1 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: What's up, guys. Chris Avery with you on a brand 2 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: new episode of Chargers Weekly Mini Camp in the Books, 3 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: and I got to see the voice of the Chargers 4 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: Matt Buddy Smith in the flesh. It's been too long, man, 5 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: How are you doing? Doing great? It is. It's funny, 6 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: you know, I had a we had a little get 7 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: together amongst NFL network people, and you know, the studio 8 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: has been closed since the pandemic, you know, kind of 9 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: showed up in mid March of twenty twenty. And it 10 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: was weird because you know, we've done things like this 11 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: where you do the zoom and so you feel like 12 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: you've seen him. Um, so when you see him in person, 13 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: you're like, oh, it's not that big of a deal. 14 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: It's good to see everything. I wait a minute, I 15 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: haven't actually touched this person or seen this person in 16 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: sixteen months or whatever. So uh, yeah, it was good. 17 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: It was good to see you and obviously see see 18 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: Tom in the flesh. Obviously I saw Tom when the 19 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: Surfboard showed up at the Draft Central headquarters there. But 20 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: outside of that, like you know, for people that don't 21 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 1: know all the behind the scenes people, Maggan and Josh 22 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: and Jen and Lauren, like, it was really cool to 23 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 1: kind of get back with the Chargers family and actually 24 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 1: see them and be close to them in person. Thanks 25 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: to us having that little vaccination card so we were 26 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: able to get on the field and hang out. It 27 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: really was a lot of fun for those two days. 28 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 1: It felt normal for the first time in a long 29 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: time to get out there and see the guys. And 30 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: there's not much that you can really take from who 31 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: look good, all that type of stuff. But I will 32 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: say this, and I think probably anybody from all thirty 33 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 1: two NFL teams could say the same thing, some sort 34 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 1: of positive remark coming out of mini camp. But I 35 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: just see this, man, I know where there's a team podcast. 36 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: I just love the vibe of this team. I love 37 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: the vibe that the coaching staff is bringing, the culture 38 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: that Brandon Staley is setting. It's very refreshing. It feels 39 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: authentic and just here ring the coaches speak over the 40 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: last few weeks and the players, uh talk about just 41 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: their experiences through this offseason program. It's hard to not 42 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: get excited at least about that aspect. I'm not predicting 43 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: wins and losses, but just the culture that's being set 44 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: is fun and fans should appreciate it. Yeah, no doubt. 45 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: I quickly just want to add to the sense of 46 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: normalcy for people that might have been able to see, 47 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: and I posted a video from it. But uh, really 48 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: the return to normalcy was the scrum around Drew Brees 49 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: when they brought Drew to meet with us, and immediately 50 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: you had all the beat writers. There were about fifteen 51 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: to twenty of us that just started fighting for position, 52 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: elbowing around, getting our phones up for the angle. Uh 53 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: and of course, being the jerk I am, I had 54 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: to shout down to other people to get one question in. 55 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: Um so it was like name names, name names, you 56 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: know what. I don't even know, but I just I 57 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: really wanted to get into Michael Thomas Mike Williams question 58 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: because of his experience with with with Coach Lombardi and 59 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: Michael Thomas and I when they when I heard Jen 60 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:02,959 Speaker 1: say one more, I was like, oh, I want to 61 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: get this in, you know, and look nothing exactly. I 62 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: was like, I'm getting this in. Give me the Mike Williams, 63 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 1: Michael Thomas. Why would Lombardi said this is gonna be 64 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: a big year. I've got my fantasy roots in me still, 65 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 1: you know, from NFL network, So I want to make 66 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: sure i'd take care of those people out there that 67 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: might be able to get Mike Williams as a sleeper 68 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: in the sixth or seventh round after coach Lombardi said 69 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: he could totally see him being that Michael Thomas of 70 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: this offense. So that that was the real sense of 71 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: normalcy when we got back into that scrum with Breeze. 72 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: But to your point about the vibe, it's a great vibe, 73 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: Like it is a really, really good vibe. And just 74 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: talking to a few different people in the organization, you 75 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: hear that a lot. Just look, these players are are 76 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: really enjoying this coach and staff and they're feeling it. 77 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: And I heard an interesting story. I don't know if 78 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: I'm supposed to share it, but whatever I mean, I will. 79 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: I'll just, you know what, I'll try to keep it. 80 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: I'll leave it in generality. So a team employee that 81 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: works with the players shared with a team executive's wife 82 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: who happened to be getting something going with that person 83 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: that the players just cannot stop gushing about coach Staley 84 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: and this staff and how much they love them. And 85 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: it was just there were a couple of different players 86 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: in this particular room getting some stuff done and they 87 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: overheard it. So it's it's not just to the media, 88 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: it's not just to their bosses. It is amongst themselves 89 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: when they're not really thinking about who might be listening. 90 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: So it's certainly you know, look, I thought we had 91 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: a really good coaching staff under coach Lynn. Players absolutely 92 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: loved them, and obviously Gus is one of the most 93 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: beloved coaches in all of football. But it certainly feels 94 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: this feels different, you know, just I'll put it that way. 95 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: This feels different. There there is a bounce in the 96 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 1: step of these players with what they're installing and what 97 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: this offense and defense and special teams is going to 98 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: look like. We got a little bit of a preview 99 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: of it in the mic up clipped the Chargers put 100 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: out of coach Staley just rallying the team and not 101 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 1: shied away from expectations too. Buddy just said, hey, this 102 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: is gonna get us ready for football in February. So 103 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: you know, you can easily be like, hey, listen, let's 104 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: taper expectations, let's pump the brakes a little bit, but 105 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 1: you can't be afraid of what you want to accomplish 106 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: it and what your goal is. And you know, just 107 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:28,239 Speaker 1: speaking to the players relationships with coach Staley, Austin Ekeler 108 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 1: yesterday talking about Hey, the second day he got to 109 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: the job, he called me. We just talked about life 110 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: like He's trying to get to know these guys as people. 111 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: And Coach Staley himself said, I can't coach Austin Ekeler 112 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: the same way I coach Chris Harris Jr. They're different people. 113 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: You know, they may be wired differently. So the investment 114 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: that he's putting into these guys to get to know 115 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: what kind of people they are and that will eventually 116 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 1: hopefully translate onto the field. And he said, hey, listen, 117 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: this is what an investment is. You invest in players 118 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: and you hope to get that return. So Austin also 119 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: brought up the fact that you know, they have this 120 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: this leadership council just talking about how they want to 121 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: map out the off season program taken input from players. 122 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: I don't know how common that is in the NFL. Frankly, 123 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: maybe it's more common the last couple of years, and 124 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: it's been in the past. Yeah, but listen, listening to 125 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: the guys and having that core set of dudes that 126 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 1: they want to win just as much as coach Staley does. 127 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: You don't think Darwin James and Joey Bosa and Keenan 128 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 1: Allen and Justin Herbart they want to win just as 129 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: much as the coaching staff does. So empowering the players 130 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: a little bit too, I think that's a big deal. Yeah, 131 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: you know a lot there. So I'll start with kind 132 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: of what you mentioned about Coach Staley and Eckler and 133 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: that call that they had. You know, I had the 134 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: good fortune to do an Instagram live with Coach Staley 135 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: last I think it was last week, and right, you know, 136 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:50,599 Speaker 1: there was very little football, and I think it was 137 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 1: sort of coach trying to put himself out there like, Hey, 138 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: this is who I am, this is what I'm about. 139 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 1: I'm fine sharing personal details about my life, about my 140 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: home life, about where I'm from, about my kids, about 141 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 1: what I'm interested in. H He just came on with 142 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 1: Petros and me yesterday on our radio show and it 143 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: was funny. We ended up talking a lot of football. 144 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: And you know, normally our interviews are between ten and 145 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: maybe twelve minutes. This one end up going on twenty 146 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: minutes and we're talking football, and then next thing, you know, 147 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: we're talking about how he's going back just outside of 148 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: Cleveland because his son's getting baptized and it's first time 149 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: he's going to see his family since the pandemic started. 150 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: And then he's telling us a story about how these 151 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: two people came up to him when he was doing 152 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: the Sofi tour and they thought he was me, and 153 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:34,239 Speaker 1: he's like, they were super I was like, I'm sorry, 154 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: that's terrible that it would an awful thing for that couple. Please, 155 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 1: I'm not I don't want to. I don't want you 156 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: lose your trade of thought. When I worked at NFL 157 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: Network for a brief time about four or five years ago, 158 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 1: somebody tap me on the shoulder and thought I was 159 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: met Money Smith. We're very common people, stiff white guys. 160 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: I I promise you they were calling me young Money 161 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: for like a brief stretch of time. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Listen. 162 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: I think it is the highest compliment. So that's what 163 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: I like. I mean, Coach is really good that way, 164 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: and I think that's so important. Right. You mentioned he's 165 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: making these personal connections, and you know, appearing to be, 166 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: and I believe it to be sincere invested in his players. 167 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: And look, when you're that you've been on the field 168 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: when you get on it's one thing to be in 169 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: the stands. It's one thing to watch it on TV. 170 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: When you see this game played at the field level 171 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: and you recognize the physical sacrifices that are being made, 172 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: not game in and game out, play in and play 173 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: out what you are asking these guys to do. I cannot. 174 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: I don't think it can be minimized or or overstated 175 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: how important those things are. Um, you know, hey, I'm 176 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go to bat for this, for this part, 177 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: you know, for this leader. And I believe in what 178 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: he's asking me to do because I got a sacrifice 179 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: in order to make it happen. So that's important. Um. 180 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: You mentioned the video that's out there. I cannot for 181 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: people that may have it, maybe it's slipped through. Uh, 182 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: there's a really great it came up yesterday, so today's 183 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: the seventeen, and so it would have been the sixteenth. 184 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: It's like a four piece clip or it's like a 185 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: four video string of clips on the Chargers social media feed. 186 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: I think I saw it on Twitter of coach Lombardi 187 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 1: and he's talking to Drew Brees and, man, you want 188 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: to get excited about defense. You know, here's a guy 189 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: who's running offense that has put it on the league 190 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: the last ten years with Breeze and the Saints. And 191 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: he and Drew are talking and he's like, Drew, I 192 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: don't know what the heck I'm looking at. He goes, 193 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: I look at you tell me. He's like, you tell 194 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: me if you can figure it out. He's like, I'm 195 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 1: trying to figure this defense out, man, And I don't 196 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: know where they're coming from. I don't know who's dropping. 197 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 1: I'm struggling to figure this out. So help me out. 198 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: As we're here in the early goings, and I think, well, 199 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: there's a reason why the Rams defense was number one 200 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 1: last year, and not just number one in the league statistically, 201 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: but if you go through the last twenty years, it 202 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: was a historically great defense. So something that coach Staley 203 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: is doing on that side of the ball is certainly 204 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 1: causing fits for the rest of the league. And um 205 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 1: and man, it was it was really cool to hear 206 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: that interaction. I cannot recommend you seek in that video 207 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: out enough with with Coach Lombardi and Drew Brees. Yeah, 208 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 1: and I think there's gonna be extended versions of those 209 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: probably coming out later too. But Lombardi had some. He 210 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: had some just great one liner two a general that 211 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: was that was my favorite one where he's telling the 212 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 1: tree say hey, dude, if you know, let me know 213 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: because I don't know where they're coming from. He also 214 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: said something with Justin Jackson. I think Justin Jackson had 215 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: a an elaborate juke move and he's like, listen, man, 216 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: he goes, I'm giving you this so less seasoning, right, 217 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: you know, you used the sauce when you need it, 218 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: you know. And then he did it again and he's like, exactly, 219 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: so yeah, he's like when they're giving it was just 220 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: an inside slant and he was he kind of like 221 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: juked a little bit and he's like, dude, just take 222 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: the slant and go put foot in the ground and 223 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 1: go um. And that's it's funny, you know, you hear 224 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: that all the time. I remember I think it was 225 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: Coach Lynn that said, hey, man, I need a truck. 226 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,679 Speaker 1: All right, you're not you're not a Ferrari. You're enough 227 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: fifty exactly. So let's let's you know, it is fun 228 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: to hear those and that is the one thing about 229 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,959 Speaker 1: football is more than any other sport, just kind of 230 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: the little the metaphorical sayings and stuff are so much fun. 231 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 1: You know, I don't need the sauce. Just just give 232 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 1: me the chicken man, Just give me nice good protein. 233 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: Let's go with an inside slant. We're gonna burn them 234 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: out it anyway to take it and go. The coaching 235 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: staff is I've always been watching those guys more than 236 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,839 Speaker 1: the players during this offseason program because you know, you're 237 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: just trying to identify who's who because everybody's new. But 238 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: just the energy that they're bringing in these ota practices 239 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 1: in mini camp, it gives you a pretty cool like 240 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: lens into what this season's gonna look like and how 241 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,319 Speaker 1: they're gonna operate. You know, Coach Staley's talking about activating 242 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: in the morning and just they have a plan. And 243 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: one of the things I'm sure you've noticed this too 244 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: when Coach Staley talks. I think Darrys Switton mentioned this too. 245 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 1: They don't like to waste time, so like they want 246 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: to move on to the next thing, Like you don't 247 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: have time to dwell on something that we've already covered. 248 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,079 Speaker 1: I think Switten said, if you're coming to me with 249 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: a question, don't just come to bring an apple, like, 250 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: have a legitimate question that we haven't talked about before. 251 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 1: So it's this nice blending bunny of just this is 252 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: what the standard is. But we're not afraid to take 253 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,319 Speaker 1: your input in. You're a part of this just as 254 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: much as we are. Yeah, Look, I think I think 255 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: it's a tough balance, right, Like we talked about it's 256 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: it's got to be all business. But at the same time, 257 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: you know, it's a game, and it's a game that's 258 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,959 Speaker 1: that's played. It's it's different than any other business. It 259 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 1: just is, you know, so teams that are out there, 260 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: you know, enjoying themselves having a good time, are probably 261 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: going to play better. I mean, I just think about 262 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: the Buccaneers last year, and you think about all those 263 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: videos and the kind of practice footage of Tom and 264 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: Gronk laughing, and you know that's I think important too. 265 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: But at the same time, look, time, in the last 266 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 1: five years, but especially the last two years, time has 267 00:12:56,080 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: become an invaluable commodity in the NFL because of all 268 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: the restrictions that have now been put on the limited 269 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: amount of mini camp, the limited amount of time you 270 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: have in training camp. You know, the voluntaries that you know, 271 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: and look, I think it speaks to the coaching staff 272 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 1: the participation that they had, that everybody came out pretty 273 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 1: much and if they didn't come out, it was all. 274 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: It was totally understood and they were at least in 275 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: the facility if they were doing their workouts somewhere else. 276 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: So I think it's a great message to send, you know, 277 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: is this is not like it used to be where 278 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: you're doing two a days and we've got all this 279 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: and we get we're at the facility for twelve hours 280 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: together for three weeks in the middle of June. That's gone. 281 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: So I think Swinton spoke to kind of that adjustment 282 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: that so many teams have to make, and you know, 283 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: the better use you can make of the limited amount 284 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:46,719 Speaker 1: of time you have, especially when you're installing systems that 285 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: appear to be quite complicated on both the offensive and 286 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: defensive side of the offensive defensive side of the ball, 287 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,319 Speaker 1: and even special teams for that matter. I totally understand, 288 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: you know why why you know, we picked that up 289 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 1: when the coaches were marked up speaking of complicated systems. 290 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:06,439 Speaker 1: This this new offense that Justin Herbert's going to be 291 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: at the controls at By all indications, he's picking things 292 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: up as well as you can. But it doesn't hurt 293 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,199 Speaker 1: to have a future Hall of Famer in the quarterbacks 294 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: room helping you along who knows that offense like the 295 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: back of his hand. What was it like to see 296 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: Drew and what he had to say? And then what'd 297 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: you take from Justin's remarks about just Drew and the 298 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: entire kind of mini camp experience. You know, I thought 299 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: it was it was perfectly put right. The the the 300 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: analogy that he used, which is, it's the largest restaurant 301 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: menu you've ever seen, and you know you're not going 302 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: to eat everything, but you're gonna find something on there 303 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: that you like, and you know, and I think that's 304 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: kind of what people get caught up with, is, uh, 305 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: you're putting too much on this kid. It's it's only 306 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: a second year. He's still figuring out the game of football. Um, 307 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: But Drew said, look, for the most part, it was 308 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: thirty percent, you know, we would find that sweet spot. 309 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: This is this is the thirty percent of this giant 310 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: menu that we use and once you find something, you'll 311 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: just keep going back to it. So, um, look it 312 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: speaks to you know what this scouting department figured out 313 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: with Justin Herbert, the fact that he was basically won 314 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: the academic highsman, that he was a four two in biology, 315 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: you know, not in not nothing against Look, I was 316 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: a communication major, nothing against you communication majors. But this 317 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: is this is essentially a it's a bachelor of science. 318 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: It's not a Bachelor of Arts. Um. You know. So 319 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: he's a bright guy. And uh, it's certainly I think 320 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: gonna pay dividends when it comes to trying to absorb 321 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: this entire playbook. But look, that's that's something coach Daley 322 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: talked about from the second he got hired, right, is 323 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: we are all about putting pressure pre snap, be at 324 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: offense or defense. And if you go through, it's interesting 325 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 1: if you go through if you want to watch um 326 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: and again can't recommend game pass enough on it through 327 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: the NFL. It's such a cool thing to to subscribe 328 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 1: to and I think worth three times what you would 329 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: pay for it. But if you go back and watch 330 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: the Saints Chargers game from Monday, n Football, just look 331 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: at the formations that if you feel like you never 332 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: see the same not forget to play formation twice if 333 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: you look at a drive, but they never line up 334 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: the same way on consecutive plays. And I think that 335 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: speaks to what Coach Staley was talking about, Hey, we 336 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: want their guys thinking. We don't want them playing football, 337 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: we want them thinking before they got to play football. 338 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: And certainly that's what I think is going to benefit 339 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: this team if everyone can get on the same page. 340 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,359 Speaker 1: And boy, thankful that we've got this type of offseason 341 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: and you know, hopefully, you know, the vaccination numbers are 342 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: going to get to a point where they can be 343 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: on that field together, in meeting rooms together and really 344 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: kind of get their hands around this thing and find 345 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 1: that thirty percent that's going to help carry him. Like 346 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: like Coach Staley said, all the way into February, Yeah, 347 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: you know, I had Jeff dunt Get on the podcast 348 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: earlier this year. And this is the book, the Peyton 349 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: and Breese Book in Additional Game Pass, that's a that's 350 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: a great read because there's a there's a chapter that 351 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: coach Lombardi is heavily involved in, and it just talks 352 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:12,439 Speaker 1: about just how complex that menu is um, but I 353 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 1: think it would give Chargers fans some good insight on 354 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: just what the Saints did, how they accomplished it with 355 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: Peyton and Breeze, And obviously Lombardi was a big part 356 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: of that. I mean he was there for twelve years 357 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 1: ten as the quarterbacks coach. So another and that's what's 358 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: fun about kind of a new coaching staff and a 359 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 1: new system is that you can kind of read up 360 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: and learn about what you're going to see on the field. 361 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty one, defensively, money we got to hear 362 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: from Joey Bosam. Coach Stanley said about ninety percent of 363 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 1: the defense is in at this point. Joey mentioned that 364 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 1: he's going to have some new responsibilities. It's not going 365 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: to be like the last five years in the NFL 366 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:50,239 Speaker 1: where he's a four three defensive end and he just 367 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 1: goes gets the quarterback. There's gonna be some some wrinkles 368 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: where he drops back, and he said he's gonna I 369 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:01,919 Speaker 1: guess Jay Rogers, his live coach, puts puts voiceovers to 370 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: the plays. So he said he's going to meditate to 371 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: Jay's voice and listen to the plays and trying to 372 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 1: memorize the place before he goes to sleep. I don't 373 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: think there's a I don't think there's any question that 374 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: this is going to be a It's going to be 375 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: a big boon for Joey. I really believe that he is. 376 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 1: And I you know, again, like you said, it's the 377 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,440 Speaker 1: Chargers podcast. You know, we were employees of the team. 378 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: But there isn't a better all around defensive end in 379 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 1: the league. There just isn't a better edge player. I 380 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: mean with the way he plays the run, the way 381 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: he can move down field if plays get behind him, 382 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: and on top of that, the way he affects the 383 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 1: quarterback and the pass rush. You combine all those things, 384 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: and I think that's probably what what coach Rogers and 385 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: Stale are thinking of what Joey is. Man, we have 386 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: an opportunity to really pressure this defense, you know, pressure 387 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: on offense with someone this talented um. And that's why 388 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 1: it didn't surprise me to hear him say that at all. 389 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: You know, there's got there's look, there's pass rushers. And 390 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 1: that's when you when you hear from Joey and when 391 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: he's you know, doing in his interviews what he said, 392 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: That's what I love to do. I love to rush 393 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 1: the passer, and I am constantly trying to find the 394 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: advantage when it comes to rushing the pastor so we 395 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: know he has a passion for that and that's, you know, 396 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: kind of his true true love when it comes to 397 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,440 Speaker 1: the game of football. But he's so good at everything. 398 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: And I think when it came to Gus, you know, 399 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: in that defense that's been run the last four years, look, 400 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: it's predicated on one thing, and that's getting home with four. 401 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: You know, if you can get home with four, you 402 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:29,360 Speaker 1: can really dominate a game. And that's why injuries played such. 403 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: You know, maybe you know, the the interior pass rush 404 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: that Gus was looking for, you know, never quite materialized. 405 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: I'm guessing that's why they invested that first round pick Ntiller. 406 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: He was trying to affect that interior pass rush a 407 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: little bit more. But you know, it was really a 408 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: boom or bust defense to some degree. If if the 409 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:47,879 Speaker 1: front four was able to affect the quarterback, be it 410 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,439 Speaker 1: with a pressure or sack or something, you know, um, 411 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: it was effective. If it wasn't, it's got a little 412 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,199 Speaker 1: sideways out there. And I think that's kind of what 413 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: Drew trankl was speaking to right as you can find 414 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: yourself as a linebacker. And you know, speaking of that menu, 415 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: how often did we see, you know, Kansas City and 416 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: a number of teams go to that three by one 417 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: formation and if they look, if they got home, they 418 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 1: were great. If they didn't, then you know you got 419 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: trank Will talking about trying to keep up with Tyreek 420 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 1: Hill one on one downfield. Yeah, I remember that play 421 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: at But you hear the players talk about just putting 422 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: the players in the best position to do what they 423 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: do best. I've heard that so many guys have talked 424 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 1: about that, and you know, Kenneth going downhill hopefully Joey 425 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: just getting after the quarterback, but doing it in ways 426 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: that is going to deceive the offense a little bit. 427 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 1: It's gonna be exciting money to see some of these 428 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: guys play with players that we just haven't seen them 429 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 1: play with, like Darwin playing with Nas, Kenneth playing with Drew, 430 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: Joey being healthy, when when Darwin's on the field healthy, like, 431 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 1: we haven't seen these combinations over the last two or 432 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: three years. And you know, in addition to a new system, 433 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 1: just having that personnel together is going to be a 434 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: kind of a new wrinkle for Chargers fans. Yeah, you know, 435 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: a couple names in there that I'm I'm look, I 436 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,360 Speaker 1: what the heck do I know? It? Just it it 437 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: looked like Kenneth Murray was never quite comfortable last year, 438 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: you know, in the middle of that defense. And I 439 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: know he played middle of the defense at Oklahoma, but 440 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: it just seemed like they're asking him to do some 441 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 1: different things. That guy is such a freak athlete, I 442 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: mean freak at the size that he is and how 443 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 1: he moves. I'm really excited to see him get cut 444 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 1: loose and get after it. I don't know if it's 445 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:29,640 Speaker 1: the number nine, he's gigantic, man, giant, see it just 446 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 1: seemilla dude freaking quadzilla out there. Yeah, So that's like, 447 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: to me, that's a big one. Hillary's another one I'm 448 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 1: excited about, you know, kind of what you think about 449 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 1: what coach Staley was able to do with and look, 450 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: Leonard Floyd's first round pick. Extremely talented player, but man, 451 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: he really unlocked something with Los Angeles. And a lot 452 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 1: of that is the pressure that Aaron Donald creates and 453 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: the attention that he draws. But Joey's going to cause 454 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: that same level of attention, you know when it comes. 455 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: So I'm excited about how this is going to benefit 456 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: that front, you know, particularly Tillery and Chenna and how 457 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: you know. And then you just go directly behind that 458 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: and you think about Kenneth and Drew running around out there, 459 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: and as you said, you know, I still and I 460 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:17,119 Speaker 1: know it's ridiculous to hang onto it, but I still 461 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 1: hang onto that preseason game in San Francisco two years 462 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:27,239 Speaker 1: ago and just how quickly he diagnosed plays, broke up 463 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: plays down field, just was on a receiver when seemingly 464 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:33,439 Speaker 1: you didn't think he was going to be able to 465 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:35,679 Speaker 1: get there. The guy ended up having what an interception, 466 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: probably could have had three in that game. And that's 467 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: what we saw coming out, you know, and that's why 468 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: so many people had him grated as a first round 469 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: pick out of Delaware. So I'm excited to kind of see, 470 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: like you said, the way all these pieces are going 471 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,159 Speaker 1: to fit together, because we've been awfully excited about the 472 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:54,880 Speaker 1: talent and and no doubt it's when you have someone 473 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 1: that just got done coordinating the number one defense in 474 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:01,959 Speaker 1: the NFL, it's certainly it's exciting. I hate doing it. 475 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 1: Because it's mini camp, you know, and most of it 476 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 1: was walked through. But man, it just it seems like 477 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: the talent is certainly there, ready to be coached up 478 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 1: and make a serious impact real quick on Das before 479 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: I get you out of here. I remember specifically when 480 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 1: DJ AFTERNAS was drafted. DJ said, if you were to 481 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 1: go in a lab and pick the perfect complimentary safety 482 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: to Derwin James and benas adn't. We haven't seen it yet. 483 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: We just have not seen it yet, and this may 484 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:30,679 Speaker 1: be the time to unleash it with coach Daley at 485 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: the controls. Yeah, no doubt, you know. And again a 486 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: lot of it is look, a lot of its projection 487 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 1: that I get. You know you're not projecting Joey. You 488 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 1: know you're not projecting Kane and all. There's guys that 489 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 1: you don't have to worry about projecting. They've done it 490 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:44,640 Speaker 1: long enough that you know it's going to be there. 491 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 1: Um And certainly some of it is is projecting for 492 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: Nas and Kenneth, but you you've seen enough, you know, 493 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 1: you've seen enough of the flashes that you feel like 494 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: you know there's someone out there with the combination that 495 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: can unlock that thing and uh, and boy, it can. 496 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: It can have a big impact, and I think that's 497 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,919 Speaker 1: why so many people are excited. And you know, the 498 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: one I guess little taste of caution that I would 499 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 1: would offer up is this team has always had a 500 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: great level of talent, and that's why I think every 501 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 1: single year we feel like they're one of those picks 502 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 1: by most people are like, hey, who's your sleeper? So 503 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:23,199 Speaker 1: it seems to always be the Chargers. And it's certainly 504 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: understandable when you look at the Keenan Allen and Mike 505 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: Williams and how effective Austin Eckler is in the passing game, 506 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 1: the fact that that offensive line has been completely remating. 507 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: It was their greatest weakness last year, and it looks 508 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,439 Speaker 1: to be a potential position group of strength. And then 509 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: when you talk about Joey and derwin Man, it's easy 510 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 1: to get excited. It certainly is easy to get excited 511 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 1: about what's out there. Come September, a final thing, five 512 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:51,959 Speaker 1: weeks to camp. I know it's a little early, but 513 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: based on kind of what we've seen in mini camp, 514 00:24:55,000 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: how they've drafted very position battles are specific play years 515 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:03,400 Speaker 1: that you really want to home in on. As we 516 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: kind of start camp in late July. Yeah, look, it's 517 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 1: it's kind of boring, um, But to me, it's special teams. 518 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:13,479 Speaker 1: You know, I just kind of think about the effect 519 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:16,680 Speaker 1: that special teams had on the outcome of games last year. 520 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: You know, I pointed out, you know, I don't remember 521 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: what was going on on Twitter, but somehow I got 522 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 1: into one of these conversations, and you know it was 523 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,159 Speaker 1: whatever first cordial wasn't but I just said, look, there 524 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: were exactly very civilized, civilized discourse on social media. There 525 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: were five games that the Chargers had a lead in 526 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter, five games um that they ended up 527 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 1: loose team. And you know, when you think about special 528 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,680 Speaker 1: teams and the effect that special teams had on those 529 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 1: five games, you know, missfield goals or perhaps you know, 530 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: bad coverage, that bad punt coverage, punts themselves. Like I'm 531 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 1: anxious to see what coach Swinton's gonna do and and 532 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: how I just think that group is the one that 533 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 1: has the greatest, it has the greatest variability, you know 534 00:26:06,359 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 1: for what it could be because of what look, it 535 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: was historically bad last year. It would be impossible for 536 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,239 Speaker 1: this team to be worse on special teams than they 537 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:17,919 Speaker 1: were last year. Um, if you just go through the 538 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: advanced metrics, the dvo A numbers like it's crazy. So 539 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: I'm I'm excited to see and it's not just you know, 540 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: is it going to be bash Ley and Long are 541 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: those you know, what are those competitions. So I'm talking 542 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 1: about the entire operation and how they're going to remake it, 543 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 1: especially when you have nine picks. I mean those guys 544 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: from you know, rounds three. In fact, you're gonna have 545 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:42,119 Speaker 1: to make an impact on special teams too, no doubt, 546 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: to make this roster and to be a contributor even 547 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:47,640 Speaker 1: on offense. You know, I look at guys like maybe 548 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 1: Trey McKitty and Chris Rump and Larry Roundtree. I mean 549 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:55,159 Speaker 1: you didn't have to Josh Palmer, Josh Palmer, Um, you 550 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 1: didn't really have to do that at the collegiate level 551 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 1: because you were relied on on the offensive or the 552 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: offensive side. But this is a new ball game, and 553 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:05,880 Speaker 1: you know there's gonna be a lot of spots up 554 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,880 Speaker 1: for grabs, and that's that's how you make the football team. Yeah, 555 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 1: no doubt. Again, it's not sexy, um, you know, because 556 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:14,359 Speaker 1: I think a lot of it too. Is I just 557 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 1: kind of feel like I know what it's going to 558 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: look like. You know, I feel like it's going to 559 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 1: be you know, that three man rotation inside with you know, Lindvall, 560 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: Justin and Um and uh Tillery, And I think the 561 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:28,400 Speaker 1: corners are going to be you know, Asante and Chris 562 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 1: Harris and Mike Davis is gonna be Nas and Derwin 563 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:34,440 Speaker 1: at your at your safeties. You know, the offensive line, 564 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: we already know what it's gonna look like. The wide 565 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:38,919 Speaker 1: I guess the third wide receiver, you know, kind of 566 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 1: competition is going to be interesting. You know, is it 567 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 1: is a jailing Guidan, is it is it t Billy 568 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:45,119 Speaker 1: or is it gonna be Josh Palmer that's able to 569 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: uh to grab that spot? Um? You know, I think 570 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 1: also an important one is going to be the blocking 571 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 1: tight end. You know, is McKitty that guy? It certainly 572 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 1: seems like it. So is is he going to be 573 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: able to kind of provide you know that because you know, 574 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 1: if you look last year, you know, you you had 575 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 1: great games. Really you had a good game, I should say, 576 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 1: you had good moments from param and Anderson. So it'll 577 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: be interesting to see how that tight end room shakes 578 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: out as well. Five weeks to camp, we can unplug 579 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:19,680 Speaker 1: a little bit from football, get away and recharge batteries. 580 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: Get back to Jack Habit Sports Complex. Man, it's gonna 581 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: be fun. I can't wait. It's great to see you man, 582 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 1: and I took foward to a fun twenty twenty one. Brother. Yeah, 583 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 1: we're gonna do it all year. Looking forward to it. 584 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: Yeah man, Yeah, absolutely, Charges Weekly. We're gonna do a 585 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 1: little bit of a remix this year. It's gonna be 586 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 1: a lot of fun. It is all right, guys, that's 587 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 1: gonna do it for us the big thanks to Matt 588 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: money Smith that, of course, thanks to you all for listening. 589 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: Be sure to download and subscribe to the Chargers Podcast 590 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: Network wherever you listen to podcasts. We're also on YouTube. 591 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 1: Hit up the Chargers official YouTube channel you can watch 592 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 1: full episodes of Chargers Weekly. Have a great weekend and 593 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: until next time. Chris Hayry