1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: Mahomes back throws. It is equal. 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 2: Please pick off picked off by the Lions by Brands 3 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 2: with the left side. 4 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: He's going, baby, He's going to the house. Touch down 5 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: to Tod Lions deflected in the air. Brats ran under 6 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: it and he took it all the way back. Welcome 7 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: to the twenty Men in the Huddle podcast presented by Microsoft. 8 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,639 Speaker 1: It is week eleven in the NFL and the Detroit 9 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: Lions have a NFC North matchup, a big one. They're 10 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: second of the season as they try to continue with 11 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: their lead in the NFC North. I want to start 12 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: the podcast this week with maybe a little bit more 13 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: of a national perspective here. Robert Mas from The Athletic 14 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: does a great job with the Athletic Football Show. Welcome in, 15 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,919 Speaker 1: uh Robert, just to talk about the Lions a little bit, 16 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: the NFC North, maybe the NFL in general. Robert, thanks 17 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: for taking the time. I really appreciate it. Happy to 18 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 1: be here. Absolutely anytime. No, I have to say. You 19 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: can see the Chicago Bears helmet there behind you. We 20 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: face the Bears this week. I'm probably going to get 21 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: a few comments on that. I don't know if maybe 22 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,639 Speaker 1: this was a good idea this week, But we should 23 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: start with you with your love of Chicago a little bit. 24 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm from here. I mean this is as much 25 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 3: about where I grew up and how I grew up 26 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:22,559 Speaker 3: as anything. I'll be honest with you, I've enjoyed watching 27 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 3: the Lions this year, in the last couple of years, 28 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 3: far more than I've enjoyed watching the Bears. 29 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: Well, speaking of that, you know, let's talk about you know, 30 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: the last week's game, you know, shootout in LA. Just 31 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: your thoughts on Sunday's win. Maybe what was your biggest 32 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: takeaway from watching that game? 33 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 3: It was just so fun to watch all We talked 34 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 3: about this on our show on Sunday night. Kind of 35 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 3: all the pillars of the Lions offense come together and 36 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 3: you see what the vision of this thing is moving forward. 37 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 3: And if you look back last year, you could see 38 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 3: the kernels of it. Ben Johnson and just the great 39 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 3: job that he does with design, situational awareness, you know, 40 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 3: some of the one off plays that they have every 41 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 3: single week. It's one of the more fun offenses to 42 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 3: watch in the league. From a schematic coordination perspective, one 43 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 3: of my big questions coming into this year was did 44 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 3: this team add enough spark? Did they add enough juice 45 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 3: on offense with their playmaking positions to kind of take 46 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 3: that next step and be among the elite teams in 47 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 3: the NFL for the entire year. And I think Sunday 48 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 3: was an indication and a reminder that they're making real 49 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 3: strides in that direction what Jamir Gibbs can give them. 50 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 3: And you know, the big question for me is you 51 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 3: have a rookie running back that you drafted in the 52 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 3: first round and then a rookie tight end. Those were 53 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 3: your big moves in terms of the skill position talent. 54 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 3: I know David Montgomery, but I think those were the 55 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 3: two biggest swings. How much are you going to get 56 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 3: out of those guys in year one? And obviously Jamie 57 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 3: Gubbs has been a bit a little bit slower, but 58 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 3: we're seeing flashes of it now. And then Sam Laporte 59 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 3: has been the most productive rookie tight end that we've 60 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 3: seen in how many years. So the plan that Brad 61 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 3: Holmes and this group had for how they were going 62 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 3: to take that next step, I think it's finally coming 63 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 3: into view. And you combine that with how well everything 64 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 3: is constructed on that side and it's easy to get 65 00:02:58,840 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 3: very excited. 66 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you know, to your point, I think it's 67 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: exciting for Lions fans when you viewed it this way too. 68 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: Jared Golf twenty nine years old. I'm on Ross Saint 69 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: Brown twenty four years old. You know, Penney Sewell is 70 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: twenty three, Gibbs is twenty one, laport Is twenty two. 71 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: I mean, this is set up now to be a 72 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: really good offense for a long time now, there's no doubt. 73 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 3: And one of my favorite things that this organization has 74 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 3: done over the last several years is that they've given 75 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 3: those guys opportunities. They haven't gotten anxious or antsy by 76 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 3: adding mid tier free agent talent at some of these positions. 77 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 3: They've said, we're going to have young guys and we're 78 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 3: going to give them every opportunity to win these jobs 79 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 3: and get these out and get these reps. And I 80 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 3: think it's been huge in the development of those players 81 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 3: individually and in the development of this roster. I've been 82 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 3: not critical, but I had my doubts about could this 83 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 3: all come together quickly this year? Could they really be 84 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 3: a contender with sort of the measured moves that they 85 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 3: made this offseason, and I always couched it in listen, 86 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 3: I've been wrong about the that Brad and Dan have 87 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 3: Doug before. I might be again, and it's so far 88 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 3: it seems like I am. Because the way that they've 89 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 3: handled this and the pace at which they've done it, 90 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 3: I think deserves a lot of credit and they deserve 91 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 3: a lot of just accolades here as we move forward 92 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 3: throughout the season. 93 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 1: So kind of lean lend the my next question here 94 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: the hierarchy in the NFC. You know, the Lion set 95 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: at the number two seed right now, one game behind Philadelphia, 96 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: ahead of one game ahead of Dallas San Francisco. I'm 97 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: just curious from your perspective kind of where what's that hierarchy, 98 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: what's that what's that maybe top four in the NFC, 99 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: and where do the Lions stand within that. 100 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 3: I think that they're right in that conversation. I don't 101 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 3: think that there's a gap between the quote unquote elite 102 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 3: teams that we knew about coming into the season and 103 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 3: Detroit as I see it right now. You know, I 104 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:44,359 Speaker 3: thought that was going to be the case that the 105 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 3: Lions were going to be a team that could win 106 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 3: the NFC North this year, be a very good story 107 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 3: be a double digit win team make the playoffs for 108 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 3: the first time in a while, but there would still 109 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 3: be at least a little bit of separation between them 110 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 3: and San Francisco, Philly, even Dallas. I don't really feel 111 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 3: that way anymore. I think they're plan as well as anybody. 112 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 3: I think they deserve to be mentioned in those conversations, 113 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 3: in large part because of the stride the defense has 114 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 3: made and the young players on that defense, how much 115 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 3: they've improved. So I think it's going to be a 116 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 3: really really fun race to see how that ends up 117 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 3: shaking out by the end of the year. But right 118 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 3: now they deserve mentioned with any one of those teams 119 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 3: in the NFC, and you. 120 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: Look at Philly, who you know, obviously at eight and 121 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: one is at the top. I mean, they've got some 122 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: tough games coming up. I think it starts Monday with 123 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: Kansas City. I think they got Buffalo mixed in there, obviously, 124 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: have Dallas again, and with Detroit it's not as tough 125 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: a road. So I think it'll be really interesting the 126 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: last six seven weeks of the season how this plays 127 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: out and kind of where they're at the final two 128 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: weeks of the season, Robert, I want to ask you 129 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 1: about this, and again I'm with Robert Mays does a 130 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: great job with the Athletic check Out, The Athletic Football 131 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,919 Speaker 1: Show does a really good job with that. The perception 132 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: of Dan Campbell, I think nationally obviously the headlines when 133 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: you know, over his first press conference, But how has 134 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: that evolved from a national perspective over you know, the 135 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: last three years. Obviously, NFL quarterbacks and NFL head coaches 136 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: are measured on wins and losses. That's the important thing, 137 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 1: right So obviously the wins are starting to come along. 138 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: But I'm just curious how maybe this as the perception 139 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: of Dan Campbell changed, if it has it all, I. 140 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 3: Think it's changed. I mean, I can only speak from 141 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 3: my experience when I watched them two years ago when 142 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 3: they were what did they finish one win? Two wins 143 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 3: that season? 144 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: Three wins, three wins. 145 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 3: I loved watching them. They were a team by the 146 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 3: end of the season where we consistently were talking about 147 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,600 Speaker 3: how hard they were playing, how they were competing. It 148 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 3: was everything you could want out of that sort of season. 149 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 3: You know you're going to lose a lot of games. 150 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 3: You're in year one of what is essentially a tear down. 151 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 3: All you want to see is buy in. And that 152 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 3: wasn't surprising given what Dan Campbell was supposed to be 153 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 3: as a head coach. He was supposed to be a 154 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 3: culture guy, was supposed to be a motivator, all of that. 155 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 3: So I think it was easy to kind of connect 156 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 3: those dots. Last year you see them start taking real 157 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 3: strides and that I think the kind of the understanding 158 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 3: of him and the outside perception of him is, Oh, 159 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 3: they're bringing in the guys, they're doing this the right way. 160 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 3: Look at how they're taking these steps at the right time. 161 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 3: This year, I think it's transitioned all the way to 162 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 3: me just thinking he's been one of the most impactful 163 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 3: head coaches in the league. It's not just raw rass stuff. 164 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 3: I mean, I said last week that he was my 165 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 3: coach of the Year when we did our mid season awards. 166 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 3: And it's not because necessarily just the results. The results 167 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 3: are great, and when you haven't won at this clip 168 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 3: in a long time, you're going to get acknowledgment about 169 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 3: stuff like that. But if you look at some of 170 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 3: the stuff he's done with clock management, timeouts, the way 171 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 3: they've gone forward on fourth down. He's consistently been a 172 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 3: value add in the game management areas of being a 173 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 3: head coach, and if you're going to be a CEO 174 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 3: type head coach like he is, where he's not the 175 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 3: offensive play caller, he's not the defensive play caller. He's 176 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 3: supposed to kind of oversee the operation. You have to 177 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 3: be beneficial to your team on those margins, and that's 178 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 3: exactly what he's been. So I think the perception has 179 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 3: gone from looking at him as the biting kneecaps guy 180 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 3: to now looking at him as a guy who consistently 181 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 3: gives his team edges in smart subtle ways, and I 182 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 3: think that's really mirrored the rise that the franchise has 183 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 3: kind of taken over the last couple of years. 184 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: Now, one hundred percent, I couldn't agree with you more. 185 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 1: Another guy who's kind of giving them a great chance 186 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: to win week after week is Jared Golf. Just his 187 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: play over the last eleven weeks and just where he 188 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: stands in terms of the elite quarterbacks in this league. 189 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: I think he's right up there. You look at the numbers, 190 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: you look at the impact he makes. Just the veteran 191 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: savvy in terms of being able to get him into 192 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: the right place. We talked about the seventy five yard 193 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: touchdown last week was a complete wrong play call for 194 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: the personnel that they had. Jared just gets them in 195 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,959 Speaker 1: the right play and it turns into a seventy five 196 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: yard touchdown. Those are things that don't show up in 197 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: a stat sheet, but are so valuable on Sundays when 198 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: you talk about veteran quarterbacks. Just curious where kind of 199 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: you rank Jared where you think he kind of fits 200 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: into the mix. I think he deserves to be in 201 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: the conversation among the best quarterbacks in this league. Do 202 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 1: you agree. 203 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 3: I think he's played really, really well this year, and 204 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 3: I've had so much fun watching him play this year. 205 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 3: I think he's a great trigger man for this offense, 206 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 3: specifically the way that Ben Johnson designs this thing. I 207 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 3: think of all the daggers they run on like third 208 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 3: and eleven, where he's got to rip those inbreakers over 209 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 3: the middle of the field, and that's exactly what he 210 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 3: does well. I still think when you're looking at him 211 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 3: compared to the guys that are in the conversation for 212 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,679 Speaker 3: MVP every single year, the only gap between those players 213 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 3: and Jared in my opinion, is the ability to create something. 214 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: Out of structure. 215 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 3: Right if the play breaks down, Jared is not going 216 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 3: to be able to kind of create something with his 217 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 3: legs extend plays. But that's really the only gap to 218 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 3: me in terms of accuracy, decision making, the arm that 219 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 3: he has showing off, the ability to fit balls into 220 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 3: tight windows, within the structure of the offense and within 221 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 3: what the offense is giving him. He is playing as 222 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 3: well as pretty much any quarterback in the NFL, and 223 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 3: I think that's why I've had such a good time 224 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 3: just watching him play. 225 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: I can't remember which game it was. 226 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 3: There were maybe it was a Seattle game where he 227 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 3: just hup the ball up the left sideline. The touchdown 228 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 3: he threw up the seam to one of the tight ends. 229 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:06,439 Speaker 3: I mean, there are three or four throws every single 230 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 3: week where I find myself rewinding it because I'm like, 231 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 3: this guy just got a hose. 232 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: Like his ability to do this is unbelievable. 233 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 3: And I don't think people necessarily ascribe that sort of 234 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 3: excitement to watching Jared Goff play, But when he was 235 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 3: playing at his best in LA I've told the story 236 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,559 Speaker 3: a bunch of times. Twenty seventeen, they played the Vikings 237 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 3: on Thursday Night football in the Coliseum. He throws i 238 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 3: think four touchdowns in that game and threw for three 239 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:32,839 Speaker 3: fifty four hundred yards. It was one of the coolest 240 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 3: games I've ever seen a quarterback play live, and that 241 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 3: never went away. You know, he still has that ability. 242 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 3: I think that all everything that happened in La it's 243 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,439 Speaker 3: well worn territory. Everyone knows the story at this point, 244 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 3: but he can still rip it. And this offense I 245 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 3: think has given him the structure and the x's and 246 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 3: o's element of it, but they've also given him the 247 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 3: confidence to see that version of him, and that version 248 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:54,959 Speaker 3: of him as a fun quarterback to watch. 249 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 1: I think go back and watch that throw to Brock 250 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: right right down the scene for the touchdown against the charge. 251 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: I think a perfect example of what you're talking about there. Well, 252 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: let's stick with quarterbacks a little bit, justin fields. It 253 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: looks like he's going to be back in Chicago. Just 254 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: how big of an impact is that in Chicago he 255 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: was playing some pretty good football, you know before before 256 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 1: he got hurt injured the thumb on his throwing hand. 257 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: Just the impact that that makes on Chicago in this 258 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: matchup with Detroit this week. 259 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 3: I think it's really important for two different reasons. One, 260 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 3: the defense is starting to play pretty well. They've really 261 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 3: had things come together on defense. The secondary has gotten healthier. Obviously, 262 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:33,840 Speaker 3: they go out and make the montest sweat deal. So 263 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 3: if you look at every layer of their defense, they're 264 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 3: getting such better play than they did all of last 265 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 3: season and then for a good chunk of this year. 266 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 3: So you need an offense that can kind of rise 267 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 3: to that level and match the play of your defense, 268 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 3: and I think he gives them a better shot to 269 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 3: do that. So I think he makes them much more 270 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 3: competitive in the short term. And the thing that's most 271 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 3: important for me as I look at the Bears and 272 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 3: their trajectory is you need to get an evaluation on him. 273 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:57,559 Speaker 3: There is a very real chance that you're going to 274 00:11:57,600 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 3: have the number one, number two pick in the draft 275 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 3: because you own Carolina's pick. So these last eight weeks 276 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 3: of the season are crucial for you to get information 277 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 3: on where Justin Fields is within this offense, where he 278 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 3: is with a healthy offensive line. Brex and Jones there 279 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 3: left tackle missed most of the first half of the season. 280 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 3: The group they have right now up there is the best, 281 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 3: most complete one they've had pretty much all year that 282 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 3: he's stepping back into. So on a competitive level and 283 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 3: on a just gathering information level. I think this game, 284 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 3: specifically in the next two months are going to be 285 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 3: very important for Justin fields. 286 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: You mentioned Montes sweat and obviously came over at the 287 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: trade deadline from Washington signed the big deal. He's already 288 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: had some impact there, but now gets a week to practice. 289 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: It was kind of a thrown to the fire first 290 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: couple of weeks there with Montes, but still able to 291 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,199 Speaker 1: make an impact. How good is that matchup going to 292 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 1: be against Penne sewel in Montes? What it seems every 293 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: week with Penne and Max Crosby, last week with Joey Bosa. 294 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just every week this guy just shows 295 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: up and shuts down whoever's on the other side of him. 296 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: How fun will the Bears and Lions fans have with 297 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: that matchup this week? It's going to be great. 298 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 3: And that's why you need a guy like that in 299 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 3: this division because you look at the tackles Detroit has 300 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 3: right now the Vikings, it's one of the strengths of 301 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 3: their roster. Obviously the Packers have been in flux. But 302 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 3: when you've got a team, multiple teams within your own 303 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 3: division that have invested and hit on players at that 304 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 3: position on offense, you've got to match it on defense. 305 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 3: And I can understand the Bear showing a little bit 306 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 3: of urgency and saying, we're going to make this deal 307 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 3: because we don't think a guy like this is going 308 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 3: to be available for us in free agency, and you've 309 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 3: already seen the impact. It helps that he's six ' 310 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 3: five and has some of the longest arms in the league, 311 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 3: and he was playing against Bryce Young, so getting in 312 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 3: some of those passing lanes when you're playing against five 313 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 3: foot ten Bryce Young looks a little better than it 314 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 3: might against other quarterbacks. But I still think that you 315 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 3: could feel the way that he's impacted that defense so far. 316 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 1: No, one hundred percent. I wanted to get your perspective 317 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: on the Vikings too. Just a team that will not 318 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: go away, right. You look at the start and you 319 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: thought at one and four, this team's done. All they've 320 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: done is is, you know, win five in a row 321 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,079 Speaker 1: with Joshua Dobbs there, he's playing really good football. The 322 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: last couple of weeks is Is that sustainable do you 323 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: think in your opinion? And is that going to be 324 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: the main competition? Is that going to be Detroit in 325 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: Minnesota here all the way till the end. 326 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 3: I think it's sustainable to a degree. I just think 327 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 3: that offense has been so well designed all year. This 328 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 3: is year two of Kevin O'Connell and that staff, and 329 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 3: they've really settled in, you know, having Jordan Addison there 330 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 3: now an entire year of TJ. Hockinson. They've been doing 331 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 3: this without Justin Jefferson. Justin Jefferson's going to be back soon. 332 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 3: So I think that Josh Doabbs has played at a 333 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 3: high enough level for us to think that the Vikings 334 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 3: are going to be competitive on that side of the 335 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 3: ball down the stretch. And that wasn't necessarily going to 336 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 3: be the case after Kirk Cousins went down. The most 337 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 3: encouraging part to me about the Vikings this season the offense. 338 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 3: You could feel it coming you last year with Hockinson 339 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 3: on the field. Even with some issues up front, they 340 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 3: were still able to sustain some pretty good offense down 341 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 3: the stretch. On defense, they had such little talent coming 342 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 3: into this season. They didn't make any huge investments, because 343 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 3: in a lot of ways, this was kind of a 344 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 3: reset year for them. They admitted that in the way 345 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 3: that they built this thing, and for them to have 346 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 3: the results they've had so far defensively with the lack 347 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 3: of talent they have on that side of the ball, 348 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 3: is remarkable. Brian Flores has done an unbelievable job, and 349 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 3: I think that that complimentary aspect of the defense playing 350 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 3: well and the offense really coming into its own in 351 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 3: year two, even with Josh Dobbs, I think it makes 352 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 3: me more encouraged, excited, optimistic about them than pretty much 353 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 3: any other team right now in that NFC Wildcard picture 354 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 3: outside of Dallas. Obviously Dallas, I'm just penciling into the playoffs. 355 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: You know, that's a that's a really dangerous trio that 356 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: they've they're going to have there in Minnesota with Jefferson, Addison, 357 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: who's really come on, and Hockinson. I mean that that's 358 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: a tough trio for a defense to deal with. And 359 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: I think when you can score points like like they can, 360 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: they're always going to be right there. I want to 361 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: get you real quick, Bruce Irvin, you know what do 362 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: you think he's got left in the thing. Thirty six 363 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: years old. Lion signed him to their practice squad this week, 364 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: and you know, obviously coming off a game in which 365 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: you know, they weren't able to sack Justin Herbert. They've 366 00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:00,040 Speaker 1: had a few of those games. They ranked twentieth in 367 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: the NFL, and in terms of sacks. Want a little 368 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: bit of juice there can the thirty six year old 369 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: Bruce serve and provide it? 370 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 3: I think that's going to be tough to get the 371 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 3: amount of production you want out of a guy at 372 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 3: that stage in his career, But we'll see what happens. 373 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 3: You know, that was the one area coming into the 374 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 3: offseason or coming into the season where I just thought, 375 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 3: could they have added one more body, you know, to 376 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 3: compliment the guys they already have. Aiden Hutchinson has obviously 377 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 3: taken a huge step, so is Alee McNeil. But they 378 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 3: didn't really add any high level edge rushing talent to 379 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 3: this roster. You're banking on the Charles Harris's and guys 380 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 3: like that, and so far that hasn't come together in 381 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 3: the way that they necessarily wanted. But I think that's 382 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 3: probably wishful thinking. But I have enough faith in the 383 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 3: rest of this defense and the guys they have all 384 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 3: across that unit for them to still be pretty darn 385 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 3: good by the end of the season. 386 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: James Houston too, they're still hopeful to get that guy 387 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: back in late December. That's a guy that obviously we 388 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: saw at the end of last year, could give them 389 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: a little boost in terms of their past. Rush too. 390 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: Robert Maye do a great job with the Athletic Football Show. 391 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for taking the time. Gett a 392 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: little perspective on the on the Lions, the NFC North. 393 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 1: Always great stuff. I appreciate taking the time anytime. Good 394 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: to talk to you. Welcome back to the twenty podcast 395 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 1: and it is now the Key Matchups segment of the podcast. 396 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: And joining me as he's done a couple of times 397 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: this week, is PJ Clark. PJ Welcome, We're back. We're back. 398 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,199 Speaker 1: We do this. I like when me and you do 399 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 1: this because we get after each other just a little bit, 400 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: just a little bit here, you know the drill. We've 401 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 1: got five matchups they're key to this week's Let's get 402 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: right into it right away, and I want to start 403 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 1: with this one. Kirby Joseph and Justin Fields. You look 404 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 1: at Kirby the last few weeks, he's been able to 405 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: kind of make the impact. We talked to him a 406 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: few weeks ago and he said, look, I'm not impacting 407 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 1: the game unless I'm getting to the ball, unless I'm 408 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: touching the ball, unless I'm taking the ball away. And 409 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 1: right after that he got his first pick of this season. 410 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 1: He's kind of continued back and so can he keep 411 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: that going this week against Justin Fields. He's been off 412 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: the last four weeks, had the dissocated thumb and his 413 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: throwing hand, and I think there's going to be I 414 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: think an adjustment period for Justin a little bit early. 415 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: This is a little bit different of a Chicago offense. 416 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,119 Speaker 1: They'd like to push the ball down the field more 417 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: than we've been used to with Justin be more of 418 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: a runner, So I think there might be some opportunities 419 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 1: for Kirby to get his hands on some footballs. This 420 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: is a big matchup for me. 421 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 2: Yeah and Fields six starts this year, six interceptions, So 422 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 2: statistically he's going to give you chances. He's been thrown 423 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,679 Speaker 2: at least one in every start this year. Kirby back 424 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,959 Speaker 2: to back games with an interception. I think even Furthermore, 425 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 2: Kirby led the team and tackles in the game against 426 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 2: Baltimore because Lamar was getting into the secondary so many 427 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 2: times on runs fields. Like you mentioned another running quarterback, 428 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 2: Kirby not only is going to have to be very 429 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,199 Speaker 2: aware about how am I playing center field? Can I 430 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 2: maybe get a third straight interception? Making plays to that end, 431 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 2: but he's going to be the last line of defense 432 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 2: again against the run as well. And you know, you 433 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 2: hope it doesn't get that far. You hope maybe the linebackers. 434 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 2: This is going to be a big Campbell azealone game. 435 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 2: But you know, if you got to save the seventy 436 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 2: yard touchdown run, Kirby Joseph is going to be the guy. 437 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: Two hundred and seventy nine rushing yards last year in 438 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: two games combined for Testa Fields against Detroit. So to 439 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: your point, he's got to be very good last line 440 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: of defense. You mentioned the six interceptions. I think something 441 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 1: a little different about this offense too, is the six 442 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: touchdown passes of twenty plus yards that feel has had 443 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 1: in weeks one through six before the injury. To that 444 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 1: point earlier, you know, when he sees it, I think 445 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 1: he's still going to go and Aaron Glenn talked about 446 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,919 Speaker 1: that and being very disciplined with their rush, and you know, 447 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: maybe that game against Baltimore gave them a little bit 448 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 1: of a of a of a different kind of game 449 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 1: plan heading into this one. But Kirby's going to be 450 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: really important, I think for this Lion's defense, both playing 451 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: center field and like you said, being the last line of. 452 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, and especially a guy that has killed the Lions 453 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 2: the last couple of years, which fields at quarterback is 454 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 2: Cole Comett. And you know he's not on our list 455 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 2: this week, but Kirby got burned by Cole Comett a 456 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 2: couple times last year for touchdowns, and that's gonna He's 457 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 2: a big part of their offense still. You mentioned Dj 458 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 2: Moore has unlocked a lot downfield, but they still like 459 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 2: throwing at the tight end of the ren zone and 460 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 2: he's a guy that's capable of making the Lions pay. 461 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 2: That's just another option for Kirby that you know plays 462 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 2: in our field over the top of Dj Moore. Is 463 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 2: one thing, but you're going to be matched up with 464 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 2: Cole Comet, a guy that has gotten you a couple 465 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 2: of times. 466 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: How have you improved physical? Yeah, and been better. 467 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 2: This year in coverage. How can you keep that going 468 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 2: against the guy that has given the Lions problems in 469 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 2: the past. 470 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:42,160 Speaker 1: It'll be interesting to see it. It's a big matchup 471 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:43,880 Speaker 1: to me, It's why I wanted to start with that one. 472 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: All right, let's flip to the other side, TJ. Edmonds 473 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: and Tremaine TJ. Edwards and to made Edmonds two linebackers 474 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 1: score for Chicago. We'll see if Edmunds is back at practice. 475 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: I know he missed Wes. He's been dealing with a 476 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:59,679 Speaker 1: knee injury. Eber Forlus their their head coach, that he 477 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:01,880 Speaker 1: was close to returning this week. So we'll see there. 478 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: But I think that's a great matchup with their two 479 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: linebackers versus David Montgomery and Jamier Gibbs, who had I 480 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: think they've become you are one of the best one 481 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:11,440 Speaker 1: to two combos in the league. 482 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, and this is you know, I think David Montgomery 483 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 2: has this one circle. I don't think that's a secret 484 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 2: to anybody. He's gonna want this one really bad. And 485 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 2: you know you're going to see a little bit of 486 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 2: the ground and pound. It's funny, you know, David Montgomery 487 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 2: with this seventy five touch Yeah, our touchdown run and 488 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 2: Jamier Gibbs is the guy scoring from the one in 489 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 2: the two yard line. It's not how nice he kind 490 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 2: of drew it up. But these guys can do similar things. 491 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 2: Whereas maybe last year you had a goal line back 492 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 2: and more of a scat back and electric guy. These 493 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 2: two a little more interchangeable, and I think the Los 494 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 2: Angeles game is the first time we've seen that. 495 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, and there'll be a good test this week. Chicago 496 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: defense number two in the league, averaging only seventy six 497 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: yards per game, but we saw it last week with 498 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:55,639 Speaker 1: the Chargers, right they were number six. I think they 499 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: were allowing eighty six and you look at what that 500 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 1: front did, opening some holes, two hundred yards rushing, three 501 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 1: rushing touchdowns, really controlled the game with their ground game, 502 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:07,719 Speaker 1: and I would expect a similar thing. I know Chicago's 503 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: really good, that's kind of been there forte on defense, 504 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: but I look at this game pretty similar to what 505 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:15,959 Speaker 1: it was last week. Teams have been able to attack 506 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: Chicago through the air like they did with the Chargers, 507 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:21,159 Speaker 1: not so much on the ground. But this is a 508 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:22,439 Speaker 1: different kind of beast with Detroit. 509 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:25,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, and they want to run the ball. They have 510 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 2: the offensive line. This is the game plan, especially in 511 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 2: a divisional game where you know Chicago's quarterback hasn't played 512 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 2: a long time. It's going to be getting back into it. 513 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 2: Just control the pace. You have two running backs that 514 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 2: are gonna be able to do it. But you're looking 515 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:42,439 Speaker 2: at a pair of linebackers that they threw a ton 516 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 2: of money at ninety one million dollars this offseason on 517 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 2: these two guys. They clearly saw the linebacker position as 518 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 2: something they needed to improve on, and they went out 519 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 2: and spent big money in order to do. 520 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 1: And they're getting production from those guys too. I mean, 521 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: you look at Edwards one hundred and twelve tackles and 522 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: ten games and Edmunds sixty three tackles in eight games. 523 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 1: So money probably hasn't been well spent to this point 524 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: in terms of the numbers that you're seeing on defense. 525 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: But Ben Jonson talked about it too, just about the 526 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 1: training wheels coming off a little bit of this scheme 527 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,679 Speaker 1: and how they're finally getting healthy and they see this 528 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: defense as a much better defense than three and seven 529 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: would indicate. And I think it all starts with kind 530 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: of those guys right up front, and once they get 531 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,360 Speaker 1: all the pieces healthy and everything kind of goes through them. 532 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: I think those two guys are veteran guys that have 533 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 1: proven they can be playmakers. They can be kind of 534 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: the heart of your defense in terms of tackles, and 535 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: they can be kind of that centerfuge of being a 536 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 1: good unit. And so that's why I think it's a 537 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 1: great matchup with Jamiir and Montgomery. Lines are fourth in 538 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:46,360 Speaker 1: rushing touchdowns with fourteen and they've got over fifteen hundred 539 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 1: scrimmage yards from their running back position. That's second totally Miami. 540 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: So what a great matchup between two linebackers that are 541 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: really good at stopping the run, at tackling getting runners down, 542 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: and two running backs that you said are pretty versatile, 543 00:23:59,080 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: can do a lot of different things. 544 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you're looking at a lot of the big 545 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 2: plays for the Lions last week was when like Scheel 546 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 2: was matched up on Kenneth Murray and got to that 547 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 2: second level and was just taking a linebacker out of 548 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 2: the equation. Tremade Edmonds at least is you know, one 549 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,479 Speaker 2: of the upper tier linebackers in the league making eighteen 550 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:18,919 Speaker 2: million dollars a year. Is he going to put up 551 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:20,719 Speaker 2: a better fight than a guy like Kenneth Murray did 552 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 2: last week. I'm sure they're looking at that and trying 553 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 2: to get those matchups that you know, nice school in 554 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,359 Speaker 2: the second level is nothing you want to go against. Thanks, 555 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 2: you got to do better than the Chargers did last week. 556 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:32,120 Speaker 1: All right, let's go to this one. We talked about 557 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 1: DJ Moore a little bit off the top. I think 558 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:37,399 Speaker 1: that that matchup with with Cam Sutton, Jerry's going to 559 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 1: see some too. I don't know if they'll travel Cam specifically. 560 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: That was my first interesting because I know they tried 561 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 1: to do a little bit of that with Keenan Allen. 562 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:48,360 Speaker 1: But I thought the Chargers did a really good job 563 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:51,680 Speaker 1: with their motions. Sometimes you just couldn't get there fast enough. 564 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: You didn't want to show what you what kind of 565 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: covers you were in. So it'll be interesting to see 566 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: if Cam travels around with DJ Moore. But look, I 567 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 1: look at at DJ more leads them in targets with 568 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:05,160 Speaker 1: seventy one catches, with fifty two yards, seven ninety three 569 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 1: touchdowns five. I mean he's their guy. 570 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean you make that trade and yeah, the 571 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 2: Carolina pick this year currently looks great. But getting Dj 572 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:18,440 Speaker 2: Moore that is that's you know, a third first round 573 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,400 Speaker 2: pick that you just you just got in that trade. Yeah, 574 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 2: and he has been you know, you have a young 575 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 2: quarterback in fields that's still developing. Obviously kind of a 576 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,640 Speaker 2: lost season so far for him. But when you made 577 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:32,119 Speaker 2: that trade, you draught up. It's like, all right, we 578 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 2: got to give our guy a chance. And you go 579 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:36,640 Speaker 2: out and you get a bona fide wide receiver one. 580 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 2: And even with the rotating in and out of who's 581 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 2: behind center, DJ Moore is the same guy he's been 582 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 2: in Carolina, just putting up numbers and numbers and numbers, 583 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:48,119 Speaker 2: and this is guy that that is burning teams downfield 584 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:52,160 Speaker 2: and has unlocked something in this offense with with Luke 585 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:54,880 Speaker 2: Getzi the coordinator that maybe they haven't had the last 586 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:55,199 Speaker 2: couple of. 587 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: Years, you know, and it's dangerous. With Justin's ability to create, 588 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:00,680 Speaker 1: you know, plays outside of the pock, you get a 589 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: little bit to extend plays. DJ's a guy that can 590 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: make you pay down the field big time. You know. 591 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: I thought Cam's coming off maybe his worst game of 592 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:15,120 Speaker 1: the season. I think one touchdown all the way up 593 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: to Week ten. Gave up two last week. Obviously, the 594 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 1: secondary as a whole had some communication issues that Dan 595 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 1: Campbell talked about. They're looking for a bounce back, but 596 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 1: I think Cam is too. I think this is one 597 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:28,439 Speaker 1: where you can say, look, I'm a good player in 598 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 1: this league too. I think I'm one of the better 599 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 1: cornerbacks in this league. Let's try to take this cornerback 600 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 1: their weapon out of out of commission this week. But 601 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be population to the football 602 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: for Detroit and it's going to be really good tackling 603 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 1: and Cam included, because you look at some of Dj 604 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: Moore's big plays, they come after the catch, after a 605 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:51,159 Speaker 1: broken tackle. Guys like Cam, guys like Jerry, They're going 606 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 1: to have to be really good on the outside making 607 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:56,920 Speaker 1: sure that they get Dj Moore down, and then everybody's 608 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,159 Speaker 1: got to populate to the football too, because that's a 609 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: guy who I think is one of the most dangerous 610 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: run after catch receivers in the league. 611 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:06,200 Speaker 2: And to your point, Cam not his best last week. 612 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 2: I'm sure he'd be the first one to say that. 613 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 2: But after the forty yard pass interference that you know 614 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 2: on a third down kind of changed changed that drive 615 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 2: was a big play for the Chargers on offense. There 616 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 2: next play they throw a wide receiver screen at campside. 617 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: He blows up on the media. 618 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 2: Love that that's the bounce back that that veteran guy 619 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 2: like camp Sutton. You know, I expect him to be 620 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:28,680 Speaker 2: back on the horse this week for sure. 621 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:30,920 Speaker 1: I love the what Dan Campbell said this week when 622 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 1: if you want to be a physical football team, your 623 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 1: cornerbacks have to tackle and your wide receivers have to block. 624 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,880 Speaker 1: We've seen that from checking those box, checking those boxes, 625 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: that that's the Dan Campbell physicality checklist for your football team. No, 626 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:45,160 Speaker 1: that's a good way to do it. All right, Let's 627 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 1: go to this one at Aiden Hutchinson versus Darnell right, 628 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,440 Speaker 1: and you look at this Lion's pass rush. It's got 629 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 1: a little bit of criticism, especially over the last week, 630 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:57,919 Speaker 1: with their inability to get after Justin Herbert and I 631 00:27:57,920 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: think this is just kind of a game where Aiden's 632 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 1: do right. I think it's been what since week five, 633 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: since we've seen the second one. He's gotten pressures, he's 634 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: affected the quarterback. But look, sacks are different. I mean, 635 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: sacks are drive ending plays. There's no if ands or 636 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 1: butts about it. I'd love to see the percentage. We 637 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:15,159 Speaker 1: talked about this a little bit of just drives that 638 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 1: continue on or drives that score once a team has 639 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 1: suffered a sack. I get you want to affect the 640 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: quarterback and get them off his spot and do some 641 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 1: of those seas, and that's all great, but sacks are 642 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 1: a huge number in this league for a reason. Guys 643 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: get paid hundreds of million dollars when they can sack 644 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:31,920 Speaker 1: the quarterback for a reason. In this league, Lions just 645 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: aren't doing enough. I think they're eight twenty first in 646 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 1: league with twenty one sacks. They've had a few games 647 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:38,480 Speaker 1: where they've had five plus, but they've had a few 648 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 1: games so where they've had this zero, And I think 649 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 1: that's what you want to see is a little bit 650 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: more consistency. 651 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 2: That's the that's the key for me. You have the 652 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 2: blow up games the Green Bay, the Atlanta where you're 653 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 2: like really really taking advantage, but then you're looking at 654 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 2: multiple games with zero, multiple games with one, and that's. 655 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 1: Where you know. 656 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 2: The blow up games are nice, but I would rather 657 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 2: have those spread out a little bit and just get 658 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 2: more consistent juice and darnall right. Top ten pick for 659 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 2: them this year has looked really really good. They have 660 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:10,400 Speaker 2: you know, Brax and Jones in his second year. Now, 661 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 2: they have two young tackles that are our bookends for 662 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 2: them for the foreseeable future. And I think Darnell Wright 663 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 2: has been everything they wanted in a top ten tackle 664 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 2: this year, and Aiden's gonna have a tough matchup going 665 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 2: against that, but he's got to you know, you're in 666 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 2: your second year, You're going against a rookie tackle. It's 667 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 2: not Rashaun Slater from last week. You can you take 668 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 2: advantage and finally you know this is a tough guy 669 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 2: to bring down with his running ability, but you got 670 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 2: to get home at some point here. 671 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: Thirty one pressure to allow pressure is allowed by right 672 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 1: are the fifth most in the league. I think he's 673 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,320 Speaker 1: been good. Five sacks for a rookie guy coming in 674 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: and playing that's not bad. But he's shown that he 675 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 1: can allow some pressure that they can get after a 676 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 1: little bit on his side. So you look for Hutch 677 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 1: four and a half sacks, like we said, hasn't had 678 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: on since Week five at home. Coming off the defensive 679 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 1: performance that they did last week, I could just see 680 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 1: maybe he's due like a two SAT game for him, 681 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: you know, a big one in the second half that 682 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: maybe affects this game. I think he's due. Yeah, it 683 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 1: would be. 684 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,160 Speaker 2: It would be a great sign to get the home 685 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 2: crowd going to maybe he gets one early, maybe he 686 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 2: gets one late, and that'll This is going to be 687 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 2: a defensive tone setting game, and I think Aiden's the 688 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:23,040 Speaker 2: guy that you want to set it immediately. 689 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: Speaking of set in the tone, Penny Soul does a 690 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 1: pretty good job. Oh that guy guy pretty good. He's 691 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 1: all right. I think he's not only the best right 692 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 1: tackling football, I think he's one of the best. 693 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 2: He's been the best tackle in football, and I. 694 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: Think he's an All Pro. I think he is the 695 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: future of the offensive line here in Detroit. And look, 696 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 1: it seems like every week it was Max Crosby, and 697 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:47,640 Speaker 1: then it was Joey Bosa and now it's now it's 698 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 1: going to be Montes Sweat, who Chicago traded for from 699 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 1: Washington at the trade deadline. Montes Sweat still looking for 700 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 1: his first sack. But I've had seven pressures last week. 701 00:30:56,960 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 1: I thought he affected the game. I think at three 702 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:03,640 Speaker 1: quarterback hits as Chicago beat Carolina, Penny Sewell, you just 703 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:06,400 Speaker 1: can't say enough good things about no sacks allowed, what 704 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 1: one quarterback hit something? It's been crazy how good he is. 705 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 1: So Montese will play both sides as what I've seen 706 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 1: on film, but a majority I think is over there 707 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 1: on the right side. So that's going to be an 708 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 1: interesting matchupball game. 709 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 2: It is, And I mean this is from the bear 710 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 2: ship point. This is why you traded and then pay 711 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 2: him one hundred million dollars. This is what you're signing 712 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 2: up for when you know you have to go against 713 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:33,120 Speaker 2: Darisaw and Sewell and whatever the Packers are trotting out 714 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 2: there in the future. They've got a lot of tackles 715 00:31:34,840 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 2: that they rotate through. But you have to be able 716 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 2: to compete with the tackles in this division. You have 717 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 2: some elite ones, and they made this trade and gave 718 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,239 Speaker 2: the contract to a guy that they believe can do that. 719 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 2: And he had a good game last week, like like 720 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 2: you mentioned. But you got to start kind of taking 721 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 2: advantage of the opportunities. But this is Sewell is a 722 00:31:56,680 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 2: different beast. You know, what can you do against Carolina. 723 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: And the what you do against Penay Seool Pressures allowed 724 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: five five five one, hand sacks allowed zero zero, quarterback 725 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 1: hurries like hurries four yeah, no, I mean four hits. 726 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 2: I mean and no pressures against the three of Max 727 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 2: crowdsbeat Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in the last two games. 728 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 2: Zero pressures in forty five pass blockings. 729 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:30,000 Speaker 1: Now, guys, so good, guys. He's ridiculous. He's fun to watch, 730 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: and it was It was interesting. I asked Ben Johnson 731 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:34,480 Speaker 1: just about when you got guys like Taylor Decker, who's 732 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:37,080 Speaker 1: I think very undervalued as a left tackle, and then 733 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:40,280 Speaker 1: Penn Seol, what does that allow you to do offensively? 734 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:43,360 Speaker 1: And he said everything. Yeah, he said, because like some 735 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 1: other teams we have to mask or help or protect 736 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: or use a tight end or use your running backs 737 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 1: like you don't have to do that. You can just 738 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:51,720 Speaker 1: trust them one on one with those guys, and I 739 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:54,440 Speaker 1: think it opens up your entire playbook. So just having 740 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 1: two guys like that it is so important. I don't 741 00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:59,480 Speaker 1: think they both get enough credit for how much they 742 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 1: impact not only the game but the game plan going 743 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 1: in because of what they can do to stop the 744 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:05,920 Speaker 1: other team's best pass rusher. Yeah. 745 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 2: I mean, even on the fourth and two play that 746 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:10,320 Speaker 2: that got to the field goal last week, the last 747 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 2: offensive play effectively Boa Bosa and Sewell on an island. 748 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:17,480 Speaker 2: Graham was there to help at right guard. And by 749 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 2: the time Graham passed off the tackle to Frank and 750 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:23,240 Speaker 2: turned around to go look at suep and I was 751 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:26,480 Speaker 2: sitting on Joey Bosa. There's nothing for Graham to do. 752 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 2: If you go back and watch it, it is a 753 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:30,760 Speaker 2: whole Larry as a visual. He's literally laying on top 754 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:32,840 Speaker 2: of him and Graham is just standing there like looking 755 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 2: for work. That's the kind of guy he is. You 756 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:39,760 Speaker 2: don't even you know. It's great that Graham was available 757 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:40,760 Speaker 2: to help, doesn't. 758 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:44,120 Speaker 1: He So those are the key matchups to this week. 759 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:45,920 Speaker 1: It should be a fun one. I think Division game. 760 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 1: You're sele vision game getting back, it means a little 761 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:50,760 Speaker 1: bit more. Obviously, got two in a row here and 762 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:53,560 Speaker 1: a quick turnaround for Thanksgiving and the Packers coming. But 763 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 1: you want to you want to kind of kick this 764 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 1: off this little stretch of three games in eleven days. 765 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:01,840 Speaker 1: You got by the first one, You've got to kind 766 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 1: of get by this one to set it up for Thanksgiving. 767 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:07,160 Speaker 1: Should be a fun matchup in the Division. It's just 768 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:10,480 Speaker 1: Chicago Bears, right it's the NFC North Black and Blue. Baby. 769 00:34:11,200 --> 00:34:13,719 Speaker 1: We will be there. We will, We will do a 770 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 1: podcast after we will hopefully we're talking about a Detroit 771 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:19,439 Speaker 1: Lions win. So thank you PJ for joining me before 772 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:22,239 Speaker 1: the key matchups, and we'll do it again on Sunday night. 773 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 1: See Sunday sounds good