1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,560 Speaker 1: Mahomes back throws. 2 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 2: It is equal. 3 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 3: Please pick off picked off by the Lions by Branch 4 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 3: with the left side. He's going, baby, He's going to 5 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:12,719 Speaker 3: the house. Touch down to Tod Lions deflected in the air. 6 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 3: Branch ran under it and he took it all the 7 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 3: way back. Welcome to the twenty in the Huddle podcast 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 3: presented by Microsoft. I am Tim Twentyman. He is the 9 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 3: Hall of Famer. 10 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: Mike O'Hara. 11 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 3: Has joined me for the key matchup segment that we 12 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 3: do every week. And Mike, look week sixteen of the NFL, 13 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 3: Week eighteen, excuse me of the NFL, but I think 14 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 3: everybody's kind of looking forward to Week nineteen, right, But 15 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 3: first and foremost, there is a little something to play 16 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 3: for this week. You expect the starters. You expect them, 17 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 3: you know, to kind of go and try to get 18 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 3: this win. 19 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: And is it three move? 20 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think so. I would. That's what I would do. 21 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 4: That's why I judge things when I do it. Man, 22 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 4: not that I'm a coach or anything, but I would 23 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 4: do that. And look, there are players who have things 24 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 4: that's you know, uh, things at stake, bonuses and stuff 25 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 4: like that. The team has things at Staken go out 26 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 4: there with those fans at Ford Field and put on 27 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 4: a show for him. 28 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think, look, there's still possibility get the 29 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 3: number two seed. I know it probably isn't, you know, 30 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 3: the most likely thing, but look, Dallas and Philadelphia are 31 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 3: on the road. You've been in this covering this league 32 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 3: a long time. I'm sure you've seen stranger things happen 33 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 3: the last week of the season last week, Yeah, to 34 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 3: get to get things, you know, into playoff shapes. 35 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: So, look, they can get the number two seed with 36 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:37,119 Speaker 1: a win. 37 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 3: And I think there's also a little part of, you know, 38 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 3: wanting to get the bad taste out of your mouth 39 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 3: from last week, right, go into the playoffs on a 40 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 3: good note, playing good football, and then you're. 41 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:48,279 Speaker 1: Off and running. 42 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. 43 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 4: And if they you know, they play their reserves and 44 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 4: they lose, then they go into the playoffs with a 45 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 4: two game losing streak. Not that that really means everything, 46 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 4: but everything means something. Yeah, in my opinion, it's that's 47 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 4: why you're out there. If it didn't mean anything, you 48 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 4: wouldn't be out there. And so I think you weigh 49 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 4: it and you balance it, and you go what's best 50 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 4: for me and what's best for my team, and it's 51 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 4: to play your players to a certain degree. 52 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 3: Well, they're going to get a win. They've got to 53 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 3: win some of these key matchups that we're going to 54 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 3: go through. It. 55 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 2: Okay, let's start with the first. 56 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 3: One, and to me, it's a big one. We saw 57 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 3: this matchup play out, you know, a couple of weeks 58 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 3: ago quite a bit. It's Cam Sutton, cornerback for the 59 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 3: Detroit Lions. First, Justin Jefferson, who's you know, one of 60 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 3: the best receivers in the game. A couple of weeks ago, 61 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 3: Jefferson at what six sketches one hundred and forty one 62 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 3: yards in a touchdown. A few of those were on Sutton. 63 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 3: The touchdown was on Sutton where he kind of slipped 64 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,519 Speaker 3: and fell. But that, to me is a really huge 65 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 3: matchup this week, and they've got to find a way 66 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 3: to limit Jefferson a little bit more. You're not ever 67 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 3: gonna stop like, he's a really good player and he's 68 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 3: gonna go make plays. We saw that against double teams. 69 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: But it's the big plays, it's the touchdowns. Those are 70 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: the things that you gotta limit with. 71 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, he had a game against the Lions last year. Well, 72 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 4: he had two hundred and twenty yards or something like that. 73 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 4: So amount of it just amazing. I was looking at 74 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 4: his at his chart before this point when we were 75 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 4: putting this stuff together, and he started out the season 76 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 4: before the injuries and all that he had one hundred 77 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 4: and fifty yards one hundred and fifty nine yards forty nine. Yeah. Yeah, 78 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 4: And we're talking about a guy who can move the 79 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 4: ball down the field almost at ease, at will. And 80 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 4: so I don't think he's probably eighty percent of himself 81 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 4: right now. I don't think he's I don't think he's 82 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 4: at full strength. And if I were him, I wouldn't 83 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 4: want to open it all the way up and maybe 84 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 4: aggravate that injury. And he went, you know, get through 85 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 4: this game clean. And but I think he's, like you said, 86 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:31,839 Speaker 4: he's a real load. 87 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 3: It was worrisome at all for you that you had 88 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 3: Jefferson with the one forty one and then you saw 89 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 3: it Ceedee Lamb with the two twenty seven last week. 90 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: I know a lot of those came well. 91 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 3: Chunkolan came on a ninety three yard touchdown that probably 92 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 3: shouldn't have it if Derrick Barnes makes it play in 93 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 3: the end zone there and Fildor. 94 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: Doesn't fall down. But look that happened. It's it's happened, 95 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: It's it's in the stat sheet. Is a little bit worrisome. 96 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 3: Would you like to see them handle a number one 97 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 3: guy before they go into the playoffs? 98 00:03:58,720 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 5: Oh? 99 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 4: Absolutely, Like I said, things carry over for you, I think, 100 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 4: and you're not going to get overconfident covered this guy. 101 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 4: But but at least if you do, you know, representable 102 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 4: job you go into the playoffs with with with a 103 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 4: better feeling. At least I would. 104 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm one hundred percent, I'm. 105 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 4: Your coach, is in your position coach the same thing, and. 106 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 3: I suspect they'll play him a little bit different this week. 107 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 3: Aaron Glenn, the defensive cornery, talked a little bit this 108 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,359 Speaker 3: week about playing more physical, trying to get hands on 109 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 3: him at the line of scrimmage. 110 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: There's also some danger. 111 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 3: In doing that, but I would I would expect a 112 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 3: lot of attention on him, especially with with TJ. Howkinson 113 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 3: out for the year and then Jordan Addison kind of 114 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 3: still with an ankle injury. I know he played last week, 115 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 3: but I would expect them to really focus on on 116 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 3: Justin Jefferson and. 117 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: Not letting him beat them. 118 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 4: And we've been you know, like watching these guys since March, 119 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 4: you know, and not training camp, but you know, the 120 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 4: early part of the workout system. I wouldn't realize how 121 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 4: small camp Sutton looks compared to other players. But he's tough, 122 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 4: he competes, he competes hard, he's quick, he's got got 123 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 4: some real skills. But you can't put size on a guy. 124 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 4: This you can't happen. 125 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 3: But no, you can put size on one guy, and 126 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 3: that's penn A Seol because he is a low talk 127 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 3: about tough. 128 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: We're done with We're done with that one. Let's go 129 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: on to the next one. 130 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 4: I think that's save prosterity. 131 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: It's a good. 132 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 3: Matchup to me, is Penna Suol versus Dannel Hunter. They're 133 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 3: they're talented Pro Bowl defensive end. And look it's pro 134 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,119 Speaker 3: bowler versus Pro bowl er. Congratulations to penn A Sool 135 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 3: his second straight Pro Bowl nod. And and look you 136 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 3: look two weeks ago, uh, penn Ay got the better 137 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 3: of the matchup. Danell had a couple you know, nice 138 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 3: plays in the run game, but didn't have a sack 139 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 3: on penn A Sool, and so I thought. You know, 140 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 3: like we've seen every week with with Pena, he just 141 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 3: he just lives up to the to the to the height, 142 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 3: lives up to the matchup and and plays good ball. 143 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:54,919 Speaker 4: And it's just so easy for him. It seems like, 144 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 4: you know, look, we want we want you to run 145 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 4: a down and out for ten yards. We need a 146 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 4: first down. Well, you know, it's just he's just sure. 147 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 3: Watching him because every every week we went on Friday, 148 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 3: we watch practice and you see the offensive lineman take 149 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 3: the go routes, you know, be part of the passing game. 150 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: You watch him. He could play tight end in this absolutely, 151 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 1: and I think he could be really good. 152 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, he might want to lose you know, ten pounds 153 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 4: or twenty or whatever, but no, I'm with you on 154 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 4: that one. We saw that last game against the Dallas 155 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 4: Cowboys last last week and he was on Michael Parsons. 156 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 4: Michael Parsons couldn't draw a breath on him. He just 157 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 4: got him locked up. You had to be thinking of them, 158 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 4: what's going on here? I was supposed to be doing 159 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 4: that to him. 160 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 3: One of the best tackles in football any twenty years old, 161 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 3: I mean, imagine that and just imagine the future. That 162 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 3: that that young man hasn't one quarterback hit four hurries 163 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:52,679 Speaker 3: for Hunter and in the last game no sacks allowed 164 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 3: in that matchup though, So that's just going to be 165 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 3: really the key this week. I thought last week there 166 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 3: was a little bit of confusion upfront at times, especially 167 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 3: in the run game. 168 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 1: I thought Jared got hit a few more times than 169 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: they would like to see. So I think that those 170 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: guys up. 171 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 3: Front need kind of a bounce back performance, and I 172 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 3: think Pennycil was one of the guys that can get 173 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 3: to him. 174 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 4: Yeah. Hunter's a good player, he really is. He said 175 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 4: fifteen and a half Saxon. He might have done. He 176 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 4: might have add a couple more or not. The goal 177 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 4: is for him to or not. But he's a really, 178 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 4: really good ball player. I'm sure you remember this. Right 179 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 4: around the bye week, you know, when the Minnesota was 180 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 4: really struggling, there was some talk about maybe trading him 181 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 4: to you know, trading him to Detroit. Yeah, of course, 182 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 4: there rumors are trade him everywhere, right, There's. 183 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: No everyone would take him. 184 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 4: Everybody would take him too. But he has a really 185 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 4: good ballplayer. 186 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 3: He is, and that'll be an interesting matchup. You want 187 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 3: to keep Jared clean and pretty much just do what 188 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 3: they did to Minnesota two weeks ago, where I thought 189 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 3: the offensive line period really really good, controlled that Brian 190 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 3: Flores kind of blitzing dropping scheme, and just played a 191 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 3: clean game and that's why. 192 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: They won the game. 193 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 4: And they've got so many pieces on offense that fit 194 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 4: together that are just you can't stop this. If they're 195 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 4: on their game, you can't stop them. 196 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: You can't. 197 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 4: They'll find because all no, no, we'll throw it over here. Yeah, 198 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 4: we're going to run it there. You know. It's just 199 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 4: it's amazing. It's the best offensive line. I'm sorry, it's 200 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 4: the best best offense I've seen with the Detroit Lions 201 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 4: and all the leaders. I've been covering this team, and 202 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 4: I've seen some pretty good players. 203 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: You've seen a lot of good players. 204 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 4: Ones. 205 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 3: Speaking of good players, let's go on to the next matchup. 206 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 3: In this one, it's I'm on Ross Saint. 207 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 4: Brown versus want me to sign these or just get. 208 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: We're just going to keep them right here for Prosper. 209 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 3: I like this right there, I'm on Ross Saint Brown, 210 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 3: Jasper tell us you look at two weeks ago, Week sixteen, 211 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 3: I'm on Rossaint Brown twelve catches on fourteen targets, one 212 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 3: hundred and six yards a touchdown. 213 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: It was vintage on Saint Brown. 214 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 3: And the funny thing about the twelve catches I went 215 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 3: and looked on Pro Football Focus against eight different defenders. Really, 216 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 3: I mean they threw the kitchen sink at trying to 217 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 3: stop I'm on Saint Brown and couldn't. But their nickel 218 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 3: cornerback is Josh Mittelis. That's who's probably going to see 219 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 3: Saint Brown the most. And I think you look at 220 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 3: the numbers with Mattelus, He's been targeted eighty seven times 221 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 3: this year. He's allowed seventy seven receptions on those eighty 222 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 3: seven targets, four touchdowns, one hundred and nine point six 223 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 3: passer rating. That's that's advantage Saint Brown in the line. 224 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 4: Wasn't It wasn't a kid from Michigan. 225 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: Tell Us is a kid from Michigan peach. Yeah, he 226 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: is the Michigans. 227 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 4: Brown draft pick. You know, he's sort of he's sort 228 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 4: of like the you know, a defensive decks version of 229 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 4: Amon Ross. Saint Brown draft low worked his way up. Yeah, 230 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 4: and this is his first year as a full time 231 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 4: starter too, so he's really he's made some strides and 232 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 4: they must do something. 233 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 3: They must like in him, and it's good after that 234 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 3: kind of little mini lull for Saint Brown. And we 235 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 3: call four catches three catches a lull because we just 236 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 3: get so used to him catching eight, nine, ten balls 237 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 3: one hundred yards that it's good to see him back 238 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 3: to being you know what he is. And you'd love 239 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 3: to see him finish out the season that way, to 240 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 3: have a big game and really be humming going into 241 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 3: the playoffs. 242 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 4: You know, I looked this up this morning. He had 243 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 4: nine hundred and seventeen or nine hundred and twelve receiving 244 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 4: yards as a rookie, boosted that up to eleven hundred 245 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 4: and something a second year, and now he's got thirteen 246 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 4: eleven with a game to go. So he has really 247 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 4: worked at his craft's He came in good and he 248 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 4: wanted to get better. Okay, got better still, and you 249 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 4: know what, he'll probably be doing this until he's in 250 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 4: the league ten or twelve years, will always be looking 251 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 4: for another edge. 252 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 3: I think he's a first alternate in the Pro Bowl. 253 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: You consider that a little snub. 254 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:41,719 Speaker 4: Yeah, espishly do, but you know, look, he's but he's 255 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 4: recognized out there. You know, there's so many wide receivers, 256 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 4: they're almost interchangeable to some degree. He's a little different 257 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 4: than He's not quite as tall, not quite as rangy, 258 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 4: but boy is he productive and he gets the job 259 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 4: done and looked like you said, like I said, look 260 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 4: how he's improved over a three year span. 261 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's been significant. 262 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 4: So so I'd rather go into a game with him 263 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 4: than without a one hundred percent I want to look 264 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 4: for I don't want to look for a replacement at 265 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 4: the last minute. 266 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 3: All right, Minnesota made a decision this week they're going 267 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 3: to start Nick Mullens at quarterback. You put this, you 268 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 3: put this matchup together because obviously of what happened two 269 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 3: weeks ago and Kirby Joseph being able to pick him 270 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 3: off twice. Uh, Mullens through four interceptions in the contest. 271 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 3: But look, when you look at Kirby, he's the first 272 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,079 Speaker 3: player since Bobby Watkins in eighty two and eighty three. 273 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: You remember him. 274 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 3: We get scouting here for he's the first player to 275 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 3: have four in his first two seasons. So you know 276 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,319 Speaker 3: we talked about I'm on rod with the production. Here's 277 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 3: a guy who's also been productive Joseph. 278 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, we've got that right, amazing. 279 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 3: Eight interceptions in two years. And just to me with 280 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 3: what's going on in in Minnesota, we're going to talk 281 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 3: to uh Mark Craig from the Minneapolis Star Tribune about 282 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 3: that matchup and we get into that a little bit, 283 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 3: just about the backup quarterback job. But it just goes 284 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 3: to show how valuable a guy like Teddy Bridgewater can 285 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 3: be in this league. Right an established veteran guy who's 286 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 3: won games, has a consistent, you know, record of production. Now, 287 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,440 Speaker 3: obviously we haven't seen Teddy, he hasn't had to play, 288 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 3: but this situation in Minnesota, it's a good football team 289 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 3: on the cusp of making the playoffs, but turnovers have 290 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 3: just been an issue and it's really been at the 291 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 3: quarterback position. 292 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 4: Kind of tells you where they are when they want 293 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 4: a little more stability at quarterback and they get a 294 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 4: guy who had two touchdown passes and foreign interceptions in. 295 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 1: Two weeks to give you the stability right now. 296 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 4: They want you to go out there and be stable again. 297 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 3: You look at Kirby though, this is gonna be interesting. 298 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 3: I think if if and when we see C. J. 299 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 3: Gardner Johnson, you know what they're going to do there 300 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 3: because if fat Tou Melfan was playing so well, you 301 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 3: look at the production with Kirby and he's playing well. 302 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 3: And now you've got a guy who is a proven 303 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 3: VET who led the league interceptions last year with six, 304 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 3: who can play nickel, he can play safety, he can 305 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 3: play all over. 306 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: What are they gonna do there? 307 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 3: How are they gonna how are they gonna, you know, 308 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 3: work all three of those guys. I think that'll be 309 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 3: very interesting to watch as they go into the playoffs. 310 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 4: Well, I don't have any doubt that Dan Campbell will 311 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 4: satisfy everybody. And if they don't like it, just wait 312 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 4: your turn and you'll get your chance to play. And 313 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 4: I think it'll be fair and I think it'll be 314 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 4: thought out, and I think it'll be good. I mean, 315 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 4: what has he done with with a player and all 316 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 4: this in the three years he's been here. Then you go, 317 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 4: why do you do that? You know, I think he's 318 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 4: got a real good feeling for that, and I think 319 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,839 Speaker 4: it's I think it's the right thing to do. I 320 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 4: just can't have a guy just who's been out for 321 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 4: fifteen weeks just walk in and take her job, right. 322 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 4: It doesn't work that way. 323 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: No, I think they're gonna work him. 324 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 4: In, especially if it's a good player. 325 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, and look at Fat too, Melfan and Kirby Joseph 326 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:54,680 Speaker 3: been playing good football. So I think it'll be fun 327 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 3: to see what kind of maybe dying three safety packages 328 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 3: they kind of put together, substitute linebacker first sea, if 329 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 3: you move. 330 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: Mela Fan will round a little bit. It'll just be 331 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: really interesting. 332 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 3: And I think it's advantaged Lions too, because what they 333 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:09,079 Speaker 3: decide to do there, there isn't. 334 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:10,559 Speaker 1: Gonna be any tape on it. You're not gonna be 335 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:11,679 Speaker 1: able to prepare for it. 336 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 3: If you're an opposing offense going into the playoff, whether 337 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 3: that's the Rams or Packers or whoever it is, you're 338 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 3: just gonna basically have to guess on what they're going 339 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 3: to do, how it looks. And so I think that's 340 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 3: advantage Lions. 341 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 4: You know a couple a couple of things here, these 342 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 4: three guys were talking about, you have range with all 343 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 4: of them. They have guys. You have a wingspan, and 344 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 4: they can move, they can run, they can get up 345 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 4: in the air and they can they can you know, 346 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 4: they can get to the get to the ball. Old 347 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 4: saying I heard a long time ago is if you 348 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 4: want to go fish and go with the fish, or 349 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 4: if you want to catch fish, go where the fish are. 350 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 4: That's where the fish are. 351 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: I like it. All right, let's finish with this one. 352 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 3: Jamior Gibb, Jamire Gibbs and David Montgomery verst that Vikings 353 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 3: front seven. And when you look at Gibbs and Montgomery, 354 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 3: I mean, I think the best duo in football. 355 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: Is there a better one out there? 356 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 4: I can't imagine another one that's most certain? 357 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: A chaan in Miami you can maybe make an argument. 358 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 3: But I think this is the most dynamic backfield duo 359 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 3: in the league. And I think they have a chance 360 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 3: to do something really special this week. 361 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: I mean, you look at. 362 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 3: Montgomery's twenty five yards away from one thousand. 363 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: Gibbs us a little bit further. He's got eighty five 364 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: two thousand. 365 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 3: But if they become both thousand yard rushers, will be 366 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 3: the first duo, the sixth duo to do it in 367 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:32,119 Speaker 3: Leak history, first since two thousand and nine in Carolina. 368 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 3: I mean, that's that's some pretty special stuff. 369 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 4: Mike, Yeah, it isn't. And then you know, then they 370 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:37,400 Speaker 4: can do other things too. Look at we think of 371 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 4: Montgomery just as a power runner. Well, he powered his way. 372 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 4: It was seventy five yard touchdown run. 373 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, did you see that movie? 374 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 3: He put on seventy five yard on that cut to 375 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 3: the left and then he was gone. 376 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, he was gone absolutely. And then Jamar is really 377 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 4: he's got the explosive explosiveness that you're looking that you know, 378 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 4: while you're looking for it, you don't always get it, 379 00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 4: but they've got it in him. And plus you can 380 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 4: do things out of the backfield with his hands. 381 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: And you look at two weeks ago ago. 382 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 3: I mean they went into that game knowing that that 383 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 3: was their bread and butter. 384 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: That's where they had the advantage. They rushed thirty. 385 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 3: Six times in that game for one hundred and forty 386 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 3: three yards. When they can establish a run like that, 387 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 3: then the play action comes and then you can get 388 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 3: the ball to all those weapons on the outside. I 389 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 3: just think they're gonna want to establish that run and 390 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 3: I think they both do get a thousand. I think 391 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 3: Gibbs is gonna bust out a run. He's going to 392 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 3: be able to get eighty five. I think, obviously Montgomery 393 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 3: stays healthy. Twenty five is kind of a foregone conclusion. 394 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 3: The way he's been playing, vikis are ninth against the run. 395 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 3: They only allow one hundred per game on average. But 396 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 3: just with what Detroit did two weeks ago, I think 397 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 3: that's advantage line. 398 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 4: No, I would agree with you. And look, it's a 399 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 4: nice landmark for them. It's a nice thing for the organization. 400 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 4: It's nice for the offensive lineman. There's nothing bad about it. 401 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: They really nothing bad. So look it's week eighteen. Fun times. 402 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 1: Week eighteen is. 403 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 3: Already established, a week little bit different last year. Right, 404 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 3: needed a win, need some stuff to happen. It's a 405 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 3: little nicer knowing that you're gonna be at Ford Field. 406 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 3: Don't know the time, ye, it's either gonna be next week, Saturday, 407 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,360 Speaker 3: Sunday or Monday. But first take care of business here, 408 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 3: get the bad taste out of your mouth from Dallas, 409 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 3: go into go into this game with a little bit 410 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 3: of a little bit of momentum, and then get ready 411 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 3: for whoever you're gonna play. He is Michael here, I 412 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 3: am Tim Toyman. That was key matchups for this week's 413 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 3: game against Minnesota. Welcome back to the twenty minute of 414 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 3: the Huddle podcast, and I am very happy to welcome 415 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,880 Speaker 3: in Mark Craig, who does a great job covering everything 416 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 3: Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Mark, thanks for 417 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 3: joining me. I appreciate it. 418 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 5: Yeah, no problem. That's really really strange and kind of 419 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 5: cool to see their Lions where they are right now. 420 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 3: I think, Yeah, first division title in thirty years. I 421 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 3: know we were talking a little bit before we started 422 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 3: taping here that that's a long time to go without 423 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 3: a division title in a home playoff game, but it's 424 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,439 Speaker 3: a fun atmosphere. Obviously here a little different time and 425 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 3: it's fun from our and covering. And I know you've 426 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 3: covered winning football, You've covered division titles. There's just something 427 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 3: special about a season like that in a playoff run, 428 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 3: isn't there? 429 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, you know the Vikings. You know, my favorite season 430 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 5: probably is bred farv season in two thousand and nine, 431 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 5: just magical season. Last year was magical, but it's kind 432 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 5: of had that feeling like you can they do it 433 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 5: in the playoffs and that team their defense was just 434 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:44,120 Speaker 5: you know, wasn't wasn't really up to snuff. But difference 435 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 5: with the Lions, it's like when like last year, when 436 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 5: the Vikings got to that playoff game, they were the 437 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 5: three rec it just had this up, you know, Detroit. 438 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 5: I think it'll be a different story with that, with 439 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 5: that defense and just the way that they're that mentality 440 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 5: that they have right now. 441 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 3: You know, obviously it's it's been a tough season for 442 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 3: Minnesota and it really just started when when Kirk Cousins 443 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 3: suffered the achilles injury. Four different starters at quarterback. You 444 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 3: guys have named Nick Mullins this week, but but Mark, 445 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,640 Speaker 3: doesn't it just go to show just how important that 446 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 3: backup quarterback job is in the NFL, and and how teams, 447 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 3: at least the good ones have a really steady backup 448 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 3: plan in place, maybe invest in that position. I just 449 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 3: look at the example in Detroit with Teddy Bridgewater, a 450 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 3: guy who's played a ton of football, now that they 451 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 3: obviously haven't needed him, but but what the Vikings are 452 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 3: going through, does that just kind of show the importance 453 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 3: of that backup quarterback position because you just never know. 454 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, And also it shows that, but it also shows 455 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 5: like the turnovers. I mean, I look at Cleveland, I 456 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:51,959 Speaker 5: look at the Cleveland was the first team to make 457 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 5: the playoffs with with the four quarterbacks starting multiple games, 458 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 5: the Vikings have now done that with Jaron Hall starting 459 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:02,399 Speaker 5: against the Packers this second time. The Browns have thirty 460 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 5: five turnovers, most in the league. You know, the Vikings 461 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,360 Speaker 5: multiple games they got thirty three thirty two turnovers. Now, 462 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:12,880 Speaker 5: you know, Kirk was playing well, but there was still 463 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 5: right from the you know, six seven minutes into the game, 464 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 5: they had a strange turnover where the right guard swings 465 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 5: his arm back and knocks the ball out of Kirk's 466 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 5: hands and they fumble against the Buccaneers. Three turnovers in 467 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 5: that first half, including Kirk throwing one at the at 468 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 5: the goal line at right before halftime. So, yeah, Kirk 469 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 5: was playing well, but Kirk also was four and four, 470 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 5: uh and had turned the ball over nine times, you know, 471 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 5: not all his fault, but you know, not all the 472 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 5: fault of the other guys who followed him. But yeah, 473 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 5: having that plan, it's also hard to have that plan 474 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 5: whenever you know your quarterback's making a lot of hot 475 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 5: tons of money. Yeah, and Kurk, you know, Kirk was 476 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 5: so durable. Kirk not only started every game or was 477 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,679 Speaker 5: available for every game, you know, except you had COVID. 478 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 5: In twenty twenty one, when they went to play Green Bay, 479 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 5: at the end of the year, but you never saw 480 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 5: as back up. In fact, I think one of them 481 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 5: was here for an entire year and didn't even didn't 482 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 5: even play. Mannion hardly played. The thought was Mullins could 483 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 5: could rise to the occasion, But I don't know that 484 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 5: he has the arm strength that you found out that 485 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 5: Lions fans found out to be that guy. So it's 486 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 5: a bit it's valuable, but they also got just hang 487 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:31,359 Speaker 5: on to the ball. 488 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 1: With Mullins playing this week. We saw a couple of 489 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: weeks ago in. 490 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 3: Week sixteen, the four interceptions obviously critical part of the 491 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 3: of that game. Just what does he have to do 492 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 3: different besides the obvious of just not throwing interception, but 493 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 3: how do they does the offense maybe change a little bit? 494 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 3: You saw them rush for only seventeen yards in that game. 495 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 3: Is that something maybe they have to do a little 496 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 3: bit more of to help him out or kind of 497 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 3: what's what's the change that that you expect to you know, 498 00:21:58,160 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 3: two weeks later? 499 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 5: You know, I guess being a being one of the 500 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 5: older guys covering the league, now seeing feels like it 501 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 5: they's just like when Detroit came in there. My feeling 502 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 5: is that they won that game with that offensive line. 503 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 5: I mean you could say that. I mean the Vikings 504 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 5: obviously they threw the ball. I mean I don't know 505 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,199 Speaker 5: that I've seen a quarterback be as careless with the 506 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 5: ball as he was in that game. I mean, Brett 507 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 5: Farbould have some games like that would also throw four 508 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 5: or five or ten touchdowns. You know, I think they 509 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 5: do need to run the ball, but I don't think 510 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 5: they have the ability to run the ball. They don't 511 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 5: have them. They don't have the strength, the determination up front. 512 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 5: They don't have the running back. You know. I think 513 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 5: that the feeling here is and I don't blame them 514 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 5: forgetting for letting Dalvin Cook go. I think Dalvin was spent. 515 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 5: But you know, everyone made fun of the Lions when 516 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 5: they used their top eight. In the top eighteen, they 517 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 5: pick a running back Altho Detroit, you know Dan Campbell's 518 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 5: old school, pat him on the head. Then he picks 519 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 5: on a linebacker, oh you know, and then they get 520 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 5: to a tight end. It's just like, well, what are 521 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 5: the Lions doing? 522 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 4: Well? 523 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 5: The Lions are doing what you know, the Vikings could 524 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 5: do right now if they had the personnel and the 525 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 5: mentality run the ball, don't throw it away, but they 526 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,879 Speaker 5: can't run it. Yeah, you would like to think that 527 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 5: they would run the ball, but I don't think they'll 528 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 5: be able to and that that puts a lot of 529 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 5: pressure on Bullons and he's got to not turn the 530 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,760 Speaker 5: ball over. He you know, after the Bengals game when 531 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 5: he threw you know, they were in field goal range 532 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 5: twice before a halftime. He threw two interceptions and one 533 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:37,439 Speaker 5: of them he basically was getting sacked and he handed 534 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,479 Speaker 5: it to the defensive tackle and they call it an 535 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 5: interception because they never touched the ground. But it was 536 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 5: kind of the weirdest interception you'll see talked all about, 537 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 5: you know, not turning the ball. He goes against Detroit 538 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 5: and it's I mean, there was just no care given 539 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 5: to the ball whatsoever. So I don't believe that he's 540 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:57,479 Speaker 5: going to change. So they'll be there for the taking 541 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 5: if the Lions won them. 542 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 3: And again I'm speaking with Mark Craig does a great 543 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 3: job covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Mark, 544 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 3: what's the difficulties of playing a team, you know twice 545 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 3: in three weeks. 546 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 5: When you I guess you can't match their talent. Well, 547 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 5: the Vikings also know they have had a lot of 548 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 5: injuries and but a lot of teams have you know, obviously, 549 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 5: you know it used to be. I know when Jared Golf, 550 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 5: there are some games when when he h he'd come 551 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 5: to the Metro to arm, come to the US Bank Stadium. 552 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 5: Uh Zimmer was the coach, and they go after him 553 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 5: and you know, it's some rough, rough times for him. 554 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 5: There was also one in Los Angeles where he had 555 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:45,959 Speaker 5: a perfect passer rating against the Vikings and it was, 556 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,679 Speaker 5: you know, okays like five touchdowns on I think four 557 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 5: or five incompletions, but they were able to knock him 558 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 5: down and put him on his back. And you know, 559 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 5: when you can do that to a guy that doesn't 560 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 5: move like he does, changes the game. But they just 561 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 5: you know, Flores wasn't able to do that. That's you 562 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 5: know another reason not only could Detroit run the ball, 563 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 5: but they protected Golf. And when Golf gets that protection, 564 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 5: he's gonna he's gonna be a you know, a guy 565 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 5: you can can win a lot of games with. So yeah, 566 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:19,920 Speaker 5: it's it comes down to that. The difficulty. You know, 567 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:22,920 Speaker 5: you can look for all these little hidden things, but 568 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 5: the lines are just a better team. They're healthier, they're tougher, 569 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:29,360 Speaker 5: and I feel like, you know, they got they still 570 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 5: have something to play for, although I would imagine that 571 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 5: if they didn't have anything to play for, you know, 572 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 5: I mean, you could tell me better than I could 573 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:38,399 Speaker 5: tell you, but Dan Camp would sort of have that 574 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 5: Coughlin mentality of we're gonna play it hard no matter what. 575 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, one hundred percent. 576 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 3: I think just the way things happened in Dallas last week, 577 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 3: for Detroit losing that game in that fashion, I think 578 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 3: you want to go into the playoffs, you know, with 579 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,239 Speaker 3: a little bit of momentum. You want to get that 580 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 3: bad taste out of your mouth a little bit, and look, 581 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 3: how unlikely might be Detroit beats Minnesota, and you know, 582 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 3: Philadelphia loses in New York and Dallas loses in Washington. 583 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 3: Probably unlikely. But we've seen crazier things. You've been doing 584 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 3: this a long time. I know you've seen crazier things. 585 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 3: Happened the last week of the season. So I think 586 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 3: you got to play your guys, and you're in the 587 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 3: one o'clock hour, so you play to win. You win 588 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,200 Speaker 3: that game, and then you see what happens and what's 589 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 3: better than one home playoff game, well, two home playoff games. 590 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 3: So I think that's the the approach for Detroit. But look, Minnesota, 591 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 3: how unlikely it might be too, is still fighting for 592 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,400 Speaker 3: something as well? Has that been the mentality this week? 593 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 3: And just how motivated have you since Kevin O'Connell and 594 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:44,639 Speaker 3: those guys this week about going to Detroit and and 595 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 3: and you know, keeping you know, their hopes alive. 596 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:51,119 Speaker 5: It has sort of deflated feeling here. You know, I 597 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 5: don't know what you know, we don't see enough of 598 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 5: practice to really know what they're I they they're not 599 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 5: really a team of practice. Is that hard? You know? 600 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:01,919 Speaker 5: They ten to try to preserve, you know, the guys, 601 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 5: And so my feeling is, my sense is that it's 602 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:08,360 Speaker 5: you know, they're gonna try. They're not going to just 603 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 5: go out there and lay down. But I think there's 604 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 5: a reservation that it's over. But I think even saying that, 605 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 5: you know, you look at what I mean For me, 606 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 5: I sort of think that Detroit's twenty twenty three season 607 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:25,400 Speaker 5: might have started in Green Bay when they went there 608 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 5: and knocked Rogers out of the playoffs. I just talking about, well, 609 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:33,880 Speaker 5: if they lose, they get a better draft pick. You know, 610 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:38,199 Speaker 5: my feeling is I don't Kevin O'Connell is not in trouble, 611 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 5: shouldn't be in trouble of losing his job. But these 612 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 5: things add up and you don't want to like give 613 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 5: up or are put on tape what they did against 614 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 5: Detroit Green Bay the Bears, you know, a few weeks 615 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 5: before that when they you know, the defense was still 616 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 5: you know, playing extremely well, and they held them to 617 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 5: four field goals, lost twelve to ten. So you I 618 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 5: think you gotta like sort of start turning the turning 619 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 5: the tie because the division is running past them right now. 620 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, one hundred percent. 621 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:18,119 Speaker 3: Vikings will be looking to finish this thing strong. I 622 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 3: know Detroit will be looking to finish the regular seeing 623 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 3: season strong. And then you get that first playoff home 624 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 3: game in thirty years. It should be fun here. But 625 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 3: first off, it's it's Minnesota on Sunday. Mark, thanks for 626 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:31,439 Speaker 3: joining me. I appreciate the time safe travels here to 627 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 3: Detroit and I'll make sure I stop buy and say. 628 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:35,440 Speaker 5: Hello, Yeah that sounds good, thanks man. 629 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 1: Thanks Mark. 630 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 3: Welcome back to the twenty in the Whole podcast presented 631 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 3: by Microsoft, and I am very happy to welcome into 632 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 3: Fatu Melafanu, third year safety who is having a heck 633 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 3: of a season. 634 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining me, appreciate you. 635 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks for having me. 636 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 3: So, just what kind of a whirlwind has this been 637 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:04,960 Speaker 3: for you the last month or so? You know, obviously 638 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 3: inserted into the starting lineup and then you've just taken 639 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 3: off oft I mean, the production that you're having. You 640 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 3: become a guy that you really can't take off the field. 641 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 2: I don't know if it's much of a whirl. 642 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 6: And I'm just you know, grateful and blessed and I 643 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 6: just thank God that I'm you know, finally healthy and 644 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,040 Speaker 6: getting an opportunity to show what I can do. So 645 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:31,360 Speaker 6: I feel like I haven't let it get to me 646 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 6: too much, and just like every week, I'm just looking 647 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 6: forward to going out and playing and improving and getting better. 648 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 3: Health was the biggest thing, right, That was the biggest 649 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,560 Speaker 3: thing holding you back. It wasn't ever an issue of 650 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 3: talent development anything like that. It was just needing to 651 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 3: be consistently healthy and dealt with some injuries and just 652 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 3: didn't get that practice time, that playing time. And now 653 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:55,959 Speaker 3: that you've you've been healthy, this is the player that 654 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,520 Speaker 3: you've always been right, we were just now getting an 655 00:29:58,520 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 3: opportunity to see it. 656 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I could. I can definitely agree to that. 657 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 6: Like you said, I just haven't been available. And I 658 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 6: think I got asked on one interview like after the Broncos, 659 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,720 Speaker 6: like am I surprised by how by surprise or what 660 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:16,280 Speaker 6: did I learn new about myself? And I said nothing, 661 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:18,880 Speaker 6: because this is stuff I knew I could do. My 662 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 6: you know, my teammates that at Syracuse knew I could 663 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 6: do this. My brothers knew I could do this, my 664 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 6: friends and even my teammates. I knew this is these 665 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:29,960 Speaker 6: are things I could do, and I just haven't been 666 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:31,000 Speaker 6: able to show it. 667 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:32,600 Speaker 2: And now I finally am. 668 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 3: You know you came in playing cornerback in college, you 669 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 3: made the switch to safety. At what point how long 670 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 3: do you think it took you once you moved over 671 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 3: to safety to be like, okay, I like. 672 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: This kind of clicks I got this. Was it immediate? 673 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 1: Did it take a little time adjustment? 674 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 6: No, it definitely wasn't immediate, because honestly, it was a 675 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 6: hard decision, like switching over. It was something I had 676 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:01,200 Speaker 6: never done before because in college I only played corner right, 677 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 6: so I kind of had to like wrap my head around, 678 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:09,360 Speaker 6: like just the position change. And then last year when 679 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 6: I switched positions, I was in and out of injuries, 680 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 6: so I never really like stunted my development at the position, 681 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 6: So I never really got comfortable. 682 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 2: And then I. 683 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:24,400 Speaker 6: Would say probably like after OTAs and then it started 684 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:26,440 Speaker 6: training camp is when I felt like I was really 685 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:31,960 Speaker 6: comfortable at it. And then obviously getting them actual game reps, 686 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 6: live reps, I feel like I got way more comfortable, 687 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,240 Speaker 6: and like, I feel like the game has slowed down 688 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 6: a bit, will slow down a lot, but I just 689 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 6: feel like there's still improvements I need to make. You know, 690 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:46,200 Speaker 6: I've really only played safety for like a year and 691 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:48,440 Speaker 6: a half. If you include. 692 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 3: Amazing to think about how well you're playing it right now, 693 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 3: I mean that ceiling. 694 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:55,440 Speaker 6: Yeah, so I'm definitely getting comfortable at it. I'm comfortable 695 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 6: now and it's slowing down, but obviously there's still improvements 696 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 6: I make, and I just I look, honestly, I look 697 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:03,520 Speaker 6: forward to playing and getting better at it. 698 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 3: How much of an advantage is it going to be 699 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 3: for you guys? With with CJ. Gardner Johnson you know, 700 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:12,080 Speaker 3: on his way back, and just maybe some of the 701 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:14,240 Speaker 3: packages that you can put together some of the three 702 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 3: safety looks, some dime stuff, some stuff that defense or 703 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 3: opposing offenses haven't seen. And how much of an advantage 704 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 3: can that be to create some packages with having three 705 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 3: guys along with Kirby Joseph that can play the position 706 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:28,640 Speaker 3: at a really elite level. 707 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:30,920 Speaker 6: Yeah, it's definitely an advantage. 708 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 2: Just brings a lot of different looks and versatility. 709 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 6: I can't speak too much on the different packages sure 710 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 6: and stuff like that, but it definitely brings a different 711 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 6: look and you can do a lot of things when 712 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 6: you have you know a lot of good good dbs 713 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 6: and good players, you can you know, put them in 714 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 6: different places and things like that. 715 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 3: Good problem to have, right, Yeah, good too many good 716 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 3: players that have one position. Right, most teams would love 717 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:58,520 Speaker 3: to have the problem. Just talk about the clinching of 718 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 3: the playoffs. You were here a couple of years ago, 719 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 3: three wins, saw the improvement. But just from where you 720 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:07,040 Speaker 3: guys have gone over the last three years, Just what 721 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 3: was that feeling like in Minnesota to clinch that having 722 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 3: gone through some of the rough times when you first 723 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:14,480 Speaker 3: got here to now where it is now and you 724 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:15,720 Speaker 3: being such a big part of it. 725 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:19,280 Speaker 6: Not even so much just me being a big part 726 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 6: of it. It was just like it was just a 727 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:24,360 Speaker 6: good feeling just to you know, where we came from 728 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,640 Speaker 6: our rookie year to where we are now. It was 729 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 6: just like a it was just a great feeling in 730 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 6: the locker room and just even on the field after 731 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 6: the game. But I feel like everyone had that kind 732 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,400 Speaker 6: of sense of like the celebration wasn't too long, to 733 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 6: be honest, it was really that locker room. Was it 734 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 6: even really on the plane like that? No, it was 735 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:46,040 Speaker 6: kind of just like we kind of that's what we wanted, 736 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:48,760 Speaker 6: that's what the goal was, but we had our eyes 737 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:52,000 Speaker 6: on you know, playoffs and everything like that, like and 738 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 6: you know, advancing and seas and everything. So it was 739 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 6: just like, you know, we accomplished that, but then what's next. 740 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, what's next? That's the first chet mark. Hopefully are 741 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:08,040 Speaker 3: many more, exactly justin Jefferson obviously a terrific talent at 742 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:09,880 Speaker 3: one hundred and forty one yards of a touchdown like 743 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:12,960 Speaker 3: this is the NFL guy's gonna make plays on that 744 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:15,239 Speaker 3: side of the ball, But just how special of. 745 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:16,000 Speaker 1: A talent is he? 746 00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 3: How difficult is he to prepare for? 747 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:21,440 Speaker 6: I mean, yeah, he's a good player, and you know, 748 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 6: good players they make plays, like no matter how much 749 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 6: you scheme for him and things like that, they're they're 750 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:29,719 Speaker 6: going to find a way to make plays. And I 751 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 6: think it's just about like how we bounce back and 752 00:34:32,160 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 6: how we respond to it. And I feel like the 753 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:38,640 Speaker 6: DB's responded well, we had foreign interceptions, so I mean 754 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:39,239 Speaker 6: it's like. 755 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:41,600 Speaker 2: He's a good player, he's a great player. 756 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:44,160 Speaker 6: But we just got to bounce back and next play 757 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:46,880 Speaker 6: mentality and yeah, that's really that. 758 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:50,520 Speaker 3: It's gonna be Nick Mullens again. You go into this 759 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 3: game thinking that there might be an opportunity to snag 760 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:55,799 Speaker 3: you know one or two that that that ball is 761 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:57,400 Speaker 3: probably gonna come your way and you're gonna get an 762 00:34:57,400 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 3: opportunity to make a big play. 763 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:01,239 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean I kind of feel like that every 764 00:35:01,239 --> 00:35:03,520 Speaker 6: week though, Like that's the mentality you got to have 765 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:06,759 Speaker 6: every week, Like the balls in their is mine, no 766 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 6: matter who is the quarterback, you know what I mean, 767 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:11,919 Speaker 6: Like that's that's always a mentality regardless of that QB. 768 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 3: Have you let yourself think of what ford Field is 769 00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 3: going to be like next week? Not only this week, 770 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:20,840 Speaker 3: but but I think that the ramp up to next week, 771 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:25,160 Speaker 3: whether it's Los Angeles, whether it's Screen Bay, just what 772 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:27,520 Speaker 3: that atmosphere is like and how starve this fan base 773 00:35:27,560 --> 00:35:29,840 Speaker 3: has been at for thirty years to run out of 774 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:31,920 Speaker 3: that tunnel if you let yourself maybe even think about 775 00:35:32,080 --> 00:35:32,520 Speaker 3: that at. 776 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:35,600 Speaker 6: All, honestly, Like I know in the back of my head, 777 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 6: like it's going to be it's gonna be exciting, it's 778 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:39,399 Speaker 6: gonna be a crazy thing to see. 779 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:42,040 Speaker 2: But like, I'm not really focused on that. I'm not 780 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:42,800 Speaker 2: looking too. 781 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 6: Much like we got one more game the end of 782 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:49,560 Speaker 6: the season, so I'm kind of focused on that and 783 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:52,239 Speaker 6: I'll think about the other stuff later, to be honest. 784 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,239 Speaker 3: Well, take care of business first. On Sunday, A five 785 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:57,520 Speaker 3: to Meli final. We're playing some terrific football right now. 786 00:35:57,680 --> 00:35:58,440 Speaker 3: Thank you for joining me. 787 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 2: I appreciate you now. Thank you for having me.