1 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: He is the most humble personality that I've ever seen 2 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 1: with this kind of resume, and he could say, oh yeah, 3 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 1: I learned a ton from Kevin Sevanci last year. You 4 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: combine that continuity just with who we acts, coaching style, 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: and even just his personality as well, and I think 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: that means big things for Kurt. Hey, everybody, welcome to 7 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: episode fifty five of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. I am 8 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: your host, si Amindson, and today's podcast is brought to 9 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: you by Verizon, the network more people rely on, gives 10 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: you more Vikings. Verizon Training Camp is on their last 11 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: week of shorts and shells, and that means full practice 12 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,040 Speaker 1: is right around the corner. Next Monday, there will be 13 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: a practice that will be available to the public in 14 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: a number of ways. We'll talk about that later. The 15 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: media officially gets a look at practice starting tomorrow and 16 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: joining me today to talk about all things preseason and 17 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: training camp related. To the left of me from the 18 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: Vikings Entertainment Network, Chris Carso, to the other left of me, 19 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: Jay Nelson, and an extra person on the show today 20 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: from Vikings dot Com joining us to help talk about 21 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: things Lindsay Young. Hello, Lindsay Hi, thanks for having me on. 22 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: No problem. You get an intro that you get to 23 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: respond to. Jay and Chris are here every week. I 24 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: don't care if they say hello. We're just we're just 25 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: stuck with each other. We're like three old men that 26 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: accidentally bought like a time share together, and then none 27 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: of us can get out of it. So we just 28 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: begrudgingly go to Costa Rica for eight days every year 29 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: and just come home and complain to our wives about 30 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: one another. So you get the benefit of friendly up top, 31 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: and we just we'll just keep looking at each other 32 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: this way. We're happy to have you as corso takes 33 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: no fun or humor in that piece of information. Guys, 34 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 1: let's let's start. Christopher Everson Griffin is a Dallas cowboy, 35 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: and you know it finally has happened. A lot of 36 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: players have found themselves in this position where they're they're 37 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: playing such a long waiting game to wind up someplace. 38 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 1: I know a lot of Viking fans myself, I'll be 39 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: honest included was really hoping he might wander back onto 40 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: our fields. But it looks like he's going to be 41 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: a Dallas cowboy. Yeah, it's amazing. I saw a tweet 42 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,519 Speaker 1: the other day SI that said, Everson Griffin has played 43 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: more games with the Vikings than Adrian Pearson did in 44 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: his career, which just to think about that, I mean, 45 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: that is unbelievable. Drafted in twenty ten at a USC 46 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: pick number one hundred in the fourth round, I think 47 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: he could have been a first rounder with what he 48 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: did with the Minnesota Vikings. Seventy four and a half sacks, 49 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: just an absolute monster. They call him the sack Daddy 50 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: for a reason. But the main thing that stuck out 51 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 1: to me was how many players, how many members of 52 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: the staff sent him well wishes and put out their 53 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: their well wishes to him on social media, because clearly 54 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: no one can rile up the huddle in the pregame 55 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,559 Speaker 1: like Everson Griffin. No, I I was telling that to somebody. 56 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: You know, it might have been I was on the 57 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 1: fan today talking with Nordo about Everson, and maybe I 58 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: said it there. Maybe this was a private conversation with someone. 59 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: But I remember being at a preseason game last year 60 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: and just watching him in the preseason on the sideline 61 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: interacting with the defense. It was it was incredible And 62 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: and Lindsay is somebody who's down on the field for 63 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: a lot of these things. He kind of in terms 64 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: of Vikings history, you have to go a long way 65 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: to find an energy that's even and close to matchable. Yeah, 66 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: I mean for me even you know, I born and 67 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: raisedmon Issotin, so I've watched the Vikings my whole growing up. 68 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: Obviously watched Everson before I ever worked for the team, 69 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: and then when I came out and worked for the team, 70 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: I'm like, Okay, his energy is real, you know, it's 71 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: genuine and just like you said with preseason games, like 72 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: he is just as hyped for a preseason game that 73 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 1: he might not play in as he is for you know, 74 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: the season opener. And I feel like Vikings fans, you know, 75 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: you think of that kind of energy and hype level, 76 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: and you think of someone like John Randall, and I 77 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 1: see some similarities there between their pregame you know, their 78 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: warm ups, their routines, how they got their teammates jazz 79 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: and ready for the game. So I mean that part 80 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 1: is I think for every Vikings fan, you know, one 81 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 1: of your favorite things about Everson, I remember anytime I 82 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: John Randall was an incredible player and did so many 83 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: incredible things, but anytime anybody says his name, especially in 84 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: this context. I can only think of one single thing. 85 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 1: Do you remember that playoff game? I don't know what 86 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: year it was, but I was like a seventeen or 87 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: eighteen year old kid. We played the New Orleans Saints 88 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: in the Metrodome. That was the game where Randy Moss 89 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 1: took two bubble screens and housed him right. And I remember, 90 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: I remember, and I don't even know who the quarterback 91 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,679 Speaker 1: for the Saints was, but I remember late in the game, 92 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: John Randall getting into the backfield, getting a sack and 93 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: then crawling around on all fours like he was a 94 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: dog and lifting his leg like he was marking his 95 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: territory on the quarterback he sacked. And I that was 96 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: I thought that was so funny. But you're right, You're right. 97 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: Everson has that same vibe. Jay. They the Cowboys obviously 98 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: wanted to replace the loss of Robert Quinn, who went 99 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: to a place that he didn't need to. I don't 100 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: think Chicago needed more defensive lineman. You guys, why don't 101 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 1: we just why don't we just go back in time 102 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: and throw Lawrence Taylor. Let's put him in the DeLorean 103 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: and bring him back and the Bears can sign him 104 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: in the offseason while we're at it. But it's he's 105 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 1: joining a defensive line that has DeMarcus Lawrence, Gerald McCoy, 106 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: Alden Smith, Tyrone Crawford, Randy Gregory. I kind of a 107 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: lot of names and a lot of experience. How do 108 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: you think he fits? That's always the question in Dallas, 109 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 1: right Dallas and the Raiders tend to be a duo 110 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 1: of teams that love to grab the high value and 111 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: glitzee free agent guys, and I think a guy like Everson. 112 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: If you remember Dallas last year, even playing Dallas last year, 113 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: part of Dallas's problem they had with us was stopping 114 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 1: the run. They had a really hard time dealing with 115 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: Dalvin and one of the things that Everson is very 116 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: good at is getting upfield and rushing the passer. At 117 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: the same point, he's pretty dang solid in the run game. 118 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: Two biggest issue Dallas is going to have is the 119 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: same issue they have every single season, which is can 120 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: they put it together on both sides the ball and 121 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: for a kind of a murderers row that they have 122 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: here With all the players you listed plus Everson, I 123 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: think he'll be a good part of that defense for them. 124 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: It just depends on one how engaged he is, which, 125 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: as we just talked about, that's not something you've had 126 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: to worry about with him, but how much are the 127 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: rest of the guys around him engaged with him. So 128 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: if he can be that infectious spark for that Dallas defense, 129 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 1: you know, that might actually be a big problem for 130 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: the rest of the NFC to deal with this year, 131 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: which means it could be interesting week to eleven. Yeah, 132 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: I was just gonna say it could be. It could 133 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: be a problem for us on November twenty second, which 134 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: will be the one week that I am not rooting 135 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: for Everson Griffin. You know, I want to bring up 136 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: something else too, and this this is what I touched 137 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: on k Fan today with Nordo is he's one of 138 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: my favorite vikings that I can remember. And there are 139 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: two things. I don't know any Viking fan who doesn't 140 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: have the memory of him. When the Minnesota miracle happened 141 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: and they tried to interview him on cam and he 142 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: was like a disaster. He couldn't even speak. He couldn't talk. 143 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: You might as well of it was like it was 144 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: like an excitable Ricky Bobby. It was the greatest moment. 145 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: He was so happy, and I that is that is 146 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: as tied into that memory as almost every any part 147 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: of it. The other thing for me is so I've 148 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: if you listen to my comedy or anything I do, 149 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: you very quickly find out that ideal with some mental 150 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: health issues. I have obsessive compulsive disorder, I have some 151 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: anxiety issues. And you know, the interesting thing with the 152 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:39,719 Speaker 1: mental health community is it's it's long dealt with being stigmatized. 153 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: You know, there's always and it's been one of weakness. 154 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: And I think specifically when you are talking about really 155 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: masculine and manly pursuits i e. The physical sports and 156 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: the outdoor activities and the you know, cars and fighting, 157 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: and you know this and that those worlds really have 158 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: not been kind to the mental health world throughout history. 159 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: And so to see Everson Griffin go through what he 160 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: went through off the field, to see him not only 161 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: a come out on the other side of it really well, 162 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: but also to see the entire organization, the team, his teammates, 163 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 1: the coaches, the staff, the owners, everybody rally around him, 164 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: and more importantly for me, to watch this entire state 165 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: when it happened, I expected there to be a lot 166 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: of he's crazy, he's this, he's that. There wasn't. It 167 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: was nothing but take it. We love football, but please 168 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 1: go get right, Please take care of yourself, Please be healthy. 169 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:47,319 Speaker 1: Everybody wanted him to turn out well as a human being, 170 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: and I think for a lot of people who deal 171 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,319 Speaker 1: with mental health issues. And I won't speak on anyone's behalf, 172 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: but how that was this just amazing moment, and it 173 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:01,079 Speaker 1: was this amazing I mean just basically showed how far 174 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: we've come. It showed where we were at even fifteen 175 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: years ago and where we're at now. And I think 176 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: for other adult you know, even children as well, but 177 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: adult men and women who struggle with these things and 178 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: often feel isolated and feel weak. I just thought the 179 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,439 Speaker 1: way he, our state and our team handled that, that'll 180 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: that to me puts him on the list of all 181 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 1: time vikings because I think it's crucial for the community. 182 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: Chris absolutely, and the biggest thing you'll hear the players, 183 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: you'll hear Daniel Hunter attribute his whole career to Everson Griffin. 184 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: I mean, Everson really took on that elder role when 185 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: Brian Robinson retired that was. That was the player who 186 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: took on the leadership role of the locker room, who 187 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: took on the leadership role of the pregame speech. Kirk 188 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,719 Speaker 1: tries to do a few pregame speeches, doesn't work out 189 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 1: too well. Back to Everson doing the pregame speeches. So no, 190 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:55,959 Speaker 1: I'm just just kidding in the on the on the 191 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: Kirk thing. But man, you're not allowed to cut the 192 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: just kidding Jay his Corso finally, Chris Corso finally made 193 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: a lighthearted a comment about Kirk. Keep it, frame it, 194 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: put it that. Can you work that into our intro 195 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: from now on? Jay? He was so quick to say 196 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: he was kidding. I love it, I love it. Jokes aside. 197 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 1: I have to call Mark Rosen to see if he'll 198 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: call Kirk Cousins to tell him what you said. But 199 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: I know you're saying it's it's You're exactly right, Chris. 200 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 1: I think exactly what you're saying is he's He was 201 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: just the sort of player that people gravitated to. He 202 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: had he carried himself in a way both with his 203 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: actions and his words, because he would teach young players 204 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: and he would help him grow, and then he was 205 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: the first one to be barking out positives and hype 206 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: to everybody around him, as he always says, if you 207 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: want it, go get it. That was his thing. He 208 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 1: said it before every game, said it in every huddle, 209 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: and he would have fifty four guys around him screaming 210 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: it after he screamed it. So that that's you can 211 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: summarize his career up with that. Well, we wish him 212 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: a lot of luck. I'm sad to see him go. 213 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: I understand how football works. I hope he has an 214 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: amazing season with the exception of November twenty second. Butch 215 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: you honestly, you can have a fine game. Go ahead, 216 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: have a fine game, do all right, But I just 217 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 1: need you to, maybe, you know, take it a little easy. 218 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:23,839 Speaker 1: There has been a lot of talk guys about Gary 219 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: Kubiak taking over the offensive coordinator duties, and I don't 220 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: mean just from us. You know, it seems to be 221 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: one of when you watch nationally, it seems to be 222 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: one of the main things that gets discussed over and 223 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: over and over again. And so rather than just kind 224 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 1: of talking about, well, it's going to be a lot 225 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: of what they did last year, even though Stefanski was here. 226 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: I thought maybe we could take a little bit of 227 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: a deeper look at what that means for this team, 228 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: given Gary's career and his trends as an actual offensive coordinator. Right, So, 229 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: he spent eleven seasons in Denver ninety five to two 230 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 1: thousand and five and a season in Baltimore as a coordinator. 231 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: Pretty impressive, pretty consistently. And I'm gonna puke a couple 232 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: of these out here. Top five in the NFL in 233 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: total yards eight of twelve seasons, top five in the 234 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: NFL in total points eight of twelve seasons. What does 235 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: that say to you, Jay? That to me means that, 236 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 1: By the way, that was the worst Fox Sports ESPN 237 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: question of all time. Jay. What if I just say 238 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: some stuff and then you tell me what you think 239 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: of that stuff? Right back to you, Jay, We're live 240 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: on six six eighty am. Here on the score. I 241 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: felt like I could Jim Rome Thatt and just yell 242 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: at your Rackham. Top five in total yards, in top 243 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: five in total points. That means that Gary likes to 244 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: absolutely get after it on offense and the way that 245 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 1: he's typically been doing this. Everyone talks about the running game. 246 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: He had some illustrious guys and he has had some 247 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: run of the mill guys on an average year. But 248 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 1: at the same point, what it means is it doesn't 249 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 1: matter who he has back there. His offensive play calling 250 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: has helped get top talent and top notch production every 251 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 1: single year, year in and year out. And being top 252 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: five in the league for those eight out of twelve seasons, 253 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: not only in yards but points, that means that this 254 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: Vikings offense is potentially due for an absolutely monster season. Well, 255 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: and you know, I think what I was getting at 256 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: when I asked a really terrible question was I think 257 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: the thing that's interesting is everybody thinks of running, you 258 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: hit it on the head. When they think of Gary Kubiak, 259 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: they think of rushing offense and play action passes. And 260 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: when you think of those things, I don't think you 261 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: necessarily think points in yards. But here we are eight 262 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: out of twelve seasons, he's been in the top five 263 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: of both of those, which I find super interesting. That 264 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: just means that they're executing. You know, you can try 265 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 1: and run over and over and over again, but if 266 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: you're hit getting stoned at line every single time, then 267 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: you're not going anywhere. But that means that he is 268 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: putting guys in position on offense and getting the matchups 269 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: that he wants to not only attempt all of those 270 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: total yards and total points for the rushing attempts and 271 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 1: passing attempts, but he's actually executing and those offenses are 272 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: making it work. So there's been a lot of discussion 273 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: over the last couple of years when you've seen a 274 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: lot of teams, including a team that we lost to 275 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: last year in the Niners, put players in certain matchups 276 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: in certain situations in order to execute, and it feels 277 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: like that's the trend that Gary's offense have had in 278 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: the past. Well, and Lindsay, you know, another one of 279 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: those numbers is he was top four in NFL or 280 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: top four in the NFL and rushing attempts six out 281 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:49,119 Speaker 1: of twelve seasons. And it's important to note that sometimes 282 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: that was with Terrell Davis and Clinton Portis, and other 283 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: times it was with guys like Olandis Gary and Ruben Drones. 284 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: You know. So he's a guy that's gonna run with 285 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: no matter who's back there, and that's good news because 286 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: we have a stud who's back there, but he's also 287 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: not always on the field, and we have a hell 288 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: of a backup behind him. So I think that feels 289 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: like something that I want to grip pretty hard to 290 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: in terms of positivity walking into a Gary Kubiak season. Yeah, 291 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I think the point that Jay made where 292 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: sometimes they've been these flashy guys that names that you're 293 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: going to remember for, you know, years on end, and 294 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: sometimes they're not, I think that just goes to prove 295 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: that he knows how to work with those players, like 296 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: he said, and how to create matchups. And you know, 297 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: I think he just said a few weeks ago too, 298 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: when he was asked about Delvin, you know that he 299 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: likes running backs. He likes his running back. So whether 300 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: that's Delvin, whether that's Alexander Madison, who you know, I 301 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: think had an awesome rookie season last year, whether coming 302 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: in for Delvin during a game or you know, if 303 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: it was a game that Delvin was sidelined, and then 304 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 1: even Mike Boon two or a Mirabdulah like, they've come 305 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: in in certain situations and been really effective. So I 306 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: feel like coach Kubiak knows what situations to plug which 307 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:10,400 Speaker 1: guys into to make that work. Chris, Yeah, I think 308 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: you list all these stats and the most amazing thing 309 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 1: to me is that he has a few Super Bowl 310 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 1: rings as well. And then in his press conference this week, 311 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: he talks about how he learned from Kevin Stefanski, Like 312 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 1: he is the most humble personality that I've ever seen 313 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: with this kind of resume for him to say, Oh, 314 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:32,880 Speaker 1: I'm just kind of getting in the groove. I've been 315 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: writing in my sketchbook plays all offseason just to get 316 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: back to play calling. Like he's just a casual guy. 317 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: He's calm, he's cool, collected. I love the fact that 318 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:46,119 Speaker 1: he's that humble and he could say, oh, yeah, I 319 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:48,679 Speaker 1: learned a ton from Kevin Stefanski last year. He's a 320 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: really like having worked at the facility for the first 321 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 1: time last year, he was like one of my favorite 322 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 1: people to see at the facility because he's just a 323 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 1: really interesting, like casual dude. All of a sudden, you're 324 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: in the cafeteria. He strolls in there by himself and 325 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: basketball shorts in a hood. He just lah man man, 326 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: puts his stuff on it. He he just has a 327 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 1: very calming vibe to him, he seems so that doesn't 328 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: surprise me at all. Chris just watching the way he 329 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: behaves as a human. I'm not in the FBI as 330 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 1: a behavioral analyst, but he has a very easy way 331 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,159 Speaker 1: about him, and you know, I think a lot of 332 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: people are hoping that translates and continues to help the 333 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: starting quarterback. Obviously, he spent a lot of time with 334 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: John Elway, you know. But the one that's interesting to 335 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: me that no one really talks about is that twenty 336 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 1: fourteen years Joe Flacco, who Joe Flacco, I feel like, 337 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 1: in a lot of fans and media's eyes, is a 338 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: little bit of a polarizing guy. There were people who 339 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: thought he was the next big thing. There were people 340 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: who who think he's elite. We've all heard that quote 341 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: a bunch of times and heard people make fun of it. 342 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: And then there were there are people who you know, 343 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:08,120 Speaker 1: didn't necessarily have the highest expectations in belief in him. 344 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 1: But Kubiak's one year there, he puts up and again 345 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:19,199 Speaker 1: this Baltimore is traditionally and thoroughly a defense and running 346 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: based football team throughout its history, and he put out 347 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 1: a career high twenty seven touchdowns three thousand, nine hundred 348 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,120 Speaker 1: and eighty six yards passing, and it was a team 349 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: record for points for the Ravens that year with four 350 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: hundred and nine. One of the similarities Kirk has with Flacco. 351 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 1: Flacco was one of the best deep ball throwers in 352 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: the league, and you hear guys like Justin Jefferson and 353 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: Taj Sharp compliment Kirk on his deep ball. You know, 354 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: I'm really hoping that what happened with Flacco where you 355 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: got his best year maybe out of Kubiak, that you 356 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 1: can take a guy in Kirk who's been good for 357 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: us and we get his best year, we get his 358 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: best couple of years, is my hope. Lindsay, Yeah, I mean, 359 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 1: I think that's exactly right. And I think just the 360 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 1: fact that even though obviously coach Kubyak, this is his 361 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: first year as OC and you know, be the first 362 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: year that his voice is in Kirk's helm, the fact 363 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: that he was with us last year working with Kevin Steffancy, 364 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: and the fact that he had such a big influence 365 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,719 Speaker 1: on the offense. I mean, you combine that continuity just 366 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: with Kubyak's style is coaching style, and even just his 367 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,479 Speaker 1: personality as well, and I think you know that that 368 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: means big things for Kirk. Jay absolutely That was kind 369 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: of my thought with this one too. You know, when 370 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: I saw that Flacco stat and you start looking through 371 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: those numbers. One of the things that that does is 372 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: it helps take the pressure off the defense. And part 373 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 1: of that is because that means that offensively, they are 374 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: controlling the clock, they're controlling the ball, and then when 375 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: the defense does get on the field defensively, they already 376 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 1: know that they've got a lead that they can protect 377 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,640 Speaker 1: or they don't. It doesn't have to always beyond them. 378 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 1: So for a guy like Kirk, if Kirk is able 379 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: to come in here, and as we talked about last 380 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,400 Speaker 1: week on the podcast, if the offense is catching up 381 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: to the defense as far as strength, I think having 382 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: a guy like Kirk come in and if he can 383 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: put up something like these numbers of twenty seven touchdowns 384 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: in almost four thousand yards passing, that means that this 385 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: Vikings team, especially an offense, is poised for serious success. 386 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 1: And that would mean in my eyes, that would mean 387 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: they're an absolute contender to make a deep run in 388 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: the playoffs going through the season. Let's talk Let's step 389 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: away from the Vikings for a minute, and then we'll 390 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: step right back to close the show because there's two 391 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 1: two things that I want to talk about NFL related. 392 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: The first is tight ends got paid. George Kittle got 393 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 1: seventy five million. I believe Chris right over five years 394 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: from the forty nine Ers. Travis Kelsey gets fifty seven 395 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: from the Kansas City Chiefs. I have a couple of questions, 396 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:04,199 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna start with the most basic sports analyst 397 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 1: question of all time. One season, if you had one 398 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,639 Speaker 1: of those guys for just this season, who are you 399 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:14,640 Speaker 1: going with? Chris? I am one hundred percent switching those 400 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:18,439 Speaker 1: numbers around and going with Travis Kelsey. I think he 401 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 1: is the best tight end pound for pound in the NFL. Now. 402 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: I have a lot of respect for what George Kittle 403 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: does in that forty nine Ers offense and all the 404 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: different ways they use him. But Travis Kelsey, the Super 405 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: Bowl winning Travis Kelsey, is who I go with. Jake. 406 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: I am on the exact same train there with Corso. 407 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 1: Main reason being a little stat here that says since 408 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 1: Kittle's rookie season in twenty seventeen, Kelsey's had thirty six 409 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 1: hundred and three yards and twenty three touchdowns. Kittle has 410 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: had twenty nine hundred and forty five yards and twelve touchdowns. 411 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 1: So basically for the two of them, they are neck 412 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: and neck, and Kittle's yards per reception is thirteen point 413 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: six Kelsey's twelve point seven. For me, the extra six 414 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty yards or so and almost double the touchdowns. 415 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 1: I gotta go with Travis Kelsey in that time, Lindsay 416 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 1: you get to you get the final say, hey, you guys, 417 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:13,640 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's just because I'm a homer 418 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:15,640 Speaker 1: just I mean, first of all, it is because I'm 419 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 1: a homer, So I have a hard time even, you know, 420 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: thinking outside of our roster. But I have to like 421 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: be the good Midwestern girl and go with George Kittle. 422 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,720 Speaker 1: Like I love his athleticism, I love what he does 423 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 1: on the field, and like I said, I mean the 424 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 1: guys from Madison, Wisconsin. He played college football at Iowa. 425 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: So maybe I'm a little biased on that, but I'd 426 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,239 Speaker 1: rather have George Kittle. You know, I agree with you. 427 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: I'm I'm on the Kittle side of things, especially because 428 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 1: I watched Travis Kelsey's reality show when it was out 429 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: and it's hard to come back from that. Guys, but 430 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,360 Speaker 1: they're both fantastic football players. I one of my favorite 431 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 1: storylines that I'm looking forward to this year is how 432 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: the Vikings tight end position come together under Kubiak and 433 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: I you know, because I think a lot of people 434 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: had a lot of really high expectations for Irv Smith that, 435 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:10,359 Speaker 1: you know, given how the tight end position works, I 436 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:12,639 Speaker 1: think we're a little tough, little out of line, a 437 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,240 Speaker 1: little hard to live up too. And I still think 438 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: he had a great rookie season. But this is the year. 439 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,919 Speaker 1: This is the year where I think we could be 440 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 1: sitting at Week eight going, ho, what look at what 441 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,880 Speaker 1: Irv Smith is doing, and I'll be interesting to see 442 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: how that meshes with already having one fantastic tight end 443 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: and how it comes together underneath Kubiak. Chris. Yeah, we 444 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,639 Speaker 1: saw Kyle Rudolph really buy in to the fact that 445 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:40,399 Speaker 1: he was going to be a block first sort of 446 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 1: tight end last year, and that's how it was at 447 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:45,440 Speaker 1: the beginning of the season until Adam Feeling got hurt 448 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: and that's when we really started to see Rudolph start 449 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 1: putting up those touchdown numbers. And obviously what he did 450 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 1: at the end of the Saints playoff game put him 451 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: right back in the middle of the Vikings offense. But 452 00:24:57,240 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 1: for me, I'm looking. I've said it numerous times on 453 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 1: this podcast. We've talked to Gary Kubiak, We've heard what 454 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:05,160 Speaker 1: he says. He says, we're giving a little more to Irv. 455 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: We're giving him a little more, a little more of 456 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 1: the offense. He knows a little more of the verbiage. 457 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 1: I think by mid season there could be a good 458 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: chance that Irv Smith we won't put him number one 459 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:17,639 Speaker 1: on the depth chart, but I think he'll be number 460 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 1: one in in receptions out of the tight end position 461 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: for the Vikings. Lindy, Yeah. I mean. The thing is is, 462 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 1: I feel like um Urban and Kyle are such different 463 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: types of tight ends and both really successful in what 464 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 1: they do. I mean, I think Chris makes a super 465 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 1: good point about um Kyle buying in and kind of 466 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: embracing the role that he was given to start the 467 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: season last year with that extra load of blocking than 468 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 1: he's had in the past. But then he's always the 469 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 1: kind of the go to guy in those tight windows. 470 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,919 Speaker 1: You know, he's got probably the best hands on the 471 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: team maybe in making some of those catches. And the 472 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: good thing is is that I think We're going to 473 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,920 Speaker 1: see a lot of plays this year where and herb 474 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: are both on the field at the same time. I'm 475 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 1: gonna actually pull up a tweet here that that Eric 476 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 1: Smith posted earlier this week. I can't take credit for 477 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: resing these stats. Last year, Kirk with two tight ends 478 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: on the field, he completed eighty seven of one hundred 479 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: and nineteen passes for eight hundred and fifteen yards. He 480 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: had nine touchdowns on those plays when there were two 481 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 1: tight ends on the field, and a rating of one 482 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: hundred and nine point eight. So I feel like we'll 483 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:30,360 Speaker 1: see a lot of that with kubiak Um, a lot 484 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 1: of two or three tight end sets that larger personnel. 485 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:35,239 Speaker 1: And I'm excited for it because I think we've got 486 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 1: the guys to do it. Let's let's change courses here. 487 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: Change courses? Is that a sentence? Course? Change directions? Change courses. 488 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: I'm such a smart person who uses words. Guys. The 489 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:52,040 Speaker 1: Seahawks have waived rookie. I'm sorry if I butchered. It's 490 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: Chema Sivaran for trying to sneak a female visitor into 491 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 1: a team hotel. Couple things here, one, Come on, dude, 492 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: we all want football. Stop messing around two. I love 493 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:08,720 Speaker 1: that the league has taken it seriously. I love I mean, 494 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,159 Speaker 1: I knew they would. We all knew they would. He 495 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 1: has been waived. I think it sends the right message. 496 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:18,440 Speaker 1: I think there is too many people are too invested 497 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: and care too much about these players and these teams 498 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,640 Speaker 1: that I just love, you know. I hope, I hope 499 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 1: he gets a chance to redeem himself at some point. 500 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 1: I don't wish negativity on anybody's career by any stretch 501 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 1: of the imagination, but I'm happy to see NFL teams 502 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: taking it very seriously. And secondly, he tried to dress 503 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 1: her up like a fellow player. He put her in 504 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: Seahawks gear, like somebody would be like, oh yeah, this 505 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 1: is one of our cornerbacks. And that's a gutsy call. 506 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: That is a very gutsy call. Jay. That is one 507 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 1: of those situations where it is the head slapper, like 508 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 1: what do you what are you trying to do here? 509 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 1: You know, give it what you said. The league has 510 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 1: taking this stuff seriously, but listen, teams do not want distractions, period, 511 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 1: especially during training camp when they're just trying to get 512 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:10,719 Speaker 1: everything on the same page and be able to function 513 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: in a month. But this is one of those situations 514 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:17,199 Speaker 1: where you doing this now like that is insane to 515 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 1: me that you're even going to attempt this given what 516 00:28:20,359 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 1: teams in the league are going through. They are not 517 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 1: putting up with anything. So to have not only say, 518 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 1: forget being at home, but the fact you're trying to 519 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:33,680 Speaker 1: sneak somebody into camp or onto like a team facility, 520 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 1: that just blows my mind that he was that gutsy 521 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: to try to do something like that. Yeah, it's it 522 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 1: is lunacy. Uh let's uh, we're obviously, you know, making 523 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: a little light of that. So I want to I 524 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: want to change the tone because we do we do 525 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: have a Viking who was involved in a scary COVID 526 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 1: situation Cam Smith fifth round pick in twenty nineteen. Uh 527 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: you know he it was. It was just closed upon 528 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 1: further testing due to a positive COVID diagnosis that he 529 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 1: will need to undergo open heart surgery to fix something 530 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 1: that I can't pronounce. Who wants to give it a world, Jay, 531 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 1: go ahead? Their medical man by cuspid a arctic valve issues. 532 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: That is how you pronounce it, Jay, And it's it's 533 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 1: obviously it's not it's not a result of the COVID, 534 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 1: but and you know, fortunate, you know, it sucks to 535 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 1: have COVID, but that's how it was discovered. And so 536 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 1: he you know, he will undergo open heart surgery, and 537 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 1: just a big shout out to cam for his upcoming journey, 538 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 1: and you know, we really were all rooting for him 539 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 1: and we hope he gets back as soon as possible. Guys, 540 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 1: let's let's run down here kind of what the next 541 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: few days are going to look like, because I think 542 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,120 Speaker 1: for a lot of fans it hasn't really felt like 543 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,959 Speaker 1: football has officially started, even though we know it started 544 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: and we're talking about it, but you know, it's there's 545 00:29:57,640 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 1: no media, there's no fans, you can't really see what's 546 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:01,720 Speaker 1: going on, and you're grabbing onto every piece of information 547 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 1: that is about to change. Lindsay tomorrow the media is 548 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 1: let in, right, Yeah, So Friday will be the first 549 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,160 Speaker 1: open practice to media, and I'm excited just to you know, 550 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 1: see our guys out there again and to kind of 551 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 1: feel a little bit of sense of normalcy, I guess 552 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 1: you can say, because you know, even for us at 553 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 1: this point, we've been watching a lot of highlights, watching 554 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 1: the social media clips, the awesome stuff that Van puts together. 555 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: But I'm excited for media to have the opportunity to 556 00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:33,880 Speaker 1: get an inside look again and give some fans more information. Absolutely, 557 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 1: and then Chris Monday is the first padded Practice Voice 558 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: of the Vikings, Paul Allen, Ben Lieber, Pete Versage, Greg 559 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: Coleman that it will all be on hand to let 560 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 1: the Vikings fans know what's going on at the first 561 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: padded practice. Obviously the first year that fans cannot attend 562 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:55,360 Speaker 1: the Vikings Verizon training camps, so this will be a 563 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 1: cool thing that will be on the radio on KFA 564 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:03,440 Speaker 1: N as well is on TV on KMSP Fox nine, 565 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:06,480 Speaker 1: So a lot of ways to watch, listen, and take 566 00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: in the first petted Practice Adverison Vikings Training Camp. Absolutely 567 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: and the Vikings Entertainment Network will also be broadcasting and 568 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: covering the action on their various platforms Vikings dot Com, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, 569 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:22,280 Speaker 1: all those places. It is Monday, August seventeenth, from two 570 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:29,080 Speaker 1: fifteen pm to three forty five pm. And now let's 571 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:33,280 Speaker 1: go around the virtual room and let's get final thoughts here. 572 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 1: Lindsay will start with you couple of fun days coming 573 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: up you and you and Craig Peters and Eric Smith 574 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 1: are continuing all of your cool stuff on vikings dot 575 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:46,239 Speaker 1: Com that everybody should read. But what are you and 576 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 1: what should Viking fans be most paying attention to over 577 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 1: the next few days. I think what I'm really looking 578 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: forward to is we actually rolled something out today on 579 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:58,440 Speaker 1: different position battles to keep an eye on here during 580 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:01,680 Speaker 1: camp and over these next few days and next week 581 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: when they get into padded practices. I think you're going 582 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:05,880 Speaker 1: to have a better idea of some of those things, 583 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 1: and I'm especially looking forward to just seeing how the 584 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 1: cornerback position shakes out. I mean, I don't think it's 585 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:16,440 Speaker 1: any surprise to people, of course that there's opportunities there 586 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: for the taking, But I'm just interested to see who 587 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 1: ends up on the outside, who they end up putting 588 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,960 Speaker 1: in at nickel, because that position is essentially being completely 589 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:27,760 Speaker 1: retooled this season. So that's what I'm looking forward to. 590 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 1: Chris cour So, please don't use the last few minutes 591 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: to apologize again for your Kirk Cousins joke in the 592 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:36,960 Speaker 1: middle of the show. Go ahead, anything else any other 593 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 1: final thoughts other than another I'm sorry, I'm not going 594 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 1: near the quarterback position. What I'm looking at is the 595 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 1: offensive line position, and the most exciting player at that 596 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 1: position I believe is Ezra Cleveland. I think he has 597 00:32:51,280 --> 00:32:55,200 Speaker 1: the bodybuild at six six, three hundred and fifteen pounds 598 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:58,720 Speaker 1: to be the left tackle of the future. The question 599 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:02,160 Speaker 1: is will he do this year and move Riley Reef 600 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:05,480 Speaker 1: to the inside at left guard instead of that left tackle? 601 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:09,680 Speaker 1: So watch out for Ezra Cleveland. The question is will 602 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 1: he do it? Jay News in your vital thoughts, I'm 603 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: gonna go with the hot topic tojor trifecta here and 604 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 1: hit the defensive line. We've been talking about this for 605 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 1: the last couple of yeas. They're so boring. I'm welcome 606 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: segment you guys, the three of you. I was like, 607 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:28,200 Speaker 1: give me something fun, and you're all like, what about 608 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 1: a nap that we've all already talked about? But go ahead, Jake, 609 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:33,720 Speaker 1: drop the defensive line on me. I can't wait to 610 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:36,120 Speaker 1: hear about it. Well. The defensive line are the guys 611 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:37,959 Speaker 1: that sit right by the ball and they end up 612 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 1: trying to stop the guys from running at him. The 613 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 1: defensive line guys, the same thing we've been talking about 614 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 1: the last two weeks, I've been harping out and I 615 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:46,520 Speaker 1: know I'm a broken record, just like you said, but 616 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 1: seeing guys like a Foddy and armand Watts and Jalil 617 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:53,080 Speaker 1: Johnson be able to step up here and try to 618 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 1: fill some big shoes given all of the news that's 619 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:57,280 Speaker 1: been happening and even the stuff we talked about at 620 00:33:57,280 --> 00:33:59,400 Speaker 1: the beginning of this podcast, I want to see how 621 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:01,480 Speaker 1: those guys to gel. I want to see how those 622 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:03,720 Speaker 1: guys fill in those gaps, and I want to see 623 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:05,800 Speaker 1: what these rookies that have come in if they're able 624 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 1: to make some splash plays and really stand out. Because 625 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,160 Speaker 1: if they are and you're able to get some good 626 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:14,400 Speaker 1: depth there on the defensive line, that is going to 627 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:16,400 Speaker 1: be a huge, huge hole that this team has to 628 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:18,439 Speaker 1: fill this season, and it's going to be a big 629 00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:21,760 Speaker 1: test for this Vikings defense moving forward. All joking aside, 630 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,480 Speaker 1: you guys all did a fantastic job today and this 631 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:26,880 Speaker 1: show would be trash without you because it would just 632 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:31,319 Speaker 1: be me rambling into the microphone and Chris regretting his 633 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:34,920 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins joke. Thank you guys for showing up. Fans, 634 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 1: thank you for listening. Check out all the Vikings coverage 635 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:40,560 Speaker 1: you could possibly want on vikings dot com and all 636 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,800 Speaker 1: our social media platforms, and we will see you guys 637 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:44,960 Speaker 1: next week