1 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Welcome to playmakers everyone. I'm Haley Elwood. It's Week two. 2 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: The Dallas Cowboys are coming into LA to face the 3 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: Chargers for the Bolts home opener. So joining me today 4 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: is Jerry Epstein. She is USA Today's NFL reporter who 5 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: also covers those Dallas Cowboys. Joy, thank you for coming on, 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: Thanks for having me. Haley, excited to be here. Yeah, 7 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: so we will get to this matchup. It should be 8 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: a really good one. But I kind of wanted to 9 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: backtrack start a little bit with you in your role. 10 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:37,919 Speaker 1: Like I said, you cover the Cowboys, but you also 11 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: cover the broader NFL. What does it kind of like 12 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: to focus on both simultaneously. Yeah, it's a great question. 13 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 1: I often tell people that during the season, I would 14 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: say I'm usually about nine percent Cowboys focus, and then 15 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: when you get into the offseason and lately the postseason, 16 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: given the Cowboys luck, then I'm about half and half, 17 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: which I like because I think that, especially relatively early 18 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: in my career, to be able to go deep on 19 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,119 Speaker 1: a subject, then I can really try and master it. 20 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: But then once I understand who the Cowboys are as 21 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: people and as an organization, and what the trends are, 22 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: how can I go tell the stories in a broader league, 23 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: whether that's as you and I discussed looking into scouting trends, 24 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: looking into I remember one of my favorite stories I 25 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: wrote here, which was so random, but Patrick Mahomes, science 26 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 1: is an extension. And if you remember, Schefter was actually 27 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: scooped by the liquor store manager. Someone from the Chiefs 28 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,559 Speaker 1: organization had gone in to buy some dom hair and yone, 29 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: and so I'm calling the liquor store and talking to 30 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: her about what it was like figuring out that Schefter's 31 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: coming in, And that was fun and it was something 32 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: random and quirky, but just trying to find that niche. 33 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: And other times it's more serious, like following the victim 34 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: of Chief's former linebackers coach brut Reid's or car crash 35 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: and the five girls who's in a coleman staying in 36 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: touch with her family. But I think, and I'm sure 37 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: you feel the same way, Haley, so much of covering 38 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: then fell in sports is covering people in a society, 39 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: and so I like this just allows us to explore 40 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: those angles in different ways. That's such a great point. 41 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: And one of those stories you mentioned was on scouting 42 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: it was about the twelve female scouts that are currently 43 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: in the NFL. I loved it, and I'm so excited 44 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,959 Speaker 1: to talk to you about that piece because you said 45 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: in your story they're not really breaking barriers. They're thriving 46 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: in this world right now and in this league. But 47 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 1: what did it mean to tell their story and really 48 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: share it? Absolutely, it's funny. I tend to get a 49 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: little overambitious with my reporting sometimes, so I ended up 50 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: talking to twelve women for this story, all of whom 51 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: are in scouting. And it was fun because I think, 52 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm excited to talk to scouts generally and 53 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: women generally, and then you come together and it was like, yes, 54 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: this was a story about a trend of women empowerment 55 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: and understanding women can do this job. But it was 56 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: also a story where we got a lot of x's 57 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: and os and scouting in a way that scouts often 58 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: aren't willing to share on the record. And I think 59 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: I know of at least three women who have been 60 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: promoted in scouting departments since, and so I think what 61 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: that tells you is it's not just that people are 62 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: giving women this opportunity, but they're doing well with it. 63 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: Because you don't just promote someone to be nice, Like 64 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: all of these teams have their jobs on their lines. 65 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: The general managers do. And I think the more I 66 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: understood it, like people were telling me, Okay, men aren't 67 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: born knowing how to scout. There, Yes, there's a degree 68 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: that if you played football you're going to have certain knowledge. 69 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: There are also things like learning how to write reports, 70 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: learning how to get as much information as possible, and 71 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: learning how to do the ins and outs with the 72 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: job that are not gender specific. And these women were 73 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: showing they had a really sharp mind for the game 74 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: or really sharp ability to build relationships, and they were 75 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: an asset to the organizations because of that. I love 76 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: that you brought that up, because you did right. Look, 77 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: coaching and playing football it's not always a pre wreck. 78 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: I mean we know men in this industry who didn't 79 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: do that. But the key thing is that you mentioned 80 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: it is your ability to understand the game, have knowledge 81 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: of the game, and your ability to build relationships like 82 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: when you talk with scouts. I mean, we have obviously 83 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: great ones in our building who I've built, I myself 84 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: have built relationships with over the years. So much of 85 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: it is fact finding, not only about the player, but 86 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: about you know, their personal life, talking to their coaches, teachers, friends, family, 87 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: whoever it is. But when you look at kind of 88 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: adding women to these roles, how does that diversity the 89 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: inclusion really benefit a scouting room as a whole. Yeah, 90 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: it's a great point. And what you're saying is so 91 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 1: true because the more I learned about the scouting process, 92 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: the more I felt it very similar to the reporting process. Yeah, 93 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: we end up is very different. And I don't think 94 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: that just because I I've had some success in reporting 95 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: means I will automatically have some and scouting. I think 96 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: that it's their different skill sets, but the processes have 97 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: a lot of similarities. I think what's interesting is that, well, one, generally, 98 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 1: these general managers, I know Brandon being with the Bills 99 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 1: being one, we're telling me we don't want all players, 100 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: we don't want all people with coaching background we don't 101 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: want no players who don't want no people with coaching backgrounds. 102 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 1: They want to make sure that all of their scouts 103 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: and their coaches and everyone on their staff is complimenting 104 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: each other. So this really is more about like business 105 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: philosophy than football. It's pretty a across the board, and 106 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: these women were bringing different backgrounds. Also, Okay, if the 107 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: women I talked to, one played softball in college, another 108 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: rand track for LSU, so they had the track. One 109 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: had an understanding of hip tightness that she was talking 110 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: about with running backs that the coaches really liked. The 111 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: one who played softball was looking at some of the mechanics. 112 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: They also, as former college athletes, were able to connect 113 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: deeply with some of these prospects because they're like, yeah, 114 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: I had this d one experience. And some of these 115 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: women had incredible opportunities in their college football departments in 116 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: operations and recruiting, figuring out the analysts. And then one 117 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: of my favorites, who you probably heard of, Kathleen Wood, 118 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: was a private detective for years, but because of that, 119 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: she's just a heck of a good fact finder and 120 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 1: that's really valuable. And then she worked for the Senior Bowl, 121 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: really sharpening up the football side, and now she's working 122 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: for the Browns. So I think there are so many 123 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: different ways that they brought their unique skill sets and 124 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: unique life experiences to the organizations. But they did, and 125 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: just like you and I and everyone we work with 126 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: bring something different to the workplace. These women were doing 127 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: that inscribing departments. Yeah, I love that because we obviously 128 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: have our roles now, but I didn't start in this role, 129 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, you kind of start in 130 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: other roles. And I have told the story a lot 131 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 1: on this podcast. I worked at a dance studio for 132 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 1: over a decade, but learning how to talk to people 133 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: helped with interview skills, whether I was working at the 134 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: front desk with parents, so like being a PI like hello, 135 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: that helps you huge in that department of having to 136 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,919 Speaker 1: work and kind of find that information, oh one hundred percent. 137 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: And actually like something I've done outside of USA today, 138 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: as I wrote the memoir of a Holocaust survivor, it 139 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: was interesting because I mean, it's actually they're people were 140 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 1: telling me, they're that's so different from what you do. 141 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: And I'm like, to me, trying to understand people and 142 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: who they are in their stories and how I can 143 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 1: gain their trust so they'll tell their story candidly. It's 144 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 1: the same across the board, and I'm granted, I'm not 145 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: comparing the details and the two stories to each other 146 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: or the adversity face. I think everyone has their own story, 147 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: but I think the skill sets are consistent. And that's 148 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: actually something I love about our jobs is that I 149 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 1: feel like one so much of life makes us a 150 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: better reporter. And then I'm like, I think reporting makes 151 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: us better up, I mean, not makes us better. I 152 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: think it allows us to think more thoughtfully about how 153 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: we're interacting our personal lives. And that's really fun. Yeah, 154 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: that's a really, really great point. We know that obviously 155 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: representation matters. Charges GM Tom Talsco, he's the father of 156 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: a daughter. He actually was out at a Chargers flag 157 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: football camp that they held a few weeks ago for 158 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: local girl scouts. It was an all girls flag football camp, 159 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: and he said, look, some of you out here you 160 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: might catch the bug to eventually work in football because 161 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: other women are doing it. Girls are getting introduced to 162 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: the game at a younger age, playing the game at 163 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: a younger age. What do you think is next for 164 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: women's roles in the NFL. Yeah, it's a great question. 165 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: I mean, certainly we have not had a woman who's 166 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: a general manager. I think that that versus like ascending 167 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: the coaching ranks, seems more likely for several reasons. I 168 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: think there are a couple of women who got promoted 169 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: both of my talk troop for this story, Kelly Klein, 170 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: who went from the Vikings to now work with the Broncos, 171 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: and Katherine Raisch with the Philadelphia Eagles formerly of the 172 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: CFL and the XFL, who have shown the ability to 173 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: just really hit on a lot of different areas that 174 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: we want. I think that there's continued growth. I think 175 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: part of this is about titles, and I want women 176 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: to have this opportunity and be considered for men, But 177 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: part of it is also about growth and responsibilities and 178 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: covering more ground for each of us. I mean, I 179 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: think in the reporting landscape, I'm so blessed to have 180 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: come in at a time I mean for us. And 181 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: I think you're involved in the Association for Women in 182 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,559 Speaker 1: Sports Media as well, and it's like, when I think 183 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: about the mentorship I've had there and the people who 184 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: paved the way, it's just not comparable what we can 185 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: do now versus what could be done forty fifty years 186 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: ago as a woman in the industry. So I think 187 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: that these rules will continue to expand. I mean, a 188 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: lot of these women will tell you, like, we don't 189 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: want it to be newsworthy, that we're the first. We 190 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: don't want to be the worst. We want to make 191 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: sure not only are we the first, but we're not last. 192 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: And I think that we'll just continue to see that growth. 193 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: And what I always think about is, look, we want 194 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 1: each woman to be evaluated on her mayor It's just 195 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: like we want anyone. But when you're part of a 196 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: minority group, as women aren't, particularly in this industry, then 197 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 1: we represent everyone. So the cool thing about that is 198 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,959 Speaker 1: that we succeed, it can empower other women to get 199 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: these opportunities. If we don't, it's usually reflecting other women. 200 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: And I think that that's a fun responsibility to carry 201 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: it is that's a really really good way of putting that. 202 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: I like that because it definitely is. And like to 203 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: that point too. You know when I came in, I 204 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,319 Speaker 1: remember when I had first started with the Chargers, there 205 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: was Marty Caswell in the locker room and then MJ 206 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: Acosta who's now with NFL Network. She was working for 207 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: a local station in San Diego at the time, and 208 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: MJ always tells the story, She's like, hey, I saw you, 209 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 1: and I was like, we're going to be friends, Like 210 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: we're going to do this together. But now you go 211 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: in you see, you know a press box. There so 212 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: many more women, and like, again to that point, you're 213 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 1: kind of helping pay that generation that it isn't really 214 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: something you talk about anymore because you're just in it, 215 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 1: and younger women are going to be part of it 216 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: eventually too, right. And sometimes I'll have an experience at 217 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: work where I feel like I dealt with the situation 218 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 1: that I had to uniquely think about because I'm a woman. 219 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: And then I'll try and text one of my friends 220 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: who's a woman, who's a younger reporter, being like, hey, 221 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: just dealt with a here's how I handled it in 222 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: case you ever encounter it, and like, will they take 223 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: the advice? They may never be in the situation or 224 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: they may not have the same advice. But the more 225 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: we can give each other these cheat sheets, like we're 226 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: going and I'm so blessed that I think they are 227 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: an incredible men who work in this organization. So it's 228 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: not an eat or but there are going to be 229 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 1: things we face that are different, and I think the 230 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,079 Speaker 1: more we can support each other and show each other 231 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: with the blueprint is the better off will be. Absolutely 232 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: all right, let's get to this game. I believe you 233 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: were at the Week one game last year between the 234 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: Rams and the Cowboys at so far as I said, 235 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 1: this is the Chargers first home game with fans, what 236 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 1: do you think of the stadium when you were there 237 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: a year ago. Okay, I'm glad you bring that up, 238 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: because I'm so fascinated to see the difference. The stadium's monstrous, 239 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 1: and I'm sitting that as someone who in Dallas and 240 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: covers games at Jerry World. Most often it's beautiful architecturally. 241 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,199 Speaker 1: I mean, part of the fun of seeing no fans 242 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,559 Speaker 1: is that you could really see the stadium in the stadium. 243 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: But it was definitely bizarre that not only I mean, 244 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: press boxes are always a little bit weird and if 245 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: they don't if they're not open to the stadium, but 246 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 1: I mean, we were watching a game and no one's there. 247 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: There's not a lot of volume. I think it was 248 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: like Sunday night football, and I'm like, I think fans 249 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 1: at home are probably feeling the energy more than people 250 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: here because the guys weren't playing and doing their best. 251 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 1: But it was just a bizarre situation, even if it 252 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: was what the pandemic dictated, and I understood that, so 253 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: I'm really excited to see what this stadium is going 254 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 1: to look like with fans, and also the differences between 255 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: a Rams game there and a Chargers game there. So 256 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: I'm expecting a pretty different experience from what we got 257 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: last year Week one when the Times beat the Cowboys. Yeah, 258 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: I think it'll be a lot of fun just getting 259 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: fans in that building. So this week too, matchup it's 260 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: a good one. The Chargers are coming off a win, 261 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: the Cowboys have had a couple day is to get 262 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:02,959 Speaker 1: over that sort of salty loss that they had to 263 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What do you make of this 264 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: matchup overall? Yeah, I think it's interesting. I think when 265 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: I see the numbers of how well the Chargers protected 266 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,439 Speaker 1: Justin Herbert from pressure, I don't think that boats well 267 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: for the Cowboys defense because they had zeros. And again, 268 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: what's funny is that I think that they will face 269 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 1: some of the same issues for very different reasons as 270 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: they Bucks, because I think Tom Brady and Justin Herbert 271 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: have very different strengths, but both of them are playing 272 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 1: at a high level right now with an offensive line 273 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: that's protecting him at a high level right now. And 274 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: the Cowboys, although they did manage to get four takeaways 275 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: in that game last week, which was uncharacteristic for this defense. 276 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: They still they let up big plays in the passing game. 277 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: They didn't generate enough of a pass rush. They had 278 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: no sacks on Tom Brady, very few pressures. And we 279 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: asked Dan Quinn about that yesterday, the Cowboys defensive coordinator, 280 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: and he said to him, it's not just about sacks, 281 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: but he does want to see that the quarterback is 282 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,719 Speaker 1: affected more. And then Dan told us he said two 283 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: things that really stand out to him with Justin Herbert 284 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: is one just that big strong arm that he can 285 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: make the throws into how athletic he is. So Dan says, 286 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 1: I'm essentially preparing my players to play against two plays 287 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: every play because the one he can initially make and 288 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: then if he escapes an extends the play, what's coming next. 289 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: So I think this Cowboys defense is a work in progress, 290 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: and I think that Justin Herbert is going to give 291 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: them quite the test. It is a really fun quarterback matchup. Though, 292 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 1: when you look at Justin Herbert, you also look at 293 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: Dak Prescott. Prescott, I read had fifty eight pass attempts. 294 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,079 Speaker 1: Herbert had forty seven. Yeah, a lot of action through 295 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: the air might happen in this one. Yeah, I mean 296 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: it'll be fascinating. I think again that's probably partially reflective 297 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: of where the league is going. But I think with 298 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,679 Speaker 1: these two quarterbacks in the games they just faced even 299 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: more so. And Dad played at a really high level, 300 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 1: and we went and he played at a high level 301 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: had he come off perfectly healthy. He was coming back 302 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: after eleven months from two ankle surgeries, a shoulder restrain 303 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: in the latismus muscle that was affecting his shoulder, and 304 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 1: he's playing at that level and ranted. We talked to 305 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on Monday and he was saying, 306 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: I actually called twenty eight runs. Deck checked out at 307 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,840 Speaker 1: twelve of them to see what's going on here. But 308 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: I definitely think that if that's what the defenses dictate, 309 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: we will see a lot more passes. Again, So rewinding 310 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: back to Week one of last season, when the Cowboys 311 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: played the Rams, they went up against Brandon Staley's defense, 312 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: which he's now brought to the Chargers. What kind of 313 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: challenges does that defense present? Yeah, it's a good question, 314 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: and it's also again always interesting both when you see 315 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: a coach again and when you see a personnel. And 316 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: that's what Kellen Moore was saying. He's like, we're looking 317 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: at what Staley did last year, We're looking at the 318 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: first game, We're looking at the preseason that you can't 319 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: tell a little so much. I will say in that 320 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: first game last year, the passing game didn't have a 321 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: lot of success, and particularly Jalen Ramsey was really difficult matchup. 322 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: And I think that I know Derwan's safety, but I 323 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: think Derwin James is going to be a threat in 324 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: this passing game, which is how the Cowboys had all 325 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: the production last week. As Miekiel Elliott had a really 326 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: strong game in SOPI last year, and so it'll be 327 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: interesting see if he can do that again, if he 328 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: can kind of get through the defensive line again. I 329 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: think that this Cowboy's offensive line has moving parts, and 330 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: you don't really want moving parts when you're facing a 331 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: Bosa brother much less week, and so I think that 332 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: that will be a problem. I think that they'll need 333 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: their tight ends chipping. But I do think that we 334 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: will see more Zekiel Elliott and more run game than 335 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: we saw against the Buccaneers in week one. So lastly, 336 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: these two teams last met on Thanksgiving in twenty seventeen. 337 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: I was there. I still talk about the stuffing waffle 338 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: that I had with the Jerry World Thanksgiving spread, which 339 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: was awesome and amazing. But getting to that Bosa brother, 340 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: you had tweeted, or I guess retweeted something that he 341 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: had said about Tyrn Smith. He called him a cartoon character, 342 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: a test tube baby. I read he didn't allow a 343 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: pressure in week one, nor did Chargers left tackle Rishawn 344 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: S later. So we talked a little bit about pressure. 345 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: But what's maybe another deciding factor or other factors that 346 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: you think will be big parts of this game. Yeah, 347 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: that's a great question. I do think pressure. I think 348 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: for the Cowboys the red zone has been a problem 349 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: and they are able to get the production but not 350 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: really finish that off, and so I think the question 351 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: is can they take that next step. I think also 352 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: something that's interesting, and Chargers fans are all too familiar 353 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: with it, is there's something to be said through figuring 354 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: out how to win a game just at the end 355 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: of the game, which the Chargers obviously couldn't do for years, 356 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 1: and they did last week against Washington and the Cowboys 357 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: have not yet done. And so I mean, Dak Prescott 358 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: again is throwing for four hunch or something yards and 359 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: he did that in the games? Who is healthy? Last year? 360 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: But they kept putting up all these numbers and not 361 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: winning in the end, and not winning on the road, 362 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: And so I want to see I mean, I guess 363 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: Dak personally, I don't believe has one on the road 364 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: since twenty nineteen. So I want to see can Dak 365 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: and the Cowboys take that next step? Can Mike McCarthy's 366 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: Cowboys figure out how to go over the hunt? Because 367 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: the Chargers know what that feels like, but doing it 368 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: once gives you the confidence and teaches you how to 369 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: do it the next time. So is the Chargers going 370 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: to build on that a week too or the Cowboys 371 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: going to figure out how to break that trend? That's 372 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: something I'm really interested to see. We're so excited, can't 373 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: wait to have you out here and officially meet you 374 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 1: in person. But Joy, thank you so much for coming on, 375 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 1: thank you for being part of this, Thanks for having 376 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: me Haley. Look forward to seeing y'all this weekend.