1 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: What's up, guys, Welcome in to a brand new episode 2 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: of Chargers Weekly. We had joy practices with the San 3 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: Francisco forty nine ers. We got media everywhere, Mark Sitches, 4 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: Fox Sports joining us the Trojan what's up? Brother? How 5 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: are you? Couldn't be any better? This is This is 6 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: exactly what I want to be doing today, man, watching 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: two really good ball clubs go at it and compete. 8 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: This is great. I was gonna say, it's exactly what 9 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: you want to be doing. You don't want to be 10 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: in this heat practicing though. What do you remember about 11 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: training camp? I remember those days up in Courtland. It 12 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: was hot, just like this, even more more muggy than this. 13 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: But those sweaty dog days of training camp. That's where 14 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 1: you gotta kind of create your own juice and motivate guys. 15 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: And I see this young quarterback ten, Yeah, Herbert looking great, man, 16 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: And he just looks so comfortable and so a lot 17 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: of great memories, a lot of connective tissue with scouts 18 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: and people from the Jets that you guys have here. 19 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: So that's it's always fun to go down memory land 20 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: like that. I saw you in the middle of the fields. Obviously, 21 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: we got the Niners on one side, the charge on 22 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 1: the other, they switch up offensive defense. What were your 23 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: observations just from the last two hours here? Yeah, what's 24 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 1: what's the best is, you know, they staggered the huddles 25 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: just a little bit, So it's nice to be in 26 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: the middle and you see almost like watching red Zone 27 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: the Red Zone channel, you're kind of watching both. The 28 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: hardest thing was keeping up with two two minute drills 29 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: at the same time. That's a lot of work because 30 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: you're trying to remember, Okay, who's got all the time out? 31 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: It's okay, what's your situation? Are you trying to score? 32 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: Are you trying to get a field goal? Whatever it was. 33 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: But I thought Herbert did a great job leading him 34 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 1: down for that field goal at the end there understood 35 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: exactly where he needed to get, understood the situation he 36 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: had like a second and long, knowing he didn't need 37 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: to get all of it. They were going to come 38 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: back on third down and potentially fourth down, and he 39 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: did a great job just checking it down, getting it 40 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: underneath and setting up the field goal team. And I 41 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: thought Trey Lance did the same thing. He um they 42 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: they had about seventeen seconds no timeouts, left and Shanahan 43 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 1: ran it just to just to get get us a 44 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,679 Speaker 1: couple more yards for the field goal. Um, and kind 45 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: of caught the defense off guard just for a second, 46 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 1: gained a couple yards, made it an easy field goal 47 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: for Robbie Gold. But but the thing I did notice 48 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: too with Trey, uh, when you when you clocked that 49 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: ball at the end, you don't have timeouts. You got 50 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: to clock it with four seconds or less. And he 51 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: knew exactly what to do as soon as he said clock. 52 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: He was staring at that at the shot clock. So 53 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: you know, they don't get another play after your field goal. 54 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: And um, you know, little things like that you pick 55 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 1: up on, especially as a former quarterback, and it's good 56 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: to see those guys executing like that. What I think 57 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 1: is so cool is you're one of very few that 58 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 1: know what Trey Lance is going through, what Justin Herbert's 59 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: going through. What you were drafted five overall, fifth overall, 60 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:52,119 Speaker 1: Lance was three, Justin was six. So to see, let's 61 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: just start with number ten out here to see how 62 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 1: he started his rookie year out of nowhere week two. Yeah, 63 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 1: and to play the way he did with no off 64 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: season program. You had a similar start to your season 65 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: where you guys went deep into the playoffs. Yeah, your 66 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: oppressions at justin from year one going into year two here, 67 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: of course, I think one of the craziest things that 68 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: people don't really understand is you're you're a twenty two 69 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: year old kid and you're in college and overnight your 70 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: entire life changes. Right now, you're expected to be the 71 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: phrase of a face of a franchise. You got fifty 72 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: million dollars in your bank account, and you're expected to 73 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: make decisions like a sixty five year old Supreme Court justice, right, 74 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: and and that's you know, that's unrealistic. You're still a kid. 75 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: So it's such a big jump, it's such a big transition. 76 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: What's up it? But I think he's handled it so 77 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: well because, like you said, he had no offseason. He's 78 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: learning on the fly and to see flashes. That's what 79 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: you want to see as a rookie, especially as a quarterback. 80 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: Just see some flash, show me some flashes that it's there, 81 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: and then pretty soon you'll get more consistent with that. 82 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: But he looks so comfortable already understanding situations, competing his 83 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: ass off, and the best part about it is he 84 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: doesn't even know. He doesn't even realize how good he is. 85 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: He's scratching in some way. Yeah, Like that's one of 86 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: the most refreshing things about it, you know, because you 87 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: get a lot of guys nowadays that are you know, 88 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: on their Instagram of bonds or TikTok this and that, 89 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: and this kid is just like so dialed, so focused 90 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: and doesn't even realize how good he is, which is crazy. 91 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: I mean, he's he's gonna He's got every club in 92 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: the back, right, He's got every throw in the back, 93 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: and he's still learning. He's like a little puppy. He's 94 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: finally getting coaching that he never got necessarily in college 95 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 1: because they had so many different coordinators. He was learning 96 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: new system every year and all the all the new 97 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: coordinator does is come in and say, Okay, what does 98 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: he do well? He throws well in the run, he 99 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: can do read option, and he can chuck in a mile. Great, 100 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: we'll do that. But nobody taught him to play the position. Nobody, 101 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: nobody really explained it. And I mean, with his coach 102 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: now coming over from the Saints, that's huge. And that's 103 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,679 Speaker 1: what's so interest thing too, is he he had to 104 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 1: learn a new offense this offseason, right Joe Bobarti's offense. 105 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: Drew Briefs was a camp this offseason and talking about 106 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: how complex that system is. But when you have somebody 107 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: as smart as Justin and coach Dale, I think he 108 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: said it best. He's like, we're gonna make the offense Justin's, 109 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: We're not gonna make him conform to a system. And 110 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 1: I think you're starting to see just each and every 111 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: day out here, and I think today and Friday, and 112 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: you let me know the importance of joint practices, especially 113 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: when you're not going to play in the preseason. It's like, 114 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: these are crucial for Justin ahead of Week one. These 115 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: are as close to live reps as you get. This 116 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: is better than preseason games in my opinion. What ways 117 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: is it better? Because you get so many more reps, 118 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: live action, a lot of situations right away, just like 119 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: a game without the you know, like that it's almost 120 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 1: like thud tempo. But I mean they're competing harder, it 121 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 1: looks like here than you do in a preseason game, 122 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: you know, because everybody's just trying not to get hurt 123 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: and let's just make it through the preseason. Get regular season. 124 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: These guys are grinding in these practices and you get 125 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: the best film. You get the best film from these 126 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 1: because you go to get it the same dude for 127 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 1: two straight weeks too, right, And it's I just feel 128 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: like it's the best form of competition in training campus. 129 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: To do the joint practice. You get to see all 130 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: your buds on the other team. You know it's fun 131 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: off the field, but you get on the field, getting 132 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 1: between the white lines, get after it. And we definitely 133 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 1: saw that the one on ones going. Keenan got a 134 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: little head. Just the intensity has ratcheted up a little 135 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: bit from the first fifteen days of Campers. So this 136 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: Charger's team in general, we talked about justin Joe Lombardi 137 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 1: comes over from New Orleans, obviously, Hey, Coach Brandon Staley, 138 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: the return to Derwin, James, Joey Bosa, Tranquil, Kenneth Murray. 139 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 1: There's a lot of names on this team, and I 140 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: know Coach Staley's goal was to just bring this thing 141 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: together this offseason. Your your impressions of what the Chargers 142 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: did in an effort to improve upon seven and nine 143 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: and try to get to the postseason. Well, I think 144 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 1: the most important thing is getting that quarterback, you know, comfortable. 145 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: And to get Lombardi from the Saints with all of 146 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: his experience with Drew and Sean Payton. That I mean, 147 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: you couldn't have picked a better guy, with a great pedigree. 148 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: And he's gonna help Justin be the Justin Herbert that 149 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: they want him to be. And he's already showing flashes. 150 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: He's gonna start doing it more consistently. Then you look 151 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: across the board, A guy's getting healthy, Derwin James. I 152 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: mean that dude's are free. He wears the he wears 153 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: the headset on defense. I mean usually it's a backer, right. 154 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 1: I mean that just tells you how much he knows 155 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: the game he studies. He plays at this defense ain't 156 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: easy to master. Now like he's coach, Stanley's got got 157 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: some tricks up his sleeve. I mean he makes it 158 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: tough on quarterbacks. We went against him a bunch when 159 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: he was in Chicago with Vic Fangio, and I mean 160 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: him make you pull your hair out. Man. It's it's 161 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: frustrating to play against that guy. So to see Derwin 162 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: balling like this, getting healthy, as we see we plan this, 163 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: this is perfect here We go with my show, welcome 164 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: to my show, literally talking about you right now, about 165 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: you too, all kind of bad about you. Yeah, you 166 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: never know who's gonna show up. And and he's just 167 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: such a joy man. He's like one of those guys 168 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: who's just infectious locker room guy, infectious personality, smiling all 169 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: the time, works his butt off. He's fun to why. 170 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: I don't care how many times I say it on 171 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: this podcast when there's no coincidence. They won twelve games 172 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: with him as a rookie team All Pro and when 173 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: he was lost each of the last two years. The 174 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: energy not just on the defense, yea, all fifty three 175 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: guys feed off and number three no doubt, just a 176 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,839 Speaker 1: couple more for you mark your year from year one 177 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: to year two. What did you pick up the most? 178 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: What how did things slow down for you? In what 179 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: ways did you make a job? One of the biggest 180 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: things was protections, really understanding protections and run game checks 181 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: because we didn't do a ton of it at SC. 182 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: We did plenty, but it goes to like a next 183 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: level when you have to read Mike I d basically 184 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: um reidentify the defense is our starting point on offense 185 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: to block you make new mics on run plays. That 186 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: was different for me, and that took a lot. That 187 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: took a lot of work, a lot of study in UM. 188 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 1: And then the next thing was protections understanding UM based 189 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: on the situation, but like where where am I vulnerable? Right? When? 190 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: When do I need? When do I have time? And 191 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: when do I need to get this ball out of 192 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: my hand quick? Um? Those were those were the big 193 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: things going into my second year. I remember from year 194 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,679 Speaker 1: one to year two. And then you know, when you 195 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 1: have a guy like justin like, you're not worried about 196 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: his arm strength, You're not worried about his footwork, you're 197 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: not worried about you know, you clean those up as 198 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 1: you go and you make little tweaks here and there. 199 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: But he's got all that stuff, man, So he's I mean, 200 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: he's onto the next thing. And I guarantee they're they're 201 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: teach him a ton about protections and situations because there 202 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: are a couple of games last year where you know, 203 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: things come down to the wire clock management stuff understanding. Okay, 204 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: how long is it gonna take for the field goal 205 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: team to get out here? Uh? You know what, do 206 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: we have a time out? Do we not have a 207 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: time out. When are we clocking the ball? How much time? 208 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: You know? All that is so so important. And he's 209 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: gonna mat for that final thing. You got a new 210 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: team this year, five sports. Tell everybody what you're gonna 211 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: be doing. Yeah. So I'll be in the booth with 212 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: Kevin Coogler. We'll have seventeen games. First, I have my 213 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: first four. So my first one is uh, Sam fran 214 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: at Detroit, which makes this great. Uh. And then let's 215 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: see we go since he at Chicago, Seattle at Minnesota, 216 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: and then Washington at Atlanta. Okay, so those are my 217 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: first four, and then they'll give us give us our 218 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,319 Speaker 1: next set crossing of my figures. We get a charges guy. 219 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: That make it easy. I could just drive up the 220 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 1: drive up the highway. That'd be nice. That's it, that'd 221 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: be nice. Mark Sanchez always appreciate the time. Man, It's 222 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: awesome to see you here. And congrats on the game, buddy, 223 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 1: Thank you. All right, Nick, All right, all right, as 224 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,439 Speaker 1: we roll on here on charges weekly day, one of 225 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: joy practice is with the forty nine ers in the books. 226 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: Here with one of my favorite guests he's been on 227 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: a few times, Jim Trot or NFL Network. Did you 228 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: tell him I pay you to say that one of 229 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,079 Speaker 1: your favorite guests. Did you tell him he's one of 230 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: my favorite guys? I did say, I did tell we 231 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 1: really are though, Man, you were one of the first, 232 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: and I haven't seen your person and I feel like 233 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: two seasons, I feel like I haven't seen anyone in 234 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: two seasons. How to feel to be out here, it's 235 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: tremendous um. You know, outside of the Hall of Fame week, 236 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: training camps are my favorite because you have access to people. 237 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: People are a little more relaxed in terms of you know, 238 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: you're not you're not game planning, there's no win loss 239 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: coming up, that sort of thing. So I love it. 240 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,199 Speaker 1: But you know, this pandemic thing was hard, man, because 241 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: for me personally, I think it was sixteen months I 242 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: was on lockdown where no travel at all, you know, 243 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 1: and so you go from almost flying every week someplace 244 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:46,559 Speaker 1: to all of a sudden for a year and a 245 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: half nothing You couldn't even imagine, because I mean, how 246 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 1: many years have you been going to games? Oh? I 247 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: started covering the NFL in ninety six. So the funny 248 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: thing was last year's the first two weeks they sent 249 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 1: me up to so Far to cover the Rams opener 250 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 1: and the Chargers opener, and finally I just said to 251 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: my boss, why are we going to these games? You know, 252 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: not just so Far, but anywhere. I said, we have 253 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: no access to players, we have no access to coaches. 254 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: After the game, there's no access to the locker room. 255 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: You're doing everything by zoom. So I said, you could 256 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 1: essentially be home on your couch watching the game and 257 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: do the zoom call. And from that point forward, you know, 258 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: that's what we did. And for me personally, it just 259 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: wasn't and and look, I get we had to play 260 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: games and all that, but for me, it just wasn't football. 261 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: The fans are such a big part of the game 262 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 1: and that energy, you know, on a Sunday, I knew that, 263 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: but I didn't really know it until I experienced sitting 264 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: in an empty stadium watching games. You know, it just 265 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 1: it was hard and to hear, you know, Aaron Donald 266 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: after that opener say it was like he felt like 267 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: he was back in Pop Warner where he could hear 268 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: his parents calling out his name from the stands. You know, 269 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: it's crazy. It was. It was eerie to go to 270 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 1: Sofi stadium last year, and the place is gigantic. I 271 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: knew how to get from point A to point b right, 272 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: like one place, go to the press box, come back. 273 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: There's no fans in the stands, there's no energy, like 274 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: you said, And then to go to the game on 275 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: Saturday and see, you know, fifty sixty thousand people in there, 276 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: it's like you finally appreciate Sofi Stadium. Yeah, you know, 277 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 1: not only I mean, is it gorgeous and big at 278 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: a palace, But the fans are the energy. They make 279 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 1: that thing go. So you're right. Like watching the games 280 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: last year on TV, I thought they did a pretty 281 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: good job with the television product, but like if you're there, 282 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: it was like a scrimmage. It was like a practice. 283 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: It's it was hard. It's just and again I'm not 284 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: I'm not in any way complaining about it in terms 285 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: of trying to put anyone down or or demean anything. 286 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: But it just wasn't the real It wasn't real football 287 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: to me. It wasn't It wasn't NFL football without those 288 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,199 Speaker 1: fans there. So to have them back, and you know, look, 289 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: I don't want to get into the whole COVID and 290 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: all of that here. I just I just wish people 291 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 1: would be smart so that we can make sure we 292 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: have full stadiums this coming season, because you know, when 293 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 1: you look at the numbers and how they're trending, my 294 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:12,559 Speaker 1: fear is that they're going to be municipalities to say, 295 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 1: you know what, these numbers are going in the wrong 296 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: direction and therefore we can't have groups of people like 297 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: that seventy thousand people in an enclosed environment. So I 298 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: just I just wish the people would be smart about 299 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: this and so that we can we can truly enjoy 300 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: football to the way it's meant to be enjoyed. Yeah, 301 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: and beyond the obvious of staying healthy. Absolutely, And if 302 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: you're going to the game on Sunday, Master required, you 303 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: know it's so by stadium, So take that into consideration 304 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: when you go um jib these joint practices. A number 305 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: of Charger starters aren't going to play in the preseason, 306 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: so you could argue today and tomorrow maybe the best 307 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: work they get in preparation for Week one, just because 308 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: it's a different opponent, you're scheming against somebody different. You've 309 00:14:55,920 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: been hitting the same people for two straight weeks. Walk 310 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: into players and front office members, coaches, how important are 311 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: these two days or you know when you bring another 312 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: team coming in from out of town. No, they're extremely 313 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: important because this is the new NFL. You know, we're 314 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: seeing the elimination of preseason games as we go forward, 315 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: there are going to be fewer and fewer, and so 316 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: you have to find a way to get in the 317 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: work and to get the evaluations that you need. So 318 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: these sorts of things are critical for clubs, and clubs 319 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: are being smart about it. If you have guys who 320 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: were heard or coming back from injury and whatnot, you're 321 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: not going to subject them to this or put them 322 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: in harm's way. But for those who are healthy and 323 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: who need the work, it's important. It's funny. I saw 324 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: someone trying to remember who it was, but somebody was 325 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: saying that someone didn't look good this, this prominent player 326 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: didn't look good in practice and this and the other, 327 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: And all it did for me was take me back 328 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: to one of my first few years in the league 329 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: as a beat writer, and it may have been my 330 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: rookie year, and I remember the Chargers went out and 331 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: signed this free agent cornerback I think made him one 332 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: of the highest paid cornerbacks in the NFL. So we 333 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: get to training camp and I'm watching them in practice 334 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: and he's awful, I mean, just god awful. And I'm 335 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: to the point where I'm thinking, you know, I'm gonna 336 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: have to write a story saying they signed a bust 337 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: And then I remember asking it was actually Junior saying 338 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: out at that time it was the leader of the defense. 339 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: I said, hey, what's going on here? I'm like, this 340 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: guy's terrible. And it was Junior who said to me, 341 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: and this is something I try and convey to fans. 342 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: He said, you have to understand veteran players in practice 343 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: in training camp work on their weaknesses. They don't work 344 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: on their strengths, and so they're going to look bad, 345 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: so that by the time they get to the regular 346 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: season and get to Sunday, those things that they struggled 347 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: with hopefully won't be as prominent. It's a great point 348 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: into the story. The player was Ryan McNeil that year 349 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: he goes out and leads the NFL and interceptions. Imagine 350 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: how stupid I would have looked even more stupid if 351 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: I had written that story. So I say that that's 352 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: why these things are valuable, because it gives players an opportunity, 353 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: particularly players prominent players, to work on things against other 354 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: players to try and eliminate or reduce some of the 355 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: weaknesses they have in their game. We live in such 356 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: a reactionary society too, where I think Zach Wilson and 357 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 1: the Jets said something very similar last week. If I'm 358 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: not mistaken, I may be paraphrasing, but he said, I'm 359 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:22,199 Speaker 1: trying things in practice because I want to see what 360 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: I can get away with. That's exactly what he said. Yeah, 361 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:27,959 Speaker 1: and I think that's so important for context. Like sometimes 362 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: we see a fifteen second highlight on Twitter or Instagram 363 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: and we think, like, that's what happened in practice, you know, 364 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: it's completely the opposite in many ways. No, they and 365 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: Zach I thought that was so it was so important 366 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: and so mature in terms of him having in that 367 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: perspective as a as a first year player to say 368 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:50,719 Speaker 1: I want to learn what I can get away with 369 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: here where it's not costing us games, as opposed to 370 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 1: learning in a game where we end up losing. So 371 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 1: now we'll see if that carries of course, of course, 372 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: but just for him to have that mindset, that train 373 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: of thought is huge so um yeah, I mean this 374 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: is this is what I love about training camp is 375 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,719 Speaker 1: that you you get to have these sort of discussions 376 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: that maybe you can't have during the regular season again 377 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:21,919 Speaker 1: where everything is about that upcoming opponent whatnot. And training 378 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: camp is great for me because you can just talk 379 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: to people in sort of a relaxed environment. You can 380 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,879 Speaker 1: bounce around like today, you can go from you know, 381 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: Chris Harris to Derwin James to Keenan Allen, to Tom 382 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 1: to LESCo to whoever. Well during the season, at least 383 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: you know at a practice you're not gonna be able 384 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 1: to do that doesn't happen. No, so um so no, 385 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: these are valuable. I'm I couldn't be more happy to 386 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: be out here, and I just hope that we all 387 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 1: stay safe and you know, we get through this season. 388 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: Let me ask you about this Chargers team. A lot 389 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 1: of new new coach and staff, obviously justin Herbert and 390 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: his second year. You're hoping Derwyn James is there for 391 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: all seventeen this year. I gotta get used to saying 392 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: that seventeen. No, it's taken me a while. I think 393 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 1: I hit my stride last week, so I still say 394 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: I have been you know, Bosa. Just you your thoughts 395 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: on what the Chargers did this offseason. They showed up 396 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 1: the offensive line to in an effort to not only 397 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: help protect Justin I think, you know, maybe you open 398 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: up some some running lanes and maybe sustained drives that 399 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 1: way with the running backs. Yeah. Look, every I feel 400 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: like we say this every year about the Chargers. One 401 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: of the most talented rosters on paper in the NFL. Yeah, 402 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: and then there's always something that seems to happen, particularly 403 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: from a health standpoint, that prevents them from I think 404 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 1: achieving whatever their potential truly is. And I think this 405 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 1: year is the same thing. You look at their roster 406 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 1: on paper, it is one of the best in the NFL. 407 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 1: Now they play in arguably one of the toughest two 408 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: divisions in the NFL. I think you can go back 409 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 1: and forth on whether the AFC West or the NFC West. 410 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: It's the tougher division in the league. But this team 411 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:01,679 Speaker 1: is stacked and if it stays health there's no reason 412 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: that it can't challenge for a division title. And more so, 413 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: I'm excited. You know this thing about the changing coaches 414 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: and whatnot, Like I don't have enough to say what 415 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,880 Speaker 1: to really think. You know, they're also young. I feel 416 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: like I don't know them. You know, I still have 417 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: yet to meet coach Staley. I will here shortly, but 418 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: you know, I didn't do any RAMS games last year 419 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: to that point where I needed to speak with them. 420 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: But from a personnel standpoint, in terms of the players, 421 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: everything you need to win a championship is here. The 422 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 1: question is can you keep them healthy and can you 423 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 1: put it all together? And that's what we love about 424 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,160 Speaker 1: this game trying to get that answer. Absolutely. I loved, 425 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: you know, going into this when they decided to make 426 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 1: a change of head coach, a lot of people thought 427 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 1: you're going to bring in an offensive mind to build 428 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,919 Speaker 1: and grow together with Justin Herbert. I like the fact 429 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: that there's a concerted effort to make this defense live 430 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 1: up to that potential that we always talk about. And 431 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: when you have guys like Derwin and Kenneth and Drew 432 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: trenk Will coming back and Joey and you look at 433 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 1: what Staley did last year with guys like John Johnson 434 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: and Ramsey and Donald, there's some excitement there. Obviously we 435 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 1: haven't seen it yet, but offensively, you know, you bring 436 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,400 Speaker 1: in Joe Lombardi, and Joe has that experience with Drew 437 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 1: Brees and Sean Payton. And one of the things I 438 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,639 Speaker 1: just talked to Marktensions about is it's a complicated offensive scheme, 439 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: but they've been very steadfast and saying they want to 440 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 1: make this Justin Herbert's offense. So whatever percentage of that 441 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 1: maybe Saints playbook that Justin does, well, you know, Justin 442 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: such a smart kid that you know, we'll see how 443 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,199 Speaker 1: quickly he picks it up. By all indications, you know, 444 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,879 Speaker 1: he's doing a good job this offseason. Yeah, look, I'm 445 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: not gonna lie to you. I was a little surprised 446 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: that they not only didn't retain more of the offensive staff, 447 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: but that they didn't even interview some of these guys 448 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: to come back. You know, when you look at what 449 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 1: the team was able to accomplish with Justin Herbert last year, 450 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 1: with Shane and with pet from an outsider's point of view, 451 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:12,680 Speaker 1: it would have made sense to bring those guys back, 452 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 1: But coach Staleley thought otherwise. And I get that. So 453 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 1: I'm not here to judge yet because we haven't seen sure, 454 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 1: but I think it's smart to say that we're going 455 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: to build this offense, make it Taylor specifically to what 456 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 1: Justin's strengths are, and to make him comfortable, because if 457 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,439 Speaker 1: he's comfortable, again, the talent is here to go a 458 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 1: long way. Last thing for you, Jim, the AFC. There's 459 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: a lot of teams, but I really can't pinpoint who 460 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 1: other than Kansas City who's on top. I mean, you 461 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 1: got Buffalo, you got Cleveland, people are talking about Cleveland stacked. 462 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: I mean, who knows. Maybe it seemed like by Amy Improves, 463 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 1: you know, it would be the Broncos had seemed to 464 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 1: have everything, but maybe the quarterback it We'll see what 465 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 1: happens with Locking Bridgewater. What do you make of that 466 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 1: conference in particular, and how do you think the Chargers 467 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 1: fit into that equation? I think you alluded to a 468 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 1: little bit. If they're healthy, they could challenge Kansas City. Oh, 469 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,360 Speaker 1: if they're healthy, they they can not only challenge Kansas City, 470 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 1: but challenge for a Lombardi Trophy. Again, this roster is stacked. 471 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:26,719 Speaker 1: You tell me where the weaknesses are. You know, the 472 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: most important position on a team is a quarterback. They've 473 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: got that. They've got. You know what we've seen thus 474 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 1: far from the offensive line, the upgrades that have been made, 475 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: there's a lot of optimism there that unit is going 476 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: to be really productive and efficient. The last year with 477 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: special teams and that lost them quite a few games, 478 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 1: and if they can get that unit turned around exactly, 479 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: and that's the key because we know defensively again, if 480 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 1: everyone's healthy, what that unit is going to be like. 481 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: So the AFC is fun that it is fun. It's 482 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 1: fun when you don't really know. And that's all I 483 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,119 Speaker 1: love about the end. This is what makes the NFL 484 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: to me and I think to so many fans must 485 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 1: see TV because every week, you know, if you're not 486 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: on your game, you can get beat. And these teams 487 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: like we can. I can give you storylines about all 488 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: of the clubs that you mentioned about why they can 489 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 1: win a championship. I can also present to you maybe 490 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 1: why they might fall short. That's just what makes it 491 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: fun to see how it all plays out. You know, 492 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: I was in Cleveland earlier this office, not offseason, but 493 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 1: training camp, and there's a vibe you know, and you 494 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 1: once you've been around the league a while, you sort 495 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: of you can tell when it's genuine, when teams really 496 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: feel that they're ready to make that run and it's 497 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 1: not just this sort of false optimism or coach speak 498 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: or whatever. And in Cleveland it's real, you know. And 499 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: then you look at the roster again, in the moves 500 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: they made this offseason, they're going to be They're going 501 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 1: to be heck to deal with. You know, Baltimore is 502 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: always well coached by John Harball and his staff. They're 503 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 1: not going anywhere. Chargers play the Browns week five, Ravens 504 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 1: week six. Yeah, and it's just it's gonna be fun. 505 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: And like I say, this division where you got to 506 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: play each of these teams twice, there's not a gimme 507 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: anywhere on there when you talk about this division. So 508 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: one thing we know about the Raiders at least you 509 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: know in recent years under under Grutinous, that they've started 510 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 1: fast and faded down the stretch. So what's that going 511 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 1: to look like this year? The Chiefs redid their entire 512 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: offensive line for the most part, you know, with the 513 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: focus on keeping Patrick Mahomes up right. It's amazing both 514 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 1: the Charges and Chiefs have like eight of ten starters 515 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: that are new you know so well, and the new 516 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: starters I'm off topic here, but look at the Brown 517 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 1: take it out. Potentially nine new starters on defense on 518 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: one unit alone, coming off a playoff appearance where you 519 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 1: actually want to playoff game. It's incredible. I've never heard 520 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: of that. You know, even Chemis Stefanski was, I couldn't 521 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 1: come up with a comparable example. And yet those on paper, 522 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 1: you say, they're a lot better than they were a 523 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 1: year ago on that side of the ball. So see 524 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: you getting me going here because I'm like, I'm excited, 525 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 1: let's go play. Yeah, it's a week one, you know. So, um, 526 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 1: even Tennessee made some changes down there and you bring 527 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:22,719 Speaker 1: in Julio, what's that going to look like? I just 528 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: I'm ready. I mean with the whole ones, the whole 529 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: ones equation there. Out of all these clubs we talk about, 530 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: that's the one where I feel like I can't jump 531 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: on board yet. If you don't have that quarterback situation 532 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: nailed down, it's hard for me to believe you're gonna 533 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:40,239 Speaker 1: make any sort of run in this league. So for 534 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,879 Speaker 1: that reason alone, I can't. I think India has a 535 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: lot of talent, but I can't jump on the board 536 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: of saying the bandwagon. I'm saying that's a super Bowl team. 537 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:52,360 Speaker 1: This is what it's all about you. I love being 538 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 1: out here, love seeing you in person. Um, what do 539 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: you got going on here over the next few weeks? 540 00:26:57,080 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: Where can people find your work? Uh? NFL dot Com, 541 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: an NFL network and just kind of bouncing around a 542 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 1: little bit getting ready for week one. Do you know 543 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,439 Speaker 1: where you're gonna be week one? Yeah, actually I'll be. 544 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:12,400 Speaker 1: It's so Far. I'll be there for I think it's 545 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 1: the ram Spars. Okay, yeah, so I'll be there a 546 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:17,439 Speaker 1: week one and so it'll give me an opportunity to 547 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:19,840 Speaker 1: compare a Week one last year and so far versus 548 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:21,679 Speaker 1: Week one this year, which I think is going to 549 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,680 Speaker 1: be dramatically different. I would say, so, yeah, I'm looking 550 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:26,880 Speaker 1: forward to that. Do you appreciate it? It It? And that's 551 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: going to do it for us guys, Big banks of 552 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 1: Jim Trotter, Mark Sanchez for joining me. Be sure to 553 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 1: download and subscribe to the Chargers Podcast Network where you 554 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: listen to podcasts. We're also on YouTube every Thursday, also 555 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 1: on Chargers dot Com. If you're out at so Far 556 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 1: on Sunday, come say hi, have a great weekend and 557 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:45,440 Speaker 1: until next time, I'm Chris Harry