1 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to playmakers everyone. I'm Haley Ellwood. It's week six. 2 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: The Los Angeles Chargers will travel to Baltimore to take 3 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: on the Ravens. So joining me is NFL Networks, A 4 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: D D King Kabwalla, who's going to be there. Add 5 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: thanks so much for coming on. Thank you so much 6 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: for having me and putting up with my less than 7 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: ideal appearance at the moment, you were good. Do not worry. Hey, 8 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: it's Friday. It's a little crazy. We're about to head 9 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 1: into the weekend. But I'm gonna start here with these 10 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: two teams because they are coming off games in week five, 11 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: and I don't think this is hyperbole. Crazy crazy games 12 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: in week five, But overall, what are your thoughts on 13 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: this one in week six? I'm just excited, you know. 14 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: And it's funny because I was actually asking Keenan Allen 15 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 1: this yesterday when I was on the phone with him 16 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: about you know, you've got a four and one team 17 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: and a four and one team, there's a lot of 18 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: football to be played, but is it ever too early 19 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: to start thinking about AFC seating? And you know, Keenan 20 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: obviously gave a great answer about how every week matters 21 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: so much. And then I said the same thing to 22 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: Chris Harris, and he's like, well, there's a good chance 23 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: we're going to see this team again later on, So 24 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: of course everything matters right now. And I think that 25 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: teams are really trying to sort of forge their identity, 26 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 1: and some of them haven't, some of them don't. Necessarily. 27 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 1: The Ravens certainly showed us that they're a lot more 28 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,639 Speaker 1: than we perhaps thought they were the way that Lamar 29 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: Jackson threw the ball Monday night, especially in the second 30 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: half and overtime. You can't just sit here and say, Okay, 31 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: this is the best running in the NFL, because the 32 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 1: last three weeks the Ravens barely I mean for them, 33 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: I barely run the ball. And look at the way 34 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: Lamar has stretched the field and the accuracy with which 35 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: he's throwing, and so teams are still it's early enough. 36 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: The teams are figuring out who they are. They're forging 37 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: who they are, especially when they're gutting out close wins 38 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: unexpected games, which I think you would say both teams 39 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: sort of did last weekend. It's just fun. It's fun. 40 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: It's fun. It's fun to see two teams riding some 41 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 1: momentum meeting each other. Sure, And I think when you 42 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: talk about identity, I think you can also trace it 43 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 1: back to the head coaches too. I thought for the 44 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: Chargers last week's matchup between Kevin Stefanski and Brandon Staley 45 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: was going to be a good one. It was. But 46 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: what do you make of this one between John Harbaugh 47 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: and Staley? Well, I just it feels like both guys, 48 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: both men are men who really truly approach their team 49 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: with honesty and then absolutely have their backs. And so 50 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: let's start with Stale. I don't know him nearly as 51 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: well as you do. In fact, this will be my 52 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: first opportunity. I hope to get to actually meet him. 53 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: But the way that he goes for it on fourth down, 54 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: you know, like even I'm going to refer back to 55 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: this conversation and I'll probably talk about it at some 56 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: point on Sunday morning. But I said to Keenan Allen, like, 57 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: do you ever wonder, like what is he thinking? And 58 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,959 Speaker 1: he said to me, every single time, I'm wondering what 59 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: he's thinking. But the message, this statement that a coach 60 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: is making when he goes for an on fourth down 61 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: like that, it's not just I believe in the math, 62 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: it's I believe in my players, and even when my 63 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: players maybe don't believe in a fourth and nine, I 64 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: believe in a fourth and nine. And then go back 65 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: to the way that Coach Staley responded to the question 66 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: about John Gruden this week, and Haley, I have to 67 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: tell you, you know, I was with Mike Tomlin, the 68 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: Steelers head coach, on Tuesday. Mike Tomlin is one of 69 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: the longest tenured coaches in the NFL. Mike Tomlin is 70 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: a Super Bowl winner. Mike Tomlin worked with and for 71 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: John Gruden and has talked at length about how John 72 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: Gruden has meant so much to his football career, and 73 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: when he was asked about it, he very honestly said, 74 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: I'm saddened by it. I'm saddened by the fact that 75 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: people were offended. I'm saddened that this has happened. That 76 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: I'm in four coach group and said and then he said, 77 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: and that's where I'd like to leave it. You've seen 78 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: a lot of coaches say that these are not easy 79 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: things to talk about, and yet when Brandon Stanley was 80 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: asked about it, he just went on and on, and 81 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: this is not a guy that has tenure in the league. 82 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: This is not a guy that has a huge long history. 83 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: This is not a guy that has a personal track 84 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: record that sort of enables him to say whatever he 85 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 1: wants to say. And he was just about as authentic 86 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: and sincere as one could be. And I don't think 87 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: that that's just about standing on a podium. I think 88 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: that your players recognize that. Your players respond to that, 89 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: And so I would say the same thing about John Harbaugh. 90 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 1: You know who he is, you know where he stands. 91 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: He absolutely has his players back. So you see that 92 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,840 Speaker 1: when he is constantly wearing the Goofy clothing made by 93 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson. Because as dynamic as Lamar Jackson, maybe his 94 00:04:54,880 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: fashion sense, fashion designing ability, maybe it's not ideally one 95 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 1: would choose, especially for he, But you know, John Harbaugh 96 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: is wearing his player's clothing and he doesn't care what 97 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 1: he looks like when he does it. John Harbaugh also, 98 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: you know, I'll go back to a fourth down early 99 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:15,919 Speaker 1: in the season with John Harba where he looks at 100 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson. We all saw this, right, He's like, Lamar, Lamar, 101 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: do you want to go for it? Haley? We all 102 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: knew Harball was going to go for it, but in 103 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: asking Lamar, do you want to do this, he's essentially 104 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: getting an investment from the player. He's saying, we are 105 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 1: all in this together, we all owe this together. And 106 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: so that's where I think that you see a lot 107 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: of similarities. You have two teams that are always going 108 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: to be prepared. The way that Brandon Staley make sure 109 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 1: that his offense understands what his defense is doing and 110 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: his defense understands the why of what the offense is doing. 111 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: It's similar to the way that John Harbaugh wants accountability 112 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: from all his players and that it is one team 113 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: and it's not three separate units. It's trust. Wait it 114 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: is right, which was mark Ingram's big word when he 115 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 1: was here, big trust, and that was something that the 116 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: Ravens because a slogan. Yeah again, that's why you get 117 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 1: juiced for matchups like this totally, because I think what 118 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: we've seen from these Chargers teams is you mentioned like 119 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 1: the fourth and nine, there is trust there and these 120 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 1: guys are talked about it. When your head coach is 121 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: ton you, yeah, we're gonna go for it. We're gonna 122 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: go for it from our own twenty four and we're 123 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: going to convert it. You almost feel like they've talked 124 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: about as a player. Yeah, we're going to do it 125 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: because we have that confidence when you mentioned those fourth 126 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: downs and you mentioned it on both sides in a sense, 127 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: how do you maybe see this game playing out? Or 128 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: maybe that trust kind of parlaying into how this game 129 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: plays out. One of our beat writers said he's not 130 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: sure we'll see a punt in this one, you know. 131 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,039 Speaker 1: And that's what's so funny, because when you think of 132 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: the first of all, Britain Stanley made his name right 133 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: on devastating defenses, on really really tough defenses, and the Ravens, 134 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 1: how do you think of the Ravens and not think 135 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 1: of an aggressive pressure defense, And yet neither team is 136 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: necessarily playing defense the way you would think. Right, But 137 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: I'll go back to what Chris Harris said that the 138 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: way the Chargers defense is thinking right now. The stats 139 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: and the numbers are maybe not so pretty, but they're 140 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: getting the wins. So this Chargers run defense, Okay, those 141 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: numbers aren't pretty. It looks like it's a very vulnerable 142 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: run defense, but what's the Chargers record, you know, And 143 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: so it's kind of like you think of a defense 144 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: that maybe it's really tough from the twenty to the 145 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: goal line, but gives up a lot between the twenties. 146 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: I mean, you don't win based on numbers. You win, 147 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: you know, it's however you win. So it's hard to imagine. 148 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: I'm very curious to see as well. As the Ravens 149 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: have been throwing the ball and the Chargers are allegedly 150 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: vulnerable against the run, do the Ravens go back and 151 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: try to run or do are the Ravens able to 152 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: pass on the Chargers? What do they do? And I 153 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,559 Speaker 1: think the statement that the one thing that the Ravens 154 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: and Lamar Jackson have been very good at this year 155 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: is taking what the defense gives them. So I'm curious 156 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: to see what it is that the defense gives them. 157 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: And then on the flip side, can the Ravens generate 158 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: some sort of pressure? Can they do something to get 159 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: a very very young quarterback who thus far been totally unflappable. 160 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: Can they face him somehow? They haven't been very successful 161 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: doing that. But the Ravens are supposed to be the Ravens, 162 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: right Like for years I've said, oh, the Ravens don't rebuild, 163 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: They just reload. So I'm sort of just expecting them 164 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: to reload, even though it hasn't necessarily happened. Yeah, it's 165 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: an interesting thing you bring up, because when you talk 166 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: about Justin Herbert, I mean, when it comes to this 167 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: Chargers offense, it starts and stops with him. The kid's 168 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: playing out of his mind. I loved what Harboss said 169 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: earlier this week, like he's guessing he's looking forward to 170 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: seeing him pass on Sunday. It's like, I guess, I am, 171 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: but jokes aside. I mean, you kind of just talked 172 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: about it a little bit, but how do you see 173 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: maybe that offense and Herbert's stacking up against this defense. Obviously, 174 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 1: Clais Campbell still a factor with how many years he's 175 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: played in this league. Yes, except that Calais is playing 176 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: so so so much. And I mean, look, Klais Campbell 177 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: is one of my all time favorite people in the NFL. 178 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: Just about as good of a guy as you can 179 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: be around. So I don't say this as a knock. 180 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: He is getting older, yeah, you know, and so he 181 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: is going to need some help. He cannot play this 182 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 1: many steps we can week out for seventeen weeks. I 183 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: want to see how the Raven's back end plays. Justin 184 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: Herbert has been so good at using everybody. You know, 185 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:32,559 Speaker 1: Oftentimes you have a young, young quarter and he ends 186 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: up having a security blanket and there's one person that 187 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: he generally goes to. You know that in a money moment, 188 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 1: he will go to that person. I don't see Justin 189 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: Herbert doing that. And again, Haley, I mean, you know 190 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: much better than I do. So I don't want to 191 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: sound like I'm the expert on the Chargers, but the 192 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: ten thousand foot view is that he is just as 193 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: comfortable going to Keenan Allen as he is to Mike 194 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: Williams as he is to his tight ends too. You know, 195 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: he is using everybody available, and he's putting the ball 196 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: where everybody likes the ball. I mean, he's constantly thrown 197 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: catchable balls. So it's not as if I have more 198 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: faith or trust in a receiver who I know can 199 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: make a tough catch for me. Not that your pass 200 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: catchers aren't making tough catches, but it doesn't look like 201 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: they've really had to. It just looks like the ball 202 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: is delivered in a perfect way. Yea. Repeatedly it is 203 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: and you saw that this last week too, I mean, 204 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: getting Donald Parham involved, getting Jared Cook involved, and against 205 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: the Raiders were Mike Williams. I think he only had 206 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: eleven receiving yards the whole game, but they won and 207 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: he got those other guys involved in the offense. So 208 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,559 Speaker 1: you're you're absolutely right about that. Now, what do I 209 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,719 Speaker 1: forget about Austin Ekeler? Right? Like, I hate to say 210 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: a weapon, but to have a weapon like that, to 211 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: have a reliable, dependable person like that who can always 212 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 1: come up big from you in a variety of ways. 213 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: And I should also throw in there we have a 214 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: new podcast and Austin Ekeler was and he scored three 215 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: touchdowns to me after and we also had Justin Tucker, 216 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: the Raven's kicker, on our podcast and after he kicked 217 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: a record setting sixty six yard field goal. So anybody 218 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: listening to Playmakers right now, it's good luck to be 219 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:09,599 Speaker 1: on our podcast. Yeah, check it out. Actually, it was 220 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: a great conversation with Austin. He talked about, for those 221 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: who may not have heard it, international games. Playing in 222 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,199 Speaker 1: international games. He's played in two in London and Mexico City, 223 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:21,559 Speaker 1: and um, I actually loved even hearing from his perspective 224 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: having traveled to those games as well, but from the 225 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,439 Speaker 1: players side of it, just how much of an adjustment 226 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: that is. So definitely check those out for sure for 227 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: those of you who may not have heard that. But 228 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: getting to Lamar Jackson, the Chargers last saw him in 229 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen. Look, he's we know, he's gone on to 230 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: win MVP, and like you mentioned at the top of this, 231 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: what he's done, especially what he did last Monday, was unbelievable. 232 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: He's the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. But how 233 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 1: has he really evolved since he entered this league to 234 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: where he is now? Twenty eighteen? We're talking about the 235 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:56,319 Speaker 1: playoff game, right, Yeah, okay, so and I was at 236 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: that game. Actually, this is like what ages me. We 237 00:11:58,320 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: keep talking about games and I'm like, oh, I was 238 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: actually there. Oh my gosh, I can't remember that. Yeah. Anyway, 239 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: So twenty eighteen, the Chargers come in. They had just 240 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: seen the Ravens a few weeks before. It felt like 241 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,079 Speaker 1: they had a tremendous game plan. And here's a little 242 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: story about Hudan harbaugh is and how the Ravens operate. 243 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,439 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson and the Ravens just couldn't get anything going 244 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,679 Speaker 1: in the first half, and at halftime there was some 245 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 1: talk should Joe Flacco come in? And when the Ravens 246 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,839 Speaker 1: came out from the locker room, actually Joe Flacco was 247 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: warming up, and I remember messaging a girlfriend of mine 248 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: who's also a colleague gets CBS because I worked for CBS, 249 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: as oh is Flacco going in, and they were trying 250 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: to figure it out. And ultimately what happened is that 251 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: James Rbin, the quarterbacks coach, and John Harbaugh had a 252 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: conversation and it was deemed that it was far more 253 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 1: important for Lamar Jackson's growth and Lamar Jackson's future that 254 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: he get to go in there, and he tried to 255 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: finish what he started. And as much as Joe Flacco 256 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: had done for the Ravens organization, as well respected as 257 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: he is, everybody knew that Joe Flacco was going to 258 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: move on from the Ravens after this season, so he 259 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: wasn't the future of the Ravens. And as John Harball 260 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: later told me in the locker room, he knew that 261 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: this wasn't a team built to win the Super Bowl. 262 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: So even if the Ravens won that week and beat 263 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 1: the Chargers behind Joe Flacco. They're going to have to 264 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: go to New England, I believe most likely. And yes, 265 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:29,839 Speaker 1: and Harball wasn't so sure that this team was going 266 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: to beat New England. So what was the bigger play here? 267 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 1: The potential short term win was winning one game behind 268 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: Joe Flacco. The long term view was that Lamar Jackson 269 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: is our future. Lamar Jackson is the guy that we 270 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: are invested in and we are going to believe in 271 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 1: and we are going to ride. What is more important 272 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: for Lamar Jackson's growth in development and it was continuing 273 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 1: to play. And granted, late in that game, the Chargers 274 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 1: were playing a different defense, but Lamar Jackson did indeed 275 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 1: lead I believe two touchdown drives. This is good that 276 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: I mean, you'll have to go back and check because 277 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: I promise I haven't read any of this, but I 278 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: believe this is accurate. And that makes me feel good 279 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: that maybe I haven't killed as many brain cells as 280 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: I thought I did during the pandemic. But that's a 281 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: story for another day. Lamar Jackson did lead I believe 282 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: two touchdowns drives in that game. It was a more 283 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: positive way to end and after the game again, I 284 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 1: remember I was in the locker room and I was 285 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: talking to Willie Snead, who then was with the Ravens, 286 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: and Willie said, look, Lamar just hasn't thrown a lot, 287 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: you know, like he's still a very young thrower. And 288 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: Willie said to me, we're gonna go throw in the offseason. 289 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: We're gonna we live close to each other in Florida. 290 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: We're gonna work on this. And you look at what 291 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson has done every single year as a passer. 292 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: He did he gotten better. Yes, he has worked at it. 293 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: He has worked on one part of his game every 294 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: single year, or on multiple parts of his game. He's 295 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: absolutely evolved as a passer. And as the chattering classes 296 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: keep trying to say, Oh he's a right back, Oh 297 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: he's not going to last, Oh this style of play 298 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: won't work. Oh he's a one trick pony. Oh he 299 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: can only be a checkdown artist. He's proving everybody wrong, 300 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: and it's just he just tunes that all out. I 301 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: would love to say that this is a guy who 302 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: is driven to prove people wrong. I really don't think 303 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: he gives a crap, Like I really just think that 304 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: he is driven to be better and to win a championship, 305 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: and that's all that he cares about. And it doesn't 306 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: it's not to him about oh I want to prove 307 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: that I'm a better throw. Oh I want to prove 308 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 1: I can throw it from the pocket. Oh I want 309 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: to throw that I can throw a good deep ball. 310 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: Oh No, he just wants to do it because that's 311 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: what the Ravens need him to do. And so again, 312 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: like you ask about who John her was, I think 313 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: that that moment tells who John Harba is. I think 314 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: that that game and that meeting tells who the Ravens 315 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: organization is. And I think when you think of the 316 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: evolution of Lamar from then to now, that says to 317 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: who Lamar is, it totally does right. I feel like 318 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: I should definitely use that game now, go back to 319 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: that rightly. I think on Monday, I remember watching post game, 320 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: you know, they I think it's Lisa Salters mentions, Hey, 321 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: you didn't get the rushing record, and he's like, well, 322 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: we got to win, you know. And I think it 323 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: speaks to that too. And like you said, that ability 324 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: also as a quarterback to compartmentalise, you know, if he's 325 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: in the first half, don't go right, you pick it up, 326 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: you move on. And they've certainly done that, and justin 327 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: Herbert sometimes to do appoint this season has done that 328 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: as well. We mentioned it's gonna be a good one. 329 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: Last question for you, what do you think maybe might 330 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: be a deciding factor in how this game pans out? 331 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: Who plays better defense? I don't see, you know what, 332 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: I don't think these offenses. I think the thing that's 333 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: most impressive the Chargers aren't shooting themselves in the foot, 334 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 1: you know, And I think that the Ravens also play 335 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: smart football. So I don't see I say that, even 336 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: though Lamar did have those fumbles and that's something that 337 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: needs to be cleaned up, I don't see an unforced 338 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: error being the reason that the game is has decided. 339 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 1: I think the cute thing would say, who's got the 340 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: ball last might might be deciding the game. But these 341 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 1: are both teams that have the potential to be playing 342 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,399 Speaker 1: much much better defense. And as we talked about, you know, 343 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: there's sort of a build up and just the way 344 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: that we all approach the preseason now, I think that 345 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 1: you don't get as much work, you know, even on 346 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 1: things as tackling right, and so maybe it takes a 347 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,880 Speaker 1: little bit of time to get into that. I just 348 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 1: expect both teams to play better defense, and I wonder 349 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 1: if one of them comes out with, you know, a 350 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 1: more impressive defensive performance. And again, justin Herbert is a 351 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: guy that hasn't been frat sold yet. But Ravens defensive 352 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: coordinator Wink Martindale does like to throw a ton of 353 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: different looks at quarterbacks, and Herbert is still a young guy. 354 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: You know, this isn't Philip Rivers who has seen everything. 355 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 1: This isn't Philip Rivers who can necessarily check out of 356 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: a bad play call and automatically audible and change to 357 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 1: something better. So if Wink can call a game that 358 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: does indeed make Herbert a little bit more uncomfortable and 359 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: the Ravens can indeed execute that, maybe we see something 360 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: more interesting there. I don't know, Yeah, it'll be a 361 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 1: good one. I lied the last question. What was Wing's 362 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: line about Herbert throwing it? He could throw a stranger? 363 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: You say, like I tweeted, I don't understand, but maybe 364 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 1: like we're too young, Haley, someone told me it's an 365 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 1: old time statement. So apparently Wink said that Herbert can 366 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:37,439 Speaker 1: throw a strawberry through a battleship, and so I'm like, 367 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 1: a battleship is a really big thing, Like I could 368 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,439 Speaker 1: throw a strawberry through a battleship. But then, as it 369 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: was explained to me on Twitter, what he means is 370 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: that a very very soft, gentle strawberry can be thrown 371 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 1: so hard you're such velocity that it can get all 372 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: the way through a battleship and all those portholes and 373 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 1: all that steal and all those soldiers and whatever, apparently 374 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: by justin Herbert. But when it comes to analogies, not 375 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 1: one kind. And I actually was like, I don't get 376 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: it and right now, And it's funny because my six 377 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: year old actually for Halloween wants to be a Navy 378 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: ship captain. So I actually know about battleships and destroyers 379 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: and aircraft carriers and things like this. I just don't 380 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: know about strawberries. Scale Well, thanks week six, we covered those. 381 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: Pass a Deity. I will be sure to tell Minka 382 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: on Sunday that not only did he stump me, but 383 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 1: he stumped the Great Haley album as well. I wasn't 384 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: the only one I could appreciate that You've provided so 385 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: much insight. We are looking forward to this one. Thank 386 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: you so much for coming on. We really appreciate it.