1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Seahawks Insiders getting you ready for 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 1: Seahawks Football every Sunday, presented by Delta, the official airline 3 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,720 Speaker 1: of the Seahawks. Now here's your host, Jen Mueller. 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 2: John. 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 3: I think you and I both had a pretty good 6 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 3: feeling going into last week's game, just knowing that it 7 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 3: was a rested Seahawks team what we had seen in practice. 8 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 3: I don't think that either of us could have predicted 9 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 3: they scored enough points to win that game in the 10 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 3: first fifteen seconds. 11 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, yes, yeah, Look, I think the Seahawks winning in 12 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 4: that game right fully, very confident. They handled the forty 13 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 4: nine ers pretty thoroughly in Week eighteen, even though the 14 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 4: score didn't fully reflect that, and as you said, the 15 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 4: bye you're rested. But yeah, it's hard to predict a 16 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 4: game going quite that well. Where you get the opening kickoff, 17 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 4: you get a fourth down stop, you get a turnover. 18 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 4: I mean, it was just boom, boom, boom, is seventeen 19 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 4: nothing before fans I think were fully comfortable in their seats. 20 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 3: It was so loud I am yelling into a microphone. FYI, 21 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 3: you were told never to yelling to a microphone. The 22 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 3: microphone actually does the work for you that my producer 23 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 3: Brian O'Connell could not hear me, and he finally resorted 24 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 3: to yelling down the line and saying, just text me. 25 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 5: I can't hear you. I got no shot of hearing you. 26 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 5: Just text me and we'll figure something out. Yeah, it 27 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 5: was pretty good football. 28 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,119 Speaker 6: In that building. As special it really is. I can't 29 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 6: wait to see what it looks like this. 30 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 4: I ran to Jake Bobbo the other day and I 31 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 4: was like, how's your first playoff game there? And news 32 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 4: talk about how cool was and I was like, just wait, Like, 33 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 4: I've been all three of the NFC Championship games with 34 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 4: that building, and man, it's it's really cool. 35 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 5: It is very fun. It is very special. 36 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 3: We have some numbers to break down because of course 37 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 3: it is a division rival, and you know what, the 38 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 3: Seahawks and John and I we wouldn't want it any 39 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 3: other way. But I think the news that we might 40 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 3: be most excited about leading into the game is the 41 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 3: news that John Schneider is finally getting the recognition that 42 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 3: we have all known three years he has earned and 43 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 3: he has been such a force in the building, and 44 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 3: now everybody in football will get a chance to wreck. 45 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 4: Yes, he was just before we started this podcast and 46 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 4: named the Executive of the Year by the Pro Football 47 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 4: Writers of America. It's an award that he could have 48 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 4: probably should have won, you know, back in twenty twelve, 49 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 4: twenty thirteen, as he and Pete Carroll built a championship 50 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 4: team back then. But yeah, I mean, I can't imagine 51 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 4: a more deserving person just in terms of what he 52 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 4: did this year to build this team, with the free 53 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 4: agency moves, the trades, the you know, the draft class 54 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 4: obviously producing some guys, but also and we've talked about 55 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 4: this before, but like the culture he helps set here, 56 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 4: the tone he sets his leadership in. Leo touched on 57 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,119 Speaker 4: this in his press conference on Wednesday of like when 58 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 4: someone's asked about it, just like how close this team is, 59 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 4: how unselfish they play, and he's like, credit to John 60 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 4: and those guys upstairs, like they're bringing the right kind 61 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 4: of guys in. So it's not just finding, hey, this 62 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 4: guy's really good at football, it's this guy plays the style. 63 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 6: We want, he's the right character we want. 64 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 4: And yet it's again, it's an award he's probably should 65 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 4: have won before in his career, But I could not 66 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 4: imagine a more deserving person than Josh Scheider. 67 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 3: No, I also am very sure that he is kind 68 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 3: of passing that credit onto his entire staff, and he 69 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 3: is not going to take all the credit that he's earned. 70 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 3: I thought it was interesting when you asked Mike McDonald 71 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 3: about this earlier in the week, perhaps a little premonition 72 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 3: that that was coming, or maybe just fingers crossed that 73 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 3: this award was coming. It was well, you know, we'll 74 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 3: call you a soothsayer that it wasn't a hard prediction 75 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 3: to make. 76 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,679 Speaker 5: I'm just well, you never know with the way these 77 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 5: things go. 78 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,959 Speaker 3: But he did think it was interesting how Mike pointed 79 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 3: out John talks to more guys in the building than 80 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 3: he does, right, and we have said that before on 81 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 3: this podcast, just how involved he is with making sure 82 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 3: everybody feels like they are part of the team. But 83 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 3: to hear Mike talk about John as a leader, I 84 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 3: thought was also an interesting part of the conversation for. 85 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 4: Sure, because it's you know, I think sometimes in that position, 86 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 4: we just think of the acquisitions, we think of the trades, 87 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 4: we think of the draft, and. 88 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 6: That's a big part of it, obviously. 89 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 4: But yeah, I mean this is a guy who's been 90 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 4: in this building for a fait teen years now and 91 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 4: going on sixteen, and he's just he really does lead. 92 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 4: And it seems like a little thing like he'll walk 93 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 4: this room. He knows everybody. It's you know, or knows 94 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 4: what you do. Yeah, he knows every name. 95 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 6: He knows you know. 96 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 4: It's he is so tapped into what everyone's doing here, 97 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 4: and that matters. It trickles down not just to like 98 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 4: the employees he deals with, but to the players too, 99 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 4: Like it's the tone that he sets here. Really, it's 100 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 4: it's hard to put work, put it into words like 101 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 4: what it means this organization. 102 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 5: I don't know how he keeps track of all of 103 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 5: the names and all of the movie quotes like I. 104 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 3: Don't I and all the football like I don't know 105 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 3: where this all goes in his brain, but somehow it 106 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 3: all lives in his brain, goes in one ear right 107 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 3: out the other. For me, the other part they were 108 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 3: talking about is the fact that John Schneider knows when 109 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 3: to let Mike just kind of feel things out a 110 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 3: little bit, make the mistake, learn a little bit. He 111 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 3: knows when to step in when the course correct and 112 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 3: that's a really big thing for the coach. 113 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 5: Well, look, here's the other thing. 114 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 3: He's not getting this award if he didn't have the 115 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 3: right instinct, the right premonition, the right interviewing skills, or 116 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 3: the right. 117 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 5: Vision for the future. 118 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 3: Because John, it is truly amazing how consistent Mike McDonald 119 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 3: has been. If anybody has seen the video of his 120 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 3: very first meeting with the team, and you have paid 121 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 3: attention to any of these. 122 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 5: Press conferences, boy they sound remarkably I. 123 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 6: Know it's really so. 124 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 4: For those who missed it, go to any of the 125 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 4: Seahawk social media channels. Put out yesterday a video from 126 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 4: Mike McDonald's very first team meeting April of twenty twenty 127 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 4: four to kick off the off season workout program. 128 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 6: And you hear phrases. 129 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 4: First of all, he paints a picture of hosting the 130 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 4: NFC Championship Chip Game and being cold and wet, and 131 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 4: he missed the weather forecast a little bit. 132 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 5: A little bit, but he did get it that it's 133 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 5: in the thirties es. Yeah, but he did get that part. 134 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 4: It's you hear language that's common with this team now 135 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 4: coming out of his mouth in his very first team meeting. 136 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 4: So he really laid out this vision, and man, has 137 00:05:57,880 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 4: he brought it to fruition. 138 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 5: It's kind of funny. He was downplaying that when he 139 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 5: met to the. 140 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,799 Speaker 3: Media this week, but he he recognizes right how cool 141 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 3: that moment is and how full circle it is as 142 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 3: we head into the NFC Championship game. 143 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 7: It's funny when when Dave showed me that, all I 144 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 7: was thinking about how nervous I was going to the 145 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 7: first team meeting. I don't know if you can tell 146 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 7: me it was a good editing job by our people 147 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 7: some other there's probably some more awkward pauses throughout that. 148 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 7: It's funny. He's actually a point of like an inside 149 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 7: joke with the guys about, like, you know, it's just 150 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,720 Speaker 7: we didn't know each other, and it was just it 151 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 7: was our first like true interaction. It was just kind 152 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 7: of this wild experience, you know, and everyone talks about 153 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 7: like what your first message to the team is going 154 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 7: to be, and they kind of it's really overblown frankly, 155 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 7: and you think about, hey, look, you know what am 156 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 7: I gonna what am I gonna talk to the team about. 157 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 7: What's the first thing. I don't want to say the 158 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 7: wrong thing, you know, Like, but it just came to me. 159 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 7: It just I think God just just allowed me to 160 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 7: just like kind of just take a pressure away and 161 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 7: said this way you should say. And you know, it 162 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 7: was pretty pretty powerful. It's pretty awesome. 163 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 4: I do like his comment about like I edited out 164 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 4: some pauses, but you know that's what good good videos. 165 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 4: You make sense, that's right, that's what like some music 166 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 4: and it gives you the goosebumps. But yeah, I mean 167 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 4: I remember getting a chance to watch that, just the 168 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 4: raw video of it, right after that meeting in twenty 169 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 4: twenty four, and in the back of my head thinking like, wow, 170 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 4: this is gonna be really cool when we get there 171 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 4: and locking that away and then fair enough we were 172 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 4: able to dig it out and video team did a 173 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 4: great job with it, and yeah, it's it's really fun 174 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 4: to see a coach who's got this clear again vision 175 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 4: for what this needs to be and then to do 176 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 4: it in two seasons as the hell of a job. 177 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 5: Well, and see that's the thing though. You look at 178 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 5: that and you're like, man, this is a really. 179 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 3: Short timeframe, right, you hire Mike last year, you're in 180 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 3: the playoffs, and you're in this position this year. 181 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 5: I guarantee you that is not what it felt like 182 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 5: in June. I guarantee you that is not what it 183 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 5: felt like during OTA's. 184 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 3: What that feels like is a total grind and what 185 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,679 Speaker 3: I call them our bubblegum moments. John would talk about 186 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 3: it or Mike would talk about it in terms of 187 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 3: we're gonna stack wins, right, And so there's a couple 188 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 3: of different ways when you look at the time frame 189 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 3: and the leadership in the buy in that he was 190 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 3: able to create because showing up for those OTAs, and 191 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 3: we've talked about it all year long, but now is 192 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 3: when you can truly reflect back and go, yeah, that 193 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 3: made a huge difference in their success. 194 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 7: We would not be here if the guys didn't buy 195 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 7: in the way they did and work the way they 196 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 7: did in the off season. And it's easier said than done. 197 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 7: You can you can ask, so you're blue in the 198 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 7: face for them to come to our off season program, 199 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 7: but if you haven't built something out the way that 200 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 7: like Ivan and Danny and the rest of the guys 201 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 7: built out, and our coaches create an environment where they 202 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 7: feel like they can come and get great work in 203 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 7: and spend time with their teammates and actually improve as 204 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 7: a player. If you're not doing those things to back 205 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 7: it up, you know, guys aren't going to aren't gonna 206 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 7: want to come. So really it's it's the players having 207 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 7: a you know, taken a leap of faith, trusting us 208 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 7: and trusting what we've been able to bring to the 209 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 7: table for them and our coaches and staff, you know, 210 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 7: create an awesome environment where they feel like they can 211 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 7: get better. So if we didn't do it, we would 212 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 7: not be right now. I'm convinced of that. 213 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 4: I do like this topic coming back around now because 214 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 4: it's an easy thing to talk about in June when 215 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 4: you're like, man, this really matters, and we did. 216 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 6: We talked about it probably on our podcast. 217 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 4: We did that time a year to start training camp 218 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 4: and Mike McDonald talked about it, players talked about it. 219 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 6: I wrote a story about it. 220 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 4: But to then see it, he'll be like, Okay, no, 221 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 4: this worked out exactly how they planned, and especially on 222 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 4: offense when you got a new quarterback and a new 223 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 4: offensive coordinator and just so much newness coming in an 224 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 4: offense for them to get that extra time in together, 225 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 4: and then we hear all season how close this team is, 226 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 4: how connected they are, Like that time really laid the 227 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:40,959 Speaker 4: foundation for where this is now here we are NFC Championship, 228 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 4: number one seed. All that like, oh yeah, those those OTA's, 229 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 4: all that work in spring and summer really paid off. 230 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 3: Here's the other part of it. Players recognize authenticity, and 231 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 3: they recognize bs. They understand what coach speak is. They 232 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 3: know when somebody's feeding them align. They also recognize when 233 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 3: there is a clear vision and a clear plan that 234 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 3: is going to make them better. That is another part 235 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 3: of this leadership that shows up, right, because you have 236 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 3: some real veterans in the room, guys who have ten, eleven, 237 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 3: twelve years in the league. You've got Ernest Jones, who 238 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 3: has been a leader, right, You've You've got all these guys, 239 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 3: and every single one of them bought in. They also 240 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 3: talked about how Mike, during those sessions and during the 241 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 3: year they've spent all of this time together, right, Mike 242 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 3: wasn't off doing his own thing, would say, here's what 243 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 3: I am working on to get better. Here's where I 244 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 3: need to improve as a play caller. Here's where you 245 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 3: can hold me accountable. And when he creates that vulnerability, 246 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 3: when you talk about the closeness, now everybody recognizes, hey, 247 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 3: we are going to hold each other accountable. We're not 248 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 3: going to point fingers at you. We're going to point 249 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 3: fingers at the problem. And all of this started back 250 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 3: in OTAs. 251 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, and then he continues that you listen to Mike 252 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:54,439 Speaker 4: talk after a game or maybe the defense struggles a 253 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 4: little bit, or even just a play gets away from them, 254 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:58,559 Speaker 4: and he's like, I'll bring up he put the defense 255 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 4: in a bad position, I made a bad I don't 256 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 4: think I've ever heard him throw a player under the 257 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 4: bus with oh, we you know, somebody blew a coverage 258 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 4: back there. Even when that happens, sometimes the player screw up, 259 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 4: but he's you know, he sets that tone that way. 260 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:15,079 Speaker 5: As well well. And he's talked about maybe putting too much. 261 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 3: On their plate and not overthinking this matchup against the Rams. 262 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 3: We're going to dive into those numbers right after. A 263 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 3: word from our presenting. 264 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 2: Sponsor, Delta Airlines is bringing more big wins to the 265 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 2: city of Seattle with NonStop flights to over sixty destinations worldwide. 266 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 2: We're moving Seattle forward with two new routes to Rome 267 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 2: and Barcelona starting May twenty six, and with thoughtfully designed 268 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 2: Cabins Premium service, A seamless travel experience and our new 269 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 2: Delta one lounge for eligible travelers. Your personal offseason is 270 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 2: looking better than ever. Visit Delta dot com to book your. 271 00:11:52,720 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 3: Next trip against the Rams third time? Third Do you 272 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 3: know I was looking at this. I believe that Sean 273 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 3: McVeigh is perfect. I believe he's three and oh when 274 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 3: he is facing a team a third time during the 275 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 3: course of the season. Perhaps that streak comes to an 276 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 3: end this week, because there are certainly things that are 277 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 3: going in Seattle's favor, and I would count among them 278 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 3: the way the games played out against the Rams in 279 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 3: the first two meetings that week eleven loss. 280 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 5: It was not fun to be a part of. 281 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 3: And also might have been the most positive loss I 282 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 3: have ever been a part of. 283 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's funny. I remember coming out of that game. 284 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 4: It was like, yeah, they were frustrated they lost that game. 285 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 4: It was like, I think they also came out like, Okay, 286 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,719 Speaker 4: we did so much wrong. We turned the ball over 287 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 4: four times and we're right there. And I think that 288 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 4: was for players, It's like, if we stay out our 289 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 4: own way, nobody's beating us. And they haven't lost the 290 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 4: game since then, and Mike McDonald talked about that. 291 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 6: We'll get to that audio. But it's like, you. 292 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 4: Don't want to lose that any game, but that might 293 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 4: have been good for them just to what it taught 294 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 4: the team. 295 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:03,079 Speaker 3: Yeah, isn't it kind of funny when you're like, oh, 296 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:04,439 Speaker 3: I'm the only one standing. 297 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 5: In my way of success. Oh oh wait, yeah, how 298 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:07,839 Speaker 5: about if I. 299 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 3: Buckled down and do something a little bit better? You 300 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 3: mentioned the audio, let's hear from the coach. 301 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 7: It's a good question. I don't think it's like, hey, 302 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 7: now we realized it. I think I think that's or 303 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 7: we realized like what we wanted to be. I think 304 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 7: that was clear from the get go of what we're chasing. Uh, 305 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 7: but just to be that probably deep into the season 306 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 7: and to feel like, hey, you know, this outcome could 307 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 7: have gone the other way and given all the things 308 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 7: that didn't go our way in the game against a 309 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:34,719 Speaker 7: really good team, and so I think it I think 310 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 7: it puts some emergency behind playing a little bit cleaner 311 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 7: football and understanding like, hey, look, you know we can 312 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 7: we can expect to, you know, try to figure out 313 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 7: ways to win these types of games, and we're and 314 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 7: we're good enough to be able to do that. 315 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 4: And I asked Mike about that. Another part of that 316 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 4: that wasn't part of this quote, but a big part 317 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 4: to me about that game and what came out of 318 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,559 Speaker 4: it was what happened after the game. And we've been 319 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:58,679 Speaker 4: here in all season of how close this team, how 320 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 4: connect they are, and what Jones did after that game 321 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 4: when Sam Donald had his worst game as a yacky 322 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 4: threw four picks and Ernest Jones just goes up there 323 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 4: and immediately, very strongly with words we probably don't use 324 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 4: on this podcast. 325 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 3: We do not use on this podcast because we'll get 326 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 3: our mouths washed out with soap from our mothers, stood up. 327 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 4: For his quarterback in a way that it did two things. 328 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 4: It just reinforced how connected this team is, and you know, 329 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 4: sent a message to those offensive players like, hey, we 330 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 4: got your back even though it's not your day, and 331 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 4: we know you've got our back win it's not our day. 332 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 4: But he also, and I don't know if this was 333 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 4: his intent or not, but like he took so much 334 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 4: heat off of his quarterback, and like you look at 335 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 4: the next day's news cycle and everything that went on 336 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 4: that week, a lot of focus went and said, like, 337 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 4: oh boy, Sam Donald did this too. Wow, look at 338 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 4: what Ernest Jones said, Look how he stood up for him. 339 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 4: And I don't think it's entirely coincidence the way the 340 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 4: team has come together and has not lost since then. 341 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, And there was such a resolve after that game. 342 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 5: There was such a resolve to. 343 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 3: Say, you know what, we'll get the next time. And 344 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 3: that was the feeling we can't wait for the rematch. 345 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 3: Now I think that there's another feeling around the NFL 346 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 3: they can't wait for the third rematch. But not everything 347 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 3: would according to plan in that Thursday night game at 348 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 3: lumen Field. You still came up with a way to win. 349 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 3: You gave up more yards than you have ever given 350 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 3: up to any opponents, and you still found a way 351 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 3: to overcome. So there's takeaways from that one that applied 352 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 3: to Sunday's game as well. 353 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 7: Well. First, you got to give them credit and they 354 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 7: had a great game plan and they made a lot 355 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 7: of great plays, you know, so they had guys open, 356 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 7: and when they didn't, they still made some plays. And 357 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 7: I think the explosives really, you know, inflate the stats 358 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 7: a lot, you know, really, I mean that's how you 359 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 7: get the only way you get to a number like 360 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 7: that is by some really explosive plays, and those are 361 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 7: good plays by them, you know, and plays that we 362 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 7: have to execute it, you know better. But when I'm 363 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 7: thinking of that game, I'm thinking of, hey, you know, 364 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 7: got punched in the mouth early, and then our guys 365 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 7: regrouped and we and we and we're put ourselves back 366 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 7: in a position to go win the game defensively. So 367 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 7: there's positives and things you want to grow from that game, 368 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 7: for sure. 369 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 3: Explosive plays to the tune of seven plays of over 370 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 3: twenty seven yards, four plays of over forty yards, two 371 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 3: of over fifty five plus John, Yeah, that's going to 372 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 3: inflate some stats pretty quickly. 373 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 6: You don't love that. 374 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 3: I don't love that. A lot of those happening early. 375 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 3: They did have some critical stops in the fourth quarter 376 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 3: with three three and outs and then a couple of 377 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 3: explosives after that. Somehow they found a way to rally. 378 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 3: This also ties into pressure rates Stafford getting the ball 379 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 3: up because it's not like he's heaven at fifty five 380 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 3: yards down the field. 381 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 5: It's sometimes just the receivers finding those yards in the middle. 382 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 6: Of the field. 383 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, And also and Leo brought this point up of like, 384 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 4: you got to stop the runn against his team, So 385 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 4: Stafford doesn't get these quick throw opportunities, and they're one 386 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 4: of the best teams in the league getting third and 387 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 4: short opportunities where you know, it's so hard to pressure 388 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 4: quarterback if they're never in third long. And that's when 389 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 4: you mentioned those stops. I think goes what three three, 390 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 4: and now it's in the fourth quarter. That's when the 391 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 4: Seats were really stopping the run better. It went from Okay, 392 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 4: they're falling forward for five six yards on first down 393 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 4: to you're holding them to one two, three yards. And 394 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 4: that's a huge part of what this defense is and 395 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 4: what they've done all year long. So yeah, this is 396 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 4: this is a prideful defense. I you know, I don't 397 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,360 Speaker 4: think you can expect to shut the Rams down. They're 398 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 4: too good offensively, they have too many weapons. But I 399 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 4: think we're gonna see his defense come out and respond 400 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 4: really well after what to them was a pretty disappointing outing. 401 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 5: Well, there's a couple of points to that. Number one. 402 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 3: Leo also said that what he liked most when he 403 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 3: went back and looked at that film against San fran. 404 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 5: Is that they like stayed ahead right. 405 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:44,680 Speaker 3: They stayed ahead of the six right, so you're forcing 406 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 3: them into some of those long situations. 407 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 5: Here's the other part of this. The Rams since that week. 408 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,919 Speaker 3: Sixteen games, seven sixteen game, all of the weeks are 409 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 3: running together for me. Yep, just not along. It's been 410 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 3: a very long, fun season. Listen to they They have 411 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 3: flown over thirteen thousand miles, thirteen thousand, five hundred miles. 412 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 3: They have had four games a total of six hundred 413 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 3: and fifty plays, and if you total the player snaps, 414 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 3: it's over sixty eight hundred. All of these numbers coming 415 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 3: from our friend Mike Sando. Okay, so those are pretty 416 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 3: big numbers for the best offensive team in the league. 417 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 3: They have led by less than a point on average 418 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 3: during any single play during that four game stretch, and 419 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 3: their travel included Seattle. Then you go back to LA, 420 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 3: you fly to Atlanta, you go back to LA, you 421 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 3: fly to Charlotte, you go back to LA, you fly 422 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 3: to Chicago, you go back to LA. 423 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:46,160 Speaker 4: And now you're back up to Seattle. It was gonna 424 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 4: feel like a quick little hop for them this time. 425 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 5: It is a quick little hop. 426 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,919 Speaker 3: And think about Seattle's numbers on the other side, of 427 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 3: this Seattle since that game on the Thursday night at 428 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:01,400 Speaker 3: Lumenfield has traveled less than six miles. They have played 429 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 3: in three games with just four hundred and eleven plays. 430 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 3: Players have only totaled four thousand snaps. They have outscored opponents. 431 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 3: I know this is a lot of numbers, eighty one 432 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 3: to nineteen in those three games, they have led by 433 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 3: an average of ten point two points. When you look 434 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,199 Speaker 3: at all of this, and I am not saying that 435 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 3: the Rams aren't a great team, but what you really 436 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 3: see is the value of home field advantage. You see 437 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 3: the value of not traveling back and forth across the 438 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 3: field and you can be the best offensive team. Fatigue 439 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 3: is real, and traveling across the country that many times, 440 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 3: and the stress of those games and the way you 441 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 3: had to win those games. 442 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:42,160 Speaker 5: Yeah, that's a lot. 443 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 4: The difference of winning both that game and then the 444 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 4: Week eighteen game for the Seahawks instead of because they 445 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 4: close out with two straight road games, you're looking at 446 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 4: a Super Bowl run is going to require five straight 447 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 4: games on the road if you're the Seahawks, versus getting 448 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:57,360 Speaker 4: to take a weekend off and. 449 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 6: Then be home for these two playoff games. 450 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 4: I mean, it's it's real hard to overstate what a 451 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:02,120 Speaker 4: difference that makes. 452 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 3: And Walter Jones and I were talking about this last week. 453 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 5: He was in the kitchen. Look for that episode soon, 454 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 5: but he said it is. He said, look, here's the thing. 455 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,200 Speaker 3: You get to that division game and you look around 456 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 3: and you go, I just have to win two of 457 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 3: these at home. 458 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 5: That's it. That's all I have to do. 459 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 3: Not that it's not a hard opponent, but the mentality 460 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 3: of the players are it's within reach. 461 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:27,479 Speaker 5: I can totally do this. This is not a stretch. 462 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 3: And he said, to your point, you can't really put 463 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 3: a value on that, but it. 464 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 5: Makes a big difference when you're doing that. 465 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,360 Speaker 3: And look, you hope that a guy like pukin Akua 466 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 3: is a little bit worn out. Not only is he 467 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 3: a favorite target and somebody who can do everything on 468 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 3: the field. He racked up some yards against Seattle, and 469 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 3: he has a standout anytime he's in the game. 470 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean, you name it. I mean, ball skills 471 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 7: are tremendous. So a lot of those contested catches, he's 472 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 7: coming down with body control, you know, on the sideline, 473 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 7: being able to make plays. They kind of do everything, 474 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 7: So you can't just account for him for to doing 475 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:05,880 Speaker 7: one thing. He's great in the run game. He's great 476 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 7: running after catch. Yeah, I mean he kind of gets 477 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 7: like hidden yardages, which is which is a testament to 478 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 7: his toughness. And so he does a lot of great things. 479 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 6: He's a really good player. 480 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, when you look at yards after catch, which is 481 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 3: how I'm kind of interpreting some of. 482 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 5: The leaky yards, Like I know that they've got. 483 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 3: Their own measurements for that, but the numbers that I 484 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 3: can get a hold of of his seventeen hundred total 485 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 3: yards this season, six hundred and sixty six came after 486 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 3: the catch. Last week against Chicago, more than half of 487 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 3: his yards came after contact, right and after catch not contact, 488 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 3: that would be running back. So you really do need 489 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 3: to be like firm at the point of attack and 490 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 3: with those. 491 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 6: Tacks well, and we've seen that. 492 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 4: I mean again, this is I think this Rams offense 493 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 4: is a different beast than pretty much anyone else in 494 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 4: the league. But what the Seahawks have done since that 495 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 4: game against Carolina against four and ho twice, like they 496 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 4: are given nothing up, Like you might catch the ball 497 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:00,880 Speaker 4: in front of them, but you are getting tackled quickly. 498 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,639 Speaker 4: I just actually saw this before while you were talking. 499 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 4: The Seahawks have not allowed to play longer than twenty 500 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 4: yards in three games and the basically calendar wise in 501 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 4: a month. That's an insane number. 502 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,959 Speaker 3: And think about how many of those opponents needed to 503 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,439 Speaker 3: throw the ball to get back into the game. And 504 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 3: that's exactly what you would have done, is taken out. 505 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 3: I guess she can load up the defense a little 506 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 3: bit differently, but the point is you were facing more passes. 507 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:27,199 Speaker 5: Then run a. 508 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 4: Tie the most explosive defenses in the NFL when they 509 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,719 Speaker 4: don't play the Seahawks. I mean, you look at Mina Kaimes, 510 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,400 Speaker 4: who I know fans love's she did on her podcast 511 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 4: she broke this down of like what their numbers are, 512 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 4: look a bunch of advanced numbers the EPA for play 513 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,399 Speaker 4: all that they're a top five offense for an entire season, 514 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 4: regardless of whatever injuries they've had. When you take out 515 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 4: three games with Seahawks, when you take those three games 516 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 4: and raged against the league, they're one of the worst 517 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:54,399 Speaker 4: offenses because the Seahawks defense to shut them. 518 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 3: Down so well well, and I want to take a 519 00:22:56,720 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 3: moment to shout out the Seahawks scout teams because we 520 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 3: talk so much about the preparation that goes in to 521 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 3: the starting offense, starting defense. When you were talking about 522 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 3: a guy like pukin Akua, or last week you were 523 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:10,639 Speaker 3: talking about taking away Juwan Jennings and some of these guys. 524 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 3: Scout team works so hard. And Ricky Weeks Junior, the 525 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 3: seventh round draft pick for the Seahawks, he's a wide receiver. 526 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 3: I spent a lot of time talking to him about this. 527 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 3: Over the course of the year. You go from being 528 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 3: a draft pick and somebody who was contributing big time 529 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 3: in college on offense to now his entire goal is 530 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 3: how do I make the defense better? 531 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 5: How do I make sure that I give them the 532 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 5: very best looks? 533 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 3: And last week he was Juwan Jennings in practice, and 534 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 3: Juwan Jennings did not have his name called very much. 535 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 3: And the detail that goes into that starts with your 536 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 3: splits at the line of scrimmage, your release off the 537 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 3: line and against your defender, like they are studying the 538 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,640 Speaker 3: opponent's game plan as much as they are studying right 539 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,679 Speaker 3: the Seahawks offense or defense. And so Mike Moore shouted 540 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 3: them out after the game ad. The defensive coordinator was 541 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,399 Speaker 3: talking about them last week. I don't want them to 542 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 3: get lost in the shuffle because they are also a 543 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:07,360 Speaker 3: huge part of the success. 544 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:10,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, those practice squad guys, the you know, the guys 545 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 4: are just lower on the depth chart that we don't 546 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 4: you talk about them in training camp. You look at 547 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:15,880 Speaker 4: these roster battles of who's going to make their own 548 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 4: any kind of they get lost in the shuffle behind 549 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 4: all the starters. But yeah, those guys all have a 550 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,360 Speaker 4: big role on what this team's doing and getting everybody 551 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:24,160 Speaker 4: prepared for a game. 552 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 3: Well, we are going to get you prepared for a 553 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 3: game with the two things we need to see. Right 554 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 3: after a word from our presenting sponsor. 555 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 2: Take your own offseason with Delta Airlines and explore new 556 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 2: routes from Seattle to Rome and Barcelona. Starting May twenty 557 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 2: six plus, with NonStop flights to over sixty destinations worldwide, 558 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 2: Delta is moving Seattle forward, one adventure at a time. 559 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 6: All right, John, what do you got so many things? 560 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 5: Are you buying time for yourself? 561 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:53,160 Speaker 6: No? 562 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,159 Speaker 4: Okay, I just feel like there's more than two in 563 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,120 Speaker 4: a game this big Well, I mean, I don't want 564 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 4: to be so obvious, But it has to be the turnover. 565 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 4: It has to be turned the ball over seven times 566 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 4: against this team, including four in that loss, with. 567 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 5: Only one takeaway in those previous matchups. 568 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:10,119 Speaker 4: And yep, we've seen them all of a sudden flip 569 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:13,120 Speaker 4: the script toward they've been. I think they're plus seven 570 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 4: and turnover differential since that week eleven game, even with 571 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,359 Speaker 4: that other Rams game factored in. They haven't turned the 572 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 4: ball over the last two games against the forty nine ers. 573 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 6: Just give me a win in that. 574 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:26,719 Speaker 4: Category or just zero, call it neutral. And I just 575 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 4: don't think this Seawks team can be beat right now 576 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 4: the way they're playing if they don't help teams out 577 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 4: with turnover. So that to me such an obvious one. 578 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 4: And then we touched on this already, but I want 579 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 4: to just keep the Rams from running the ball, do 580 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:42,360 Speaker 4: what this defense says best so they can get after 581 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 4: Matt Stafford, because Stafford is obviously, you know, he might 582 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,120 Speaker 4: be the MVP, he's an All Pro quarterback. We've seen 583 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 4: in this postseason his numbers against pressure have dropped from 584 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 4: what they were during the regular season. And like you 585 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 4: said earlier, there's a travel, there's weather, there's all these 586 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 4: factors that might be slowing their offense down a little bit. 587 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,440 Speaker 4: But you know, you can make him take his time 588 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 4: to have to find receivers further downfield. 589 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 6: I think he can make it hard on him. 590 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 3: Well, you do that, and what we saw last week 591 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,440 Speaker 3: in Chicago is that he never really found a rhythm. 592 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:13,439 Speaker 3: In fact, he said that himself after the game. He 593 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 3: completed less than fifty percent of his passes, no touchdown 594 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 3: passes for the first time this. 595 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 4: Season, and he still made one of the best throwers 596 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 4: of the postseason. 597 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 2: And he did. 598 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 6: That's the thing about quarterbacks like this, like you can 599 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:26,640 Speaker 6: be having a great. 600 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:28,640 Speaker 5: Game and they can still be and he can still 601 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 5: do it. 602 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 3: But I do like Seattle's chances if you keep him 603 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 3: right about that fifty percent or less and keep the 604 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 3: run game going. On our side of things, ken Walker 605 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 3: has had three of his four best rushing games during 606 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:39,959 Speaker 3: the last four games. 607 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:41,160 Speaker 5: That's been a key piece. 608 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 3: You're going to have to figure out your second part 609 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 3: of that one to two punch without Zach Sharponnay, keep 610 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,119 Speaker 3: the ball on the ground, run out that clock and 611 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 3: let the twelves do their thing. Yes, also twelves. If 612 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 3: he didn't hear it from Leo. We need more Darth Vaders. 613 00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 5: In the building. 614 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,240 Speaker 6: I did like the one. I saw one before the game. 615 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,159 Speaker 4: Down in the north the field sweets and down in 616 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,640 Speaker 4: the end zone saw one of his little dark side 617 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 4: sign Bull Darth Vader. 618 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:09,919 Speaker 5: Gill, you were noticed. Bring it on. 619 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 3: We'll see you Sunday, and we'll see you back here 620 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 3: next week for another edition of the Seahawks Insiders podcast.