1 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to play Bakers. Everyone. I'm Haley Elbot. It's Week 2 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: sixteen and the Los Angeles Chargers will travel to Houston 3 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: to take on the Texans. So joining me to break 4 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: down the Bolts appointment this week is Sarah Barshop from ESPN. Sarah, 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: thank you so much for coming on. Of course, thanks 6 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: for having me. So, the Texans are coming off a 7 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: big win in Week fifteen against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: they're three and eleven right now. What is their mindset 9 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: as they head into sort of these final games of 10 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty one season. You know, that's actually something 11 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: we've kind of been asking all year because they started 12 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: off with the winning the season opener, they didn't win 13 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: again a game again until after the bye week. And 14 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: this is I'm sure the entre for every NFL team, 15 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: but it really is one win at a time, one 16 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: week at a time. And I think that's easy to 17 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: say when you're winning. I think when you're losing it's 18 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: a little bit harder. But again, even after they won, 19 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: you know, for fans, the team wants to win every 20 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: single game. For fans, it's like, well, I could have 21 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: had the number one pick, right but you talked to 22 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: the guys in the locker room and it's no, we're 23 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: so happy we won that game. Now we want to 24 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: to finish the season on a strong note. So getting 25 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: to the quarterback rookie Davis Mills, that was the first 26 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: win of his career. He has now taken the reins 27 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: of this starting job. We're not going to get the 28 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: Tyrod Taylor Justin Herbert matchup this week, but what his 29 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: Mills shown as of late, I think growth, which is 30 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: so important because he was a third round pick when 31 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: he came in for Tyrod Taylor in Week two, he 32 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,479 Speaker 1: was never gonna I mean, he was thrown in the fire, right. 33 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: You would not expect any quarterback, rookie quarterback, especially not 34 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:43,040 Speaker 1: a first round pick Trevor Lawrence, to come in and 35 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:45,960 Speaker 1: just light the league on fire. Had some really bad games, 36 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: was very inconsistent, He struggled, and he was unable to 37 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: protect the football. And I think the growth we saw 38 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: from that until now he watched Tyrod Taylor for the 39 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks he was back, he got some 40 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: playing time, and then he's had in two and a 41 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: half games he's played, he's had one interception and it 42 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: got the win. So I just think when you see 43 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: he seems like he's getting the ball up faster, it 44 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,679 Speaker 1: seems like he is kind of processing a playbook a 45 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: little faster, I guess. I mean you really can tell 46 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: that game against Buffalo, the Texas lost forty to nothing. 47 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: He had negative passing yards in the first half. I mean, 48 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: he really struggled in that game. And to see the 49 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: quarterback I watched that day to the quarterback I saw 50 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: against the Jets, just not doing too much, listening to 51 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: what the coaches are telling him and protecting the football 52 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: for the most part, I think that's kind of the 53 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: growth you've seen in him. I'd be remiss if I 54 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: didn't mention some of the coaching ties. Obviously, James Campin, 55 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: who was with the Charters last year is on this 56 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 1: Houston staff, and Pep Hamilton as well, and he is 57 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: a guy who, justin Herbert has really credited with his 58 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: development throughout his rookie season. I know I was up 59 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: in Oregon over the summer at Herbert's golf tournament and 60 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: Pep came. Pep was there, which was pretty cool. But 61 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 1: looking at him specifically, how has maybe he helped Davis 62 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: Mills's growth over the course of this season. You know, 63 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: we actually asked DA would tell you that a couple 64 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: of days ago, and he said they spend so much 65 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: time together. Yeah, And I think there's just what you 66 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: were saying about Justin Herbert, Like I think there's some credibility. 67 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: They're not that he didn't have credibility before, but I 68 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: think that you look and when you're a rookie quarterback 69 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,119 Speaker 1: and you see what happened last year and you see 70 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: what Justin Herbert's doing. Obviously there's a lot of talent, 71 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: a lot of skill there. But I think if you're 72 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 1: Davis Mills and you see that and it's just wow, 73 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: he can help me get there, he can help me 74 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: be better. And I think Pep has been just instrumental 75 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: in that growth. I was just talking about from when 76 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: he was starting before Tyrod was hurt until when he 77 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: replaced Tyrod. So Brandon Cooks, he had two touchdowns in 78 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: last Sunday's game. Brandon Staley just the other day said 79 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: he has a ton of respect for Cooks's game. No 80 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: matter what team he's been on, that respect has always 81 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: been there. How has that rapport between him and Mills 82 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: kind of grown and also why should he be top 83 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: of mind for this Chargers defense. Look, you look at 84 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 1: the depth lines, you're living your last question. First, you 85 00:03:58,160 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: look look at the depth on the team. There's not 86 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: all on a wide receiver depth. And in the middle 87 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: of the season, we saw the offense kind of struggle 88 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: with consistency, and I think part of that was teams 89 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: were taking Brandon Cooks out of David. I mean, Davis 90 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: Mills and tire Dayler were not able to find Cooks. 91 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: They were doubling him. Teams know how good Cooks is, 92 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: and so I think that if you can take away him, 93 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: I think it kind of the Texans don't have, I guess, 94 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: the talent level to really open up the offense without him, 95 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: And I think teams have realized that now. He obviously 96 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 1: had a big game against the Jaguars, and he and 97 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: Davis Mills have spent so much time together. It kind 98 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: of goes back to that even during a pandemic year, 99 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,119 Speaker 1: he talks to us about Oh after practice, Davis asked 100 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 1: if we could, you know, stay and throw some balls, 101 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 1: if I could catch some passes from him, And they 102 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: really spent a lot of time together, and I think 103 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: when you have a veteran quarterback, you kind of take 104 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: for granted. It doesn't take us long to build that chemistry, 105 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: I think, and that's something Cooks and Tyre Taylor talked 106 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: about at the beginning of the year. But with a rookie, 107 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: that relationship is so important, and I think that again 108 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: is help one of the reasons why Davis Mills has 109 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: been much better in these two and a half games 110 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: he's played to the latter half of the season, just 111 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: because I think he's had more time with this receiver, 112 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: specifically Cooks. I think that's an interesting point you bring 113 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 1: up because so many times you think of the veteran 114 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: being the quarterback and maybe the rookie or the younger 115 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: player being the receiver. But the roles are reversed here, 116 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: and really it has to be a good thing that 117 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: Cooks is sort of imparting that wisdom, even at a 118 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: different position on a young rookie like Davis Mills. Right. 119 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, And I mean you asked the players in 120 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: this locker room. They really respect Brandon Cooks, and it 121 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 1: sounds like he's the leader on not this a leader 122 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: on the offense, but a leader on this team. But 123 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: I think again like he's there's also Chris Conley in 124 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: the wide receiver room, and so I think when you 125 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 1: have some of the younger guys, is important to have 126 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: those veterans. And I think Davis Mills has He's talked 127 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: about how much he's learned from those guys, feeling to 128 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 1: pick their brains and kind of see it from a 129 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: different perspective than maybe he would have gotten in college. 130 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: So flipping to the Texans defense, I read that Houston 131 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: was down to just three linebackers on the fifty three 132 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: last week just due to COVID and a bunch of 133 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: other situations, but they still got the job done. But 134 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: looking at the defense as a whole, who is maybe 135 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 1: a player or maybe a couple of just guys to 136 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:14,119 Speaker 1: note for Sunday's game against the Chargers. So I'm actually 137 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 1: the two I will tell you two players now, I'm 138 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: not even positive they will play. Jonathan Garnard is on 139 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: the COVID list and Justin Reed did not play last 140 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: week with the concussion. David Culley said, we'll know more 141 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: as the week goes on. I have a feeling we'll 142 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: kind of find out Wednesday or Thursday. But those two 143 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: I think are just impact players on the defensive that 144 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 1: doesn't have that many. They have a lot of veteran players, 145 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: a lot of guys signed one year deals. But I 146 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: look at Justin Reid, who is going to be a 147 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: free agion after the season. He's when we talk about 148 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: the leaders in the locker room, he's one of them. 149 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: And Jonathan Garnard isn't his second year. He was inactive 150 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: for the first He was a healthy scrap for the 151 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: first two weeks of this season, and then I went 152 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: through a stretch within he had seven sacks and seven 153 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: games and so he's a guy that I think if 154 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: you're game planning, you look at this defense and yeah, 155 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: maybe there's not as much talent. This is three win team, 156 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: but I think you look at him and you say, Okay, 157 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: that's a guy we've got to be prepared for. And 158 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: then lastly, Sarah, before I let you go, maybe what's 159 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: a factor or factors that you could see deciding how 160 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: this game pans out. I think it goes back to 161 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: Davis skills protecting the football. I mean it's something you know, 162 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: every coach I've ever covered to said that, right, you 163 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: don't win if you don't win the takeaway battle. You're 164 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: not going to win the game, right, But I think 165 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: with the rookie quarterback it's so important, and especially because 166 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: I think it's has to do with this confidence levels too. 167 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 1: I think you notice the difference when he goes the 168 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: first half, doesn't turn the ball over, He's maybe making 169 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: throws a little further downfield. You can see the Tim Kelly, 170 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: the offensive coordinator, maybe loosen the rains a little bit 171 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: because he has that trust in Davis Mills, and so 172 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 1: I think if he can, they don't make him do 173 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: so much. So I think if he can protect the 174 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: football and do exactly what the coaching staff is asking 175 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: to which is something that David Kelly said that Mills 176 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: was able to do against the Jaguars, I think that's 177 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: going to be the key because the Texans the Texans 178 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: all this season that if they can't do that, they're 179 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: not going to win the game. Sarah, thank you so 180 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: much for coming on and sharing your insight on this 181 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,119 Speaker 1: game and this opponent. We really appreciate it. Of course. 182 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: Thanks for it's great to talk to you. Thanks for 183 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: having me on