1 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: Whoa, whoa. Welcome to the first home edition of the 2 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: Post game Report. Been Levers beside me, Will been Levers 3 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: to my far right, and Pete versages of between us 4 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: right beside me and guys, we just witnessed the Minnesota 5 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: Vikings loose in the San Francisco forty nine or seventeen 6 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: to seven band. Like I said last week, we will 7 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,199 Speaker 1: never remember the score of this game, but it's a 8 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: really good opportunities for us to see these backups get 9 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: some shine. Can I be really honest with you? As 10 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: I was getting ready to interview head coach Kevin O'Connell, 11 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 1: I had to ask Bob Hagan, our good friend, like wait, 12 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: what was the score again? I knew that we lost, 13 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: but I just wasn't quite sure what the score was 14 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: because I didn't care really what the score was when 15 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: we were losing. I knew that we lost. That's all 16 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: that really matters. There was some bright spots, a lot 17 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: of a lot of low spots, and like you said, 18 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: that's really what this preseason is about, is about evaluating players, 19 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 1: evaluating competition. You know, we have a few key spots 20 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: where I think everybody's eyes were on, namely quarterbacks and 21 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: running backs. Yeah, and I think you take a step 22 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: back and really look at it. You know, how many 23 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: of these guys that were out there today are we 24 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: gonna see opening day? Maybe Ed Ingram, Andrew Booth, you know, 25 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 1: hopefully he's okay with with the ankle turns. So you know, 26 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: it's what's frustrating I think for us too, is that 27 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: you try to take a look at what's happening and 28 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,399 Speaker 1: project how we're gonna go in the season. We have 29 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: no idea, right, we have no idea what our guys 30 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: are gonna look like on September eleventh, because we really 31 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: haven't a chance to see him play. They're all gonna 32 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: be healthy, they're all gonna be ready to go. But 33 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: at the same time, you know, we're kind of watching 34 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: the second the second team guys developed and you know, 35 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: a couple hard as a practice finally, so this is 36 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: probably the poorest they're gonna feel going into a football game. 37 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: Speaking of second team guys, there are there's a position 38 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 1: battle for a second string spot. It's the quarterback spot. 39 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: And if we get when once we get on Twitter 40 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: after this, everyone is going to be talking about it. 41 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: Kevin Man versus Sean Mayon. Kellen mon shined last week 42 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: against the Las Vegas Raids, really good game, two touchdowns. 43 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: This week he has two interceptions. Sean Mayon, He's consistent, 44 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: we know when he's going to get out of him, 45 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: doesn't turn the ball over. But not the spark that 46 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: this offense needed, especially when you look at the scoreboard 47 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,119 Speaker 1: and see that we score it only seven points. Your 48 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: thoughts on that matchup today and going forward, Ben, Look, 49 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: I really think that Kellen took a step back today. 50 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: You know, he looked good in the first couple of plays. 51 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: You know, on the third down he did a great 52 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: job of just sort of sneaking around the pocket, good 53 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: pocket awareness, delivers the ball and picks for first down. 54 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 1: Then later on he underthrows a seven route and it 55 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: was an easy interception. Later on the game he took 56 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: a sack, which you got to have better awareness. You know, 57 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: we saw the right guard get beat on an inside move, 58 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: but it wasn't one of those immediate things. It was 59 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: just he was kind of clinging to the defender as 60 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: a defender was putting pressure on him. That's one of 61 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: those things where if you're an athletic quarterback, those are 62 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: the moments that you have to use your legs, you 63 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,839 Speaker 1: have to use your awareness in the pocket to pick 64 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: up some yards, and so I just think that he 65 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: looked like he was trying to do way too much 66 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: as opposed to his playing fast and that's been his 67 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: that's been his m O the whole time he's been here. 68 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: So I'm like, I'm waiting for him to break out 69 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: of this shell and to say like, oh, screw it, man, 70 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna go make a play. We don't see 71 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: that enough. And then you know we see the another 72 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: underthrown ball later in the game for a second reception. 73 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: So I think he just he did not capitalize on 74 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: a golden opportunity. I think both quarterbacks struggled with gut pressure, 75 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: and you know, for Kellen Mond, he's not able to 76 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: step into a throw. Then that arm strength and the 77 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: accuracy that we have seen out of him, that disappears 78 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: very quickly. But he's got to learn to help himself. 79 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: I'm you know, you'd think about that play where he 80 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: through the interception. We had motioned a receiver across. We 81 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,479 Speaker 1: had three receivers on one side of the field, and 82 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: the defense for the forty nine ers didn't even move. 83 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: And when you move a guy and they don't move anybody, 84 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:25,600 Speaker 1: that's got to be a red flag, right, so you 85 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: you know you have to anticipate that um And and 86 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: also in all fairness, he had a big past zac 87 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 1: Davidson that was dropped. He had one dropped by Myron Mitchell. 88 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: Actually Davidson dropped two passes, so you know it could 89 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: have been it could have been better. But I think 90 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: the part that sticks with all of us is, you know, 91 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: Kellen plays well last week, he gets a chance to start, 92 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: and then you see him get spelled by Mannion and 93 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: and and yeah, it's I mean, thank goodness, Cousins doesn't 94 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,119 Speaker 1: miss a lot of football games, right, He's been pretty 95 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: healthy and throughout his career, and so you know that's 96 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: gonna help a little bit. But let's if the second 97 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: string quarterback issue, will you know, I trust Kevin O'Connell 98 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 1: to evaluate that position. So whether or not the guys 99 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: on the team or they gotta go get somebody, I 100 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: think we'll be okay. When when when the time comes, Pete, 101 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna toss this thing right back to you. What 102 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: do you make of this running back position battle? Because 103 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: you got four really good running backs plus c J. Hamm, 104 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: who's arguably the best fullback in the game. Yeah, I 105 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: mean that's a that's a very crowded room, and I think, uh, 106 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: pro personnel across the league is they're gonna look at 107 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: this room and say, there's gonna be some opportunity. Um. 108 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: I think it's Brian Coback's the guy that you who 109 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 1: has some speed. Uh he's a guy that you would 110 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: love to have, be that taxi squad developmental type of guy. 111 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: Whether or not, you know you'll be able to hide 112 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 1: him because you know he's shown I think he's shown 113 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: some some talent. I mean ty Chandler shows some juice. 114 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,159 Speaker 1: Can a Wan moves out there, He's showing some juice. 115 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: And you know, Alexander Madison got himself a couple of carries, 116 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: and I still think he's the he's the number two, 117 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 1: he's the backup running back and um so it's a 118 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: good problem to have. But at the same time, I 119 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: don't think you can get rid of a guy like c. J. Hamm. 120 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: He's too valuable. He's he's he can do so many 121 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: different things. This is going to be a two back 122 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: running game. Uh. You know a good part of the time, 123 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 1: I think going into the season. Yeah, and you know, 124 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 1: after last week, I was pleasantly surprised to see us 125 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 1: come out in some two back looks, you know, straight eye. 126 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: You know, we used a full back like a full 127 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: back supposed to be used. And and my hope and 128 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: my um the idea of this offense, I'm crossing my 129 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: fingers that it could look like a little bit of 130 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: a hybrid of this Shanahan offense that we saw tonight, 131 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: uh and that we know of with the forty nine 132 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: ers where they use use check as this kind of 133 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: move guy that's c J. Hamm. We see the problems 134 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 1: that that gives a lot of defenses. Why can't you 135 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: use a guy like c. J. Hamm in that capacity? 136 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: Still have some two back run game, still have the 137 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,280 Speaker 1: ability to run a little power football, but yet at 138 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: the same time have at your core three receiver sets 139 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: when you need to. I don't think that we have 140 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: to be married to the fact that like we have 141 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: to look exactly like Sean mcvay's offense. I mean, that's 142 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: the whole reason why every coordinator out there that becomes 143 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: a head coach, they're chomping at the bit to change, 144 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: you know where what they've known and apply it to 145 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: the new team that they're at. So don't try it, 146 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: at least in year one, make us look automatically like 147 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: the La Rams. No, we've got some talented players on 148 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: the field that I really think that can give defenses 149 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: a lot of fits with different personnel groups, even even 150 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: using especially with IRV Smith, we don't know where he's 151 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: gonna be one hundred percent back with that thumb injury. 152 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: You know, use a guy like C. J. Hamm as 153 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: an h back and use it and split him out 154 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, now it looks like eleven 155 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: personnel with a fullback. Yeah, that's a really good point. 156 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: I think that that's what great coaches do. They late 157 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: to their strengths. And if your strength is the running 158 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: back room, maybe that eleven personnel maybe isn't used as 159 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: frequently as a lot of people say we will use. 160 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 1: But that'll be a decision made between now with September eleventh. 161 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure we'll get there, but I'm gonna move to 162 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 1: the defensive side of the ball. T Y McGill. He's 163 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: gonna make it hard for these coaching staff to cut him. 164 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: Of course, he probably won't get cut by next Tuesday, 165 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: which is when the NFL has when the NFL is 166 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 1: mandating teams cut their roster down to eighty players, which 167 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: is five players less than what it is right now. 168 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: But t Y McGill is a guy that has showed 169 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: up four sacks the last couple of weeks, and then 170 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: you move behind him Brian Asimo or the rookie he's 171 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: been playing phenomenal and then Louis sne we finally get 172 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: to see what he does on the field of Vikings 173 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: first round draft pick this year. Your overall thoughts on 174 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: his defense, Beatum? Yeah, I think they've played the run 175 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: pretty well. I think with the exception of a couple 176 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: of runs, like right at the end of this game, 177 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: they've held up having given up a lot of big plays, 178 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: except when it's third about thirty five and then you 179 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: give up a deep end route. I mean, you know 180 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: that's happened a couple of times. Um. I mean up front, 181 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,199 Speaker 1: Dalvin Thomason and Harrison Phillips, I think showed us enough 182 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 1: last week against the Raiders that they that they can 183 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 1: play this scheme. And we talked about the backup quarterback position, 184 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: which I think is important, but it's it's not essential 185 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: until obviously your starter gets hurt. But you need to 186 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: have six good interior defensive lineman and those six guys 187 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: are gonna play quite a bit, and you also need 188 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 1: some backup outside linebackers. I think dj Wanham is a 189 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: favorite on one side. You got Patrick Jones on the other, 190 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: but you know, James Lynch, m t Y McGill. I 191 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: think some of you know who's gonna be that sixth guy. 192 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: You know, is it gonna be Jalen Twyman or who 193 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: you know who's gonna step up and take that take 194 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: that spot? Because the D line position is one where 195 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: you're gonna see a lot of guys rotate in and out. 196 00:09:57,640 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: You're gonna see a lot of that throughout the year. 197 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: You know. You look at the cornerback position without Andrew Booth. 198 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: You know, hey, we're thin already, right. So defensively, I've 199 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 1: been pretty happy with how physically, how physical they've been, 200 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: and how they've played in that respect. Tacklin has been 201 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: pretty solid, you know, not a lot of mental errors. 202 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: I think at Caleb Evans turned a guy loose over 203 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: the middle of the field. You know, for a touchdown tonight. 204 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: But for the most part that I think they've played 205 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: pretty well as a unit. They've got they've got a 206 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: little bit of swagger to him. I'm looking forward to 207 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 1: seeing like Kendricks and Hicks be out there and against 208 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: the team like we saw tonight with the forty nine 209 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: ers been that underneath coverage becomes pretty pretty important. Yeah, 210 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: it really does. I mean, I would love to see 211 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: our number one defense line up against this offense again 212 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: and you know, pick off some of those short underneath 213 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: routes that are known for. Look, I don't have any 214 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: problems with our number one defense. I think our number 215 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: one defense is gonna be pretty kick ass, Like I 216 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: really do. I mean, the inside guys have had great 217 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: camps um, you know, even just the practice house at 218 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,839 Speaker 1: the other day, Daniel was almost unstoppable, and one on 219 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: ones in the team period. M Zadarius the day before 220 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: and the in the first joint practice he was the 221 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: exact same way, almost unstoppable. So when those guys are 222 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: going on our front, you know what's gonna be our 223 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: front five. Now that's a formidable unit. And then you've 224 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,959 Speaker 1: got Hicks and Kendricks that can run sideline to sideline. 225 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: Those guys can really make plays. So I'm not really 226 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 1: worried about the number ones. It's just that we know 227 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: that injuries are gonna happen. We know on that front 228 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: line you're going to have to spell those guys. You 229 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: need a second wave of pass rushers to be just 230 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: you know, almost as good as your as your number 231 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: one guys. That's the area that I'm a little concerned with. 232 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: I'm concerned with our inside linebacker depth. God forbid one 233 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 1: of our guys goes down for an extended amount of time. 234 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: You know, Eric Kendricks has not played a full season 235 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: since twenty seventeen. You know he's going he's going to 236 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: miss a game or two. You know, is it Osimo 237 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: that steps in? Can he be that guy? I don't know. 238 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: He's shown flashes, but you know, Peters, you know, game 239 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: plans are different, and then when when the other the 240 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:07,319 Speaker 1: other team and the offense is putting them their full 241 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: game plan, it's a lot different. Yeah, it tends to 242 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: slow your mind or your body down because you're thinking 243 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: so much. Um So we should tell a Vikings fans that, hey, 244 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,199 Speaker 1: Brian Asimo is good, but like, let's not get too 245 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: far fetched, get too far fetched, because yes, he's instinctful, 246 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 1: he's explosive, But you know, until you get into you know, 247 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: the regular season, prep all of a sudden, now your 248 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: rolodex of defensive plays and responsibilities exponentially gets bigger all 249 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: of a sudden. Now instead of thinking about three or 250 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: four blitzes, now you've got three or four base blitzes, 251 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: and then you have five or six nickel blitzes, and 252 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: then you've got a bunch of other things to think about, 253 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: with a whole bunch of shifts and a whole bunch 254 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: of emotions, and you're like, like, my brain's gonna explode. 255 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: How can I play fast? That's just the way it goes. 256 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: So I like what we have so far, but I 257 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 1: still have questions about some of our backups. And I 258 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: agree with you on that, Ben, And it's point though, 259 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,719 Speaker 1: you kind of have to just live with what you have, 260 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:05,959 Speaker 1: right and no doubt is this the time? I mean, 261 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 1: Troy Dye is a very very good special teams player. 262 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: He's a good solid guy to come in and start 263 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: you a couple of games you can you can win 264 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: with him. But Asamoa, I think is the guy that 265 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: really can be the future at the inside linebacker position 266 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: with this group. Yeah, well, I don't want to forget 267 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: to talk about I think I think Pat Jones has 268 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: had a really good camp. I think DJ want him 269 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 1: once again, had had a solid day. He had a 270 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: nice third down pressure quarterback hit on an inside spin 271 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: move that I thought was really well set up, especially 272 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,679 Speaker 1: for early in the game. Um, So I don't want 273 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: to take away from the camp so those guys are 274 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: having in the development those guys are having because we 275 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: need a guy like Pat Jones and DJ want him 276 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: to really step up and give us, you know, a true, 277 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: true depth on the outside. All right, Well, we talked 278 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: to offense, we talked defense. Let's hear from head coach 279 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: Kevin O'Connor, who addressed the media following tonight's preseason two 280 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: preseason game number two lost to the San Francisco forty 281 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: nine ers. Just kind of kicking it off, you know, 282 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 1: you know, hope to kind of obviously have a chance 283 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: to score a few more points in the second half 284 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: and really piggyback on what I thought it was a 285 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 1: really strong defensive performance in the first half. A lot 286 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: of guys flash as far as helping us try to 287 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: stay in that game where we're just trying to find 288 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: a rhythm offensively that we really never found outside of 289 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: that one drive towards the end of the second quarter, 290 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: just across the board, just waiting on that one play. 291 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: You know what's who's going to make that one play 292 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: to get us going. I obviously, you know, starts with me, 293 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: and we gotta be able to you know, from every 294 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: guy on our roster needs to feel like they're in 295 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: a position to go out there and compete. And we 296 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: felt like we had a good play going into it, 297 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: but ultimately just execution was not enough offensively, and then 298 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 1: I think our defense just wore down three turnovers, short fields, 299 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: different things that right when we could kind of stand 300 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: up and get some momentum going, it just did not 301 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: happen tonight for us. We'll continue to you know, a 302 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: lot of battles going on on our roster right now 303 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: to make our team. I want to continue to allow 304 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: those guys to compete while also still making sure that 305 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: our starters coming off a great week of practice against 306 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: a really good team. I really felt like there was 307 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: a lot of good things done this week. Ultimately wanted 308 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: to win this game tonight and we did not, right fellas, 309 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: we got the Denver Broncos next week. Starters probably won't play, 310 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: but this is another evaluation opportunity to be heading into 311 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: the Malahau City Band. Your thoughts or Pete, your thoughts 312 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: going into that game? Can we find a punt returner? Yeah? Please? 313 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: I mean you know you got please, you know, like 314 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: a mere Smith Marsett. I want to ask him, why 315 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: why the one sleeve? Right? Yeah, you know, and it's 316 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: like it's not going to help you hold on to 317 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: the football. You know, Naylor got a couple opportunities. You 318 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: probably should have fair caught the one punt that ended 319 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: up weight, you know, deep inside our territory. So you know, 320 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 1: is that a position where come Waiver time, you're out 321 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: looking because you need someone with experience, and I've said 322 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: it many times, you got to have someone back there 323 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: you can trust to make the right decisions. And what 324 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: one thing you cannot do is turn the ball over. 325 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: And Denny Green would always point that out. He said, 326 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: I don't care what happens as long as when the 327 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: whistle blows, the ball is in the hand of our 328 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: hands of our offense, especially when you have you know, 329 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook and an offense that should 330 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: be pretty explosive. You you got to gain another ten 331 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: yards on a series, that's fine, But right now it's 332 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: kind of disappointing that no one's really stepped up when 333 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: that position, that job is there for the taking, right. 334 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: I mean, you can you can add another year to 335 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: the pension, Ben if you can just return punts and 336 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: uh yeah, so maybe you know, being outside Mile High, 337 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: you know, we could find figure out what's going to 338 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: happen there. Yeah, it's such a good point. I really 339 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: thought that I didn't think that the punt return game 340 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: was going to be as big of a factor going 341 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: into the season as it is. I'm like, okay, I 342 00:16:58,320 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 1: can kind of pick it up. He can do it. 343 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: He's not showing the foot quickness immediately when he catches 344 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: the ball in the decision making that I was expecting 345 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 1: to see it him. We all know that he's got 346 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: straight line speed, but to be a punt returner you 347 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: almost have to be quicker than you are fast. Um, 348 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,360 Speaker 1: so it remains to be seen who's gonna hold down 349 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: that position. It's the it's kind of the it's kind 350 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 1: of the factor. Yeah. Yeah, when you when you gotta 351 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: when you got a good return guy back there, it's 352 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:25,920 Speaker 1: you know, you you you know he's gonna come down 353 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: with it right now when I'm you're kind of sweating 354 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: at with with Amere Smith Marsette, where you're just like okay, yeah, 355 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: which which I think. You know, you go, you go 356 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: back a couple of years, you really start to appreciate 357 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: the player that Marcus Chryls was about. You know, he 358 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:44,719 Speaker 1: wasn't a great lockdown corner or a nickel corp, but 359 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 1: he was smart, he was smooth, he was dependable, and 360 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:49,880 Speaker 1: I never had that. I never had that feeling when 361 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: the ball was in the air on a punt. Then 362 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 1: you when you're crossing your fingers like oh gosh, please, 363 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: like I hope this is a good outcome. You're like, 364 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 1: you're like, well, I know he's gonna catch the ball 365 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: and a note, he's gonna die to us with something 366 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 1: some sort of off balance hand on the ground. You know, 367 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: picking up twelve fifteen yards on a punt return. That's 368 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 1: just not happening. And you know, going back to Gabe 369 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,679 Speaker 1: your original question about what are we gonna see? Guys, 370 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,679 Speaker 1: I want to see our starters play. I mean, I 371 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,120 Speaker 1: know that's not in vogue anymore, especially with the way 372 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: the preseason is working now. We have joint practices and 373 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: all this stuff. But come on, guys, we have more 374 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 1: than two weeks after we play this game before you 375 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 1: play the Green Bay Packers. If you're that worried about injuries, 376 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: don't play the GD game. You know, like, get these 377 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: guys out here. We have a brand new defense, we 378 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 1: have a brand new coaching staff, a brand new offense. 379 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,159 Speaker 1: We don't know what these guys look like when the 380 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: game is for real. And I get it that's preseason 381 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: and how much of it it's a step up from practice. 382 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 1: It's a huge step up from practice. I want to 383 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:50,880 Speaker 1: see our guys play. I hope it happens and it's 384 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 1: And you're right in that case, it's a different environment 385 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: than what you know. Kevin O'Connell has been with with 386 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 1: the Rams in the same system for year after year 387 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: after year. Yeah, so you don't, you know, really don't 388 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: know what you have with all the players. So we'll see, 389 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: we'll see how it goes, and you know, hopefully the 390 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,399 Speaker 1: you know, hopefully it's the right decision. Well, one thing 391 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: we will see is this Minnesota Vikings team at Malhei 392 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:16,360 Speaker 1: Stadium at Denver, Colorado next Saturday against the Denver Broncos. 393 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to seeing both of you guys there. 394 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: It'd be a good trip. It would be the last 395 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: time we see the Vikings this preseason. Maybe it's with 396 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:25,439 Speaker 1: the starters, maybe it's not. One thing we do know, 397 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 1: it's the next time I see you guys at us 398 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: Bank Stadium. We'll be playing the Green Bay Packers right 399 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: here at home September eleven. It's gonna be a great opener. 400 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's, uh, you just hope that for 401 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,639 Speaker 1: some of these young guys when the bullets start flying 402 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: for real, they don't they don't get nervous, you know 403 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: what I mean. That's where veterans, having a veteran team 404 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 1: and having veterans out there really really really helps out. 405 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: And you know, for like Zadarius Smith, it's like, there 406 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: you go, budd, we brought you in playing your old team. 407 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: Here we go. Let's a sit back and let that 408 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: kind of unsettle in front of our eyes. I just 409 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: got one thing to close this podcast out with, mister Unlimited. 410 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: Let's ride. See you guys next week. Yeah, we're gonna 411 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:14,200 Speaker 1: see Ben's favorite NFL players. This should be the time 412 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: where Ben is allowed to interview the away team players 413 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: for the preseason game. I agree. You know what, make 414 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 1: them go in the locker room afterwards and hunt them 415 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: down and make him ask you know, I ask some questions. 416 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: I love well, guys, thank you again for tuning in 417 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: to this week's postgame report. We'll talk to you next week.