1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: Oh so. Welcome to the Ozone Podcast, presented by by 2 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: Star Credit Union, featuring Jaguars senior writer John Osher and 3 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: executive producer Dave de Canders. This week's guest, I'm excited 4 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: about talking to him. Jaguars fans obviously, no former Jaguars 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: quarterback market. Now we're gonna talk something about Gardner Minshew. 6 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: We're gonna talk something about his life in Jacksonville now 7 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: and some of the changes around the league since he played. 8 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: So without further ado, Former Jaguars Quarterbacks two thousand and three, Mark, 9 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: you're a long time presence with the organization as well 10 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: as in the community now the coach at Episcopal at 11 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: the Episcopal School of Jacksonville. I say that right, because Mark, 12 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: when I went there, it was j h S. Baby 13 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: Jacksonville Episcopal High School. But that's a long time ago, 14 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: well before your time. And Mark, as I was sort 15 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: of preparing for this, I laughed because I thought we 16 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: shoot this on a Wednesday years ago. If this had 17 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: been a Wednesday and I had said, hey, Mark, I 18 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: need some time from you, I would have gotten a 19 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: very specific anti reporter, anti John Ozier. Look, boy, how 20 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: times have changed in twenty five years. Huh. You know 21 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: back then you would have asked me to go on 22 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: a zoom. Now I'm asking you if I can go 23 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: on your your podcast. You know your zoom podcast. So 24 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: now I'm happy to be on with you. John, always 25 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: a pleasure. I appreciate it. And uh, as I think 26 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: most people know you're the coach at Episcopal and what 27 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: I'm curious about. To start, we'll get into the Jaguars 28 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: and some gardener mints. You talk a little bit later, 29 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 1: but did you envision yourself We've talked about this a 30 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: little before. I don't think you really thought when you 31 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: were playing that you would wind up as a high 32 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: school coach, and from our conversations over the years, really 33 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: enjoying it. Like you you sort of found a niche 34 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: that you really like. Yeah, I have, John, And you know, 35 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: my dad was a was a teacher and a coach 36 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: athletic director at the high school level. And it's interesting 37 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: if I didn't get an opportunity in the NFL and 38 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: and get to stick around for a while, that's probably 39 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: what I would have got into. At least that was 40 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: the plan. Um And uh, you know you always looked 41 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: up to my father still do of course. Um, he 42 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: was a baseball guy coach football as well. But what 43 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: I remember was he was always around. He was he 44 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: was in my life. He was at my games, and 45 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: he was at the dinner table. We had to spend 46 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: a lot of time together. That was a great takeaway 47 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,519 Speaker 1: for a kid, uh, you know, knowing what his dad 48 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: did for a living, and it was you know, I 49 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: had a very good upbringing because he was around and 50 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 1: his job afforded him that. So, Um, I got to 51 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: play for a while. And when I got done, I 52 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: didn't have the intention of going into coaching high school football. 53 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: I got asked to be a volunteer quarterback coach of Providence. 54 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: I took the job because I was still rowing and 55 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: still hoping to to get one more year. And uh, 56 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 1: after that year, John I got offered the episcopal job. 57 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: I took it, and with each passing year, I enjoy 58 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: it more and more, far more than I ever thought 59 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: I would. Um. I mean, it's it's not the perfect gig, 60 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: of course, there is no gig that's that's perfect, but 61 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 1: it's pretty close. I really enjoy it. And uh um, 62 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: and we're in our eighth season now and I'm having 63 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: a really good time, John, Now what have you found 64 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: you liked about? I mean, being around football is one thing. 65 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: But my guess is you've probably found in the relationships 66 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: and being around the kids as satisfying as the actual football. 67 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: There's no question. And Uh, if you're coaching high school 68 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: football for just the football, uh, you're in the wrong business. 69 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: That's not what it's about. Um, it's it's really about 70 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: these these young men and developing them on the field. 71 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: Teaching them for all the fundamental was all that, but 72 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: more importantly, teaching them and communicating to them really what 73 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: they game with the game of football can do for them. Uh. John, 74 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: When I was in high school, I you know, played quarterback. 75 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: I love the game. It was fun. I had some 76 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: big games. But as I look back, my the biggest 77 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 1: takeaways wasn't the wasn't the opportunity to play at the 78 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: next level in college and then the prost My biggest 79 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: takeaway is I learned how to work hard, and I 80 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: learned that if I wanted to be good, I had 81 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: to work hard. I learned about how to be a leader, 82 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: the importance of teamwork. How do you overcome adversity? Well, 83 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: you know, and on the football field, you gotta lock 84 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: arms with your teammates and and figure it out and 85 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: fight through it together and just keep going. Well that's 86 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: the way life is too so, but we're trying to 87 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 1: do it. Episcopals teach these life lessons to these young 88 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 1: men who were using the game of football as as 89 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: the tool. So the relationships there with those with those 90 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: guys are great. Um And but not only my my 91 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 1: my players, but my coaching staff. I've got a core 92 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 1: group of guys that have been there the whole time. 93 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: These guys are my brothers. I love coaching with them, 94 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: I love doing life with them. I appreciate them, respect them. 95 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: Some guys have been coaching for for almost forty years. 96 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: Some guys have been coaching for for uh for about 97 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: four months. So uh, it's uh, I'm really enjoying it. 98 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: And like I said, it's it's it's almost the perfect gig, 99 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 1: right what um In, You're gonna laugh when I ask 100 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: you this, because when I coverage you, and even since 101 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: you've told me a million Tom Coffin stories, you didn't 102 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: necessarily get along with them all the time. There were 103 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: times you bucked under under the influence and he wasn't 104 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: a perfect coach. Nobody's perfect, but I'm wondering if there 105 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: are times that you hear yourself saying things that he said, 106 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: anything like that, where you kind of say, oh, my goodness, 107 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: I can't believe that came out of my mouth. It's 108 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: funny you say that. So just just yesterday, well two 109 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: days ago, we uh to answer your question. Yes, two 110 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: days ago, we had a kid that was doing a 111 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: drill and uh he had he had some knee problems 112 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: last year, and so he did his knee again and 113 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: and it wasn't too bad. And he had told us, 114 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: you know, a couple of days ago that he was 115 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 1: gonna be fine, and and uh, it was funny. I 116 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: I just I walked right by him two days ago 117 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: because he says, coach, I'll be back tomorrow. I said, I, well, 118 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: I guess we're gonna find out how tough you are tomorrow. 119 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: And there was no smile on my face. I thought, 120 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 1: what have I become? Just like something that the conflin 121 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,359 Speaker 1: would say. So it even gets better. Yesterday we're a 122 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 1: practice and he's he's kind of limping around and listen, 123 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: he's a great kid. He's a tough kid, and uh 124 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 1: so he's and I found myself John not wanting to 125 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: say one word to him. I was mad at him 126 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 1: the whole day for not practicing. That day, I thought 127 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: I have become Tom Coughlin. I am I. I mean, 128 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: if I could find the kid, I absolutely would. I 129 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: mean I did say that, Kitty. But um, listen, yeah, 130 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: there's no question I've had a lot of head coaches, 131 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: and I have found my myself, you know, using phrases 132 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: or behaving in a manner as a coach that you know, 133 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: really I was, you know, I was exposed to it. 134 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: And Coach Coughlin was was the coach that I had 135 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: the the longest, and honestly the coach that I appreciate 136 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: the most. Uh. He gave me my shot. And was 137 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: it easy to play for Coach Cofflin. No, it wasn't 138 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: for me. It wasn't for anyone. But I learned a 139 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: lot of a lot about football, and uh, I learned 140 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: a lot about life. I learned a lot about uh, 141 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: you know, how to how to be a professional in 142 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: the NFL. So I'm forever grateful to Tom Coughlin, and 143 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: but I do find myself h kind of coaching and 144 00:07:55,160 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: saying things that that that he used to say, which again, 145 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: if that, if that had come out of your mouth 146 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: when I was covering you, how to laugh at because 147 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: no way, no way. Again, we'll get the current Jaguars 148 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: with the next question. That. Um, one thing about Tom 149 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: that's struck me, and I think fans are always fascinated 150 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: to hear about Tom. Most players that I've talked to, 151 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: even the ones that bucked against him the most, have 152 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: always said later, I'd go back and play for him 153 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: again because of the level of preparation and looking back, 154 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: you always knew you were going to be prepared to 155 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: win the game that day. There was never gonna be 156 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: a stone left unturned. You know, as a coreter, you 157 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: played for a lot of coaches. You played for Gibbs, 158 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: you played for some great ones. Sean, I assume you 159 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,199 Speaker 1: would agree with that statement. The preparation level was off 160 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: the charts, There's no question. And uh, because I have 161 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: played for other coaches, I will say that if if 162 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 1: you're a head coach in the NFL, AH, you better 163 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: be pretty good at preparation. Um. And some some are 164 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: better than others. And uh, of course that's my experience 165 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 1: in in in different ways. Um, But Tom, what was 166 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: he prepared his players, and that there's no question. He 167 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 1: demanded that his coach prepared the players. And here's the 168 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: strength of the strengths of Tom in my in in 169 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: my view one, I've used the word already, and it's demanding. 170 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 1: He demanded a lot of us. But listen, we're in 171 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: the NFL. That's the way it should be. He demanded 172 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,079 Speaker 1: that we gave Gret great effort. He demanded that we 173 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: handled ourselves and like professionals. He demanded that we were 174 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: on time. And uh, and there was absolutely nothing wrong 175 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 1: with that. But you know when you're twenty four or 176 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: five and you've got the world by the tail and 177 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: you just got out of college and you think, okay, 178 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: I'm in the NFL, I'm free, I can you know, 179 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 1: you know I've made it well. And then you then 180 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: you get a chance to play for coach Coffin. You're thinking, oh, 181 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 1: wait a minute, wait, wait a minute, it's not how 182 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: it was supposed to be. But for us, it was 183 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: the best thing. We were a young team. John, you remember, 184 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: we weren't a very good team. We needed uh, we 185 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: needed that demanding um um. Way about coach Coffin, here's 186 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: the other thing. And he was consistent. Um, he was 187 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: very consistent. You didn't you know, you knew exactly what 188 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: you're gonna get every day, and that and and that 189 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: in ways is comforting. Uh, it's it's it's the consistency 190 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 1: is Listen, I know what the expectations are. They're really high, 191 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: but I know every day that coach Coughlin is going 192 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: to demand and expect a lot out of me. You know, 193 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: I've been in some places where, you know, the head 194 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: coach might be in a good mood and really laid 195 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: back and and and just kind of taking it easy, 196 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 1: and then the next day they're just out of their mind, 197 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: angry and ticked off and yelling at everywhere all over 198 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: the place. That wasn't tough. He was firm, Uh most 199 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: of the time he was. He was fair demanding, Uh, 200 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: and you always knew where you stood. So while when 201 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: you're in it, all of those things seem kind of 202 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 1: hard to manage under and to a degree they are. 203 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: But for us, and I can really speak for me, 204 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:19,199 Speaker 1: it was the best place for a young quarterback to be, 205 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: not easy for not the easiest place for me, but 206 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: it was the best for me. Tell me about this 207 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: Jaguars team. I mean, it's we can go into it 208 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: because there's always a million things to talk about with 209 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: any team. But just overall impressions there one in three 210 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: obviously one in three in the NFL is not over. 211 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: It's a long season. Just overall thoughts, if you will, Well, 212 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: I think I think where they're at right now is 213 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: is at least where I expected them to be. What 214 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: did Bill Parcel say? Says, listen, you are what you 215 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: are If they are one in three right now, you know, 216 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,319 Speaker 1: maybe there are four and twelve team as that plays out, 217 00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: still a lot of football. But um, and actually I 218 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: listened to uh, I listened to you on the radio 219 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: a few days ago, and you use this word no, no, no, 220 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: you use this word, and I thought it was it was. 221 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: I laughed a little bit of my car. You said, hey, listen, 222 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: you know along the way, they're going to be some stinkers, 223 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: you know, And I think that's what we can expect. 224 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 1: We can expect some games just to be stinkers. Right 225 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: The defense isn't very good right now, Gardners. Uh, you know, 226 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: he's been two different quarterbacks the first two weeks. In 227 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 1: the last two weeks. In my opinion. There are some 228 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: bright spots, but now there's we have some injuries. Um, listen, 229 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: I I expect them to win four, four or five 230 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: games this year. I expect some of those. You know, 231 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: those wins are gonna be great and we're gonna all 232 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: be back on the bandwagon, and but more times than not, 233 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: there's going to be some stinkers and um, you know, 234 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,839 Speaker 1: And that's that's kind of what I see from this team. 235 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 1: I hope I'm wrong, Listen. I hope they get six 236 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 1: seven wins. I hope they turn it on and and 237 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: maybe get the five hundred. I don't expect that to happen, John, 238 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: But if I'm being honest, what you see on the 239 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 1: field right now is a defense that is really struggling, 240 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: and you see an offense that's that's inconsistent, and you know, 241 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 1: with a few limitations at quarterbacks. So so we'll see 242 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: John and you know, we'll see take me through Minshew, 243 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 1: And we've talked about it a little bit. Uh, there's 244 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: obviously two things about him. Every intangible you want, every 245 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: competitive quarterback thing that you want, and he's going to 246 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: maximize what he is. And then there's the reason he 247 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 1: was drafted in the sixth round, which is he's six 248 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: ft and he does not have an incredibly powerful arm. Uh, 249 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: the two things I mentioned last I are they coming up? 250 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: Do you see them? And are they overcomable? If if 251 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: you will? Well as far as the arm strength, um, 252 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: you know, there have been plenty of guys that have 253 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: went on to have successful careers that just didn't have 254 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: a really really strong arm. You know that Joe Montana 255 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 1: was one of them. Um just didn't have a He 256 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,199 Speaker 1: just didn't have a John Elway rifle or Brett Farve cannon. 257 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,839 Speaker 1: He didn't, but he made it work. You do see 258 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 1: that on tape a little bit. Um. But UM, I 259 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: think which what really, what really pops is really the 260 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: the just the not like you said, poise isn't the word, 261 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: because he's not a He's not an unpoised player, just 262 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: an unpolished pocket passer, maybe a little unnerved, a little 263 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 1: too quick to get out of the pocket, not every time, 264 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: but enough where you think, you know, is he just 265 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: uncomfortable in the pocket or could he not see what's 266 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: going on down? There are guys just not getting open 267 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: and these um, So I think you see that, UM. 268 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: And I can speak from experience, John, I was a 269 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: young player, man, I had a tough time in the pocket. 270 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: I just did six one. I didn't have a lot 271 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: of college experience. Um, you know, in the offense that 272 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: I cut my teeth on in Green Bay for the 273 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: first two years, it was a three step five step 274 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: ball is out real quick, you know, and progression based 275 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: offense where you just this receiver, this receiver, this receiver, 276 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: and typically one of those first three were we're open. 277 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: So you're seeing some of that on film right now. 278 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: And uh, but I think there's two things about Gardner Minshew. One, 279 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: I think Gardner Minshew can pay play fifteen years in 280 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: the NFL. Now, will he be a franchise starter, Um, 281 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: I don't know, but there's certainly a place for a 282 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: guy coming off the bench who has those intangibles that 283 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: you mentioned that can be a spark and go out 284 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: there and just on just on Moxi alone, go win 285 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: a game for you. But he's gonna be around for 286 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: a long time. And I think the other thing, too, 287 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: is is that when you're a quarterback and you're still 288 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: trying to figure it out and you realize you're probably 289 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: gonna have to score thirty five points every Sunday and 290 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: be near perfect every drive to win a game. That 291 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: adds a lot of unnecessary pressure that no young quarterbacks 292 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: should have to endure. So as confident and as tough 293 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: as he is, you know that that's that that could 294 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: That's a lot of weight on a on a young quarterback. 295 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: So that's really what I see with Gardner as a 296 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: as a person. I gosh, I love the kid. I'm 297 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: rooting for him. I'm cheering for him as we all 298 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: are that have been around him. But uh, listen, we 299 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: have twelve more games. Let's let it play out, and 300 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: I think by the end of the year we're gonna 301 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: know if if he's the guy. You obviously, because that's 302 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: saying you know a lot more about offensive football than 303 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: I do. What do you like about Grooden? It seems 304 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: like he is coming pretty close to maximizing what he's 305 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: got on his side of the ball in most games 306 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: so far. Yeah, I mean, I've I've I've got a 307 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: very very good friend that worked with him last maybe 308 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: four or five years. And uh, who's who's now in 309 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: l A with the Rams was jump and coordinator and 310 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 1: it was with Jay and said and said he's a 311 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:13,919 Speaker 1: brilliant guy and uh, really smart, great play caller, just 312 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: a good offensive minded coach. And John we're seeing that, right, 313 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: We're seeing that our offense for all its limitations, okay, uh, 314 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 1: averaging about twenty four points a game. It's not what 315 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: you want, but it's pretty good. It's not bad. You know, 316 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,880 Speaker 1: you try to get up to that north of that mark. 317 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: But but and they're doing some really good things. Gardner 318 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 1: had at times has been efficient. Um, you know, he's 319 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: I think it's eight touchdowns, forn receptions something like that. 320 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: Maybe it's yeah, and uh, pretty good numbers, higher completion 321 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 1: percentage and that's very commiment in the NFL right now. 322 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: But I think he understands what he has in Gardner, 323 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: he understands what he can do and what he can't do. 324 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 1: I think he has a very good and um I 325 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 1: for you know, put getting players in the right position 326 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 1: and calling the appropriate play. Um. I think he's working 327 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: wonders with with James Robinson. So answer your question, I 328 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 1: absolutely love what I see. There's some creativity there, there's 329 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 1: some there's some things that you don't expect to see. Um. 330 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: But you know the thing is is that this is 331 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:25,919 Speaker 1: a this is an offense that has to stay healthy. 332 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,120 Speaker 1: DJ charks out two weeks ago. Yeah, we couldn't really 333 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:31,719 Speaker 1: do anything. He gets back in there and they get 334 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: a couple of touchdowns. Brandon Linder, in my opinion, has 335 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 1: a lot to do with the way Gardner has looked 336 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 1: the last a couple of weeks. So I think I 337 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 1: think Jay is doing I think Jay is doing really 338 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: well and it will continue to do so. Sort of 339 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: a high end NFL question. And I've been thinking about 340 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: this more and more the last couple of weeks. It's 341 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: and I realized it's not going back to the way 342 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:58,719 Speaker 1: it was when I covered you. But you're seeing so 343 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: much incredible Her back play is a lot of that, though, 344 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: because the rules have gotten so much to the point 345 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: that you can't hit anybody these it's so skewed the 346 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: word quarterbacks. And again I'm the crotch of the old 347 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:17,679 Speaker 1: man who believes it was better when I was covering 348 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: the NFL and in the eighties. But it's a dramatically 349 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: different game than the one you played, isn't it on 350 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: that front? Yeah, it really is. On the rules front, 351 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,120 Speaker 1: there's no quay. It's night and day. It's night and day, 352 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: you know, um, and it certainly benefits the offense, which 353 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: isn't that what people want? Though? I mean, that's that's 354 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: why they did it. More points. I think it's the rules. 355 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 1: I think it's it's really the um the offenses that 356 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: you you know, what they were doing in college that 357 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: spread offense and triple off to all this all this 358 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: run pass options. We're gonna need all these college kids 359 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: that were just throwing up big time numbers, Well now 360 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: they're established, really good NFL players doing the same thing. 361 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: And you look at the highest scoring teams right now, 362 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 1: like the top ten teams in the NFL and scoring 363 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 1: which are on record breaking pace by the way, in 364 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: the NFL. And you look at these guys and are 365 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 1: you look at these teams and and all the quarters, 366 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: not all the quarterbacks because you've got you got Brady 367 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,159 Speaker 1: in there, and Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers, you know, 368 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 1: those kind of pocket pastor guys for the most part, 369 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 1: but a lot of these guys, you know, it's Dak 370 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:34,199 Speaker 1: and Patrick and and the list goes on Russell who 371 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 1: has just been playing out of his mind. Those guys 372 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 1: with the ability to run it and throw it out. 373 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: How do you defend those guys. And how do you 374 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: defend those guys if you didn't have an off season, 375 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: Uh no o t s or no mini camps, you 376 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: didn't have training camp, no preseason games, and all of 377 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: a sudden you're a defense and you've got to go 378 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: against Russell Wilson and and Patrick Mahomes and Lamar you 379 00:20:56,760 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 1: don't have a chance. So, for multiple reasons, a lot. 380 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 1: There's a lot of scoring going on. I think too. 381 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 1: We got some really bright, creative, innovative minds right now 382 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: in the NFL calling plays on offense. So it's not 383 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: just one thing. Um, it's players, it's plays, it's rules. Um. 384 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: But it's fun though. It's sure fun to watch some 385 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: of these guys. As you were talking, I was thinking, boy, 386 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 1: if you'd been born twenty five years later, Oh yeah, 387 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,159 Speaker 1: I mean me and Priscoe used to rip you all 388 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: the time for leaving the pocket. Now we'd be praising it. Yeah. Well, 389 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 1: all of my all of my runs were not designed. 390 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: You know, maybe there was a draw every now and then. 391 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: But these runs the guys are there. I mean, they're 392 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 1: designed runs. But I was my I was so stick 393 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: and stubborn. Though I would have hurt myself because I 394 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: would have, you know, kept the ball more times than 395 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:54,400 Speaker 1: I should and would try to take on the likes 396 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: of Greg Lloyd too often or something like that. But 397 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 1: I would have loved to have played in those offenses. 398 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 1: But I promise you if I was in one of 399 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 1: those offenses, my my body wouldn't feel as good as 400 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 1: it does right now. I'm actually doing pretty good. It 401 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: would it'd be pretty ugly. We do one thing with this. 402 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,679 Speaker 1: It's five quick questions. We call it the ozone five 403 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: and it can be quick answers out. I'll run that three. Um, 404 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: what's your last binge watch? Mark? Do you binge watch? 405 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 1: Last binge watch? Uh? Is? Uh? Yeah, I'm sorry, it's quick. 406 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: I I actually have quite a few going on. Um yeah, 407 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: I'm zaka. Well, I don't see like like six or 408 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:48,880 Speaker 1: seven going on. I just finished season two of uh 409 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: what's it the Boys? Okay? Yeah, yeah, I just finished that. 410 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 1: The last song you listened to in your car? Oh boy? 411 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: What Johnny? I'm fifty years old right now? Um, you 412 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 1: know at all likely in all likelihood it was a 413 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: George Straight song. Um, big George Straight fans, So it was, 414 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: I promise he was one of his older ones. Goods 415 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: still a baseball guy at all, and it's so World 416 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: Series pick. Ever since I stopped playing it, I just 417 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: stopped watching it. Um so listen as thirty two years ago. 418 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,880 Speaker 1: So I'm not a fan. Your go to coaching cliche 419 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: the one you cringe the most when you say it. 420 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: Oh gosh, um that's pretty good. Um oh this is this. 421 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: I don't cringe, but um so so in Episcopal we 422 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: we uh, we need we need help on blocking and tackling. 423 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: Other than that work great, okay, And so my my, 424 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: I don't really cringe, but I find myself saying in 425 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: it especial on special teams, they find work, find some work, 426 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: because we've got we've got a lot of guys out 427 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: there that they know they're supposed to block, but they're 428 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: they're they're not real thrilled about going to block anybody, 429 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,360 Speaker 1: or kind of sometimes trying to avoid block in your tech. 430 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 1: And so I said, listen this, when you're you know, 431 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 1: when you're supposed to block, will find some work. Go 432 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 1: find somebody to block, Go find somebody to hit. Um. 433 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:22,439 Speaker 1: I don't know which coach I got that from, so, 434 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: but um, you know my players could certainly give you 435 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: a few that that they're tired of hearing. But that's 436 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: one that I always go to. That I was catching 437 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:33,360 Speaker 1: myself saying, you know, you think it's not a bad one, 438 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: but but you know you got to go find somewhere. 439 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: Final one And I sort of saved this for former players. 440 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: If I asked you to give me one series, could 441 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:50,439 Speaker 1: you still do it? One series? Absolutely? There's no question. 442 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 1: Now is that a Is that a three and out? 443 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:55,399 Speaker 1: Or is that a twelve play drive and score? Because 444 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: you know both series, so what are you talking about? 445 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 1: You can keep me out of a third and seven? 446 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 1: You know seven plus I might have a chance, but 447 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 1: anything anything over that could be problematic. I didn't ask 448 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: Keenan that mark, But had I asked Keenan, he said 449 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:15,479 Speaker 1: he could give me the whole season. Oh, there's no question, 450 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: and you know what he might be right, keen and 451 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:22,199 Speaker 1: I would believe nobody else. Of course, that Keenan is amazing. 452 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 1: I'll close it out. It seems like you're in a 453 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:28,879 Speaker 1: good place, buddy, I am. I'm uh. I still love 454 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: in Jacksonville. You know a lot of my teammates are 455 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: still around here, John uh good friends. I love, I love, 456 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: I love coaching and episcopal. My family is doing well, 457 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,479 Speaker 1: my wife and children. So uh, things that things are 458 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:44,959 Speaker 1: going well. Things are going well. Remember the first day 459 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 1: I saw you walk into uh what's now t I 460 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 1: bank Field as a whole a whole bunch of media 461 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: guys sitting around. You kind of walked through and introduce yourself. 462 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 1: Did you ever dream back in nine that you'd be 463 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:59,880 Speaker 1: around twenty five years later in this town? It's crazy, actually, 464 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: you know what, maybe not in john but in in 465 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: nineties six and nine seven, I think my wife would 466 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 1: tell you the same thing. You know, we we felt 467 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 1: we we felt like this was becoming a home. We 468 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,120 Speaker 1: felt a connection here and it was for multiple reasons. 469 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 1: But but um yeah, you know we we were here 470 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 1: for nine years. We couldn't wait to get back, and 471 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 1: we were when we were gone, we still had one 472 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 1: fot here in Jacksonville. So this is home for us, 473 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: There's there's no question. And we love it as much 474 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: today as we did and you know when we were 475 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 1: just starting out here in Jacksonville and the town feels 476 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 1: the same way in Mark, I know, you gotta run. 477 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 1: I appreciate you doing. It's always great catching up with 478 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: you and I enjoyed it. Thank you very much. All right, 479 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: thank you Ozone. I appreciate it. Take care. I don't 480 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: want to thank Marks for joining us. Uh, it's always 481 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 1: good to catch up with Mark. As I joked about 482 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: at the very beginning of the podcast, it's always funny 483 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 1: to me, Dave, when I talked sort of casually to Mark, 484 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:03,920 Speaker 1: now what years after I covered him, He was not 485 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,719 Speaker 1: the easiest guy to cover. I don't think many quarterbacks 486 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:13,159 Speaker 1: are because there's a different dynamic media quarterback relationship. But 487 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 1: Mark was, by his own admission, tight, didn't love doing interviews, 488 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 1: a little bit guarded. We would stand around his locker 489 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 1: and as you know, Dave, there's a locker room dynamic 490 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: and there was a lot of one word answers and 491 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: you know some I would say contentious because he was 492 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,400 Speaker 1: never a bad guy, but he he really didn't love 493 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,280 Speaker 1: the interaction. And since getting to know him, since I've 494 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:40,640 Speaker 1: been back in Jacksonville, consider him a friend and enjoy 495 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,719 Speaker 1: spending time with him. Find him very insightful. And Uh, 496 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: I thought he was good today when we talked to him, 497 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:51,720 Speaker 1: and I for I'm sure for you A young Jaguars 498 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:55,880 Speaker 1: fan growing up and rooting for the Jags. It's still 499 00:27:55,920 --> 00:28:00,400 Speaker 1: gotta be neat to listen and talk to Mark right now. Heck, 500 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 1: yeah it is. I was a huge Markertel. Marconnell was 501 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 1: my guy. Him and Jimmy Smith were my two guys. 502 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: And uh, I had a had a Marcronelle poster on 503 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:10,919 Speaker 1: my wall and said on the Mark I remember him 504 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 1: within a cool post I uh I also had was 505 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:17,719 Speaker 1: this is kind of funny. You might not remember this, 506 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:21,119 Speaker 1: but him and Carrie Collins had some kind of shoe 507 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:24,879 Speaker 1: deal where there was like a shoe they indoors and 508 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:27,680 Speaker 1: like the market. The Marcronel one was steel and the 509 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 1: carry Collins one was like Carolina blue, like for the Panthers. 510 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: And uh and I had the Marconnell shoes for a 511 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 1: little while, um because because he was in the commercial. 512 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: So that was cool. But yeah, no, I was a 513 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 1: huge Markronel fan. And what was kind of funny is 514 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,840 Speaker 1: so when I came back here, probably a few years 515 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:49,240 Speaker 1: after I I came back to Jackson Will start working 516 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 1: at the TV station in town. Mark became the analyst 517 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 1: on the preseason broadcast and he never did TV at 518 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 1: that point. So, um, are my boss or news director 519 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: at the time suggested Mark come in and practice in 520 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 1: the TV studio doing some like you know, watch a 521 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: game on TV and doing analysis, and I was assigned 522 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 1: to help him out. Um, so we kind of did 523 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 1: like like twice a week for like two or three 524 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: weeks before the season started. He would come in and 525 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: watch and he was like really into it, trying to 526 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: get better and trying to uh learn how to do it, 527 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 1: and um, but it was just cool because you know, 528 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:33,240 Speaker 1: this is you know, my favorite athlete growing up and 529 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 1: I'm sitting here working with him and trying to help 530 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 1: him out, which was a little weird at the time. 531 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: I'm like twenty six years old, and was just it 532 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: was very surreal for me. And but he was always 533 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 1: super nice and cordial. And what's funny about it is 534 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 1: like a year later, two years later, he starts working 535 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 1: on ESPN and is you know, an analyst on like 536 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: NFL Live, which which I was, which I used to 537 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 1: always joke with him like I got him to start 538 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: in TV. So we did a nice job on that. 539 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 1: He was good, I mean, yeah, yeah, And uh, one 540 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 1: more story about that. I remember he was in our 541 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 1: office one time and somehow it's It was in the 542 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: sports office and we're all talking and it got back 543 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 1: to him, like I guess I think it was Bred 544 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 1: Martineau or someone else I worked with started talking about 545 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 1: like how much I was a Mark Gretel fan growing up. 546 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 1: It was like really, I was like, yeah, I knows, 547 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: and and someone goes, which, this is true. I had 548 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: a Mark Gretel jersey at my desk since he started 549 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 1: coming around. I had it in there for like two 550 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: and a half years, and he would come all the time, 551 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: and I was just never wanted to ask him because 552 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: I was embarrassed and all this kind of stuff. And 553 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 1: someone say, hey, he's got a jersey and his desk 554 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 1: for you to sign. He's like really, I was like, yeah, 555 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:42,160 Speaker 1: I brought it out, he signed, It was great, and 556 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: he grabbed my face and gave me a big kiss 557 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 1: on the on the cheek. It was just funny. It's funny. 558 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 1: It was a great story. And then since then it's 559 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:53,160 Speaker 1: just like we're always joking around and stuff, and he's 560 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:55,680 Speaker 1: a good guy with me, and I always appreciate Mark. Yeah, 561 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 1: he's uh. I was kind of joking that with his 562 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 1: style early on. Now he got hurt and wanted and 563 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: and I wasn't his mobile after about but he would 564 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 1: have been a prototype these days, he would have. You know, 565 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:12,680 Speaker 1: I'm not kidding when I say me and Crisco were 566 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 1: covering the Jaguars for the paper, would constantly criticize him 567 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 1: for leaving the pocket to Earth because he just didn't 568 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: do that back then. Now, if he played it would 569 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:25,960 Speaker 1: be you know, I think his transition, some of the 570 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 1: criticism he took at times would be you know, far 571 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: less because his his style would fit right in. And uh, 572 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: you know so I thought it was also interesting some 573 00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 1: of the things he said about Minshew. You know, I 574 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 1: think he's I think he's dead on. I think Gardner's 575 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:46,880 Speaker 1: got some growth there. And I think people who listened 576 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 1: to that we'll get a pretty good idea of sort 577 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 1: of where Gardner needs to improve and why he's not 578 00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 1: ordained or anointed as the absolute franchise guy. There's some 579 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:03,120 Speaker 1: good insight there from Mark. Yeah, you know, with Mark 580 00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:05,920 Speaker 1: two was just I remember that, especially that second half 581 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 1: of that ninety SI season. It was just the way 582 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:11,480 Speaker 1: he played was just so exciting, you know, just to 583 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 1: watch just how to break the pocket, the runs and 584 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 1: and all that kind of stuff. And he didn't play 585 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:19,320 Speaker 1: most of his career like that, but I think the 586 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:23,080 Speaker 1: most the average Draguar fan is that's how you would 587 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 1: describe him, you know, as this mobile, mobile quarterback, you know, 588 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 1: when he didn't really play like that from the most 589 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 1: most of his career. He clicked for him in the 590 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 1: second half and ninety six and he had he had 591 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 1: played at that point about twentieth games as a starter. 592 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:42,440 Speaker 1: He got it where he was seeing it, you know, 593 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: exactly when to run. He was still greater at running. 594 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:47,440 Speaker 1: He heard his knee early the following year and really 595 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 1: stayed in the pocket a lot more after that. So 596 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:52,680 Speaker 1: he was a different player. I always credited him. He 597 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:55,479 Speaker 1: was not great when he came to Jacksonville in the pocket. 598 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 1: He got a lot better after he got hurt. Nine 599 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 1: was a very very very good NFL quarterback, changing his 600 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 1: natural style. So as always fascinating to have him on. 601 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: I thought he uh, I thought he got into things 602 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 1: that we're very interesting in terms of the Jaguars, their season, 603 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 1: in his career. We're closing with that. We'll close it 604 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 1: as always by me thanking Dave the Canvas and thanking 605 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 1: Joe Fortunato for making me sound much better than I 606 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:25,520 Speaker 1: actually am. I know this one didn't stuck. Markotine was 607 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 1: a great guest. I appreciate it, and we'll talk to 608 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: everybody next week