WEBVTT - Drive Time: Rob Jones Chat, NFC West Preview with Jourdan Rodrigue 0:00:01.639 --> 0:00:04.720 You are listening to the Miami Dolphins Podcast Network. 0:00:05.120 --> 0:00:07.600 This is Drive Time with Travis Wingfield. 0:00:07.680 --> 0:00:10.720 Back to throw to a looking whips about. 0:00:10.280 --> 0:00:17.000 A wide Dolphin touchdown time, Rickquel uncelievable, just move by 0:00:17.040 --> 0:00:18.240 it for a second time. 0:00:18.480 --> 0:00:20.320 Don'tknew where he was going right away. 0:00:20.600 --> 0:00:21.600 I want to hit that though. 0:00:21.720 --> 0:00:24.520 Man, I'm gonna help you. Someone will up on the bandwagon. 0:00:24.800 --> 0:00:28.800 Wattle Wattle to a shotgun, back to throw, looking at them. 0:00:28.840 --> 0:00:30.120 Up myers touchdown. 0:00:31.040 --> 0:00:34.920 It's Waddle his sixth touchdown pass the team. 0:00:35.960 --> 0:00:38.960 Drive Time with Travis Wingfield begins. 0:00:39.560 --> 0:00:41.519 Now we check your pulse if you're not for. 0:00:43.280 --> 0:00:47.239 What is up? Dolphins? And welcome to the Drive Time podcast, 0:00:47.600 --> 0:00:50.520 part of the Miami Dolphins podcast Network, covering your team, 0:00:51.080 --> 0:00:55.120 your Miami Dolphins. How's it going everybody? I am your host, 0:00:55.400 --> 0:00:59.160 Travis Wingfield. And on today's episode, we continue rolling here 0:00:59.240 --> 0:01:02.240 on the Summer Visional Preview podcast series. We're going to 0:01:02.320 --> 0:01:04.080 take a look at the NFC West with the great 0:01:04.160 --> 0:01:06.600 Jordan rod Rigg today, Plus we're gonna hear from one 0:01:06.600 --> 0:01:08.479 of my favorite guys in the entire team, Rob Jones, 0:01:08.520 --> 0:01:10.680 stops by for his walk and talk. All of that 0:01:10.800 --> 0:01:13.360 and more from the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist 0:01:13.440 --> 0:01:17.200 Health Training Complex. This is the Drive Time podcast. 0:01:17.319 --> 0:01:20.240 Hey caffish, let's. 0:01:20.080 --> 0:01:22.479 Go ahead and get to my guest today, Rob Jones. 0:01:22.680 --> 0:01:24.720 What's up, guys, Travis Wingfild Here another edition of one 0:01:24.800 --> 0:01:27.880 hundred Yards with Travis Wingfield Dolphins Offensive. I'man Rob Jones 0:01:27.920 --> 0:01:29.320 with us here. I'm gonna go ahead and make away 0:01:29.319 --> 0:01:31.000 to the field here. I want to ask you, you know, 0:01:31.280 --> 0:01:33.400 getting here to the summertime, about ready for training camp, 0:01:33.440 --> 0:01:34.680 but not quite yet. What have you been up to 0:01:34.680 --> 0:01:36.160 this offseason? What he got coming up? For the little 0:01:36.160 --> 0:01:36.720 mini break here? 0:01:37.319 --> 0:01:38.920 One guy coming up is you know, I'll probably go 0:01:38.959 --> 0:01:41.680 to Jamaica, travel Viay, go back to Chicago, see family, 0:01:41.720 --> 0:01:43.160 spend time with them, and do a. 0:01:43.160 --> 0:01:45.720 Lot of pilates. Get my core right. I think Politie's 0:01:45.720 --> 0:01:47.320 been helping me a lot and doing it this offseason. 0:01:47.400 --> 0:01:49.120 It's kind of fun. It was hard at first, but 0:01:49.680 --> 0:01:50.480 I don't get used to it. 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:51.920 You just got into it this off season, Yes, sir, 0:01:52.000 --> 0:01:52.680 how'd you get into it? 0:01:53.160 --> 0:01:53.280 Uh? 0:01:53.640 --> 0:01:55.920 During the season, you know, Tis Stead. I know it 0:01:56.120 --> 0:01:59.240 was like emphasized this no doing a lot of polates. Hope, 0:01:59.360 --> 0:02:01.400 like just event a game and I tried it at 0:02:01.480 --> 0:02:03.120 least twice during the season, and I fell in love 0:02:03.200 --> 0:02:04.440 with it and I've been doing it ever since. 0:02:04.400 --> 0:02:06.720 To around like a coach in the field, isn't he him? 0:02:07.320 --> 0:02:07.880 You know, it's dope. 0:02:07.880 --> 0:02:09.280 We got a lot of experience, you know, who played 0:02:09.280 --> 0:02:10.799 at a high level for a very long time, still 0:02:10.800 --> 0:02:12.440 playing at a high level. You know, he's just like 0:02:12.680 --> 0:02:14.959 he just you know, help us see things from a 0:02:14.960 --> 0:02:17.239 different perspective, help us, try to help us be successful. 0:02:17.240 --> 0:02:18.640 You get to slot in next to him and Connor 0:02:18.639 --> 0:02:21.239 Williams last year, two really good veterans positions. What was 0:02:21.280 --> 0:02:23.320 that like playing there and getting that staring experience as well? 0:02:23.480 --> 0:02:25.359 Oh, you know, it was fun getting out there, you know, 0:02:25.480 --> 0:02:28.160 get an opportunity and going out there, you know, believing myself. 0:02:28.200 --> 0:02:30.000 I know I got two guys you know next to 0:02:30.040 --> 0:02:32.079 me who believe in me, who helped me be better. 0:02:32.320 --> 0:02:33.639 How do you feel about the second year here in 0:02:33.680 --> 0:02:35.519 Coach McDaniel's offense is going to make you, guys, A 0:02:35.560 --> 0:02:36.800 lot of you guys take that next step. 0:02:37.280 --> 0:02:39.040 I think, you know this a lot of us our 0:02:39.320 --> 0:02:41.680 first year, you know, in the same offense, I think 0:02:41.680 --> 0:02:43.280 we get a lot better and you know, I was 0:02:43.360 --> 0:02:46.880 just being comfortable and just understanding, like what really our 0:02:46.919 --> 0:02:47.560 assignments are. 0:02:47.840 --> 0:02:49.480 You know it's gonna be huge. 0:02:49.360 --> 0:02:51.800 Now going into your three here right the Miami Dolphins. 0:02:52.040 --> 0:02:53.480 So you've you've been around the block a little bit. 0:02:53.520 --> 0:02:55.120 What are some of your go to spots, whether it's 0:02:55.160 --> 0:02:57.240 a restaurant or you know, a place to go chill. 0:02:57.280 --> 0:02:58.560 What do you do down here in South Florida for 0:02:58.800 --> 0:02:59.079 for fun? 0:02:59.400 --> 0:03:01.760 I got two I got two spots. My first one 0:03:01.840 --> 0:03:05.160 was a restaurant called Komodo No Gas. They got these 0:03:05.200 --> 0:03:08.120 Waggo tacos amazing and the Short River is amazing. And 0:03:08.240 --> 0:03:10.800 those spots on Spider open on Saturday and Sunday. It's 0:03:10.800 --> 0:03:13.639 called Smorgasburg Down and Win. What a whole bunch of 0:03:13.800 --> 0:03:14.720 different food stands. 0:03:14.880 --> 0:03:15.120 Dope? 0:03:15.200 --> 0:03:17.520 When what's the best man? My daughter loves that place. 0:03:17.560 --> 0:03:19.120 We go down and played right around all time. So 0:03:19.280 --> 0:03:21.320 you talk about food, who's the best cook on the team? 0:03:22.200 --> 0:03:25.120 Best cook? It has to be Connor Williams. So we 0:03:25.160 --> 0:03:27.360 had an old line dinner. He cooked up some food 0:03:27.400 --> 0:03:28.919 and I was surprised, Beu. I thought he could have 0:03:28.960 --> 0:03:30.400 cooked it was pretty good? Did you know that he? 0:03:30.560 --> 0:03:30.880 I think he? 0:03:31.280 --> 0:03:34.720 I believe he did some type of cooking school something 0:03:34.800 --> 0:03:36.440 with food in school. I believe it's at some point 0:03:36.480 --> 0:03:37.920 in Texas at all he was. I read in his 0:03:38.200 --> 0:03:40.000 his bio his background like he's like a cook or something. 0:03:40.160 --> 0:03:42.800 I believe totally tracks. How about funniest kind of team? 0:03:42.880 --> 0:03:44.680 My vote is maybe for you. We just had to 0:03:44.680 --> 0:03:46.480 Sean Elliot. He's pretty good too. But who's the funniest 0:03:46.560 --> 0:03:47.040 kind of team? To you? 0:03:47.240 --> 0:03:48.920 Outside myself? 0:03:48.960 --> 0:03:51.400 I think Rob Punt Like he's hilarious, Like if people 0:03:51.400 --> 0:03:54.960 don't understand, like he's very hilarious, and it's like he's 0:03:54.960 --> 0:03:56.240 just come naturally he'd be serious. 0:03:56.600 --> 0:03:57.800 Everyone was just finding so funny. 0:03:57.840 --> 0:03:59.440 Has he got you in the nail paint yet? Man? 0:03:59.560 --> 0:03:59.960 Not chat? 0:04:00.040 --> 0:04:00.240 Yeah? 0:04:00.240 --> 0:04:02.320 I thought about trying it, but you know that's his thing, 0:04:02.400 --> 0:04:03.960 and I'll let him do it. And you know, I 0:04:04.080 --> 0:04:06.400 get I ball out like he. 0:04:06.440 --> 0:04:09.440 Did, I do it. I appreciate you. 0:04:10.800 --> 0:04:13.440 And there he goes the hilarious Rob Jones checking in 0:04:13.560 --> 0:04:15.760 with us here on the Walk and Talk edition of 0:04:15.920 --> 0:04:18.159 Drive Time. Let's go ahead and take our first break 0:04:18.279 --> 0:04:20.039 right here and then come back on the other side 0:04:20.080 --> 0:04:22.480 with the great Jordan rod rig Her and I went 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:24.960 almost an hour because of how much we both love 0:04:25.040 --> 0:04:27.360 this league and this game. That's next on the Drive 0:04:27.440 --> 0:04:30.160 Time podcast. Your host, Travis Wingfield, brought to you by 0:04:30.200 --> 0:04:36.480 Auto Nation and joining us today, is the co host 0:04:36.560 --> 0:04:38.640 of the eleven Personnel podcast and one of the top 0:04:38.680 --> 0:04:41.360 features writers in the game. You can find that work 0:04:41.400 --> 0:04:43.719 of hers and all over coverage on the Los Angeles 0:04:43.839 --> 0:04:47.800 Rams and the NFL at The Athletic. She's Jordan rodrig Jordan, 0:04:48.120 --> 0:04:50.160 welcome back in. It's been just a few weeks last 0:04:50.200 --> 0:04:50.720 talk to you here. 0:04:51.080 --> 0:04:53.320 I know we had such a great conversation. We're like, yeah, 0:04:53.400 --> 0:04:54.000 let's do it again. 0:04:55.160 --> 0:04:57.720 I mean, Jealen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams, NFC West. I 0:04:57.839 --> 0:04:59.600 just I thought you were the perfect person to get 0:04:59.640 --> 0:05:01.320 on for this, and we'll talk about something at the 0:05:01.440 --> 0:05:02.919 end of the show that makes you also a perfect 0:05:02.920 --> 0:05:04.360 guest here on Drive Time as well. Here in just 0:05:04.400 --> 0:05:06.360 a moment, but first, let's go ahead and kick this 0:05:06.480 --> 0:05:09.200 off with how I've done all these divisional preview podcasts. 0:05:09.200 --> 0:05:12.159 Here the thirty thousand foot view of the NFC West. 0:05:12.240 --> 0:05:14.520 I think it's one of the most fascinating divisions right 0:05:14.560 --> 0:05:16.560 now in the NFL, which maybe a few years ago 0:05:16.600 --> 0:05:19.080 it wasn't that, but now it is tell us just 0:05:19.200 --> 0:05:21.040 kind of what you're looking forward to heading into the 0:05:21.040 --> 0:05:22.800 twenty twenty three season here in the NFC West. 0:05:23.080 --> 0:05:26.320 Yeah, I think it if I were to like come 0:05:26.400 --> 0:05:29.160 up with a slogan for the NFC West right now, 0:05:30.360 --> 0:05:32.760 it would be very existential, Right, Who am I? 0:05:33.279 --> 0:05:34.320 And what does it all mean? 0:05:34.880 --> 0:05:37.840 You know, because there are these teams that we have 0:05:38.040 --> 0:05:41.560 seen for so many years that this play in this 0:05:41.680 --> 0:05:44.080 division that is so competitive and it ends up, you know, 0:05:44.200 --> 0:05:47.040 cannibalizing itself in terms of these teams that place each 0:05:47.080 --> 0:05:50.840 other twice a year and they're so competitive, and that 0:05:51.520 --> 0:05:53.920 you know, it really shapes really what some of these 0:05:53.960 --> 0:05:57.240 playoff brackets look like and some of these things that 0:05:57.400 --> 0:05:59.880 late in the year, and these teams are really fighting 0:06:00.120 --> 0:06:02.159 hard so late in the year. The division is almost 0:06:02.279 --> 0:06:06.840 never just settled so early on, and they're all at 0:06:06.880 --> 0:06:09.720 the same time going through a little bit of an 0:06:09.760 --> 0:06:13.360 identity questioning, right because some of them are very much 0:06:13.480 --> 0:06:16.280 in the window. San Francisco is very much in the window. 0:06:16.600 --> 0:06:19.400 Seattle has to prove that it won't regress after surprising 0:06:19.480 --> 0:06:22.800 everyone and delighting everyone really last year with how much 0:06:22.839 --> 0:06:25.039 fun it looked like they were having with Gino Smith 0:06:25.080 --> 0:06:29.640 and Arizona is like, are have you fallen off the 0:06:29.720 --> 0:06:31.760 face of the earth or are you still here? 0:06:32.000 --> 0:06:34.320 Like what's going on? Blink twice if you're not okay? 0:06:34.560 --> 0:06:36.840 You know, those types of things, And then the RAMS 0:06:37.000 --> 0:06:39.880 are in this state of can they really do this 0:06:40.040 --> 0:06:42.520 remodel on the fly that they're trying to do, and 0:06:42.720 --> 0:06:46.840 like also this wild vibe permeating through the building that 0:06:47.160 --> 0:06:49.680 they actually think they're going to be better than we 0:06:49.839 --> 0:06:51.880 on the outside think they're gonna be. And that's actually 0:06:52.000 --> 0:06:55.560 like genuine They're not just saying those things, and that 0:06:55.760 --> 0:06:57.800 to me, I'm wrapping my head around that, So it's 0:06:57.880 --> 0:06:58.320 who am I? 0:06:58.600 --> 0:06:59.640 And what does it all mean? 0:06:59.720 --> 0:07:01.680 I think they're all going through a various stages of 0:07:02.440 --> 0:07:05.120 existential crisis here in a good way and maybe in 0:07:05.160 --> 0:07:05.880 a bad way for some. 0:07:06.720 --> 0:07:08.760 That's that's fantastic. And not only that, but you went 0:07:08.839 --> 0:07:10.440 through each team in order of how I have it here, 0:07:10.480 --> 0:07:11.840 how we're going to talk about them. So that's just 0:07:11.960 --> 0:07:15.320 randomly awesome here for the podcast. But I totally agree. 0:07:15.360 --> 0:07:17.360 I mean that the RAMS thing is fascinating to me, 0:07:17.480 --> 0:07:19.440 and you obviously know that team as well as anybody, 0:07:20.240 --> 0:07:22.960 just because I trust that coaching staff in the same way. 0:07:23.240 --> 0:07:24.440 I think a lot of times you have to just 0:07:24.480 --> 0:07:26.920 put your faith in certain you know, organizations, the way 0:07:26.920 --> 0:07:28.960 they do things with the coaches and the personnel people. 0:07:29.040 --> 0:07:31.600 So that's so fascinating. Plus getting your you know, your 0:07:31.640 --> 0:07:34.560 Super Bowl MVP quarterback back helps as well. And you know, 0:07:34.640 --> 0:07:36.400 Cooper Cup still there. All that stuff. We'll get into 0:07:36.440 --> 0:07:37.960 that here in a minute. Let's go ahead and revert 0:07:38.040 --> 0:07:40.720 back to my former stomping grounds, the Specific Northwest and 0:07:40.800 --> 0:07:42.920 the Seattle Seahawks, because you know, Jordan, I do my 0:07:43.280 --> 0:07:46.160 my division or my season preview every single year, every 0:07:46.200 --> 0:07:49.120 single summer, and last year I was pretty confident that 0:07:49.120 --> 0:07:51.280 the Seahawks will be picking in the top five. And 0:07:51.440 --> 0:07:53.000 not only did they not do that, they made the 0:07:53.040 --> 0:07:55.400 playoffs and really kind of went toe to toe with 0:07:55.440 --> 0:07:57.360 the Niners there for you know, three corps of that 0:07:57.400 --> 0:08:00.360 football game and that wild card playoff game. But now 0:08:00.680 --> 0:08:02.760 I think you look at this roster, you might say, 0:08:03.840 --> 0:08:05.720 you might say the top ten roster, with where they've 0:08:05.720 --> 0:08:07.480 built this thing from the ground up with a couple 0:08:07.520 --> 0:08:09.800 of really good draft classes. What do you take away 0:08:09.800 --> 0:08:11.520 from what they accomplished last year? And is that kind 0:08:11.560 --> 0:08:13.600 of like a message to the rest of the division, 0:08:13.680 --> 0:08:15.440 like just because you're down and out right now, like 0:08:15.520 --> 0:08:17.520 for Arizona for instance, doesn't mean that it has to 0:08:17.560 --> 0:08:18.480 be that way for a long time. 0:08:19.200 --> 0:08:21.200 Yeah, I think they really send a signal not just 0:08:21.240 --> 0:08:23.080 to the rest of the division, but to the league overall. 0:08:23.160 --> 0:08:24.880 And we saw Philly do this a couple of years 0:08:24.920 --> 0:08:26.880 ago too, where it's like, if you do a rebuild, 0:08:27.040 --> 0:08:32.000 quote unquote, it doesn't have to be a multiple years 0:08:32.120 --> 0:08:34.160 long thing, like you could come out of the gate 0:08:34.240 --> 0:08:36.920 swinging if you put the pieces in place, if you 0:08:37.040 --> 0:08:39.599 really crush certain parts of the of the year, like 0:08:39.760 --> 0:08:42.920 if you are a team that now has to really 0:08:43.160 --> 0:08:46.400 find players to draft and develop, you have to completely 0:08:46.520 --> 0:08:51.240 crush that section of the calendar and making sure you 0:08:51.320 --> 0:08:53.079 know if you can do that, then that sets you 0:08:53.240 --> 0:08:56.160 up on a trajectory. They can be really positive and 0:08:56.280 --> 0:08:59.200 so I think it was a lesson for a. 0:08:59.240 --> 0:08:59.800 Lot of the teams. 0:09:00.320 --> 0:09:01.880 Was a lesson and I know we'll get to them, 0:09:01.920 --> 0:09:03.439 but certainly was a lesson to the Rams, and I 0:09:03.520 --> 0:09:05.760 think for a lot of teams in the division, but 0:09:06.000 --> 0:09:09.160 across the league in general, because I remember the conversations 0:09:09.559 --> 0:09:11.719 previous to last season where it was like, oh, they're 0:09:11.760 --> 0:09:15.360 going to finish in last place. The division is stacked. 0:09:15.520 --> 0:09:17.800 You've got these teams. You know, the Rams are trying 0:09:17.840 --> 0:09:21.280 to repeat and the forty nine ers are ascending and 0:09:21.679 --> 0:09:23.560 you know, still don't know what the Cardinals are doing. 0:09:23.679 --> 0:09:27.040 But okay, and like you had this, but it was 0:09:27.080 --> 0:09:29.240 the Seahawks are going to be terrible. That was the narrative, 0:09:29.320 --> 0:09:32.240 and they weren't. And instead they not only that, but 0:09:32.360 --> 0:09:34.360 they had so much fun and I doing it and 0:09:34.440 --> 0:09:38.920 you could really see right out loud there how much 0:09:39.280 --> 0:09:41.160 a lot of the people on that staff returned to 0:09:41.240 --> 0:09:43.839 some of their coaching fundamentals, and so I actually think 0:09:43.920 --> 0:09:46.440 that that part of it too, That element was inspiring 0:09:46.840 --> 0:09:51.679 to people and really attention grabbing, because you know, if 0:09:51.720 --> 0:09:53.600 you have the right people in place in the building 0:09:53.640 --> 0:09:56.679 and you have the right process, I think that you 0:09:56.800 --> 0:09:58.760 can do a lot of really cool things, but there 0:09:58.840 --> 0:10:01.160 has to be that those those parts of the calendar 0:10:01.200 --> 0:10:03.439 where you crush it. And the Seahawks have been really 0:10:03.480 --> 0:10:05.520 impressed with the way they've drafted the last couple of years. 0:10:05.760 --> 0:10:07.760 Yeah, you talk about the draft, that's where it all started, right, 0:10:07.800 --> 0:10:10.240 And I think it's a good example for folks you 0:10:10.280 --> 0:10:12.160 know around the league, for people like us and also 0:10:12.240 --> 0:10:14.800 fans that watched the game so intently to realize that 0:10:15.160 --> 0:10:18.760 you're not necessarily your last game or your your last season, 0:10:18.840 --> 0:10:21.200 because you know, Pete Carroll's been under so much fire 0:10:21.320 --> 0:10:23.080 for I don't know what I mean, He's been one 0:10:23.120 --> 0:10:24.599 of the great greatest coaches in the league for a 0:10:24.679 --> 0:10:27.600 long time. John Schneider kind of similar after that really 0:10:27.600 --> 0:10:29.000 good draft class he had where it was you know, 0:10:29.120 --> 0:10:31.400 Richard Sherman and Cam Chancellor and Russell Wilson and Bobby 0:10:31.400 --> 0:10:33.400 Wagging a couple of years they had there, and then 0:10:33.760 --> 0:10:35.679 he basically did it all over again last year, right 0:10:35.760 --> 0:10:38.680 like the draft class with Charles Cross and Abe Lucas 0:10:38.800 --> 0:10:41.319 and Kenneth Walker and Tariq Wollan. IM probably missing a 0:10:41.360 --> 0:10:43.080 couple of guys in there, and this year I feel 0:10:43.080 --> 0:10:45.560 like with Devon Witherspoon and Jackson Smith and Jigba, they 0:10:45.640 --> 0:10:47.319 might have done it again. So it's it's kind of 0:10:47.400 --> 0:10:50.520 a cool referendum in terms of you know, how you're 0:10:50.559 --> 0:10:52.960 not necessarily what your last draft class was or your 0:10:53.040 --> 0:10:55.400 last regency period was. Like it's a big body of work. 0:10:55.440 --> 0:10:57.560 I think these guys have proven time and time again. 0:10:57.679 --> 0:10:59.400 So I want to go into that draft class with 0:10:59.440 --> 0:11:00.839 you here real quick. I just kind of touch on this, 0:11:00.960 --> 0:11:03.880 because have you seen a better class, Like I go 0:11:04.000 --> 0:11:06.839 back to that twenty seventeen Saints class with Latimore and 0:11:06.960 --> 0:11:10.400 Ramcheck and Kamara and Hendrickson, Like this might be the 0:11:10.440 --> 0:11:12.680 best draft class since that one twenty seventeen. 0:11:13.280 --> 0:11:15.760 Well, you could see where everybody fits, right. 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:18.360 You can literally look at the roster, you can look 0:11:18.360 --> 0:11:20.760 at who they drafted, and you can say, Okay, I 0:11:20.920 --> 0:11:23.800 see what your potential ceiling can be right there. Like 0:11:23.960 --> 0:11:26.600 that's and I think that's when you can draft that way, 0:11:26.679 --> 0:11:29.160 where the path is clear. If it's clear to people 0:11:29.200 --> 0:11:31.640 on the outside, it is certainly clear to the player 0:11:31.760 --> 0:11:33.680 and to the people on the inside. Now, of course, 0:11:33.800 --> 0:11:36.240 we don't know until we know. We don't know until 0:11:36.280 --> 0:11:39.319 we see these guys play. We don't know really how 0:11:39.520 --> 0:11:42.240 strong the class is until we actually see it unfold 0:11:42.320 --> 0:11:45.120 out on the field. But I think the Seahawks are 0:11:45.679 --> 0:11:48.400 showing us data that says, hey, you can you can 0:11:48.440 --> 0:11:48.960 believe us. 0:11:49.000 --> 0:11:51.040 So like we've gotten our. 0:11:51.000 --> 0:11:53.200 Ways back together, Like we've gotten it figured out again 0:11:53.320 --> 0:11:54.240 in terms of the draft. 0:11:54.600 --> 0:11:57.000 And I just I like I like the way that 0:11:57.120 --> 0:11:57.920 they've done it. 0:11:58.120 --> 0:12:00.800 I like how they've they've really found and some some 0:12:01.040 --> 0:12:06.120 real bright players and and real bright spots without using 0:12:06.200 --> 0:12:11.720 necessarily always premium picks. Finding a player at a premier position, 0:12:12.040 --> 0:12:15.400 you know, at cornerback, but but not necessarily in the 0:12:15.440 --> 0:12:18.240 first round, somebody who is going to have some some 0:12:18.720 --> 0:12:21.440 be battle tested and have some scars right out in public, 0:12:21.559 --> 0:12:24.079 right because you're going to make mistakes as a rookie. 0:12:24.160 --> 0:12:26.839 But but continuing to hammer and that that faith in 0:12:26.920 --> 0:12:29.560 the player and continuing to develop them in that way. 0:12:29.640 --> 0:12:31.840 I think the two things they have to marry, They 0:12:31.880 --> 0:12:35.839 have to marry each other so cohesively, and I think 0:12:35.920 --> 0:12:37.760 being able to find, first of all, find a player 0:12:37.840 --> 0:12:40.679 with that type of upside at a premium position, and 0:12:40.920 --> 0:12:42.640 then you know, and then they're doing it again. 0:12:42.679 --> 0:12:44.079 You see it this draft class as well. 0:12:44.160 --> 0:12:46.320 You know they're they're doing that type of strategy again, 0:12:46.559 --> 0:12:49.000 really trusting you could see trusting the the way that 0:12:49.080 --> 0:12:52.280 they develop players and the system that they're in on 0:12:52.400 --> 0:12:55.120 offense or defense. And I think that's really that shows 0:12:55.160 --> 0:12:58.400 a cohesiveness that I think has Like you said, I mean, 0:12:58.600 --> 0:13:01.640 it's like the draft in a vacuum. We can give 0:13:01.640 --> 0:13:04.880 it grades whatever, but when you really apply the class 0:13:04.920 --> 0:13:07.200 itself and the personnel they went out and found within 0:13:07.320 --> 0:13:09.400 the structure of the system, they're they're going to be 0:13:09.520 --> 0:13:12.400 deploying that draft class in. I think that's where you 0:13:12.480 --> 0:13:14.920 start to see this is where they've started to separate 0:13:15.000 --> 0:13:15.800 themselves a little bit. 0:13:16.160 --> 0:13:17.319 I think you hit the nail on the head with 0:13:17.400 --> 0:13:20.120 the idea of hitting these premium positions. And there's no 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:21.920 better cheat cod in the NFL than to get a 0:13:22.000 --> 0:13:24.520 premium player, you know, late in the draft, like a 0:13:24.559 --> 0:13:26.719 fifth round cornerback like Tarik One I think he was, 0:13:27.040 --> 0:13:29.000 and then Abe Lucas, my guy from Washington State in 0:13:29.040 --> 0:13:30.760 the third round, who was a really good looking right 0:13:30.800 --> 0:13:32.480 tackle for them right out of the gate. But they 0:13:32.559 --> 0:13:35.719 also had a veteran that essentially did something at the 0:13:35.800 --> 0:13:38.959 most important position that hasn't really been done before in 0:13:39.040 --> 0:13:41.079 terms of like was he year nine? Like a year 0:13:41.200 --> 0:13:43.760 nine breakout for a guy as doesn't happen in this league. 0:13:44.240 --> 0:13:46.160 Gino Smith, I know like you. I think you and 0:13:46.240 --> 0:13:48.680 Greg Rosenthal on the Around the NFL podcast talked about 0:13:48.720 --> 0:13:50.760 him a little bit, and you guys were excited about 0:13:50.800 --> 0:13:53.040 his his outlook and his future and he's certainly proved 0:13:53.080 --> 0:13:55.280 that right, tell us about you know, what did he 0:13:55.440 --> 0:13:58.080 do to take that big step and become this breakout, 0:13:58.160 --> 0:14:00.360 you know, top paid quarterback that he was year ago 0:14:00.360 --> 0:14:01.600 and going into twenty twenty three. 0:14:02.040 --> 0:14:02.600 Well, you could just. 0:14:02.600 --> 0:14:05.840 See that confidence. I think it's it's multiple things. Obviously 0:14:06.240 --> 0:14:09.600 Gino himself and the way that he approaches the job. 0:14:09.920 --> 0:14:12.240 And you heard a lot of stories about the way 0:14:12.280 --> 0:14:14.160 that he worked at it and the way that behind 0:14:14.200 --> 0:14:17.640 the scenes, he really wanted to see how see how 0:14:18.160 --> 0:14:20.160 how high his ceiling could go, right, and he really 0:14:20.200 --> 0:14:23.320 approached that process the right way. And then but you 0:14:23.440 --> 0:14:26.800 also look at what they're running now, Shane Waldron's there. 0:14:26.880 --> 0:14:30.280 They're running they're running a system that legitimately does raise 0:14:30.320 --> 0:14:35.080 a quarterback's floor, and the ceiling becomes so much higher 0:14:35.120 --> 0:14:38.160 of a potential when the floor is raised, right, because 0:14:38.480 --> 0:14:41.040 the system and the personnel that they're putting around Gino 0:14:41.800 --> 0:14:45.600 also helps. And I always I always think it's it's 0:14:45.680 --> 0:14:50.880 been funny or reductive, even when people have oh, it's. 0:14:50.760 --> 0:14:53.320 The system, it's the system. You should have a system 0:14:53.400 --> 0:14:57.200 that helps your quarterback play free. You should have a 0:14:57.520 --> 0:15:01.480 system that helps your quarterback feel confident. You should have that, 0:15:01.600 --> 0:15:04.520 and vice versa. Your system should have a quarterback who 0:15:04.640 --> 0:15:07.680 thrives within a type that type of workspace. You should 0:15:07.840 --> 0:15:10.800 your system should have a quarterback who has good decision making, 0:15:10.840 --> 0:15:13.160 who's smart with the football, who throws a beautiful pass 0:15:13.200 --> 0:15:15.600 the way Gino Smith does, who can who can make 0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:19.240 things happen out of structure. I think that those those like, 0:15:19.440 --> 0:15:21.440 all of those things should work hand in hand. 0:15:21.560 --> 0:15:23.160 And I think in the in the NFL, we get 0:15:23.200 --> 0:15:25.800 so obsessed with credit, right, and so we are like, oh, 0:15:26.040 --> 0:15:28.400 who's either who's at fault or who should we give 0:15:28.440 --> 0:15:28.880 the praise to? 0:15:29.040 --> 0:15:29.880 And I think it's bold. 0:15:29.920 --> 0:15:32.160 I think we absolutely should give Geno the praise for 0:15:32.360 --> 0:15:34.440 all the work he put in behind the scenes, but 0:15:34.520 --> 0:15:37.160 I think we should also give praise to what they 0:15:37.240 --> 0:15:39.480 built around him and the way that that offense is 0:15:39.600 --> 0:15:43.120 functioning as a whole in terms of all the pieces 0:15:43.160 --> 0:15:45.160 that it does take. In the modern leaguehere you have 0:15:45.280 --> 0:15:47.440 to do so many different things well all at the 0:15:47.480 --> 0:15:50.600 same time. In the play caller, I think it does you. 0:15:50.760 --> 0:15:54.360 You also should send credit that direction too. At the 0:15:54.400 --> 0:15:56.720 same time, it doesn't take credit away from anyone else. 0:15:56.760 --> 0:15:59.040 It's just more credit to go around, right, and so 0:15:59.200 --> 0:16:01.240 I think that's that's all really important. I think the 0:16:01.320 --> 0:16:04.320 way again, the way they showed that cohesiveness, it was 0:16:04.480 --> 0:16:07.320 very reminiscent of you know what those RAMS teams used 0:16:07.360 --> 0:16:12.040 to look like when everything was clicking together and all 0:16:12.080 --> 0:16:14.720 the pieces in the parts were interconnecting and in the 0:16:14.800 --> 0:16:16.680 way that makes the whole machine run. 0:16:17.160 --> 0:16:20.000 So that's the second place team in at AFC NFC 0:16:20.120 --> 0:16:22.280 West the season to go in the Seattle Seahawks. Let's 0:16:22.280 --> 0:16:25.040 go ahead and pivot now to the division champion real 0:16:25.120 --> 0:16:27.160 quick that the Seahawks also had Dremont Jones thought it 0:16:27.160 --> 0:16:29.720 was a great addition, brought back Jeron Reid, Evan Brown, 0:16:29.760 --> 0:16:32.600 Devin Bush, Julian Love, and Bobby Wagner back in Seattle. 0:16:32.600 --> 0:16:34.440 What a great story that'll be for him to come 0:16:34.480 --> 0:16:35.880 back and play in front of the fans there in 0:16:35.880 --> 0:16:38.000 the Pacific Northwest. So let's go ahead and pivot now 0:16:38.080 --> 0:16:40.680 down to California and the San Francisco forty nine ers. 0:16:40.760 --> 0:16:42.920 And you let off talking about this team being, you know, 0:16:43.040 --> 0:16:44.960 one of the one of the premier teams in the 0:16:45.040 --> 0:16:47.880 conference and certainly within their window to you know, pursue 0:16:47.880 --> 0:16:50.360 a championship and almost got there last year, despite going 0:16:50.440 --> 0:16:53.400 through some of the craziest attrition at the most important 0:16:53.400 --> 0:16:56.120 position in the NFL, quarterback. But that's kind of the 0:16:56.200 --> 0:16:58.480 lingering question now heading into twenty twenty three is what 0:16:58.640 --> 0:17:01.080 does happen at quarterback? Are they Is it going to 0:17:01.120 --> 0:17:03.280 be Trey Lance under center? Is it going to be 0:17:03.320 --> 0:17:05.960 Sam Donold? Is Brock pretty gonna come back? I don't 0:17:06.000 --> 0:17:09.080 recall a team with this high of championship aspirations having 0:17:09.160 --> 0:17:10.720 such a question mark at that key position. 0:17:10.840 --> 0:17:13.840 Jordan, I have some theories, and I'm gonna sound like 0:17:14.119 --> 0:17:18.280 I am on mushrooms. I'm not, but I have some 0:17:18.400 --> 0:17:21.920 theories if you would like to hear them. Okay, so okay, 0:17:22.119 --> 0:17:26.600 So first and foremost, I think that looking at the 0:17:26.680 --> 0:17:30.640 San Francisco forty nine ers is the ultimate like roar 0:17:30.720 --> 0:17:33.840 shock test. I think it's like ink blots, right, because 0:17:34.320 --> 0:17:37.080 you could either see it'll tell you whether you're an 0:17:37.119 --> 0:17:41.399 optimist or pessimist. Because you could either see what happened 0:17:41.400 --> 0:17:45.359 to them at quarterback last year and be like, Wow, 0:17:45.920 --> 0:17:50.040 Kyle Shanahan just wrecks his quarterbacks. You could you could 0:17:50.119 --> 0:17:52.560 be that way, or you could look at it and 0:17:52.720 --> 0:17:55.840 you could say, wow, look at what they're able to 0:17:55.920 --> 0:18:01.280 do with literally anybody at quarterback, you know, like it's 0:18:01.359 --> 0:18:04.440 a total it is a total test, psychological test of 0:18:04.600 --> 0:18:07.520 like how you're wired as a person to look at 0:18:07.560 --> 0:18:10.080 that roster and what your instant reaction is. 0:18:10.160 --> 0:18:13.640 So that's one theory. My second theory is that Kyle. 0:18:13.480 --> 0:18:18.920 Shanahan knows this and understands this and has decided over 0:18:19.000 --> 0:18:22.760 the years to instead of necessarily thinking about the quarterback 0:18:22.840 --> 0:18:26.080 position as the position that runs the show on the team, 0:18:26.080 --> 0:18:28.400 which I think every coach does, but in a way, 0:18:28.960 --> 0:18:32.720 I think he's actually created a run game that has 0:18:32.800 --> 0:18:34.720 become his quarterback if that makes sense. 0:18:35.200 --> 0:18:36.760 Like the run game is. 0:18:37.080 --> 0:18:40.760 You can there's so much more predictability in how you 0:18:40.920 --> 0:18:46.320 can take concept and put it into tangibility like lot 0:18:46.440 --> 0:18:50.200 something live that's actually happening, living, breathing, something that's actually 0:18:50.640 --> 0:18:55.520 being deployed with a quarterback. Sometimes even if everything seems 0:18:55.560 --> 0:18:58.560 like it's lined up perfectly, an edge rusher comes out 0:18:58.600 --> 0:19:01.200 of nowhere and hits the elbow of the guy, or 0:19:01.840 --> 0:19:05.920 you know, you know you you you take off on 0:19:06.040 --> 0:19:08.040 the run and then you know you don't slide the 0:19:08.080 --> 0:19:10.479 right way and something happened. You know, anything could anything 0:19:10.520 --> 0:19:14.760 could happen even if everything is set up so perfectly. 0:19:14.800 --> 0:19:17.359 And it's not to say that the run game is 0:19:17.840 --> 0:19:21.560 a total predictable factor. It's just that with the way 0:19:21.640 --> 0:19:25.840 that his quarterbacks have been operating, it seems like taking 0:19:26.160 --> 0:19:31.600 the element of control and the element of multiplicity, the 0:19:31.680 --> 0:19:35.200 element of here's how broad a playbook we have in 0:19:35.359 --> 0:19:38.080 this phase versus maybe what they're asking the quarterback to do. 0:19:38.520 --> 0:19:41.200 It just seemed to me like that is the way 0:19:41.600 --> 0:19:45.879 that he has taken, uh the idea of the engine 0:19:45.920 --> 0:19:48.800 that makes the offense go, and he's lifted it off 0:19:48.880 --> 0:19:52.000 the quarterback and put it directly into the run game 0:19:52.359 --> 0:19:55.880 and made the run game his quarterback. And it's it's 0:19:55.920 --> 0:20:00.720 interesting because I think that that's something definitely that probably 0:20:00.840 --> 0:20:03.920 will get them through the first part of the season 0:20:03.960 --> 0:20:06.160 because there is so much unknown. I mean, we don't 0:20:06.240 --> 0:20:08.240 know what we don't know. I don't think any of 0:20:08.320 --> 0:20:11.159 us have seen Trey Lance, you know, rep Live. We 0:20:11.200 --> 0:20:14.560 won't see that until in terms of this year. We 0:20:14.600 --> 0:20:17.119 won't see that until training camp. We won't see that 0:20:17.280 --> 0:20:20.159 until you know, I don't I don't even want to 0:20:20.160 --> 0:20:22.080 think about what the conversation will be like if he 0:20:22.160 --> 0:20:23.840 plays in the preseason, you know what I mean, because 0:20:23.840 --> 0:20:26.600 it's so such a difference of opinion on whether players 0:20:26.640 --> 0:20:28.879 should be playing, you know, and and so we we 0:20:29.040 --> 0:20:31.720 just don't know. I am interested to see what steps 0:20:31.720 --> 0:20:33.520 he's taken forward. You know, the reports out of forty 0:20:33.600 --> 0:20:35.560 nine ers camp and it's been the spring have been 0:20:35.600 --> 0:20:39.720 really positive. But you also you can't ignore what rock 0:20:39.760 --> 0:20:43.240 Perty accomplished for this team. And you know, I think 0:20:43.320 --> 0:20:47.240 that one thing about that locker room from Afar, watching 0:20:47.280 --> 0:20:51.320 from Afar is it seems like they're all already used 0:20:51.400 --> 0:20:51.639 to this. 0:20:52.960 --> 0:20:54.760 So you they're all all the. 0:20:54.800 --> 0:20:57.440 Other guys are probably seemed to be of the mindset 0:20:57.480 --> 0:20:59.719 where it's like, Okay, put someone in there, and we'll 0:20:59.840 --> 0:21:02.760 rally behind that person, you know, because we like all 0:21:02.840 --> 0:21:04.560 of these guys, and so you put someone in there, 0:21:04.600 --> 0:21:07.720 will rally behind this person. Again, because it's not necessarily 0:21:07.760 --> 0:21:10.200 about that person. It's more about the functionality of the 0:21:10.400 --> 0:21:14.040 entire system and all of the other people working in sync, 0:21:14.200 --> 0:21:16.520 and especially that run game being able to do what 0:21:16.640 --> 0:21:19.240 it does and really control games in that way. And 0:21:19.400 --> 0:21:22.000 so I think that that's been fascinating is as things 0:21:22.080 --> 0:21:24.920 have gone so out of control in terms of what's 0:21:25.000 --> 0:21:28.359 happened to that position over in that building. You've almost 0:21:28.440 --> 0:21:33.440 watched Kyle Shanahan go find a way to like bring 0:21:33.520 --> 0:21:37.200 in some stability however possible, and like that has meant 0:21:37.480 --> 0:21:41.119 really shifting some of that identity of what they do 0:21:41.760 --> 0:21:42.600 to that run game. 0:21:42.720 --> 0:21:44.399 So those are my crazy theories. 0:21:45.280 --> 0:21:47.479 No, it's great. It reminds me of like one thing 0:21:47.480 --> 0:21:49.080 I always do every summer is I look at each 0:21:49.119 --> 0:21:51.000 team and think about what the trap door scenarios are, 0:21:51.080 --> 0:21:52.720 Like what could happen to this team where they could 0:21:52.720 --> 0:21:54.920 go from potential playoff berth to like, you know, picking 0:21:54.960 --> 0:21:56.520 top five in the draft. What could happen to the 0:21:56.600 --> 0:21:59.280 roster that would cause that? And talking about you know, 0:21:59.359 --> 0:22:01.720 your theories there with Kyle Shanahan, it sounds like, you know, 0:22:01.840 --> 0:22:04.600 you mentioned you can't necessarily predict everything, but it's almost 0:22:04.640 --> 0:22:06.800 full proof in the sense that you have a bigger 0:22:06.960 --> 0:22:10.520 range of you know, potential I guess for people that 0:22:10.760 --> 0:22:13.920 input their production to make it more widespread, so you 0:22:14.000 --> 0:22:16.480 don't have that one situation where you know, if Patrick 0:22:16.560 --> 0:22:18.679 Mahomes goes down, the Chiefs all of a sudden are 0:22:18.720 --> 0:22:20.520 a way different football team than the Niners was in 0:22:20.560 --> 0:22:23.480 their quarterback and you know, we had McDaniel before. I 0:22:23.480 --> 0:22:24.840 think it was when he was still with the Niners, 0:22:24.880 --> 0:22:27.200 talking about the investment they made on the offensive line, 0:22:27.480 --> 0:22:29.560 even going into last year on paper, like the Niners 0:22:29.600 --> 0:22:32.280 offensive line was Trent Williams and then five or four 0:22:32.280 --> 0:22:34.080 other guys that you didn't really know much about and 0:22:34.240 --> 0:22:36.320 they still produce at a high level. Then you go 0:22:36.359 --> 0:22:37.960 out and you get Christian McCaffrey, and I think that 0:22:38.040 --> 0:22:40.520 trade was more valuable to them than really anybody else 0:22:40.840 --> 0:22:42.760 in the NFL because of all of that. So it's 0:22:42.800 --> 0:22:44.760 kind of cool to see these teams that zig when 0:22:44.760 --> 0:22:47.720 everybody else SAgs, but do it successfully because we've seen 0:22:47.720 --> 0:22:49.480 it happen before where it didn't work out. But you 0:22:49.560 --> 0:22:51.880 get the Bill Belichicks of the world, the Kyle Shanahan's 0:22:51.880 --> 0:22:53.880 of the world, it does seem to work out for them. 0:22:54.119 --> 0:22:55.679 And where also I think it works out for him. 0:22:55.720 --> 0:22:57.520 And this is kind of my next my next portion 0:22:57.640 --> 0:23:00.200 of my questions I had for you. Was one of 0:23:00.240 --> 0:23:02.200 the best skill groups I think in the National football 0:23:02.240 --> 0:23:05.040 that you talk about Adam Christian McCaffrey obviously, but Brandon I, 0:23:05.119 --> 0:23:08.040 you can Deebo, Samuel, George Kittle. Is there a better 0:23:08.119 --> 0:23:10.720 group running back, tight end receiver wise than this one 0:23:10.800 --> 0:23:11.879 right now in the NFL. 0:23:12.520 --> 0:23:14.840 You know, in the in the entire league, you know, 0:23:14.920 --> 0:23:17.320 I would look at I'd probably look at Miami. Just 0:23:17.440 --> 0:23:22.240 the speed element is is crazy. Yeah, you are welcome. No, 0:23:23.480 --> 0:23:24.879 I forgot where I was for a second. 0:23:24.920 --> 0:23:25.960 That wasn't even intentional. 0:23:26.000 --> 0:23:28.080 I was like, yeah, that was really should be talking about. 0:23:31.400 --> 0:23:33.640 But like, and you know, I think you obviously you've 0:23:33.640 --> 0:23:35.960 got to respect the rams and what the RAMS do. 0:23:36.040 --> 0:23:38.639 You've got to respect the way that they Matthew Stafford 0:23:38.640 --> 0:23:39.920 and Cooper Cup that dynamic. 0:23:40.040 --> 0:23:41.159 You really do have to respect it. 0:23:41.280 --> 0:23:45.040 But in terms of the the diversity of concept and 0:23:45.119 --> 0:23:48.440 the multiplicity that exists right all out of the same 0:23:49.040 --> 0:23:51.160 the same pre snap looks, all out of the same 0:23:51.320 --> 0:23:54.800 pre snap concepts where you you've watched them go heavier 0:23:54.880 --> 0:23:57.000 personnel pre snap, but then they're doing all kinds of 0:23:57.160 --> 0:24:00.800 crazy stuff, you know, out of those pre snap looks, 0:24:01.240 --> 0:24:04.920 and it's it's fascinating because it goes back to it's 0:24:05.040 --> 0:24:08.480 not just that they're great skill players, they also do 0:24:08.720 --> 0:24:11.760 so many things. When you have those hand in hand, 0:24:11.880 --> 0:24:15.520 it deepens your playbook in a way that is an 0:24:15.520 --> 0:24:16.560 absolute nightmare. 0:24:16.640 --> 0:24:17.440 For other people to cover. 0:24:17.560 --> 0:24:19.480 And that's why I do think you look at them 0:24:19.600 --> 0:24:22.240 as you know, ranked among the top in terms of 0:24:22.280 --> 0:24:24.520 their skill positions, ranked among the top of the league, 0:24:25.000 --> 0:24:27.359 is because it's not just that they can hurt you 0:24:27.480 --> 0:24:30.600 in the air. It's also all of these receivers become 0:24:30.920 --> 0:24:34.760 extensions of the run game too. Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel. 0:24:34.880 --> 0:24:37.720 I mean either one of them could line up, you know, 0:24:38.160 --> 0:24:41.119 split out wide on the line of scrimmage, or or 0:24:41.200 --> 0:24:43.280 they could line up in a stack on the line 0:24:43.320 --> 0:24:45.720 of scrimmage or a bunch, or they could be in motion, 0:24:46.080 --> 0:24:48.440 or they could be in the backfield. And when you 0:24:48.600 --> 0:24:50.760 have to account for so many different things, but not 0:24:51.000 --> 0:24:53.520 just with one player doing so many different things like 0:24:53.560 --> 0:24:55.240 we used to see in the league several years, you know, 0:24:55.480 --> 0:24:59.560 years and years ago, not just one positionless player quote unquote, 0:24:59.560 --> 0:25:04.240 but higher skill group full of positionless players, you can't 0:25:05.280 --> 0:25:08.159 You almost have to revert back to your most simple 0:25:08.320 --> 0:25:11.520 basic forms of defense to account for it because you 0:25:11.640 --> 0:25:15.080 don't know what tendencies to play because they could do anything. 0:25:15.400 --> 0:25:18.000 So I think when I look at the ability, first 0:25:18.040 --> 0:25:19.399 of all, it is obviously there of the players, but 0:25:19.440 --> 0:25:21.680 when I look at how it broadens and deepens the 0:25:21.800 --> 0:25:24.520 playbook itself. Again, we talked about cohesiveness that we saw 0:25:24.520 --> 0:25:29.160 in Seattle last year. That's where player and system match 0:25:29.359 --> 0:25:32.440 really really well together, and that makes it an overall 0:25:32.640 --> 0:25:33.800 collective threat. 0:25:34.280 --> 0:25:35.280 That definitely is. 0:25:35.680 --> 0:25:38.000 Again, it's something that people have to account for in 0:25:38.119 --> 0:25:39.800 ways that with other teams they just don't. 0:25:40.600 --> 0:25:42.760 In one of the ways you complement that strong running game, 0:25:42.800 --> 0:25:44.480 and like you mentioned, everyone that has a part in 0:25:44.520 --> 0:25:46.760 that running game is with one of the best defenses 0:25:46.800 --> 0:25:48.920 in the NFL. And I think you look at, excuse me, 0:25:49.240 --> 0:25:51.960 this group this year they lose Amigo Ryans. I'm most 0:25:52.000 --> 0:25:53.959 curious to hear your opinion on how Steve Wilks will 0:25:54.040 --> 0:25:56.280 kind of, you know, put his fingerprints. And I think 0:25:56.359 --> 0:25:59.280 when the whole process of defensive coordinators kind of picking 0:25:59.320 --> 0:26:01.760 their spots was, you know, being reported out there, what 0:26:01.920 --> 0:26:03.720 I saw, who knows what's what's truth and what's not, 0:26:03.960 --> 0:26:05.720 was that the forty nine ers were looking to really 0:26:05.760 --> 0:26:08.439 stay more into their system they had previously rather than 0:26:08.520 --> 0:26:10.920 going after a Vic Fangio who might you know, alter 0:26:11.119 --> 0:26:14.000 things quite dramatically, and so Steve Wilkes kind of brings 0:26:14.040 --> 0:26:17.359 that same mindset, so that concept and also pair with 0:26:17.440 --> 0:26:20.280 adding Javon Hargrave, which to me seems almost unfair for 0:26:20.359 --> 0:26:21.240 this defensive line. 0:26:22.200 --> 0:26:24.119 Yeah, And what people forget though is like when when 0:26:24.320 --> 0:26:26.520 Robert Salo was there and then also when Dmiko was there, 0:26:26.600 --> 0:26:28.639 like they did they do play quarters like they do 0:26:28.800 --> 0:26:30.840 play those types of sort of like what we think 0:26:30.960 --> 0:26:33.200 now is like Fangio esque before that a little don 0:26:33.280 --> 0:26:35.600 kper Zy, like we think about those things as like 0:26:35.680 --> 0:26:39.359 Vic Fangio, right, but and like the modernization of this league. 0:26:39.440 --> 0:26:42.120 But you know, back when when Robert Salo was there, 0:26:42.280 --> 0:26:45.600 like he and he and Kyle Shanahan, like they put 0:26:45.640 --> 0:26:47.640 in some of that stuff and then started like sort 0:26:47.640 --> 0:26:50.080 of broadening it. So even though you're like Steve Wilkes 0:26:50.400 --> 0:26:53.560 is considered to be a little bit more, uh, he's 0:26:53.640 --> 0:26:55.840 not in that He's not necessarily in that quote unquote 0:26:55.880 --> 0:26:59.200 Fangio tree that is very very like hot to hire 0:26:59.359 --> 0:27:03.200 right now and league he also, I mean, this is 0:27:03.240 --> 0:27:06.359 stuff that's that's been happening, right and so I think that. 0:27:06.440 --> 0:27:07.280 That's really interesting. 0:27:07.359 --> 0:27:10.680 What I'm most interested in is so Steve Wilkes, he's 0:27:10.840 --> 0:27:14.360 he's a coverage guy, Like he is someone who that's 0:27:14.400 --> 0:27:16.880 his background as a DB's coach. I covered him in Carolina. 0:27:17.720 --> 0:27:20.120 Cannot speak more highly of him as a human being. 0:27:20.720 --> 0:27:24.119 And he's also someone he is He's going to be 0:27:24.280 --> 0:27:29.920 the right personality, the right presence to build things because 0:27:29.960 --> 0:27:32.000 sometimes you get coordinated. And this is the reason why 0:27:32.200 --> 0:27:35.080 Mike McDaniel goes out and hired Victango, which he talked 0:27:35.080 --> 0:27:37.320 about is like, you want someone who can challenge you 0:27:37.480 --> 0:27:39.680 and and challenge you to think about new things and 0:27:39.800 --> 0:27:42.960 can present a really tough to defend look in practice 0:27:43.359 --> 0:27:46.680 that you're also troubleshooting. And Steve Wilkes has that autonomy, 0:27:46.760 --> 0:27:49.639 has that control, has that ability to do those types 0:27:49.640 --> 0:27:51.880 of things in a way that hey, you know, you're 0:27:51.920 --> 0:27:54.640 bringing elements from the stuff that they've already run before, 0:27:54.720 --> 0:27:58.200 but you're also thinking about different voids, different structures, different 0:27:58.240 --> 0:28:02.080 ways to sort of hassle or even just simply reacting 0:28:02.240 --> 0:28:05.399 to the offense in different ways than maybe they'd had 0:28:05.480 --> 0:28:08.119 in the building before. So it's that combination, that blend 0:28:08.200 --> 0:28:12.479 of what can you add to this that maybe they 0:28:12.600 --> 0:28:16.080 didn't have and also, you know, running those foundational principles 0:28:16.119 --> 0:28:18.720 that they installed, you know, years ago, back in eighteen 0:28:18.760 --> 0:28:21.159 and nineteen with Robert Sala. I think that's going to 0:28:21.200 --> 0:28:24.600 be really interesting. And Wilkes is a like I said, 0:28:24.640 --> 0:28:27.640 he's a coverages guy, so I don't doubt that you're 0:28:27.640 --> 0:28:30.080 going to see some fun stuff out of them. And 0:28:30.280 --> 0:28:32.240 again we talked about like raising floors. So he's a 0:28:32.320 --> 0:28:35.320 really great coach because a really great teacher. I think 0:28:35.400 --> 0:28:37.800 that was like it somehow went a little bit under 0:28:37.800 --> 0:28:40.080 the radar that they that they hired him, but I 0:28:40.120 --> 0:28:43.880 think that was a fantastic hire. And frankly it had 0:28:43.960 --> 0:28:45.760 to happen because the forty nine ers, their window is 0:28:45.840 --> 0:28:47.640 now right Like I saw this a couple of years 0:28:47.640 --> 0:28:50.720 ago with Rams, you have to go now, and I 0:28:50.800 --> 0:28:51.719 think that's where they're at. 0:28:51.800 --> 0:28:53.600 So you have to bring in somebody who's going to. 0:28:54.120 --> 0:28:56.760 Immediately pick things up and immediately get you, you know, 0:28:56.960 --> 0:28:58.320 that much closer to where you need to be. 0:28:58.760 --> 0:29:01.040 Yes, speaking of that window now, they have so many 0:29:01.280 --> 0:29:03.120 veteran players that are just at the peak of their 0:29:03.560 --> 0:29:05.440 primes right now, and it makes the most sense, like 0:29:05.480 --> 0:29:07.440 a Christian McCaffrey. And I'm looking at their draft picks 0:29:07.520 --> 0:29:09.520 right here. All their top three picks this last year 0:29:09.520 --> 0:29:12.080 were traded to Miami and Carolina for Trey Lanson for 0:29:12.160 --> 0:29:15.280 Christian McCaffrey. So, like you talked about, the urgency is 0:29:15.400 --> 0:29:18.440 now Javon Hargave, I thought was a great now urgency 0:29:18.520 --> 0:29:20.840 pick to get Sam Donald to can just give you 0:29:20.920 --> 0:29:23.000 more in that quarterback room. Really right now, the only 0:29:23.120 --> 0:29:25.000 healthy quarterback we know for sure that's at the time 0:29:25.120 --> 0:29:27.960 being to Sean Gibson, Cleveland Ferrell, and Colton mckibitt some 0:29:28.000 --> 0:29:31.080 other offseason editions there for the San Francisco forty nine ers. 0:29:31.160 --> 0:29:32.719 Let's go ahead and take our last break right here 0:29:32.760 --> 0:29:34.560 and come back on the other side and talk about 0:29:34.560 --> 0:29:36.760 the other two teams here in the division. We'll talk 0:29:36.840 --> 0:29:40.640 Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams with Jordan rod rig Today, 0:29:40.720 --> 0:29:43.000 my guest from the Athletic on the Drive Time podcast, 0:29:43.120 --> 0:29:45.400 your host Travis Wingfield. We are brought to you by 0:29:45.480 --> 0:29:50.760 Auto Nation. Let's go ahead and pick it back up 0:29:50.800 --> 0:29:53.400 here in the NFC West, talking about the other two 0:29:53.480 --> 0:29:57.200 teams after Seattle and San Francisco and the Arizona Cardinal team, Jordan, 0:29:57.240 --> 0:29:59.960 that you talked about kind of not really understanding where 0:30:00.080 --> 0:30:01.760 they're at in their cycle right now. We know that 0:30:01.840 --> 0:30:05.000 they've been aggressive in terms of adding draft capital for 0:30:05.080 --> 0:30:08.120 future years. And I think it starts at the quarterback position, 0:30:08.240 --> 0:30:10.720 which most teams it does, and obviously a new head 0:30:10.760 --> 0:30:13.840 coach there as well with Jonathan Gannon. But I'm most 0:30:13.920 --> 0:30:16.800 curious to know what their plan is heading into the 0:30:16.880 --> 0:30:19.960 year at quarterback because Kyler's not going to play right away, right, 0:30:20.000 --> 0:30:22.000 so is it a pup thing? And if that's what 0:30:22.120 --> 0:30:25.080 he does, then if they start off slow, what's the 0:30:25.520 --> 0:30:27.520 you know, I guess the urgency and bringing him back 0:30:27.520 --> 0:30:29.720 into the lineup. To me, it's so fascinating because I 0:30:29.760 --> 0:30:31.680 haven't seen a team that's been in this position where 0:30:31.680 --> 0:30:33.320 they're kind of you know, reset in the decks, but 0:30:33.480 --> 0:30:36.160 have this highly paid, franchise level quarterback. What do you 0:30:36.200 --> 0:30:37.880 make of that situation right now in Arizona. 0:30:38.200 --> 0:30:39.400 Yeah, that's why it's unique. 0:30:39.480 --> 0:30:42.720 And you know, again when we talk about like existential crisis, 0:30:42.800 --> 0:30:46.080 I just don't think we know what their identity is 0:30:46.120 --> 0:30:48.120 going to be on the field. Like I think structurally 0:30:48.160 --> 0:30:49.720 it's pretty it's pretty obvious to see what. 0:30:49.720 --> 0:30:53.360 They're doing, like they're totally resetting other than again at 0:30:53.400 --> 0:30:56.960 that quarterback position, and they're stockpiling for twenty twenty four 0:30:57.080 --> 0:31:00.560 to really have good positioning, whether honestly, whether it is 0:31:00.600 --> 0:31:02.720 a quarterback that they want to go after in the 0:31:02.800 --> 0:31:04.440 next year's draft class is supposed to be. 0:31:04.640 --> 0:31:06.440 We always say the next year's draft class is the 0:31:06.480 --> 0:31:08.680 best quarterback draft class, but this one really is, like 0:31:09.000 --> 0:31:12.520 this one's really great, right So it's and I think 0:31:12.560 --> 0:31:15.240 that's interesting. But yeah, in terms of on the field, 0:31:15.320 --> 0:31:17.040 we just don't know what they're going to look like 0:31:17.200 --> 0:31:18.560 or who they feel like they want to be. And 0:31:18.600 --> 0:31:20.800 it feels like, you know, players are smart if you 0:31:21.040 --> 0:31:23.560 kind of are set up structurally the way that they are. 0:31:23.720 --> 0:31:25.480 I mean, how are you going to convince players to 0:31:26.160 --> 0:31:28.400 play for you if you are setting up the decks, 0:31:28.760 --> 0:31:31.520 you know, structurally the way that you clearly are. On 0:31:31.600 --> 0:31:33.040 the other side of it, what's the messaging? 0:31:33.120 --> 0:31:33.280 You know? 0:31:33.400 --> 0:31:37.960 They they had some friction in that NFLPA survey that 0:31:38.040 --> 0:31:40.719 came out earlier this year about like paying for your 0:31:40.760 --> 0:31:43.200 own gym time like things like that, where it's like, Okay, 0:31:43.520 --> 0:31:44.920 what is the messaging happening? 0:31:45.080 --> 0:31:46.200 And we just don't know that yet. 0:31:46.240 --> 0:31:47.840 We don't know because we don't have enough data yet, 0:31:47.920 --> 0:31:51.760 right So, but in terms of the quarterback situation, I 0:31:51.840 --> 0:31:54.320 always tend to think about it like I'm a little 0:31:54.360 --> 0:31:57.320 more empathetic to like the player, and if I'm Kyler, 0:31:57.880 --> 0:32:02.400 I'm like I'm you know, and I'm sort of almost 0:32:03.320 --> 0:32:05.960 almost like forcing the issue if it were me in 0:32:06.080 --> 0:32:08.960 terms of not wanting to rush back, because first of all, 0:32:09.160 --> 0:32:11.880 why if you're not gonna if you don't even know. 0:32:12.360 --> 0:32:15.040 Let's this is a hypothetical obviously, but like let's say 0:32:15.120 --> 0:32:17.280 you start to think, Okay, maybe they are really going 0:32:17.320 --> 0:32:19.480 to try to go after a quarterback. This is a 0:32:19.600 --> 0:32:24.360 new coach, this is a new GM, the organization has 0:32:24.440 --> 0:32:27.640 sort of been going through this, the structural change quarterbacks. 0:32:27.640 --> 0:32:29.880 A lot of times you just don't know if the 0:32:30.080 --> 0:32:34.400 inherited quarterback will stay. We've seen it happen before. If 0:32:34.440 --> 0:32:36.719 I'm just thinking about this logically and I'm thinking, oh, 0:32:36.800 --> 0:32:41.920 maybe they want to go get somebody new, then I'm 0:32:41.960 --> 0:32:44.400 thinking to myself, Okay, well, I have to do everything 0:32:44.480 --> 0:32:47.239 I can to make sure I am as and am 0:32:47.320 --> 0:32:50.640 in as great a shape as possible and mentally everywhere 0:32:50.680 --> 0:32:52.360 I need to be in order. 0:32:52.240 --> 0:32:55.200 To be ready for that if it does happen. And 0:32:55.320 --> 0:32:57.760 so for him, I think it's so complicated. 0:32:58.120 --> 0:33:00.200 Like I said, I am empathetic to feeling like that 0:33:00.320 --> 0:33:02.400 because in one sense, you can't wait to get back 0:33:02.480 --> 0:33:04.920 right and compete with your with your teammates and and 0:33:05.320 --> 0:33:10.320 and to really show the organization, show the fan base, 0:33:10.360 --> 0:33:12.800 show the coaching staff that like, you can do this, 0:33:13.000 --> 0:33:14.440 that you can lead, that you can come back from 0:33:14.480 --> 0:33:17.120 this injury and be the franchise guy and all of that. 0:33:17.520 --> 0:33:18.840 But on the other hand, it's like. 0:33:19.120 --> 0:33:22.360 You're gonna have that that that feeling, that voice in 0:33:22.400 --> 0:33:24.920 the back of your head that's saying, are they doing 0:33:25.040 --> 0:33:27.480 all of this just to move on from me? What 0:33:27.640 --> 0:33:29.880 does my future look like? You're going to have those 0:33:29.960 --> 0:33:31.960 those real thoughts. You're a human being, right, and so 0:33:32.480 --> 0:33:35.560 I am empathetic to that situation. And frankly, that's the 0:33:35.560 --> 0:33:38.680 biggest question surrounding this this franchise. I think it's it's 0:33:38.760 --> 0:33:41.440 been almost to the point of like embarrassing at times 0:33:41.560 --> 0:33:44.040 how clear they've made it that they aren't committed to 0:33:44.160 --> 0:33:46.240 Kyler Murray in some in some ways, like the money 0:33:46.280 --> 0:33:48.600 says one thing, but like all the stuff that came 0:33:48.640 --> 0:33:50.880 out before the contract was signed, and then some of 0:33:51.000 --> 0:33:52.960 this teammates have been out and then like you know, 0:33:53.520 --> 0:33:55.920 some of the stuff that was leaked and and you know, 0:33:56.680 --> 0:33:59.680 it's just been you have If we have that doubt 0:33:59.680 --> 0:34:01.680 on the app outside, imagine how he's feeling on the 0:34:01.880 --> 0:34:03.160 on the inside of the organization. 0:34:03.360 --> 0:34:03.479 Right. 0:34:04.040 --> 0:34:05.920 And so that's where I think that is the number 0:34:05.960 --> 0:34:08.440 one question. And and then you think about what the 0:34:08.520 --> 0:34:10.600 effect that is to the rest of the roster. If 0:34:10.680 --> 0:34:14.719 that question is has not been answered. How are you 0:34:14.840 --> 0:34:17.399 feeling about that? If you're another player in any part 0:34:17.440 --> 0:34:20.480 of this roster, how are you feeling about players like 0:34:20.719 --> 0:34:23.680 you know, and we say you know, players who are 0:34:23.719 --> 0:34:26.840 a little bit more veteran, you know, Buddha Baker or 0:34:27.040 --> 0:34:30.120 you know, You're you're looking at players who are like, Okay, 0:34:30.239 --> 0:34:30.839 what's the plan? 0:34:31.000 --> 0:34:33.000 Where do I fit? What's going to happen? 0:34:33.480 --> 0:34:36.120 And I think that's where this gets really complicated, is yes, 0:34:36.200 --> 0:34:39.920 that's the biggest question for them to answer moving forward. 0:34:40.360 --> 0:34:43.600 But the ripple effect of how you're addressing the messaging 0:34:43.760 --> 0:34:46.719 of that question in the meantime is going to be 0:34:47.040 --> 0:34:49.200 sort of like looming over this franchise for the next 0:34:49.239 --> 0:34:49.799 several months. 0:34:50.360 --> 0:34:52.840 You've already seen Buddha Baker request a trade, right, so 0:34:52.880 --> 0:34:55.200 that's out there is something that's already You've already made 0:34:55.239 --> 0:34:57.239 that impact in terms of you know how that ripple 0:34:57.239 --> 0:34:59.600 effect impacts the rest of the football team. And I 0:34:59.680 --> 0:35:02.279 forget which podcast it was, because you're the seventh one 0:35:02.280 --> 0:35:03.719 of these I've recorded so far in terms of the 0:35:03.760 --> 0:35:07.680 division previews. And somebody made a comment about the true 0:35:07.719 --> 0:35:10.719 Detective time as a flat circle Matthew McConaughey scene, and 0:35:10.920 --> 0:35:14.000 I'm thinking that applies here because not that long ago, 0:35:14.120 --> 0:35:16.160 Kyler Murray was the first overall pick when they had 0:35:16.200 --> 0:35:18.239 a quarterback taken in the top ten the previous year. 0:35:18.640 --> 0:35:20.120 And like you said, if they get the first pick 0:35:20.160 --> 0:35:21.520 in the draft and they fall in love with a 0:35:21.600 --> 0:35:23.799 Drake may or a Caleb Williams and that's where they 0:35:23.800 --> 0:35:25.800 want to go after, then all of a sudden, Kyler 0:35:25.840 --> 0:35:28.760 probably is their biggest trade chip to get more capital 0:35:28.840 --> 0:35:31.120 back in their pocket to replace that and replenish that 0:35:31.200 --> 0:35:34.040 draft capital. So it's so funny how this league comes 0:35:34.120 --> 0:35:35.840 and goes and the cycles that it follows through, and 0:35:36.120 --> 0:35:38.400 you know, repeat to self sometimes it's just that's why 0:35:38.480 --> 0:35:40.400 we love this league so dang much. And for this 0:35:40.560 --> 0:35:43.000 Cardinals team, I don't really have any veteran acquisitions to 0:35:43.080 --> 0:35:45.320 mention here, but I did like their draft. Paris Johnson 0:35:45.360 --> 0:35:48.880 bj Ojalari, Garrett Williams, Michael Wilson, all really good players 0:35:49.120 --> 0:35:50.520 in the top three rounds there for them. So I 0:35:50.560 --> 0:35:51.759 think we can go ahead and move on from the 0:35:51.840 --> 0:35:54.560 Cardinals and finally, Jordan get to the team that you 0:35:54.680 --> 0:35:56.839 know the most about here in the Los Angeles Rams. 0:35:56.840 --> 0:35:58.399 You've talked about him a little bit here so far. 0:35:58.760 --> 0:36:02.200 You've mentioned a lot of the really I guess bones 0:36:02.239 --> 0:36:04.200 and structure of their defense when we had you on 0:36:04.320 --> 0:36:06.720 for the Vic Fangio podcast or the Jalen Ramsey podcast, 0:36:06.760 --> 0:36:09.040 I should say, talking about him playing in that defense 0:36:09.120 --> 0:36:11.600 under brandis Tally and then last year as well. But 0:36:11.760 --> 0:36:14.040 the Rams here, it's again another one of these teams 0:36:14.080 --> 0:36:15.480 in this division that to me is in such a 0:36:15.600 --> 0:36:19.200 fascinating place because they're kind of opposite of the Cardinals 0:36:19.239 --> 0:36:21.640 in the sense that maybe on defense they have you know, 0:36:21.880 --> 0:36:23.839 you don't really know what you have there, but offensively 0:36:24.480 --> 0:36:26.480 you got one of the best receivers in the game, 0:36:26.600 --> 0:36:28.879 one of the best quarterbacks in the game. Still, I'm 0:36:28.920 --> 0:36:30.640 just curious how you make sense of all that. And 0:36:30.719 --> 0:36:32.879 you talked about how the Rams have kind of given 0:36:32.960 --> 0:36:34.640 their opinion that they believe they're going to compete more 0:36:34.680 --> 0:36:36.719 than the public thinks they are. I'm curious where you 0:36:36.800 --> 0:36:37.520 come down and all of that. 0:36:38.400 --> 0:36:39.920 Yeah, for me, I'm just. 0:36:41.760 --> 0:36:44.960 I've got to be skeptical, right because I've seen nothing 0:36:45.040 --> 0:36:48.319 but as the kids saying, the vibes are immaculate, right, 0:36:48.480 --> 0:36:51.719 everyone's happy. Sean mcvay's back, and he's doing better than 0:36:51.760 --> 0:36:54.040 he was through the course of this last season. I 0:36:54.120 --> 0:36:59.480 think he's really like sort of dove back into process, 0:36:59.600 --> 0:37:02.640 and he likes his coaching staff and you know, which 0:37:02.680 --> 0:37:05.799 he wasn't necessarily super thrilled with at times last year, 0:37:06.000 --> 0:37:07.759 and and then you know, fired a bunch of people 0:37:07.800 --> 0:37:09.640 and then brought in a bunch of people that you know, 0:37:09.800 --> 0:37:12.160 he actually had time to go through the full hiring process, 0:37:12.280 --> 0:37:16.440 and and they're really teaching things that the reason why 0:37:16.520 --> 0:37:19.799 I can't say definitively is because like, dude, they're going 0:37:19.880 --> 0:37:23.399 back to teaching kids how to do drills because they've 0:37:23.480 --> 0:37:26.920 got like over forty rookies on their roster right now 0:37:27.480 --> 0:37:30.400 and they're back in Like I'm sitting there and I'm like, oh, 0:37:30.440 --> 0:37:33.120 I've never seen this drill before. And then I'm realizing 0:37:33.160 --> 0:37:35.800 why I've never seen this drill before? And it's because 0:37:35.880 --> 0:37:38.360 they've all been they've always been such a veteran loaded 0:37:38.400 --> 0:37:41.480 team that this is literally the step before the step 0:37:41.680 --> 0:37:43.680 before the actual drill that happens. 0:37:44.080 --> 0:37:45.680 And it's it's been wild to see that. 0:37:45.800 --> 0:37:47.080 And so for me, it's like I've got to be 0:37:47.120 --> 0:37:49.320 skeptical just because you're you're a realist and you're like, 0:37:49.440 --> 0:37:52.239 there's so many young players on this roster. But I've 0:37:52.280 --> 0:37:56.120 also seen really good energy from this group overall. Like 0:37:56.320 --> 0:37:59.239 I think that I don't think it's even like we 0:37:59.360 --> 0:38:00.879 have a chip on our shoulder. We're going to prove 0:38:00.920 --> 0:38:03.600 everyone to everyone that we're not going to just completely 0:38:04.080 --> 0:38:06.200 suck the way that maybe the public thinks that we're 0:38:06.239 --> 0:38:07.960 going to be, or we're going to prove that we're 0:38:08.000 --> 0:38:09.200 not tanking or whatever. 0:38:09.280 --> 0:38:10.960 I don't even really think it's that. I think it's 0:38:11.040 --> 0:38:11.640 more so like. 0:38:13.400 --> 0:38:18.799 Everybody's really seems to be enjoying every what the days are, 0:38:20.040 --> 0:38:22.200 what learning is like, well, competing, They're they're opening up 0:38:22.280 --> 0:38:24.400 different parts of the practices in ways that maybe they 0:38:24.440 --> 0:38:28.280 hadn't before in terms of having that type of energy. 0:38:28.600 --> 0:38:31.640 The coaches that they've brought back Aubrey pleasant being a 0:38:31.800 --> 0:38:36.000 huge factor here. That type of energy is being brought 0:38:36.120 --> 0:38:39.600 every single day. They're allowing young players, even though they're 0:38:39.680 --> 0:38:42.120 wanting them obviously to stay within their technique. They're allowing 0:38:42.200 --> 0:38:45.880 young defensive players to really try to challenge the offense 0:38:47.360 --> 0:38:48.839 in terms of trying to make plays on the ball 0:38:48.920 --> 0:38:50.640 if they see a play to be made, and those 0:38:50.680 --> 0:38:53.000 types of things sometimes you'd see in the past with 0:38:53.160 --> 0:38:56.960 all veterans it's like, okay, install is install, right, We're not. 0:38:57.000 --> 0:38:59.120 We just kind of go through the motions and we're 0:38:59.160 --> 0:39:01.000 going to make sure we just at the mental checks 0:39:01.040 --> 0:39:03.359 done and we're not going to really quote unquote play 0:39:03.440 --> 0:39:06.600 because there's so much physical preservation to be done with that, 0:39:06.760 --> 0:39:08.279 especially with older players. 0:39:08.000 --> 0:39:11.040 This time of year. But in this way, in these practices, 0:39:11.160 --> 0:39:14.560 you're seeing this like youthful sort of vibrance and this 0:39:14.640 --> 0:39:16.360 youthful energy, and I think it's been really good for 0:39:16.680 --> 0:39:18.560 a lot of the more senior coaches on the staff. 0:39:19.120 --> 0:39:21.520 Sean McVay included, which is hilarious. At thirty seven, he's 0:39:21.560 --> 0:39:23.799 one of the more he's the senior coach. I'm staff right, 0:39:25.120 --> 0:39:26.239 but I will tell you there's going to be some 0:39:26.320 --> 0:39:27.479 bumps in the road. Again. 0:39:28.000 --> 0:39:30.200 The parallels to what Seattle did are are very clear. 0:39:30.920 --> 0:39:32.560 There's definitely going to be some bumps in the road. 0:39:32.600 --> 0:39:36.080 Their defense, it's going to have Aaron Donald, Ernest Jones, 0:39:36.080 --> 0:39:39.239 and Jordan Fuller as the only three as coming back 0:39:39.280 --> 0:39:43.879 with significant starting experience, and Jordan Fuller is coming off 0:39:43.920 --> 0:39:47.080 a pretty significant leg injury that held him back last year. 0:39:47.560 --> 0:39:51.120 And so when you're looking at that and you're looking 0:39:51.160 --> 0:39:53.520 at how many positions have to be filled by rookies, 0:39:53.760 --> 0:39:55.839 the offense is still kind of top heavy. I really 0:39:55.920 --> 0:39:57.759 like what they've done with their offensive line. They've sort 0:39:57.760 --> 0:40:00.840 of beefed up their offensive line. You could tell that 0:40:01.680 --> 0:40:04.640 they're moving away from that pure outside zone as they 0:40:04.719 --> 0:40:07.279 have been for years. They'll still have those elements in it, 0:40:07.400 --> 0:40:11.320 but they've got like people moving guards on the interior 0:40:11.440 --> 0:40:14.160 now and they're like trying to see if having a 0:40:14.200 --> 0:40:17.160 bigger center will work, and like it's just there. They're 0:40:17.320 --> 0:40:21.280 larger in that regard instead of those those really light, shifty, 0:40:21.360 --> 0:40:24.200 like horizontal movers that Sean had always gravitated toward in 0:40:24.239 --> 0:40:27.799 the past. And now you could see they're still top 0:40:27.840 --> 0:40:29.920 heavy in a lot of spots on the offense, but 0:40:30.800 --> 0:40:34.440 on the defense, you're going to see a lot of 0:40:34.560 --> 0:40:36.760 learning in public just like what we mentioned was Seattle 0:40:36.800 --> 0:40:38.360 at the top of this show. It's like, you're going 0:40:38.440 --> 0:40:39.920 to see a lot of learning in public, You're going 0:40:40.000 --> 0:40:41.600 to see a lot of coaching in public. You're going 0:40:41.640 --> 0:40:44.320 to see a lot of mistakes. But you're also what 0:40:44.480 --> 0:40:46.959 they hope is you're going to see these guys start 0:40:47.040 --> 0:40:49.120 to grow and really develop when they're thrown into the 0:40:49.200 --> 0:40:51.440 fire in that regard, and I think that's what the 0:40:51.760 --> 0:40:54.799 mindset is. It's like they I'm going to just put 0:40:54.840 --> 0:40:58.239 it bluntly, the defense was the sacrificial lamb of this 0:40:58.480 --> 0:41:01.520 like partial rebuild. They basically said, Okay, Raheem Morris, we 0:41:01.719 --> 0:41:03.239 know that you can handle this, and we know that 0:41:03.320 --> 0:41:05.680 you're a really good teacher, and we know that like 0:41:05.960 --> 0:41:09.000 in general, like just the mindset, like you can handle 0:41:09.120 --> 0:41:11.720 something like this, So good. 0:41:11.680 --> 0:41:15.080 Luck, yes and so, and that's kind of and that's 0:41:15.120 --> 0:41:15.680 what they're doing. 0:41:15.800 --> 0:41:18.239 And Sean keeps his offense and his quarterback and his 0:41:18.360 --> 0:41:21.319 receiver and all of those things right, and so that's 0:41:21.360 --> 0:41:24.120 how you make everybody happy while also understanding like they're 0:41:24.160 --> 0:41:26.200 going to try to rebuild on the fly, right, And 0:41:26.280 --> 0:41:27.719 so I think that's what you're looking at here. 0:41:27.760 --> 0:41:28.840 It's gonna be really interesting. 0:41:29.280 --> 0:41:31.800 I've heard when I'm talking to people in the organization 0:41:31.880 --> 0:41:34.120 over the last several months, I've heard things like, Oh, 0:41:34.400 --> 0:41:36.440 they're just gonna go be like the Golden State Warriors 0:41:36.480 --> 0:41:38.239 and shoot a bunch of threes and like not play 0:41:38.320 --> 0:41:40.320 defense or whatever. It's gonna be like, Oh, we're just 0:41:40.400 --> 0:41:42.359 not gonna We're gonna be like a run and gun team, 0:41:42.560 --> 0:41:44.480 Like we're just gonna try to outscore people. 0:41:44.840 --> 0:41:47.480 And I'm like, yeah, all right, well that's entertaining, so sign. 0:41:47.360 --> 0:41:50.520 Me up, you know absolutely, I mean, that's it if 0:41:50.520 --> 0:41:53.200 you're gonna compete with one side being lopside. I compare 0:41:53.200 --> 0:41:54.520 Todai that the offense is the way to go in 0:41:54.560 --> 0:41:56.560 today's NFL. So it makes the most sense, especially with 0:41:56.640 --> 0:41:59.000 the coach like Sean mcvab. But I do love the 0:41:59.120 --> 0:42:01.879 Raheem Morris, you know, possession on that defense in terms 0:42:01.880 --> 0:42:03.359 of having a guy that's been there and seen it all. 0:42:03.600 --> 0:42:05.560 And Jordan, when you said forty rookies, like I remember 0:42:05.600 --> 0:42:06.879 they had a lot and I had to go look 0:42:06.920 --> 0:42:08.680 at their page here and see to be sure, because 0:42:09.080 --> 0:42:12.239 you're right forty exactly. And I'm thinking about your work 0:42:12.320 --> 0:42:13.800 day on the last day of the draft when I 0:42:13.840 --> 0:42:17.480 had eleven day three picks and signed twenty six udfase. 0:42:17.680 --> 0:42:19.919 Holy moly, that you must have been busy for weeks 0:42:19.960 --> 0:42:23.400 after that, fourteen draft picks in total. Was your draft weekend? 0:42:23.480 --> 0:42:25.320 Just you went the Rams the draft. 0:42:25.200 --> 0:42:29.000 House, right, Yeah, I was there, I should say that, 0:42:29.120 --> 0:42:31.120 like in a really haunted way, like I was there. 0:42:32.640 --> 0:42:35.360 But yeah, it was wild that I had a thirty 0:42:35.719 --> 0:42:40.760 thirty two ounce hydro flask just full of this crazy 0:42:41.480 --> 0:42:46.360 cold brew that I make, and I had team employees 0:42:46.560 --> 0:42:48.880 come coming to find me to get some of that 0:42:49.040 --> 0:42:51.080 cold brew because it was like just a little extra 0:42:51.239 --> 0:42:55.280 rocket booster, you know, because of how crazy things were getting. 0:42:56.320 --> 0:42:59.279 Yeah, it was wild, man like. And you sit there 0:42:59.440 --> 0:43:00.600 so that here's the thing though, too. 0:43:00.640 --> 0:43:04.480 It's like you walk out to practice and again I 0:43:04.520 --> 0:43:07.280 can't emphasize enough the RAMS have been so top heavy 0:43:07.480 --> 0:43:11.120 for so many years in terms of those more experienced 0:43:11.239 --> 0:43:14.080 veteran core players that have been there forever, and now 0:43:14.600 --> 0:43:16.920 it's almost flipped on its head. So you walk out 0:43:16.960 --> 0:43:19.480 to practice and you're sitting there and you're like, oh 0:43:19.560 --> 0:43:22.640 my god, that guy was born in two thousand and one, Like, 0:43:23.200 --> 0:43:26.799 oh my god. All three specialists are rookies, Oh my god. 0:43:26.920 --> 0:43:28.320 And you sit there and you start to have like 0:43:28.440 --> 0:43:31.000 this personal crisis where you're like, oh my god, I 0:43:31.040 --> 0:43:33.880 don't recognize any of you, and you're looking at the 0:43:34.000 --> 0:43:36.200 roster and you're like, oh my god, there's so many 0:43:36.320 --> 0:43:36.879 young people. 0:43:37.800 --> 0:43:40.920 But yeah, it's it's been crazy. That day was crazy. 0:43:41.040 --> 0:43:43.480 It's been wild. But but and it's like, and it's crazy. 0:43:43.520 --> 0:43:45.720 It'll hit you at different times, like you'll they didn't 0:43:45.719 --> 0:43:48.680 even work on they hadn't even been working on kick 0:43:48.760 --> 0:43:50.840 returns at first, because you have to figure out the 0:43:50.880 --> 0:43:52.040 covered structures first. 0:43:52.440 --> 0:43:55.000 You have to do those first, and so it's. 0:43:54.880 --> 0:43:58.399 Like, oh, we're you know, I'm really watching a back 0:43:58.480 --> 0:44:01.279 to basics scenario. That's been fun too, because seeing in 0:44:01.320 --> 0:44:04.080 the process start from scratch is not a luxury I 0:44:04.200 --> 0:44:06.680 have had because they again, they've been so top heavy. 0:44:06.760 --> 0:44:08.719 So this is fun in a whole different way. 0:44:09.080 --> 0:44:11.640 Yeah. I always say that twenty nineteen training camp was 0:44:11.680 --> 0:44:14.800 one of my favorites because it really tested my scouts 0:44:14.800 --> 0:44:17.280 side in terms of, oh, there's an undrafted rookie cornerback 0:44:17.480 --> 0:44:19.759 they moved into safety today, let's see how he plays there. 0:44:19.840 --> 0:44:22.840 Like it's just watching football. To watch football it's not 0:44:22.840 --> 0:44:24.480 about the names of the decals on the side of 0:44:24.480 --> 0:44:26.440 the helmet. It's just straight up football, So you'll have 0:44:26.560 --> 0:44:29.160 fun with that. Let's go ahead and close this podcast 0:44:29.200 --> 0:44:30.759 before we hear from what you're working on here in 0:44:30.760 --> 0:44:33.719 a second with our division superlatives here, just give me 0:44:33.800 --> 0:44:35.040 the name. You don't have to tell me why you 0:44:35.120 --> 0:44:37.120 think this way. Maybe a brief description, but just a 0:44:37.200 --> 0:44:40.919 quick description on a few items here of the best 0:44:41.000 --> 0:44:42.880 in the NFC West. And we start where we always 0:44:42.960 --> 0:44:44.880 do with who do you think is the best quarterback 0:44:44.920 --> 0:44:45.600 in the NFC West? 0:44:45.680 --> 0:44:45.960 Right now? 0:44:46.840 --> 0:44:48.880 I am going to have to say Matthew Stafford. 0:44:49.719 --> 0:44:50.239 I have to. 0:44:50.360 --> 0:44:52.360 I shouldn't say it like that, but I think you 0:44:52.400 --> 0:44:56.080 know what I'm watching is a healthy, healthy Matthew Stafford, 0:44:56.120 --> 0:45:01.440 which is which is significant because also a happy Matthew Staffort. 0:45:01.800 --> 0:45:05.320 And it's also a problem solving and a troubleshooting and 0:45:05.320 --> 0:45:07.839 a collaborating Matthew Stafford. And as we've seen, that can 0:45:07.880 --> 0:45:10.560 be a very very dangerous thing for other teams when 0:45:10.640 --> 0:45:11.560 channeled in the right direction. 0:45:11.680 --> 0:45:12.560 So he's feeling great. 0:45:13.040 --> 0:45:15.880 He was there obviously through the entire the entire spring, 0:45:16.640 --> 0:45:19.240 even you know, voluntary stuff because it is so important 0:45:19.239 --> 0:45:21.680 for him to be getting the reps. Remember he didn't 0:45:21.719 --> 0:45:24.480 throw the entire spring last spring, and he's a full 0:45:24.560 --> 0:45:27.440 go this year. So I think that's significant and certainly 0:45:27.520 --> 0:45:28.680 something to watch for the Rams. 0:45:29.400 --> 0:45:31.560 That's where I have to go too. I'm curious about 0:45:31.640 --> 0:45:34.480 Kyler and his rehab and getting under an offensive minded 0:45:34.520 --> 0:45:36.719 coach that can maybe take his game to the next level. 0:45:36.760 --> 0:45:38.839 But we'll see. That's a different down the line type 0:45:38.840 --> 0:45:41.000 of answer there, But it's Stafford for me as well. 0:45:41.239 --> 0:45:43.160 How about and this one's a lot tougher. I think 0:45:43.320 --> 0:45:46.799 your best non quarterback player on offense in the NFC West. 0:45:47.920 --> 0:45:48.839 Oh, that is so hard. 0:45:48.920 --> 0:45:51.400 I always want to go with like alignment right because 0:45:51.640 --> 0:45:54.680 because they're so important, So I would just say that 0:45:54.840 --> 0:45:55.800 position in general. 0:45:56.560 --> 0:45:59.080 I really liked what Seattle did with their offensive line. 0:45:59.200 --> 0:46:01.680 Obviously Stamford Cisco you can never count them out with 0:46:01.760 --> 0:46:02.560 the offensive line. 0:46:02.880 --> 0:46:04.840 But in terms of if I'm going to. 0:46:04.840 --> 0:46:08.560 Say like pure skill player, I'm really curious to see 0:46:09.000 --> 0:46:12.800 with a full season with Christian McCaffrey and and Deebo 0:46:12.880 --> 0:46:16.480 Samuel together, I'm really curious to see how that shakes out, 0:46:16.560 --> 0:46:20.280 how that unfolds. There's so many great players in this division, 0:46:20.360 --> 0:46:22.120 so I certainly don't want to leave anybody out, but 0:46:22.200 --> 0:46:27.160 in terms of concepts, then concepts turning into tangible action 0:46:27.320 --> 0:46:30.000 and execution, like I'd really like to see how those 0:46:30.120 --> 0:46:34.040 two are utilized, how they interchange, how they compliment each other, 0:46:34.080 --> 0:46:36.759 and then how they they use some of those misdirection 0:46:36.880 --> 0:46:39.440 and those those pre snap and post snap book changes. 0:46:39.560 --> 0:46:41.399 I'm really curious to see how that goes this year. 0:46:42.120 --> 0:46:43.839 It's so funny how in stink we've done the entire 0:46:43.840 --> 0:46:46.320 podcast because you talk about I put George Kittle because 0:46:46.320 --> 0:46:48.160 of the extension of the offensive line that he is, 0:46:48.239 --> 0:46:50.160 on top of the passing game prowess that he offers. 0:46:50.239 --> 0:46:52.520 So we're in lockst up there again, not in terms 0:46:52.560 --> 0:46:54.440 of the player, but in terms of the thinking. And then, 0:46:54.520 --> 0:46:56.480 like you know, Trent Williams too, it's hard to ignore, guys, 0:46:56.520 --> 0:46:57.560 there's so many plays. 0:46:57.320 --> 0:47:00.000 And there's some caveats too, Like Cooper Cup it's obvious 0:47:00.040 --> 0:47:03.640 seas in that conversation obviously, but there's caveats because again, 0:47:03.719 --> 0:47:05.280 he's coming off that tightrope surgery. 0:47:05.600 --> 0:47:07.520 He hasn't been a full go. They're just onboarding him 0:47:07.520 --> 0:47:08.720 really carefully through the spring. 0:47:08.920 --> 0:47:11.800 So it's like it's almost like, Okay, well, ask me 0:47:11.880 --> 0:47:14.880 again in five months and maybe my answer will completely 0:47:14.960 --> 0:47:16.800 change when some of these guys are back and healthy. 0:47:17.120 --> 0:47:19.160 But yeah, Cooper Cup's always got to be in that conversation. 0:47:19.440 --> 0:47:20.960 Well, just like this one. Who I think you have 0:47:21.080 --> 0:47:22.960 three good options, but I think there's one that stands 0:47:22.960 --> 0:47:24.520 above the rest, and I think you might go in 0:47:24.600 --> 0:47:27.600 that direction. But we'll see top defensive player in this division. 0:47:27.880 --> 0:47:29.600 Oh, Aaron Donald in the world. 0:47:30.920 --> 0:47:35.320 I agree, I agree with you. 0:47:35.520 --> 0:47:35.960 I'll tell you what. 0:47:36.080 --> 0:47:36.839 I'll tell you what too. 0:47:36.920 --> 0:47:39.680 It's it's Aaron Donald obviously coming off his first and 0:47:39.800 --> 0:47:42.799 only significant injury he's ever had in his entire career. 0:47:42.880 --> 0:47:45.840 He's never missed time before. He played with broken ribs 0:47:45.920 --> 0:47:48.800 in Frozen Green Bay a couple. 0:47:48.560 --> 0:47:49.040 Of years ago. 0:47:49.239 --> 0:47:51.360 But this was something where it's like, ah, the season's 0:47:51.360 --> 0:47:53.279 in the toilet, time to go get tightrope, you know, 0:47:53.880 --> 0:47:55.839 not that he wanted to do this. It's like, Aaron, 0:47:55.920 --> 0:47:57.799 we should sit you down, you know what I mean, 0:47:57.880 --> 0:48:00.360 Like you have to convince someone who's wired like he 0:48:00.600 --> 0:48:04.520 is to sit and so and like so for me, though, 0:48:04.600 --> 0:48:07.800 it's like there's there's he's so competitive, there's got to 0:48:07.840 --> 0:48:10.719 be that just like that sour taste of like I 0:48:10.840 --> 0:48:13.360 am not having this be the last word, Like I 0:48:13.440 --> 0:48:15.480 Am not having this be the mark on my on 0:48:15.600 --> 0:48:18.440 my legacy, and I just I'm really it's gonna be. 0:48:18.520 --> 0:48:21.040 It's always fun watching him play, but I just I 0:48:21.200 --> 0:48:23.239 have to say it's like he did not lose a 0:48:23.280 --> 0:48:26.480 step last year, even when he was like the last man. 0:48:26.440 --> 0:48:29.440 Standing on that defensive line, did not lose a step. 0:48:29.680 --> 0:48:34.680 And I expect him to be really really itching to 0:48:35.280 --> 0:48:38.279 remind people who he is this year, which is going 0:48:38.360 --> 0:48:39.279 to be interesting to watch. 0:48:39.719 --> 0:48:42.840 Yeah, I'm not sure if you take between Donald Bosa 0:48:42.960 --> 0:48:44.920 and Fred Warner, if there's a better three sum of 0:48:45.080 --> 0:48:47.719 defensive players and a different division in the NFL right now, 0:48:47.760 --> 0:48:50.560 those those players are also this This division is awesome. 0:48:50.760 --> 0:48:52.200 I just I can't wait to see it play out 0:48:52.239 --> 0:48:54.160 this year. And let's go ahead and do two more here. 0:48:54.640 --> 0:48:58.160 You're best coach in the NFC West. I know it's 0:48:58.160 --> 0:48:59.480 such a loaded question. 0:48:59.360 --> 0:49:01.759 For you, I know, especially when we talk about this 0:49:01.840 --> 0:49:02.800 project I've been working on. 0:49:04.800 --> 0:49:07.040 You can pass, you can take the broadcasters pass. 0:49:07.400 --> 0:49:10.080 I'm going to take a broadcaster's past, And I think, 0:49:10.280 --> 0:49:14.240 and I think just because I just think The biggest 0:49:14.320 --> 0:49:17.280 thing is I would have said Pete Carroll last year, actually, 0:49:17.840 --> 0:49:19.359 if this was last year, I would have said Pete 0:49:19.400 --> 0:49:22.440 Carroll just because of the way that he totally subverted 0:49:22.600 --> 0:49:26.080 expectations and really re like there was so much ego 0:49:26.160 --> 0:49:28.640 in what he did in terms of they change, they 0:49:28.680 --> 0:49:31.800 completely changed their defense around as we've talked about. And 0:49:31.880 --> 0:49:35.160 then also, you know he's he's got a Sean mcvag 0:49:35.239 --> 0:49:37.800 guy calling his offense. Now, like that's a that's a 0:49:37.960 --> 0:49:39.800 lead your ego at the door, because we've known that 0:49:40.000 --> 0:49:43.960 that system has had Seattle's number, whether it's Kyle or 0:49:44.000 --> 0:49:46.560 Sean or whoever, Like, we know that that's had their 0:49:46.640 --> 0:49:48.759 number for and so to go and find that guy 0:49:48.840 --> 0:49:51.320 and bring that system into your own house. Like so 0:49:51.440 --> 0:49:53.600 last year, I would have said Pete Carroll. This year, 0:49:53.640 --> 0:49:55.600 I'm kind of like I'm going to take a broadcaster's 0:49:55.600 --> 0:49:56.839 pass because we'll see how it goes. 0:49:57.680 --> 0:49:59.600 No, it makes perfect sense. I mean, it's it's another 0:49:59.640 --> 0:50:01.759 thing where we have a bunch of really good options here. 0:50:01.760 --> 0:50:03.560 I mean, Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, bo if you know, 0:50:03.960 --> 0:50:06.359 the playoff runs one Super Bowl championship there as well. 0:50:06.400 --> 0:50:08.040 In an appearance in the big game as well, So 0:50:08.080 --> 0:50:09.919 I mean it's you really can't go wrong. 0:50:10.239 --> 0:50:12.680 Yeah, and Travis, like we know, like Sean's coming back 0:50:12.719 --> 0:50:16.279 from something significant too, you know, almost walking, you know, 0:50:16.600 --> 0:50:18.759 the whole thing is is like the personal stuff that 0:50:18.840 --> 0:50:20.359 he went through last year, Like that's all real. 0:50:20.800 --> 0:50:25.200 So it's it's like you need to see before you 0:50:25.239 --> 0:50:25.960 can actually make it. 0:50:26.040 --> 0:50:28.000 Just how is some It's almost like it's just with 0:50:28.080 --> 0:50:30.600 a player with an injury, like how is this person 0:50:30.719 --> 0:50:33.279 going to return from this crisis? How is this person 0:50:33.360 --> 0:50:36.800 going to return from adversity? And so it's almost like 0:50:36.880 --> 0:50:40.279 the Kyler the Cooper caveats, like I'll wait and see 0:50:40.320 --> 0:50:41.839 ask me in a few months, because I'll wait and see. 0:50:41.880 --> 0:50:43.640 I'll have to see for real, like how someone has 0:50:43.719 --> 0:50:45.360 returned from this situation that they were in. 0:50:45.840 --> 0:50:47.080 I'll hold to that. Maybe we'll come back in a 0:50:47.120 --> 0:50:48.719 couple months and then get that answer from you here 0:50:49.120 --> 0:50:50.680 down the line. So I will ask you for an 0:50:50.680 --> 0:50:52.160 answer on this one before we get out of here. 0:50:52.560 --> 0:50:54.200 Division champion this year? Who you taking? 0:50:54.640 --> 0:50:57.480 Probably San Francisco. Yeah, it's their time. They have to 0:50:57.600 --> 0:50:59.920 And honestly, it's not just that I think that they 0:51:00.560 --> 0:51:03.120 in that place right now. They have to be like, 0:51:03.320 --> 0:51:05.080 they have to be dominant this year. 0:51:05.120 --> 0:51:08.680 They have to really this. They have to make this 0:51:08.840 --> 0:51:11.960 run that they think that they can make. It'll depend obviously. 0:51:13.120 --> 0:51:14.759 Honestly, I think I'll depend more on the run game 0:51:14.800 --> 0:51:17.800 than the quarterback, as I've noted. But there are some 0:51:17.880 --> 0:51:21.320 big questions to answer there. But they absolutely have to 0:51:21.800 --> 0:51:24.560 finally max out this window with the championship. 0:51:24.560 --> 0:51:24.759 Again. 0:51:24.800 --> 0:51:26.919 They've traded all these draft picks, They've built their roster 0:51:27.000 --> 0:51:27.640 a certain way. 0:51:28.680 --> 0:51:29.520 They have to do it. 0:51:29.719 --> 0:51:31.800 This is like they're I hated when people said this 0:51:31.800 --> 0:51:34.080 about the Rams because it wasn't necessarily accurate, but this 0:51:34.280 --> 0:51:35.759 is like they're all in year. 0:51:35.920 --> 0:51:37.879 It's they're all in window. They have to be doing 0:51:37.960 --> 0:51:38.560 these things now. 0:51:39.560 --> 0:51:40.880 It makes a lot of sense. I think them and 0:51:40.920 --> 0:51:42.640 Philly and Dallas are really the teams to beat right 0:51:42.680 --> 0:51:44.480 now in the NFC, and it's probably how it's gonna 0:51:44.480 --> 0:51:46.160 play out. Again. We'll see, though. It's a long season 0:51:46.200 --> 0:51:47.960 and we'll have a lot of fun covering it. Jordan, 0:51:48.040 --> 0:51:49.560 you cover a lot of things in this league. I 0:51:49.560 --> 0:51:51.680 want to go ahead and close with this about First 0:51:51.680 --> 0:51:53.279 of all, where can the folks find you? What are 0:51:53.320 --> 0:51:55.160 you working on? I understand you have something big coming 0:51:55.160 --> 0:51:55.759 in the pipe here. 0:51:56.360 --> 0:51:58.320 Yeah, thank you so much, by the way for asking 0:51:58.400 --> 0:51:59.520 about that. I'm stoked. 0:52:00.000 --> 0:52:04.160 Obviously we've talked off camera about this project that I'm 0:52:04.200 --> 0:52:05.800 working on. You guys can find me at the Athletic 0:52:05.840 --> 0:52:07.239 dot com. You can find me on Twitter at Jordan 0:52:07.320 --> 0:52:11.600 rodrig Jordan with you. You can also find me. You'll 0:52:11.640 --> 0:52:14.839 be able to find me very soon. I have been 0:52:14.960 --> 0:52:19.279 working on a narrative podcast series, uh and for the 0:52:19.320 --> 0:52:24.480 Athletic and it is a deep dive into the dynamics 0:52:24.640 --> 0:52:28.279 and the rise of the Shannahan McVay coaching tree. And 0:52:28.400 --> 0:52:31.800 so the four main characters of the series are Kyle Shanahan, 0:52:31.880 --> 0:52:36.560 Sean McVay, Matt Lafleur, and Mike McDaniel. So, Dolphins fans, 0:52:36.600 --> 0:52:39.719 I think you will be really fascinated as I was 0:52:39.960 --> 0:52:42.560 by this, because not only was Mike so gracious with 0:52:42.719 --> 0:52:45.880 his time in working on this project with me, but 0:52:46.040 --> 0:52:50.640 also you're going to I think hear him in a 0:52:50.719 --> 0:52:54.440 way that I think you guys on the ground in 0:52:54.520 --> 0:52:57.200 Miami you see a lot of a lot of him, right, 0:52:57.320 --> 0:53:02.440 but like the the mass public, they sort of see him, Oh, 0:53:02.560 --> 0:53:04.960 that's the guy who always has the funny quote. Oh, 0:53:05.000 --> 0:53:08.240 that's that brilliant guy from Yale who like can scheme 0:53:08.320 --> 0:53:10.480 up this great like he's he's he's one of those like, 0:53:11.040 --> 0:53:13.799 you know, boy genius types kind of kind I think 0:53:13.840 --> 0:53:20.680 people think. But really the development of his character, I 0:53:20.760 --> 0:53:23.200 say character, like the stuff he's made of, Like the 0:53:23.320 --> 0:53:27.000 development of that he is so open about through the 0:53:27.080 --> 0:53:31.719 course of this series, in how his experiences working with 0:53:31.880 --> 0:53:35.400 these other coaches and also his own life experiences have 0:53:35.680 --> 0:53:39.960 shaped him into being the coach and the person. And 0:53:40.080 --> 0:53:42.440 I think that's something that as I talk to him 0:53:42.480 --> 0:53:44.719 and as I talk to people around him, started to 0:53:45.000 --> 0:53:48.880 really understand, is he is wearing that out loud. And 0:53:49.000 --> 0:53:51.840 I think that's why you've heard some of the players 0:53:51.920 --> 0:53:54.360 talk about him the way that they have is because 0:53:54.880 --> 0:53:57.279 he's showing them who he is, and who he is 0:53:57.480 --> 0:54:00.759 is someone who can empathize with a real, lived and 0:54:00.920 --> 0:54:03.840 human experience because he has really lived it in a 0:54:03.920 --> 0:54:06.759 lot of ways other people in this series have not, 0:54:08.000 --> 0:54:10.960 and and certain everyone's got different lessons in their lives 0:54:11.000 --> 0:54:13.520 and hits, different adversities and hits different things that they've 0:54:13.600 --> 0:54:16.640 experienced that shape them as a human. But the way 0:54:16.800 --> 0:54:19.400 that he's talking about it and how much it interconnects 0:54:19.800 --> 0:54:22.800 and becomes part of the identity of the football, the 0:54:22.880 --> 0:54:26.400 football brain waves, and how much his identity shows as 0:54:26.440 --> 0:54:30.120 a play caller and as a designer, Like it's all 0:54:30.360 --> 0:54:33.720 shaping you're you're watching himself and then all these coaches 0:54:33.760 --> 0:54:35.759 who who talked with me for the series, and so 0:54:35.840 --> 0:54:38.920 many people from across the league, coaches and analysts and 0:54:39.040 --> 0:54:43.200 former players, and you're they're literally growing up right in 0:54:43.280 --> 0:54:45.480 front of us, and they're showing us how they're doing 0:54:45.560 --> 0:54:47.520 it if you know where to look. And so this 0:54:47.800 --> 0:54:50.160 this series is sort of a roadmap into that and 0:54:50.360 --> 0:54:53.960 and basically how football works, how systems clash and react 0:54:54.000 --> 0:54:56.640 to each other, and kind of what this modern moment 0:54:56.760 --> 0:54:58.279 is that we're living in the NFL right now. 0:54:58.640 --> 0:55:00.440 Yeah, we might have to get you back on conclusion 0:55:00.440 --> 0:55:02.520 of all that, maybe do a recap, because I am 0:55:02.600 --> 0:55:04.799 fascinated to see this and like, you know, you talk 0:55:04.800 --> 0:55:07.239 about getting spend time with coach every time he leaves 0:55:07.239 --> 0:55:08.959 a press commerce, I'm like, we I hope those guy's 0:55:08.960 --> 0:55:10.799 here for thirty five years. Like he is so much 0:55:10.840 --> 0:55:13.600 fun to be around, and just the way he allows 0:55:13.680 --> 0:55:16.160 you to be yourself and not just from a player standpoint, 0:55:16.160 --> 0:55:17.719 but everybody in the building, like he is all about, 0:55:18.480 --> 0:55:20.160 you know, be your true self and you know, be 0:55:20.200 --> 0:55:22.800 the vulnerable. If you want to be vulnerable, be vulnerable. 0:55:22.840 --> 0:55:25.400 I just think I think so much of Mike and 0:55:25.480 --> 0:55:26.880 obviously you know I'm not just say next time the 0:55:26.920 --> 0:55:28.600 pay why. I really appreciate what he's done down here 0:55:28.640 --> 0:55:30.400 for us, not just on the football field, but in 0:55:30.400 --> 0:55:33.600 every way, every aspect of the of the profession. So 0:55:33.960 --> 0:55:36.040 that's awesome, Jordan, And you've given me about an hour 0:55:36.080 --> 0:55:37.840 of your time now, so I'm very grateful for that. 0:55:37.960 --> 0:55:39.800 Thank you so much. Thank you for coming back on 0:55:39.920 --> 0:55:41.920 the podcast back in March when we got Jalen Ramsey 0:55:42.000 --> 0:55:44.480 on the team. You've been awesome. You've said it all. 0:55:44.760 --> 0:55:46.560 Thank you so much, Jordan for your time. And we'll 0:55:46.640 --> 0:55:47.759 check out that project for years. 0:55:47.920 --> 0:55:50.080 Yeah, thank you for having me. It's out July tenth. 0:55:50.280 --> 0:55:52.400 Wherever you get your podcast, you will be able to 0:55:52.440 --> 0:55:55.080 find it and I will be an annoying person blowing 0:55:55.160 --> 0:55:58.480 up Twitter and everything else talking about it. So thank 0:55:58.520 --> 0:56:00.480 you so much, Travis. I always have so much fun 0:56:00.520 --> 0:56:02.399 talking with you about any of this stuff. So I'll 0:56:02.440 --> 0:56:04.920 come back anytime, and it's great to see you and 0:56:04.960 --> 0:56:05.840 it's great to catch up. 0:56:06.280 --> 0:56:06.480 Yeah. 0:56:06.680 --> 0:56:09.640 Likewise, and thanks again Jordan and the way she goes 0:56:09.760 --> 0:56:11.920 How much fun was that? I mean we I told 0:56:11.960 --> 0:56:14.120 her before the podcast I was shooting for a half hour. 0:56:14.200 --> 0:56:17.000 We went almost double that, but it's difficult not to 0:56:17.120 --> 0:56:18.799 and we probably could have done another hour on her 0:56:18.880 --> 0:56:22.440 Mike McDaniel projects she's worked on and put together over 0:56:22.440 --> 0:56:24.319 the last several months here, and I think we're going 0:56:24.360 --> 0:56:26.880 to have her back on sometime during training camp and 0:56:26.960 --> 0:56:29.279 be an off day to talk about that piece and 0:56:29.400 --> 0:56:32.320 how much great content she provided there with Mike McDaniel 0:56:32.360 --> 0:56:34.040 and really kind of getting to know our head coach, 0:56:34.120 --> 0:56:36.080 not just that, but also the x's and o's into 0:56:36.120 --> 0:56:38.680 the offense. So great fit on the podcast obviously. Hope 0:56:38.719 --> 0:56:40.879 you guys enjoyed that episode. Let's go ahead and get 0:56:40.880 --> 0:56:42.200 out of here. I believe the next one we have 0:56:42.280 --> 0:56:44.279 for you guys will be on Monday. We're going to 0:56:44.320 --> 0:56:46.759 move that around because the fourth is the holiday, So 0:56:46.920 --> 0:56:50.440 check out the AFC North podcast on Monday, July third, 0:56:50.440 --> 0:56:53.120 the next one you're hear from me here on drive Time. 0:56:53.320 --> 0:56:55.600 In the meantime, you all please be sure to subscribe 0:56:55.600 --> 0:56:57.880 to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, wherever you get your 0:56:57.920 --> 0:57:02.120 podcast from. Follow on social at wingfold, NFL at Miami Dolphins, 0:57:02.360 --> 0:57:04.120 check out the Fish Tank with Seth and Juice, our 0:57:04.200 --> 0:57:06.440 YouTube channel that has a bunch of fish tank content, 0:57:06.560 --> 0:57:09.279 Dolphins Today, media availabilities, and much much more, and last 0:57:09.320 --> 0:57:12.160 but not least, Miami Dolphins dot Com. Until next time. 0:57:12.239 --> 0:57:15.080 Finn's Up, Carolina and Cameron Daddy's Coming Home.