1 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: What's up everyone, and welcome to The Playmaker's Podcast. I'm 2 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: your host, Hayley Elwindon. On today's show, we're gonna hear 3 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: from Fox Sports broadcaster Shannon Spake. If you go on 4 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: the Fox Sports Press Pass website, you'll see Spake has 5 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: quite the resume. This year, she was named host of 6 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: Fox's NASCAR race coverage along with her duties working the 7 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: sidelines for the NFL on Fox for the fourth season. 8 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: We'll talk to her about balancing it all, any advice 9 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: she has for those wanting to get into the biz, 10 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: and because she'll be on the call for the Chargers 11 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: Bears game on Sunday, what she makes of that matchup 12 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: as well. So, now let's bring in Shannon's Bake presented 13 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: by Mercury Insurance. All right, now, let's welcome in Shannon Spake. Shannon, 14 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: how are you today? I'm doing great, Thank you, Thanks 15 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: for having me on. Absolutely So I want to get 16 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: started just kind of talking about you and your jobs, 17 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: because you do a lot in the fall. You work 18 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: sidelines for the NFL on Fox on Sundays, but you're 19 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: also the still Fox's NASCAR race coverage. But what do 20 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 1: you love about your in season schedule. Balancing the two, 21 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: I would say balance is not the word to use. Actually, 22 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: right now, there's very little just because of the back 23 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: and forth between NASCAR and NFL. It's super busy. Right now. 24 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: We have about four more weeks of NASCAR, and so 25 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: I host the show from Monday Tuesday Wednesday. I host 26 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: Race Hub here in Charlotte. I usually have Thursdays off. 27 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: I am traveling to Chicago a day early this week 28 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: because my father and grandfather actually living out in that area. 29 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: So I'll be going out there day early and then 30 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 1: come home Sunday night and then do it all over again. 31 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: But you know, I've I've always been really blessed because 32 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: I get to do different sports. Can I get to 33 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: cover different sports, which I think helps keep me fresh 34 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: each time I'm talking about the different thing or the 35 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: different players or the different drivers. Being able to go 36 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: and get a different perspective on Sundays and then kind 37 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: of bring that back to the show on Monday, I 38 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: think is hugely beneficial for me and it's something I 39 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: really love to do. YO, when you talk about kind 40 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: of tying those two together, you obviously have a front 41 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: row seat and both of the sports are very different, 42 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 1: but what are some sort of parallels between the two 43 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: that may not be so obvious when you just kind 44 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: of compare them up front. Yeah, so it's funny. You know, 45 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: we I covered Detroit last week and they were coming 46 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: off of those controversial plays where you know, right at 47 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: the end of the game, a lot of people considered 48 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: that being sort of the thing that cost Detroit the game. 49 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: And you know, Matt Patricia brought his guys in on 50 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: Wednesday and he showed them like thirty different plays from 51 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: that game, and he said, this is actually the reason 52 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: that we lost the game, not that one play. And 53 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: that does remind me a lot of racing, because in racing, 54 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:40,959 Speaker 1: you know, if you're coming down to the final wire 55 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: of the season and the guys trying to make it 56 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: to Miami for our final far championship four, the format 57 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: that we have has we have four drivers that can 58 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: keep for the championship, and those guys look at that 59 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: last race before Miami and they say, well, this isn't 60 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: the reason that I didn't make it to Miami. It's 61 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: the other races before that. It's in this sakes that 62 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: I made here to mistakes that I made there. So 63 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: I think that those parallels certainly, certainly are are similar. 64 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 1: And I just think in terms of sports, in terms 65 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:13,959 Speaker 1: of just athletes going out there and pushing themselves to 66 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 1: their limits mentally and physically. I don't care whether you're 67 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: in the car or on a football field or on 68 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: a baseball mound, on a hardwoods of basketball, those athletes 69 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,399 Speaker 1: all kind of go through the same thing mentally and physically. 70 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: So in terms of your sideline reporting, when you're on 71 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: the sidelines, what are things that you're looking for? What 72 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: are you kind of trying to relay to the viewers. Yeah. 73 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: I had a really good friend that I worked with, 74 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: one of my mentors told me early on in my 75 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: career when I was trying to figure that question out, 76 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: trying to figure out where to find the story, and 77 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: he told me to just watch the ball. And that 78 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: obviously means watch the football on the field, but it 79 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: just means watch the ball. Where is it going? Where 80 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: is the storyline? And I feel like I always try 81 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: to position myself. If a secondary is just getting below 82 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: up right by a receiver, then I'm going to go 83 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: see what the secondary is doing, how they're responding to that. 84 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: And then on the flip side. If a receiver is 85 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: just getting shut down by one guy, specifically by one 86 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: of those defensive backs, I'm going to go see how 87 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: that receiver is responding. If the quarterback struggling, is he 88 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: going and talking to his offensive line? If a running 89 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: back is is is struggling the same kind of thing. 90 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: I think that that's where the stories are, those guys 91 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: trying to overcome something. M I always find those to 92 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: be the stories that I'm anyone can tell you right 93 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: when when teams are doing well, they're celebrating, they're excited, 94 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: they're happy. What's going on when people are trying to 95 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: overcome adversity? And that's kind of what I look for 96 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: in games. How many steps do you log in a 97 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: given Sunday? I don't actually carry like I don't. I 98 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: don't carry my phone on me. It's funny because like 99 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: teams always be like, we text you the you know, 100 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: the injuries, and I'm like, I don't know my phone obviously, yeah, 101 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: but a lot I'm running from sideline to sideline. But 102 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: it's I don't mind doing that. I love it. I don't. 103 00:04:58,080 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: I don't have an assistant that's down there with me, 104 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: don't have anybody covering one sideline I really enjoy because again, 105 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: I don't want to hold anyone else accountable. Right, So 106 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: if somebody tells me I saw so and so go 107 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: into the locker room and then I tell my producer 108 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: that that's not the truth, or if they say that 109 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: they saw something and then it turned out to not 110 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: to be the truth. I would rather just hold myself 111 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: accountable in those situations than have to depend on somebody else. So, also, 112 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: in speaking of steps, you do a series called One Up, 113 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: One Down for fun. Yes, how would you describe it 114 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: for those who may not have seen it and sort 115 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,280 Speaker 1: of what went into the genesis of it. So back 116 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: in two thousand, I think it was two fourteen, when 117 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: I was covering college, my analyst, Rock Toward, we were 118 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: at Tennessee and he just ran like casually, looked at 119 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: me and said, Hey, do you want to run stadium 120 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: stairs today? And I was like, oh, that sounds kind 121 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: of fun. Yeah, let's do it. So we ended up 122 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: doing that stadium and then every single week we would 123 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: do the stadium stairs where we would go. Rock kind 124 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: of stopped, but I kept going, and I've actually done 125 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: like thirty nine different stadiums at this point from college football, 126 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: college basketball, NFL, NBA stadiums. I've done some NASCAR tracks 127 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: and so a couple of years ago, Fox came to 128 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: me and said, hey, let's do something with this. It's 129 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: something that you're doing anyways, So we came up with 130 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 1: this idea to just kind of rapid fire interview a 131 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: player in the time that it takes me to run 132 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: run up one staring down another stare. So it's actually 133 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: something that I do. I do run the stairs. I 134 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: do about forty five minutes to an hour every week. 135 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: I think it's so cool like and people the next 136 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: question will be, what's your favorite one to do? Yeah, 137 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: I ran ten State, I ran Beaver Stadium and it 138 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: was Friday morning, seven am, and there was there was 139 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: there was not another soul in that entire stadium with me. 140 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: And that was one of those moments where you're kind 141 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: of standing at the tallest point of that stadium looking 142 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 1: down and just realizing how cool it is to be 143 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 1: in that environment and have that access to that stadium 144 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: at that time. And so that was that was my favorite, 145 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: my most favorite stadium run. Yeah, that's a moment to 146 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: take that all in Yeah, it was very cool. So 147 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: you've said that you've started your career out in production 148 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: and I'm not even making a joke here with the 149 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: steps thing, but here comes another thing. But you said 150 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: that you used every step on the ladder to get 151 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: to where you are. So what advice would you give 152 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: to those who may be wanting to break in or 153 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: maybe feel they aren't climbing as quickly as they should. Well, 154 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: I think be patient. Yeah. It's funny because I do 155 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: talk to a lot of people who are getting out 156 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: of college, young people, and I didn't actually figure out 157 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: what I wanted to do till I was about twenty 158 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: six or twenty seven. That's kind of what I started 159 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: to So I tell, first of all, I tell people 160 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: that are getting out of college, if they already know 161 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: what they want to do, they are way ahead of 162 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: a game. And I think just to be patient because 163 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: it will come right. If you're a hard worker and 164 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: you're passionate. I always say you cannot take passion. So 165 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: if it's something you're passionate about, I truly believe if 166 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: you put in the time and you put in the 167 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: effort and make the right connections and work really, really hard, 168 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: it'll come, but I think in patience, there's so many 169 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 1: young kids who are like, I gotta do it right now, 170 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: exactly it's going to be okay, I promise you. If 171 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: I've made it to this point, your can do Okay. Yes, 172 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: we'll get back to our conversation with Shannon in a 173 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: few but we wanted to remind you that you won't 174 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: miss a minute of the action with the official Los 175 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: Angeles Chargers App. Follow real time stats, watch your favorite 176 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: Bolts programming, and live local Chargers games all season long. 177 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: Download today at Chargers dot com slash app. Geographic and 178 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: device restrictions apply local and primetime games only. Data chargers 179 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: may apply. 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I want to see if they can run 198 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 1: the ball, both of these teams right, and I think 199 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: that that weather may be a factor, and if it is, 200 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:33,679 Speaker 1: then the passing game could certainly be a challenge for 201 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: both of these teams, and they will have to put 202 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,439 Speaker 1: it on the ground and try to run It's It's 203 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: a tough season for a lot of teams, and these 204 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: are two teams that are certainly struggling with the emotions 205 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: of the season, with the external noise that both of 206 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 1: these teams are hearing. And I know you're right there 207 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 1: with these Chargers, and I know that that was an emotional, 208 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 1: emotional moment. I Melvin Gordon, I know he was sitting 209 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 1: on the bench showing his emotion. And so it will 210 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:02,679 Speaker 1: be interesting to see how they rebound, how they practice 211 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: this week, and I know you'll be in there and 212 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: seeing just how that happens and certainly how they feel 213 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: as they're getting closer to this game on Sunday, you know, 214 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: but a lot of a lot of at this level. 215 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: You know, at this level, these guys are pros, and 216 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: they've been through this before and they know that they 217 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: have to put it behind them and they know they 218 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: have to look ahead. And we'll see how both of 219 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: these teams do in doing that. It's the external stuff, 220 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: it's all the talk, right and will be coached to 221 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: do a really good job of trying to block that out. 222 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: But it is hard. It's hard with social media, and 223 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: it's hard with the twenty four hour news organizations and 224 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: you know, NFL Network and Talk Sports and ESPN talking, talking, talking, 225 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: And we'll see how these teams do in making that happen. 226 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: Is there a team in your eyes that needs this 227 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: one more than say the other, Well, I think it's 228 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: uh so, I think I think they Yeah, I do. 229 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I think obviously, with all the talk about Tibisky, 230 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: I think for confidence, this will be a huge game. 231 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: I mean Rivers, he's been, They're done that. He's a veteran, 232 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: he's been in these situations before. He knows how this 233 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: whole game goes. And I don't think competence is an 234 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: issue with your guy under center. But I think for 235 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: Mitchell Trimisky, when he's when he's struggling the way that 236 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: he is and again all that outside noise, I do 237 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: think this is an important game for his competence. Soldier 238 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: Field is one of those historical NFL meccas, if you will, 239 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: But just what is it like to play there? Yeah? 240 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: So I actually, in like nineteen eighty four, nineteen eighty five, 241 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 1: I was a big Chicago Bears fan. I grew up 242 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 1: a Dolphins fan. But that was like the one year, 243 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: you know, they went to the Super Bowl and you know, 244 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: Walter Payton and I actually got when they when they 245 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: turned over the field from turf to to what they 246 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 1: had turned it over to in the nineties or or 247 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: two thousand, or redid the surface of the field. I 248 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: actually got a piece of the original turf from Soldier field. 249 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: So yes, So when I went there for the first time, 250 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,719 Speaker 1: I don't care what it looks like on the outside. 251 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: I don't care if they dome it. I don't care 252 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: if they put if they put a you know, a 253 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: UFO on top of that. I treeze around. You walk 254 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 1: onto that field and it has Soldier Field, right. You feel, 255 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 1: you feel the history, you feel the sidelines, you can 256 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: look into the stands. You know that you had your 257 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: standing where some of the greatest players of all time 258 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: have stood, and it is it is a step back 259 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: in time for me. Despite like I said, what it 260 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: looks like from the outside, I just think it was 261 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: for me to walk out of that tunnel for the 262 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: first time and walk onto that field. I felt it. 263 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:32,719 Speaker 1: And I know you said this will be the first 264 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: time that you're going there. I promise you we'll feel 265 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: it too. It gives me chills just listening to you 266 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 1: talk about it, because I've been amazing Lambeau and I 267 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 1: know it's kind of in that same realm, so just 268 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: hearing you, Yeah, I literally have chills right now just 269 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: just thinking about it. Yeah, it's pretty cool. And you 270 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 1: go to their practice facility and there's like this huge 271 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: poster of Walter Payton, like this huge mural of him, 272 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: like in the practice facility, and you're like, oh my god, 273 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: that's Walter Payton, you know, and I just it's hard. Again, 274 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: it's hard not to just take a moment and recognize 275 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 1: just where you are. Khalil Mack he has not had 276 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: a sack in two games. But the kind of ironic 277 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: fun fact here when I was kind of researching this, 278 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: is that his first career sack came against Philip Rivers 279 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: in twenty fourteen. So how do you contain a guy 280 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: like him so that he goes a third game without 281 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: a sack? Pray, I mean, he is he is who 282 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: he is, right, I Mean, there are a few defensive 283 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: players in the league that just are difference makers and 284 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: are disruptive, and granted, yes, and he is one of 285 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 1: those guys. He not only physically and just the presence 286 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: that he has, but if you talk to any of 287 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 1: those bear players, the way that he affects that locker room, 288 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: the way that he practices who he is. He is 289 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 1: just he is a force, not just physically, but just 290 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: from a motivational and a leadership standpoint, He's He's incredible 291 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: to watch. I mean, like you get to see Aaron 292 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: Donald a lot out there. He's the same kind of 293 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: thing right where you know, they they just are difference makers. 294 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: They are unique players whom are are once in a 295 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 1: once in a season, once in a career kind of guy. 296 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 1: So we know we talked a little bit whether maybe 297 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: a factor We talked about sort of these two offenses 298 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: struggling a little bit, if you will, in terms of 299 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: the Bears offense, how can the Chargers defense take advantage 300 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: of them? Well, I think you've got to continue to 301 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: try to disrupt Turbisky, right, I mean, you know that 302 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: he's already uh struggling uh externally and and from what 303 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: we've heard, maybe maybe with the confidence. And I think 304 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: that that's what you have to do. I think you've 305 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: got to get You've got to get to that offensive line. 306 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: You've got to propressure on Mitchell Turbisky. You've got to 307 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: try to make him um uncomfortable and uh, And that's 308 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: the key. It all starts up front, you know that. 309 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: I know that it starts with that defensive line and 310 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: that offensive line. And if you can get to him, 311 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: then I think it's going to be a really, really 312 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: long day for the barriers. So in keeping with that 313 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: defensive line theme, two guys, one of them up on 314 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: the d line that have been really just standouts for 315 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: the Chargers as of late, come from the twenty sixteen 316 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: draft class. Joey Bosa and Hunter Henry. Bosa had two 317 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: sacks last week and a forced fumble. Hunters put up 318 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 1: one hundred and ninety seven yards over the last two games. 319 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: At this point in the season, what can you say 320 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: about their performances? Well, I mean I think Bosa, I mean, 321 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: he speaks for himself, right, I mean, I've been watching 322 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: him for a very long time. You know at Ohio State, 323 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: and obviously the genes, the gene pool runs deep. Yeah, 324 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: they I don't know what. I don't know what their 325 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: mom was was, you know, eating walls was carrying those 326 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: two boys. But I should have found that out when 327 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: I was having my kids. As far as Hunter Henry, 328 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: I love the tight end position. I think that the 329 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: tight end position is it is sort of the coolest 330 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: in the league right now, right, I mean, these are 331 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: big guys that go out there and block, and these 332 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: are big guys who can be really disruptive. And Hunter 333 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: Henry like he's open like if the ball is like 334 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 1: four feet away from him, he's open, Like he can 335 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: really kind of make things happen. And I love that 336 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: tight end position. I think that they're dynamic. I think 337 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: that they're interesting to watch and just a lot of fun. 338 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: And then lastly, Shannon just kind of overall keys to 339 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: victory for the Chargers again, get a prestur on tribisty, 340 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: try to run the ball, you know, And I think 341 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: biggest thing is you just have to put last weeks 342 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: behind them. Yep, move forward, yep, move forward. All right, Well, 343 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: thank you so much. We so appreciate you hopping on 344 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: Playmakers this week, and we will see you in Chicago 345 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: and I'm looking forward to staring the sidelines with you 346 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: the weekend. Yeah, I'll see you down there. I'm gonna 347 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: try to run stare, so I'll let you know what 348 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: I'm gonna do it before. I'll bring my nikes, i 349 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: will not put my heeled booties on, and we'll do 350 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: it together. Shoot me a text, all right, We'll get 351 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: it done. And that's a wrap on this week's episode 352 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: of Playmakers. So many thanks to Shannon Speak for talking 353 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: about her career and previewing this Sunday's game against the Bears. 354 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: One final reminder to subscribe to the Chargers Podcast Network 355 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your podcasts, including now, Spotify, and SoundCloud. 356 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: It is your one stop shop for all things Chargers 357 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: directly from the team, including in depth conversations and analysis 358 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 1: with players, coaches, executives, national reporters and broadcasters, and much more. 359 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 1: Be sure to rate and review, and thanks for listening. 360 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: Catch you guys next time.