1 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody. Chris Harry with you on Chargers Weekly a 2 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: bit later, part one of a Chargers dot Com roundtable 3 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: recapping and eventful offseason. But first, the mmqb's Jenny Ventis 4 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: joins the podcast. Jenny wrote the story about Anthony Lynn's 5 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: graduation weekend and his journey towards getting that degree. It 6 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: was a great conversation about a memorable milestone for the 7 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: head coach, and as promised, Jenny Vrentis of the MMQB 8 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: joins me on Chargers Weekly. Let me start by encouraging 9 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: listeners of the podcast the hit pause. Read Jenny's story 10 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: first on the MMQB about coach lenz graduation. If you 11 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: haven't already, then come back to us. I think it's 12 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: important to read the story first. Jenny, thanks so much 13 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: for joining us. What intrigue do about this story before 14 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: going into it? I think just the fact that you know, 15 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: Anthony Lyn made time to do this while having a 16 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: full time head coaching job, right. I mean, it's it's 17 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: pretty remarkable to me. You know, he had waited until 18 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: you know, he was going to get a head coaching job. 19 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: He said, you know, let me, let me find the 20 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: right time to do this, and finally he said, you 21 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: know what, I'm just going to do it now. And 22 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: it happened. The year he went back to school to 23 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: finish his college degree happened to be the year he 24 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: took his he got his first head coaching job in 25 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 1: the NFL. But he found a way to make it work. 26 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 1: And I think there's a lot of people out there 27 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: who maybe haven't finished their degrees, who have busy schedules 28 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 1: and a lot of things going on. And you know, 29 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: the university president said to him a day of graduation, 30 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: you know, if you can do this, anyone can. And 31 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: I think, you know, in a way, his time management 32 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: skills are probably better than most being a head coach 33 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: in the NFL. So maybe that's not entirely true, but 34 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: I just think the example that it sets for other players, 35 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: for other people who just haven't finished their degree, I 36 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: think it has a lot. Can you just dive into 37 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: how hard that is, because the life of an NFL 38 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: coach is grueling. I used to work for the Redskins, 39 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: and I remember stories of Joe Gibbs sleeping in his 40 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: office back in the eighties and here in the trash 41 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: trucks at three am, four am during the season and 42 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: in the offseason you have very little free time. But 43 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: it sounds like coach Lynn he started this journey to 44 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: finish and get his degree while being coach of the Chargers. 45 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: It sounds like he did master the art of time management. Yeah, 46 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,519 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's a great point, right because during 47 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: the season, you know, there's tunnel vision on football, there's 48 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: there's not much time to do anything else. And even 49 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: the off season, you know, you have the draft, free 50 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: agency combine, so it's you know, it's a crazy schedule 51 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: that's really hard to understand from the outside. But I 52 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: think what he did so well was that he just 53 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 1: picked pockets of time and maximize them. So, you know, 54 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: in the off season, he'd work until eight pm at 55 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: his office and then he would go home and study 56 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: for the next few hours. And during the off season, 57 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: you know, on weekend, Saturday and Sunday, he'd sit down 58 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: at Starbucks. You know, he spent so many hours at 59 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 1: Starbucks that he had to switch his drink from a 60 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: lotta to a cappuccino because there were less calories and 61 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 1: he was consuming so many of those. You know, and 62 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 1: then there's that five week break after Mini camp in June. 63 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: Before training camp, he used that time to you know, 64 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: not only take classes, but to work ahead on classes 65 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: that would be offered in the fall. You know, online 66 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: curriculum offers some flexibility, you know, independent study. You know, 67 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: there are ways to work around it. But basically, he 68 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: devoted all of his free time essentially over the last 69 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: year to finishing his degree. That's that's what That's the 70 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: only way he was going to get it done. So 71 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: he really didn't have a social life for the last year. Well, 72 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: you know, Jenny, it's a story with so many different 73 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: lessons and layers to it. I think on the football side, 74 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: you wrote about which Lend's three rules, right, protect the team, 75 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: no excuses, and be on time. If you could take 76 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: us back to that twenty fourteen conversation that he had 77 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: with Dave Zad at the Jets when coach realized that 78 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: he needed to actually follow his second rule. Yeah, it's 79 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: it's interesting because he was sitting in the office of 80 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: Dave Zad, who was the Jets director of player Development, 81 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: and you know, in that role, Dave that worked with 82 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: a lot of players who are considering, you know, going 83 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: back to school or what they might do after the 84 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: game and Dave OPT's wife, Andrea was there and they 85 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: were talking about how, you know, that was an offensive 86 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: lineman in the NFL. He'd gone back to finish his 87 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,119 Speaker 1: degree at Penn State eleven years later, and his wife 88 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: said to Lynn, you know, you just got to get 89 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: this done, no excuses. And I think that really resonated 90 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 1: with him because here he is telling his players, you know, 91 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 1: no excuses, and he felt like he was making excuses. 92 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,679 Speaker 1: And so that's when he's sort of got the ball rolling. 93 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 1: But then, you know, the next couple off seasons, he 94 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: was interviewing for head coaching jobs, you know, after the 95 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen season, after the twenty fifteen season, and so 96 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: finally he said, you know what, I'm not going to 97 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: just go through another hiring cycle wait to see if 98 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: I get a job or not. I'm just going to 99 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,359 Speaker 1: commit to it. And so he committed. He said, you know, 100 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen, I'm going to enroll, and that's what he did, 101 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: and the fact that he also got the Chargers job 102 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: that year did not deter him. You know, the timing 103 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: of all of this was very unique because graduation coincided 104 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: with rookie minicamp and many of the guys who were 105 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:34,359 Speaker 1: in that mini camp had just graduated themselves. If you 106 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: could expound on that discussion that the team had about 107 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: coach Lynn missing those last two days and really the 108 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: message it's sent to the players, because it sounded like 109 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: coach Lyn wanted to maybe move up that camp to 110 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: be there, but I think a larger lesson was there 111 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: for those guys. Yeah, you know, because he didn't want 112 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: to miss any time. Some teams have their rookie mini 113 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: camp the first week right after the draft, that was 114 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: a possibility. He sort of raised that and conversations with 115 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: you know, team owner Deems Spanos and GM Tom Talasco 116 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: that they were they said, you know what, keep it 117 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: as is, then you can tell the players why you're missing, 118 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 1: and it sends a stronger message. I mean Tom Talasco said, 119 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: you know, they've always kind of encouraged players to walk 120 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: in graduation, going back to when he was with the 121 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: Colt He's Tony Dungee always did that. But it's one 122 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: thing to encourage your players to either go back to 123 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: school or walk in their graduations. It's another thing when 124 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: you have your head coach actually doing it. So after 125 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: the first practice of rookie in a camp on Friday, 126 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: he said to them, I have unfinished business. I'm not 127 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: going to be here, you know, Saturday and Sunday. I'm 128 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: you know, I left Texas Tech six credits short. When 129 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: I looked into it a few years later, my degree 130 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: plan had changed. It was eighteen credits. Basically, don't be 131 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: like me, age forty nine and going back to school. 132 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: He told them just get it done now. And you know, 133 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: Derwin James, the first round pick, he came out early 134 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: from Florida State, so he said he has twelve credits left, 135 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: and so the message after practice resonated with him. You know, 136 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: just get those twelve credits done. There's time in the 137 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: off season. The off season rules under the CBA have 138 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: sort of allowed for extra time for players to do 139 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: things in the off season. Certainly the greater flexibility with 140 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: online classes than Lynn had in the early nineties when 141 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: that was not an option. So there's just more options 142 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: now and basically he's telling players take those options. This 143 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: is a big deal, you know, obviously on the football side, 144 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: but from a family perspective, Coach Lynn made this promise 145 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: to his late sister and his mother to graduate and 146 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: I just know if you could describe the joy among 147 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: his family last weekend in Vegas, whether it was on 148 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: FaceTime with his son or Mother's Day brunch, I know 149 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: it was his mom's first time in Vegas. Had to 150 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: have been a special weekend for the family. Yeah, it was. 151 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: Really it was neat to see his mother said, you know, 152 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: it's rare that she gets to spend Mother's Day with 153 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: him because it's always during the season and usually it's 154 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: right around Rookie Mini camp. So to number one, be 155 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: able to spend Mother's Day with her son, and then 156 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: also to have him be walking in graduation, I think, 157 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: you know, there were a lot of different reasons that 158 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: motivated him to walk across the stage. That was not 159 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: on his mind. You know, he just kind of wanted 160 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: to finish the diploma. He did not think about walking, 161 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: you know, U and LV, his advisor, kind of mentioned 162 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: to him that you know, can make an impact. And 163 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: I think also just having that weekend with his Stanley 164 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: was a big motivating reason. You know, there were seven 165 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: family members in town. And it's interesting because beforehand I 166 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: asked me if he thought his mother would cry, and 167 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: you know, she's a tough woman. You know, she raised 168 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: two kids as a single mom, she worked two jobs. 169 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: He didn't really think she would cry, and I actually, 170 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: I don't think. I don't think he knew. So she 171 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: staring the brunch, she kind of went to the side 172 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,199 Speaker 1: and she talked to me and also the Charger's website, 173 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: and she got choked up in and she was thinking 174 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: about what that day meant and the journey to that point, 175 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 1: and that's when she started getting choked up, you know, 176 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,319 Speaker 1: thinking about the fact that he had worked a construction 177 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:07,959 Speaker 1: job at age thirteen to support the family, which is 178 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: pretty remarkable. And then the fact that, you know his 179 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: sister who died in a car accident in two thousand. 180 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: Before she died, they had kind of they were very close. 181 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: They were both living in Colorado. Her husband was working 182 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: for Lynn's construction company that he had on the side 183 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 1: while he was playing for the Broncos, and they had 184 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: made promises to each other, and she was really nagging 185 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: on him to just finish his degree, and he told her, 186 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: I'll go back and finish and you know, if anything 187 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: were to ever happen to you, I'll take care of 188 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 1: the two kids. And so here he was on graduation 189 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: day and then her daughter was also in Vegas for 190 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: the graduation to take you know, to be there to 191 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: support him. So, you know, it was just a lot 192 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: of it was a It was a nice scene because, 193 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 1: you know, we talked about earlier, the schedule of football, coach, 194 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: is crazy and it doesn't always allow for moments like that, 195 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 1: and you know, I think the fact that you know, yeah, 196 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: the fact that that you know, he decided to walk 197 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: and got that moment with his family, I think was 198 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: really really neat to see. You know. One of the 199 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: things that coach Lynn mentioned in this piece that really 200 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: resonated was the importance for players to pursue other passions 201 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: in their free time, which is very different from that 202 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: singular mindset of all football all the time that you know, 203 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people in the league feel 204 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: like is necessary for optimal success. How important do you 205 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:30,199 Speaker 1: think that is for more players and really teams to adopt. 206 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: I think the quote that coach Lynds had was what 207 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: I realized was the better I did off the field, 208 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: the better I did on the field. Absolutely, I thought 209 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 1: that that was one of the strongest statements that a 210 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: head coach can make, because the truth is it's a 211 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: little bit counterculture, right. There's been more emphasis than ever 212 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: on you know, players transitioning out of the game, and 213 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: you know, there's more programs like that in place. But yeah, 214 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: the NFL is still a very old school league, and 215 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: I think in a lot of ways, players are encouraged 216 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: to have a singular focus because their jobs are on 217 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: the line, and if you do things outside of football, 218 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: you know, you know, in some cases viewed as a 219 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,839 Speaker 1: distraction or your focus is not entirely on this one thing. 220 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: So I think the fact that an NFL coach a 221 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: went back to finish his degree while you know, devoting 222 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: every possible second that he needed to to his team 223 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: in his free time, he wants to to devote his 224 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: you know, to finish his degree, I think that's powerful. 225 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: And the fact that he made the statement, you know, 226 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: saying he wants guys to have other interests outside of football, 227 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,679 Speaker 1: because when their careers end, if they don't have an 228 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: identity that's tied to something other than football, they're going 229 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: to struggle. And his own experience was really interesting. You know, 230 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 1: in the nineties, he had back to back seasons that 231 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: ended with injuries. He was sort of forced to confront 232 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 1: the reality of not playing the game anymore. He ended 233 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 1: up playing four more years, which included two Super Bowls, 234 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,079 Speaker 1: But during that time, because of that realization, because of 235 00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: confronting that possibility, he started a business, construction business on 236 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: the side, in which he was actually making more money. 237 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: And I think the fact that he said, you know, 238 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 1: because everything wasn't writing on every single play is freedom up. 239 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: He enjoyed the game more and he performed better. And 240 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: I think that's a really important idea to say, you 241 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: know what, him a player has interests off the field 242 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: that is not a negative and it's actually a positive 243 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,319 Speaker 1: in a lot of levels, including his performance for the team. 244 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 1: And you see some of the players really taking that 245 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: to heart. I mean Hunter Henry's taking classes this offseason. 246 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: Austin Eckler recently graduated. And I think you mentioned at 247 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: the beginning of OTA's didn't coach have players write down 248 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: their passions and just kind of put pen to paper 249 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: to say, hey, if these are things that you want 250 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: to pursue, you should do it in your free time. Yeah, 251 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: it's a really interesting way to begin the off season program, right. 252 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: So a he told them that he was going to 253 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,079 Speaker 1: get his degree and graduate later that year. And B 254 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: he said to them, think of three things that you 255 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 1: would do for free. And you know, maybe it doesn't 256 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: work for you, but this is what works for me. 257 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 1: You know, it's likely that your passion lies in there 258 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: somewhere if you think of those three things, and so 259 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:08,839 Speaker 1: he encouraged them. You know, there's only you know, the 260 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: phase A of the off season program. He only has 261 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: them for what like, I don't know a handful of 262 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: hours safety of the off season program. Same thing. So 263 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: maybe have an internship or job shadow or maybe this 264 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: is when you take your online classes. And it wasn't saying, 265 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: and he said to them, in the fall, listen, you're 266 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: going to be locked into football. That's going to be 267 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: your focus. So in the off season, start to explore 268 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: these other things and start to create that identity outside 269 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:36,199 Speaker 1: of football. Jenny, the story is unbelievable. You do great work, 270 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: you know, three hundred sixty five days a year. But 271 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: this this especially hit home here at Coasta Mesa. Here 272 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: in Coach Land's story of graduation. I want to shift gears. 273 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: Just a couple of questions about the AFC in the 274 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 1: AFC West this offseason. I just want to get your 275 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: overall thoughts of what you think this division is going 276 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: to be after everything that's happened. There's been so much change, Jenny, 277 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: of the last three or four you know, it really has. 278 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: It's one of the more interesting divisions, I think, and 279 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 1: particularly this year. Right you have John Bruten coming to 280 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 1: the Raiders. You know, Alex Smith has traded, They're moving 281 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: on to the Patchet Mahomes era, and so I just think, 282 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: you know, there's a lot of different storylines, and it's 283 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: the last few years it's been. You know, there have 284 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: been years when it's been one of the stronger divisions. 285 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 1: There have been years when you know that's not the case. 286 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: But I think the Chargers are positioned well. Right. They 287 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: have a quarterback that has a ton of experience that 288 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: played really well last year. They just narrowly missed the playoffs. 289 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: So I think that first season kind of set a 290 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: good groundwork. And I think, you know, the feelings of 291 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 1: starting owned four and then finishing the year like they 292 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: did and almost making it to the postseason, I feel 293 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: like that's set a good trajectory for the team of 294 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: like going through that tough period, figuring it out, and 295 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: then it such a good template. I think moving into 296 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen, there's been so many offseason moves in terms 297 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: of player movement, what do you think has been the 298 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: most surprising? I mean we could go all the way 299 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: back starting at the Super Bowl when Alex Smith was 300 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: traded to the Redskins, like came out of thin air, essentially. 301 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: What has surprised you most about some of the player 302 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: movement that we've seen this offseason. Well, the Chiefs are 303 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: an interesting one, right, I mean they were confident enough 304 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: in Patrick Mahomes after one season and one start in 305 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: week seventeens and move on for Alex Smith. So I 306 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: think that in the division that's the move that makes 307 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: a lot of impact. And also in the division, I 308 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: think there's a lot of questions about what the Raiders 309 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: are going to look like under John Gruden. So you know, 310 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: what is what is their identity? They've been chasing him 311 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: for years, right, Mark Davis had wanted him to be 312 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: the coach. You know, it finally worked out, but he's 313 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: you know, been out of the game for a long time. 314 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: So you know it is it mostly hype or will 315 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: have results on the field, And so you know, in 316 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: the division, I think those are two of the interesting storylines. 317 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: But then you know, you have a team like the Chargers, 318 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: which has a really good roster, which didn't make a 319 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: ton of splashing moves in the off season, but made 320 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: some strong ones. Taluncy is one of them, and I 321 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: think just kind of supplementing the core of players that 322 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: they have, you know, they wanted to get a little 323 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: bit bigger and a little bit faster. I think they've 324 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: done that. They had a really good draft. So sometimes 325 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 1: I think, you know, the teams that don't necessarily make 326 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: the splashy moves are the more interesting ones. And that's 327 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: why I think that the Chargers are pretty well positioned 328 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 1: this season. Well you look at the you know, just 329 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: the history of some of these teams, like the Steelers 330 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: and the Patriots, and you know, the Packers. You don't 331 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: make a ton of offseason moves because you don't need 332 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: to develop your own guys. And I think this draft, specifically, 333 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: you've spent your first four picks on defense, knowing that 334 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: you have essentially two red shirt guys in Mike Williams 335 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: and for Slam coming back this year. I think there's 336 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: just more continuity. I think continuity has been the theme 337 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 1: this offseason when you look at you know, we talked 338 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: about the Chiefs, we talked about the Raiders, the Broncos too, Jenny. 339 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a team with a lot of 340 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: new coaches under Vanced Joseph and a new quarterback. As 341 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: we enter twenty eighteen, how do you see the pecking 342 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: order in the AFC West, Because I think last year 343 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: we went into it thinking that it was hands down 344 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: the best division of football. Didn't really pan out that way, right, 345 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: It didn't pan out that way, right, because two years 346 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: ago it certainly looked like the best division in football. 347 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: You know, you know, all right, I didn't mention the 348 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: Broncos before, but you're right. I mean, they bring case 349 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: Keenum in. They sort of fixed the quarterback question that 350 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: they have there. They get Bradley Chubb at five, which 351 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: most people did not think he would still be there, 352 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: so you pair him with von Miller. They're an interesting 353 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 1: team too. What I say about the Chargers is I 354 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: think they have the best quarterback in the division, right, 355 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: So to me, that goes a long way. I mean, 356 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: Mahomes is promising, but he's young. You know. Derek Carr, 357 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 1: you know, had a good season and but you know, 358 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,439 Speaker 1: we're still you know, he's still younger player too. Um. 359 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 1: And you know, case Keene is coming off a great 360 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,959 Speaker 1: year with the with the Vikings. But you know, Philip 361 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: Errs is the best quarterback in the division and so 362 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:15,199 Speaker 1: I think, you know, I think that that positions him 363 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: very well. Jeddy. I woke up this morning with a 364 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: notification on my phone that there's a new MMQB podcast 365 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: with you and Judy Batista. I just started before we 366 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: u we started our interview. Tell us about that podcast 367 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,400 Speaker 1: and what it entails, and then anything else you're working 368 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 1: on this offseason. Yeah, you know, Peter has wanted for 369 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: a while to do a podcast talking about, you know, 370 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,159 Speaker 1: what it's like to be a woman covering the NFL. 371 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: So that was the section of this week's podcast. UM, 372 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 1: and I was you know, Judy Battista is a great guest. 373 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 1: She has so many years of experience covering the NFL, 374 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 1: and we talked about sort of what it's like and 375 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: and you know, has the number of women in this 376 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: industry changed over the years, And I think, Um, you 377 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 1: still look around a lot of locker rooms and you 378 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:04,360 Speaker 1: still are aware of the fact that in a lot 379 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 1: of places you might be the only woman, or you 380 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: might be one of a few women. It's still, you know, 381 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 1: it still crosses my mind when I walk into a 382 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: locker room or a press conference. It's different in certain cities, 383 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 1: but I mean, I think the one thing we talked 384 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,119 Speaker 1: about was something that Peter did when he started the 385 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: MMTV five years ago, and he really made a commitment. 386 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 1: And remember he told me at the beginning, he said, 387 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 1: I wanted to hire a woman, and I wanted to 388 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:31,200 Speaker 1: hire a person of color. And I remember thinking, Okay, 389 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:33,640 Speaker 1: you could take that one of two ways. One way, 390 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: you could say, like, you don't want to be hired 391 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: because of that, Becau's not what Peter was saying. He 392 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,399 Speaker 1: was saying he wanted to, once he was in a 393 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: hiring position, create a staff in which he brought in 394 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: different perspectives that were represented across sports media, and he 395 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 1: believed that would make his staff strong or because of it. 396 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 1: So I think we talked about some of those things, 397 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: and I think it's a really important subject that I 398 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:00,200 Speaker 1: was glad Peter wanted to delve into because there's a 399 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:01,919 Speaker 1: lot of women coming up in the business and I 400 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,360 Speaker 1: feel like it's important to be honest that there are 401 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: some things that are going to be different. It doesn't 402 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 1: mean your career path won't be successful, but there are 403 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: things will confront along the way, and I think it's 404 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: better to be honest about that rather than saying your 405 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,399 Speaker 1: experience is going to be exactly the same as a 406 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 1: man with you know, what's the same age level and 407 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: entering this same time. Sure. No, it's an important topic 408 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,640 Speaker 1: and it's a great podcast. I think just fans check 409 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: out the MMQB podcast this week. Jenny, you do awesome 410 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: work at the MMQB. I can't thank you enough for 411 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 1: your time, and we talked about it. We had to 412 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: get you out to Coasta, Mesa a little more often, 413 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: get you on the West Coast a little bit more 414 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen. I look forward to coming back, so 415 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 1: thank you for having me. So the Los Angeles Chargers 416 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 1: schedule is out, and boy, it's nice to finally know 417 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: how we'll be spending our Sundays this fall. How many 418 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: Charger games did you make last year? Matt, I made 419 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: twenty four preseason games in sixteen regular season games last year. 420 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: Which are you circling for this season? This season? I'll 421 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 1: circle the Niners and Cardinals as they play the NFC West, 422 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 1: and let's not forget about those rivalry games. Pe you 423 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 1: seriously don't want to miss this. Visit Fight for La 424 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: dot Com or call eight seven seven Chargers to share 425 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: Matts experience season tickets on sale now at the Hoop 426 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: Performance Center with Chargers dot COM's Finest, Haleyo Would and 427 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: Ricky Henny join me and guys. I think this was 428 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 1: ten weeks ago that we did this, right after the combine, 429 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 1: and a lot has happened since then, So we're going 430 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: to get into everything that's happened. I guess we should 431 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: probably start in chronological order. With free agency. It was 432 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: a quiet free agency period, but of the editions that 433 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:44,400 Speaker 1: the Chargers made, what was the most important. I guess 434 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: we'll start with Haley. All right, thanks, thanks for the intro. 435 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: By the way, charging dot COM's Finest. Oh yeah, very nice. Yeah, 436 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have to go with Mike Pouncy. He's a guy, 437 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:53,919 Speaker 1: you know. He also was one of those guys this 438 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 1: team didn't think was going to be initially available when 439 00:21:56,320 --> 00:22:00,119 Speaker 1: free agency started. He gets released from the Dolphins and 440 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: they made a move, and they made a splash, and 441 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 1: I think he'll bolster this offensive line, which already did 442 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:07,479 Speaker 1: amazing last year they gave up the few of sacks 443 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: in the NFL. So you add him to the mix, 444 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 1: he can only help it get better. And what I 445 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:14,880 Speaker 1: think it's funny about Mike Pouncey is so when free 446 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,199 Speaker 1: agency comes, you obviously plan for those guys you know 447 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:19,160 Speaker 1: are going to be free agents, but you also plan 448 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: for guys you think may shake loosen other teams. And 449 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: talking to Tom to LESCo, they had they did not 450 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: even have Mike Pouncy on that. He wasn't on the radar, 451 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 1: not at all. So when obviously he's available, they sprung 452 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 1: into action and they scooped him up. Like Hailey said, 453 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: that's a big addition. But I'm actually gonna go Caleb Sturgis. Now, 454 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 1: you don't usually go with the kicker, but to this 455 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 1: case it's necessary. Could you percent Tom to let's go. 456 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,679 Speaker 1: Vowed to change and fix this kick situation. So did 457 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 1: Anthony Lynn, and you get someone in Caleb Sturgis who 458 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: got injured Week one and was placed on IR. Otherwise 459 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 1: he would have been the main kicker for these super 460 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 1: world champion Philadelphia Eagles. But the year before he made 461 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,640 Speaker 1: over eighty five percent of his kicks thirty five field goals. 462 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: He's made a fifty yard plus field goal every year 463 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: he's been in the league. So I think that's a 464 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:03,959 Speaker 1: minu mental get and I think he could really go 465 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: a long way towards pushing this team over the edge 466 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:08,640 Speaker 1: and into the postseason. I think it's a pick him 467 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 1: right with Pouncing and Sturgis because you could look at 468 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: it from both ways. You solidify the center position really 469 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 1: for the first time since probably Nick Hardwick days, where 470 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,280 Speaker 1: you have a perennial All Pro center, right, Ricky. Yeah, 471 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: because if you look back since Nick Hardwick retired, there's 472 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: been a new starting center every single year. Yeah. The 473 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,159 Speaker 1: running game has to be pumped, Philip has to be pumped. 474 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 1: Let me ask you this, Chris, We're split down the middle. 475 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 1: You're going with Haley and Mike Poundcy, You're going with Ricky, 476 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:37,120 Speaker 1: and it's listen, it's there's no wrong answer. I'm gonna 477 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 1: go with Sturgist just because of just because of the 478 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: kicking game. You know, you start owing four in large 479 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,160 Speaker 1: part to the kicking game, and there was a lot 480 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: of critical missus last year that really could have flipped 481 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 1: the season. I mean, even to Haley's point that the 482 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 1: Chargers did allow the fewest amount of sacks in the 483 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,120 Speaker 1: in the league last year. But at the same time, 484 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: it doesn't mean Philip wasn't hurried. He was hurt. I 485 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:00,199 Speaker 1: think Philip did a better job of getting to the 486 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: football and I think Pouncey's going to help the offensive line. 487 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: If I had to lean one way, I'd say Sturgis, 488 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:07,920 Speaker 1: But you don't know. The sneaky signing is Virgil Green. 489 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: I think Virgil Green is going to help the running game. 490 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 1: And I think he's got a little bit of juice 491 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: in the past game too, especially in red zone situations, 492 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,719 Speaker 1: and he's he's a guy that you steal from arrival. 493 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: He totally is. And I think, like you said, helping 494 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 1: in the run game, he does, you know, kind of 495 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: make his bread and Butter's being a blocking tight end too, 496 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: so you have that, you have that to help bolster. 497 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 1: But going back to Pouncey for one second, what's the 498 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: most important relationship on an offense, and I'd say quarterback center. 499 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 1: Into Ricky's point, having that guy who's a you know, 500 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: a stud up there, a pro bowler, Philip has to 501 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: be stoked about that because now they can build that relationship, 502 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 1: get that going, and that only strengthens the offensive line. 503 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,679 Speaker 1: And Philip's not the only one is pumped, because Melvin Gordon, 504 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: when he was talking to the media the other day, 505 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: he does I mean, he saw his eyes light up. 506 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: He said, as soon as Mike Pouncey became available, he 507 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: called him up. He was recruiting him, and he has 508 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: pumped to have him on this team. And you look 509 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:04,160 Speaker 1: at Melvin Gordon's and made strides each and every year 510 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,920 Speaker 1: when he sees Mike Pouncy under center, you know he's 511 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 1: his ion to get another thousand yard season. Melvin talked 512 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:12,200 Speaker 1: about that nastiness that Pouncy provides. It's just gonna make 513 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 1: the running game that much better, especially when you see 514 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,679 Speaker 1: how Melvin finished the year and what they want to 515 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:21,439 Speaker 1: do offensively, have that identity running the football. Pouncey's hand 516 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 1: in glove fit totally most important. In house signing, there 517 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: was a few of them, and again, I don't think 518 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,359 Speaker 1: there's a wrong answer to this, but Haley, let's kick 519 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 1: it off. I'm gonna go with Casey Hayward, who wasn't 520 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: a free agent this year, but they took care of him, 521 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,360 Speaker 1: you know, and I think it's huge because he's now 522 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 1: here for the long term. And to have a guy, 523 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: you know, two straight Pro Bowls, two straight second year 524 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: or second team All Pro seasons. I mean, I don't 525 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,200 Speaker 1: want to call him the heart and soul of that defense, 526 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: but he bring he's the heart and soul that secondary 527 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 1: for sure. And he's a guy who younger guys like 528 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: Derwin James already has a relationship with can rally around. 529 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:01,880 Speaker 1: But to know that he's here long term, even though 530 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:03,880 Speaker 1: Philip doesn't play on his side of the ball again, 531 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: he probably has to be happy that a guy like 532 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 1: that is locked up because he's a charger now. And 533 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 1: it's it's kind of that Tom Telesco philosophy, taking care 534 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: of your own and getting that done now so that 535 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 1: they don't have to worry about it next year. Yeah, 536 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: it's not gonna win headlines, right, but taking care of 537 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 1: your own is so important. And Casey came in here 538 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: and I think he would joke like as a nickel corner, right, 539 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: and he's become a perennial shutdown corner in this league. 540 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:32,159 Speaker 1: And to that point about Casey, I remember in training 541 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 1: camp where he was talking about how the trash talk 542 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: between him and Philip just making each other better in training. 543 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 1: Kip Casey means so much to the defense, oh one 544 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: hundred percent. And like he mentioned, when he was a 545 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: free agent coming over from Green Bay, you're talking to 546 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: somebody who lasted on the market for a week. And 547 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:53,360 Speaker 1: his first two years here, like Haley and mentioned Pro 548 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 1: Bowls all Pros, led the league and interceptions over his 549 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: first year and has the most interceptions in the league 550 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: over the past two seasons. But as far as I 551 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 1: think was the most impactful taken care of in house, 552 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: it's two people and neither of them are going to 553 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: play a single snap, and that's Ken Wizzen Hunt and 554 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: Gus Bradley. Because you look at what the point they 555 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 1: were able to do with their respective units last year. 556 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:16,879 Speaker 1: It's incredible and they were such a huge part of 557 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 1: this team's success. The players love playing for them. All. 558 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:22,400 Speaker 1: The questions the first two or three weeks this offseason 559 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,639 Speaker 1: were what's going to happen with Wiz and Gus Bradley, 560 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 1: Where are they going to go? They were coveted, and 561 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: the Chargers made sure they did what was necessary to 562 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: keep them here. And these players were pumped to have 563 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:35,199 Speaker 1: them here. They were going off just they did not 564 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 1: want to lose either of those two coordinators, and fortunately 565 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: they didn't Hilly win. You look at the end of 566 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 1: a season with playoffs, oftentimes talented teams get picked apart 567 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 1: with coaching staffs and key free agents. One of the 568 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: themes here was continuity. We've talked about it pretty much 569 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: every single week. Having Gus, having Ken wizzen Hunt and 570 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: really a core of this team in place, you didn't 571 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:00,919 Speaker 1: have to do a lot of splashy thing. You didn't 572 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,360 Speaker 1: And I think we'll get to this probably later on, 573 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 1: but I think one of the biggest storylines for me 574 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 1: with this team is building on last season. You get 575 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 1: to nine and seven, but now you're right, you keep 576 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 1: the consistency of the coordinators and the head coach. And 577 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:17,440 Speaker 1: also not to mention now the second year in Los Angeles, 578 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:20,120 Speaker 1: which has to feel a lot better for these guys. Yes, 579 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:23,359 Speaker 1: and you build on that, and I think this team 580 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: can really only go up from here. On paper, they 581 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,160 Speaker 1: look great, have to put it together on the field 582 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: comes Sundays, but that continuity of keeping that nucleus together 583 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:34,359 Speaker 1: is huge. I also want to mention the position coaches 584 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: because they don't get a lot of praise. But guys 585 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: like Gift Smith, they brought him back on the defensive line, 586 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: Joey Bosa and Melbourne Ingram took off under him. Ron Milis, 587 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 1: who's had it was, Oh, he's awesome. He had a 588 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 1: pro bowler in that secondary. I think every year he's 589 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: been here. And then offensive on the offensive side of 590 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 1: the ball. You look at Shane snik in the quarterbacks 591 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: coach whose Philip you know, had his fewer interceptions quite 592 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: a while last year with only ten. So, like I 593 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 1: mentioned Gus and I mentioned Wiz and they get a 594 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 1: lot of the headlines. You can't have to go that 595 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 1: these other position coaches taking care of them too was 596 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: a huge step. A couple other guys, just to mention, 597 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 1: I think Adrian Phillips bringing him back and what he 598 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 1: meant to the defense last year, especially when you have 599 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: a guy like Darwin James coming in to learn from 600 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 1: Kaiser White too to an extent, playing kind of that 601 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: hybrid role of linebacker safety and Michael Scofield because of 602 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: his position versatility, and I think that kind of goes 603 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:26,640 Speaker 1: into my next question about pouncing his impact on the 604 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:29,960 Speaker 1: offensive line. The Charges have made a concerted effort to 605 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: you know, we know force lamps coming back to get 606 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: an All Pro centered like Mike Pouncy, but also I 607 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 1: have interchangeable parts across the line, like a Michael Scofield 608 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 1: to help. We don't know what force is going to 609 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: be like the beginning of camp and the beginning of 610 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 1: the regular season, but I think there's enough pieces in 611 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: place to really solidify that old line absolutely, and Pouncy 612 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: coming in bring his last year starter Spencer Pully as 613 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 1: one of those key reserves who can now go to 614 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 1: guard who started sixteen games less absolutely or go to center. 615 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:01,320 Speaker 1: But what I like about this offensive line is a 616 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,520 Speaker 1: year ago they brought in a veteran Pro bowler and 617 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 1: Russell Kom who made the Pro Bowl. Again. This year 618 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 1: they're bringing Mike Pouncey. So you have these veterans, established veterans, 619 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 1: elite players at their position who were also there to 620 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 1: mentor the young guys like Dan Feeney and Forrest slam. 621 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:18,160 Speaker 1: So I think that's a huge piece when we talk 622 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: about continuity and building towards the future to have both 623 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: of those types of players in the mix. And I 624 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 1: think in speaking of Scofield when he stepped in last year, 625 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: he didn't you know, they didn't miss a beat. No, 626 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:29,840 Speaker 1: they didn't beat So he proved, as you said, to 627 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: be a serviceable reserve guy. And I think he was 628 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 1: kind of a low key, sneaky signing that that was 629 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 1: good that this team retained. Yep, and another guy from 630 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:41,320 Speaker 1: an AFC West rival. You know, he was in Denver 631 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 1: with Russell Kom absolutely and when he mentioned Virgil Green earlier, 632 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:47,640 Speaker 1: the first thing I thought of is, no one knows 633 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: a player better than the team that faces them twice. 634 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: So the fact that the Chargers went out and made 635 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 1: sure they got Virgil Green in the first day of 636 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:55,960 Speaker 1: a free agency shows just what they thought of him, 637 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 1: having gone up against him sixteen times in the last years, 638 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 1: so they knew about him exactly. Guys, let's move on 639 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 1: to the schedule, because I think there was a lot 640 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 1: of thoughts by players, coaches, pundits alike. We'll start with Hailey. 641 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 1: Your initial thoughts upon seeing the Chargers twenty eighteenth schedule 642 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: was what I think. The one thing that stood out 643 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 1: to me is this weird four game road stretch that 644 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 1: happens basically in the middle of the season. Well, it's 645 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:22,840 Speaker 1: two games, then a buy, then two more games on 646 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 1: the road, but it's you know, in one of those 647 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 1: games is obviously in London, so this team doesn't play 648 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 1: They play a home game on October fourth, I'm sorry, 649 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:34,520 Speaker 1: on October seventh, and then they're not back at home 650 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 1: until November eighteenth. So that's a long stretch where they 651 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 1: just have to get used to just you know, grinding 652 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 1: on the road, and I think that'll be a very 653 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 1: good mental test for them. And not to mention those 654 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 1: aren't you know, the Browns are in there, but they're 655 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 1: a new look team this year, and you have the Raiders. 656 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 1: You don't know a whole lot about them. And then 657 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:55,440 Speaker 1: obviously at Seattle we know what they're capable of. They've 658 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 1: obviously had some changes, but it's not the easiest schedule 659 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 1: and there either. It's funny you mentioned that because obviously 660 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 1: we always talk to fill up rivers right when the 661 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: schedule comes out and he gets a downpad like five minutes, 662 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 1: he could tell you every single thing this team is doing. 663 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 1: And that's the first thing that stuck got to him 664 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:14,560 Speaker 1: as well, because it's just it's abnormal that middle stretch. Yes, 665 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 1: you don't go away from home for that many weeks 666 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 1: in a row. But what he said is the attitude 667 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 1: the team has to take is we can't do anything 668 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:23,680 Speaker 1: about it, so let's use this as a way to 669 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 1: all come together and get forward. So I think that 670 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: is something that definitely stuck out. But the other thing 671 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: is because you're away from home during that stretch, they 672 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 1: are in LA for a long time. Before that. The 673 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: only time that this team gets on the plane is 674 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,280 Speaker 1: Week two against the Bills. Their other home game they're other. Sorry, 675 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 1: their other away game before that is against the Rams, 676 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:44,640 Speaker 1: which is in LA. So they have to defend home 677 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:46,680 Speaker 1: turf and they have to get off to a good start. 678 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:49,360 Speaker 1: When we talk about this team last year, the slow start, 679 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: the Owen four start, you can't afford that when you 680 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:54,720 Speaker 1: have four of your first five games in Los Angeles. 681 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: It's so important to get off to a fast start. 682 00:32:57,160 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 1: One of the things I noticed, I think the players 683 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:01,680 Speaker 1: notice there's no prime time games. When I talked to 684 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: Matt money Smith about this shortly after the schedule came out, 685 00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:08,480 Speaker 1: his point was, basically, you want a primetime game, make 686 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:10,640 Speaker 1: your own luck at the end of the year, earn it. 687 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:12,959 Speaker 1: Maybe that Steeler game gets flexed. Maybe one of these 688 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 1: games at the end gets flexed, but doesn't really matter. 689 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:17,840 Speaker 1: I don't think it really matters. It doesn't matter, but 690 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:19,960 Speaker 1: the players down there take it as a sign of respect, 691 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:21,960 Speaker 1: and I love that. Sure. And like he said, do 692 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 1: you want to go out and earn that you want 693 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:25,680 Speaker 1: to prove you disrespected us. We were one of the 694 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 1: hottest teams down the stretch last year, finished with the 695 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 1: winning record, and you don't give us a primetime game. Yeah, 696 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:33,480 Speaker 1: and it does motivate you. But you call my shot, 697 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 1: I wouldna say book it Steelers Chargers. That's gonna be 698 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 1: sign that night football unless CBS protects it. I'm telling 699 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 1: you that's going to be a primetime game. So that's 700 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:42,959 Speaker 1: the game you're most looking forward to write down? Man 701 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 1: it put it in, Penn Haley, what about you? That 702 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:46,720 Speaker 1: was the game I was gonna say too. I think 703 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: you have storylines you know, obviously fill up and big 704 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:52,400 Speaker 1: Ben there. It could be a flex game into prime 705 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:56,000 Speaker 1: time and also it could have massive AFC playoff implications 706 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:58,560 Speaker 1: seating in at that point, you're in that first week 707 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:01,600 Speaker 1: of December, you have five weeks left of the season. 708 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 1: At that point, these two teams could both be in it, 709 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:06,960 Speaker 1: could both be out of it, hopefully not, but a 710 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:09,439 Speaker 1: lot could be dependent on what happens in that game, 711 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:11,640 Speaker 1: and so much happens before you get to December. But 712 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:13,880 Speaker 1: it's impossible not to look at those five games and 713 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:16,000 Speaker 1: think if very well could come down to this, because 714 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:19,640 Speaker 1: these teams. Okay, you're on the road at Pittsburgh home 715 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:23,960 Speaker 1: against Cincinnati Thursday night, four days later at Casey. Then 716 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:26,600 Speaker 1: it's a flex game a Saturday or Sunday at home 717 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:29,359 Speaker 1: versus the Ravens, and then you finish on the road 718 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 1: against Denver. Now, those five teams the last decade, it seems, 719 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:35,880 Speaker 1: have been in the thick of it towards the end. Sure, 720 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:38,879 Speaker 1: and they are tough places to play, three cold weather games. Now, look, 721 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:41,160 Speaker 1: you have to take care of business early on, but 722 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: you always have it in the back of your mind 723 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:45,879 Speaker 1: that those five games, it's going to be a tough 724 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:49,360 Speaker 1: road ahead. But you also could control your feature and 725 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:51,840 Speaker 1: you control your destiny. You know a couple other notes 726 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:55,160 Speaker 1: of Philip versus Big Ben that classes two thousand and four. 727 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:56,959 Speaker 1: It could be the last time we see those guys 728 00:34:56,960 --> 00:34:58,759 Speaker 1: face off, based on how the schedule shakes out over 729 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:00,799 Speaker 1: the next couple of years. We don't know, but that 730 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,279 Speaker 1: could that could be a possibility that that's the last 731 00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:05,960 Speaker 1: time we see those guys. The Pouncy Bros. Go ahead 732 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:07,880 Speaker 1: to Healthy Bowl. It's only the second time. This is 733 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:12,920 Speaker 1: the brother game. This is Yes, there's a lot of 734 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:15,840 Speaker 1: ab versus Casey Hayward. I mean there's a lot of 735 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:19,399 Speaker 1: juice to this game. Jalil and Ab. Yeah, I mean 736 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:22,800 Speaker 1: that's there's a lot of storyline, a lot of storylines. 737 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:27,120 Speaker 1: The game for me, the game for me is Week fifteen, 738 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 1: because it's almost like deja vu. It's it's the Chiefs 739 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks before the season ends in Arrowhead 740 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 1: at night. It's an opportunity for this team if we 741 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:39,400 Speaker 1: expect them to be in a position to win the 742 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:41,879 Speaker 1: AFC West or at least get a playoff spot towards 743 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:43,600 Speaker 1: the end of the year. This is a game that 744 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:46,240 Speaker 1: I think they're going to remember from last year. There's 745 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:48,799 Speaker 1: a there's a different cast of characters in Kansas City, 746 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:50,839 Speaker 1: starting with Patrick Mahomes. You know, it's funny you say 747 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,560 Speaker 1: that because the Chiefs game is the number one game 748 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:56,080 Speaker 1: that stuck out to me. But Week one not Week fifteen, 749 00:35:56,160 --> 00:35:58,839 Speaker 1: not Week fifteen. Well, look, Week fifteen very well could 750 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:01,799 Speaker 1: could have major implications, but it's me trying to be 751 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:05,719 Speaker 1: I think psychic and like expecting high drama late in 752 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 1: the year, and hey, I hope you're right, but you 753 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:09,600 Speaker 1: have to look, that could be a statement game Week 754 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:12,920 Speaker 1: one winner Los. Look, it's one of sixteen, but the 755 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:16,160 Speaker 1: Chiefs have had the Chargers number. They've won. Yeah, they've 756 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:19,359 Speaker 1: swept the last four years. That's eight straight games they won, 757 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 1: like seventeen of eighteen eighth I think, yeah, but they've 758 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:24,040 Speaker 1: had the Chargers number. But like you mentioned, it's a 759 00:36:24,080 --> 00:36:27,400 Speaker 1: new quarterback Patrick Mahomes, very different pieces in the secondary 760 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:31,239 Speaker 1: Marcus Peters. He's been awesome against the Chargers. He's picked 761 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:34,200 Speaker 1: off Phillips so many times. He's not there anymore, so 762 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,760 Speaker 1: no one will see him just not twice. I'm happier 763 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:39,920 Speaker 1: to have him that on the Chiefs. So honestly, that 764 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:42,680 Speaker 1: Week one game is going to be huge. But like 765 00:36:42,719 --> 00:36:45,759 Speaker 1: you mentioned, I actually like having the Chiefs early and late, 766 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:49,040 Speaker 1: because you don't. I don't like playing teams back to 767 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:51,399 Speaker 1: back are so close together because those two games are 768 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:54,000 Speaker 1: so huge. So look, hopefully every single one of these 769 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:56,520 Speaker 1: games matter, But I think those two games against the Chiefs, 770 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:58,319 Speaker 1: the one I mentioned, the one you mentioned, I think 771 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 1: you have to put a star next to those. I 772 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:03,080 Speaker 1: think that's a statement game. That Week fifteen game, for sure. 773 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:05,319 Speaker 1: And part of it for me is teams that you 774 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:07,799 Speaker 1: see in week one may not be the same team 775 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:10,720 Speaker 1: you see in week fifteen, especially especially with a quarterback 776 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:12,759 Speaker 1: who is only one career start in the league. Like 777 00:37:13,360 --> 00:37:16,520 Speaker 1: I think it's more advantageous for the Chargers to see 778 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:19,200 Speaker 1: Patrick Mahomes in week one as opposed to a week 779 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:21,960 Speaker 1: like five or six once they get rolling on offense. 780 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 1: But you're right, Week one, week fifteen, there's a lot 781 00:37:25,520 --> 00:37:29,120 Speaker 1: of football in between seeing the Chiefs twice and talking Mahomes. 782 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:31,239 Speaker 1: Another weird thing about the schedule or the number of 783 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:33,359 Speaker 1: like first year quarterbacks the Chargers will face. It's another 784 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:35,480 Speaker 1: good point. Mahomes week one, Week two, it could be 785 00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:39,440 Speaker 1: Josh Allen, you know, Week six, Baker Mayfield with the Browns. 786 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:42,640 Speaker 1: Then you play um, you know, the Broncos have case 787 00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:44,840 Speaker 1: Keenum it's his first year there, and then the Cardinals 788 00:37:44,840 --> 00:37:48,080 Speaker 1: with Josh Rosen's over there, and then Baltimore Baltimore week 789 00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:52,279 Speaker 1: exactly the Lamar Jackson Show. So you never know what 790 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:54,239 Speaker 1: you're gonna get with the first year quarterback, and it's 791 00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:56,160 Speaker 1: something that Chargers may have to deal with over and 792 00:37:56,200 --> 00:37:58,560 Speaker 1: over again. And I think the Chargers have a little 793 00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:00,160 Speaker 1: bit of advantage at the beginning of the year when 794 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:02,800 Speaker 1: you talk about the quarterback position, Right, you got Mahomes 795 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:04,839 Speaker 1: versus Philip who has a missis starts in so six 796 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:08,800 Speaker 1: if it's not Josh Allen, it's AJ McCarron, ord Nathan Peterman. 797 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:10,640 Speaker 1: And we know what happened last year with Nathan Peterman, 798 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:13,239 Speaker 1: the Rams, Jared Golf, I mean, this is a guy 799 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:15,720 Speaker 1: still in his third year, still learning. And then Jimmy 800 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:17,840 Speaker 1: g for all the success he had at the end 801 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:19,840 Speaker 1: of the last year, he still only has a handful 802 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:22,000 Speaker 1: of starts under his belt. Yeah, I mean he is, 803 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:25,279 Speaker 1: he's five and oh but I think a lot of 804 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:28,000 Speaker 1: you know, still unproven with with Jimmy Garoppolo, and I 805 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:30,359 Speaker 1: think this year will be a huge year for him 806 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:32,839 Speaker 1: and that'll be that actually will be a pretty fun game. 807 00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:35,319 Speaker 1: That were four game Yeah, absolutely, but you look at 808 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 1: this first four games, you have three playoff teams and 809 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:40,360 Speaker 1: you have the team that finished the year the hottest 810 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:42,320 Speaker 1: in Jimmy g and the Niners. So that's gonna be 811 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:44,960 Speaker 1: a really tough first month, but hopefully it sets a 812 00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:47,160 Speaker 1: tone for the rest of the year. We'll pick up 813 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:49,279 Speaker 1: part two of our off season round table next week 814 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:52,080 Speaker 1: where we dive into the draft OTAs in Mini camp. 815 00:38:52,440 --> 00:38:54,680 Speaker 1: I think said Jenny Frentis as well as Ricky and 816 00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:57,240 Speaker 1: Haley for joining me, and thanks to all for listening. 817 00:38:57,360 --> 00:38:59,680 Speaker 1: Find us on Apple Podcasts, and while you're there, please 818 00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:02,480 Speaker 1: leave review helps spread the word. We hope you enjoyed 819 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:05,040 Speaker 1: this episode and until next time, I'm Chris Harry