1 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to NFL Daily, where we're still getting over Nick 2 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,080 Speaker 1: Benito sacking us earlier this week. 3 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 2: I am Greg Rosenthal. 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: I am here in the Talk Sports studios talking to 5 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: one of my favorite analysts in the game. Yes, it's 6 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: an extra show. We're here in London. I wanted to 7 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: have Ali on more than once. Allie Connolly, Welcome, and 8 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: I love the fact that you are no longer really 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,959 Speaker 1: on Twitter or any social media, so you have no 10 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: idea what I'm talking about when it comes to Nick Benito. 11 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 3: I only know through listening to this show. Getting out 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 3: of the takest fit is fun. You getting burned by 13 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 3: the quickest play off the ball in the NFL is 14 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 3: one of the highlights of my season. 15 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: Totally burned. And the sad thing is I talked him up. Okay, 16 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: I gotta get over it, but just people just keep 17 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: bringing up. So Allie Connolly runs one of the best 18 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: substacks and podcasts in the game, The Read Optional Go Subscribe. 19 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: It is the best, most in depth if you're really 20 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: into football podcasts out there with John Ledyard and Ali 21 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: also writes these great pieces as part of the substack. 22 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: So we're going to go over just four weeks in 23 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: back and forth, just some surprises, and we only have 24 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: a little bit of time here, so let's just get 25 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: going with it. 26 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 2: I'll have you start. 27 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 3: The number one surprise to me is the efficiency of 28 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 3: the Patriots passing game. I've had high expectations as the 29 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 3: McDaniels may polish it, but this has exceeded my expectations. 30 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 2: How excited are you feeling? 31 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: Are you just sucking up to me knowing I'm a 32 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: Patriots fans going with this as you're like your first thing. 33 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 3: No, it's kind of a pad in the bag because 34 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 3: I did mean as pod in the offseason, I did 35 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 3: the quarterback draft while you picked for the next three years, 36 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 3: and I think I took Drake May like fourth overall. 37 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 3: I was kind of having an out of body experience, 38 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 3: and I think I took him full. So I'm trying 39 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 3: to rev my own, you know, crank the juice. 40 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: Of Josh McDaniels has done a really good job watching 41 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: them every week. That just looks like, oh yeah, this 42 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: looks like a highly schemed offense that knows how to 43 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: get receivers open. What have you seen that he's done 44 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: to help Drake May? 45 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 3: Specifically, the thing that really stands out is how expansive 46 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 3: it is, how sophisticated it is, how much new stuff 47 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,359 Speaker 3: there is every week. And I thought, when McDaniel's got there, 48 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 3: it's really this fusion of here's all the glorious stuff. 49 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 3: When we're in the passing game, it's all the Brady goodness, 50 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 3: and then in the wrong game, I'm going to take 51 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 3: all the camstuff I around from twenty twenty and it's 52 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 3: the first time micro as a coach, I've been able 53 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 3: to fuse those two ideas together. But the volume and 54 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 3: the amount of different patches every week, that's not something 55 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 3: I kind of associated with. Drake maker me into the season, 56 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,679 Speaker 3: I thought maybe he would be a little bit overwhelmed 57 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 3: by all the bradiness of the passing game and it 58 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 3: would take maybe two years of the partnership to really 59 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 3: tap into everything. So they mount they put on his plate, 60 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 3: and how successful and how effortless. A lot of it 61 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 3: looks for me guy all wide open, to be fair, 62 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 3: but the effortless of him running the whole operation stands 63 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 3: out to me. 64 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 1: He's so young and the Drake may believers in the 65 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: draft of which you were one. Nate Tice was certainly 66 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: one always thought he should have gotten more credit for 67 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: how he read the field, like how smart he was. 68 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: How is that showing up, because there are moments still 69 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: like that, the turnovers as well as he played in 70 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh game. Other than the turnovers, like there are 71 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: plays where he fritzes out a little bit. What have 72 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: you seen in terms of him having that balance of 73 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: like being that incredible athlete and just. 74 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 2: Doing kind of what McDaniels wants him to do. 75 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 3: I think you're just gonna have to live with that 76 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 3: being two Also boneheaded plays a game, but that's down 77 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 3: from the five to four that was in good weeks 78 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 3: last season, and furth long than I thought he would be. 79 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 3: Everything is just so fast with him so quick, the 80 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 3: decision making, knowing where to go with the ball. His 81 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 3: eyes are never in the wrong place. Now every makes 82 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 3: a good decision. Once he gets the is kind of 83 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 3: a different conversation. But he knows immediately what to attack 84 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 3: and does it really quickly. And that's just not what 85 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 3: was happening last season. I mean, it was a mess 86 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 3: anyway all through last season, behind the scenes, obviously on 87 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 3: the field. I just I'm surprised he looks so comfortable, 88 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 3: and I'm surprised how much they've put on his plate. 89 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: Solely, I'm excited that he gets a national stage against 90 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: the Bills defense it's not playing that well. 91 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 2: I think that could be a fun, high scoring game. 92 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: I do like there is part of me that is 93 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,799 Speaker 1: watching it and can't quite believe that a very effective 94 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: offense exists in the year twenty twenty five in the 95 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: NFL without a great offensive line in particular, and with 96 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: Hunter Henry probably as the key like pass catcher on 97 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: the team. Like it's Hunter Henry, it's Digs a little 98 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: bit now, but like the offense kind of goes through 99 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: Hunter Henry, and this is an effective way of like 100 00:04:58,080 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 1: doing business. 101 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 2: The offense goes through May. 102 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 3: His threat as a downhill runner makes them essentially plus 103 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 3: one in every area in the field because people are 104 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 3: terrified of him running downhill and they've flashed that early 105 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 3: on with some of the option games stuff, and so 106 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 3: it just broadens the field for every defense. And so 107 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 3: you get why it's Hunter Henry who is not quick 108 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 3: off the ball wide open eight yards down the field 109 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:25,119 Speaker 3: basically every other play. So I think that you're seeing 110 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 3: with May this like force multiplying effect that the really 111 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 3: great ones have, and it's just strange to see guys 112 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 3: that open when the talent is not all the way there. 113 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 2: And the connection with. 114 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 3: Digs Now from last week in particular, I think that's 115 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 3: really ramping up. They have great chemistry. May may already 116 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,359 Speaker 3: be on the three best back shoulder throw guys in 117 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 3: the league. That's actually a pretty short list at the 118 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 3: moment because Aaron's not throwing them so well in more 119 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 3: these days. But he just feels like the complete full 120 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 3: field threat individually the way you get with the really 121 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 3: great ones Alan Lamar, and it's just you get the 122 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 3: consistent that One of the things I do love the 123 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 3: grendular things about him. He's such a power thrower, and 124 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 3: you love recognizes when he has to take pays off 125 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 3: the ball. Everything about him slows down, like you can 126 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 3: see him thinking, oh no, I've got to be really 127 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 3: slow on this one. Josh has told me I got 128 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 3: one to and I hit the checkdown, and he just 129 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 3: seems bored of the easy stuff, but he actually he 130 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 3: gets to and does the easy stuff. Compared to when 131 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 3: you watch sometimes Daniels and particularly Caleb, it's like they're 132 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 3: just not interested in the easy work. 133 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: They want to do the really difficult stuff. 134 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: If we just clipped that last forty five seconds and 135 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: sent it to Bill Simmons, he would have you. 136 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 2: On his podcast. So we need to do this. 137 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: We need to sell some subscriptions while you're here. We 138 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: only have so much time, you know, together. How is 139 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: the Will Campbell experience in your mind so far? Some 140 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: good run game reps for sure. To this untrained die, the. 141 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 3: Run game reps are legit, and getting him out into 142 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 3: space is like a prominent part of the offense that 143 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 3: there is a shelf life on that stuff. I alway 144 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 3: thinking about this with Penny Sewel, where they'll have three 145 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 3: or four plays a season where it's all out in 146 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 3: space and it's usually like Sunday night football or a 147 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 3: primetime game, and so I think people believe that's like 148 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 3: a core element of the Lion's offense when it's like, really, 149 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 3: that's four or five plays a season and he's just 150 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 3: a complete freak and ninety percent of his work is 151 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 3: doing the dirty offensive line work at the highest level 152 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 3: you can in the league. With Campbell, I still have 153 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 3: real concerns about absorbing knock back power and not even 154 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 3: against a Jared ver So, the truly great power rush. 155 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 3: I just don't think you can quite sink and bend 156 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 3: the way the real great ones can to absorb power, 157 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 3: and so it's more of a finesse game at Bradbury's 158 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 3: been really good inside talk about surprise of the season, 159 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 3: having like a quality center and a league where there's 160 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 3: like three good centers at the moment, that's been a surprise. 161 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 3: But Campbell specifically, I still just like sometimes you get 162 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 3: in your gut, I'm like, I think he could be 163 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 3: a really really gifted guard and you could unlock more 164 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 3: in the offense with him at guard than just trying 165 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 3: to force tackle. Because you took him at a premier 166 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 3: spot in the draft. 167 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: My hope was just can he be Anthony Costanzo, Not 168 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: the same style, but like that level of player Bernard Rhymean, 169 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: that'd be fine. 170 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 2: I'd be fine, But I think he could be Joe Toney. 171 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: God, that's fair, Okay, my first surprise, and I'll speed 172 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: it up. It's kind of the teams that are bad 173 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: at rushing the ball, so it's like the whole offseason, it's. 174 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 2: The year, you know, now where everyone's going to run and. 175 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: It's like maybe the defenses were more ready for that 176 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: than we think. First of all, and then it's specifically 177 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: the teams that are bad at it. Some of them 178 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: are injuries. The Buccaneers being this bad largely because of injuries. 179 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: The forty nine Ers, I'm not sure I'm going to 180 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: give them that big of a pass. They actually kind 181 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: of have their group back. They're one of the worst 182 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: running teams. The Cardinals are one of the worst running 183 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: teams in the league. And then if you look at 184 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 1: the teams that go heaviest twelve personnel. Everyone loves talking 185 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: about twelve personnel, the extra tight end on the field, 186 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: and it's up. 187 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 2: A few percentage points. 188 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: If you look at the teams that are the heaviest, 189 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: they're almost uniformly the worst running teams in the league 190 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: right now, which I find interesting. So the Browns are 191 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: in that mix, the Bears are in that mix, the Cardinals, 192 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 1: the Ravens are in that mix. The Packers are surprisingly 193 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: bad running team. They're not as much twelve I don't 194 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 1: think that the Chiefs are another team. Like to me, 195 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 1: I'm just grouping all these teams together and curious what 196 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: you think about. Like some of the teams specifically and 197 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: why these running games aren't working. 198 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, they each have their own particular challenges. 199 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 3: I think something that's important to note is if you 200 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 3: just isolate the run game as a standalone in twenty 201 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 3: twenty five, it's really difficult to rip something away from it. 202 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,319 Speaker 3: If you don't bring you almost need to combine like 203 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 3: wors success rate with play action explosiveness because they're only 204 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 3: investing in the rung game to such a degree to 205 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 3: hit play action explosives to make it look, smell, feel 206 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 3: like they really intend on running the ball, and particularly 207 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 3: in twelve, to try and get some of the mismatch 208 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 3: stuff by getting a shall linebacker on the field. So 209 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,319 Speaker 3: it's like when you see the Sea Oaks run game 210 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 3: figures the pretty poll for a team that have brought 211 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,719 Speaker 3: in Clint Kuba, can you expect to be a very 212 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 3: good rushing team. But they are hitting chunk plays all 213 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 3: over the place, specifically because they're in a formation, in 214 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 3: a set, in a look that is telling you we 215 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 3: want to run the ball. So as long as your 216 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 3: investment you get the payoff in the play action game, 217 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 3: that to me is like perfectly fine. It's if the 218 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 3: play action game is poor and the wrong game is poor, 219 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 3: You're in trouble. And it's not the having a good 220 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 3: running attack alone creates the play action game, but it's 221 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 3: do you have enough variation, enough different looks in the 222 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 3: way you tried to run the ball. If you're to 223 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 3: silid as we do one thing, we are a wide 224 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 3: zone team, that's trouble. That's trouble for everyone. If you 225 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 3: have a really varied rung game and it's just pretty poor, 226 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 3: which is what the books have, you can at least 227 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 3: get to the play action shots. 228 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: So maybe the Packers would be an example of like, yeah, 229 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: it's not totally clicking, and injuries are certainly a big 230 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: part of that, but it is setting up like formationally 231 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: what else we're doing. 232 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 2: The pack is in particular, it's tough. Fine. 233 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,559 Speaker 3: Lafloor is like a demigod of my life. I love 234 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 3: Matt Lafleur, but he he's after Sunday night, even a 235 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 3: clock management. He's put together some pretty ropie game plans 236 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 3: by his standards. I think if you gave him some 237 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 3: truth serm, he would say, that's not some of my 238 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 3: best work. 239 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 2: The game plan against. 240 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 3: The the Browns in particular was like a Hall of Fame, 241 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 3: bad one for him, which I'm sure he would want back. 242 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 3: So I think there's as much as that has gone 243 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 3: into it, Like this situational play calling is pretty poor. 244 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 3: The game planning against the opponent as not being like, 245 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 3: let's attack a weakness. It's like, we're just going to 246 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 3: do what we do, and that's just never been the 247 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 3: way he's rolled. 248 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: Maybe a team that will benefit from the week off, 249 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: yeah right now, but yeah, like I don't know, just 250 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: see like just seeing like the Cardinals make no sense 251 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: with a running game this bad to me. It feels 252 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: like they're a little dead on arrival. If that's the case, 253 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:50,559 Speaker 1: the forty nine ers feel a little I know they're 254 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: three and one, they'll figure it out if they get 255 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,319 Speaker 1: everyone healthy, but they feel a little dead. While we're 256 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 1: talking Packers, I'll just throw out my second one too, 257 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: which is that like the Packers didn't get a win 258 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: in a two games sample against the Browns and the Cowboys, Like, 259 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: I know you had them winning the Super Bowl. 260 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 2: I believe. 261 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: I think you had them winning the Super Bowl before 262 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: the Michael Parsons Jakes. 263 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 3: I mean, and I've done that now for like three 264 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 3: years in Okay, so I'm just going down with the 265 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 3: ship until it's proven correct. 266 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:19,839 Speaker 2: Like what how did that happen? 267 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 3: Like? 268 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 2: What do you think about these last two weeks? 269 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 3: The last two, like I said, the Browns one being 270 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 3: so many penalties and just a pretty poor game plan 271 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 3: on offense against a team that can only really score 272 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 3: ten points in a game on offense is a bad one. 273 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 3: The Cowboys one being the clock management. They're going up 274 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 3: against maybe the most cohesive offense in the NFL, and 275 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 3: it shows maybe some of the concerns with the Packers 276 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 3: defensively for the fun and joy of all the creativity 277 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 3: on the back end and having microing those guys up 278 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 3: front of the creativity in the in the pressure game 279 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,319 Speaker 3: when it's just one on one third down, who's got 280 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 3: the best players? I still don't know if they stack 281 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 3: up with that, And that's where I would get consumer. Okay, 282 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 3: if they have to go into the link in the 283 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 3: playoffs and it's third down and they've got aj Brown, 284 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 3: what are we actually doing? 285 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 2: Who do we put on Dallas? 286 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 3: Gotta to figure that stuff out, So that'll be my 287 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 3: concient but I still think the underlying profile of what 288 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 3: they do explosive plays against good teams being able to 289 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 3: create pressure with full So that's like the Super Bowl profile. 290 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm not too worried. I think they would have 291 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: been my Super Bowl pick. I had the Lions, and 292 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: I wasn't gonna just change it. Like I'm not. I'm 293 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: not worried about the Packers because of those two games. 294 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: But when I was thinking, like, what was the most 295 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: surprising thing that happened like that, that pretty much was it? 296 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 2: Right now? 297 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: You said something interesting there though, that the Cowboys were 298 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: the most cohesive offense potentially in the NFL. 299 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 2: Is that is that on your list? 300 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 3: No? Can we talk about that too, Like my guy 301 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 3: Clayton Adams goes in, they ultimately have the best run 302 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 3: game in football. You go look at the Codinals run 303 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 3: games not looking so pretty. 304 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: So you say cohesive like you're talking about the marriage 305 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: of the passing game and the running game, because I've 306 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: talked a lot about how just watching Dak I don't 307 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: know if you like, I think. 308 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 2: He's been the best quarterback in the league this year. 309 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: If I had to choose one, it's tough to choose, 310 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: like to not choose Josh Allen. So whatever, you're just picking, 311 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: like two amazing quarterbacks. But that's I love watching the 312 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 1: style of that Dak plays like. But we haven't talked 313 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: a lot about the running game, Like what have you 314 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: seen in terms of the running game and how that 315 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: works with. 316 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 2: The passing game? 317 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's they do everything and they were not a 318 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 3: very good gap oriented base run team basically ever since 319 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 3: Dax being that, it's always been zone and kicking and 320 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 3: going and stretching the field and then he would boot 321 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 3: out then and then when Dak's legs started to go 322 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 3: and he stopped using the legs, it was no longer 323 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 3: even effective. No one respected the boots out to the now, 324 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 3: they've got Clayton Adams, as we mentioned, who is the 325 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 3: go to guy for like you want to build a 326 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 3: power spread system at downhill running attack system. He's the 327 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 3: one guy in the league right now and has been 328 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 3: honestly for three full seasons. And you see the impact 329 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 3: on the Cardinals when he left. The thing I just 330 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 3: love about them is there's a rhythm to create off 331 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 3: the one you just feel in your bones when it's 332 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 3: like this thing rolling down a hill where it's like 333 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 3: they just feel like a freight train. The rhythm they 334 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 3: have in and out of the huddle, bouncing between the 335 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 3: wrong game to play action. How it all ties together 336 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 3: to Duck, you know, drop back game from an assented 337 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 3: to Duck seeing the field and spreading it around. They've 338 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 3: been able to marry up like him wanting to be 339 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 3: paid to Monning with him accepting like, well, there has 340 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 3: to be some movement emotion in this offense pre snap, 341 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 3: which he's just never really allowed since kellam Moole left. 342 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 2: I don't think people. 343 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: And I would include myself in this, have really wrapped 344 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: their minds around the fact that they just put up 345 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: forty on the defense going into the week that I 346 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: would have said was the best defense in the league. 347 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: With Cavanti Turpin as their number two receiver, Gavante Williams 348 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 1: who's looked great but as their number one running back, 349 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: and massive injuries on the offensive line, like missing two 350 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: of their guys in the interior and benching they're left 351 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: tackle during that game. It's kind of a coaching masterpiece, 352 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: and I'm loving it because I was. I was kind 353 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: of high, not high, but I thought Brian Schottenheimer could 354 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: be a better head coach than he was a coordinator, 355 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: and the Adams higher and the fact that he's empowering 356 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: him that I think that was the worry in Dallas 357 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: was like are they going to let him. 358 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 2: Do this running game? 359 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: And I guess the answer is yes, based on like 360 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: the training camp I saw. It was the biggest mismatch 361 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: in any training camp possible was the Cowboys offense versus 362 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: the Cowboys defense every day. I think it just gave 363 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 1: them so much confidence after that month that no one. 364 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 3: Could tell them anything were moving to go for the 365 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 3: Lions defense. Being this good this fests it asks me 366 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 3: a little bit shook because I thought they would be 367 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 3: really good by like week eighteen and around into foam 368 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 3: for the playoffs, and it surprises me that they've been 369 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 3: able to get up to speed this quickly. 370 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 2: So what about them? 371 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: Because there's not like a secondary pass rusher really other 372 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: than Aiden Hudgins, And so what are they doing that 373 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: makes it work? 374 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 3: I mean, Sheffood, to his credit, has basically said, now, 375 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 3: I love when coaches do this, like they've been waiting 376 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 3: in the sidelines and the wings for like work on 377 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 3: their philosophy and tinkering away. Then they get put in 378 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 3: the big boy chair and it's like I'm gonna do 379 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:11,640 Speaker 3: everything I think the old guy was doing wrong. I'm 380 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 3: going to throw everything Aaron Glenn did for the most 381 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 3: part and try and build my own style. 382 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 2: And that's where I thought it would take. 383 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 3: Some time to be like this push pull tension between 384 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 3: we know what's successful, we've run it for years, and 385 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:23,880 Speaker 3: then Shepper comes in and says, what we were doing 386 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 3: previously was pretty old fashioned, pretty outdated. You see it 387 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 3: now with the Jets, and it doesn't look so pretty 388 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 3: when you don't have Aiden Hutchinson up from We got 389 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 3: to be more of a pressure based team. We have 390 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 3: the blitz on earlier downs and he's brought them. If 391 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 3: you go and look at the best teams over the 392 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 3: past three seasons defensively, they all have kind of these 393 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 3: trigger points in terms of like early down blitz rates, 394 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 3: sim pressure rate, format pressure rate. They're above the threshold 395 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 3: for all of those best groups in the league to 396 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 3: get those pieces to fit into that right to wait, 397 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 3: they have obviously a crazy amount of talent. I just 398 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 3: thought that would take a lot of time before they 399 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,119 Speaker 3: could figure it out. And even in Week one, it 400 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 3: was pure ego coaching from Sheppy's dropping Hutchinson on third 401 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 3: down and it's like, Okay, this guy's a little over skis, 402 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,679 Speaker 3: it's a little bit too philosophy over the players. And 403 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 3: immediately it just course corrected and he's like, Okay, some 404 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 3: of the stuff I did was wrong. 405 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 2: Let's go play football. 406 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,959 Speaker 1: So you said, like a ridiculous amount of talent? What 407 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,439 Speaker 1: what Brian Branch stands out obviously, and Hutchinson is just 408 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: like premier players, what are you? 409 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 2: What are you seeing about? Like how they're using talent. 410 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 3: Kirby as well McNeil coming back the Lamar game plan, 411 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:32,160 Speaker 3: when we do like game plans of the year, which 412 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 3: you probably wouldn't do, but I certainly would do set 413 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 3: at home. 414 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: It is my goal if anyone from my heart is listening, 415 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: like I've been wanting to hire. 416 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 2: Ali Connelly for a while, and then we would do 417 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 2: game plans of the year. 418 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,160 Speaker 3: If you had told me off the week one when 419 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 3: I saw Kelvin Sheppard's game plan, which was all about 420 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 3: Kelvin Sheppard, which I accept and he's really articulate and 421 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 3: I think he's a fabulous coach, but it was all 422 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 3: about look at me. 423 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 2: It was a look at meat plan. 424 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 3: If you told me a few weeks later, he would 425 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 3: go against Top Monker and Lamar Jackson and undressed them. 426 00:18:58,800 --> 00:18:59,959 Speaker 2: How would it be flawed? 427 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: Do you remember where you were when Calvin Sheppard was 428 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: traded for Jerry Hughes one for one and I don't remember, no, 429 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: and like it was kind of like we don't want 430 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: it was kind of just like a mistake trade, like whoops, 431 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 1: we blew it. 432 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 2: And then Jerry. 433 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: Hughes went on to have like one of the most 434 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: underrated careers ever. And I bring this up roughly once 435 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 1: a month for some reason on this show. 436 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 2: Give me another surprise. I'm going back to you. The 437 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 2: Seahawks offense. 438 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 3: Okay, it was one of those ones where I could 439 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 3: understand the rationale of every individual move if you isolated 440 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 3: each move. And then when we got to the preseason, 441 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 3: I sat down, I looked at the death shot. I 442 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 3: was like, they looked like there was a quarterback and 443 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 3: the receiving Collux was I'm not sure the line is improved. 444 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 3: And then when you start seeing them play the games, 445 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 3: you see how every piece slots in together and everything 446 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,200 Speaker 3: amplifies one another, particularly I think with the receip even 447 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 3: call Smith and Jig but go into a whole different level. 448 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 3: But them having kind of a security blanket middle of the field. 449 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 3: Guy in Cooper cub Holton being the deep threat. What 450 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 3: they're doing with the tight ends to kind of play 451 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 3: underneath than in Jig was just your three level. We 452 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 3: found a superstar type guy. And then Donald is just 453 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 3: playing unconscious conscious football. 454 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 1: Talk to me more about Donald, because I do get 455 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: the feeling. I think he's playing even better than he 456 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:29,439 Speaker 1: was playing in Minnesota. He's doing the easy stuff, but 457 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: he's he's making a lot of like tough throws under pressure. 458 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: He does seem more calm when when he's under pressure 459 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:36,640 Speaker 1: this year. 460 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, it does. Every single throw is effectively in rhythm. 461 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 3: And then the one or two times a game that 462 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:45,959 Speaker 3: he's not on rhythm, he's making Matthew Stafford throws and 463 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 3: there's not a single throw he doesn't believe like I 464 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,199 Speaker 3: can rip it down the field. There's a there's a 465 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 3: great shot in the last game where it's double anything 466 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,440 Speaker 3: off play action is out the hand immediately and there's 467 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 3: guy's at double coved and you can see him thinking, 468 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 3: if I just put it on someone's face, musk, I 469 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 3: can split the bull coverage and it's like okay, Buddy 470 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 3: sum Donald and he rips it and you can do it. 471 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,719 Speaker 1: Yeah. We were at dinner the other night with our 472 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: friend Henry Hodgson and a couple of the people from 473 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: the NFL office. 474 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 2: They were like, what, what's the most surprising thing? Give 475 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:17,880 Speaker 2: me the two minute recap of this season? So where 476 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 2: I couldn't think of anything. The only thing I could 477 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 2: think of was. 478 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: Like, I don't know, Like I don't know if two 479 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: are the good teams. Like there's like ten pretty good teams, 480 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 1: but I don't I don't think right now, I don't 481 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: know if there's this big separation. But in my head, 482 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,439 Speaker 1: like the Seahawks are as good as any team in 483 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 1: the NFL right now. And then I saw this week 484 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 1: after that that they were number one in DVA at 485 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: least for now, and I was like, yeah, that kind 486 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: of checks out to me. They kind of do everything well. Yeah, 487 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: if I'm afraid that Sam d I'm gonna like forget 488 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:52,120 Speaker 1: Nick Benito. I'm gonna be wearing my anti Sam Donald bias, 489 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: like in Santa Clara in February. 490 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 3: At this rate, my only consume with them is some 491 00:21:57,119 --> 00:21:59,959 Speaker 3: of the Rung Games stuff. It is way more very 492 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 3: everything you would ever imagine with Clink Kuby, like the 493 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 3: first week was basically his dad's coal sheet plastered Uncle 494 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 3: the Seahawks, like he picked up the wrong copy for 495 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:09,679 Speaker 3: the game day and I was like, uh oh. And 496 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 3: then I was like, okay, that is gonna run the 497 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 3: Kuback offense. It looked pretty good. Then everyone else in 498 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 3: the defensive side will say, let's go call Waite Phillips, 499 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 3: get his old plans, and we'll beat the sun, you know, 500 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 3: over the head that way. And all of a sudden, 501 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,679 Speaker 3: now they've got this really varied rushing attack. It's not 502 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 3: all that effective. It does trigger some of the play 503 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 3: action stuff. I do have a fear that they'll just 504 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 3: revert into themselves and be like, the best thing we 505 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 3: can do is just give the ball to Kenneth Walker 506 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 3: and give him a chance to you know, plant and 507 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 3: cook and go, and just Donald is on such a 508 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 3: heater cannot sustain. But I do think they have the 509 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 3: best defense top the bomb in the NFL. Depth coaching talent. 510 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 3: I just think that will be the best group by 511 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 3: the end of the season. And if they don't need 512 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:46,879 Speaker 3: Donald to play at this kind of level to go 513 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:48,360 Speaker 3: and win multiple playoff games, right. 514 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:51,359 Speaker 1: I think the game we're gonna call together on Talk Sport. 515 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: Everyone should check it out. It'll be me and Ali 516 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:58,719 Speaker 1: and Will Gavin is a reminder how difficult it is 517 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: to build around defense in the NFL. 518 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 2: But the Seahawks are the perfect way to do it. 519 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 1: They have a really efficient and good offense to support 520 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,639 Speaker 1: that defense, like Darnold doesn't have to do everything, and 521 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: they have. 522 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:14,120 Speaker 2: An awesome special teams unit. 523 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 1: I don't know if that's going to continue all year, 524 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: but they've probably been the best special teams unit led 525 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,400 Speaker 1: by Jay Harbaugh, which leads me to my last surprise. 526 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 1: This is more of a take than I'm just going 527 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:23,679 Speaker 1: to throw by you and see what you think. Like, 528 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: is John Harbas still a good NFL head coach. 529 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 3: The thing that I don't like about the national conversation 530 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 3: about John Habball is they just bundle him in as, Oh, 531 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,639 Speaker 3: he's special teams guy CEO. Yeah, he's kind of fraudulent. 532 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,919 Speaker 3: He sits in on every single defensive staff meeting. He 533 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 3: builds the game plan on defense. The defense is an abomination, 534 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 3: and it's not the first time it's fall off the cliff. 535 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 3: Last season, the communication system was an absolute mess. He 536 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 3: had to call DMPs and be like, can you figure 537 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 3: out how to get plays to communicate for us? Like 538 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 3: that's what they drafted him in to do, essentially, and 539 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 3: no one ever criticized him for it. And it's like, Boh, 540 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 3: he's not in charge of that, He's just the head coach. 541 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:00,640 Speaker 3: Like no, he sits in every meeting his game plan 542 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 3: and it's falling apart two years in a row. 543 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 2: I think he does. 544 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: I mean, first of all, the head coach ultimately deserves 545 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: responsibility for for everything. But yes, he's done the hiring. 546 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: He's he has a big hand in that. I think 547 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 1: he's an intimidating guy and people like that come across 548 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: him or are a little afraid of him in a 549 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: way that they're not of other NFL coaches. Was just 550 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 1: interesting because he's not like a like a burly, huge 551 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 1: form of player. But there's just it's always been on 552 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: my raidar. There's something drill, suge and vibe. There's something 553 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 1: under the surface there that they don't really have fighting 554 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 1: places to pivot now, even if they just moved on 555 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: from Zachor And I imagine we will get something where 556 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: an advisor comes in or we get like the long 557 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 1: athletic piece that is. 558 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 2: Quietly behind the scenes. 559 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 3: Zachol was removed from some responsibilities and Pegano's taking on 560 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 3: some more. I imagine that's where we're heading with the thing. 561 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:51,439 Speaker 3: The talent has just gone now though, with all the 562 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 3: injuries and losing Matabuike is just brutal. 563 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, the game this week, they I think are missing 564 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,640 Speaker 1: their five highest paid players. 565 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,679 Speaker 2: I mean that's just like, what really can you do? 566 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:07,120 Speaker 1: They were they were on pay for the healthiest team 567 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 1: in the league last year, and now it's like the opposite. 568 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:11,120 Speaker 3: You can lose the talent and say, way, not as 569 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 3: talent as we should be. You can get lined up, 570 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 3: you can communicate, that's on the stuff. 571 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:18,360 Speaker 1: Okay, we're gonna do this game. We might have let's 572 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 1: let's talk. We only have a couple of minutes left. 573 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 1: But like I mentioned, these two defenses. I have now 574 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: drilled down a little bit watching the Browns my beloved 575 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:36,879 Speaker 1: aiden Huntington from two lane looking good two side player. Like, 576 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 1: one thing I thought about this year is how because 577 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: you can see it on the Dallas defense and you 578 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: can see it on the Green Bay defense, that I 579 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 1: may be underrated. Was just I shouldn't have the multiplying 580 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:49,680 Speaker 1: effect of a truly great one. 581 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 2: Great one and. 582 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 1: Watching Malik Collins play the best football of his life 583 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 1: and looking at this entire defensive line playing well around 584 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: Miles Garrett and this defense, like what what have you 585 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 1: seen out of the Browns defenses? Isaiah mcguireth too, I 586 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 1: think he kind of gets bundled in It is like, well, 587 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:06,920 Speaker 1: Miles is great, so that helps him out. No, he 588 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: in his own right is a really effective good play. 589 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,440 Speaker 1: They just have the great one and then they've got 590 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 1: three really good plays beside him, which is why they 591 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 1: just dominating everyone. And that's probably the most simplistic structurally 592 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 1: defensive the league in an era of everyone wants to 593 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: describe disguise and be creative and the coaches get all 594 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 1: applaudeds for that. 595 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 3: It's just four guys up front mauling everyone over and 596 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 3: over again. 597 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 2: And Alex Right is one of them. Like that watching. 598 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: The film and you just love to see it because 599 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: this team is not great, but Miles Garrett is playing 600 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 1: with just an energy that is insane. It just feels 601 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 1: like like there's not a play. And this was against 602 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:47,919 Speaker 1: the Lions, who have a good offensive line. There's there's 603 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:51,199 Speaker 1: not a play that like he doesn't impact that Like 604 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 1: I could find maybe like four in an entire. 605 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 2: Game, which is which is just crazy. 606 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 1: And the energy he has, like you can run away 607 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,160 Speaker 1: from him, but he tracks it on the back side. 608 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 1: It's I'm very excited to just go watch him live, 609 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: even even if people like aren't thrilled with the lowest 610 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: over under in any NFL game this year for Vikings Browns, and. 611 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 3: If he's not impacting the pocket on the play, he 612 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 3: impacts the play calling. They face the most screens of 613 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 3: any team of the last two seasons because people like, 614 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 3: let's just get the ball out as quick as possible, 615 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 3: lift the play another down, and not have him affect 616 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 3: things that way. It's just fun to see a defense 617 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,360 Speaker 3: base a we declare, these four guys are coming, let's 618 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 3: see if you can deal with it, and all four 619 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 3: guys are really good. It's no longer just that Miles 620 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 3: is sensational. It's like they've got a lot of talent 621 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 3: there and they roll through. I mean, they've run about 622 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 3: seven deep at this point. Mason Graham's the first round pick, 623 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:43,960 Speaker 3: and he's in the rotation more than he is like 624 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 3: the most impactful. 625 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:49,120 Speaker 2: One on one player, just so deep. I can't wait 626 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 2: to watch. 627 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 1: Him if we had if we had more time, I 628 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:53,879 Speaker 1: would talk about how much Mason Graham was on the 629 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: ground in that Lions game. 630 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:57,200 Speaker 2: But I'm trying to be nice. 631 00:27:57,880 --> 00:27:59,880 Speaker 1: The closer we get to this game, I think maybe 632 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 1: the Browns are actually gonna win, because how do you think, okay, 633 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 1: that line versus the Browns offensive The Vikings upfront versus 634 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:11,639 Speaker 1: the Browns offensive line is such a mismatch, and Dylan 635 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 1: Gabriel's the quarterback, And then on the flip side, I 636 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:16,119 Speaker 1: think it's even a bigger mess match with how banged 637 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 1: up the Vikings are, and it's going against Carson Wentz, 638 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:21,800 Speaker 1: who's I think been okay actually the last couple of 639 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 1: weeks on the Carson Wentz scale. But he's gonna freak 640 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 1: out certainly a handful of snaps like which quarterback. 641 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:29,960 Speaker 2: Do you think will could handle it better? 642 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 3: That's a tricky one. It's just so unknown with Dylan Gabriel. 643 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:36,640 Speaker 3: I actually think it will be good for Dylan Gabriel, 644 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 3: as still as this sounds full of the Browns, for 645 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 3: him to have a game where he looks really lost 646 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 3: and confused and is a bit in over his head. 647 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 2: I think that will actually work well. From long time. 648 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 3: I'm reminded of when Jordan Love first came into a 649 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 3: game against the Chiefs. If you remember that one his 650 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 3: SPACs just blew him apaw. He did not know what 651 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 3: was happening in the NFL, and so Love went away 652 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 3: and said, I'm dedicating my life to becoming the best 653 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,040 Speaker 3: guy pick up the blitz in pro football. 654 00:28:58,160 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 2: And he actually did it when he came up to 655 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 2: face the Eagles. He torched them. 656 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, but he had like a year to do that, 657 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: like Gabriel's is going to have to start. 658 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,479 Speaker 3: He did. But I think, you know this idea of 659 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 3: like saving a guy for the right defense, to right approach, 660 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 3: like go and see the most difficult thing, the most 661 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 3: complex thing, up front and learn how hard this is, 662 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 3: so when you face an easy one, it's going to 663 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 3: feel really easy. 664 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 2: And then I think, just get. 665 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 3: Into big personnel and the same way the Steelers tried 666 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 3: to do and say you put your big bodies on 667 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 3: the field, we'll put ours on. He can move a 668 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 3: little bit in a way that Flacco could not. Wentz 669 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 3: want me is horrifying. He's maybe the worst guy to 670 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 3: throw out there if there's just a foreman and go 671 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 3: a rush because he just panics anyway. 672 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 2: So if he's panicking and. 673 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 3: There's seven guys back there that this could be two 674 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:41,640 Speaker 3: four five turnover game. 675 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:43,560 Speaker 2: I think it's going to be ugly fun. 676 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 1: There's some games that are so ugly they become beautiful 677 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:51,600 Speaker 1: and that's the game we are going to call on Sunday. Yes, 678 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: it'll be the Will Gavin of football games. Thank you 679 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: Ali again everyone check out the read optional. Was really 680 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 1: glad that we could squeeze in this extra show. 681 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 2: It's been a great week and. 682 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: A half over in Ireland and now the UK. 683 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 2: We have one more show to go. 684 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: We will be doing our Sunday night recap in the 685 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 1: Talk Sports studios. 686 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 2: I will be with Will and Allie. 687 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: We will see you Sunday night.