1 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: What's up? Guys. Welcome into a Week nine edition of 2 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: Chargers Weekly, as the Bolts head east to take on 3 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: the Eagles. Our guy Matt Mndy Smith out this week. 4 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: Look forward to getting him back at next Thursday. Coming 5 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: up on the show a pair of athletic beat writers. 6 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,159 Speaker 1: We'll get this week's opposing view from Zach Berman, but 7 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: first Daniel Popper and I will break down this matchup 8 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 1: as the Chargers look to improve the five and three 9 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: on the season. All right, let's bring him in, Daniel Popper, 10 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: the Athletics and Pop. Let's just let's start with the 11 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 1: Patriots game, and really the last three games in terms 12 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: of time of possession has been the one thing that's 13 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: kind of stuck out to me, Like this defense playing 14 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: thirty five thirty six minutes of defense. They got to 15 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: find a way to maybe get back to running the 16 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: full ball, a little bit more control on the clock 17 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: and hopefully that results in some wins starting the Sunday. Yeah, 18 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: I think you bring up a fantastic point that I 19 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: really haven't dove into yet, but it's been an issue 20 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: here and you wonder is it a strategy from opposing offense? 21 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: Is like, is this becoming a formula. Right The Chargers 22 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: have had a struggling run defense, so opposing teams are like, Okay, 23 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: this is somewhere where we can attack. And there's a 24 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 1: byproduct of that, which is keeping the ball out of 25 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 1: justin Herbert's hands. And I think to a degree it 26 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: is a formula that some opposing coaches smart opposing coaches 27 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: are trying to attack. And I think the other factor 28 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: in this is that other teams are running the ball 29 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 1: well and holding onto the ball, but the Chargers aren't 30 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: sustaining sustaining possessions at the same time. And I think 31 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: what has to improve here is the Chargers just need 32 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: to be better in early down situations to set themselves 33 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: up with easier third downs. In that Patriots game, they 34 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: averaged eight yards per third down. And if you're more 35 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: efficient on early downs, you're going to be more successful 36 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: on third downs because easier third downs and you're gonna 37 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: be able to improve that time of possession. But it's 38 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: a factor right now. And you talk about that Patriots 39 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: game specifically, the Patriots were able to hold onto the 40 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 1: ball for so long that that final possession there when 41 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: they were up a touchdown, driving the Chargers defense just 42 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: didn't have the juice there to get the stop they 43 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 1: needed because they were tired. So I think you bring 44 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 1: up a fantastic point. It's something that has to improve 45 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 1: for this defense to perform better, and it's in the 46 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 1: offense's hands here, like be better on early downs and 47 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: sustained possessions, and that's how you can improve that time 48 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: of possession situation. That's absolutely affecting games over the last 49 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: two games for sure. You know, we saw the run 50 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: d improve a bit with Justin Jones in there. Obviously, 51 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: Drew Trankle's back. We'll see the status at Kenneth Murray 52 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 1: when he comes back. But then, you know, the starting 53 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: corner situation. What do you make of the kind of 54 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: the state of the defense going into this game against 55 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: the Evils. Yeah, you finally get Justin Jones back, you 56 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: get Drew back, and you see some improvements with the 57 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: run defense and that, and you lose two starting corners 58 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: in Asante, Samuel Junior and Michael Davis. It's almost like 59 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 1: he finally got your head above water and another issue 60 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: pops up and you sink below the water again. But 61 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:12,679 Speaker 1: we'll see, I mean, guys have to step up. I 62 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: think Devon Campbell has been solid this season at times. 63 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: He's certainly a more improved player this year than he 64 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 1: was last year, more consistent in coverage, and he definitely 65 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:23,839 Speaker 1: looks like a pro player at this point. You see 66 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: some slipups at times, but in that Patriots game when 67 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: he came in, they tried to go right at him 68 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: that it was pretty obvious that that message was related 69 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,959 Speaker 1: to Mac Jones, like go attack twenty and he held 70 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: up there. So the bigger concern for me would be 71 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: Ryan Smith hasn't really been relied on as a defensive 72 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: player in his career, has been more of a special 73 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: teams player. But this is an opportunity for him. And 74 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: when the Chargers went out and signed him in free agency, 75 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: one of the attractive things about the Chargers was, hey, listen, 76 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: we think you can play some defense. We think you 77 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: can be more than just a special team's ace. So 78 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: that has been in the plans and now this is 79 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: his opportunity to go do it. But it's never a 80 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: good thing when you're two corners. But the thing I 81 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: will say is the Chargers have a fantastic past defense. 82 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: They're in the top five in passing defense DVLA. It's 83 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: been a strength of this team. Some of that is personnel, 84 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: but some of it too, is the coverage schemes that 85 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: Brandon Staley is developing. It's it's where he starts his 86 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: game plans every single week. So you know that they're 87 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: going to come out in this game on Sunday against 88 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: Jalen Hurts and the Philly offense with a really sound 89 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: coverage plan, and it's up to Ryan Smith and Devon 90 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: Campbell to show up, to step up and to be 91 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: difference makers. They're at cornerback popera. I think what's fascinating 92 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 1: about this matchup is that Eagles fans and everybody's yelling 93 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: at the Eagles coaching staff to run the ball more. 94 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: You're not running the ball at all, and all of 95 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: a sudden, okay fine, two hundred and thirty six yards 96 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: against the Lions. I think they're read the ball forty 97 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: six times. Do you think they may have found something 98 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 1: in the running game And how do you think that 99 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: kind of correlates with this this upcoming matchup against the Chargers, 100 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: who have had struggles stopping the run. Yeah, well, when 101 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: you look at the Eagles, you think, okay, this should 102 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 1: be a good running football team, and they should. They 103 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: should really lean into that strength. They got a really 104 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: good offensive line, and they have a quarterback in Jalen 105 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: Hurts who can run the zone read quarterback keeper game 106 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: at a high level. That's a strength of sort of 107 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: his game as well. So they're they're top five rushing 108 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: offense according to DVOA Football Outsiders efficiency metric for those 109 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: who don't know what I'm talking about. So it would 110 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 1: make sense for them to lean into that against the Chargers. Now. 111 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: I know they took a step forward last week against 112 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: the Patriots. They showed up and played some solid run defense, 113 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: but we also remember saw them take a step forward 114 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 1: in that Raiders game, and that was obviously without Justin Jones, 115 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 1: but we all thought, okay, maybe this is this is 116 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 1: them sort of putting it together and finding that groove 117 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: in terms of stopping the run. And then they took 118 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: two steps back over the next two games against the 119 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: Browns and Ravens. So was this an adbiration again or 120 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 1: is this really them taking a step forward and finally 121 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: sold these issues. I think this will be a great 122 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 1: test against the Eagles to sort of see, Okay, is 123 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 1: this the real Chargers run defense or was that Patriots 124 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: game just another aberration for run defense that really still 125 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: right now statistically is the worst in the league. Poppa, 126 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: does this season feel like long to you? Like, I 127 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: know it's just an extra week, but for some reason, 128 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: it feels like it's four extra weeks. I mean, I 129 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 1: don't I don't know what it is that's I can 130 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: put if my figure on it. It just feels so long. Yeah. Well, 131 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: I think for me, as somebody who's never really covered 132 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: meaningful November football games, that's why it feels long, is 133 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: because we're in the eighth game of the season and 134 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 1: I'm still like looking at the playoff picture, which is 135 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: something that I've never done in my seven seasons covering 136 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: the NFL. It's certainly more fun to be covering November games, 137 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: but for me, it's like, oh wow, this is what 138 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: the actual NFL season looks like. You're covering meaningful games 139 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: all the way through Thanksgiving and even to Christmas and 140 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: even the New Year. If you're really covering a good team. 141 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: So I'm enjoying it. I think it's fantastic. And that 142 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: was really, you know, the benchmark I was looking for 143 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: from this team. Heading into this season, like, can they 144 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,599 Speaker 1: play meaningful games late into November and December. And they're 145 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: on that track right now. And despite the fact that 146 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: they've lost a couple of games in the route, I 147 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: think the coaching staff deserves a lot of credit for 148 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: putting this team in that position. Yeah, and I think 149 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: it's easy to get lost in the fact that all 150 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: thirty two teams are going to face some sort of 151 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: adversity throughout the course of now a seventeen game season, 152 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: and this is kind of the first out of adversity, 153 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: you know, losing to two quality teams in the Ravens 154 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: in the Patriots. How do you view this game on Sunday? 155 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: You know, if you win, you're five and three, you're 156 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: right back in the mix in the AFC West, and 157 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: there's so much more football in front of you. I 158 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: think what I sense is the players are pretty focused 159 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: and not You don't get too highed too low after 160 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: these wins and losses, especially you know, the last two 161 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: to two quality opponents. Yeah, you know, you don't want 162 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: to call it a must win, but you feel like 163 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: if the Charges are going to be postseason contenders and 164 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: to make a push for the playoffs, they have to 165 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: beat this team because the Eagles are not a good team. 166 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: So if you really consider yourself a good football team, 167 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: this is where the bleeding has to stop. You got 168 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: to go into Philly. I know it's on the road, 169 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: I know it's in a tough environment, but you got 170 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: to go in there and you got to win this 171 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: football game. Because you've gone up against two excellent head coaches, 172 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: two of the best in the league, and Bill Belichick 173 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: and John Harbaugh. You've gone to get up against two 174 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: great defensive minds and Belichick and defensive coordinator Within Martindale 175 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: there in Baltimore. So you can write that off. Okay, 176 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: you've gone up against great coaching staffs, You've gone up 177 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: against defensive coordinators that are going to make things really 178 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: difficult on Justin Herbert. But this is a young coaching 179 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: staff of Philadelphia and Nick Sirianni, obviously Chargers fans are 180 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: very familiar with him. But the excuses of Okay, you're 181 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: facing great organizations, you're facing great coaches kind of stops 182 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: at that point because there are a lot of question 183 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: marks right now about you know what Nick Sirianni is. 184 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: He has a lot to prove as a head coach, 185 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: So this is a game, and a talent difference between 186 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 1: the two rosters starting at the quarterback position is really apparent. 187 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: So on paper, this is a game the Chargers have 188 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: to win. If you go into Philly and you lose 189 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: at four and four with some tough, tough games coming up, 190 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 1: including a bunch in the division, then you start, you know, 191 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: asking questions about you know, were those five games you 192 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: know really an illusion to use a Brandon's Daley terms. 193 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: So I think this is a really big game. You know, 194 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: if you're going to contend for the postseason, you've got 195 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: to beat teams that you are expected to beat, and 196 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: this is one of those games for the Chargers, and 197 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: this is this is their opportunity to reset this season 198 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: and get it back on the tracks. You know, a 199 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 1: couple or four, you it's a young coaching staff, but 200 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: obviously Shane Steiken knows this offensive personnel really really well. 201 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 1: Nick Serrianti literally coached Keenan Allen. Do you think that's 202 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: you know, I always feel like that sometimes it's overblown 203 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: when you know, you say, hey, do you have an 204 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: advantage because you know these guys so well. But in 205 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 1: the case of Shane knowing the offensive personnel, what do 206 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,559 Speaker 1: you think he can share or do you think it 207 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: even matters. Yeah, well, I think we had the same 208 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: conversation about Gus Bradley and the Charge faced off with 209 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: the Raider. Yeah, that didn't have a huge impact. I 210 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,199 Speaker 1: mean it's it's not a negative thing to have familiarity 211 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: with the personnel. But I think the way that the 212 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: Chargers are using their personnelity season is so different than 213 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: what they were doing last season that schematically game plan wise, 214 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's going to have a huge impact. 215 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: It'll certainly be a nice pregame moment for Shane styke 216 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 1: In to say hello to Justin, Herbert Easton Stick and 217 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: Mike Williams and Keenan now and everybody. But yeah, I 218 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: mean interesting when I when I interviewed Keenan in training camp, 219 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 1: he brought up Nick sirianni unprompted just as a massive 220 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: influence on him early in his career in terms of 221 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 1: sort of, you know, becoming the receiver that he did, 222 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: because it took key In some time to sort of 223 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: sumend himself as one of the game's best receivers, and 224 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: just in terms of his route running, its football intelligence. 225 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: A lot of that he puts on the shoulders of 226 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,079 Speaker 1: Nick Sirianni, who is obviously the wide receivers coach with 227 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 1: the Chargers back when Keenan was drafted in twenty thirteen. 228 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: So I don't know if if it will have a 229 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: massive impact on schematics and game plan, but never a 230 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: negative thing to have some familiarity with the opposing personnel, 231 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 1: especially the opposing quarterback, and Shane Steken certainly has that 232 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: familiarity with Justin Herbert. All Right, Pop, if you had 233 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: to point to one thing, what's the key to the 234 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 1: game for the Chargers to get win number five and 235 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: kind of get out of this little rut there in Yeah, 236 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: the offense has to reset and find itself and get 237 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: back to what it was in those first five games. 238 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: And like we were talking about earlier, a big part 239 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: of that is is just finding that early down efficiency 240 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:31,839 Speaker 1: and being more effective on those downs. Good quarterbacks have 241 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: been surgical against this Eagles defense so far this season. 242 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: They play a ton of zone. Just looking into the numbers, 243 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: this week they actually played the least amount of man 244 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: demand of any defense in the league. It's a lot 245 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 1: of Cover three a lot of cover two zone, and 246 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:48,599 Speaker 1: they're going to do similar stuff in the sense that 247 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,839 Speaker 1: Jonathan Gannon and Brandon Stale are cut from the same cloth, 248 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 1: and then they both believe in a lot of disguise 249 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: and rotations post snap. But you know, for Justin Herbert, 250 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:58,839 Speaker 1: it's gonna be what he talked about after the game. 251 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: Can he be paid, Can he be disciplined, and can 252 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: he move on to that checkdown and just take what 253 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: the defense is giving him and matriculate the ball down 254 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: the field. It's going to be another one of those games, 255 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: and it's going to be those games moving forward for 256 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: the rest of his career, as long as until he 257 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: proves that he can do it. And so, you know, 258 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 1: in early downs, especially when they're passing, you know, finding 259 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: the checkdown, being patient and sort of moving the ball 260 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 1: down the field chunk by chunk without those big plays 261 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: over the top that Justin Herbert has become accustomed to. 262 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 1: But this is a get right game. You know, Derek 263 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: car completed thirty one of thirty four passes against this team. 264 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,199 Speaker 1: He was surgical, It wasn't it wasn't a lot of 265 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: stuff over the top. You know, they hit some big plays, 266 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 1: but for the most part, it was Derek car taking 267 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: what the defense was giving him and being that veteran 268 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: quarterback who's willing to check the ball down justin Herbert 269 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: has to be that in this game because that's what's 270 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:50,839 Speaker 1: going to be available to him. Can he do that, 271 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: particularly on early down to sort of let, you know, 272 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: let this offense find itself again, because that's that's the 273 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: big concern right now. Yeah, and then pick your spots 274 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,439 Speaker 1: to get the ball to eighty one. You know, I 275 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: think that's no coincidend. It's the fact that he hasn't 276 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: had those performances that we're used to seeing at the 277 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: beginning of the year. These last two games um resulted 278 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: in Chargers losses. So if eighty one can get involved too, 279 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: I think that's a big key as wall. Yeah, definitely, 280 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:18,839 Speaker 1: And they've tried to get him the ball. He's just 281 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: hasn't been able to make the plays. Um. There was 282 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: a deep ball in the Ravens game that he could 283 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: have made a plan where it kind of slowed down. 284 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: It was early in the game that could have that 285 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: could have kind of changed the trajectory that go down. Yeah, 286 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: there was a fourth downplay on a quick comeback route 287 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 1: that Justin threw him. That that I thought Mike could 288 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:37,559 Speaker 1: have come down with went off his hands. There's a 289 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: third down play against the Patriots um where he should 290 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:43,199 Speaker 1: have made that catch over the middle, got hit and 291 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: dropped it, so they're still trying to get him the ball. UM. 292 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,679 Speaker 1: We don't know if how how serious that anything he's 293 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: dealing with is um, but there's place to be made 294 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: for Mike Williams. I think it comes down to all 295 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,559 Speaker 1: the receivers. You know, this doesn't just fall on Justin Herbert, right. 296 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: I don't think he's playing his best football, but the 297 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: protection has broken down. His receivers aren't making plays. Jerry 298 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: Cook had a couple of drops in that Ravens game, 299 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:06,839 Speaker 1: like Williams has had some drops. Keenan Allen has had 300 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:08,959 Speaker 1: some drops. So I think it's about the players around 301 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: Justin Herbert stepping up, including that offensive line, and then 302 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,719 Speaker 1: Justin himself, you know, also taking that next step as well. 303 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: It's it's a collective effort here offensively. It's crazy. It's 304 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: the third trip to the East Coast in the first 305 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: nine weeks for the charge. Maybe that's why I feel 306 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: so long DEVI be the case, dude, hey man, always 307 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: appreciate your time, awesome stuff as always, and we'll see 308 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 1: you in Philly for having Chris. All right, guys, Before 309 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: we get to Zach Berman, a quick note to let 310 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: you know that Pepsi they're passing out the Ultimate Chargers 311 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: Fan Experience Russian Scan the code to enter for a 312 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: chance to win some awesome prizes. Bolts up with Pepsi, 313 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: No purchase necessary, must be eighteen years or older. Spotsor 314 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: Pepsi code. For official rules, visit bolta Ballet dot com 315 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: Slash seven eleven. All right, to get this week's supposing 316 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: view from Philadelphia, let's bring in Zach Berman of the 317 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: Athletic Zach, let's just start with this. What are the 318 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: Eagles saying about the Chargers coming to the East Coast. Well, 319 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: there's obviously a lot of respect for Justin Herbert, a 320 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: lot of respect for Joey Bosa. It's a team that 321 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: Eagles don't see quite often, right, the last time they 322 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: saw him was in twenty seventeen out in LA. So 323 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: there's there's some unfamiliarity. Now there is familiarity with the 324 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: coaching staffs. Jonathan Gadden, Eagles defensive coordinator is a close 325 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: friend with Chargers coach Brandon Staley. So there's background there, 326 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: but overall, it's it's it's it's a fresh opponent. It's 327 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: not like seeing the Giants or the Cowboys or Washington. 328 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: Zach I was in Sofi Stadium on Sunday, just you know, 329 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: looking at the scores, doing the red zone updates, and 330 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: I see this forty four six final in Detroit and 331 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: I had to do a double take because of the 332 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: rushing yards. Two hundred and thirty six rushing yards. I 333 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: think it was like forty six attempts. You know, Philly 334 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: had not run the ball at all. Like what changed 335 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: over you know, the course of just a week. Was 336 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: it just the opponent and the opponent's coming up or 337 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: do you think they found something? Yeah, a little bit 338 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: of everything there. I do think that it was the opponent. 339 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: It was that they saw some things against the Lions. 340 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: I think it was the way that the team had 341 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 1: been playing, the way that the passing game had been going. Frankly, 342 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 1: the offensive line was was really winning at the point 343 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: of attack against the Lions, and it was working early. 344 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 1: And when it was working early, I think they stuck 345 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: with it. They had been in a few games this 346 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: year where just because of the game situation, it had 347 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: gotten out of hand, or they were playing from behind 348 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: and they needed the pass to catch up. I think 349 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: that when it was working early and they took a 350 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: lead and they continued working, and especially when you saw 351 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: those fourth quarter numbers, that the overall numbers had a 352 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: lot to do with them running in the fourth quarter. 353 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 1: But it is true, you know, second and third quarters 354 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: they were ahead, and they were then they were running 355 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: the ball and that was the key. You know, Jalen hurts. 356 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: I almost feel like it makes him a better quarterback 357 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: because of his threat to run as well. When you 358 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: have a potent rushing attack. In what ways do you 359 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: think Jalen just looks better when he has a running game. Yeah, 360 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: you hit it on the head there. I think, first off, 361 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: it's it's complimentary to Jalen because he is such a 362 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 1: good runner, and I think they can blend with each other. 363 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: The fact that you run the ball, the fact that 364 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 1: Jalen can can run it, and what that does to 365 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 1: the opposing defenses linebackers and their reads. Um, I think 366 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,439 Speaker 1: that has a definite factor. The other part is, if 367 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 1: I'm being completely honest, Jalen Hurts hasn't been the most 368 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: efficient quarterback this year. And if you're not dropping back 369 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 1: throw at forty times a game or you know, thirty 370 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: thirty five times a game, then it uh. I think 371 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: it plays in the Jalen's hands and he can be 372 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 1: more efficient and the play action can get working um 373 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 1: and you know he can he can get on the move. 374 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: I don't think the way to maximize Joe and Hurts 375 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: at this stage of his career at least is to 376 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 1: have him drop back, you know, thirty forty times a game. 377 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: And so I do think the running offense, or running 378 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 1: more than they have it benefits the quarterback. That said, 379 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 1: I don't think it's the way they want to play, 380 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: and it's certainly not the way they want to play 381 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: a long term. So you know, the Chargers start four 382 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: and one. Last two games against the Ravens and Patriots, 383 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 1: offense just was a little bit out of sink and 384 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: you know, time of possession was so lopsided. But if 385 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: you look at the entire body of work, what do 386 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: you think the biggest challenges the offense of the Chargers 387 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: present to the Eagles defense With Justin and Keenan and 388 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler coming out of the backfield. Yeah, 389 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: so obviously it always starts with the quarterback, right, and 390 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: and what what Justin Herbert is able to do in 391 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: a year and a half here that that will catch 392 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: anyone's respect, and certainly he has it from Eagles. You 393 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: mentioned those other players. Nick Sirianni a former Chargers coach, right, 394 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 1: a former Chargers assistant. He has spoken quite a bit 395 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: since he was hired about Keenan Allen who he coached, 396 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: about Austin Eckler, you know, players who he saw their development. 397 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 1: So I think they recognized the weapons there the way 398 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 1: Mike Williams has has developed as well. So that's that's 399 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 1: gonna be a major challenge for the Eagles now. When 400 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 1: the Eagles defense is at its best, they're winning at 401 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 1: the line of scrimmage, and they if they can get 402 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: past that Chargers offensive line. They have guys who can 403 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:47,679 Speaker 1: get to the quarterback. Javon Hargrave has six sacks, Fletcher 404 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: Cox is a perennial profoward. Josh Sweat can get around 405 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: the edge. So they have guys who can get to 406 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: the quarterback. And so I think when you look at 407 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: at Herbert and you look at the skill players, that's 408 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: a mismatch for or the Chargers in my opinion. But 409 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: if Eagles can can handle themselves at the line of scrimmage, 410 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: that can tend to neutralize it. You know. I think 411 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: it's fascinating the fact that Nick Sirianni, you know, he 412 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: literally coached Keenan Allen. Shane Steikin literally coached Justin Herbert. 413 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 1: Do you sense that there's an added significance for these 414 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 1: guys playing the Chargers on Sunday? That's a that's a 415 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 1: good question. Uh. Shane Stekin didn't own up to that, right, 416 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: So I don't want to put put words in his 417 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:36,160 Speaker 1: mouth there. For Sirianni, it's it's been far enough removed 418 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 1: that I don't think there's that type of added significance. 419 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: I think that he has a lot of fondness for 420 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 1: his time there, right, That's that's when he linked up 421 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 1: with Frank reich Um he Uh. He takes a lot 422 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,200 Speaker 1: of pride in the wide receivers that he helped develop there. 423 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: So I don't think there's there's any kind of ill 424 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 1: will or animosity or anything like that. I think that, uh, 425 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,680 Speaker 1: you know, there are our matchups against the team that 426 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: might fired you, or against you know, a player who 427 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: was traded elsewhere where, there's that added significance. I don't 428 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: get the sense that's the case here now Steikin's case. 429 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:18,440 Speaker 1: Perhaps it's it's it's different, but he hasn't said that, 430 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: and so I don't want to put words in his 431 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,200 Speaker 1: mouth there. Yeah, and and not not in an ill 432 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: will way, but just the fact that he's you know, 433 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: he coached a lot of these guys last year or so, 434 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 1: and I'm sure it's going to be really neat for 435 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 1: him to to kind of see Justin and um, some 436 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 1: of these guys that he was so close to. Speaking 437 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 1: of Shane, what's been like working with with him in 438 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:43,119 Speaker 1: in Philly? And and is he kind of kind of 439 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: comes into his own as a coordinator with Eagles. Yeah, 440 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: so it's it's a little different situation than what he 441 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 1: had with the Chargers because he has a has a 442 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 1: head coach who calls the place right. And I was 443 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 1: gonna say an offensive head coach, but Anthony Lynn was 444 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:59,880 Speaker 1: an offensive head coach too, But um, Shane Stikeen from 445 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 1: understand what's the play call? With the Chargers. He's not 446 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 1: the play caller here with the Eagles. Uh, that's that's 447 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: Nick Sirianni. So when you have an offensive coordinator who 448 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: is not calling the plays, it tends to be a 449 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: different type of job. And so as far as him 450 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: coming into his own I don't know about that. I 451 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: would say he's been. He's been a big part of 452 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: them installing this offense. And when Sirianni wanted to do 453 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 1: was takes different ideas that maybe Shane had from the 454 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: time they split, apart from when Nick went to Indianapolis, 455 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: and then Shane took a bigger role with the Chargers 456 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 1: so and kind of meld them together. So he has 457 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: been influential in terms of installing the offense. But if 458 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,959 Speaker 1: we're being completely honest, I think Chargers fans can appreciate this, right. 459 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: This is a coaching staff that has had a lot 460 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: of exposure to Philip Rivers, right, and Philip Rivers is 461 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 1: and you know this better than me. But from the 462 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 1: way it's been described, it's like having a coach in 463 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 1: the room, right. And so now you're working with a 464 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 1: young quarterback, a young quarterback room, you're working with a 465 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 1: different style quarterback than Philip Rivers, so they've had to 466 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:14,119 Speaker 1: adjust their offense based on that. Yeah, no question. You know, 467 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 1: I look at this Eagles team this year, Zach, and 468 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:20,440 Speaker 1: you have the pulse of the fans there. On one hand, 469 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,119 Speaker 1: you're like, all right, well, we got all these draft picks, 470 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: you know, you pushing everything to twenty twenty two. The 471 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: other hand, your game out of the last spot in 472 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: the NFC, and you have a young coaching staff and 473 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: it seems like momentum is building a little bit. What 474 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 1: are Eagles fans thinking? Where are their heads at right 475 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:42,479 Speaker 1: now in the middle of the year. Yeah, I think 476 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 1: Eagles fans are probably thinking more long term than short term. 477 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: Right You want to win every game, and when they lose, 478 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: it's like the sky's falling in Philadelphia. And that's the 479 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 1: case every year. That's said, I think there's really a 480 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: learning period for the fans and for Nick Sirianni, for 481 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: Jalen Hurts, trying to kind of feel them out, figure 482 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: out if these are the guys they're going to have 483 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:10,120 Speaker 1: going forward. And there's a recognition that they have those 484 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: three first round picks or up to three first round 485 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: picks next season, and that this very much is a 486 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: transition year. Now that doesn't help them when or I say, 487 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 1: I should say, that doesn't help the team if if 488 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: they're losing by ten and they're not running the ball 489 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: and fans are upset at the stadium. Eagles are winless 490 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: at home this season, so you can imagine the way 491 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: fans have taken that. But overall, I do think there 492 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: is an understanding from the fan base that that this 493 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,120 Speaker 1: is a transition year and they're trying to figure out 494 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 1: who the quarterback is going to be long term. You know, defensively, 495 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: the Chargers have Joey Bosa who's been double and sometimes 496 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:57,639 Speaker 1: triple team this year, Darwin James. When you look at 497 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: those two guys specifically, what challenges do they present to 498 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 1: this Eagles offense? Knowing that, listen, you may try to 499 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: run the football, I think really one of the keys 500 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:10,119 Speaker 1: and I'll ask you as we close outsack, but I 501 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:11,680 Speaker 1: think one of the keys for the Chargers in this 502 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: game is trying to get up early and control the clock. 503 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 1: They've been outpossessed. You know, they've been playing almost thirty 504 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 1: five thirty six minutes of defense the last two weeks. 505 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:25,159 Speaker 1: But if Darwin and Joey can kind of impose their 506 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: will on this game. I think that's where the Chargers 507 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:31,400 Speaker 1: may get their fifth win. Yeah, I mean I think 508 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: from a talent perspective that the Chargers certainly have the edge. 509 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: I mean, I'd like this Chargers team. I like this 510 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:42,880 Speaker 1: Charger's roster, and good quarterbacks have have done real well 511 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 1: against this Eagle's defense. Right, They've played softer coverage, they 512 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 1: played a lot of zone, and there have been quarterbacks 513 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:52,440 Speaker 1: who've picked that apart. And I think Justin Herbert has 514 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:56,200 Speaker 1: the ability to do so. You mentioned imposing the will 515 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: on the defensive side, Bosa and James, I mean, obviously 516 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: outstanding players. I think the big question is is going 517 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 1: to be are the Eagles going to run the ball 518 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 1: the way they did last week? Right? Because the Chargers 519 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: defense from from from what I've watched, and you would 520 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,439 Speaker 1: know this better than me, They're they're inviting you to run, right, 521 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: they want you to run so you don't have the 522 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 1: big play on them. Um, and are there are the 523 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: Eagles is gonna take that? Or are the Eagles gonna 524 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 1: try to throw the ball? I mean, if if, if 525 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 1: they're counting on Jail and Hurts to outplay Justin Herbert 526 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: to win this game. I don't think that's gonna work. 527 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:32,399 Speaker 1: I mean, I think what the Eagles would need to 528 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:35,160 Speaker 1: do is is they would need to move the sticks 529 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 1: on the ground. Um, you know, have have jail and hurts, 530 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: make the throws that are there. They're gonna have to 531 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: force a turnover like they did less. You know, they're 532 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:48,240 Speaker 1: they're on on defense. They need some some turnover luck 533 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: and they need to win at the line of scrimmage. 534 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: But if I'm just looking at it, I think the 535 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 1: Chargers are the better team. Um, it's it's it's just 536 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:58,359 Speaker 1: a matter of how they play the matchups. Yeah, you know, 537 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: the running defense, and I think one of the chief 538 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 1: issues with the Charges was not having Justin Jones um 539 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,959 Speaker 1: for for a bulk of this first half of the season. Um, 540 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: they improved a little bit against the Patriots, but the 541 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 1: Patriots still ran the ball thirty nine times. So you know, 542 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 1: it's that it's that fine line of putting the ball 543 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 1: in your best player's hand in Justin Herbert, and also 544 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: maybe having to sacrifice your defense being on the field 545 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 1: for for as long as they have, specifically the last 546 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: three weeks. So um, if you had to point to 547 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:33,440 Speaker 1: one key to the game. You may have just alluded 548 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 1: to it, But what are you think is going to 549 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: decide this one? Zack? Yeah, I always go back to 550 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 1: the to the line of scrimmage, right. I think, hum, 551 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 1: the Chargers are too good from you know, a quarterback 552 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:50,679 Speaker 1: and steel position player perspective, uh that if the Eagles 553 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 1: can't get pressure on Herbert, it's gonna be a long 554 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: day for the Eagles. So I I think that for 555 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,159 Speaker 1: as much talk as there is about the Eagles running 556 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,639 Speaker 1: game and Jail and her to me, the question is 557 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 1: is going to be can the Eagles get pressure on Herbert. 558 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:09,199 Speaker 1: If the Eagles can get pressure on on Herbert, they 559 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 1: can stay in the game. If they can't get to Herbert. 560 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: The way they play defense in terms of their coverages, 561 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 1: there are going to be open completions there for Keenan 562 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: Allen and Mike Williams and you go on down the list. 563 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 1: So I think, to me that's going to be the 564 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 1: key to the game is is can the Eagles defensive 565 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 1: line get pressure? Zach Berman, the athletic You do awesome 566 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 1: work man, and look forward to seeing you in Philly 567 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:33,720 Speaker 1: this Sunday. And Hey, these are these are fun matchups 568 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,200 Speaker 1: because we, like you said, we don't see them too often, 569 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: so this unfamiliarity kind of reads this this kind of anticipation, 570 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: so we're looking forward to it. Yeah. I just wish 571 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 1: it was in La right, you know. I mean it's 572 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 1: it's like forty degrees right now, and Philly. I think 573 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 1: about when the Eagles played the Chargers there last whether 574 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:55,120 Speaker 1: it was perfect. The venue is perfect, so I just 575 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 1: wish the game was out West. I know, man, we'll 576 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: get you out to sofa sooner than later. I gotta 577 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:04,960 Speaker 1: bring old I guess I would recommend it. Yeah, all right, buddy, 578 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 1: appreciate you. You got it all right, guys, that's gonna 579 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:10,719 Speaker 1: do it for us. A big thanks to Zach Berman 580 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 1: and Daniel Popper for joining me, and of course thanks 581 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 1: to you all for listening. Be sure to download and 582 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: subscribe to the Chargers Podcast Network wherever you listen to 583 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: podcasts and hey. Episode one of Running for History drops 584 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 1: Friday morning. It's a six part narrative series commemorating Ladinia 585 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 1: Thomlinson's single season touchdown record. You don't want to miss it. 586 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 1: Enjoy the weekend as the Bolt so to improve to 587 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: five and three, and until next time, I'm Chris Hary.