1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: Joined now by the host of Opening Drive on Sirius 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: XM NFL Radio, Solomon Wilcox, former player in this league. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: So I'm starting defensively with you, sir. We have some 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: changes around here, a couple of big a big trade, 5 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: a big free agent signing and Stefan Gilmoury and he 6 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: can Gockway, but maybe more importantly, a new defensive coordinator 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 1: in Gus Bradley. What do you like about his system 8 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 1: and what do you like about these players? Look, they 9 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: line up and they play, and he wants really smart 10 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: guys that's gonna keep the ball in front you tend 11 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: to get. And obviously the coverages are more nuanced more 12 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: for a four to three scheme, you're going us go 13 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: single high coverage man on the outside, but it's made 14 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: even sometimes you could be single high with a Cover 15 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: three zone. They're made to look the same. But more importantly, 16 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: what I think they do a good job of doing 17 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: is what we call on the defensive side, closing off 18 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: the middle of the field and not allowing the defense 19 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: or excuse me, the offense to get on top of you. 20 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: So in that Cover three or that single high man coverage, 21 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: it's demand coverage but not underneath, not getting into a 22 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 1: press where you're allowing the guy to get on the 23 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: top of you. You've got to keep everything in front 24 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: of you. You remember the Legion of Boom in Seattle 25 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: running that defense too perfection, and what did they do 26 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: with Earl Thomas close off the middle of the field 27 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: as well as Cam Chancellor. Safeties are very important. We'll 28 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: talk about him because and that's exactly right and not look. 29 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: Getting a guy like Julian Blackman back, I think that 30 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: really does help, There's no doubt. But the safeties have 31 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: to close off the middle of the field. It makes 32 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: coverage on the outside so much easier. And you have 33 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: linebackers in the underneath portion of your coverage that I 34 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: think are better than what Seattle had to be honest. 35 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: I mean, we love Bobby Wagoner, but out and he 36 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: and kJ Wright were good. Bobby was great, but you 37 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: have two dynamic linebackers here. There's no doubt. Hey, I 38 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: want to I want to center in on Stefan Gilmour 39 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: in that signing because we haven't had a real shutdown 40 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: corner here in Indianapolis for some time. What does he 41 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: bring in his style of play to any defense? Let 42 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: alone this one led by us. Just know this, Bill 43 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: Belichick doesn't overpay to get anybody. He didn't even overpay 44 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: Tom Brady. He overpaid this guy exactly. And what I 45 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: mean by overpayment, they you know, at or above market value. 46 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: And that's the importance of what a shut down corner 47 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: does for any defense. Bill Belichick knows that he cut 48 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: his teeth in this league covering, you know, coaching the secondary, 49 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: and he knows that you cannot play if you don't 50 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: have that shut down corner, particularly in the league today 51 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,239 Speaker 1: where people were everyone's throwing sixty percent of the time 52 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: and running less than that. So you have to have 53 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: that player. And that's what Gilmore gives you. There was 54 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: a reason why he was Defensive Player of the Year 55 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen, and I think in this defense he 56 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: can play even better. Remember when he was in New England, 57 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: they had the highest volume of cover one and zero coverage. 58 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: You know what, zero coverage is no help in the 59 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: middle of the field. So it's all him, it's all 60 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: you and no help in the middle of the field. 61 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: That's you're not gonna He will have to play that way. 62 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: In this style of defense, there's always going to be 63 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: a safety and center field giving him help on those 64 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: inside breaking routes, which allows him to be even more 65 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: aggressive in the underneath coverage and now on anything breaking 66 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: outside up more like Griffey Junior back there in center field. 67 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,359 Speaker 1: There you go, ahead, there you go. Before we dive 68 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 1: into the offense, I want to stick one little thing 69 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,959 Speaker 1: was stefand Gilmour. Now you know you mentioned he was 70 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: Defensive Player of the Year. That was just twenty nineteen, 71 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 1: just a couple of years ago. But he's had he's 72 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 1: had some injuries. But how do you think that's kind 73 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: of helped because of the limited Maybe not just it's 74 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: almost like he's had a couple of years where he's 75 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: had the opportunity to get his body healthy. Now do 76 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: you feel like he's able to kind of give it 77 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: a go? Now? I do. Listen, he was smart. He 78 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: got to choose what team he wanted to play for, 79 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: right right. There were a lot of teams out there 80 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: that was offeringing similar to the contract that Chris Ballard 81 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: and the Indianapolis Coats offered him. He chose this team 82 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: one because there's a chance to go to a Super Bowl. 83 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: This is a wonderful roster with a tremendous caliber of players, 84 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: and so the chance to win the division and go 85 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: deep in in the playoffs, that's there. But he also 86 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: chose the system I think he thought was great for 87 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: his skill set. They're gonna give him. Listen, you play 88 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 1: in New England. You may not have anyone in the 89 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: center the field. He's zero. Yeah. I don't know if 90 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: you remember the Super Bowl when they beat the Rams. 91 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: He took their best receiver and shut him down by himself, 92 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: and they double covered the other guys. That's how good 93 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 1: that's right he took. He took that zero coverage. Right now, 94 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: as you get older, you don't look to draw those 95 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: assignments as frequently. Can he still do it? Yes? Can 96 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: he do it for fifty of the sixty five snaps 97 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: each and every week? No, I don't think that's what 98 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: the Colts are gonna ask him to do. So if 99 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: you said, look, we'll give you a free safety half 100 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: the time, fifty percent of the time you're gonna be 101 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: in single high cover three and the other fifty percent 102 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: of the time you'll be single high cover one, meaning 103 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: man coverage with the safety in the middle of the field, 104 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 1: he can more than get that done. Now. One of 105 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: the things you mentioned it is roster. One of the 106 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: guys that's added to this roster kind of been a 107 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 1: revolving door at quarterback with Matt Ryan kind of comes 108 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: into man the ship. What do you like the addition 109 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: of Matt Ryan. I've always liked Matt Ryan. I've always 110 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 1: been one of the guys who truly understood what who 111 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: Matt Ryan is. And then if you start to compare him, 112 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,840 Speaker 1: you go back to his rookie season when he first 113 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: came to the league. I think it was the two 114 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: thousand and seven when he first came into the league. 115 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: This is his fifteenth season in the NFL. If you 116 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: go back and look, Dave, you know it's very first 117 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: pass went for a touchdown, very first So from yeah, 118 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 1: very first NFL back touchdown. He never looked back. You 119 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: go look at his rookie season. You only you got 120 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: guys like Russell Wilson, Damn Arena who came in as 121 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: a rookie, started game one day one and one immediately right. 122 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: This is a guy that came into a Falcons organization 123 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: that was heartbroken, a city that had been heartbroken because 124 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 1: of the scandal that had taken place with Michael Vick 125 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: and the dog and the coach had quit the year before, 126 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 1: and Bob Petrino, the coach left. The quarterback's gone. In 127 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: comes the savior that you're right, he not only studied it, 128 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 1: the guy became a league MVP took him to a 129 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: super Bowl. Now, the defense can't give up twenty five 130 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: points in a second half, but that's not on him. 131 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: And listen, he's part of it, but he's a winner. 132 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: As my point, and what I'm trying to point to 133 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 1: you is that from the time he stepped into this league, 134 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 1: the game was never too big. You can't say that 135 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: about allotting. Guy ain't listen, not even the great Tom 136 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: Brady stepped in day one, week one and started Dylan 137 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: right there. There ain't a whole lot of these guys. Now, 138 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: we remember Peyton Manning here. Even his first year, there 139 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 1: was some bump people. This guy never flinched. He never 140 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: had that kind of rocky season goal to check every 141 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 1: single one of them. You're not gonna find where he 142 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: hit a speed bump in his career like let happened here. 143 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: You know, he had a horrible offensive line sack forty 144 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: or more times each of the last four seasons, right, 145 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: but he still didn't become a turnover machine. Right, So 146 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: that's what you I think all of these things have 147 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: to be taken into context. It'll tell you more about 148 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: who Matt Ryan is. I do believe as quarterbacks get older, 149 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: they need you need to be better around them. You know, 150 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: they expect him to walk in and carry the team, 151 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: and his fifteenth season, not even John Elway did that. Right. 152 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: As Peyton got a little bit older, he needed more 153 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 1: around him. He had a lot of around him his 154 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: whole career. But you need that. Yeah, and look, Tom 155 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: Brady takes less money. You know, he's what the fifteenth 156 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: highest paid quarterback on the perannual basis. So because he 157 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: knows who's he needs more around they know, give it 158 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: to Chris Godwin, give it to Mike Evans. Let's make 159 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: sure Grons get his ship. Because he knows that he 160 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: gets older, you need more around him. I think the 161 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: same is true for Matt Ryan. But I tell you 162 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: he will uphold his end of the day. I want 163 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: to talk about Jonathan Taylor a little bit on the 164 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: offensive side. Obviously a huge year last year. Everybody's fearing him, 165 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: but defensive coordinators got a year to sit on this guy, 166 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: and what the Colts do offensively, you're expecting the same 167 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: kind of turnout from that running back. Listen, we were 168 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: high on Jonathan Taylor when he came out of Wisconsin. 169 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: A good friend of mine, former ESPN analysts Mary Hodge 170 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: and I we were talking about the running backs coming. 171 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: This guy's the one I mean, and we talk about 172 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: the way that he same foot, same shoulder upon contact. 173 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: He protects himself very well. He's the guy I know 174 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 1: people talking about managing the work club. Watch him. He 175 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: gets better as the game goes on. Right, the more 176 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 1: carries he gets, the better he gets. And Bill Belichick 177 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: is having fits when he has the right defense on. 178 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: They had the right guy in the box, had the 179 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: right guy in a hole, he still made him miss 180 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: right the deep. The linebackers right in the same hole. 181 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,719 Speaker 1: That's how special he is. Don't worry about him. This 182 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:58,079 Speaker 1: only year in number three, because you get running backs 183 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: a year number seven, that's when you start the had 184 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: another guy into the miggs. Make sure you got you know, 185 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: give him another player to spell you're number three. This 186 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: dude he's still learning. Then he's that good eighteen hundred, 187 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: led the league in rushing and can catch it out 188 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: of the backroom. But Hines need to get the ball more. 189 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 1: And when it comes to pass coverage. If I'm a quarterback, 190 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 1: you know we're going through our progression. Everybody knows to 191 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: check down. Some of these quarterbacks going to the checkdown 192 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: guy way too late. They wait to the linebacker snug 193 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: ups real close, and then they tried to do a 194 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: checkdown and the running back they sitting there saying, Bro, 195 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: you saw me standing over here for the last five minutes. 196 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: Why didn't you give me the ball while I have space? 197 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: Right and that with certain runners like Christian McCaffrey and 198 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: Nheim Hines, those kind of elusive running backs, I'm gonna 199 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: go through my progression a little bit sooner because I 200 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 1: know if I get it to him with at least 201 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: three yards of separation or five yards of separation between 202 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: he and the next defender, that guy is gonna hit 203 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: the first down marker. And that's how you keep the 204 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: chains moving. So I do believe you know I've watched 205 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: the last game. I think Matt's learning the guys around 206 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: him a little bit, and he's gonna understand who he 207 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: has in nahem Hinz. You go from seventy catches one 208 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: year to thirty. You can't you can't have that. He's 209 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: too good. We're joined by Solomon Wilcots of Serious XM. 210 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: One of the things you mentioned, you know, with Jonathan 211 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: Taylor not worrying about him, kind of the other guy 212 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: that's in that echelon of running backs is the guy 213 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: in the AFC South and Derrick Henry. I think it's 214 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: kind of a runaway between those two as being the 215 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: guys when you look at the other skill positions in 216 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: the AFC South. One of the guys we have here 217 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: in Michael Pittman Junior. A J. Brown's no longer in Tennessee. 218 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: Where do you rank him as far as the AFC 219 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: South goes? Like? I think Michael Pittman Junior, I don't 220 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: even think he's reached the pinnacle of what you could 221 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: ever expect from him. Got better last year, Yeah, it's 222 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: what everybody wanted to see, and I think he's I 223 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: think he'll continue to get better. Now. Look when you 224 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: keep changing the guy who's throwing the ball to him, 225 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: how rapid you think his broth that is going to be? Now? 226 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: He did it last year. I think I think people 227 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: should give him a lot more credit the fact that 228 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 1: you change the quarterback who was throwing it to him, 229 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: but yet his production still spiked, and I think you'll 230 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 1: see it happened again. And so I just think he 231 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: has the chance to be the dominant receiver within this division. 232 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: You and I both know that's not saying much because 233 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: you look at the other two. Houston's got nothing, right 234 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: Jacksonville they got a few guys. I mean, they overpay 235 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: a guy like Christian Kirk, right, and the eighteen million 236 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: looks like a bargain now, by the way, right, but 237 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: they signed. Your eyebrows went up. But now, as you 238 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:42,719 Speaker 1: see there today, that's like wide receiver two money, that's 239 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: not wide receiver one. But eighteen million year, that's what 240 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 1: the numbers are. There's ten guys tim wide receivers in 241 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,559 Speaker 1: this league that make twenty million dollars a year or 242 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: more in Christian Kirk isn't one of them. So but no, 243 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: so there's no doubt I think he has a chance 244 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 1: to be one of the top receivers in this division. 245 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: But you know, I'll also throw out the caveat is 246 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 1: that I think that position is lacking within the division. Okay, 247 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: Solomon Wilcox right there, the host of opening Drive on 248 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: Sirius XM NFL Radio. Bounce around that AFC South for 249 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: me real quick, let's start in Jacksonville. No, Urban Meyer incomes, 250 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 1: Doug Peterson, Trevor Lawrence second year, go through the other 251 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: three teams, and what do you like? Is this a 252 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: two team race for this division title? Or is it more? 253 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 1: I think it's a two team race. Um. You know, look, 254 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 1: I think Jacksonville is they just gotta steady the ship. Uh, 255 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 1: make football fun again, make it become competitive again. You know, 256 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,119 Speaker 1: I know people living in Indianapolis c Jacksonville as being competitive, 257 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 1: but you know, for the most part, they have not 258 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: been right. But I get it. I get where I'm at. 259 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 1: You know, I just know where I'm at. We've got 260 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: that Week two game in Jacksonville circle. Yeah, I'm not 261 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 1: gonna I'm not gonna sit here and disrespect Jacksonville. You 262 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: know you watched Week seventeen last year. I said, hey, no, 263 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: I mean I was as heartbroke and as anyone in 264 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:04,559 Speaker 1: that game. I'm you know, there's no way that should happen. 265 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: But listen, I tell people all the time. This is football. 266 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: The one thing that we love about our sport is 267 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 1: on any given Sunday. Now, I don't care who you playing. 268 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: You're not live in Cincinnati. I'm a Joe Burrow guy. 269 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 1: And you know I'm telling all the people in Kansas City. Look, 270 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: we don't have to beat you, you know, best four 271 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: out of seven. We just need to get you on 272 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 1: one day. Right, And that's exactly what happened. So that's 273 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: I mean, that's that's a caveat that's what we know 274 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: about our game. That's why I loved to play football, 275 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,079 Speaker 1: because you know, you go, you take the field with 276 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: the sling shot, going up against Goliath. You know you 277 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: got a shot to win because we only need to 278 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 1: take them down this one day. Right. And uh you know, now, 279 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: if it was four out of seven, best team gonna 280 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: win every time. But that's not football. Football is not 281 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:50,679 Speaker 1: best team going win today. No team that plays the 282 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: best today. The teams that don't fracture and don't crack, 283 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 1: that's who's gonna win today, right, And we can get you. 284 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:01,319 Speaker 1: The fracture right calls a little doubt, a little jab 285 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 1: to the gut. Next thing, you know, you're getting off 286 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: the canvas, picking up your mouthpiece. That's how, that's how, 287 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: that's how you take down the big boys. Look, the 288 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: Houston Texans are one of those teams that I don't 289 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: know what they're doing. I know they make other teams 290 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: better by giving them their players. DeAndre Hopkins, J. J. Watt. 291 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: You know, let's send let's see what we can send them. 292 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 1: Let's do see where we can see in all these 293 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: good players. So here then zone who you're rooting for. 294 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: But you know, they're one of those teams. I think 295 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: sooner or later they're gonna figure it out. They've got 296 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: a very young team. They got a very young quarterback. 297 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: Love he's gonna play good. He's gonna bring you a 298 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: good defense. You know what you're gonna get. You're gonna 299 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: get a lot of Cover two. They're gonna tackle really well. 300 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: They're gonna try to keep everything in front of them. 301 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: Our league has evolved a little bit. If you don't 302 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: have more nuance and a cover two scheme, we're gonna 303 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: we got to what we call cover two beaters. We 304 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: can beat that. Particularly if you're a middle linebacker is 305 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: a good cover guy, we can isolate him down the middle. 306 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: Of the field make plays. They're very few Luke keek 307 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: leaves that can that can really cover that kind of stuff. 308 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: So I think Houston's that's why I know they've they've 309 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: two team racey Tennessee. Titan's gonna put up a fight. 310 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: I don't care. And even without a J. Brown, They're 311 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: gonna put up a fight because they've got good play 312 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: on both the offense and defensive line, just like the 313 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: Indianapolis coach. That's why these two teams there are mirror 314 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: images of one another outside of the quarterback, and that's 315 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: where I think this. I think the Coats with Matt Ryan, 316 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: I think can now take a step above. But you 317 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: gotta stop Chris henry Man and who's that's work. That's 318 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: why you are a Cincinnati guy. You mean Derek Herry 319 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you're right, Yeah, there, you gotta 320 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: stop Derek Herring. Yeah, you know that. That's a lot 321 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: of work, just trying to stop him alone, that's a 322 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: lot of work. But look, you got a good defense 323 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: here with the Indianapolis coach. You know you got to 324 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: be able to how many times have you played them 325 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 1: where you had him stop and then he gets that 326 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: one run late right right. That's it's it's it can 327 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 1: break your back. I don't know that you fear Ryan Tannahill, 328 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: I don't know that you know that now with the receiver, 329 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: I don't know that you really fear that. You know, 330 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: it's it's gonna be It's gonna be very interesting. It's 331 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: a two team race right now. Yep, And hey, you know, 332 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 1: go get it. I get it. Love what you're talking about. 333 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: Solomon Wilcox hosts an opening drive on Serious x NFL Radio. 334 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: I think you like this football team. Know, I'm glad 335 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: we had a chance to catch up today, and I 336 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: love the two team race analogy or Look, I love 337 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: your general manager. I think he's a great talent evaluator. 338 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: He's gonna always give you a chance to win. Your 339 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: coach is phenomenal, and I think matches up with some 340 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: of the great coaches in our lake. There's no doubt 341 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: about it. Look, when you have a different quarterback five 342 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: straight years starting not that's having to overcome some things, 343 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: and I think this team has done that. This team 344 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: was one game away. You know, you gotta get that 345 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: leader is hard to find. You can get. There are 346 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: a lot of great passers but they're not a lot 347 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: of great leaders at the quarterback position, and you got one. Now, 348 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: you got one who's truly a great leader. That's why 349 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: he survived this long. So why he's been in the 350 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 1: league this long and been as a productive You don't 351 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: get to become a league MVP at quarterback and not 352 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: be a leader, right, this guy is one of you know, 353 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 1: I don't want to knock any of the past guys, 354 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 1: but you've had some guys who can throw it. But 355 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: what do they ever won? What do they let me? 356 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 1: You know, let me think about it. You know, you 357 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: look good. You can throw it from here today. Okay, 358 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: I read it. But when it when a fight breaks 359 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 1: out on Sunday and that game gets closed, do they 360 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: rise or do they fall? That's what you need as 361 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: a That's what a quarterback really is, not just a 362 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: guy who's like a picture that you put show to 363 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: pads home. Hey, act as if what he says is true. 364 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: He's been in this league and involved with football for 365 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: a lot of your Solomon Wilcox appreciate the time. Catch 366 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: him out again host the opening drive on Serious x 367 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 1: NFL Radio.