three, four, five, six, seven seed in a 451 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 4: gem packed Western Conference, you're gonna kick yourself and you say, 452 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:24,920 Speaker 4: that's one of the ones that we let get away. 453 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 4: And there's just been too many of those over the 454 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 4: last several years. It's a maddening characteristic of the team 455 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 4: right now. 456 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 1: And it's interesting, I mean from the outside obviously, where 457 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: you're trying to parse like, okay, I mean, they expended 458 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 1: a heck of a lot of energy on Christmas Night 459 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: in that game against the Nuggets, And I mean I 460 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: was blown away watching that night. And then there is 461 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,440 Speaker 1: the factor that you mentioned with the Nets and other teams, 462 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: Like when the Suns came earlier, you know, a few 463 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 1: weeks ago, it felt like certain guys on that roster 464 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 1: were playing really well. So it's it is tough to parse. 465 00:25:59,200 --> 00:25:59,919 Speaker 2: It's just been. 466 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: Interesting obviously to observe it. We're talking to John Krazinski 467 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:09,240 Speaker 1: here on KFA in John, where where would you say 468 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 1: the conversation is around the potential need for a point 469 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 1: guard just with this roster and how talented they are. 470 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's definitely something that they're looking at, Alec. I mean, 471 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 4: they've had conversations internally about adding a point guard. They're 472 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 4: certainly kind of combing the league to see what's available 473 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 4: out there in terms of you know, players and talent 474 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 4: and what they have and and and what's doable and 475 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 4: with the second apron and with all of the constraints 476 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:43,639 Speaker 4: that they're working under in the salary cap as well. 477 00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:48,119 Speaker 4: I'll tell you though that when you look at what 478 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 4: this team needs, certainly point guard is there that's a 479 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,639 Speaker 4: need on this team, But I'm starting to kind of 480 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:58,360 Speaker 4: gravitate away from that position a little bit towards other 481 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 4: things because if you look at the starting five Evincenzo Edwards, McDaniels, Randall, 482 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 4: and Gobert, they have one of the best net ratings 483 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 4: in the league. That group is playing very well together. Generally, 484 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 4: There's going to be nights where they don't have it 485 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 4: and things, but overall they've been really good, which means 486 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 4: that they've mitigated the issues of not having a classic 487 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 4: point guard fairly well. But there what is really bothering 488 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 4: them right now is bench scoring. Unless nas Reed is 489 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 4: having a big game Alex, they just don't have enough 490 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 4: firepower off the bench. And they could also use kind 491 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 4: of another rim protector rebounder to play with that second 492 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 4: unit because the Julius Randall nas Reed minutes when when 493 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:49,959 Speaker 4: Rudy Gobert goes to the bench are really problematic defensively, 494 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 4: and so I think they have several issues to look at, 495 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:59,719 Speaker 4: and so I don't necessarily believe that point guard is 496 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 4: the be all and end all in terms of their 497 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 4: targets that they're looking at. In terms of trades, I 498 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 4: think they have to consider looking for some bench scoring 499 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 4: and also looking for a big man as well until 500 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 4: Yann Baronjay is ready, which probably won't be until next season, 501 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 4: so you know, there's more needs kind of that they're 502 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 4: facing right now than just point guard. 503 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,640 Speaker 1: I think it'll be interesting, and I will say this, 504 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:28,919 Speaker 1: I mean, I have had a blest watching Anthony Edwards 505 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 1: the last few weeks. It feels like, I mean, what's 506 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 1: what's maybe I don't know, at least from the outside 507 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 1: for me, like going a little bit under the radar 508 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 1: even in my own mind, I guess is how much 509 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 1: he seems to improve year to year, Like he's this flashy, charismatic, 510 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 1: always present figure, but you don't see obviously that in 511 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 1: the gym, behind the scenes growth that he seems to 512 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: put in year and a year and it's been it's 513 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 1: been blown. It's blown me away. I'm sure you're not 514 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,719 Speaker 1: surprised by it at all, but it does feel like 515 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:04,640 Speaker 1: it gives this team even more of a chance if 516 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: they are as you know, as rounded out as everyone 517 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 1: here wants him to be. 518 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 2: Obviously. 519 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, every season, Alek he comes in with a new 520 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 4: dimension to his game, and that is really proof of 521 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 4: all the work that he puts in in the summertime. 522 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 4: Last year it was the three point shot, and you know, 523 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 4: he put in work all summer long, and he came 524 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 4: back and he made more threes than any other player 525 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 4: in the league, which was just a staggering improvement when 526 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 4: you think of where he started his career as kind 527 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 4: of this just gets to the basket slasher with a 528 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 4: kind of an iffy jump shot, and so you look 529 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 4: that now this year, the huge improvement has been in 530 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 4: his decision making. Now he's not Luka Danciciat or James 531 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 4: Harden yet in terms of being that heliocentric star who 532 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 4: just really has kind of the game, you know, on 533 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 4: puppet strings. But the ball is in his hands much 534 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 4: more than a has been in the past because they 535 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 4: don't have a natural point guard next to him, and 536 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 4: by and large, he's done really really well with it. 537 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:10,320 Speaker 4: There are some high turnover games here and there, but 538 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:13,720 Speaker 4: you can see him reading the game better. You can 539 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 4: see him anticipating things more than he ever has before. 540 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 4: Generally speaking, he's been a guy that just has used 541 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 4: his overwhelming athletic gifts to combat whatever was thrown at him. 542 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 4: But now you can see him start to think the 543 00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 4: game more and start to read it and anticipate and 544 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 4: do all of those things. And it's it's been huge 545 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 4: for this team, and it really does only kind of 546 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 4: raise the ceiling on the type of player that he 547 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 4: can be over the next two, three or four years. 548 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 4: Is that you know, he's already a top six seven 549 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 4: player in the league, and the pathway the top four 550 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 4: is very difficult, but it is through being able to 551 00:30:57,720 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 4: kind of be one of those guys that wins games 552 00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 4: met mentally as well as physically. And he's getting mail 553 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 4: with that. 554 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:05,200 Speaker 1: The last one for John Krasinsky, and I'll preface this 555 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 1: question by saying, if you have not read his story 556 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:12,520 Speaker 1: on the Athletic five Star Dinner, Hope and Patience, the 557 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:17,680 Speaker 1: formula for Kevin Garnett's Wolves return, I highly recommend it. Really, 558 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 1: John talked to ownership kind of consiglier is. 559 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 2: It's an incredible piece. 560 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 1: John, Just personally, what was your reaction when you heard 561 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:32,880 Speaker 1: that Kevin Garnett was obviously returning in the capacity that 562 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 1: he is. 563 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, just like my personal reaction is just happiness for 564 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:44,920 Speaker 4: all involved, because it really was this is not hyperbolele like, 565 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 4: it really was one of the great tragedies in the 566 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 4: league over the last ten years has been the estrangement 567 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:56,240 Speaker 4: of the Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett. I mean, this is 568 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 4: a franchise that has precious little in the way of 569 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 4: history and more to be proud of. But standing there 570 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 4: head and shoulders literally above everything else in that category 571 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 4: is Kevin Garnett. And so for him to not be 572 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:17,760 Speaker 4: involved with the team that he is most kind of 573 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 4: connected to in terms of spending thirteen and a half 574 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,880 Speaker 4: seasons here of his twenty one year career where it 575 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 4: all started, I think it will be good for him 576 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 4: to be back here and involved in feeling the love 577 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:32,760 Speaker 4: of the fan base and everything that has for him. 578 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:35,960 Speaker 4: But mostly I'm just happy for fans because you can 579 00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 4: tell that, you know, Kelly L La Ferreira, who was 580 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 4: kind of one of the integral people and brokering this 581 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:46,479 Speaker 4: deal and making it happen, said it right like there 582 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:49,760 Speaker 4: was this huge hole in the heart of the organization 583 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 4: with Garnett and not being there, with twenty one not 584 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:55,080 Speaker 4: being in the rafters, and the fans you could just 585 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 4: tell wanted to say thank you to Kevin, wanted to 586 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:01,840 Speaker 4: say you know how much they appreciated all of the 587 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 4: energy that he put into this team, you know, every 588 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 4: time that he took the steps foot on the court, 589 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:09,680 Speaker 4: and they just were not able to do that because 590 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 4: the parents were fighting, they were kids in the middle 591 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:15,560 Speaker 4: of a messy divorce and they were they just were 592 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:19,240 Speaker 4: not able to reach out and give the guy a hug. 593 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:21,200 Speaker 4: And that's what they're going to be able to do 594 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:24,000 Speaker 4: when he comes back into that building. It's going to 595 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:29,360 Speaker 4: be electric. I think Garnett deserves it, the organization deserves it, 596 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 4: and I think the fans most of all deserve to 597 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:35,160 Speaker 4: really just be able to celebrate their guy and then 598 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 4: see eventually twenty one up in the rafters. It's it's 599 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 4: just a great thing that had to happen for the 600 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:45,800 Speaker 4: health of this league and for the health of basketball 601 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 4: in this community. It's just the two go hand in hand. 602 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:52,840 Speaker 4: So getting them back together is just it's a really 603 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:53,280 Speaker 4: cool thing. 604 00:33:53,320 --> 00:33:53,720 Speaker 5: For sure. 605 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 1: When he's back and in that building, I want to 606 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:59,720 Speaker 1: be on sidebar duty for that night, if that's okay. 607 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:01,600 Speaker 2: John, Thanks thanks for. 608 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:04,720 Speaker 1: Hopping on on this Monday afternoon. 609 00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 2: Always appreciate catching up. Hope. I see you this. 610 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 1: Weekend at the People Stadium for the finale. 611 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:11,799 Speaker 2: Looking forward to that. 612 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:15,520 Speaker 4: Thanks Jean, Alex, I'll see you there all right, man. 613 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:16,400 Speaker 2: Awesome. 614 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:20,880 Speaker 1: That'll do it for John Krasinski of the Athletic, best 615 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:23,319 Speaker 1: in the game, one of the best beat writers in 616 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:26,279 Speaker 1: the entire sports universe. And we will be back after 617 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 1: the break with Ben Lieber, legendary vikings player. I'm Alec 618 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:33,120 Speaker 1: Lewis in for Dan Burrero on Kfan with Brett Blakemore 619 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: operating the controls exceptionally back there and keeping me in check. 620 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 1: So we will talk to you guys after the break. 621 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Bumper to Bumper. I am not Dan Barrero. 622 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:52,560 Speaker 1: My name is Alex Lewis. I cover the vikings for 623 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 1: the Athletic here with Brett Blakemore as our producer, and 624 00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:00,640 Speaker 1: we are going to go directly back to the phones. 625 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:04,960 Speaker 1: Our guest now is Ben Lieber. Ben is a legend. 626 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:09,520 Speaker 1: He is a former player. He is an analyst. I mean, 627 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 1: I'm Ben, How do I how do I intro? You've 628 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:14,279 Speaker 1: got like forty different jobs. I don't know how to 629 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:14,960 Speaker 1: do it? How are you? 630 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:16,640 Speaker 3: Alex? 631 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:21,239 Speaker 5: You can just stop at legend, buddy, No, it's you know, 632 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:25,120 Speaker 5: just say just say uh, you know. Radio sideline reporter 633 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:27,560 Speaker 5: for KFA an, that's all I need. 634 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:31,239 Speaker 1: Radio sideline reporter legend Ben, thanks for hopping on. 635 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:32,399 Speaker 2: I'll start here. 636 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:36,720 Speaker 1: What was going through your mind Thursday as you watched 637 00:35:36,719 --> 00:35:39,160 Speaker 1: that same game that I and all of the folks 638 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:40,320 Speaker 1: listening watched. 639 00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:46,160 Speaker 5: Okay, away from the x's and o's, I was actually 640 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 5: really impressed by the level of energy that that we 641 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:54,000 Speaker 5: were playing with, because, like we keep mentioning, for the 642 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:56,319 Speaker 5: last couple of weeks, we've got nothing to play for. 643 00:35:56,920 --> 00:36:00,520 Speaker 5: And you know, I've been there, and I've been in 644 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:02,399 Speaker 5: those locker rooms where you get into some of these 645 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:05,600 Speaker 5: games in December that are that are technically meaning less 646 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:09,759 Speaker 5: other than draft status, and yeah, it is sometimes a 647 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 5: little harder to prepare and put the time in during 648 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 5: the week and you know, treat it as if it's, 649 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:17,640 Speaker 5: you know, something that really does matter and then go 650 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:19,399 Speaker 5: out there and play with the same energy that maybe 651 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 5: you've played for you know, let's say compared to the 652 00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:24,080 Speaker 5: last Lions game from at the end of the season 653 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:25,880 Speaker 5: last year where they're fighting for the number one spot. 654 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:29,960 Speaker 5: So I was really impressed just the way the guys 655 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 5: came out and they were fighting. 656 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:34,480 Speaker 2: Why do you think this group. 657 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:37,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you mentioned you've been on teams where late 658 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:39,920 Speaker 1: in the season when the reality is just set in, 659 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:43,239 Speaker 1: and I would just be curious from your perspective, why 660 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:48,360 Speaker 1: you think this group has kind of transcended that typical feeling. 661 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:53,799 Speaker 5: You know, I don't know. I guess you have to 662 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 5: start at the top, But it just seems like Koc's 663 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:02,759 Speaker 5: mentality and mantra and standard and expectation has been kind 664 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:04,759 Speaker 5: of the same throughout the season. You know, It's not 665 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:07,480 Speaker 5: like it doesn't sound like it waivers too much. It's 666 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:09,680 Speaker 5: not weak to week as far as like, oh, well, 667 00:37:09,719 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 5: we're playing for more this week than we were last week, 668 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 5: or you know, we go with the ebbs and flows 669 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:16,399 Speaker 5: of the game situation. I think it's just the same 670 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:19,360 Speaker 5: every week. And you know, so that way, when you 671 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 5: actually get into games that are technically meaningless, then it 672 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:25,160 Speaker 5: doesn't feel like there's a drop off. It doesn't feel 673 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:28,680 Speaker 5: like there's a different message. So I think consistent message 674 00:37:28,719 --> 00:37:29,319 Speaker 5: is probably key. 675 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:32,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, you mentioned away from the x's and o's, so 676 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:36,000 Speaker 1: I guess specific to the x's and o's in that game, 677 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:39,480 Speaker 1: what cast your eye both in the moment if you've 678 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:42,319 Speaker 1: watched it back, I mean prayers to you if you 679 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:46,160 Speaker 1: rewatch the offense back from that game, but maybe probably 680 00:37:46,160 --> 00:37:48,799 Speaker 1: specific to the defense and the x's and o's, what 681 00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:51,960 Speaker 1: impressed you the most with how they were able to 682 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:54,920 Speaker 1: stifle Jared Goff in that unit that obviously has the 683 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:55,920 Speaker 1: talent that they have. 684 00:37:57,520 --> 00:38:01,399 Speaker 5: You know, once again we go out and play their 685 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:06,480 Speaker 5: offense with Jamior Gibbs and we basically neutralize them on 686 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:09,400 Speaker 5: the ground, you know, get them to a situation where 687 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:11,879 Speaker 5: they don't feel like they can commit to the run, 688 00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:13,959 Speaker 5: which is which is hard to do for that team. 689 00:38:14,239 --> 00:38:17,600 Speaker 5: I think that was you know, yes, there's some glitz 690 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:20,520 Speaker 5: and glamour with the takeaways and the sacks and the 691 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:24,279 Speaker 5: chaos that was created, but you know, we talk about 692 00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:26,480 Speaker 5: every week like you got to stop the run. I mean, 693 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:29,239 Speaker 5: you can't let them get any sort of life on 694 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:33,400 Speaker 5: the ground. And to do that against that team twice 695 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:37,520 Speaker 5: this year is pretty remarkable. And not to say they 696 00:38:37,520 --> 00:38:39,719 Speaker 5: didn't have a couple of nice runs. I mean a 697 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:41,799 Speaker 5: lot of teams are. It's not like we bottle them 698 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:45,360 Speaker 5: up every single run. But for the most part, we 699 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,120 Speaker 5: frustrated them on the ground and we are able to, 700 00:38:48,920 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 5: you know, with that disguise package still be in our 701 00:38:52,560 --> 00:38:56,480 Speaker 5: run sound gaps still play gap responsibility, still make the 702 00:38:56,520 --> 00:38:58,600 Speaker 5: tackles when we need to in a one on one situation. 703 00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:02,120 Speaker 5: So I think that, you know, again beyond some of 704 00:39:02,160 --> 00:39:05,480 Speaker 5: the statistics, that was a really impressive showing by the defense. 705 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:07,560 Speaker 1: You just said it, But it's I've always kind of 706 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:10,560 Speaker 1: as I watch Brian Florea's defense and they'll line it 707 00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:13,520 Speaker 1: up on first down where it looks like a pump block, right, 708 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:16,480 Speaker 1: and so they've got dbs on the line of scrimmage, 709 00:39:16,719 --> 00:39:19,880 Speaker 1: linebackers on the line of scrimmage, obviously edge rushers on 710 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:23,120 Speaker 1: the line of scrimmage, and I often do wonder, like, 711 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:29,920 Speaker 1: how do they comprehend slash apply the responsibilities specifically the 712 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:31,880 Speaker 1: run game when you've got to be in certain spots 713 00:39:31,880 --> 00:39:35,160 Speaker 1: and I know you're not in the defense, So it's probably, uh, 714 00:39:35,239 --> 00:39:38,520 Speaker 1: you know, tough to to say on a like minute level, 715 00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:42,120 Speaker 1: but you you probably have a great understanding for like 716 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:46,000 Speaker 1: the level of aptitude it takes and probably just adaptability 717 00:39:46,040 --> 00:39:48,799 Speaker 1: on the fly to plug some of those gaps out 718 00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:50,680 Speaker 1: of these looks. 719 00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:51,200 Speaker 4: You know. 720 00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:55,880 Speaker 5: I think it's it's harder when you are bluffing at 721 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:57,680 Speaker 5: the line of scrimmage like you said, like it's a 722 00:39:57,719 --> 00:40:00,640 Speaker 5: punt block, but then the ultimate response ability is to 723 00:40:00,880 --> 00:40:04,279 Speaker 5: uh rotate back to let's say a deep cover two. 724 00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:08,200 Speaker 5: You know, that's difficult because as you're as you're bailing 725 00:40:08,239 --> 00:40:10,200 Speaker 5: on the staff of the ball, especially if they have 726 00:40:10,239 --> 00:40:13,880 Speaker 5: a poll scheme, then all of a sudden you're trying 727 00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:19,240 Speaker 5: to go backwards to then decipher, Okay, what's my new gap. 728 00:40:19,800 --> 00:40:22,480 Speaker 5: You know, it's not just the standard zone blocking where 729 00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:24,040 Speaker 5: they're just coming up and there might be an angle 730 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:26,200 Speaker 5: that you have to sit that's a little different. But 731 00:40:26,239 --> 00:40:27,680 Speaker 5: the A gap is still the A gap, and the 732 00:40:27,680 --> 00:40:29,160 Speaker 5: B gap is still the B gap. But you know 733 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:32,240 Speaker 5: when they when they start pulling guys, well those gaps 734 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:34,279 Speaker 5: all exchange, and all of a sudden, now there's new 735 00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:37,759 Speaker 5: gaps created on the play side. That's that's the difficult part. 736 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:41,440 Speaker 5: And you know what these guys have done, you know, 737 00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:45,120 Speaker 5: with they're with all the repetitions in practice, they've they've 738 00:40:45,120 --> 00:40:49,560 Speaker 5: managed to get around that. And and thankfully, whether let's 739 00:40:49,560 --> 00:40:52,400 Speaker 5: say the front side guy is completely gap sound, well 740 00:40:52,760 --> 00:40:55,400 Speaker 5: the backside guy might be chasing that polar and he 741 00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:57,359 Speaker 5: might be making the play and making their running back 742 00:40:57,360 --> 00:41:01,120 Speaker 5: stop their feet. So I think just individually up front, 743 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:04,120 Speaker 5: if your job is to get vertical, they're getting vertical, 744 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:07,759 Speaker 5: and they're they're basically neutralizing the run before it even 745 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 5: really get set up. 746 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:12,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, you did the postgame interview with Harrison Smith. We're 747 00:41:12,440 --> 00:41:14,759 Speaker 1: talking to Ben Lieber here on Bumper to Bumper. I'm 748 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 1: Alec Lewis in for Dan Brero. You. Uh, like I said, 749 00:41:18,120 --> 00:41:20,200 Speaker 1: did did the postgame hit with Harrison Smith? 750 00:41:20,280 --> 00:41:22,920 Speaker 2: On the field? Not sure how much emote. 751 00:41:22,920 --> 00:41:24,399 Speaker 1: I didn't get to see the full thing, but I'm 752 00:41:24,440 --> 00:41:26,960 Speaker 1: not sure how much emotion he showed there versus in 753 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:30,520 Speaker 1: the locker room. If there was emotion or even as 754 00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:34,120 Speaker 1: you watch back his presser afterwards, like how did that 755 00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:35,960 Speaker 1: emotion hitch? 756 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:39,520 Speaker 2: You? 757 00:41:39,520 --> 00:41:41,480 Speaker 5: You know, the funny thing is like he didn't show 758 00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 5: a ton of emotion on the field. Definitely appreciation when 759 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:47,600 Speaker 5: we talked about as Curt and call and the standy 760 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:50,560 Speaker 5: no at the two minute mark. You know, I think 761 00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:54,480 Speaker 5: that that made him really self reflect He was definitely 762 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:57,120 Speaker 5: much more emotional I think in the locker room. But 763 00:41:58,120 --> 00:41:59,680 Speaker 5: you know, when I was on the stale with him, 764 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:02,560 Speaker 5: you know, the whole defense was over enjoying their time 765 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:05,520 Speaker 5: with Netflix and about ten yards away, So I was 766 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:09,439 Speaker 5: very aware of where he wanted to go and where 767 00:42:09,480 --> 00:42:11,879 Speaker 5: he felt like he needed to go. So I did 768 00:42:11,920 --> 00:42:14,120 Speaker 5: try to keep it short and sweet, and then I 769 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:16,920 Speaker 5: let him go enjoy at the time on Netflix and 770 00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:20,120 Speaker 5: have that huge tomahawk steak that they got to bite into, 771 00:42:20,120 --> 00:42:22,719 Speaker 5: which gown that looks so good, man, Alec, I'm telling you, 772 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:26,280 Speaker 5: I was. I was talking to the Murphy Junior about 773 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:28,040 Speaker 5: that in the locker room and I go, did that 774 00:42:28,160 --> 00:42:30,400 Speaker 5: taste as good as it looked? He's like, dude, He's like, 775 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:32,239 Speaker 5: I need to know who that chef is because that 776 00:42:32,440 --> 00:42:34,720 Speaker 5: was so good. He was like, it was so tender. 777 00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:36,520 Speaker 5: I don't know how long they had that thing had 778 00:42:36,520 --> 00:42:38,600 Speaker 5: been sitting there, but it was still falling off the bone. 779 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:43,000 Speaker 5: So Netflix chef, good job. Everybody, all the guys in 780 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:47,120 Speaker 5: the locker room loved it. But it The funny thing 781 00:42:47,239 --> 00:42:50,719 Speaker 5: is with his emotions, we went through this last year, 782 00:42:50,880 --> 00:42:53,279 Speaker 5: you know, and I don't know if it's really going 783 00:42:53,360 --> 00:42:57,480 Speaker 5: to hit me and maybe him and everybody else until 784 00:42:57,719 --> 00:43:00,800 Speaker 5: you know, truly truly the last game him on Sunday, 785 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:04,600 Speaker 5: and even still, you know, it's I think the weight 786 00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:07,680 Speaker 5: of it probably won't hit him until you know, week 787 00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:10,040 Speaker 5: a month later when he finally makes a decision. 788 00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:10,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. 789 00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:13,359 Speaker 1: The funny thing about the steak, I always wonder when 790 00:43:13,360 --> 00:43:17,839 Speaker 1: they had these postgame meals, like who where are they 791 00:43:17,840 --> 00:43:22,040 Speaker 1: cooking them? Who's keeping it hot? How do they transfer 792 00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:25,920 Speaker 1: the heat heated food directly out there? And sure it's 793 00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:28,799 Speaker 1: not cold or like it's it's there's incredible. It's an 794 00:43:28,840 --> 00:43:32,360 Speaker 1: incredible operation that no one talks about. I've always thought that, 795 00:43:32,560 --> 00:43:33,320 Speaker 1: I know. 796 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:35,239 Speaker 5: I think you got to do a story on it, 797 00:43:35,320 --> 00:43:38,279 Speaker 5: so I will. I have been told that the Thanksgiving 798 00:43:38,280 --> 00:43:42,080 Speaker 5: turkey is very dry and not very good. I think 799 00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:45,800 Speaker 5: I think that's actually been talked about kind of publicly. 800 00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:49,880 Speaker 5: But when it comes to that that uh that prime 801 00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:53,080 Speaker 5: river or whatever, that bone in prime rib or Tomahawks steak, 802 00:43:53,120 --> 00:43:56,200 Speaker 5: whatever they had, like, now that thing was we need 803 00:43:56,280 --> 00:43:58,000 Speaker 5: we need to figure out how they cooked it, how 804 00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:00,600 Speaker 5: they kept it warm, how it didn't open cook when 805 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:04,120 Speaker 5: it was warming. I don't know. But all the guys 806 00:44:04,120 --> 00:44:05,840 Speaker 5: were like, dang, that was that was excellent. 807 00:44:06,040 --> 00:44:06,640 Speaker 2: That's awesome. 808 00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:08,919 Speaker 1: All Right, We're gonna get into a little bit more, 809 00:44:08,960 --> 00:44:13,359 Speaker 1: gonna talk Brian Flores specifically, who I had a little 810 00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:15,400 Speaker 1: bit of a you know, talked a lot about at 811 00:44:15,440 --> 00:44:18,200 Speaker 1: the top. We're gonna get into that and more specific 812 00:44:18,239 --> 00:44:21,040 Speaker 1: to the quarterback with Ben Lieber when we come right 813 00:44:21,080 --> 00:44:21,759 Speaker 1: back from the break. 814 00:44:21,800 --> 00:44:24,000 Speaker 2: You're listening to Bumper Bumper on KFA N