1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: Late fifteen ten touched up such welcome into Chargers Weekly 2 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: are first of twenty twenty six, Happy New Year, as always, 3 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: joined by the voice of the Chargers, Matt Muddy Smith 4 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: Muddy so much to be decided. In week eighteen, Elijah 5 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: Molden gonna join us. We'll recap this Houston Texans game, 6 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: but we should start with the crowd, maybe the best 7 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: crowd we've seen at SOFI Stadium to date. 8 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't think there's any question. Shannon was down 9 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 2: on the sideline and she must have been with coach 10 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 2: Harbaugh as he mentioned it in the postgame press or. 11 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 2: She mentioned it on the broadcast that she was talking 12 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 2: to the fireman that you know, monitor every game and 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 2: have been at so far every single game since it opened, 14 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 2: and said it's the loudest crowd they'd ever heard, so impressive. 15 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 2: I just cannot say enough about the Charger fans and 16 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 2: turning out. I'm you know, look, they fell behind fourteen 17 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 2: nothing early crowd was pulled out of that game, and 18 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 2: you know, we just kind of kept saying on the broadcast, man, 19 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 2: what a bummer. 20 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 3: This crowd is so good. 21 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 2: They were so stoked early on and now they've been 22 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 2: quiet for a quarter and a half and then you know, 23 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 2: good on the Chargers for rallying, for playing inspired football, 24 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 2: for getting the crowd back into it, because that second 25 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 2: half was pretty special, man, And yes, let's get more 26 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 2: of that. You know, and who knows, somehow miraculously things 27 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 2: work out, maybe you get a home game in the 28 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 2: AFC Championship. You know, the Chargers end up the sixth seed, 29 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 2: the Bills are the seven, and it's an AFC showdown 30 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 2: between those two. It's so far that'd be awfully fun. 31 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: You one can wish this playoff machine. I've had a 32 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: lot of fun with it this week. I've going through 33 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: all like the permutations. We'll get into it later later 34 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: in the show. We know Trey Lance is going to 35 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: start against the Broncos as we tape this. We don't 36 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 1: know the other starters, but I would imagine that Derwin 37 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: James's and Khalil Max in the world probably won't play. 38 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 3: I'd be surprised. You know. 39 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: Look, coaches know more about this than I do. But 40 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 2: I have always held the philosophy, if you're going to 41 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 2: play guys, play them. If you're not going to play him, 42 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 2: don't play them. And I think that goes. You know, 43 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 2: I don't think that was better illustrated than you know, 44 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: three years ago with the Mike Williams situation, when it's 45 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 2: like I just yeah, I don't understand the idea of 46 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 2: I just want to get him a series, just so 47 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: much can go wrong and so little to me comes 48 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 2: out of that. So I think you're right. I suspect 49 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 2: that we're going to see a lot of these guys 50 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: that have been playing their tails off or banged up. 51 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 2: I don't know if Elijah'll give us an idea as 52 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 2: to whether or not he's going to play, but I 53 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: wouldn't play him. He's someone that's been dealing stuff all 54 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 2: season long, and I think any of the guys that 55 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 2: fall into that category. Tierre becked in molding, you know, 56 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: as cam Hart's kind of been dealing with stuff here 57 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 2: and there, Dante Jackson like all of that, Like what's 58 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,119 Speaker 2: you know, what do those guys say? And we'll ask 59 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 2: Elijah when he when he comes in. Maybe we'll post 60 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: it as a trivia question. You know, when the schedule 61 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 2: comes out, what's the first thing you look at? When's 62 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 2: our bye week? So bye week? You can treat this 63 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 2: like a bye week for these guys, and there is 64 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 2: so much value in that because, like you said, the 65 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: playoff simulator, you can have the Jags, the Jags, the Patriots, 66 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: or the Broncos could all be the one seed. So 67 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,959 Speaker 2: they're all going to be playing their tails off this 68 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 2: week and Chargers are gonna be resting guys exactly. 69 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: And you know with the Patriots and Broncos they're playing 70 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: at the same time. The Patriots need that game regardless 71 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 1: because you dropped to the three seed of Jacksonville beats Tennessee, 72 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: which we probably expect to happen early in the in 73 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: the in the afternoon. So there's so many different scenarios. 74 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: But I like and we'll get into Houston, but I 75 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: do like this strategy from coach Harball. You know, Chris 76 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: Oladuken had one drive to potentially beat the Broncos the 77 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: week before Trey Lance a whole year. I know he's 78 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: probably chipping at the bit to get out there under center, 79 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: and what an opportunity for him to try to go 80 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: out and win the game, beat the broadcast, no doubt. 81 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: I look, that's been the Broncos all season, right And 82 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: you know what, I'm gonna split this thought as our 83 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 2: podcast is presented by Splittero because I was a little 84 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 2: drying them out there. Some apologies, but they've struggled against 85 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 2: a Jets team that took seven sacks and or nine 86 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 2: sacks and had nine completions, struggled against backups week in 87 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 2: and week out. So to just chalk this up as 88 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 2: a loss, I think it's crazy. Jesse Minner, we know 89 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 2: how much he can scheme up a defense. Regardless of 90 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 2: who is out there, There's gonna be enough players where 91 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 2: this could end up as a win. Things get weird, 92 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 2: maybe Riley Leonard and Shane Steich and dial it up 93 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 2: against the Texans. It's a division game. You never know 94 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 2: what's going to happen in those games. You know, they're 95 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 2: always strange and tight. They could end up as the five, 96 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: Like there is still that world where they. 97 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 3: End up as the five. 98 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 2: And if that happens, then if you have the Texans 99 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 2: and the Bills behind you, to think that those two 100 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 2: teams can't win a wild card game and next thing 101 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: you know, you're hosting a divisional round playoff game. I 102 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 2: don't think that's out of the realm of possibility. I 103 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: think everybody is sort of looking at this as, Oh, 104 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 2: they're just content to get whatever seed is theirs and 105 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 2: they're just resting us. No, they're resting us. They're gonna 106 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 2: play guys to win. They're not gonna go out there 107 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: and just lay down like the Chiefs did last year 108 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 2: thirty eight nothing to the Broncos. It's competitors, welcome. It's 109 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 2: gonna be a competitive game now. You know, there's a 110 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 2: big difference when Justin Herbert's under center the one he's not. 111 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: But I suspect we're still going to have a competitive 112 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 2: game out. 113 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 1: There, especially guys that we haven't talked about, like is 114 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 1: lad gonna play? And you can't. You can't rest everybody. 115 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: That's the problem. You can't rest everybody. And you said 116 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: it's a combination to guys who have kind of the 117 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,239 Speaker 1: bruises and then the superstars who you absolutely cannot afford 118 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: to lose in Week eighteen, but encouraged or discouraged after 119 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 1: that game with just chock full of mistakes, yet they 120 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: saw had a chance to win him. 121 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think a little of both. 122 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 2: I think sort of my initial thought coming out of 123 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 2: it was, you know, what's what's your level of concern? 124 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 2: Is it a trend. Is it just an outlier? And 125 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 2: obviously with JK and Cam Dicker it's an outlier. There's 126 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 2: no other way to describe missing your first ever kick 127 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:57,679 Speaker 2: from under forty yards. 128 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: Somebody chet GPT I want to give him. I think 129 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: it was is Ted Newan from who does the like 130 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: a lot of the field He did chet ept. The 131 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: likelihood that Cam Dicker would miss a field goal inside 132 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: forty and an extra point in the same game. 133 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,359 Speaker 3: It was like one in one, six hundred and sixty seven, 134 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 3: So like outside out Yeah, outlier. 135 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 2: A JK pair of punts that went twenty two and 136 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 2: thirty eight yards outlier. You know, Now, I do think 137 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 2: there it looked like those were drawn up that way 138 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 2: and it was just maybe asking him to execute something 139 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 2: he wasn't necessarily comfortable with because they were both clearly 140 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 2: directional toward the left sideline and they both clearly did 141 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 2: not go at the angle that he had hoped. So 142 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: I think that's something that they'll adjust and just you know, 143 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 2: you have one of the best special teams punt covers 144 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 2: since kind of Dean Leonard and del Shaun Phillips have 145 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 2: found this rhythm in Marlow Wax like just let him 146 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 2: boot it away, man, let it let him. Let's see 147 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 2: your best and our best, and let's go get it. 148 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 2: And I think sometimes you get a little cute and 149 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 2: you try to take advanceage of some things that you 150 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 2: see come up. And to me, you've played sixteen games. 151 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 2: Go out there and do what you do best. Run 152 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 2: your backs to the edges. Let jk use that giant 153 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 2: leg and boot the thing away and have complete confidence 154 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: and Cam dickers. So for all the stuff that people 155 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: are pointing to, I tend to lean a little bit 156 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 2: more towards I'm going to chalk it up as just 157 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: an off game for a lot of that stuff as 158 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 2: opposed to this is something we need to really be 159 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 2: concerned about. 160 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: The mental errors. You never want to see him December 161 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: over January. Though for sure the first six minutes of 162 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: that game, you take that away. That defense was absolutely 163 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: lights out. They had CJ. Stroud under durescive that they 164 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: didn't really sack him. They were all over that Texans offense. 165 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: Just two mental errors at the beginning of the game. 166 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: Is the difference between winning and losing? 167 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, the first touchdown we said it man right 168 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 2: in the moment, and it was very reminiscent of two 169 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 2: three years ago when it felt like far too often 170 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 2: we're seeing guys pointing and kind of hands in the air, 171 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 2: and right before that snap, you could tell that something 172 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 2: just was not right. And clearly when Dante Jackson's passing 173 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 2: the receiver off to nobody, something wasn't right. And that's 174 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 2: just you know, And I thought Derwin put it best 175 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 2: when he said, look, the call was right. We just 176 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 2: you know, we didn't get into it right. And I 177 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: think clearly, as Elija's gonna join us a little bit later, 178 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: you don't want Jalen Knowle, who's a four to two 179 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 2: guy running full speed on a post, coming right at 180 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,559 Speaker 2: Elijah Mouldenuz and flipped his hips. Yet that clearly something 181 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 2: went wrong there in the cover underneath, I think he 182 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 2: had two corners going to the left, the right sideline 183 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 2: for Stroud and nobody they're picking him up. So yeah, 184 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 2: it happens, man, you know, And they cleaned it up 185 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 2: after that. Now, it's not great to give up fourteen 186 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 2: unanswered to a defense like that that can then pin 187 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 2: their ears back and get after you and just say, yeah. 188 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: Change the game script. 189 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 2: It does, yeah, because they clearly if you watch that 190 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: whole game those linebackers had they were coming downhill the 191 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 2: whole time. It was runfit on every single snap. That's 192 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 2: you know, and there were no lanes for you know, 193 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 2: if you said like discourage like I thought, I thought 194 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,439 Speaker 2: the offensive line they're playing the best defensive line maybe 195 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 2: of the last five seven years. So yeah, it's kind 196 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 2: to be tough, but it was just very hard to 197 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 2: get anything done. I think so much of the positive 198 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 2: stuff came off just the superhero that Justin Herbert is 199 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 2: and making things happen outside of what was supposed to happen, 200 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 2: because it just broke down so quickly. 201 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: I think it was in that third quarter. That series 202 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: was maybe the best series I've ever seen Justin Herber play. Yeah, 203 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,199 Speaker 1: and he was kind of doing it like Superman. And 204 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: again we've talked about the defense and these hero plays 205 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: from Justin Herbert is kind of being the formula to win. 206 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,199 Speaker 1: But what I witnessed during that one series, man, I 207 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: don't think we've seen with him as the quarterback, just 208 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 1: the absolute will to try to get back in the 209 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: game and the darnira almost won it. 210 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you know you're talking about the scramble 211 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 2: on a third and fourteen no less, and you know, 212 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 2: bouncing off of Stingley, you know, and still picking it 213 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 2: because he's short of the sticks when Stingley's there to 214 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 2: make the tackle and instead Herbert just basically treats him 215 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 2: like a speed bump and ends up picking up another ten. 216 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 2: And then of course you have the brilliant throw at 217 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 2: a queue when he's wrapped up around his ankles, and 218 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,199 Speaker 2: yet it's just a spot. I mean, you could not 219 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 2: have posu. You could not have thrown that ball more 220 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:25,559 Speaker 2: accurately than he did while under that much to rest. 221 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 2: And I think even that and you know, it's making 222 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 2: its rounds on the internet, but internet sound old, social media, 223 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 2: whatever it's. You know, when becked in and Pip get 224 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 2: beat just right off the snap and he is able 225 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:43,319 Speaker 2: to account for that work his way through the pocket 226 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 2: and then unfortunately Gaston can't secure the catch like that's 227 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: it's one of the greatest plays you'll ever see, and 228 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 2: it'll show up as an incomplete in the box score. 229 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: But to have those two guys in your lap that quickly, 230 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 2: I mean, it's a it's a quick pressure. Quick pressures 231 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 2: are almost impossible to of ade, just because there's nothing there. 232 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 2: You know, none of your hot reads are ready yet, 233 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 2: like it's just in your lap. And for him to 234 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: not only overcome one, but two quick pressures while Bozman 235 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 2: was also a little leaky there, just split those three guys, 236 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 2: climb the pocket, throw a perfect pass that was kind 237 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 2: of layered, and for it to be an incomplete it's 238 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 2: like Herbert, ladies and gentlemen. 239 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: That encapsulated the game, really and then you have the 240 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 1: sixty yard bomb to Q followed by the drop by Irande. 241 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,079 Speaker 1: It gets picked off at the one yard line, completely 242 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:35,359 Speaker 1: deflating for the Chargers offense. So so many different opportunities, 243 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: missed opportunities, and I just I go to January. Now 244 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: with this offensive line. Can this offensive line protect? That's 245 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 1: the million dollar question if they're gonna make a run 246 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. 247 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know. I think we have sixteen games 248 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 2: saying they can't. You know, they're thirty second in the 249 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 2: league in pass protection. Justin Herbert's been pressured, hit, sacked 250 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 2: more than any other quarterback in the league. So that's 251 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 2: what the statistics to tell us. I have liked a 252 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 2: lot of the stuff that that coach wrote that Gi 253 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 2: Rose has done lately with Trevor Penning with Austin Deculus, 254 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 2: you know, in the extra the sixth Offensive Lineman with 255 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 2: Scott Mattlocke, the way they're using that, I feel like 256 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:17,839 Speaker 2: that's been pretty effective at trying to overcome this. But yeah, 257 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 2: it's a concern, and I think that's where we kind 258 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 2: of get into the matchups, and I know we'll start 259 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 2: looking forward and I think, you know, when you kind 260 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 2: of see what's ahead of you and what might be there, 261 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 2: it could match up, okay, like there might be a 262 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 2: much better match up, you know, and I'll just whatever. 263 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 2: I'll say it like New England is really good on 264 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 2: the interior. Their edges are solid, but you know it's 265 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 2: Calebon Chason and Harold Landry and Barmore and Williams like 266 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 2: it's a good front. But I think it's you know, 267 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 2: it's something that you might be able to kind of 268 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 2: deal with. And it's not will Anderson and d'aneil. 269 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: Hunt's not Huston or Denver from a past rush exactly. 270 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 2: It's not Benito, it's not out Yeah, it's not Trevon 271 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 2: Walker and heinz Allen. Like I think there is something 272 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:01,559 Speaker 2: there where you might be able to help mitigate. 273 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 3: That a little bit. 274 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 2: But look like at some point offensive line is going 275 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 2: to have to give him some time. You know, you've 276 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 2: got to You've got to just allow some of these 277 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 2: plays to develop. Like I love that throw left sideline 278 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 2: to Q because what happens Kamara last year goes out 279 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 2: of the game and it's like, hey, let's see what 280 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 2: Ramon Smith's got. 281 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 3: Let's go right at him. 282 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, and that's the sort of stuff we're 283 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 2: talking about, right, and so I think those players are 284 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 2: out there. But yeah, and maybe again Mkai beck Then 285 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 2: has been banged up since training camp, you know, is 286 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 2: one week is two weeks off enough to try to 287 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 2: get him right, you know, because his team did start 288 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 2: three and zero. We were talking about how excited we 289 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 2: were about Mkaie Beckton and some of those splash plays 290 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 2: in the run game and things like that. You know, 291 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 2: like we're maybe we have a shot to get back 292 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 2: to that if Tray can get an extra two weeks 293 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 2: to get right. 294 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: You know that I was going to say the biggest 295 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: storyline for me, and I don't think that we would 296 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: have said this in August, is Jamarsh Sawyer going to 297 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,839 Speaker 1: be available for Wildcard weekend with that hamstring injury, like right, 298 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,080 Speaker 1: like he was. I think he was listed as day 299 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 1: to day last week, right. I'm not sure if you 300 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: would even you wouldn't play him this week anyway because 301 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: you want him ready for Wildcard weekend. 302 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 3: That could be three weeks. 303 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 1: Off, but that that would be huge if Jamari Sawyer 304 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 1: can come back because he was somewhat stabilizing that left side. 305 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: You mentioned Beckton banged up. I don't know if i'd 306 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 1: play Zion in this game, your best offensive lineman, like. 307 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 3: You see, it's funny. 308 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 2: I think the opposite to me, I definitely plays Zion, 309 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 2: and I would you know, I want to see Zion 310 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 2: with Andre James and Trevor Penning. I would love to 311 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 2: see those two guys at center. Penning got in it right, 312 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 2: card right, Yeah, and he's played pretty well in those 313 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 2: reps that he's been put in there. You know, So 314 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 2: if if back then's beat up and he's not one 315 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 2: hundred percent to have a whole game against that Denver front, 316 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 2: I think with that trio, because look, Zion's been great, 317 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 2: He's been great. 318 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, hu Ship, did you see the pancake block on 319 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: Daniel Hunter? 320 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 3: Oh? 321 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: That he was highlighted like like Zion has been has 322 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: been a bright spot on that offensive line. That's my 323 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: only thinking is like, all right, you want your best 324 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: offensive lineman available for wildcard weekend. Maybe that's one of 325 00:14:59,440 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: the spots. 326 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 2: You say, that's kind of yeah, you don't want I'm 327 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 2: getting rolled up on it. I totally understand that. But 328 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 2: for me, I think it's an opportunity to evaluate, you know, 329 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 2: just sort of if those guys aren't right, can you 330 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 2: get a look at well, let's see, let's see what 331 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 2: this looks like. Sutly, let's see because to me, like 332 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 2: you said, with when Jamari is healthy, then you have 333 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 2: either Deculus or Penning is that sixth offensive line. And 334 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 2: also remember in the in the playoff game, I don't 335 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 2: know the status of him, but he was put on 336 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 2: IR he was gonna miss four games. 337 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 3: They missed Tucker Fisk. 338 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 2: Like if you can get Tucker Fisk back, now that 339 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 2: makes things real interesting because now you might have all 340 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 2: that extra size and beef with Penning or Deculous with 341 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: Fisk and with Matt Locke to really try to, you know, 342 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 2: get those seven nine minute drives that we were seeing 343 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 2: when this thing was humming on that win streak. If 344 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 2: Sawyer's right and so that's and if Trey is right, 345 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 2: if he gets another you know, two weeks off here 346 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 2: and he feels a lot better, Like it could be 347 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 2: you know, like you said with the off that some 348 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 2: line that could be a difference maker. 349 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know Kimani too, just having that change of 350 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: pace with a Marian too. Marion, that was probably his 351 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: biggest workload. I think today, you know when you talk 352 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: about not having a videll in that game, so it's 353 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: just another piece on the offensive line. I saw the 354 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: two targets to Ladd. That has to change in outcard weekend. Yeah, 355 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: like Ladd needs to be more involved. Do you think 356 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: it was just a matter of what they were dealing 357 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: with with that Houston front. 358 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 3: I think so. 359 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 2: I think the if you look at the pressure rate, 360 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 2: you look at the quick pressures, I do think so 361 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 2: many of those plays were made out of structure. I 362 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 2: think they're just it was very hard to get anything going. 363 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 2: You know, when you go back and watch it, it's 364 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 2: like is this what was schemed up? Or is this 365 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 2: what kind of came out of it? And I felt 366 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 2: like more often I felt like this is sort of 367 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 2: what came out of it because of Justin as opposed 368 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 2: to this is where the ball was supposed to go 369 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 2: and this is what was supposed to have just didn't 370 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 2: really feel like there was a lot of that watching 371 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 2: some of the Lad plays. Yeah, look, Justin missed him 372 00:16:58,360 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 2: in the back of the end zone. Would have been 373 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 2: a touchdown. But again, when you're getting pressured fifty five 374 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 2: percent of the time, it's like, what do you want? 375 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 2: You know, it's just it's hard to get anything going. 376 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 2: I would love to see some more quick game with Lad. 377 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 2: You know, it does feel like he's downfield a lot 378 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 2: right now. And I do think he's a man beater, 379 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 2: you know, he can definitely beat his guy, you know, 380 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 2: on the release and get something going. And so yeah, 381 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 2: I think there's there's something there. And again, you got 382 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 2: essentially you don't know who your opponent is. But I 383 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 2: do think there were some things we saw in that 384 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:35,920 Speaker 2: game that I'd love to see pushed forward. I really 385 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 2: love that first first down to Tray, you know, and 386 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 2: he's in motion and you got the boot action that's 387 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:43,879 Speaker 2: you know, and really the only time they ran to 388 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 2: the edge of the entire game was on that suite 389 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 2: from trade. That was literally the only run they had 390 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 2: outside outside of the tackles, and it went for seven yards. 391 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 2: So I do think there's some more of that that 392 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 2: can that can show up if if your offensive line 393 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:02,239 Speaker 2: is healthy and if lock is right, and I do 394 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 2: think we'll see some of that. But you know, to 395 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 2: your point about Bydell, I do think this will probably 396 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 2: be a heavy jarreted Patterson game. 397 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 3: That's what I would suspect. 398 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: He's gonna get the load. Yeah, he may get like 399 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: twenty five touches in this game. 400 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, And I think with a marion like every 401 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 2: one of his runs was between the tackles and it 402 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 2: just wasn't there. You know, it wasn't He took a 403 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 2: lot of hits. He took a lot. He was getting 404 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:20,479 Speaker 2: hit behind the line of scrimmage on nearly. So when 405 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 2: you see fourteen carries average in two point one per 406 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 2: whatever it was, I think it was twenty nine total. Yeah, 407 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 2: there's nothing there. There was nothing for him to do. 408 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 2: You know, he's dragging guys forward for those two yards. 409 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:31,640 Speaker 2: Instead of losing two, he's gaining two. 410 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 1: All right, say quick break, we'll talk defense now with 411 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: Elijah mold Chargers Weekly is presented by Splitteraro, helping homeowners 412 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: access their home equity with no monthly payments. Splitteraro offers 413 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: home equity investments, a better way to access the cash 414 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: you need from your home without getting to go through 415 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 1: a bank. Get a lump sum of cash in exchange 416 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: for a share of your home's future value. Payoff debt, 417 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: renovate your home and better your life. Get your free 418 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: cash estimate at splittero dot com. Slash chargers and has 419 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,679 Speaker 1: promised Elijah Molden joins us on charges Weekly, presented by 420 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,920 Speaker 1: Splitterio and Elijah, Just what's the post of the room 421 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 1: right now? Is we inch closer to wild Card weekend? 422 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,160 Speaker 4: You know, definitely glad and grateful to be going into 423 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 4: the playoffs after this game. You know, we don't want 424 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 4: to look past this game by any means, but you know, 425 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:21,959 Speaker 4: I think, you know, this is something that's always been 426 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 4: on our mind, is just getting getting that playoff berth 427 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 4: and seeing what we can do once we get there. 428 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 2: We were talking about a little bit earlier, so I'll ask, 429 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 2: I'll put myself out there and see whether or not 430 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 2: I can get the answer I'm looking for. When the 431 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,400 Speaker 2: schedule comes out, what's the first thing you look for. 432 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 4: I'm not a big schedule guy, Like I don't really 433 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 4: I don't really care. 434 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 3: Nothing on that list that you're like. 435 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 4: It's more like how many It's more like, okay, I 436 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 4: guess like the away games, like how many games are 437 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 4: you know on the East Coast? Because then we have 438 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 4: to leave a day early, right, and that's a day 439 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 4: less with the family, you know. 440 00:19:58,760 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 5: What I mean? 441 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 3: Man there. 442 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:02,679 Speaker 4: But other than other than that, I think like a 443 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 4: lot of people know more about the schedule than than 444 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 4: I do. 445 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 3: Right, So I put myself. 446 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 1: Up, what are we looking for? What are you looking for? 447 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: Where's the bye? 448 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 5: Yeah? Well that yeah that too for sure? 449 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,119 Speaker 4: For sure, Like you don't want to have a bye 450 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 4: too early and you don't want to have one too late. 451 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 5: Yeah, I'll probably said that. Yeah. 452 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 2: So I bring it up because you know, coach said, 453 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 2: Herbert's gonna gonna rest, And I would assume for a 454 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 2: lot of the guys that are that are banged up 455 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 2: and dealing with something, it might be an opportunity. So 456 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 2: if you could share with us, like what does the 457 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:29,960 Speaker 2: buye do. 458 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 3: For a player? 459 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,439 Speaker 2: What is not happen to play an NFL game? On 460 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 2: a weekend. Do for your body, you know, when you 461 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 2: get two weeks of rest as opposed to one. 462 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think, I mean, I think people say, like 463 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 4: every collision or a majority of you know, most of 464 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 4: the time, whenever we get make a tackle or get hit, 465 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,680 Speaker 4: it's like a mini car crash. So like that compiled 466 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:57,479 Speaker 4: over seventy plays. Yeah, you're you're definitely gonna walk out 467 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 4: of it, soar at best, you know. 468 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:01,679 Speaker 5: And then injured at worst. 469 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 4: And we have some guys who've been playing through a 470 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 4: lot that people don't know about. So yeah, it is 471 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 4: an opportunity to kind of get our bodies back a 472 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 4: little bit. But I'm going in this game like expecting 473 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 4: to play every snap. That's my I can't have any 474 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 4: mindset other than that. I think it'd be a trap 475 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 4: if you did. 476 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:20,400 Speaker 5: So, Yeah, that's the way I look at it. 477 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:24,119 Speaker 1: You mentioned the miles logged thirty seven thousand miles for 478 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: the charges this year, which is by far the most 479 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: in the NFL. And you know, we've talked to a 480 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: lot of guys on the defense just about the switch 481 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 1: that flipped at the bye after that Jacksonville game. What 482 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: have you seen from that room since that buye and 483 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: how crucial was it to get those two weeks off 484 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:45,639 Speaker 1: to kind of reset, recharge and get ready for the 485 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 1: back half. 486 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think before then we didn't. We were pretty 487 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 4: inconsistent as a defense, and now we kind of have 488 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 4: more of an identity. I think it just came out 489 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:55,640 Speaker 4: a good point. 490 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 3: You know. 491 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 4: Obviously the Jacksonville game was one of our worst games 492 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 4: of the year, so we had to look ourselves in 493 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 4: the mirror and then kind of come back the second 494 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 4: half of the season with our minds made up. So yeah, 495 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,159 Speaker 4: I mean I went down to San Diego with my family, 496 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 4: stayed in a little beach house for a couple of days, 497 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,359 Speaker 4: kind of you know, disconnected, and then that allows us 498 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 4: to allowed me to kind of get a new perspective 499 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,120 Speaker 4: of the season and kind of what I've been going 500 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 4: through ups and downs, how it can improve, and yeah, 501 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 4: here we are. 502 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 2: Interceptions you got a lot of them on your resume. 503 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:28,879 Speaker 2: Just got one this last week. We always kind of 504 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 2: hear the way it's described Jessemnner defense clouding the picture, 505 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 2: you know, kind of what you see is not really 506 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 2: what's there. If you can kind of take us through 507 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 2: what that means and what you guys do too, because 508 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 2: it's been a heck of a run. Like Chris said, 509 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 2: since the since the buy, it looks like a lot 510 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,400 Speaker 2: of those quarterbacks, that picture is incredibly cloudy for him. 511 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, and it came. 512 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 4: I mean, I think a lot of the times whenever 513 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 4: you kind of get an interception, it's like right place, 514 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 4: right time, you know, like at first you have to 515 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,719 Speaker 4: do your job and put yourself in position to make 516 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 4: a play, and then like more often than not, like 517 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 4: the quarterback or a receiver has to make a mistake, 518 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 4: either drop a ball or he just throws it, you know, 519 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,120 Speaker 4: to the defender or whatever, and then there's sometimes where 520 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 4: we actually go and get it. That was just a 521 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 4: time where I'd literally just did my job and I 522 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:15,159 Speaker 4: was in the same spot and it came to me. 523 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 4: But there's you know, thousands of hundreds of other plays 524 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:21,200 Speaker 4: where it's like you do your job and it doesn't 525 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 4: come to you. So yeah, I was definitely glad to 526 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 4: kind of get that get that interception, and just our 527 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 4: defense as a whole, you know, we everyone knows we 528 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 4: usually play from Michelle defense and then, like you said, 529 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 4: cloud the picture, but then just kind of at a 530 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,160 Speaker 4: certain point we you know, disguising on the back end, 531 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:44,360 Speaker 4: and then yeah, like you said, making the picture cloudy, Elijah, 532 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 4: how is. 533 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 1: This unit differ from exactly a year ago when you 534 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 1: guys were entering the playoffs actually being under coach Mitz 535 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:54,159 Speaker 1: in year two? You know, some some new face has 536 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 1: been a lot of the same guys as well. How 537 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: beneficial is it to be in this system for a 538 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: second straight year for a lot of the key players 539 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: on this team. 540 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's a huge advantage I think now. I mean 541 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 4: not a whole lot has changed other than I'd probably say, 542 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:14,119 Speaker 4: like the standards has grown and grown, you know. 543 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:15,680 Speaker 5: Last year, new coaching. 544 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,200 Speaker 4: Staff, new players, Like we you know, we had a 545 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,199 Speaker 4: high standard and hopes and dreams of what we could be. 546 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:23,440 Speaker 4: And now that we kind of did that last year, 547 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 4: now it's like, Okay, we raised the standard and hold 548 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:29,880 Speaker 4: ourselves to, you know, a higher one. And I think 549 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 4: that's kind of the biggest change from last year this year. 550 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 2: You mentioned the show and maybe I'm wrong, it just 551 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 2: feels like there's a little bit less of it since 552 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,400 Speaker 2: the bybe I feel like we're seeing a lot more 553 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 2: man out there than we did prior to Jacksonville. 554 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 3: Is that accurate. 555 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 2: Do you what coach said when he joined his men, 556 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 2: or he just said, Look, I'm always gonna play whatever 557 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 2: I think my guys are best at. 558 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 3: He goes. 559 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:52,159 Speaker 2: I don't care if it's zone, I don't care if 560 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 2: it's man. It's just where can I put my guys 561 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 2: to be the most successful. 562 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 3: Is that fair? 563 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 2: Does it feel like you're playing more man out there? 564 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 2: I mean the numbers say you have been, and how 565 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 2: much different is it than maybe what you were doing 566 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 2: earlier in the year. 567 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, like some match zones, like some match cover three, 568 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 4: so that can turn into man. And then a lot 569 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 4: of it's just like, you know, we're we're playing off 570 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 4: of the offensive formation, so if it's a running formation, 571 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 4: then we'll you know, we can we have the ability 572 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 4: to rotate down and if it's a passing situation, then 573 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 4: maybe we stay back. 574 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 5: So that's that. 575 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 4: You know, we made some adjustments after the bye, and 576 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:29,720 Speaker 4: a lot of it's just, you know, from a player's perspective, 577 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:32,360 Speaker 4: like we've just been executing better. You know, coaches can 578 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 4: only put us in good positions, but like we have 579 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 4: to go out there and actually do it. 580 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 1: And yeah, you guys are dominant against the Raiders, the Eagles, 581 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 1: the Chiefs, and I really think the mark of a 582 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: great defense is is if something goes wrong, there's a 583 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: there's a correction, and there's a correction immediately. The Dallas 584 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: game a little bit shoot out in the first half. 585 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: You guys shut them out. In the second half. The 586 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: first six minutes of that Houston game, you guys were 587 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 1: lights out after that. How much do you do you 588 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: guys pride yourselves on making sure that if a mistake 589 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: is made, it's not made again. 590 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 5: Yeah, for sure. 591 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 4: I think we just need to start faster, Like you said, 592 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 4: like on the back half of the games, we're very strong, 593 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 4: but we've been starting to slow the past two weeks, 594 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 4: past three weeks because I think the first drive of 595 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 4: Kansas City they scored too. 596 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 5: So that's something that we're working on. 597 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 4: You know, we have good adjustments on the sideline, but 598 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,959 Speaker 4: like we need to start faster and take it to 599 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 4: them as opposed to just playing defense. 600 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 5: You know. So that's that's kind of what I take 601 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:32,399 Speaker 5: away from it. 602 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 2: Not that you dig into stats like this, but it 603 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 2: is weird going into that Kansas City game because or 604 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 2: was it Dallas was first Dallas? Kansas City I can't 605 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 2: remember Kansas City. Yeah, so going to that Kansas City game, 606 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 2: you had only allowed first drive scores on five of 607 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 2: like thirteen opening drives. So it was just kind of 608 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 2: strange that that it came up. You know, it doesn't 609 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:54,399 Speaker 2: really tell you much your opponent situation, all that stuff 610 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 2: comes in to play, but you know, you always hear 611 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,360 Speaker 2: about an offense and oh, here's chart out the first 612 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 2: twenty plays. Yeah, it kind of goes, what about what 613 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 2: is that from the defensive standpoint to start a game? 614 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 2: You know, when we talk about an offense has scripted plays, 615 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 2: what's a defense doing to get a game started? 616 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, so they have a first fifteen and then we 617 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,360 Speaker 4: always say, like handle their first fifteen because it's their 618 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 4: most exotic plays and it's the plays that are going 619 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 4: to come up later in the game. So you know, 620 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 4: it may maybe a I think it all starts with 621 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 4: like a mindset of mentality, like as opposed to handle 622 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:32,120 Speaker 4: handle the first fifteen, it's like attack the first fifteen. 623 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 4: So it's like, you know, maybe we've been playing defense 624 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 4: the first fifteen plays as opposed to like taking it 625 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 4: to them and being on our p's and q's as 626 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 4: players and executing. So you know, once we get past 627 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 4: the fifteen plays, it's like, Okay, this is who they are, 628 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:48,399 Speaker 4: and now we trust it, and now that's when we 629 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,880 Speaker 4: start playing good defense. But like trusting our coaches from 630 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,119 Speaker 4: the jump from play zero that you know they've they've 631 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 4: watched all the film. They know what they're what they're 632 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 4: gonna call. Like, let's go out and put our you know, 633 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 4: our foot on the gas for the first fifteen I 634 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 4: think that's that's kind of what I'm thinking of it, 635 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 4: you know, playing on our heels a little bit the 636 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 4: first fifteen plays as opposed to like attacking them later. 637 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:14,880 Speaker 1: You know, one of Jeorde's he's great moves last year 638 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 1: was getting you right before the beginning of the year 639 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:20,719 Speaker 1: and then locking you in after this year. And just 640 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 1: you know, your family history coming from a football family, 641 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: your dad played here, do you feel like you've really 642 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: kind of planted roots and established yourself as a Charger 643 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 1: now two straight years going to the playoffs. 644 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 4: Man, it still seems early. It feels like I just 645 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 4: got here. I mean, we bought a house out here. 646 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 4: So from a family perspective, yes, we're back on the 647 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 4: West Coast. We were at Tennessee before. Now we're back 648 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 4: on the West coast, closer to family, So it feels 649 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:45,959 Speaker 4: great to be here. 650 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 5: I don't want to be anywhere else. But man, it 651 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 5: goes by fast. 652 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 2: What's been like having Tony Jefferson on this team? Obviously, 653 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 2: it seems like a really good room that you guys have. 654 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, one of my favorite teammates of all time. We 655 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 4: kind of had a mutual friend before I got here, 656 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 4: so we I already knew I would get along with 657 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 4: him off the field and stuff. But he's just he's 658 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 4: a great presence to have. You know, was the same 659 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:10,959 Speaker 4: last year too, and he just kind of gives us 660 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 4: a spark his presence in the back end. 661 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 5: He's just a great personality, you know. 662 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 1: Elijah with with With two weeks to go before the playoffs, 663 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: do you guys look ahead at, you know, play teams 664 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: that you've played before this year, themes that you haven't seen. 665 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 1: When does that process start? Is it when it's officially 666 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: set in stone that you guys start looking at the 667 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: next opponent? 668 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 5: Yeah? For sure. 669 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 4: I mean we I keep notes, U or I keep 670 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 4: a log of all my notes for from our opponents 671 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 4: from even last year to this year. So, uh, this 672 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 4: is the fourth time I'll play I've played Denver and 673 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 4: uh in La, so like I can look back at 674 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 4: all my notes and kind of see what's what's coming 675 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 4: up and and yeah, the same for every opponent. 676 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 2: Is there a And I know that the other side 677 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 2: would say it as well. So, but you start benefit 678 00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 2: to playing a team again in the playoffs that you 679 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 2: had already see Is that? Is that a benefit? Is 680 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 2: that a detriment? Like is does it matter? Is there 681 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 2: anything to be gained or lost there? 682 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 5: I don't think. I don't think it really matters. 683 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 4: Like I said, you can if you do play a 684 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 4: team again, then you can, you know, look back at 685 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 4: your notes and look at the you know, kind of 686 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 4: know what to expect and then know from the previous 687 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 4: game what hurt you and how to fix it. But 688 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 4: the you know, teams that you haven't played are doing 689 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:25,959 Speaker 4: the same thing. They're watching all the different games and 690 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 4: they know what plays have hurt you before. 691 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:30,360 Speaker 5: So yeah, it doesn't matter a whole lot. 692 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 1: Last one for me, Elijah, And obviously I remember after 693 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh game, I think I said this, I was like, 694 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,280 Speaker 1: if the charge is gonna make a run in the playoffs. 695 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,560 Speaker 3: It's gonna be carried by that defense, right, and. 696 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:43,800 Speaker 1: You guys have delivered the back half of the year. 697 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:46,000 Speaker 1: But then you see what number ten is doing on 698 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: a week to week basis when you're watching him on 699 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:52,880 Speaker 1: the sideline kind of make these heroic plays knowing that 700 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: he's on your team and you guys always have a 701 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:58,040 Speaker 1: shot with your defense, but also have a number ten there, 702 00:30:58,120 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 1: what does that do for your defense? 703 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 4: He's special, He's he's my favorite player in the league. 704 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:05,400 Speaker 4: I love watching him and like what he's able to do, 705 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:09,680 Speaker 4: especially like with broken plays or plays where he shouldn't 706 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 4: you know, there he shouldn't, they shouldn't happen, but. 707 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 5: He just finds a way. 708 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:16,440 Speaker 4: Like he's he's crazy, and I think, yeah, like we 709 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 4: try to outplay their defense and and help our offense 710 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 4: out the most we can. But like you know, whenever 711 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 4: we have with ten at quarterback, there's always a chance. 712 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 2: You played for some really good coaches defensively, uh college, 713 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 2: and here just kind of if you don't mind take 714 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:34,520 Speaker 2: us through like what Jesse does. It's been incredible these 715 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 2: two years kind of what we've seen no matter who's available, 716 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:41,000 Speaker 2: what the injury situation is, opponents quarterbacks that he's got 717 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 2: to face. What is it that he does because it 718 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 2: seems like it's like the simulated pressure. I think I 719 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 2: was watching back the last game he got Derwin and 720 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 2: Tony and Troy die Like, you have no idea who's 721 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 2: coming from where, who's dropping out. There's some incredible plays 722 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:55,400 Speaker 2: that you're seeing out there. What is it the coach 723 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 2: Minter does that that puts you guys in these positions 724 00:31:57,680 --> 00:31:58,480 Speaker 2: to be successful. 725 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:01,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, he's he's a great football mind, and I think 726 00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 4: he's he's very adaptable too, and he's able to look 727 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 4: at what we do and then like anticipate how offenses 728 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:10,160 Speaker 4: would would attack our defense and then change it before 729 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:13,400 Speaker 4: it before it happens. And then also just like you said, 730 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 4: like you said, he said, looking at the players he 731 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 4: has and their skill sets and then building a defense 732 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 4: around that. So I've loved playing for him, and I 733 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 4: want to do so for a lot longer. 734 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 2: All right, last one, Then, before we started recording, you 735 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:32,719 Speaker 2: mentioned that you like playing at Denver. Denver can get cold. 736 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 2: It's it's way, you know, it's mile high, the airs thinner. 737 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 2: Think about the playoffs, it's probably gonna be cold. You 738 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 2: guys are gonna have to hit the road, you know, 739 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 2: wherever you go in lists as Jacksonville fifty seven on Sunday. 740 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:46,680 Speaker 2: I'll take that at all conditions. Do they affect you 741 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 2: at all? Like you said, you like Denver? Are there 742 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:51,520 Speaker 2: places that you like? You played in Tennessee? Those are 743 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 2: some cold weather spots that you end up having to 744 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:55,200 Speaker 2: go from time to time. Is that stuff good? 745 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 3: You care? 746 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 4: I just I was just talking about like the place 747 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 4: in general, Like, yeah, I just remember in college whenever 748 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 4: we play the Buffs, like, it's a pretty beautiful place 749 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 4: to play. 750 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:11,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, and I think I won. I don't think I've 751 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 5: lost in Denver. I don't know from college. Yeah, and 752 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 5: then last year there's a time in Tennessee where we played. 753 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 5: I didn't play that game. 754 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 2: Colorado was terrible when you were playing them right, like 755 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:21,960 Speaker 2: they were really did you get, Coach Ma? 756 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:26,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, they think they were kind of high and low. 757 00:33:26,520 --> 00:33:28,239 Speaker 4: I think I got I was playing them when they 758 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:31,040 Speaker 4: were on the like after their Pack twelve championship run. 759 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 4: But yeah, I mean I like playing in Denver. 760 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:35,440 Speaker 3: All right, we'll take it. 761 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, Elijah the Man appreciate you. 762 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 3: Good luck Sunday, Good luck at the playoffs. 763 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:40,480 Speaker 5: Thank you both appreciate it. 764 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 1: Head to San Francisco and experienced the Super Bowl with 765 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 1: on Location, the official hospitality provider of the NFL and 766 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:51,840 Speaker 1: proud partner of the Los Angeles Chargers. Secure packages that 767 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 1: bundle verified tickets with exclusive access to pregame parties featuring 768 00:33:56,160 --> 00:33:59,400 Speaker 1: renowned entertainment and top of the line food and drinks, 769 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 1: plus em so post game field celebrations. On Location delivers 770 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: unforgettable experiences so you can create memories that will last 771 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 1: a lifetime. Visit on location exp dot com slash s 772 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:15,560 Speaker 1: b LX are called eight seven seven three seven three 773 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:19,360 Speaker 1: five zero six two to secure your ticket package today. 774 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 3: We know money. 775 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 1: What are the bright spots this season was the ability 776 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:26,520 Speaker 1: to get players on this podcast. It's been awesome from 777 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:29,080 Speaker 1: weeks one to week eighteen. And Elijah no different. 778 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Elijah, I thought was a perfect guest for today, 779 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 2: considering you know how that game played out, right, It's 780 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:39,200 Speaker 2: like you face adversity, you've got to push it all 781 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:41,439 Speaker 2: behind you, especially if you're a defensive back, and then 782 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:44,399 Speaker 2: make sure you're focused for the remainder of the game. 783 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 2: And you know, guys, a huge interception and again you 784 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:50,360 Speaker 2: know when you were talking about oh, disappointed or encouraged 785 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:52,319 Speaker 2: or yeah, when you take three trips into the red 786 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:54,120 Speaker 2: zone you come out with three points, you're going to 787 00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:54,759 Speaker 2: be disappointed. 788 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:55,680 Speaker 3: And part of that was Elijah. 789 00:34:55,680 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 2: He's got a huge interception and that's where the thirty 790 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 2: two yard miss field goal comes in. So all you 791 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 2: can do is give your offense and your special team's opportunities, 792 00:35:03,719 --> 00:35:05,640 Speaker 2: you know, to score points. And I think this defense 793 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:08,759 Speaker 2: has been so good at that, and that's I think 794 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:11,719 Speaker 2: one of the reasons why Charger fans should be so 795 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:15,319 Speaker 2: encouraged about the playoffs and about the tournament, because this 796 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 2: defense has shown no matter what offense it's gone up against, 797 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:21,920 Speaker 2: you know, save really one time this season in Jacksonville 798 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 2: when it just got away from them, that they're going 799 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:24,799 Speaker 2: to keep you in the game. 800 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:25,719 Speaker 3: You know. 801 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:28,319 Speaker 2: DJ said it during the broadcast, He's like, first one 802 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 2: of twenty, he's gonna win this game, you know. And 803 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 2: unfortunately it was a head start. Houston got a head start. 804 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 2: They barely got to twenty. You know, Courtesy has some 805 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:40,800 Speaker 2: short fields on punts, but it should have been twenty twenty. 806 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:43,800 Speaker 2: And like you said, one in eleven hundred is the 807 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:46,759 Speaker 2: odds that would have happened for Cam Dicker. It should 808 00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 2: have been twenty twenty and then you know, could have 809 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:49,640 Speaker 2: been a twenty three twenty game, could have been a 810 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:51,200 Speaker 2: twenty six to twenty game, whatever it was. 811 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:53,839 Speaker 3: And I just think that that's that's what. 812 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:55,920 Speaker 2: We should expect, Like, I'm not going to go into 813 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:58,120 Speaker 2: the postseason saying, oh, this is a bad matchup for 814 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:00,239 Speaker 2: the defense. The offense is going to have to keep up, 815 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 2: Like even Dallas when we talked about that game, like, hey, 816 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:04,560 Speaker 2: this is a really good offense. You're probably going to 817 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:05,359 Speaker 2: be in a track meet. 818 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:09,160 Speaker 3: Not the case. You know, seventeen points and then nothing. 819 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:11,080 Speaker 1: It was the first half and then you buckle down 820 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,800 Speaker 1: and shut out the Cowboys in the second half. Before 821 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:16,800 Speaker 1: we get off the Houston game, I'd be remiss the 822 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:19,640 Speaker 1: referring the offiching was not the reason they lost, But 823 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:23,160 Speaker 1: to have a roughing the passer on day on, I 824 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 1: don't know what you can do in that situation, and 825 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: that illegal the illegal contact. At the end of the game, 826 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:31,759 Speaker 1: I'm looking at both Dante and Tarhebe and trying to 827 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:34,040 Speaker 1: figure out where's the call coming from, because at first 828 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:36,440 Speaker 1: I saw it was on tar heebe. I'm like, did 829 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:39,120 Speaker 1: they call it on Dante because the receiver fell in 830 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,160 Speaker 1: front of Jackson? But I mean, I don't know what 831 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:45,160 Speaker 1: you can do. It's just a very tough call in 832 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 1: a crunch time moment. 833 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:49,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think there were a few of those, right. 834 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 2: I thought you could have flagged the hit on Herbert 835 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:54,920 Speaker 2: on the sideline because he had clearly given himself up. Typically, 836 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:58,040 Speaker 2: officials are going to protect quarterbacks in those situations and 837 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:00,360 Speaker 2: not give defenders a free shot to tea off on 838 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:00,719 Speaker 2: a guy. 839 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:04,520 Speaker 3: I was of all the calls. 840 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:08,399 Speaker 2: The one where you're going, I saw yours like apoplectic 841 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:10,799 Speaker 2: about it, Like you can't have a guy with that 842 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:14,040 Speaker 2: reputation like Aziz I'll show here has literally. 843 00:37:13,600 --> 00:37:15,960 Speaker 3: Been fined nine times in his career. 844 00:37:16,080 --> 00:37:18,600 Speaker 1: If we can see it from up top, why wasn't 845 00:37:18,640 --> 00:37:19,040 Speaker 1: it called? 846 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:23,000 Speaker 2: And and even beyond that, where is the league if 847 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:27,120 Speaker 2: you're punishing Denzel parrim in two games for being a 848 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:31,200 Speaker 2: repeat offender. This is a guy that's got nine nine 849 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,799 Speaker 2: fine knocked Trevor Lawrence out of the season last year 850 00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:37,400 Speaker 2: with a helmet to helmet and he is flying like 851 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:40,480 Speaker 2: a rocket at Amarion lowers the crown of the helmet 852 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:42,680 Speaker 2: and plants it right on his chin, and it's like 853 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:46,960 Speaker 2: that's the definition of repeat defender, and so like that 854 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:48,880 Speaker 2: one upset me. Yeah, I don't think it was a 855 00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:52,560 Speaker 2: good game for Craig Rolstead and his crew. I went 856 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:55,279 Speaker 2: back and watched that day on play over and over again, 857 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:59,959 Speaker 2: and he literally makes contact as the ball is leaving. See, 858 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:02,680 Speaker 2: I know it wasn't unnecessary roughness for that. They called 859 00:38:02,719 --> 00:38:05,120 Speaker 2: it body weight. I don't know what you want him 860 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:07,839 Speaker 2: to do. And he releases his right hand as he's 861 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:09,799 Speaker 2: going to the ground. If you watch the high end 862 00:38:09,880 --> 00:38:13,040 Speaker 2: zone from behind, you can see his hand come off 863 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:16,800 Speaker 2: of the body and kind of reach out to brace himself. 864 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:19,960 Speaker 2: That's where they end up at the one yard line 865 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:21,880 Speaker 2: and leads to a field goal on a short field 866 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:24,760 Speaker 2: after the twenty two yard punt. So that changes everything. 867 00:38:24,840 --> 00:38:27,240 Speaker 2: Now you're starting that drive probably somewhere around the thirty 868 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:31,000 Speaker 2: as opposed to the one and then on tarheb Yeah, 869 00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:33,520 Speaker 2: it was it was a penalty, but it wasn't being 870 00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:36,799 Speaker 2: called like I could pull. I can go back and 871 00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:41,560 Speaker 2: pull film from probably nine different q routes with Lassiter. 872 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:45,720 Speaker 2: Lasser's very handsy and very physical, and they were letting 873 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:48,560 Speaker 2: that stuff go all game, Like, I could easily probably 874 00:38:48,600 --> 00:38:51,920 Speaker 2: pull ten plays where there's more contact than that that 875 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:54,719 Speaker 2: wasn't flagged. And it's like, so if that's sort of 876 00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:57,600 Speaker 2: the tone of the game, then I think you expect, Okay, 877 00:38:57,640 --> 00:38:59,640 Speaker 2: that's that's the way we're playing and no one's can 878 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:01,839 Speaker 2: play in it and it's just a physical game where 879 00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:04,920 Speaker 2: corners and receivers are able to really get after one another. 880 00:39:05,120 --> 00:39:06,600 Speaker 2: I thought there were a couple of calls that were 881 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:09,799 Speaker 2: pretty suspect against the Texans that went against them as well. 882 00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:12,280 Speaker 2: I thought there was one illegal contact. I was like, Eh, 883 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:15,160 Speaker 2: probably let that go based on what we're seeing out 884 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:18,520 Speaker 2: there tonight. So I'm not saying that it was one way, 885 00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:20,520 Speaker 2: but yeah, I thought I thought it was pretty bad. 886 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:22,799 Speaker 1: But by no means was it the lead of the game. 887 00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:24,759 Speaker 1: The lead of the game is the charge of the 888 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:28,000 Speaker 1: mistakes in all three phases, starting with the defense. Then 889 00:39:28,160 --> 00:39:30,240 Speaker 1: we talked about Cam Dicker and JK and then obviously 890 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:32,919 Speaker 1: some of the drops on offense and the offensive line. 891 00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:36,000 Speaker 1: But you move on, and you know, just history is 892 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:41,200 Speaker 1: trying to form for me, like how to approach Wildcard weekend? 893 00:39:41,719 --> 00:39:44,480 Speaker 1: Exactly a year ago, you crushed the Patriots, you beat 894 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:47,279 Speaker 1: the Raiders, and everybody's excited about this matchup with the 895 00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:51,880 Speaker 1: Houston Texans, right. I don't think, nor do I care 896 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:54,759 Speaker 1: who they play in the wildcard round. I don't care 897 00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:57,160 Speaker 1: if it's New England. I don't care if it's Jacksonville. 898 00:39:57,440 --> 00:39:59,440 Speaker 1: I don't care if it's Denver. Like I think this 899 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:02,000 Speaker 1: team is capable of beating all three of those teams, 900 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:04,520 Speaker 1: and I think sometimes we look into like, oh, this 901 00:40:04,560 --> 00:40:07,359 Speaker 1: is a better matchup for the Chargers, it's the playoffs. 902 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:09,640 Speaker 1: I think that this team has shown that they can 903 00:40:09,719 --> 00:40:13,279 Speaker 1: hang with anybody. And if it's Jacksonville, I don't think 904 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:15,160 Speaker 1: you're going to see a thirty five to six game again. 905 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:18,200 Speaker 1: If it's New England, it's a team that has had 906 00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:20,920 Speaker 1: a pretty easy schedule, yet they probably have the MVP 907 00:40:21,040 --> 00:40:23,600 Speaker 1: of the league. And if it's Denver, you know them 908 00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:25,359 Speaker 1: better than anybody, so bring it on. 909 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:31,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'd love to see New England. I would. I 910 00:40:31,040 --> 00:40:33,279 Speaker 3: just didn't we say that about Houston last year. We did. 911 00:40:33,440 --> 00:40:34,480 Speaker 3: We absolutely did. 912 00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:37,280 Speaker 2: I just I feel like we've got so much evidence 913 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:41,000 Speaker 2: on one issue with this team, and for me, if 914 00:40:41,160 --> 00:40:44,520 Speaker 2: I can just build a little confidence, if this team 915 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:47,000 Speaker 2: can build a little comments like, hey, we really protected Herbert, 916 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:50,120 Speaker 2: we gave him some time to throw, and man, you know, 917 00:40:50,160 --> 00:40:52,960 Speaker 2: we've got some of these downfield routes to develop and 918 00:40:53,239 --> 00:40:56,160 Speaker 2: had some explosives out there. I just I would love 919 00:40:56,360 --> 00:40:59,520 Speaker 2: to get some of that, just because we haven't seen it. Like, 920 00:40:59,560 --> 00:41:01,680 Speaker 2: you know, you think about how tight the and we 921 00:41:01,719 --> 00:41:03,960 Speaker 2: saw it in the Cowboys game right against that offense. 922 00:41:04,040 --> 00:41:06,279 Speaker 2: We saw these explosives and the lad play and the 923 00:41:06,360 --> 00:41:08,560 Speaker 2: Q play and all that. Like, I just feel like 924 00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:11,680 Speaker 2: if we can see some of that and you know, 925 00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:14,240 Speaker 2: and we can get excited about it, then the team 926 00:41:14,440 --> 00:41:18,000 Speaker 2: can feel it like all right, this unit Sawyer's back 927 00:41:18,080 --> 00:41:22,399 Speaker 2: and Becton's healthy and Zion's playing great, and we can 928 00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:24,879 Speaker 2: and now we feel it. Now we got it. And 929 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:29,080 Speaker 2: so to me, I think that, uh and look, it's 930 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:32,359 Speaker 2: it is so in the face of what and I'm 931 00:41:32,360 --> 00:41:35,320 Speaker 2: not saying I'm not saying, yes, I want New England. 932 00:41:35,320 --> 00:41:37,319 Speaker 2: I just that's not the point I'm making. I just 933 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:41,040 Speaker 2: feel like, you know, Division games are weird, you know, 934 00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:44,239 Speaker 2: so playing and that goes either way. Right, Denver could 935 00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:46,640 Speaker 2: be the two seed Chargers could be taking them on 936 00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:49,360 Speaker 2: again for the third time and both teams would be like, 937 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:52,160 Speaker 2: oh man, things are so weird with division games. Same 938 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:55,920 Speaker 2: thing with Jacksonville and Houston with the Bills in New England. 939 00:41:56,000 --> 00:41:58,960 Speaker 2: Like I think, to me, those three teams would probably 940 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:01,880 Speaker 2: say the same thing, like, yeah, we know them, but 941 00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:04,799 Speaker 2: it'd be great to play a not division team because 942 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:07,600 Speaker 2: of how well you know each other. There's something to that. 943 00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:09,080 Speaker 2: So that's just kind of where I come out. And 944 00:42:09,120 --> 00:42:11,560 Speaker 2: they already played Jacksonville once this year. It's just sort 945 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:14,360 Speaker 2: of it has nothing to do with what New England 946 00:42:14,440 --> 00:42:16,719 Speaker 2: is or isn't. It's kind of like the idea of 947 00:42:16,719 --> 00:42:19,240 Speaker 2: playing somebody different and a team that's in the playoffs 948 00:42:19,239 --> 00:42:21,080 Speaker 2: for the first time in a while. 949 00:42:22,320 --> 00:42:24,279 Speaker 3: It just to me that lines up really well for him. 950 00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:26,200 Speaker 1: I just I look at last year and I think 951 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:29,440 Speaker 1: Baltimore was the team. It's like, ah, if we could, 952 00:42:29,520 --> 00:42:33,120 Speaker 1: let's avoid Baltimore. You also had Kansas City in Buffalo 953 00:42:33,239 --> 00:42:35,880 Speaker 1: last year and this year, I just feel like the 954 00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:39,400 Speaker 1: parody in the league. Yeah, I just the charge you 955 00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:42,520 Speaker 1: gonna have to line up against Jacksonville or Denver or 956 00:42:42,640 --> 00:42:45,000 Speaker 1: whoever it is if they advanced anyway. 957 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:47,040 Speaker 2: But he cares about winning one game. You want to 958 00:42:47,080 --> 00:42:48,600 Speaker 2: win them all, and you're going to have to play 959 00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 2: them all anyway, You're going to have to face Denver 960 00:42:51,880 --> 00:42:54,880 Speaker 2: or Jacksonville or Houston or so the idea that you 961 00:42:54,960 --> 00:42:57,319 Speaker 2: just pick one, well, yeah, okay, great, congratulations, you won 962 00:42:57,400 --> 00:42:59,200 Speaker 2: a game. Who cares if you lose the next week? 963 00:42:59,239 --> 00:43:00,439 Speaker 2: So I totally know what you're saying. 964 00:43:00,520 --> 00:43:02,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, but I but I see what you're saying in 965 00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:04,440 Speaker 1: terms of, hey, maybe a little confidence as far as 966 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:06,840 Speaker 1: the pass rush is concerned, because that's clearly been a 967 00:43:07,400 --> 00:43:09,680 Speaker 1: problem for the Chargers offensive line. If you can play 968 00:43:09,680 --> 00:43:12,440 Speaker 1: a team that doesn't have the best pass rush in 969 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:16,439 Speaker 1: the NFL in Houston or or Denver, and even even 970 00:43:16,520 --> 00:43:17,200 Speaker 1: the guys in. 971 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:19,600 Speaker 2: Jacksonville and teed off on Herbert, I mean they fed 972 00:43:19,680 --> 00:43:21,719 Speaker 2: off on them. So like, yeah, to me, it's sort 973 00:43:21,719 --> 00:43:23,560 Speaker 2: of just one of the I prefer not to have 974 00:43:23,600 --> 00:43:25,880 Speaker 2: that scar tissue. I'd prefer not to have the Denver 975 00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:29,000 Speaker 2: scar tissue going into the game that we've already seen. 976 00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:31,439 Speaker 2: You know, the Jacksonville game, the pressure rate was over 977 00:43:31,520 --> 00:43:34,480 Speaker 2: fifty percent. You know, Josh Hinz Allen and Trevon Walker 978 00:43:34,520 --> 00:43:37,359 Speaker 2: had get right games. Eric Armstead had a huge game. Like, 979 00:43:38,320 --> 00:43:40,759 Speaker 2: I just prefer not to have any of those memories, 980 00:43:41,520 --> 00:43:43,399 Speaker 2: you know, they're in front of them of what has 981 00:43:43,520 --> 00:43:46,800 Speaker 2: kind of happened over this seventeen game season as opposed 982 00:43:46,840 --> 00:43:49,920 Speaker 2: to all right, new opponent, let's attack it, you know, 983 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:51,840 Speaker 2: with a fresh set of eyes and see what happens. 984 00:43:52,000 --> 00:43:53,839 Speaker 1: You know, Week eighteens are so weird, though, I think 985 00:43:53,840 --> 00:43:55,840 Speaker 1: we just talked about it at the beginning of the pod, 986 00:43:56,000 --> 00:44:00,400 Speaker 1: like who's to say, like New England isn't kind of 987 00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:01,960 Speaker 1: thinking ahead, and like, hey, we're not going to get 988 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:05,960 Speaker 1: the number one seed and Miami somehow wins, right. I 989 00:44:05,960 --> 00:44:08,680 Speaker 1: think if you're looking at Tennessee, who's playing better right 990 00:44:08,680 --> 00:44:11,319 Speaker 1: now against Jacksonville's a division game. Say what you want 991 00:44:11,320 --> 00:44:14,960 Speaker 1: about the Titans. You mentioned Riley Leonard and the Colts 992 00:44:14,960 --> 00:44:19,000 Speaker 1: against the Texans, the Dolphins and the Patriots, even the 993 00:44:19,120 --> 00:44:20,080 Speaker 1: Jets and Bills. 994 00:44:20,200 --> 00:44:21,359 Speaker 3: I mean, it's not that one. 995 00:44:22,360 --> 00:44:24,440 Speaker 1: I guess you could put Trubisky in and he's Montana 996 00:44:24,520 --> 00:44:27,320 Speaker 1: over adiot. With what the Jets have going on, I 997 00:44:27,400 --> 00:44:29,960 Speaker 1: still have an interception this year. No, they are it's 998 00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:32,120 Speaker 1: the final game there, it's the final game there, so 999 00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:34,840 Speaker 1: they'll probably come out winners. But outside of that, it's like, 1000 00:44:35,239 --> 00:44:38,319 Speaker 1: you know, those other three games, we're leaning one way, 1001 00:44:38,360 --> 00:44:40,000 Speaker 1: but you never know if one kind of messes that 1002 00:44:40,080 --> 00:44:42,279 Speaker 1: up and then you're going down to Florida instead of 1003 00:44:42,320 --> 00:44:43,319 Speaker 1: New England or vice versa. 1004 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:46,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, if Jonathan Taylor's gonna play, you're talking about 1005 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:47,759 Speaker 2: a guy that can easily throw up two hundred plus 1006 00:44:47,880 --> 00:44:50,279 Speaker 2: yards in a few touchdowns, you know. And then next 1007 00:44:50,320 --> 00:44:55,040 Speaker 2: like you said, who knows with Jesse min Or, anything's possible. 1008 00:44:55,440 --> 00:44:59,520 Speaker 2: Bo Nick's again against that Jets team scored thirteen points 1009 00:45:00,120 --> 00:45:03,280 Speaker 2: in a game in which his opposing quarterback had seven 1010 00:45:03,440 --> 00:45:06,880 Speaker 2: what had nine sacks and nine completions, like, and it 1011 00:45:06,920 --> 00:45:09,399 Speaker 2: was a thirteen to ten game that they barely won 1012 00:45:09,440 --> 00:45:11,480 Speaker 2: at the end of ten seven against the Raiders, ten 1013 00:45:11,480 --> 00:45:13,640 Speaker 2: to seven against the Raiders, down ninety nothing to the 1014 00:45:13,680 --> 00:45:15,879 Speaker 2: Giants before coming together in the fourth quarter. That, yeah, 1015 00:45:15,880 --> 00:45:17,960 Speaker 2: they've been they've been a strange team, but this has 1016 00:45:17,960 --> 00:45:19,759 Speaker 2: just been a strange year in general. And I think 1017 00:45:19,760 --> 00:45:22,000 Speaker 2: when you have the coach in the quarterback, that's kind 1018 00:45:22,000 --> 00:45:24,000 Speaker 2: of like, all right, you got that, you got a 1019 00:45:24,040 --> 00:45:26,680 Speaker 2: shot in any game. And then you have this defense 1020 00:45:26,680 --> 00:45:28,719 Speaker 2: that I think has kind of been in the shadows 1021 00:45:28,760 --> 00:45:33,239 Speaker 2: of the of the Denvers in Houston in Houston's of 1022 00:45:33,239 --> 00:45:35,040 Speaker 2: the world right now. But I think they're playing as 1023 00:45:35,080 --> 00:45:37,560 Speaker 2: well as anybody, Yeah save for those for six minutes. Yeah, 1024 00:45:37,800 --> 00:45:40,279 Speaker 2: it's I feel like we said it last year too, 1025 00:45:40,280 --> 00:45:42,680 Speaker 2: and I still and I and I wholeheartedly believed it. 1026 00:45:42,719 --> 00:45:45,160 Speaker 2: You know, like, if this team could just get one, 1027 00:45:45,880 --> 00:45:47,759 Speaker 2: that first one is going to be the hardest. But 1028 00:45:47,840 --> 00:45:51,239 Speaker 2: if they can just get that sort of that that 1029 00:45:51,360 --> 00:45:55,160 Speaker 2: monkey off their back, break the seal. Get Khalil mackis 1030 00:45:55,280 --> 00:45:58,680 Speaker 2: first ever playoff victory, you know, get Justin Herbert his 1031 00:45:58,719 --> 00:46:01,960 Speaker 2: first playoff victory. I feel like you could really see 1032 00:46:02,040 --> 00:46:05,440 Speaker 2: something happen. It reminds me kind of when Sean McVay 1033 00:46:05,600 --> 00:46:08,719 Speaker 2: rested his starters and was like, I don't care what 1034 00:46:08,760 --> 00:46:11,319 Speaker 2: the seed is, man, I'm resting my guys. We're gonna 1035 00:46:11,320 --> 00:46:12,719 Speaker 2: I think it was two years ago, right, It's like 1036 00:46:12,760 --> 00:46:16,439 Speaker 2: I'm gonna be maybe it was last year and they yeah, 1037 00:46:16,480 --> 00:46:17,880 Speaker 2: I think it was last year. And they ended up 1038 00:46:17,920 --> 00:46:19,759 Speaker 2: going to Tampa and went in right and then they 1039 00:46:19,760 --> 00:46:23,320 Speaker 2: cover and they almost beat Philadelphia. They should have beat Philadelphia. 1040 00:46:23,520 --> 00:46:26,279 Speaker 2: To me, it kind of has that vibe to it, like, hey, man, 1041 00:46:26,480 --> 00:46:28,320 Speaker 2: I like my team. I just got to if I 1042 00:46:28,360 --> 00:46:31,000 Speaker 2: can get him healthy. I don't care what seed we are, 1043 00:46:31,040 --> 00:46:34,040 Speaker 2: I don't care who we play. You know, to me, 1044 00:46:34,160 --> 00:46:36,520 Speaker 2: that's sort of Harball's approach. That's what it feels like. 1045 00:46:36,640 --> 00:46:38,759 Speaker 2: If I can just get my guys to be as 1046 00:46:38,800 --> 00:46:40,719 Speaker 2: healthy as possible, and as many of them to be 1047 00:46:40,760 --> 00:46:43,200 Speaker 2: as healthy as possible, I feel like this team is 1048 00:46:43,239 --> 00:46:44,600 Speaker 2: good enough to really make a run. 1049 00:46:44,719 --> 00:46:48,400 Speaker 1: And I feel by coach declaring what's gonna happen at 1050 00:46:48,400 --> 00:46:51,200 Speaker 1: the beginning of the of the week with with Herbert resting, 1051 00:46:51,520 --> 00:46:53,680 Speaker 1: it really sets the stage for Week eighteen, and it 1052 00:46:53,760 --> 00:46:56,000 Speaker 1: maybe gets in the head of the Mike Vrabels and 1053 00:46:56,040 --> 00:46:58,920 Speaker 1: the Liam Cohens of like, hey, if we get out 1054 00:46:58,920 --> 00:47:01,520 Speaker 1: to a big lead, do we rest our guys? Are 1055 00:47:01,560 --> 00:47:04,800 Speaker 1: they playing tight to get a two or a three seed? 1056 00:47:04,840 --> 00:47:07,920 Speaker 1: And just kind of it's I think it's a brilliant strategy, frankly, 1057 00:47:07,960 --> 00:47:09,560 Speaker 1: because you do have to rest these guys. If the 1058 00:47:09,640 --> 00:47:11,840 Speaker 1: Charge are gonna have a shot to make noise, you 1059 00:47:11,960 --> 00:47:15,320 Speaker 1: have to have a healthy Derwin James, a healthy Justin Herbert, 1060 00:47:15,320 --> 00:47:19,200 Speaker 1: a healthy Khalil mack lad Maconkey. Again, you can't rest everybody. 1061 00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:20,840 Speaker 1: And I guess we'll know maybe at the end of 1062 00:47:20,880 --> 00:47:23,200 Speaker 1: the week, who are some of those guys, but started 1063 00:47:23,239 --> 00:47:26,120 Speaker 1: with number ten. If you can have that hand rested 1064 00:47:26,160 --> 00:47:27,560 Speaker 1: another couple of weeks, that's big. 1065 00:47:27,880 --> 00:47:28,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. 1066 00:47:28,120 --> 00:47:30,719 Speaker 2: Look, I know it's it's hindsight because of it is 1067 00:47:30,760 --> 00:47:32,799 Speaker 2: how it played out. So people might just say, oh, 1068 00:47:32,840 --> 00:47:35,160 Speaker 2: you're just you know, being your typical hill self and 1069 00:47:35,200 --> 00:47:37,120 Speaker 2: trying to make the best of a bad situation. But 1070 00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:40,320 Speaker 2: when they lost sort of, DJ and I started talking 1071 00:47:40,600 --> 00:47:42,360 Speaker 2: and we started talking ourselves through it, and we're like, 1072 00:47:42,400 --> 00:47:46,160 Speaker 2: all right, let's say a one. Now you go into 1073 00:47:46,160 --> 00:47:51,440 Speaker 2: Denver in a winner take all game, potential number one seed. 1074 00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:54,240 Speaker 3: On the line, physical brawl. 1075 00:47:55,520 --> 00:47:57,960 Speaker 2: If you lose that game, or if New England ends 1076 00:47:58,040 --> 00:48:00,719 Speaker 2: up getting the you know, end ze getting the number 1077 00:48:00,719 --> 00:48:04,440 Speaker 2: one seed, even if you do win, is that like, 1078 00:48:04,520 --> 00:48:07,359 Speaker 2: what's or you lose. If you lose that game, now 1079 00:48:07,360 --> 00:48:10,080 Speaker 2: you're the five seed and you've got to get right 1080 00:48:10,120 --> 00:48:14,160 Speaker 2: back into it, man, And or if you are, or 1081 00:48:14,160 --> 00:48:15,920 Speaker 2: you could be the sixth seed, you know, or something. 1082 00:48:16,200 --> 00:48:20,480 Speaker 2: So there's that aspect of it. If you win, if 1083 00:48:20,520 --> 00:48:22,000 Speaker 2: you lose the game, I don't even know what the 1084 00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:24,560 Speaker 2: heck I'm saying. Point being that Denver game would have 1085 00:48:24,560 --> 00:48:27,160 Speaker 2: been a rock fight. It would have been gnarly and 1086 00:48:27,200 --> 00:48:29,640 Speaker 2: you're coming out of that beat to hell playing Even 1087 00:48:29,680 --> 00:48:34,080 Speaker 2: if you win Buffalo, Houston or Denver, that's what your 1088 00:48:34,120 --> 00:48:37,279 Speaker 2: first game would have been at so far. So to me, 1089 00:48:38,040 --> 00:48:42,040 Speaker 2: there is sort of this silver lining of is that 1090 00:48:42,120 --> 00:48:45,920 Speaker 2: better a home game after back to back games against 1091 00:48:46,280 --> 00:48:48,960 Speaker 2: or back to back to back to back games, or 1092 00:48:49,000 --> 00:48:51,560 Speaker 2: four out of five against the defenses of the Eagles, 1093 00:48:51,600 --> 00:48:54,960 Speaker 2: the Chiefs, the Broncos, and the Texans, you know, and 1094 00:48:55,080 --> 00:48:58,160 Speaker 2: being that beat up offensively and going into a game 1095 00:48:58,160 --> 00:48:59,360 Speaker 2: against one of those three teams? 1096 00:48:59,400 --> 00:48:59,839 Speaker 3: Is that better? 1097 00:49:00,080 --> 00:49:04,480 Speaker 2: And being rested and hitting the road and feeling a 1098 00:49:04,520 --> 00:49:05,400 Speaker 2: lot more healthy. 1099 00:49:06,000 --> 00:49:09,560 Speaker 1: How much do you think it benefits the Chargers having 1100 00:49:10,080 --> 00:49:13,080 Speaker 1: that experience against the Houston Texans last year year two 1101 00:49:13,080 --> 00:49:13,680 Speaker 1: of harball. 1102 00:49:14,719 --> 00:49:17,160 Speaker 3: You know, sometimes you look at. 1103 00:49:16,520 --> 00:49:19,120 Speaker 1: A culture and a program and you build each year 1104 00:49:19,680 --> 00:49:22,520 Speaker 1: and maybe getting a feeling of what that was like 1105 00:49:22,640 --> 00:49:23,960 Speaker 1: in Wildcard weekend last year. 1106 00:49:24,120 --> 00:49:25,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it helps. I do. 1107 00:49:25,680 --> 00:49:29,000 Speaker 2: I think the playoffs are different. You never know, you 1108 00:49:29,040 --> 00:49:31,000 Speaker 2: know how players are going to react in a win 1109 00:49:31,080 --> 00:49:34,040 Speaker 2: or go home situation. You know, it's it's just a 1110 00:49:34,040 --> 00:49:37,360 Speaker 2: are they going to succumb to the pressure. Look, Vrabel's 1111 00:49:37,440 --> 00:49:40,680 Speaker 2: a sensational coach. You know, he's been to the AFC Championship, 1112 00:49:40,760 --> 00:49:41,520 Speaker 2: so he. 1113 00:49:41,440 --> 00:49:44,240 Speaker 1: Was an would see with that Tennessee Titans Dad, Sorry, Tannehill. 1114 00:49:44,280 --> 00:49:46,920 Speaker 2: You have a guy that's that's captaining that ship that 1115 00:49:47,640 --> 00:49:50,919 Speaker 2: is unflappable in my opinion, so that that helps calm 1116 00:49:51,000 --> 00:49:53,160 Speaker 2: him down. Everybody else is experienced. 1117 00:49:53,200 --> 00:49:53,400 Speaker 3: You know. 1118 00:49:53,520 --> 00:49:55,920 Speaker 2: The Jags obviously came back from being down twenty eight 1119 00:49:56,000 --> 00:49:57,920 Speaker 2: nothing to the Chargers, you know, so they've got the 1120 00:49:57,960 --> 00:50:00,680 Speaker 2: Truvor Lawrence has that on his resume. Texans won a 1121 00:50:00,680 --> 00:50:02,880 Speaker 2: game last year that you know, they couldn't get anything 1122 00:50:02,880 --> 00:50:05,840 Speaker 2: going for the first two nearly first half of football 1123 00:50:05,840 --> 00:50:07,760 Speaker 2: against the Chargers, and yet they were able to rally 1124 00:50:07,800 --> 00:50:10,439 Speaker 2: and really you know, come alive in that second half. 1125 00:50:10,440 --> 00:50:12,640 Speaker 2: So I think so many of those other teams have 1126 00:50:12,760 --> 00:50:16,879 Speaker 2: already experienced it, you know, Bonicks, again, I think that's 1127 00:50:16,880 --> 00:50:18,600 Speaker 2: sort of more of a wild card than maybe people 1128 00:50:18,640 --> 00:50:21,279 Speaker 2: are leading on. He's had an incredible year, He's had 1129 00:50:21,280 --> 00:50:24,400 Speaker 2: an incredible first two seasons. But I do think that 1130 00:50:24,480 --> 00:50:27,560 Speaker 2: when you sort of go through it, you're seeing like, okay, 1131 00:50:27,960 --> 00:50:30,640 Speaker 2: it's tight games, man, And when you get tight games 1132 00:50:30,640 --> 00:50:33,880 Speaker 2: in the playoffs, that's when things get weird, you know, 1133 00:50:34,120 --> 00:50:36,680 Speaker 2: toward the end and you've got to execute and are 1134 00:50:36,760 --> 00:50:39,799 Speaker 2: you up for it in a my season is going 1135 00:50:39,840 --> 00:50:42,760 Speaker 2: to end or we're still going to be in contention 1136 00:50:43,400 --> 00:50:44,160 Speaker 2: for the Lombardy. 1137 00:50:44,560 --> 00:50:45,960 Speaker 3: It's exciting, it's exciting. 1138 00:50:46,480 --> 00:50:49,840 Speaker 1: We appreciate Elijah Molden joining us a week eighteen against 1139 00:50:49,840 --> 00:50:52,760 Speaker 1: the Denver Broncos. Then we will know who the Chargers 1140 00:50:52,800 --> 00:50:55,560 Speaker 1: face Wildcar Weekend. We'll be with you next week for money. 1141 00:50:55,600 --> 00:50:58,800 Speaker 1: I'm Chris. This has been Chargers Weekly, presented by Splittery 1142 00:51:01,120 --> 00:51:06,280 Speaker 1: steep Step. 1143 00:51:06,480 --> 00:51:09,600 Speaker 5: Steep Step