1
00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:14,400
Speaker 1: Welcome to the twenty twenty regular season, and welcome officially

2
00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:17,840
Speaker 1: to season two of Playmakers. I'm your host, Haley Elwood.

3
00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,560
Speaker 1: If you're returning as a listener, thank you so much

4
00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,000
Speaker 1: for coming back. If you're new, welcome, so excited to

5
00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:27,400
Speaker 1: be back. Season one was pretty much everything I could

6
00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,680
Speaker 1: have envisioned an more and it's gonna be hard to

7
00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,200
Speaker 1: talk with season two, but my first guest of the year,

8
00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:34,839
Speaker 1: she'll probably do that. She'll do a really good job

9
00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,480
Speaker 1: at that. Please welcome in Chargers Radio sideline reporter, friend

10
00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,519
Speaker 1: of the show, which I can say now, and one

11
00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,960
Speaker 1: of my favorite people, Shannon Farren. Shannon, how are you?

12
00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:46,879
Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, we're doing this? Are we doing this?

13
00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,840
Speaker 1: We're doing this? So excited. I really thought I spent

14
00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,280
Speaker 1: the whole summer not to get excited about football season

15
00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,080
Speaker 1: as a defense mechanism, thinking like, there's no way we're

16
00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,080
Speaker 1: gonna be able to pull this off, there's no way

17
00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,160
Speaker 1: the league's going to figure it out, We're gonna have

18
00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,680
Speaker 1: no football until the spring. And now it's happening, and

19
00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,759
Speaker 1: I couldn't be more excited. We need this. Yeah, I mean,

20
00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,000
Speaker 1: that's the thing. You and I are huge NFL fans,

21
00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,000
Speaker 1: football fans, despite the jobs that we have, but just

22
00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,160
Speaker 1: how good is it to kind of get back to

23
00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,319
Speaker 1: this Although it feels though, even though I've been out

24
00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,280
Speaker 1: of training camp, like it's kind of just falling out

25
00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,199
Speaker 1: of the sky and it's here. It's gonna be odd

26
00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,520
Speaker 1: not having a preseason, you know. We talk about it

27
00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,440
Speaker 1: every year. The players talk about the ridiculousness of having

28
00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,200
Speaker 1: four preseason games and you think about the injuries and

29
00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:35,039
Speaker 1: the loss is there. Historically, it's just not worth it.

30
00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,280
Speaker 1: It's not worth it, you know. Yeah, fans complain about

31
00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,160
Speaker 1: it too because they've got to pay the full ticket

32
00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,360
Speaker 1: price for those games that mean nothing. Well, you ask

33
00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,000
Speaker 1: for it. We're going to have it this year. So

34
00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,200
Speaker 1: Week one is really going to be telling I guess

35
00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,240
Speaker 1: to say the least, Yeah, we'll get to Chargers football

36
00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,000
Speaker 1: and what we'll see on the field in a little bit,

37
00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,040
Speaker 1: but just to kind of start to me. I don't

38
00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,440
Speaker 1: know if bittersweet is the right word, but what I

39
00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,240
Speaker 1: will say, as exciting as it is to get to football,

40
00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,880
Speaker 1: roles are very different this year. Your role, my role.

41
00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,440
Speaker 1: A lot of people who are used to covering football,

42
00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,079
Speaker 1: reporting on football, the landscapes change for twenty twenty, obviously

43
00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,440
Speaker 1: for good reason to keep everyone safe. For you personally

44
00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,360
Speaker 1: as the charger sideline reporter, big picture, what does twenty

45
00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,520
Speaker 1: twenty happen store for you in terms of how you're

46
00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:21,960
Speaker 1: going to be covering this team on Sundays? You know

47
00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:23,920
Speaker 1: what I think I'm going to find out as it

48
00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,520
Speaker 1: happened there, you go, sure what's going to happen. I

49
00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,639
Speaker 1: do know I'm going to be an according to off

50
00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,960
Speaker 1: air Yea at the stadium. I don't know if it'll

51
00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,080
Speaker 1: be on the sideline. You know, we've seen with the

52
00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,280
Speaker 1: Dodgers and a lot of Rizzo. She's up in a

53
00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,840
Speaker 1: suite by herself looking at monitors. I'm not sure where

54
00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,800
Speaker 1: we're going to be at the stadium. But it's going

55
00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,920
Speaker 1: to be not the same as roving the sideline and

56
00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,760
Speaker 1: getting all the inside into what's going on with the

57
00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:54,200
Speaker 1: game and changes in how they're going to attack their opponent.

58
00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,760
Speaker 1: Sometimes you get to be privy to the discussions between

59
00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,760
Speaker 1: coaches and their player groups, and that's not going to happen.

60
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,440
Speaker 1: So it really changes the entire role of sideline reporter. Obviously,

61
00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,720
Speaker 1: like you know, we have our storylines heading into each week,

62
00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,760
Speaker 1: what happened in practice, who's out for the week, who's

63
00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:11,919
Speaker 1: going to have to step up. All of those things

64
00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,320
Speaker 1: will remain the same. But in terms of getting injury

65
00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,720
Speaker 1: updates and being able to run over to the action

66
00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,280
Speaker 1: and see exactly what happened and how somebody is doing,

67
00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,520
Speaker 1: it's going to be completely different. But like you said,

68
00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,239
Speaker 1: we get to be in the arena, you know, we

69
00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,359
Speaker 1: get to be there, which is saying something away. Games

70
00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,440
Speaker 1: will be different because we're not traveling with the team.

71
00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,520
Speaker 1: I will be in a studio in Burbank watching the

72
00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:38,600
Speaker 1: monitor like all of the fans will again with the

73
00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,920
Speaker 1: same kind of storylines. But I've been able to give

74
00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:45,440
Speaker 1: you that live action report. You mentioned the storylines, But

75
00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,240
Speaker 1: obviously you're not getting sweat on, you're not getting cursed out.

76
00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,680
Speaker 1: You can't hear things from the distance anymore, from the

77
00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,200
Speaker 1: short distance that you used to have. How else are

78
00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,200
Speaker 1: you maybe sort of changing your approach to how you're

79
00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,480
Speaker 1: covering this season or is it really just going to

80
00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,400
Speaker 1: kind of be You're thrown into the fire and you're

81
00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:02,840
Speaker 1: going to sort of figure it out from there. I

82
00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,120
Speaker 1: think it'll be more preparation. I think I'll dig more

83
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,240
Speaker 1: into those storylines and player profiles and things like that,

84
00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,120
Speaker 1: interesting things about these guys that maybe you don't know

85
00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:17,039
Speaker 1: about that I can bring to you as opposed to

86
00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,120
Speaker 1: doing those injury updates and things that I'd normally jump

87
00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,400
Speaker 1: in the broadcast with. So I'm just going to try

88
00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,719
Speaker 1: and be more prepared heading into each week in terms

89
00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,360
Speaker 1: of the insight and the in depth stuff that we

90
00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,240
Speaker 1: share with all the fans. Now you mention it, you're

91
00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,240
Speaker 1: not traveling, I will not be on the road this year.

92
00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:34,960
Speaker 1: One of our favorite things to do a lot of

93
00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,280
Speaker 1: people's favorite things to do when they go on the road, though,

94
00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,400
Speaker 1: is try the food of the city that they're at

95
00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,800
Speaker 1: that's native to the city that they're at. You would

96
00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:47,400
Speaker 1: post it on Instagram, some skyline chili ingredients, and so

97
00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,960
Speaker 1: I have to ask number one, have you made it yet?

98
00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,360
Speaker 1: And number two is this going to continue? Because I

99
00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:55,200
Speaker 1: feel like I need this content. I mean, we got

100
00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,200
Speaker 1: New Orleans on the docket this year. There's a lot

101
00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:59,520
Speaker 1: of good stuff you could make from home with that.

102
00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,320
Speaker 1: Oh oh yeah, I mean, hand me my jumbalaya and

103
00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,839
Speaker 1: my gumbo. I'm ready to go with my catfish. Poe boy.

104
00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,279
Speaker 1: I'm all for New Orleans. Hey, listen, we're not going

105
00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,359
Speaker 1: to miss out on this, all right. I Am going

106
00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,159
Speaker 1: to order food from and I've got a great Cajun

107
00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,600
Speaker 1: food place in Carson Atle Arrows by the way or

108
00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,560
Speaker 1: Darrow's New Orleans. Girl, I think it's called now but

109
00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,800
Speaker 1: in saying Cajun food if you're into it. But yes,

110
00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:25,600
Speaker 1: I just got the high line chili order delivered by

111
00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,280
Speaker 1: Amazon today. And I just left a bag with a

112
00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,520
Speaker 1: couple of cans and some crackers for Matt money Smith

113
00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,080
Speaker 1: in his studio down the hall, so that we don't

114
00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,800
Speaker 1: miss out on the road treats that we usually have.

115
00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:39,800
Speaker 1: That's what we do, you know. So I'm gonna try

116
00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,720
Speaker 1: and keep that tradition alive. Unfortunately, I know that you

117
00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,760
Speaker 1: know this about me. No brought left behind. I have

118
00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,520
Speaker 1: brought worse in every stadium. And that is really the

119
00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,800
Speaker 1: heartbreaker of the season that I'm gonna have to miss

120
00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,200
Speaker 1: out on that. Yeah, the stadium meats are put on

121
00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,359
Speaker 1: pause for twenty twenty, that's for sure. That is the

122
00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,960
Speaker 1: line of day. Yeah, you're welcome for that. I do

123
00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,040
Speaker 1: have to say, I love though that you're getting money involved,

124
00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,280
Speaker 1: you know, DJ by Proxy Food aside in terms of

125
00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,680
Speaker 1: your relationship with those two in that working relationship, How

126
00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,320
Speaker 1: good is it to have that rapport that you've established

127
00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:18,800
Speaker 1: over these last couple of years when even though you're

128
00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,200
Speaker 1: not next to them on game days on the road,

129
00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,120
Speaker 1: you're going to be in different places. Well, and I

130
00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:25,839
Speaker 1: think that you just hit the nail on the head

131
00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,760
Speaker 1: because we're traveling together and you and I know this,

132
00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,320
Speaker 1: like our bond is so strong because we're throw kind

133
00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,800
Speaker 1: of cities in the dead of winter, sometimes in snowstorms

134
00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:37,560
Speaker 1: where we have to look out for each other and

135
00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,920
Speaker 1: sometimes we're dumb and we when I mean me, We're

136
00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:46,240
Speaker 1: heels to Denver in December in a snowstorm and you know,

137
00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,880
Speaker 1: I might I might fall down on the runway and

138
00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,680
Speaker 1: you're always there to pick me up. So it's like

139
00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:56,000
Speaker 1: those kinds of experiences really create solid friendships. And DJ

140
00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,880
Speaker 1: and Matt it's no different, you know. One of them

141
00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:00,960
Speaker 1: our favorite things to do. My favorite things to do

142
00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:02,680
Speaker 1: is go to a new stadium or we haven't been,

143
00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,560
Speaker 1: or we haven't been in a while, haven't been in

144
00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,080
Speaker 1: a season or two or three, and figure out how

145
00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:10,080
Speaker 1: to get to the press box because it is a

146
00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,600
Speaker 1: situation to get to the broadcast boos and press boxes,

147
00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,640
Speaker 1: because every stadium it's different. Neverthe can come in from

148
00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,080
Speaker 1: a mile away on the opposite end of the stadium

149
00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:23,920
Speaker 1: like a Jerry's world, and it's an adventure. It is

150
00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,760
Speaker 1: a fact finding mission and it really does bring you

151
00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,280
Speaker 1: closer together, especially when it's like, you know, six am

152
00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,200
Speaker 1: Pacific time. Yep. How excited are you to work a

153
00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,680
Speaker 1: game from Sofi Stadium in week two? I should say,

154
00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,720
Speaker 1: which is the home opener? I am so excited that

155
00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,559
Speaker 1: stadium is so beautiful. I just meant in Jerry's world,

156
00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,840
Speaker 1: this thing is so much more beautiful. I mean it

157
00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:49,560
Speaker 1: really does look futuristic, like something that's not in twenty

158
00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,320
Speaker 1: twenty or twenty twenty one or whenever everyone ever to

159
00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:56,360
Speaker 1: see it. But it's gorgeous. I've heard that everything is

160
00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,800
Speaker 1: top of the line. I thought that there's a Champagne

161
00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,960
Speaker 1: are there that I wouldn't be able to go to

162
00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,320
Speaker 1: because I'd be working, But that's exciting for fans. I

163
00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,080
Speaker 1: think there's a Sequila bar two. There are a lot

164
00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,120
Speaker 1: of fun things that you and I will probably not

165
00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,360
Speaker 1: be partaking in our jobs on game day, but for

166
00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:19,480
Speaker 1: the fan, great experience, absolutely that place at the oculus alone, though,

167
00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,640
Speaker 1: Giants strain is just gorgeous and you can see the

168
00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:24,720
Speaker 1: players how much they love it. All Right, so let's

169
00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,560
Speaker 1: get to this Chargers team on the field. Have to

170
00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:31,200
Speaker 1: start a quarterback different Philip Rivers no longer here, Tyrod

171
00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,000
Speaker 1: Taylor taking the reins. We know about his familiarity with

172
00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:37,000
Speaker 1: Anthony Lynn. You saw him last year in the preseason.

173
00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,080
Speaker 1: What are your impressions of him and what he'll be

174
00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,480
Speaker 1: able to do in command of this offense? Absolutely solid,

175
00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,760
Speaker 1: a great leader. I had spoken to him for the

176
00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:51,360
Speaker 1: first time interviewing him last preseason, and I was struck

177
00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,200
Speaker 1: by Wow, this is a guy who's got a lot

178
00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,720
Speaker 1: of patience to be in a backup role because he

179
00:08:56,120 --> 00:09:00,360
Speaker 1: has all the tools to be QB one. I think

180
00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,840
Speaker 1: that the strength of the offensive line has improved, especially

181
00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,839
Speaker 1: on the right side. I mean, I'm really excited to

182
00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,040
Speaker 1: see how explosive that Tyro Taylor could be. Yeah, So

183
00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,720
Speaker 1: he's got a great weapon in Keenan Allen, who recently

184
00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,520
Speaker 1: got a contract extension. Why is he able to produce

185
00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:18,920
Speaker 1: at such a high level to make him truly one

186
00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,520
Speaker 1: of the best wide receivers in this league? It's the

187
00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,240
Speaker 1: route running. You're not going to find anybody that questions

188
00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,120
Speaker 1: that he's the best route runner in the NFL. Also,

189
00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:32,320
Speaker 1: as your wide receiver coach will tell you he blocks yes,

190
00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:37,400
Speaker 1: so that's always helpful. And he has been so fun.

191
00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,360
Speaker 1: Haley during this camp is watching Iron sharp and iron

192
00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,200
Speaker 1: you know, with Chris Harris and Keenan Allen. And you've

193
00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,400
Speaker 1: seen these guys go up against each other in the

194
00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,280
Speaker 1: AFC West for years, years, and now you see him

195
00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,960
Speaker 1: in practice and you can just tell there's like there's

196
00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,600
Speaker 1: still that animosity a little bit, and they love it

197
00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:56,640
Speaker 1: and they're feeding off of it and they're just making

198
00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,280
Speaker 1: each other better. And you bring up a good point

199
00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,600
Speaker 1: with Keenan Allen too, I mean time and timing. He

200
00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,520
Speaker 1: puts up those numbers, you know, And I'm so happy

201
00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:06,520
Speaker 1: that he was able to come to a deal, that

202
00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,360
Speaker 1: Tom Sealsco and Dean Spanus were able to come to

203
00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,440
Speaker 1: the table and let him know how valued he is.

204
00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:17,280
Speaker 1: And I think with Keenan and Joey and Melvin all

205
00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:21,320
Speaker 1: feeling valued by the team, that is going to go

206
00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,880
Speaker 1: a long way settling everyone down in their position and

207
00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,400
Speaker 1: making them want it even more. I think totally and

208
00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,559
Speaker 1: here's another guy, Austin Eckler. He got a contract new

209
00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,160
Speaker 1: contract this offseason. You have had really a front row

210
00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,320
Speaker 1: seat to his career from when he started out as

211
00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,040
Speaker 1: an undrafted free agent to getting a spot on the

212
00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,839
Speaker 1: fifty three thanks to that preseason game in San Francisco,

213
00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,320
Speaker 1: to where he is today. He's the guy now. You

214
00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,880
Speaker 1: know he's leading this running back stable. But what do

215
00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:51,240
Speaker 1: you make of that unit with him? Justin Jackson, Joshua

216
00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:55,160
Speaker 1: Kelly who they drafted out in UCLA. Kelly's been absolutely

217
00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:58,280
Speaker 1: fun to watch at camp as Justin as he just

218
00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,080
Speaker 1: stay healthy, He's a lot of a lot of fun too.

219
00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,680
Speaker 1: We saw what he could do back in Pittsburgh a

220
00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,120
Speaker 1: couple of seasons ago. And Austin Eckler, I'll tell you,

221
00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:09,520
Speaker 1: I mean you said that Priesason game in San Francisco.

222
00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,040
Speaker 1: I's got chills thinking about it because it was one

223
00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:15,920
Speaker 1: of those games where he stood out and he wanted

224
00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,280
Speaker 1: it so bad, and he stood out on special teams

225
00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,600
Speaker 1: and that's what you have to do to make the roster.

226
00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:25,840
Speaker 1: And I remember standing on the sidelines and I had

227
00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:28,560
Speaker 1: done a bunch of background on him. I thought that

228
00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:30,440
Speaker 1: maybe he might have a big game because it was

229
00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:32,480
Speaker 1: one of the last ones and they were trying to

230
00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:34,319
Speaker 1: figure out who was going to make that roster. And

231
00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:39,640
Speaker 1: I remember talking to Matt and d Hardwick, who was

232
00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,400
Speaker 1: the analyst at the time, about how this was a

233
00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,320
Speaker 1: kid who grew up with a stepdad who was unforgiving

234
00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:50,480
Speaker 1: and he would plant miles of fences and work sun

235
00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:54,079
Speaker 1: up to sundown, and how this work ethic has been

236
00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:59,600
Speaker 1: engraved in him for his whole life, and just watching

237
00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,199
Speaker 1: that then comparing it to Jerry Rice who said that,

238
00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:04,040
Speaker 1: you know, his father was a bricklayer and he used

239
00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,000
Speaker 1: to catch bricks and being a forty nine ers analogy

240
00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:10,600
Speaker 1: kind of thing too, and being so happy for him.

241
00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,520
Speaker 1: And I'll tell you, no one is harder on themselves

242
00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,960
Speaker 1: than Austin Ecker. If he makes a mistake, god forbid

243
00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:21,680
Speaker 1: he fumbles, he is so hard on himself. So I'm

244
00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,160
Speaker 1: really excited to see how he's going to be as

245
00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:26,600
Speaker 1: the featured back. We are already seeing him take more

246
00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:28,719
Speaker 1: of a leadership role in the locker room and in

247
00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,920
Speaker 1: that running back room, so I'm stoked. I'm excited to

248
00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,080
Speaker 1: see what he can do. And also don't sleep on

249
00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,559
Speaker 1: him in terms of receiving yards be totally. I think

250
00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,440
Speaker 1: he was just behind Christian McCaffrey in the league when

251
00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:42,600
Speaker 1: it comes to that number last year. Now, moving to

252
00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,080
Speaker 1: the defense, and fortunately we can't talk about the Chargers

253
00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,840
Speaker 1: defense without talking about the loss of Durwin James. However,

254
00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,000
Speaker 1: I'm not going to call it a silver lining, but

255
00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,000
Speaker 1: is there a benefit that this team has gone through

256
00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,360
Speaker 1: a period of time knowing what their defense is like

257
00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:01,000
Speaker 1: without him given his injury in twenty nineteen, But now

258
00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,800
Speaker 1: he even has some more playmakers that can probably compensate

259
00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,240
Speaker 1: for that loss. Yeah. Well, I mean because of Derwin

260
00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,839
Speaker 1: James's talent and his ability to be a chess piece

261
00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,320
Speaker 1: that you can move around, the guys who've had to

262
00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,040
Speaker 1: step up have kind of had to assume those roles,

263
00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:19,439
Speaker 1: you know, you look at Desmond King for example. So yeah,

264
00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,640
Speaker 1: I mean, I guess we know how to play without him,

265
00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:26,240
Speaker 1: but gosh, it would have been so great to have

266
00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,560
Speaker 1: him back. You know, He's just so much fun to watch,

267
00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,679
Speaker 1: and like Gus Bradley said, usually it's the next man

268
00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:37,880
Speaker 1: up mentality, but with Derwin James, he's just irreplaceable. That said,

269
00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,920
Speaker 1: the secondary is deep, it is strong, and I think

270
00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,400
Speaker 1: it's going. I think they're going to be fine, especially

271
00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,520
Speaker 1: now that you have that beefed up linebacker core, which

272
00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:51,120
Speaker 1: should help out the situation as well. I think we're good.

273
00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:56,880
Speaker 1: That's good. I appreciate your confidence. Can you tell how

274
00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,280
Speaker 1: excited I am? I mean, I can totally tell. It's

275
00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:04,080
Speaker 1: perviating one hundred percent. You mentioned him earlier, Chris Harris Junior.

276
00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:06,960
Speaker 1: They added another big guy up front, Linvall Joseph. He

277
00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,800
Speaker 1: has been called every superlative in the book for his

278
00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,959
Speaker 1: size and his strength from his teammates this year. What

279
00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,800
Speaker 1: do adding those pieces in free agency do for a

280
00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:20,120
Speaker 1: defense like this, which was already pretty good. Well, I

281
00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,120
Speaker 1: think it's great, especially getting somebody from a rival in

282
00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,320
Speaker 1: the AFC West named Chris Harris. And I also think

283
00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:28,800
Speaker 1: it's great to have a mobile home parked on your

284
00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,440
Speaker 1: defensive fun. There you go, that's one of them hurt right.

285
00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,200
Speaker 1: Another thing that I kind of wanted to get to

286
00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,280
Speaker 1: with you. You've seen these guys up front, you've seen

287
00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:39,440
Speaker 1: maybe the new pieces from AFAR, But who are you

288
00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,680
Speaker 1: sort of looking forward to to watching in twenty twenty.

289
00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,800
Speaker 1: I think I think I'm excited to see what goes

290
00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:49,480
Speaker 1: on at the quarterback position. I'm excited to see how

291
00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:54,080
Speaker 1: that changes the playbook because those are two different quarterbacks obviously,

292
00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,000
Speaker 1: Philip Rivers and Tyrod Taylor. So I'm interested to see

293
00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:01,920
Speaker 1: what Shane and Anthony put into motion with this with

294
00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,440
Speaker 1: a mobile quarterback like that. I'm also excited to see what,

295
00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,080
Speaker 1: like you mentioned, Austin Eckler is going to do with

296
00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:12,880
Speaker 1: more tipages. And I'm excited to see Mike Williams again.

297
00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,840
Speaker 1: I say that every season. I feel like we haven't

298
00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,640
Speaker 1: seen him at one hundred and ten percent yet. And

299
00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:20,920
Speaker 1: I know he's dealing with an injury and we'll see

300
00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,160
Speaker 1: how he goes a day to day week to week.

301
00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:26,680
Speaker 1: But gosh, when Mike Williams is healthy and is on,

302
00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:31,120
Speaker 1: get out your highlight reel, get out ESPN's top ten,

303
00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:35,320
Speaker 1: because that is incredible to behold him come down. You know,

304
00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,080
Speaker 1: they call him fifty fifty catches, but with him, it's

305
00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:41,240
Speaker 1: more like eighty twenty and eighty percent. He's going to

306
00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,400
Speaker 1: come down with that. Yeah, and get out your fantasy

307
00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:48,720
Speaker 1: rosters too, because you're sticking him in your lineup for sure. Yeah.

308
00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:53,080
Speaker 1: And then lastly, Shannon expectations obviously twenty nineteen didn't go

309
00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,120
Speaker 1: as planned for this team, But what do you expect

310
00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,800
Speaker 1: out of them in twenty twenty. I'm still really disappointed

311
00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:02,040
Speaker 1: about last season. I mean that was a heartbreaker. I'm

312
00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,720
Speaker 1: five wins with that team. Give me a break, like

313
00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,200
Speaker 1: what happened there, you know, especially after the season and before,

314
00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,480
Speaker 1: and I'll just never forget the way that that team

315
00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,320
Speaker 1: was able to shut down Baltimore and I think it

316
00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,000
Speaker 1: really were the injuries that got a hold of us

317
00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:22,480
Speaker 1: going into New England. But last year just weren't firing

318
00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,240
Speaker 1: on all cylinders there. So I think that this year

319
00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:29,320
Speaker 1: and again this year is going to be so different.

320
00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,800
Speaker 1: It's going to be something we haven't seen before. And

321
00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,080
Speaker 1: how will COVID play a role? Will there be certain

322
00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:39,320
Speaker 1: weeks where certain teams or are out. I don't know,

323
00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:42,720
Speaker 1: but I think looking at the schedule, a lot of

324
00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:46,840
Speaker 1: people are saying eight and eight. I'm thinking I'm thinking

325
00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:52,040
Speaker 1: nine wins. We'll take it. It's week one. Anything can

326
00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,360
Speaker 1: happen at this point. We look forward to it. I

327
00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,480
Speaker 1: look forward to seeing you albeit it from a distance.

328
00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:59,600
Speaker 1: Week two US wave from the press box you can.

329
00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,080
Speaker 1: I'll try to find you in your zone wherever you are.

330
00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:04,520
Speaker 1: But It is so good to see you, even if

331
00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,760
Speaker 1: it's virtually Shannon, thank you so much for coming on.

332
00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,480
Speaker 1: We really appreciate it. Always good to see your face.

333
00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:11,359
Speaker 1: Haley