1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: This is straight fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up? 2 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: Straight fire? Fam, It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight fire for 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: Friday August Folks. We had a night in the NFL, 4 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 1: did we not? Little quarterback controversy in New England? How 5 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: does the Patriots, by the way, always get the Thursday 6 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: night games? I find that interesting. I had did not 7 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: pick that up on the telecast. Um, it just hit me, like, 8 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: wait a second. It feels like every Thursday night in 9 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 1: the preseason Patriots are playing um Cam and mac Jones 10 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: kind of to a standstill. The stats were virtually even. Listen, 11 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: this is a tough one for Belichick. He's gonna have 12 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: to navigate that room very, very delicately, because we know 13 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 1: Cam owns the locker room. He was there last year. 14 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,599 Speaker 1: He's an alpha, he's a former m v P. He's 15 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,319 Speaker 1: just a big, imposing presence. People like to follow him. 16 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: He's a leader. He's got all those qualities that you 17 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: can't put a number. And without question, Mac Jones is coming. 18 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: Mac Jones has next. But I was leaning towards mac 19 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: Jones heavily heading into last night's game, and then Cam 20 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: played well enough. Now again we're talking about an Eagles 21 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: team that was just obliterated thirty five nothing. I mean, 22 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: what a blood bath. That was just an ugly game. Um, 23 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: we'll get to the Eagles in a sec. But I 24 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: did Cam do enough? Maybe I just keep coming back 25 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: to this. The Patriots open with Brian Flores. Okay, Brian Flores, 26 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: former Patriots coach, defensive minded and remember what he did 27 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 1: to a rookie quarterback last year in Justin Herbert, one 28 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:40,559 Speaker 1: of Herbert's worst games of the season. He was confounded, 29 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: struggled mightily. I I just wonder if Belichick is thinking, 30 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: you know, I probably should go with the vet. Cam, 31 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: by the way, was able to run on the Dolphins 32 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: a lot last year. Does he play both of them? 33 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: I don't know that's an option. Um, the big difference 34 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: is the Patriots defense will get too. I think the 35 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: Patriots will win that game. Whoever starts a quarterback. I 36 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: just don't know if you want to hammer Matt Jones's 37 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: confidence right out of the gate. So fun quarterback controversy 38 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: in New England. Belichick staying in the news. I thought 39 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: the bigger story was this Jalen Hurts unexpected absence. Uh, 40 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: you know, basically Jalen Hurts went through the pregame and uh, 41 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: you know, he was ready to go twenty minutes before 42 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: the game, and all of a sudden, they're like, no, 43 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: sent home, diagnosed with his stomach infection, told to rest 44 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: at home for two days? What tested negative for COVID? 45 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: And it's just one of these mysterious like wait a minute, 46 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 1: what happened now? The only thing that reminds this reminds 47 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: me of you guys. Remember Tyrod Taylor last year right 48 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: before kickoff UM against the shoot I forgot who it 49 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: was UM, but the Chargers opening game, and you know, 50 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: I think like the kickoff had just up and and 51 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 1: everybody's expecting Tyrod Taylor to go out, and it was like, no, 52 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: they're putting in Justin Herbert. Is like what happened to Tyrode? 53 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: It ended up punctured lung, which is crazy. Uh, and 54 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 1: Justin Herbert. The rest is history. But I don't know 55 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: what the deal is with Justin Hurts, Like, how are 56 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: you going through pregame? You're feeling, you're energetic, and all 57 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: of a sudden, major stomach infection, UM but not COVID 58 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: and you're sent home. Eagles they got problems. They did 59 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: not look like a competitive team UM last night. And 60 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: and I will say this, it is perfect timing that 61 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: our guests today has covered the Eagles extensively. He has 62 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: a lot to say on the Philadelphia Eagles. You guys 63 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: may know his work, you should know his work. He's 64 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: at the Athletic. Shale Kapatia, really smart guy. Has covered 65 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: the Seahawks, UM covered the Eagles. Now he's like the 66 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: general NFL guy heavy on the numbers. Listen, the Athletic 67 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: has some good stuff. We've obviously brought on plenty of 68 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: guys from the Athletic here on the podcast, and Kapati 69 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: is one of the good ones. Yeah, you want to 70 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: get a little smarter follow some of the numbers. You 71 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: definitely need to pay attention to what he's doing. And now, 72 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: without further ado, let's bring him in. Shale Kapatia from 73 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: the Athletic. Jason likes to think he knows everything when 74 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: it comes to sports. I know what sports stands want, 75 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: but for everything he doesn't. He knows a guy who does. 76 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: Let's just say I know a guy who knows a 77 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: guy he knows another guy. All right, let's welcome into 78 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 1: straight Fire a first time guest. I think I've had 79 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: him on my radio show before, you know, and I 80 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: would remember because he has a unique name. He covers 81 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: he had a fell in a unique way. He's got 82 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,359 Speaker 1: a lot of must read stuff, especially to get ready 83 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: for the season. Sill Kapatia from the Athletic How are 84 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: you man doing well? Jason? Thanks for having me on. Yeah. 85 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 1: Do you remember coming on the radio show or no 86 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: where I did. I wrote a story about the Ravens 87 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 1: Analytics department, you know, how John Harbaugh had had the 88 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: guy in his ear. Uh, And so that was a 89 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: popular story at the time. John Harbaugh kind of left 90 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: me behind the curtain. So I think we spoke at 91 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: that time. That's right. Wow, And he's got a great memory. Uh. 92 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: And listen as I joke with him before we started recording. Hey, 93 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: not a lot of brown guys uh covering football. And 94 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: you know, I like to look up profiles of guys 95 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: before I talked to him. And you know, you don't 96 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 1: really have to look hard for like Ian Rappaport and 97 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 1: some of these like Brian Wynehorn. You know, they've been 98 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: around for a while. Uh, Sill, I couldn't find a 99 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: profile you. I want to know where you came from, 100 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: because you've been on the West Coast covering the Seahawks. 101 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: You came to Philly, you now live where I near 102 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: where I used to live in Philly, outside Philly. Sorry, um, 103 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,919 Speaker 1: but how the hell did you get here? Man? Yeah? No, 104 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: I was just you know, took the sports journalism track 105 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: and did a you know, a bunch of different jobs. 106 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 1: Couldn't find a job right away, but then I found 107 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:52,679 Speaker 1: my footing in Philadelphia, wrote about the NFL, wrote about 108 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: the Eagles for kind of a blog or a smaller site, 109 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 1: and ESPN took notice and they had openings in Seattle 110 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: and Pitts Fergan. So we said, all right, let's move 111 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: the family out to Seattle. We'll cover the Seahawks for 112 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: a couple of years. And so we did that, and 113 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: then the Athletic launched, and uh, one of the co 114 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: founders is from Philadelphia, and so he had read my 115 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 1: work previously, and we said, all right, let's take a 116 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: shot on the Athletic and so cover the Eagles for 117 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: a couple of years there during the Super Bowl run 118 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: in the next year, and then got bumped up to 119 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: kind of a national role where I've been here, uh 120 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: the last few seasons. Yeah, so you know, backing up, so, 121 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: were you there for any of the legion of boom 122 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 1: in Seattle? I was, it was I I went there 123 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 1: the summer after they lost that Super Bowl to the Patriots, 124 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: so I didn't cover the Super Bowl years. But man, everyone, 125 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,559 Speaker 1: everyone was still there. It was a star studded cast 126 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: with Sherman and Earl Thomas and I mean you name 127 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: it that that locker room was packed with stars. Yeah. 128 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: So the good fortune of covering a Seattle team like 129 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 1: in its prime, right, and then the Eagles team that 130 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: wins the Super Bowl, Like you know you said, like 131 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: you you went to sports journalist around I don't know 132 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: about you, but like coming out of college, I did 133 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: not want to go to small town USA in like 134 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: Kentucky no disrespect to our Kentucky listeners, or like I 135 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: got a job offer in Base City, Michigan, and I 136 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: was like, what the hell am I gonna do that. 137 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: I don't even know where that is, Like I'm not 138 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: near friends. Like when you were coming out of school, 139 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: like what what what was the landscape looking like for you? Yeah? 140 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: You know, I thought I did a good job with 141 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: with internships because, like you mentioned, not not a lot 142 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: of brown guys covering the NFL. So my the rest 143 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 1: of my family works in hospitals, you know, four out 144 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: of five and doctors. Yeah, so I was going the 145 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: other the other way, and so um, you know, really 146 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: wanted to make sure I jumped into it right away 147 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: and did a lot of internships. Thought I was ready. 148 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: Couldn't find a job out of college, so I was 149 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: living at home with mom and dad. I took a 150 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: job in Philly. I think the company was called Richardson. 151 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: It was Business Manuals or something. I mean I was 152 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: doing some editing job for three days and then I 153 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: got a call from a site called penn Live in Harrisburg, 154 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: Pennsylvania to do some Penn State football stuff, you know, 155 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: some stuff with their websites, some block that kind of thing. 156 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: And I said, all right, let's go, you know, so 157 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: I uh quit after three days. Three you know, I 158 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: just emailed the woman. I said, listen, I'm really sorry, 159 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: but I got another job, and uh, you know, should 160 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: I bring my badge to you to get into this 161 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: uh this building? Should I mail it in? And she 162 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: was very nice, which I always appreciated. So I think 163 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: she knew where my heart was. Wow, that's wild. And 164 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: now you know you're at the athletic covering the league. 165 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: So I mean, in a short order, what has it 166 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: been like six seven years You've gone from covering teams 167 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: to covering the league now, which obviously I'm assuming you 168 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: think is more fun. Yeah. I think two thousand third, 169 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: two thousand twelve was my first time writing full time 170 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: when I was writing about the Eagles. Prior to that, 171 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: I was kind of been a little bit of a 172 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: hybrid job working online for Philly dot Com the website 173 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: and also blogging. But I wanted to write full time. 174 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: Got the opportunity to do that in two thousand thirteen, 175 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: and so two thousand thirteen until two thousand and eighteen, 176 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: I was covering teams, whether it was the Eagles, where 177 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: the Seahawks. And now it's been three years, uh covering 178 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: the league and it's fun, I'm and it's the it 179 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: doesn't feel like work. As you know, I was a 180 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: sports obsessed kid, and so now I'm just kind of, 181 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: you know, sitting here with TVs on the wall, watching games, 182 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 1: spitting out terrible takes and uh something it So it's 183 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: all good. Does it get much better than that for real. Uh. 184 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: You know, my kids are getting ready go to school, 185 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: and I'm sitting here just pouring over NFL documents. I'm 186 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: reading your uh you called the NFL playbook from the 187 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: Athletic and I gotta say, um, you know, I haven't 188 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: got to the Eagles yet, but I am curious. I 189 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,119 Speaker 1: want to start there. Like, not a lot of optimism 190 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: on my end regarding the Eagles this year, But I 191 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: don't know. You're up close and personal with the team. 192 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 1: I know you cover the league, but does this mean 193 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 1: like you go to some practices just to feel to 194 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: be out there and get a face out there. I do, yes, 195 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 1: since I'm based in Philly, so I've been to a 196 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: bunch of their training camp practices, and then I did 197 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: a little training camp tour where I went to four 198 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: or five different training camp camps and talked to some 199 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: coaches and uh and some gms to kind of make 200 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: those uh introductions. I don't think there is a lot 201 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: of optimism around the goals, you know, I think expectations 202 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,079 Speaker 1: are low when the owner comes out and says it's 203 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: a transition period. But I gotta say, you know, watching 204 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: the two episodes of Hard Knocks and looking at you 205 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:13,319 Speaker 1: know that Cowboys operation and Mike McCarthy. Maybe there is 206 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: room for a surprise team in the East because all 207 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: those all those teams really do have some questions. So 208 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: you never know. I guess how the season's gonna go. 209 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: It's funny I predicted. I said that spotlight can make 210 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: coaches look bad. If you remember the Browns guy Freddie Kitchens, 211 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: you were just like, dude, this guy, I don't And 212 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: with McCarthy, the same vibe, like that speech in the 213 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 1: locker room was just like dude, nobody's buying this. Um. 214 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: So I don't know. I mean, you know, not a 215 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: lot of teams have a new head, coach, coordinators, quarterback. 216 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:41,959 Speaker 1: I mean, Hurts was there a little bit last year. 217 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: But you know, there is there a world where a 218 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:47,839 Speaker 1: you think they end up just tanking to get a 219 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: high pick and a quarterback in the draft next year. 220 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 1: Or is the Deshaun Watson still thing on Deshaun Watson 221 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: things still on the table or is that now hit 222 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: the skids with all the FBI's chatter this week. Yeah, 223 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: I don't think they needs a tank because they traded 224 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: back in the first round right, So they got an 225 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: additional first round pick in that trade with the Dolphins. 226 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: They traded Carson Wentz to the Colts. That's gonna be 227 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: a first or second round pick. So all of a sudden, 228 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: you're talking about potentially three first round picks. So even 229 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: if you like win the division, you actually have the 230 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:18,079 Speaker 1: ammunition to move up and draft a quarterbacks. So I 231 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: do think this offseason was about setting themselves up for 232 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: next offseason. Now, that could be a veteran. You know, 233 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: you mentioned Shaun Watson. Obviously a lot of stuff to 234 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: sift through there. We don't know how that's gonna play out, 235 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 1: what that's gonna look like after the season. And then 236 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 1: I think what happened this offseason with Matthew Stafford that 237 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: made some teams think, you know what, they're like veterans, 238 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: could all of a sudden become available a guy like 239 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson, right, he who knows. Let's say all of 240 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: a sudden, you know, they butt heads there and they 241 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: don't have a good season. So um, I think the 242 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: most likely scenario for the Eagles is that they will 243 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: aggressively target a quarterback in the draft next off season. 244 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: But I do think there are different things that can happen. 245 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: I think with Jail and Hurts, they're basically saying, you 246 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: got the year. If you surprise us, great, But I 247 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 1: don't think that's the expectation in the building that he's 248 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 1: going to emerge as a franchise quarterback. I don't want 249 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: to put him in Jimmy Garoppolo territory. But you know, 250 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: even though Jimmy g was leading him to the Super Bowl, 251 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: there was still like Hazy the guy you know, eight 252 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 1: thrown passage in the NFC Champion tip game, like and 253 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: now here we are two years later and they got 254 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 1: their new guys. So you're I would probably agree with 255 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:25,079 Speaker 1: you on hurt But there is a world where maybe 256 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: they fall asked backwards into winning the division, that goes 257 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: down again and you know, his shoulder never comes around, 258 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 1: Like they could win the like right that that's a possibility. Yeah, 259 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: they're in this weird state where they actually have a 260 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: lot of good players who are like thirty and older, 261 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: which you know, you don't want to be in that state. 262 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: But if those guys, specifically on the lines of scrimmage, 263 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: I mean, they could have a top five offensive line 264 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:47,959 Speaker 1: if those guys stay healthy, they could have a top 265 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: five defensive line if those guys stay healthy. And so 266 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: once you start with that foundation, you can win a 267 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 1: lot of games that way, you know, if you're dominating 268 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:57,679 Speaker 1: up front on both sides of the ball. So I 269 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: think that's the scenario that they're looking at it. And 270 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 1: you know, I don't know that it's gonna happen, Like 271 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: you said, I don't think it's the most likely outcome, 272 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: but man, in this division, uh, it's not crazy, especially 273 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: with Jail. You know, Jalen Hurts doesn't need to complete 274 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: seventy of his passes because I think he's gonna be 275 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: a dynamic runner, you know. I think the run game 276 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: is gonna be really good with him, and he'll be 277 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: able to create and make some plays. So, uh yeah, 278 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: who knows. They could be in the mix. It could 279 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: be a situation where it's like December and all the 280 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: nfc S team stink like they did last year, and 281 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:28,839 Speaker 1: you're saying, hey, put together two or three wins in 282 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: a row, all of a sudden, you win the division. 283 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: All right, Why why don't we just stick with teams 284 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: that are pretty shitty and we're green My New York Jets. 285 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 1: Um I gotta say, dude, super depressing Thursday for me. Um, 286 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: Carl Lawson, the big, big, huge Jets find he was 287 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: basically gonna be there Nick Bosa in Robert Salas defense, 288 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: and he's done for the year with an achilles before 289 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: his first game. I'm depressed. Please help me. It's a 290 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: crushing blow. You know. I love Carl. I thought Carl 291 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,079 Speaker 1: Lawson is a fantastic signing. I thought he was underrated. 292 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: I thought it was the Bengals were ridiculous letting him 293 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: walk and then signing Trey Hendrickson and thinking that that 294 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: was going to replace him, And so I was excited 295 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: to see him in that defense. I thought that defense 296 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: had had a chance to be a little sneaky, the 297 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: front seven especially, you know, Carl Lawson, Quentin William, c J. 298 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: Mosley comes back. I know they have questions in the secondary, 299 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: but man, now it's kind of like one of those 300 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: I don't know what domino effect or what the word is, 301 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: but we know their corners are unproven and not good, 302 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: and so now you take away their best their best 303 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 1: pass rusher. Really, they're only proven edge rusher. And you know, 304 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: I will give Robert sala credit, you know, that guy 305 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: has shown he can do more with less before you 306 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: know that nine years defense last year was crushed by 307 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: injuries and he didn't make excuses. He schemed it up 308 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: a little bit. And you know they were a very 309 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: good defense. So uh, you know, you can hold out 310 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: a little bit hope and maybe that makes you feel good, 311 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: but there's no doubt about it. It is a crushing focus. 312 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: Lawson is not only a great player, but he's a 313 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: fun fun player to watch too. So now you have 314 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: to wait an other year. I mean, Quentin Williams was 315 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: looking at probably a lot of single teams instead of 316 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: double teams like last year. And because loss is coming 317 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: off the edge and it's like, now, good luck. I mean, 318 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: I love your optimism. Maybe you know, like last year 319 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: the forty niners were able to survive. Yeah, I mean 320 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: the Jets just don't have the players, all right. We 321 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: gotta talk about a good team. Um, and I don't 322 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: know that they're good, but people, maybe it's just me 323 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: underestimating them. To Tennessee Titans. Uh, and your outlook on 324 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 1: the athletic in your playbook, it seemed a little rosier 325 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 1: than mine. Um, Although I just wonder this whole Derrick 326 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: Henry idea of leading the league in carries the last 327 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: two years and just running him into the ground, is 328 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: that really sustainable in because we haven't seen anyone else 329 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: operate like this, I'm just gonna assume Derrick Henry's an 330 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: alien until he proves otherwise. I mean, last summer at 331 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 1: this time, I'm saying, mon, Derrick Henry is gonna take 332 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: a huge look at the workload yet last year and 333 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: the guy comes out and has a monstrous season. So 334 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 1: I mean, you're right, it's valid. He's had way more 335 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: carries than any other running back in the NFL over 336 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: the last two years. But you know, even if he 337 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: takes a little little bit of a step back, I'm 338 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: not ready to say, you know, he's not like thirty 339 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: two years old or anything, so he is sort of 340 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 1: a physical marvel. So, um, it's a valid concern. But 341 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 1: I do like their you know, they're a team that 342 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: if they are healthy and then offense just kind of 343 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: steps on the field. Or you're a defensive coordinator and 344 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: it's Tuesday night and you're saying, Derrick Henry A. J. Brown, 345 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: Julio Jones, what could be an above average offensive line 346 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: like there's a lot to game plan for it, and 347 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 1: that's tough on defensive coordinators when they have to decide 348 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: a hard are we're gonna stack the box and play 349 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: eight in the box and stop Derrick Henry and now 350 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: we have single coverage on those two wide receivers who 351 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: have healthy or among the best in the NFL. So 352 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: my big question with them is the play caller. You know, 353 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith. I thought he did a fantastic job maximizing 354 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: the talent on that roster. Now he's in Atlanta, so 355 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: it would not surprise me if the offense takes a 356 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: step back, because I do think he was as good 357 00:16:57,760 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: as advertise. But at the same time, if they take 358 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: the approach of if it ain't broke, don't fix it, uh, 359 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 1: you know, run the ball, uh, play action with Ryan 360 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: Tannehill and target those receivers on the outside, I do 361 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: think it's a formula specifically in that division that can 362 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: have success. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk 363 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at 364 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 1: Fox sports Radio dot com and within the I Heart 365 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: Radio app search f s R to listen live. When 366 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: I was reading your Titans right up, I was like, 367 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 1: you know some of these numbers. You don't see these 368 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: in newspapers, the stuff you're characterizing E p A, d 369 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: v O A like. I just wonder do you think 370 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:40,440 Speaker 1: the average fan guys who just watch the NFL every weekend, 371 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,719 Speaker 1: do you think they know and understand this and and 372 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: can put value on it. Or is some of that 373 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 1: stuff that you're doing over their head. Because a lot 374 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: of the smart football numbers, they'd help you with the gambling, 375 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: that's where that stuff lies. But I just I don't 376 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 1: know if the people are relating to it. Yeah. I 377 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: try to make it simple, and I think more people are, 378 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 1: you know, sort of into or looking at it. And 379 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: I don't try to make it like it's a moneyball 380 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: thing or something that should be way over your head. 381 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 1: I try to try to explain it in simple terms. 382 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 1: And the example I always use is like, you know, it's, uh, 383 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: it's third and seven and you have a six yard 384 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: completion like that, that's a failing play, right, I mean, 385 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: that's not gonna be good. But it's third and five 386 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,959 Speaker 1: and you have a six yard completion boom first down. Well, 387 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:22,879 Speaker 1: if you look at a traditional box score or yards 388 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: per game or those things, it's not gonna be reflected. 389 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 1: You're just gonna see six yards. And so I think 390 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 1: those numbers. I try to make it simple and say, hey, 391 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: here's where the team ranked, or call it efficiency, because 392 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: that's really what a lot of those numbers are. And 393 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: they try to cut through, uh, some of that noise. 394 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: So um uh you know, I know some people they 395 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 1: look at it and they're probably saying, what is this 396 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: guy talking about? But I do think as we kind 397 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 1: of move forward a little bit, we'll realize how some 398 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: of these other numbers, like yards per game, um, just 399 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: can be you know, completely irrelevant when a teams right, 400 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,640 Speaker 1: you're down by twenty four points and you string together 401 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: in a d R drive with two minutes left, like 402 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: who cares? You know that's gonna show up as eight yards. God, 403 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 1: but that doesn't tell you anything about the team. So 404 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 1: just trying to cut through some of that noise is 405 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: the objectives. And I wonder once I've started using those 406 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 1: in the last you know, three or four or five years, 407 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: it's helped me gambling wise significantly. And I just you know, 408 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: NBA was pretty quick to adjust to the numbers. Hey 409 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: three is more than two guys, we didn't know this 410 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 1: for fifteen years, but now we know three's one of 411 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: the two. Baseball obviously moneyball was ahead of the curve, 412 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: but football is kind of the last frontier you even heard. 413 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 1: I think it was culli uh in Houston like kind 414 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: of sort of mocking the analytics, like mispronouncing it on purpose. 415 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 1: We we know Dan Campbell obviously in Detroit, and they're 416 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: just some of these coaches are old school. Do you 417 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: think the NFL is on board with analytics or is 418 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 1: it just small pockets of smart teams. No? Yeah, I 419 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 1: don't think it's even close to And there is sort 420 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: of a split, whether it's front offices coaching staffs. I 421 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: mean every team really hasn't analytics department, but like the 422 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: big analytics departments are like four people, you know, and 423 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 1: so I you know, I think you need people who 424 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,199 Speaker 1: can speak both languages. You know, you can have a 425 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:08,120 Speaker 1: great sort of you know, data driven analysts, but like 426 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: if they aren't able to tell a coach that, you know, 427 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 1: if they don't know the difference between different coverages Cover 428 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: three and cover one, Like you need to be able 429 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: to speak the coaches language and you need to not 430 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,439 Speaker 1: talk talk down to them because these coaches have a 431 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: million things going on, from players to media, to people 432 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: getting in trouble off the field, to their own staff, 433 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:27,919 Speaker 1: you know, sometimes trying to go behind there. But like 434 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,479 Speaker 1: there's all sorts of egos and personalities in the NFL, 435 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 1: and so you really need to make it simple, I 436 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: think for the coaches now, I do think. You know 437 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:37,400 Speaker 1: a guy like John Harbor, who we talked about, who 438 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 1: I did that story on. I mean, this is an 439 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: old school coach, right from an old school family. But 440 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: when I did that interview with him, he's talking to 441 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: me about win probability, and he's talking to me about 442 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 1: e p A. He goes, I understand what those things are, 443 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:51,359 Speaker 1: and he's just like, listen, I've been in the league 444 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: for a long time. I want every piece of information 445 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,880 Speaker 1: and every edge I can get. It doesn't mean I'm 446 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 1: a hundred percent of the time gonna go with what 447 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 1: the analytics staff say, but I want that information. And 448 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: it depends how the organizations are structured, you know. I 449 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:07,719 Speaker 1: think the good ones, they say the analytics people are 450 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: part of the team. They're in the meetings, they're talking 451 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: to people. They're not in the corner of the building 452 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: or in the basement, just bringing up print outside every 453 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: once in a while, because that then, of course you're 454 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: not gonna be able to build that camaraderie. There's not 455 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,199 Speaker 1: gonna be that trust. So uh, some teams do it 456 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: better than others. But you know, I just visited with 457 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: the Cleveland Browns a couple of weeks ago, and I mean, 458 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 1: you know, they're they're the coach and the GM believe 459 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: in it. They're not, you know, totally in on it. 460 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: They understand the football aspect, and so I think having 461 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 1: both those factions it's really important. The problem is when 462 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 1: like you, you and I have sat there at a 463 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 1: poker table, not together, but and you just got a 464 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: bad run of cards and you played the numbers and 465 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: you kept losing and losing, and it happens. And there's 466 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 1: gonna be teams that just go by the analytics, go 467 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,439 Speaker 1: by the and they lose, and the football people in 468 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 1: the building I'll be like, well, come on, you gotta 469 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: trust your gut. And I don't know how you marriage 470 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 1: that because a lot of the examples. I'm guessing you 471 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:01,199 Speaker 1: were talking about the Eagles and they're as regime, which 472 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 1: it sounded like the GM and the head coach were 473 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 1: not on the same page with analytics. Um, so, how 474 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:08,959 Speaker 1: how do you think teams can handle that? I mean? 475 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: Or or do they just go through the growing pains? Yeah? Me, 476 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: me and my colleagues up. Bow Wolf and Zach Berman 477 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 1: wrote that big story on the athletic kind of inside 478 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 1: the dysfunction with the Eagles where they're moving the analytics 479 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: department to another area of the building because of the dysfunction, 480 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: and they're having meetings with Doug Peterson where he's feeling, uh, 481 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:31,360 Speaker 1: you know, questioned about the calls he made even after 482 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: they win a game because they didn't go by it. 483 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: So like so much of this, you know, one thing 484 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: that I feel strongly about now after sort of uh 485 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: covering the league and making some of these visages, is 486 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,120 Speaker 1: that that GM role in a lot of places, it's 487 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: not about scouting players or drafting or signing free agents. 488 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: Like your job is to bring everybody together and make 489 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 1: sure everyone's pulling in the same direction. Really and so, uh, 490 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: it is hard for the head coach, right because if 491 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:00,959 Speaker 1: he's saying, I'm not totally into the analytics, but I 492 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: understand it, and sure, let's go with it, and then 493 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 1: he makes the fourth in one call and it gets stuffed, 494 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: and he's the guy in front of the media right 495 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: after the game, he's the guy getting crushed on sports 496 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: talk radio, and so he's the one who who's job 497 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: looks like it's in jeopardy or he's getting made fun 498 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: of it. So you have to kind of have that 499 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:20,160 Speaker 1: organizational buy in where, whether it's ownership or whatever, says, hey, 500 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: don't worry about it. We've got your back. Don't worry 501 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 1: about what they're saying. The process was sound, and as 502 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,959 Speaker 1: Kevin Stefanci said in the article I wrote recently, over time, 503 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 1: this is going to give you an edge if you're 504 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: looking at it week by week, decision by decision. I mean, 505 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: it's not gonna get you anywhere. But if you believe that, hey, 506 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: over the course of the six team game season, this 507 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 1: is going to help us more than it's going to 508 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:42,400 Speaker 1: hurt us. And I'm willing to take my lump when 509 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: it doesn't work. That's really the way to approach it. So, 510 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,959 Speaker 1: if memory serves from one of your articles, the Ravens 511 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:49,920 Speaker 1: were the best fourth down team in the league, or 512 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: they went for it the most, and then they came 513 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 1: to the playoff game against the Titans, and I think 514 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: they went like over three in those high leverage fourth 515 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:58,200 Speaker 1: downs and it's just like oh no, and then the 516 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 1: Titans run away and win the game. And you know, 517 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: Harva was not on the hot seat. But that is 518 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 1: like the prime example of hey, ship happens right, Like 519 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: we played the numbers all season at worked. I guess 520 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,360 Speaker 1: what we played the numbers. It didn't quite work right, 521 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 1: I mean, I guess, I guess. I guess. What I'm 522 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,680 Speaker 1: saying is like, you know, when you when you meet 523 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: these analytics guys, obviously they're smart, they have I think 524 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: the guy from Baltimore had a degree from was a 525 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: Yale or Hopkins or something. Okay, why does he have 526 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: a job in football? Like if he's if he's a 527 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 1: super smart data analyst, like he could get a job 528 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 1: on Facebook making tons of money or Google. You know, 529 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 1: I just wonder, like are they really fitting in with 530 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: the NFL? How tough is it for those guys? You know, 531 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 1: I'm not saying their pencil pushing, you know, pocket protector 532 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:44,360 Speaker 1: type guys with the stigma at all, but ye, they're 533 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: in a locker room with big football players who aren't 534 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 1: understanding E. P. A yeah. I mean the Ravens do 535 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: a great job of integrating. You know, he's like a 536 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: part of the coaching staff, and so you know he's 537 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,959 Speaker 1: on the staff, he's in meetings with the coaches. He 538 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 1: was sitting next to Ravens Softman's of coordinator Greg Roman 539 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:04,399 Speaker 1: in the booths, like so much of it is relationship baits. 540 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: You know, if if Greg Romans in the booth and 541 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: he's saying that this guy can help me and we 542 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: know each other, then you know he looks at him 543 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: as a p or as someone who's pulling in the 544 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 1: same direction. Now it's not that case everywhere, and you know, 545 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: to the point, I mean, you are right the you know, 546 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:21,119 Speaker 1: these guys could have higher paying jobs. But you know what, 547 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 1: working in sports is pretty fun. You know, there's very fun. 548 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: There are people like you and me who say, you 549 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 1: know what, we would be doing a lot of this 550 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 1: in our spare time, and so it is fun to 551 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: be part of an organization and it's fun to be 552 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 1: sitting in the booth with so much on the line, 553 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: with Lamar Jackson on the field and so a lot 554 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: of you know, jobs in sports I would imagine come 555 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,240 Speaker 1: down to that where there are smart people working in 556 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 1: sports where they could probably be making a bigger difference 557 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: in the world or making more money elsewhere. But you 558 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: know what, there's something to be said about enjoying your job. 559 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 1: So I think that's what it comes down. And I'm sure, 560 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: as you reported with the Eagles, like at some point 561 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:58,880 Speaker 1: the coach is going to be looking over his shoulder weight. 562 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: I'm the coach, but I've got a listen to what 563 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 1: this guy with the spreadsheet says. Does he ultimately want 564 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: my job? Uh? You know, and that's difficult, but that 565 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 1: speaks to the point of culture, and that's really tough 566 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: to write about. But historically we know Jets no culture whatsoever, 567 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 1: Steelers great culture, you know, Ravens always with the good culture. 568 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,439 Speaker 1: Can can that be built like quickly or does it 569 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: just take? Like honestly, you have to have the right owner. 570 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: You've got no chance. Yeah, I'm you do. I think 571 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: everything does start with ownership, which is why, you know, 572 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:31,120 Speaker 1: the worst thing you can have as a sports fan, 573 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 1: in my opinion, is a terrible owner because you've got 574 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: no shot. You know, if if you're a Washington football 575 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,200 Speaker 1: team fan right now, maybe you're excited about what happened 576 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: last year, maybe you're excited about this year and and 577 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: rightfully so. You know, they've got, especially defensively, some exciting players. 578 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,359 Speaker 1: But you know, when you're talking with your friends, like, shoot, 579 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 1: you now, are we are? Is our franchise really gonna 580 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 1: have sustained success with this guy running the team? And 581 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 1: it's like a hopeless feeling really that you can't, you know, 582 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: unless the person sells the team. Which who's gonna sell 583 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: an NFL team? Uh? You know right now you're sort 584 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: of hopeless. So you know, if you can have an 585 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 1: owner who hires the right coach and GM, that's really 586 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 1: to me where the leadership starts. And so many you 587 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: just look at the last you know, forty years of 588 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:14,160 Speaker 1: the NFL. A lot of times when there's turmoil, it's 589 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 1: at head coach and GM are pointing fingers at each 590 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:18,680 Speaker 1: other or they're not on the same page. I've always, 591 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: you know, I've always believed that ownership should have those 592 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 1: guys on the same length contracts, you know, and say, hey, listen, 593 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:27,639 Speaker 1: either you're both gonna succeed or neither of you are 594 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:29,679 Speaker 1: going to succeed. So you know, the minute you start 595 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,920 Speaker 1: uh leaking information or pointing the finger at the other guy. 596 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:35,199 Speaker 1: Guess what you're both gonna be without a job, So 597 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:37,879 Speaker 1: figure it out like there's gonna be disagreements, and so 598 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 1: too often that doesn't happen. We know there are a 599 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:42,360 Speaker 1: lot of power struggles, There are a lot of egos, 600 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,679 Speaker 1: there are a lot of dynamics politics at play, and 601 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 1: I think that's where you see the lack of leadership 602 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 1: with with a lot of these franchises. All right to 603 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 1: two more real quick. So I happen to look today 604 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 1: at the gambling odds for the first coach fired, and 605 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: McCarthy is up there. McCarthy is very high on the list. Yeah, 606 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:04,400 Speaker 1: I guess they do. I took a nibble on Joe 607 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:08,440 Speaker 1: Judge of the Giants. Um now now you cover obviously 608 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 1: you know the nfcas really well, where are you on 609 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 1: the Giants right now? I don't like the Giants. I 610 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:16,879 Speaker 1: think I think the Giants are probably being overrated by 611 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 1: people who think they're going to take a significant step 612 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: forward from last year because they made some splash moves 613 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:26,119 Speaker 1: right they signed Kenny Kenny Golladay, Uh, Dory Jackson, Uh 614 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,640 Speaker 1: the corner and so they make you know, they bring 615 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: back Leonard Williams for twenty one million dollars a year. 616 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 1: And you know, I think their defense could be good. 617 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 1: I've never seen a like a mediocre defense get more 618 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 1: hyped than the Giants last year. It was like they were, uh, 619 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 1: you know, the eight five Bears or something like. If 620 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 1: you look at it, they were there. I think they 621 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:45,840 Speaker 1: maximize their talent. Don't get me wrong. I think Patrick Graham, 622 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: their defensive coordinator, did a great job. But it's just 623 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 1: not a talented group. And it's still not a talented group, 624 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 1: and so I don't see them making a big leap. 625 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: But more importantly, you look at it offensively, and you've 626 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 1: got some of those shiny toys with with Kenny Golladay 627 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: and see Kwon Barkley, Kadarius Tony. You have, you know, 628 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 1: a bottom five play caller in the NFL with a 629 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: coach Garrett. I guess we should for him as coach Garrett. 630 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,080 Speaker 1: So you have a guy who hasn't shown any ability 631 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 1: to give your offense and edge. You have a quarterback 632 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 1: with more fumbles than anybody in the NFL since he 633 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: entered the league. And you have an offensive line that 634 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: unless these young guys all of a sudden developed really quickly. 635 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 1: I mean it's the same offensive lineman they had last year. 636 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: They didn't sign any offensive lineman. Was one of the 637 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 1: worst offensive lines in the NFL last year. So to me, uh, 638 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 1: that is just a lot to overcome. And really, when 639 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:35,000 Speaker 1: I look at these teams above everything, I just look 640 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: at who can have an efficient offense? Because defense there's 641 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,240 Speaker 1: a lot of volatility, a lot of randomness. You still 642 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 1: pay attention to it, but it's tough for to predict. 643 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 1: Offense is easier to predict, and specifically when you look 644 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 1: at coach and quarterback and uh, I you know, I 645 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 1: think the Giants will be okay, you know, I think 646 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 1: maybe they'll hover around five hundred, But I don't think 647 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 1: they're gonna be take any kind of big leap this season. 648 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: I guess the only reason it could be a bad 649 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: bet by the way I think it was plus something 650 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: is that, uh, the Giants don't fire coaches in like 651 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: the middle of the season because they have a good 652 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,000 Speaker 1: culture like the Steelers. All right, we'll get you out 653 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: out here on this one. Do you have like just 654 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,239 Speaker 1: an off the wall bold prediction you're willing to make 655 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 1: about the league this year? Obviously we'll hold you to it. 656 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 1: We'll send it to Freezing Cold Takes and all those guys, 657 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,920 Speaker 1: and they'll like to it now. Um, but I don't know, Um, 658 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: I haven't. Nobody's really picked a random team to be 659 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: a legit Super Bowl contender. And I mean, I do 660 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 1: want to remind people this time last year, nobody had 661 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 1: the Bills in the a f C title game, right, 662 00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: I don't think everybody had Tom Brady and the Bucks. 663 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously they people knew they'd be good. But um, 664 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,120 Speaker 1: is there a team that jumps out at you as potential, like, hey, 665 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 1: these guys could really make a run. Yeah, I've got 666 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 1: the Los Angeles Chargers winning eleven games, uh this year, 667 00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:49,600 Speaker 1: and I think they I think they have a high ceiling. 668 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: You know. I love the analytics, I love the excess 669 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:53,640 Speaker 1: and os. But you know what, sometimes you just watch 670 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 1: a player and you're just like, you know, I let 671 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:58,479 Speaker 1: You're just like, this is the guy. And that's how 672 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 1: I felt about Justin Herbert as soon as he got 673 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:02,479 Speaker 1: in there last year. Last year, they had the one 674 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 1: of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, one of 675 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: the worst run games in the NFL, one of the 676 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 1: worst coaching staffs in the NFL. I mean, you you remember, 677 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 1: every week he's such a nice guy, such a nice guy. 678 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,960 Speaker 1: Every week there was something, I mean, the basic things 679 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 1: about getting like the special teams on the field and 680 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: and taking advantage of this, you know, potentially generational quarterback. 681 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: They didn't do any of that, and so there's so 682 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:28,400 Speaker 1: much room for them to grow. They had one of 683 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 1: the worst injury law, you know, worst injury luck in 684 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: the NFL. And so now you look at it, they're 685 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:35,760 Speaker 1: gonna throw the football a lot with Justin Herbert, they 686 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 1: invested in their offensive line. They're gonna be better Austin Ekeler, 687 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 1: you know, hopefully he stays healthier than he did last year. 688 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 1: You have Brandon Stale, a head coach who was kind 689 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: of you know, I don't know, it's hard to predict 690 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 1: the first time head coaches, but everything I hear this 691 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 1: is a forward thinking guy. I mean, he's gonna take 692 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: all this information, all the analytics. I think he's gonna 693 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,600 Speaker 1: be open to all of that. I think he's gonna 694 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 1: be aggressive. I don't think their defense is like devoid 695 00:31:57,680 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 1: of talent. You know, you look at it. You know, 696 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 1: both s and Derwin James like, those are foundational. Those 697 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:05,760 Speaker 1: are like first team All Pro type players if they 698 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: can stay healthy to build the defense around. And so 699 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 1: I really think they're gonna come out of the gates hot. 700 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 1: I know Targers fans are probably like so annoyed with 701 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:16,520 Speaker 1: me at this point, says because because they're like everybody 702 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 1: predicts this every year, and every year something goes wrong 703 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: and with our team. But I'm on board with them. 704 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,120 Speaker 1: I feel like they're gonna come out and really be 705 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,200 Speaker 1: the surprise team this year. I mean the continuity thing 706 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:29,880 Speaker 1: is the only thing that weirds me out a little 707 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:31,920 Speaker 1: bit because I think they have a new head coach 708 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 1: O C and d C. Yeah that's right, Yes, I 709 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 1: mean I think Herbert's the only one back, and like 710 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 1: that's a lot on a young guy. But you're right 711 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 1: that the talent is certainly their Chargers. They're in a 712 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 1: tough division, you know, Broncos Raiders are gonna be okay, 713 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 1: and then the Chiefs are decent as usual. All right, 714 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 1: he is Shale Kapatia, the athletic um any other anything 715 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:55,680 Speaker 1: else you want to promote. You've got a podcast, right, 716 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 1: We do have an Eagles podcast called Birds with friends, 717 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:01,959 Speaker 1: and I also uh, and and also like that. I 718 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: like that the playbook you mentioned hundred nineties seven pages. Uh, 719 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 1: you know, a section on every team analytics, XS and os, 720 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 1: and you can get right to that with the Athletic 721 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,960 Speaker 1: dot Com slash NFL playbook. You know, you can download 722 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: it and it's part of your subscription for the year, 723 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:19,560 Speaker 1: so you get everything else with the Athletic. Yeah. I 724 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: was gonna say that you you were kind of harsh 725 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 1: on the Broncos, but you have them at nine and 726 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:26,240 Speaker 1: eight in the division. Uh, but I have a Super 727 00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 1: Bowl taken on them. It's not gonna happen with the 728 00:33:27,880 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: head coach, but I think this man, the talent on 729 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 1: that team is ridiculous, both sides of the ball. But 730 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: no quarterback, you know, quarterback away, quarterback away. Yeah. If 731 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:38,920 Speaker 1: they could just get get somebody and they could have 732 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:40,920 Speaker 1: the best defense in the NFL, I mean that would 733 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: not surprise me. Yeah. Alright, good stuff, man, take it easy, 734 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 1: enjoy the season. Thanks for having me.